united_one | [Action] Second Clue

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[Action] Second Clue - Abandoned Hotel

[Here, have what looks like a dilapidated, abandoned hotel. Everything is black and white, bearing a resemblance to traditional film noir. The walls are crumbling, the wallpaper is peeling, and an eerie green fog permeates everything. The sickly fog is the only splash of color around. The wooden floor creaks with nearly every footstep, and the ceiling is leaking mysterious liquid in places as well.

Absolutely no one seems to be around. Places of interest may include a comprehensive library with books old enough to become dust at the slightest touch, and a secret laboratory littered with rusted, pointy, dangerous-looking instruments.]

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Security?

[She glances around a bit nervously, but sees no guards or laser beam traps or anything like that.]

Nah, I just kinda wandered on in here from one of my dreams--this one's yours, right?

Dream? [Naoto seems to find the idea dismissible.]

I assure you, this is no dream. [The fact that he's dressed in a lab coat and in a crazy abandoned hotel doesn't seem strange to him, apparently.]

I must find the murderer at any cost.

Murderer?

[Oh, yeah, definitely a horror movie right here.]

Y'know, if you've got a freaking murderer running around in your dream, I'd probably wanna get out of here, like, ASAP.

[She glances around for some sort of door that might lead to another dream, but none of them look too promising.]

Uh, that's if there's even a way out in the first place.

What makes you believe that this is a dream?

Of course there is a way out. Go back through the front door.

[It's too dangerous here for her, anyway. Good luck finding the door, though. The hotel is set up like a maze, and nearly ever corridor and floor looks identical.]

Well, I mean, I kinda just strolled on in here from one of my dreams. Iunno what else this all could be, unless we all took like some synchronized acid trip or something.

[The front door? That would be perfect if she had any idea where it was.]

Yeah, uh, that's sounding pretty good to me.

[Paprika turns her back to go, but seeing that Naoto isn't following, turns around and beckons hurriedly.]

C'mon! You don't wanna stay in this creepy-ass horror flick dream, right?

[Acid trip...? Naoto knows he hasn't ever done something like that, and he hopes Paprika hasn't either.]

Perhaps it is a dream, then. [If he thinks about it, some things certainly do seem off. Though he isn't sure why he would be dreaming about Paprika.]

[Naoto tries to tug off the uncomfortably large lab coat, but for some reason it tenaciously stays on him. Very odd, and a bit frustrating to boot. He glances up when Paprika starts moving.]

Not particularly. But the investigation... [Even if this hotel may not be real, something about it is tugging at him to stay.]

Investigation? But, like, if this is all a dream, there's no real murderer, right?

[A Beat.]

Uh, at least I hope not.

I suppose not...

[Naoto still seems a bit reluctant to abandon the investigation, however. And with good reason, because within moments, the sound of mechanical buzzing, perhaps caused by a chainsaw or something similar, can be heard. It starts off barely perceivable, but steadily increases in volume, as if whatever is causing the noise is getting closer.]

[One of the downsides of being an avid film aficionado is knowing all your stock horror tropes a little too well. Even if it is all a dream, Paprika's really not too keen on recreating the Texas Chainsaw Massacre for shits and giggles. She beckons to Naoto again with increased fervor, and when she speaks, her voice is only a pitched whisper.]

Dude, c'mon!

[Naoto frowns, but sighs and acquiesces. He highly doubts that Paprika would be able to just barge in on an investigation in reality, so this really is most likely a dream.]

I'm coming. I don't suppose you know where we're going? [Yup, despite his talk of the 'front door,' he isn't really sure where it is. He only recalls rooms relating to the murder. He moves to follow Paprika just as creepy, high pitched music starts playing.]

Where is that coming from? [There aren't any speakers around... Okay, Naoto's starting to get just a bit scared now.]

[When the music starts, Paprika nearly jumps, though not without some back part of her mind noting that this would make a freaking awesome movie.]

Yeah, that'd be the creepy music like in Psycho in the shower that means someone's about to get offed, so we should probably get the hell outta here like right now!

Y-Yes, that sounds like a good plan...

[Naoto doesn't want to seem unrefined even in his dream, but when walking quickly only results in the chilling music getting louder, he starts to run down the hallway, not entirely sure of where he's going.]

