DAWN WATCH.

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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

AQUILA & GEMINI

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[aquila is sitting at the desk, straight backed, hands folded in their lap. they give shinobu a brief nod when she gets straightened out.

gemini is at the window seat, a map in their hands and seemingly staring out the window rather than paying attention to what's going on.]

[wisterin]

[ when shinobu lands, she stays down, her eyes closed. She takes a moment, hoping it's not what she thinks it is. She takes a deep breath before she steels herself to get up and read the addendum.

Relief floods her features and the tension in her shoulders eases until she reads the last rule, and her usual smile slams into place. ]

Good day, Aquila-san, Gemini-san! The view is lovely today, isn't it?

If I'm reading this correctly, I receive three chances to see something, but there's no guarantee.

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[for a moment, gemini seems like they're ignoring her?

but after a few seconds, they turn and seem to visibly startle upon seeing her.]

Ah, Miss Kocho. [. . .] ...the terms are laid out in your addendum. You will have a choice to make, but your odds are slightly greater because you have three chances.

[wisterin]

[ ... ]

My, what are you missing? Has anyone managed to be lucky all three time times?

[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.

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...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]

Wish I could see it to tell you.

[ this is

so dry. it is so dry. this loss week is terrible. ]

But yeah, that's the jist of it. Do you have any other questions for us?

[wisterin]

Oh, I'm sorry. I need to be even more sensitive about that this week. [ ... ] It would be terrible if I lost my sight on Friday, wouldn't it?

[ i wouldn't do that, but the thought is funny. ]

Will my time be limited in these three places?

[guestservices]

C'mon, clever girl like you? I bet you'd figure something out. Some people're really good at seeing without seeing.... but let's not jinx it.

[ aquila laughs a little, though, waving their hand. thank you ara. ]

Yeah. You won't get a ton of time - we have to be out before the sun's up, so it might be a quick look, but any look in the right place helps.

[wisterin]

Thank you for thinking I'm clever even if I don't know if I've done anything particularly clever lately.

[ she tilts her head, thinking. ]

I can't say anything explicitly, but am I prohibited from hinting as well?

[guestservices]

D'you mean during a trial?

[ they tilt their head. ] Or about your position?

[wisterin]

Both.

[ she's expecting a no for the latter, but she wanted to ask anyway. ]

[guestservices]

I wouldn't say you could really hint about either. But, if you wanted to suggest a certain location for people to check out during the proceedings, as long as it was subtle, that might be something you could pull off.

[wisterin]

... All right. I'd have to be lucky in the first place to worry about how subtle is subtle enough.

[guestservices]

Yeah, basically. [ they nod. ]

We can't really guide you on that the day of since it's an in and out situation, so if you get a hit, you'll have to figure it out on your own.

[wisterin]

[ she nods. ]

Very well. Thank you.

[ she stares at aquila for a long moment even if they can't see it before she sighs. ]

I wanted to ask you about something I found, but if you are unable to see right now, I'll wait until another day.

[guestservices]

Eh, depends on what you want to ask about it. Not the first time I've been blind for a stupid reason.

[ they don't seem that bothered. ] What is it?