YOU'VE JUST CROSSED OVER INTO -

[nightaudits]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from HOTEL MULTIVERSE AT THE EDGE OF THE COSMOS BETWEEN CANONS™ Guests who find themselves partaking in the Hotel's amenities quickly find some tricks afoot. The decor is first, neon lights changing to autumnal oranges, garish greens, and ghoulish purples overnight. Those who peruse the shops will find them stocked with masks and costumes, and the ambient music which plays throughout the ship is punctured by blood-curdling sound effects such as screams and anxiety-inducing musical stingers. This is Halloween. Those who utilize the Hotel-provided devices will find an ad splashed across their screens. Similarly, TVs, phones connected to the network, and flyers posted will read: "FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF OUR GUESTS, HOTEL MULTIVERSE AT THE EDGE OF THE COSMOS BETWEEN CANONS™ IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE HALLOWEEN-THEMED ENTERTAINMENT." Staff members' uniforms change, with employees adding costume pieces to them as the weeks wear on. Guests are strongly encouraged to put together a costume with pieces from the shops, but those who opt out will instead find one of the standard options (listed at the bottom of this post) and chosen at random (by googling "rng 1-19") in their wardrobe. After dark (or, what would be dark), the ship transforms into a hotel of horrors, the following chaos breaking loose: TRICK-OR-TREATING Costumed guests are welcome to partake in trick-or-treating with the ship's staff, who can be found with carts of candy in common areas. Guests are also offered flags for their doorknobs to indicate that they have candy available in the rooms if they would like to partake as well. SCAREZONES Grab a map from the concierge or walk the halls at random, but don't be surprised if a staff member jumps at you from the shadows! HAUNTED HOUSE Guests using the hotel app will find numerous ads alerting them to a haunted house that's overtaken one of the hotel floors (and honestly, the ads are impressive, opening as an emergency alert to a runaway alien), and the hotel itself plasters the attraction across its screens and walls overnight as well. Obviously, a haunted house is a great thing to do after you've had a ton to drink, or a great way to meet fellow guests (whether or not you're reaching for their hand in fright). However, to ensure the safety of all team members and guests, do not make physical contact with any member of our cast. Remember: the actors' intention is to frighten you. HORROR MOVIE MARATHON Guests hoping to keep things a bit more low key might find what they're looking for in the hotel's movie theater and lounges, which offer 24/7 horror movie marathons ranging from the classic to the avant garde. A programming guide can be found outside of each respective screening or on the app. Film buffs will be delighted at the hotel's library, but don't be surprised if your niche fave is banished to a graveyard slot. MASQUERADE The hotel's ballrooms are open late for those guests interested in keeping the revelry going night after night. Just don't let the anonymity of your costumes take you too terribly far (or, I mean, do what you want, everyone has a room, after all). If you aren't able to purchase a costume or aren't feeling inspired, no problem! Our courteous staff have taken the liberty of providing you with a courtesy costume, free of charge, to allow you to participate in the event. You will receive one of the following at random: 01: Ghost 02: Alien 03: Devil 04: Superhero (Your Choice!) 05: Skeleton 06: Pumpkin 07: Zombie 08: Vampire 09: Clown 10: Mummy 11: Werewolf 12: Black Cat 13: Pirate 14: Frankenstein's Monster 15: Witch 16: Spider 17: Bunny 18: Bat 19: Angel

Comments

CW: mentions of victims and blood

[solitarynote]

[Another shrug. Why would he yawn? The movie wasn’t necessarily boring.]

[Now, if this was Sunny, he would be bothered. Eyes wide, panicked, probably ready to cry… but it wasn’t. Omori had been made to weather the things that Sunny couldn’t handle.]

[He glanced again at the screen - one victim down, another to soon join them. There was a joke in there somewhere. Blood splattered like jam across a piece of…]

Toast. [The boy said suddenly, something in his gaze lighting up in amusement. Then, barely settling, he looked back at the other moviegoer, as if to ask why he wasn’t bothered.]

[brokeassgoing]

Toast? They're toast or you are? [he chuckles again-- this is more amusing than the movie, more or less. if he knew what the boy meant, he wouldn't find it as funny. maybe a little funny]

I guess I've seen some real shit...I've also seen this one about 100 times.

