W5 CYOA - Zhongli, Akihiko, Laurence, Ali Zoph

[holyspirits]

aaaaaaaaaaaa

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[holyspirits]

[ Just a bunch of high school girls! No Idol casually strolling the halls... But you are pretty close to those entertainment rooms, so you hear people coming and going from them, and they're usually talking about what to do next or what other shows they might want to watch.

It's pretty jumbled up but you do catch that there might be a big show at the live theater on this deck in the evening. There's also apparently going to be some live entertainment at the outdoor theater up on the top deck later, which is rare. Wow! Such shows. Many options.

Though you do wonder what 'evening' means. You saw Iris this morning, but he's been here for days? How long have you been here? There were no windows in the casino. You walked for a really long time... ]

[outdistanced]

[ huh. he is confused about how time works here, but this is probably normal, right? even if iris was out there when they left... ahhh his head hurts.

but he does go ahead and text the other pair. what are they even doing. maybe they can look into things on their end while he keeps looking for any trace of this person or zhongli. coinflip said akihiko hope you're checking your messages ]

there's a show in the theater here later
have you guys heard anything about it? maybe the idol's in it?

[holyspirits]

[ Laurence sends that text!

Just chillin........


JK HE GETS AN ANSWER ]

Didn't hear about it. We know the Idol came to one of the restaurants up here today, so I doubt they'll be back to this part soon.

Zoph and I are looking for the security room.

[outdistanced]

[ what if he stays by the elevators but wanders over to the side closer to the theater, anything of note to see from here? any big groups or people lingering and looking sus... ]

okay be careful
Zhongli and I got separated but he's coming back I think
We'll have to take a detour before we can do much in the casino
Chrono and Lucas are both here, too? so keep an eye out

[holyspirits]

[ No one looks sus... it's just so many cute high school girls...

also, a text: ]

How did they react to seeing you?

[outdistanced]

[ well good then he continues to be useless. is there any sign of the setup for this show tonight?? ]

he said Lucas was "assimilated"
Chrono recognized me but didn't want to leave the game
Zhongli said he set off some alarm and disappeared

[holyspirits]

[ The entertainment changes up so fast that they don't seem to have a lot of signage to advertise. Instead it's mostly pamphlets, but whatever works!

He manages to grab one and sees that it only lists the show that will happen on this deck. And they're all basically like... The Newlyweds games... Some comedy shows... Nothing that really seems like it would fit the Idol... Probably?

But they don't say anything about the outdoor movie theater on the top deck. ]

[outdistanced]

[ okay he will tack on another message for akihiko in that case: ]

there's a movie theater up there, right? can you check that for any sign of the idol?
i don't see anything for down here

[dijun]

[ ding.

the elevators go off, and lo - a maid. ]

Laurence -

[holyspirits]

[ Wahoo! Reunited! Also Laurence gets another text: ]

It makes sense an idol would want to be near a stage. We'll try to get behind the scenes

[ So sounds like they've got that area covered? Maybe? What about you two - where to? ]

[outdistanced]

[ well he did say he was changing so this doesn't bother him. he just glances at the text, nods to himself, and turns to zhongli after pocketing his phone again. ]

We should probably find somewhere quieter...?

[dijun]

Wise, I think. [ his voice lowers as he comes over. ] We have updates for each other - I was a bit held up by seeing the security room.

[ r...restrooms? a broom closet? ]

[holyspirits]

[ they may duck into a broom closet to speak privately! ]

[outdistanced]

[ neat. once they're in there and the door is shut behind them he's just going to lean back against the wall with a heavy sigh, shoulders slumped. ]

Director Hu said our collateral can be a favor if we kill someone for her. [ rubs face. ] It's Iris. He's supposed to be upstairs in the state rooms.

She said... even if we don't, then she will. But it'll give us a lot of money for the casino.

[ he can't bring himself to care about that right now. ]

[dijun]

[ he takes up a position in front of the door once it's closed, just in case someone decides to follow them. he is going to be HAUNTED by lucas until they're out of here, frankly, but he brought this upon himself. ]

... a troublesome girl as always. [ except it isn't said as fondly as zhongli normally would say it. unfortunately, they... might need to head towards the staterooms anyways. ] At all costs, Laurence, we will do our utmost to ensure your friend's safety in all of this. Perhaps we need not even see him, though we might need to make our way in that direction, regardless.

[ he'll take his phone out and voice to text a message, to akihiko and ali both, so that laurence also gets the update (but, also, he's a slow texter): ]

The Idol last spotted on the Promenade using the elevators to possibly go towards a stateroom.
Security on the ship believes there is an imposter for The Idol running around, but there is only the target, no second individual. If you need to send them on a goose chase you might be able to use this.

[holyspirits]

[ No it's fine, no one thought anything about a maid pulling a guest into a broom closet.

And Lucas is probably fine... It's not like this place seems to erode people's memories and identities or anything... Maybe those girls let him out? Yeah. They seemed competent.

You send out the text. yippee. ]

[outdistanced]

What if we can't? What if he still dies? [ what if it's akihiko and firefly all over again? ] I'm supposed to help that idiot, not...

[ cuts himself off with a groan ugh ugh ugh ]

Let's just - get this over with, I guess.

[dijun]

I will not be giving up before we even try. If we can do something, then we should - Hu Tao, when herself, would never issue an order to kill someone. There must be a source to all of this.

[ if you want to help him then we're helping him!!! even if he's not real!!!!

but. ok. ]

... shall we check the stages, or head towards the staterooms proper?

[holyspirits]

[ :thinking: ]

[outdistanced]

She said it doesn't matter who it is, just that he dies. [ ... ] But okay. We can try.

You said they were headed toward the staterooms, right? We can start there. If we deal with this idol thing, we don't have to worry about the rest at all.

[ he hopes. ]

[dijun]

Mm. If we take care of things, the scenario may end before we even need to worry about it. [ agreeing! he would rather free everyone, real or not, from this terrible situation than have to make laurence get his hands literally bloody.

but ok, he will nod, reaching to open the door. then pausing. and he grabs a broom from this broom closet. ]

You may want to take off your jacket, there, and grab something to help blend in as a maid while we go.

[holyspirits]

[ gives you one more round to see if you are changing before heading out ]

[outdistanced]

Do I really have to...?

[ uuuuuugHGHUGHGhUGH

reluctantly takes the hoodie off. ] You know, I really think we should've looked a little harder for wigs or something. It'd make this disguise thing a lot easier.

[ grabs a stupid mop he hates his life ]

[dijun]

Would that we could, Laurence. I will say that the staff here is not particularly competent, unless you run into a familiar face under their employ - they won't realize.

[ just. throws that out there.

anyways he'll open the door and step aside so laurence can exit, straightening up even more to look like he's just a maid about to set off on some cleaning duty. yeah!! ]

[holyspirits]

[ Off you go! You head to the elevators and take them down? up? Up. I forget my layout. ANYWAY, to the stateroom deck! There should be several stateroom decks but for the purposes of storytelling, there's only one. Wow!

There are a few girls coming and going up and down the hall. There are............ Many rooms. ]