[The buzzing sound gets louder, and soon, a large pitch black shadow can be seen on the wall. The shadow is shaped like a human.... a human holding a chainsaw, that is.]

[Paprika is right behind him, paying no heed at all to the crescendoing sound in light of the shadow on the wall. Briefly, she wonders if their Pokemon would do any good, but that surprisingly decent idea is quickly overtaken by panic. When she talks, she's still whispering, for all that will do.]

Look for, like, a door or something! Any kind!

R-Right! [They've already passed plenty of doors, but Naoto is fairly certain that none of them lead outside. At least, as certain as one could be when they were in a panic. Which isn't very certain, actually.]

This way! [He chooses a door that looks a bit different, skidding to a stop and jiggling its doorknob. It takes a few tries, but soon enough, the door swings open.]

[At this point, she doesn't really care where the door leads, so long as it doesn't involve any more slasher flick villains. She ushers Naoto inside and slams the door shut behind her, which in turn causes the music to abruptly cut off. Breathing hard and wishing that she was better suited to running, Paprika surveys their new surroundings.]

Okay, cool... I think... I think we lost him, 'cause the music stopped.

[They are now in an elegant room crammed with bookshelves on nearly every wall. The shelves are filled to the brim with various texts. On the odd wall out there are two tall, arched windows that let in the warm sunlight. In the center of the room is a table surrounded by luxurious plush armchairs, and on the table itself stands an incongruous looking action figure. All in all, it's a very calming scene.]

Yes... [Naoto seems to recognize the room, or at least elements of it.]

...Yeah, that's better.

[Looking at Naoto, it seems like he recognizes the place.]

So is this, like, your place or something?

[Naoto briefly considers the possible consequences of answering that.]

Yes, I often spent my days here as a child. [He keeps his face neutral as he browses the bookshelves. Apparently he doesn't consider himself a child anymore, despite the fact that he's not even old enough to be out of high school yet. The oversize lab coat dwarfing Naoto doesn't help to support this image either.]

Seems like a pretty nice place.

[Definitely better than a certain castle she's also visited. Danger apparently gone, Paprika slips easily back into her usual casual demeanor.]

So, uh, where're you from?

I am from a town called Yamatocho. [Not that the name would mean much to anyone here, but the simple yet tastefully elegant room indicates wealth. His family was most likely one of the more affluent ones in the town, if Paprika is observant enough to tell.]

What about you, Paprika-san? [Naoto is a believer in receiving information in return for any that he may give.]

Yamawhatnow?

[To her credit, she's good at pronouncing things in French. Unlike English and pretty much every other language. In retrospect, though, it probably should've occurred to her that Naoto's foreign.]

I'm from--well, it's in kinda the right-middlish bit of America, but nobody's ever heard of it. Like, it's not even on maps 'cause it's technically part of a big city.

Yamatocho. [Naoto glances up at the mention of 'America.']

There is an America in my world. [Is it possible that they came from the same world...? He decides to fish for more information.] My town can be found in Japan.

Yep, we got a Japan, too.

[She's not thinking as in-depth as he is, but considering she has yet to meet anyone else but Thomas from the "real world", this is pretty cool.]

Hey, so what if we were both, like, from the same Earth, only we never knew it 'cause we live so far apart?

That is a distinct possibility. [It doesn't seem relevant at the moment, but is definitely information with the potential to be useful in the future. And Naoto does like to be prepared.]

What is your America like? [He knows a passable amount about the one in his own world from reading news and from speaking with colleagues.]

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[Action] Second Clue - Abandoned Hotel

cardinal rule of horror movies: never start asking if there's anyone home in the creepy house

The laser beams come later :D

ah suteki :y

Continued denial

fdhfhgf you saw no typeo.......

I actually didn't :D

oh, phew ;;

Spoke too soon :u

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Fun to watch but not fun to be in.

I myself actually cannot sit through horror movies. xD

Me neither omg what are we doing here then XD Also do with this what you will B)

getting out of the creepy horror setting. xD

Cheater :B Feel free to do some crazy dream hijacking too

ssssh I think they've had enough freaky things for one dream uwu

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Awkward this was never revealed QUICKLY MAKING SOMETHING UP

jfhfgeh OOPS gj me

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Knowledge of America: Funny colored food and always wanting to be the hero. jkjk