[solitarynote]

[The fact that Badou hadn’t shied away from him, hadn’t been off put by his witty remark… it caught Omori by surprise. Most people didn’t stick around.]

[Still… oh. The corners of his mouth pointed downwards again. See enough bad things happen and you were bound to not be bothered. Or really… it took just one thing, too horrible to speak of, and all else paled in comparison.]

[Omori didn’t say which of those two he was - he knew the answer. For Badou’s sake… the boy hoped it was just watching the movie too much… which had now become less interesting to him.]

[brokeassgoing]

C'mon, now, don't make that face. This one is good, I promise! I like it that much to actually see it that much, y'know?

[he's worried he's genuinely ruined it for the kid]

[solitarynote]

[The explanation certainly helped to raise Omori’s spirits - his expression changed back to Neutral. If it was that good of a movie, then maybe he should pay attention…?

But really, Badou’s company was more entertaining for the child, so he kept taking in the gruesome scenes on the screen and sneaking glances at the man.]

[brokeassgoing]

[he grimaces exaggeratedly, just for Omori's benefit, for his entertainment--]

Oh but watch-- I bet you can't predict what'll happen with that one--

[it's predictably predictable: someone gets lost in the woods and hunted]

I tried XD

[solitarynote]

[Omori was really enjoying this. It was like a fun little game.

The boy pulled out a Shiny Knife and began to carve into the seat-back of whichever chair was in front of him. Badou needn’t worry though - the letters would remain just long enough for him to read, and then the chair would repair itself. That was the neat part about this place.

A jaunt through the forest. A crunching in the leaves.

Watch out - that noise wasn’t just the breeze!

Something’s coming, something quick.

How short will this tale be, if all you have to defend yourself is a stick?

He sat back, some form of pleased in his gaze, even if it was still a bit hollow. Letters were surprisingly neat for a knife cutting through movie-standard pleather seating… but Omori was comfortable with a knife. Used to it, as much as markers on a page.]

its perfect

[brokeassgoing]

[the knife is-- a little horror-movie-esque for a second, and he wonders if this is going to end like one too for a moment-- he didn't have those soulless black eyes of the dark eyed children from those stories

oh but it's a little puzzle, a riddle]

Why a stick? If you're going into the forest you've gotta bring a club...a gun or something, screw that! Bigfoot could be there.

[solitarynote]

[Don’t worry, Badou. He’s not going to jab you with the knife, you’re too much fun.]

[Another shrug, this one more amused. Gun or club didn’t rhyme with ‘quick’. Plus… didn’t people in these kinds of movies not follow common sense? Omori pointed back at the screen with his knife, further emphasizing as the victim was running away rather haphazardly through the forest, leaving a direct trail for anyone even mildly decent at tracking.]

[He kept the knife out though, flipping it once, in case he needed to write more.]

[brokeassgoing]

You're supposed to zig-zag, that's true.

[even when you don't consciously think of it, your instincts should still ensure you do that-- unless you're in a horror movie like this.

He winces when they trip, too]

And good footwear, holy fuck.

[solitarynote]

[A nod. See? Badou understood.

Still… Omori looked down at his own legs, shoeless and clad in calf-length black socks turned inside out.

Sometimes, it was whatever you could work with the best. Omori didn’t have to wear shoes, socks worked just fine for him. The person on screen tripped again, this time taking a nasty spill down a winding pathway. People like that… they needed all the help they could get.]

[brokeassgoing]

That can't be comfortable, though. Where're your shoes, dude?

[that person at least had shoes on! even though they were flip-flops, how useless. for now, he's a bit concerned about the kid's footwear]

OK, but I legit laughed at this. So adorable he’s concerned XD

[solitarynote]

[At Badou’s genuine concern, Omori looked down at his sock-clad feet, swinging them back and forth. Writing, again, with the knife:

NO SHOES

None of his friends in Headspace wore shoes. In fact, it was probably even more of a miracle that Omori was wearing socks, instead of going full-on barefoot like most of them. The boy didn’t seem concerned by this fact - just looked at Badou with a curious glance.]

hes really like WHERE are this childs shoes

[brokeassgoing]

...What about sandals or something? Your toes'll still be out if you have those on.

