holyspirits | W5 CYOA - Zhongli, Akihiko, Laurence, Ali Zoph

[Akihiko isn't very happy at all. He adjusts the shawl he's wearing, over the really big sweater, and the long skirt. He looks like he's trying to cosplay a middle-age woman, and that sure brings some very conflicted feelings in him, enough for him to comment:]

I know these are mine and I got them myself, but why are these my tastes?!

[Geez. Well, perhaps it's for the better. It can get cold in the middle of the sea. Behind him, there's a bag with a clean maid uniform. The plan is simple: approach like you're supposed to be here, and if anyone asks, say you're going to be part of the cleaning crew or that your shift is going to happen soon but until then you hope to be there as a customer. It's not a perfect lie, but it's all in how you tell it, right?

The sight of the Golden Fleece makes obvious there's no time left to discuss much]

Is everyone ready?

[ zhongli snorts very softly at akihiko's complaints, but offers him and laurence both the oversized hoodies that he got from his own closet if they'd rather have those than anything else that came in their closets. considering he borrowed from akihiko's... well.

he wasn't going to wear short shorts. he's not the director. ]

Yes. [ dressed like another librarian, with his own maid outfit in an upright garment bag. he's even put on a pair of the extra glasses that akihiko had, pulling his ponytail into a low bun to complete the very unassuming look. "he's 6'3" tall" unassuming.

time to walk through the front door, and when all else fails, lean back on being maids. ]

[Ali is unfortunately embracing the gyaru look. Pink sweatshirt, purple skirt, knee-socks, flat shoes, purple bow in his hair. No makeup though, he's not even going to try putting that on.

His maid outfit is in his backpack. He doesn't care about potential wrinkles.]

Let's head on in then and catch this Idol.

[ ali you are so embarrassing. laurence would never dare to wear the gyaru fits, so he is unhappily in a fresh maid outfit, and he WILL complain about not being able to put on more of a disguise on their way to the boat. no wigs so they can at LEAST blend in with the girls around here...

he did at least put on some of the makeup using their memory soup but only so he would look less like himself. it only works so-so? god this whole thing is mortifying he hates it here.

but thank you for the hoodie zhongli he will gladly throw that on for SOME small sense of comfort here. ]

No.

[ he is NOT ready and will never be. but you guys decided so we're doing this he GUESSES. ]

[ Yippee! You sail right up to the ship in broad daylight, and it seems build to allow smaller ships to approach and board. The Golden Fleece isn't even sailing around it's just kind of sitting there in the middle of the ocean nice and still.

Some crew very routinely help you get your ship all settled and anchored kind of like parking a car outside. Unlike a cruise that people board and then sail around on, this is a cruise that people come and go TO, because what vacationer doesn't have a spare helicopter or two?

Anyway no one seems to think anything is amiss as you approach becuase why would it be? As you're finishing up getting your boat tied you see that there are three different 'entrances' to ship from here. A worker looks at you. And at your clothes. You are dressed casually... and there ARE a lot of grandmas in casinos... hmmmmm. Yes, this all checks out.

They assume you are a guest and lead you away from what was probably the crew entrance. ]

Heya. You overnight guests or just for the day?

[There are a lot of grandmas, oh my god. I really did chuckle,we look amazing, don't we]

Only for the day. Please make sure our boat is ready to sail anytime.

[Akihiko tries to act natural, and to his credit, he's being decent at it]

[ the fact that SO MANY grannies and aunties fucking love casinos is hysterical to me. most of my coworkers are in this age range and during warmer months apparently they go down the street to the nearby casino to have lunch sometimes. wild.

anyways, zhongli smiles serenely, kindly, inclining his head and channeling streetward rambler's madam ping identity for a moment. just a nice old lady. with a deep voice. ]

It's our first time being able to come here, after saving, and we're very much looking forward to it. Would you be able to recommend where we should go first?

[Grannies and aunties in the casino...yeah checks out.

Ali gives a polite bow before responding in similarly polite speech.]

Thank you for taking care of us. We have come to visit today after saving up, and we're looking forward to it.

[Isn't this just a re-hash of what Zhongli said? Totally not suspicious.]

[ well frankly laurence doesn't think this person is going to care about their life story like this but okay. he shrugs. what they said. ]

[ The worker nods! That sounds right to her! Akihiko is just so........ charismatic....... She gestures for you to take the door on the right, which you can see opens to a beautiful promenade with a wide staircase heading up.

You are all very lucky they do not charge for admission, because you did not come up with a plan or strategy for the fact that you aren't registered guests and have little to no money. On a cruise. Where you are trying to pretend to be guests.

But luckily this is all being run by high school girls. They figure the more people they get in the door, the more money they can make on the amenities they offer onboard. ]

Will do.

There are maps all over inside so you shouldn't have any trouble gettin' around. This'll lead you straight to the promenade with all our restaurants and entertainment. Staterooms are below that - check in with the front desk if you change your mind about stayin' the night. Casino's on the lowest guest deck, towards the aft—sorry, the back. And up on the top decks you've got the pools and more restaurants. There's an outdoor theater to the front up there, too. There's somethin' fun to do wherever you go.

