DAWN WATCH.

[guestservices]

DAWN WATCH

Today, when Shinobu is in her bedroom, she will receive a message on her typewriter.

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you awaken suddenly because you feel like you're falling?

Not a dream. Wake up call!

Immediately after she finishes reading the message, a trap door opens underneath Shinobu, plunging her into the darkness. When she wakes up at the bottom (?), bones miraculously not broken, she will find herself in a room.

It's a room she's never seen before, arching ceilings and starry-skied windows dotting each wall. A collection of bookcases, alchemy shelves and astronomy tools can be found here for perusal, though nothing can leave this room. A crescent moon-shaped window takes up a majority of the wall directly across from the entrance. Perched on the window seat is Gemini, a worn-out map in their hands.

"You certainly took your time, didn't you."

At a large mahogany desk in the center of the room, papers spread out in front of them, Aquila sits in a comfortable looking chair, elbows resting on the desk, chin perched in their gloved hand. You get the sense they might be smiling.

"Rise and shine. We've got work to do. Or, well... "

With a flick of their hand, Aquila opens a sheaf of papers labeled PARTICIPATION CONTRACT: ADDENDUM and turns it towards Shinobu.

"You've got a little extra work to do. Congrats on being qualified! I wouldn't recommend refusing. Now then - blue or black ink?"


RULES

1. Dawn Watch is required to report to the tower the moment they awaken on Friday morning.
2. Dawn Watch must select three locations to investigate after a murder has taken place. These selections must be made by sundown Thursday.
2A: Participant sleeping quarters are off-limits.
3. Dawn Watch may explore these three locations in any order they wish.
4. All evidence and sleepers will be preserved for observation.
5. Dawn Watch will not be able to meddle, remove or disturb any evidence they find during their rounds.
6. Dawn Watch must make their selection before leaving the tower and cannot change their mind upon beginning their rounds.
7. Dawn Watch is not to disclose that they are performing these duties. Discussing them with anyone other than authorized Hotel Staff will be considered breach of contract and will result in the death of Kanao.

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

█ LOCATIONS █ STATUSES █ PROFILES █ AUDIENCES
█ REPORTING █ PRIVATE CONVOS █ MURDER

Comments

[guestservices]

It's been a very interesting week so far...[they sigh.] I'm not sure if that's relevant at the moment, but you may very well get lucky yourself.

[wisterin]

Would you like to tell me about it?

[ she's listening. ]

Why wouldn't it be relevant? I'm assuming I'm filling in for someone who may or may not have passed even if you may or may not confirm it.

[guestservices]

...no it's fine. [mostly because shinobu is the only one in this conversation who can accurately listen right now.]

It is an assumption. [they don't say if she was right or wrong.] But I believe that's how it worked on your island, no? I think...with every week, there are new places to look. The task only grows a little harder with each passing week.

[wisterin]

[ listen, if gemini can't hear, that's fine? all they need to do is talk. ]

Someone did replace me after I died in my last round. [ she nods as the only maf who died. ] With every new week is more locations which means my chances of being lucky are spread thinner and thinner.

I'll try to think about this strategically. If at least one shadow is at play, it's bound to go for some kind of drama.

[guestservices]

[no there's no talking allowed from gemini goodbye.]

So I've read. But you have a point. It's best to think strategically based on what you've observed both of guests and in trials. So. Where do you suppose you would start if something were to occur on a Thursday night?

[wisterin]

[ raises an objection. ]

Even at my worst, I think a part of me would still want to be found, but I know I don't share that with too many here.

I suspect it'd be easy to murder someone on the mountain or in the ballroom.

I hope no one tries to hide a body again. I can only handle so much disrespect even if someone is at their worst.

[guestservices]

[overruled.]

People are ruthless, sometimes. But it's a start. [they think on this...]

I would truly appreciate it if people stopped hiding bodies, but some things cannot be helped. But those are smart choices, considering they are new. [a pause.] The ballroom?

[dance to death...?]

[wisterin]

The chandeliers, although if that happened in the case with Cloud....

[ well, it's no use overthinking whether someone will avoid doing something that's already been done. ]

But the piano could be used to hide things.

[ hopefully not a body. ]

[guestservices]

[horrific.]

I...suppose one could, yes. That is a thought.

[wisterin]

[ .... ]

This makes me sound like a terrible person, doesn't it?

[guestservices]

Why would you think that? It's rather smart to think in these terms in order to be a step ahead.

[wisterin]

It's beneficial to think that way in order to help, but along with going over what I think others would do, if they were trying to avoid getting caught, it also leads me to think what I could try to do, if I were in that situation, and...

[ she's getting into her own head about this. ]

And I think that's a little...

[ scary. ]

[guestservices]

...perhaps it is. But at the same time, I think it's very brave to explore your own limits and capabilities and acknowledge the things you could possibly do before you even have the chance to do them at all. Most people wouldn't let themselves think that far ahead.

[wisterin]

[ her smile is soft. ]

Thank you for your kindness, Gemini-san. You're more encouraging than you let on, aren't you?

[guestservices]

[they seem to relax just a hair.]

...I think it's more that if people are more willing to listen, they'll recognize it in the first place. You haven't been given an easy job, Miss Kocho. It's the least I can do.

[wisterin]

My, at least you're not resistant to being called soft.

[ she's kind of surprised but pleasantly so. ]

I won't say I won't be frustrated if I'm unlucky, but I'd take this kind of frustration over others.

[guestservices]

Simply because I believe if you ever tried to say so outside of this room no one would believe you.

[so it's fine. they fold the map in their hands and lean back against the window slightly.]

This, at least, is a frustration that you can do something about. If you do not succeed this week, there's undoubtedly another for you to re-strategize and begin again.

[wisterin]

Oh, I don't know about that. I feel as if some would.

[ she looks at the map curiously, but she nods. ]

That's true. We'll just have to see how I do this week. I won't count chickens before they hatch, but I also won't knock myself down before I take a step.

[guestservices]

[she can have the map if she wants? they don't seem to care.]

Those people would still potentially be wrong. [stop.] That's the best way to handle this going forward. Once you've completed your first watch, we can regroup and decide how to improve.

[wisterin]

[ really? she will take it and look at it, then. what kind of map is it? ]

I'll be amenable to that. If this is an addendum to the contract, is this a responsibility that the Nightman wanted?

[guestservices]

[it is a map of the hotel! it's pretty much what's on the locations page right now, with a few areas blurred out.]

It was an addendum that was agreed upon. The stakes are higher when you're playing for two hostages, wouldn't you agree?

[wisterin]

[ she is looking at the map, but at the mention of kanao, she looks up with her smile is firmly in place. ]

I'm so fortunate to be given so much motivation.

[guestservices]

[yeah, they thought so.]

And I presume you will use such motivation to change your strategy and how you play this game.

[wisterin]

I do not think I have ever been unmotivated, but it's not like I'm cowed.

[ she's just angry. ]

[guestservices]

Most of you have not been. Unmotivated, that is. This may be considered a privilege.

[they say this, but it's debatable even to them.]