[he's relieved he isn't barefoot at least but. still]

I LOVE how concerned he is over this XD LOL

[solitarynote]

[Omori shrugged at that but… gave it some thought. Shoes hadn’t seemed necessary, not where he was from, and even here his socks did well enough. But… Badou seemed overly fixated on this. The boy knew what that felt like.

Movie on screen forgotten (even though it was more of the same, always the same with this sort of thing) he looked down at his feet again. Too bad he didn’t have sandals or something. Sunny hadn’t thought to dream up a pair.]

badou already wondering where he can get some sandals

[brokeassgoing]

[to his credit Badou has also forgotten the movie, but if the boy had shown he wanted to go back to the game, he would follow his lead and not push]

Maybe when this is over we can look around, hmm?

XD I mean there’s supposedly plenty of shops

[solitarynote]

[Omori thought about that - about spending time with Badou beyond just the two seats they were in. About looking for something, much like a quest, but it was something for Omori himself.

No one… had ever offered that before.

So, after several moments of thought, he nodded, not sure what the feeling bubbling in his chest was. An extra burst of energy? A warmth almost, though not unpleasant. He was excited for the possibility.]

and that's where he's determined to get them

[brokeassgoing]

[he grins-- pleased that the kid doesn't so much think it's weird this random adult is a little worried he doesn't have shoes]

Great! We can get some grub too-- if this splatter-fest ain't too much for ya.

Badou out here giving Omori the best day of his life <3

[solitarynote]

[That almost shocked Omori… Badou wanted to stay with him even longer? Longer than the movie? Longer than finding shoes?

The child sat still, blinking, eyes somewhat wide.

Badou has joined your party.

Then… he nodded again, almost hesitant. Like some part of him, deep down, was afraid the man would chose to do otherwise.]

he deserves THE MOST GOOD DAYS

[brokeassgoing]

[for a moment he was kind of worried again-- but-- he's starting to think no one's shown this kid kindness lately. and his stomach sinks at the thought.
but he smiles through it]

We'll have a kickass time.

Badou is MVP <3

[solitarynote]

[Omori’s eyes lit up in delight at that. He didn’t have any friends here. He wasn’t in a space made just for another.

He… could maybe just be? Figure out what that meant?

And he didn’t have to do that alone - Badou was here. Badou wouldn’t leave him.

So, while the tiniest hints of an excited smile split the boy’s face, he also gave the man a thumbs up. Approval.]

no baby omori is!!!! <3

[brokeassgoing]

[this is a warm and fuzzy moment-- Badou doesn't let himself have many of those these days. there's too much to do, and too much chaos around him dragging him down.

but this is good. this is good]

[solitarynote]

[Likewise, for as much as Badou’s existence was an irregularity for Omori… the child find he quite enjoyed it. Selfishly, even. It was something that was his - not Sunny’s - this moment, this person who might be a friend, this person who stuck around.

His attention turned back to the screen: to another scene of boredom. To the killer closing in on their dumb prey.

Omori’s legs swung back and forth, almost impatient. He wasn’t sure why though.

Another knife carving in the back of the seat: WATCH?

The child was looking for guidance, for Badou’s reaction. He didn’t particularly care about the movie on screen, going with Badou sounded more fun, but… if the man wanted to finish the movie he had seen several thousand times before… then Omori would continue sitting there.]

[brokeassgoing]

[he's content but certainly eager for the movie to get on with it for the sake of their plans afterwards, and when Omori carves out the question, he hums, shrugs]

It's up to you. If you feel like it, we can keep watching.

[solitarynote]

[Badou had said this movie was good, right? So Omori stuck around just long enough to see the killer gut the victim - no shocker there, though in a way that was satisfaction in the fact one of the characters had achieved their goal. Maybe, the reason Omori didn’t mind these kinds of movies, was that the bad guy got a win for once? The child was so often framed as a ‘hero’ in Headspace, but knew deep down… he wasn’t.]

[He hopped up, energy buzzing through his limbs but… stopped once he realized he didn’t know where exactly to go. He didn’t have a map of this place and had just wandered blindly to the theater. Dark eyes focused again on Badou. A single question, framed by a hiss like whisper, came from him.]

Where…?