maskormenacelogs | [CLOSED] Psycho Killer, Qu'est-ce que c'est

WHO: Bela Talbot and James March
WHERE: Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Forward dated to Friday 13th
WHAT: Murder most foul!
WARNINGS: Gore, violence and death

Bela wasn't at all superstitious. She didn't find it unlucky to walk underneath ladders or worry about a black cat crossing her path. There were far more dangerous and very real things that existed in her world. Still, Friday the 13th had a kind of ominous ring to it, popularized by movies and lore; it doesn't stop Bela from working late though. She leaves around 11pm, contemplating a brief stop at a bar before heading home. The air was cold and crisp, but at least it was dry. Bela pulls her jacket tight around herself, then shoves her hands into her pockets. She may need to invest in a pair of gloves soon.

Ahead of her was the Hotel Castile. She's been there at least once, remembering a party of some sorts. Maybe they wouldn't mind Bela dropping in for a quick drink despite not being a hotel guest - her money was still good. She heads towards it, picking up her pace a little because it was cold and a warm coat would probably do her better than a jacket.

When Bela reaches the front door she stops, unsure if the hotel was open or not. Looking up she can see a faint, glowing light coming from one of the windows. Huh. Someone had to be in. She knocks on the door a few times, figuring it was both the polite and right thing to do.

If no one answers in a reasonable time she'll have no problem in heading on home.

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The hotel indeed is open, always and forever. That door knocking is answered by bell hop. He looks like he just woke up and arches an eyebrow at Bela before he opens the door fully and gestures for her to come inside.

"Room, bar, or a quick looksie around? We charge daily. 'Less you fuck things up, then it's hourly charge, if you're lucky. The Master doesn't take too nice to disrespect."

This would, perhaps, sound sinister, if not for the nearly bored way the explanation comes out. He lights a cigarette as he speaks, every bit of this very much normal and mundane parts of the hotel. Nothing to worry about, no sir.

Honestly, Bela didn't know what to expect when the door opened. Well. Perhaps she expected someone a bit more enthusiastic but maybe he didn't really enjoy working at the hotel.

"Bar." She replies quickly, stepping a bit further inside the building. "I'm only here for a few drinks. Something to take the chill out of my bones."

The words seem like they were pre-rehearsed, put together by the owner of the hotel to deliver to every single customer who walked through the door; perfectly normal by her estimate. Most establishments had a spiel.

"Don't worry, I'll be well-behaved. I don't make a habit of destroying property."

"Appreciate it," comes the smoke-laden reply, bell hop changing course to walk her to the bar. "Not really in the mood to be cleaning shit up, y'know?"

He winks. The friendly, relating sort of wink, not the uncomfortable, too-friendly sort. There's a pep in his step now even as he sidles up behind the bar itself and moves to wash his hands.

"What'll you be starting with to get that chill out?"

In one dark corner, mostly out of sight, there's a pair of lovers who are likely going to need to move to their room in the next fifteen minutes or so. Nothing unusual. Other than that, Bela appears to be the only one popping by at this hour. For the moment, anyway.

She nods. Bela would feel exactly the same way if someone messed up her shop. Which some people did over a month ago, pissing Bela off rightly.

Taking a seat at the bar, Bela rests her arms on the counter and waits for him to finish up washing his hands. "A whiskey please. Neat." It seemed to be her go to drink now, rather than wine. Whiskey hit her quicker too - kind of the point if Bela wanted to feel warm.

Bela looks around the surrounding area, noticing the couple. Not something she wants to see or hear whilst she was trying to enjoy a quiet drink. Turning back to him, she smiles.

"Thanks for letting me in by the way. I'll tip you well."

A whiskey neat started up immediately after hands were clean, the bottle he plucked out covered in a fine layer of dust. Bela was getting the good stuff tonight.

"That's sure sweet of you," came rather than any thanks, and the bell hop turned bartender poured one for himself as well. Why not? She didn't seem like the type to go tattling and it didn't matter either way. This was a very particular night. Appetites had to be filled and, so far, they were starved. "You looked at the date at all today?"

