HOUSEKEEPER.

[guestservices]

HOUSEKEEPER

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

You didn't think you'd just get to laze around all day, did you? Get up. You've got a job to do.

Immediately after she finishes reading the message, she will feel compelled to walk into the elevator, inside which a shadowy elevator attendant appears as a guide. Once she arrives at the destination, she will find herself in a room.

It looks vaguely like a combination of office and supply closet, with shelves against one wall that have a variety of labeled boxes on them - "Cleaning Supplies," "Linens," "Poisons," "Uniforms," and so on. Normal stuff. Along the other wall, there is a desk with ink, a quill, some papers, and a few binders. Two chairs are in font of it, in case Harrowhark would like to take a seat.

Vulpecula is standing by the entrance, their arms crossed, and they give a little huff as she passes through the entryway.

"About time. Okay, let's make this quick, before anyone notices you're gone."

They procure a few pages that are bound together, then flip to the very last one and hold it out to her. It's labeled PARTICIPATION CONTRACT: ADDENDUM.

"Read this over and familiarize yourself with it. This isn't a negotiation, so you'll either sign it or you won't - but if you won't, you might not like what happens next."

RULES

1. Once a week, after at least one murder has been committed but before the discovery of the victim (or victims), you will perform housekeeping duties.
2. These duties will be performed in exchange for THE BODY's safety. If these duties are not performed, THE BODY shall be wiped from existence.
3. Prior to the murder(s), you will choose three (3) guests whose personal rooms you will visit. This choice will be communicated to Vulpecula, who will ensure that you are granted access to these rooms.
4. On Thursday night, you will be responsible for searching your three chosen rooms for any evidence that the occupant may have committed a murder. Any such evidence must be deposited in the housekeeper's cart in the Housekeeping Room.
5. You must select a minimum of one belonging from each room to put into the housekeeper's cart, whether evidence of a murder is found or not. You may select more than one item from each room if you wish.
6. Once you have made your selections, be sure to clean the rooms thoroughly, change out the linens, and make the beds. Be sure to include a mint on the pillow. Customer service is key!
7. You may encounter a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on one or more doors in the course of your duties. If that is the case, you will not be able to enter, but will still be given credit for performing your duty in that room.
8. You are not to disclose that you are performing these duties. Discussing them with anyone other than authorized Hotel Staff will be considered breach of contract and will result in the destruction of THE BODY.

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

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

Comments

[guestservices]

Like I said, it will pass - don't worry about me! I'm just fine.

[they sound like they're smiling.]

[outsidebones]

...If you're certain.

[hmm.]

I suppose I ought to check in - am I still limited to only speaking to Lup? Is there anything I ought to be doing to find the other...I assume two? The gravedigger and the telephone-director, perhaps?

[guestservices]

[they make a pleased-sounding noise at that, produce her contract, and feel around for something to write with. it takes a few tries and is a little pathetic, but once they get hold of it, they write something down. it comes out a little messy, with some lines overlapping each other.]

10. In acknowledgment of the Housekeeper's work, they are permitted to discuss it with one additional person to the above. It may not spread any further than that, or else it will be considered a breach of contract.

[with that done, they hold it out to harrow.]

Sign there. I really can't tell you anything about if there are other people doing things or what they might be. But what you do is done rather independently - I wouldn't say this is a situation where you're meant to seek anyone else out at all. This addendum is more so that you have someone to confide in about what you're doing... Keeping secrets can be exhausting.

[outsidebones]

[oh! she'll poke her pen in her cheek to draw her own blood and sign it!]

[guestservices]

[the nice part about sense loss is they don't have to see her do that this time.]

[outsidebones]

...I'm sure I cannot tell them about Lup, but am I allowed to mention I'm aware of why it happened?

[guestservices]

You can only talk about your own duties. If you say anything about Lup's to anyone else - even if it's just hinting... That counts as it spreading further than just you. Which would be fine for your contract so long as what you told Lup spread no further, but...

[outsidebones]

But I would be risking her contract, and she mine. Understood.

Would I be permitted to say something along the lines of...I suspect the burying people on Thursdays, the phone calls, and the returning people to life are being done by a role like mine, but it is only conjecture? I only ask because I imagine whoever I speak to will most likely be curious.

[guestservices]

I really wouldn't recommend it... not if it's to the person you're confiding in. They'll be more likely to view "suspicions" as "hints".

If you're just talking about it with someone who has no idea what you're up to, your theories are just your theories.

[outsidebones]

Very well.

And there's really no reason to try to find the others? If I confide in someone, I'd confide in Mollymauk, but we won't find anyone else that way I'm sure. Not unless we go outside the station.

[guestservices]

Not that I can think of. It's not like finding someone else with duties would change your duties at all.

[outsidebones]

I would like to know what the hell burying people accomplishes, but I think it is probably futile.

So...yes. I will tell Mollymauk.

[guestservices]

It's possible that might just be one of the hotel's whims...

[but they nods.]

He's a good choice. I'm sure he'll be glad you confided in him. [a beat.] He's going to tease you about the underwear, I think.

[outsidebones]

I don't see why. [no, she knows he will.] It's very logical. Everyone was reading too much into the items I selected, and now they aren't.

[guestservices]

[this makes them giggle.]

I almost wish I could be there when you explain that to him. It would be so funny to see his reaction.

[outsidebones]

It's logical.

[don't giggle at her! a sigh!]

Not that it matters, when I've yet to hit on anyone. I picked Diluc the week before and the week after I ought to have.

[guestservices]

Well... that's not really your fault, is it? You can only pick three people, and with how many people are here to choose from, the numbers are against you...

[outsidebones]

[hi Virgo]

No, I don’t suppose so, but I wonder if there’s anything I ought to be doing differently.

[guestservices]

gODDAMNIT WHY DID I GIVE BOTH OF MINE NAMES THAT START WITH V

[guestservices]

...like what, exactly?

[outsidebones]

I don’t know. Let’s say I happened upon someone. Would you say my current search has been thorough enough that I would find evidence if there was any?

[guestservices]

Yes. If there is evidence in that room - you'd find it.

[outsidebones]

Alright. But there is no reason why they would have to have left evidence behind, so I cannot rule out the people I check entirely.

[guestservices]

No, not really. But you guys did find evidence in rooms during the trials before, so it's not like it would be unexpected for you to find something there, either.