Thanks.

[Okay, let's take a look...Akihiko takes a map, looks at it intently, and then glances up at his fellow teammates once they're far away enough to not be heard]

If you guys were a delinquent where would you be? I don't see any back-alleys in this map.

[Because it's well known that's where the unsavory teenagers gather: the back alleys behind the stations]

[ zhongli will thank the worker very politely for the explanation and guidance, and be grateful that they're not being charged an entrance fee. because he doesn't have his cashcow here in heaven, let alone on this cruise ship, so what money would they give???

once they're far enough away, his mild smile fades as he looks at the map. ]

The busiest place, I would imagine, as there are more people for The Idol to blend in with. Hidden in plain sight, especially when you consider that this individual is being shielded by the operators of the casino.

If we would like to find a restroom or some such to change into our other clothes at some point, it may do us some good as far as disguises go. Otherwise...

[Luckily Ali is a modern who has also been inside a casino before, so he can offer some advice.]

Slot machines have awful payouts, anyone looking to play the odds will be at the tables. We should look there first. But be warned: if they're at a table, it's going to be harder to spirit them away unnoticed.

[Doing some math in his head real quick on probabilities.]

Blackjack has the best odds of winning, but Craps and poker are flashier games that they might be drawn to instead. Those three areas would be best to check first.

[ looks around in absolute confusion. what are all these words. ]

Does that mean we should try splitting up, or something? Cover more ground? If there are so many places, they could just move around and avoid us.

[ You all head up the stairs while you discuss, passing through some kind of wide open atrium, then find yourselves on the Promenade Deck. On either side of you are rows and rows of gift shops and restaurants with both indoor and outdoor seating. There's a wiiiiiide walkway because this ship is very spacious, with plenty of room even though the middle is taken up by more seating and decorative plants.

Looking at a map gives you a basic understanding of the ship's layout!

Top Deck: Pools, hot tubs, shops, carousel, theater.
Promanade Deck: Restaurants, entertainment, arcade, net cafe, library
Atrium: Front desk
Middle Decks: Staterooms
Bottom Deck: Casino, restaurants, entertainment.
Below Deck: Crew quarters, security, hospital, and information center.

Also: it's pretty crowded already! Immediately you can see a lot of people bustling back and forth. It's 90% high school girls but there are also some bipedal animals and robots. They're shopping and having a good time.

You also see a lot of staff workers! They're all wearing bunny girl outfits. ]

This ship is big. We'll have to split up to cover more ground or it'll take us way too long.

[Still, one can't just walk around, can you? Hmmmmm]

We need to agree where to reunite later.

Edited 2025-03-19 00:13 (UTC)

The... atrium, perhaps? Or somewhere on the top deck.

[ for them to meet up.

but zhongli... looks a little reluctant about the idea of splitting the party, at least fully. because he does still recall, in the memory soup, how absolutely obliterated people have been when they come back from their trips. he looks at the three of them, wanting to keep them as safe as possible for as long as they are together.

still, he can't argue that they do need to cover more ground. ]

How, exactly, do you propose we split up? Pairs, or all of us on our own? I will admit that I'm wary for any of us to go places alone - we've seen the returns.

...

[A long pause as he considers something. It's a difficult choice.]

...we should stay together and protect Laurence.

[He's the only one still alive, and thus would be impacted the most by injuries.]

Besides if we're together we can watch each other's backs more. We can scope out this floor and then move to the next one.

Hey, why me?!

[ don't you dare baby him he's not even the youngest here! he is so! tired! of being singled out! ]

Aren't we on a time limit, anyway? The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can leave.

[ Yeah why him!!!

You still haven't chosen anywhere to go so you're standing in a group and other guests are just skirting around you awkwardly. ]

Because if you return with heavy blood loss people are going to be upset.

[Hmmmmm]

Let's go in pairs.

I will remind the both of you that should you also return with heavy blood loss, people will be upset.

[ it's not just laurence! but yeah he's still living, he kind of needs to be put in bubblewrap. but zhongli knows the kind of person that he is, especially when he's already been stressed out and riled up enough today, and decides to not provoke it. ]

Let us all endeavor to stay as uninjured as possible, perhaps. Pairs seems the better option, if we split up, so I will leave it up to you all to decide - I am glad to go with anyone.

[Sees everyone looking at them awkwardly. Okay. They need to get moving.]

Alright, fine. I'll check the upper decks. Who wants to go with me?

[ nooooo not more people looking at him skitters out of the way ]

It's this casino thing, right? Downstairs.

[ Those of you headed up ride an elevator up to the top deck. Even though the ship is huge enough that the promenade deck didn't feel super cramped, it's definitely more spacious up here.

There are still a few shops, and a bar, but most of the deck is taken up by multiple massive swimming pools with big colorful slides. There are four hotubs in the back and several people all over, everywhere. It's like this, and you are currently at the back elevators! ]

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