Did she know? Did she come to play, or to be played?

Bela picked up the glass and swirled the liquid around for a few moments before taking a sip. After seeing him pour one for himself Bela failed to hide her amusement; did the Master know that his employees were prone to sampling a little of the merchandise for themselves?

She wouldn't tell on him though. She wasn't a rat.

"The date?" Bela repeated, confused for a moment. Then it hit her. "Oh. Right. It's Friday the 13th. Honestly, I'm not a superstitious person at all so it doesn't really bother me. This is just like any other Friday." Another sip.

"Why do you ask?"

Not superstitious at all, well then. Poor thing has come to just the right place. Not that he'd say as much or even give it away bodily. No. He continues to sample the merchandise and shrugs, letting out a relieved noise through clenched teeth.

"Had some weirdos come in all dressed up earlier." Weirdos, truly he is one to judge. "A witch and a skellyton and a mummy, a couple punks. Good night to be careful s'all."

A warning given without any real meat to it. He's not afraid of anything outside these walls, is too close to danger to have much fear left, so it comes across as a head's up more than an actual cautionary tale.

If Bela was in any way concerned about them, she has a funny way of showing it. People dressed up in costumes don't really bother her. She smiles, as amused as before.

"They must be really eager for Halloween. A bit premature of them, but I'll keep an eye out for any weirdos lurking around." Bela takes some more of her whiskey: the glass is almost empty now so she'll need a top-up soon.

It does strike her as odd that he'd bring it up at all; did she have a reason to be concerned for her safety in the hotel? Or was this part of the experience of being here?

"There doesn't seem to be a lot of staff around. Is that typical?"

Bela's glass doesn't have time to get empty at all. He's on it, topping her off and topping himself off. They are gonna be fast pals at this rate.

"Typical here. Master don't keep more staff on hand than he's gotta. He's a bit stingy." This is imparted as a secret, whispered low while eyes dart about as if this Master may appear at any moment to give him The Look. "S'different for me, anyways. I live here."

So he feels less bothered drinking with guests. His stingy landlord won't lose money by kicking him out, perish the thought. See? He's a smart fella.

It seemed strange to her to not have enough staff to cover - the hotel wasn't exactly small and no one could expect the staff to work a double shift, right? Even Bela wouldn't be that bad to an employees, even though she only had one, and they worked part time.

"I can't imagine living in the same place I work in." She comments, taking a sip from her freshly topped off drink. "Surely you're allowed some time off? A chance to take a vacation?"

Unless the Master was really stingy and didn't offer a lot of benefits for his in house staff. The bell hop isn't exactly painting him in the best of light.

"Oh yeah. Don't get me all twisted, now. The Master helped me when I was in a bit of trouble, see, but that don't mean he's gonna get out of my overall charming personality," he clarified, gesturing to himself as if to encompass this so-called charm. "He's not a bad guy."

This isn't a lie; March is a fucking monster, worse than a bad guy. The bellhop shrugs and pulls out a pack of cheap menthol cigarettes, sticking one in his mouth and offering to Bela should she want one as well. That couple extracts from their dark corner, running out into the hall with peals of laughter that give away exactly what they're running off to go do.

The light above the bar flicker. Once, twice; her bartender looks up with raised brow, less curious and more I see this shit's happening again.

"Not a bad guy, hm."

She politely refuses the cigarette with a wave of her hand, taking another sip from her glass instead. Alcohol was her main vice when it came down to it, not smoking; Bela didn't have the taste for the latter. Now that the couple had moved on and out of the area she felt like she could have some proper peace to think. A quiet conversation with her friendly bartender.

Her gaze is quickly drawn up towards the flickering light, watching it for a moment. In her world flickering lights wasn't usually a good sign, but this was not her world. The wiring was dodgy, that was a reasonable explanation, right?

But his expression didn't exactly inspire confidence.

"Does that happen often? The lights?"

[CLOSED] Psycho Killer, Qu'est-ce que c'est

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