Chatterbox: Pudding's Place

Ski Lodge!

For a second, there is static.

Endless nothingness, with only a strange, scratchy sound to keep you company. 

And then you hear a voice. A grumpy one.

"I don’t think this is going to work, Rose. I hate to break it to you, but your plan’s dumb. Even if we can get this camera, which, might I add, is ANCIENT, to work, what do we do then?"

A figure comes into focus. Two of them, actually. A teenage girl with brown hair, a black and white headband, and an olive green jacket fixes the camera, while a person with short, curly auburn hair and a blue sweater looks angrily at her.

"What did I tell you, Atom?” The girl grins at the camera. “I told you, with a little perseverance, we’d get this thing working. Now we can carry out my AMAZING plan!" She claps her hands and the curly-haired person scowls. The girl turns to the camera and stares—at you.

"Hello there!" She says, and you jump back. "I’m Rose, and this is Atom! We’re talking to you from the Somewhere Hotel!"

"Some hotel this turned out to be,” says the person named Atom. “I truly do not think this is a very good idea. Maybe you’ll convince some people to come, but that will not change the fact that you can’t get Echo to come out of her room—"

"—What Atom means is that we’re inviting you to stay at our wonderful hotel, and the owner, Madam Echo Lunation herself, will be here to greet you!"

"Will she?” Snaps Atom. "Or will one of her colorful personalities be here instead?”

"ENOUGH!” You jump again as Rose yells at Atom. "Everything’s going to be okay, okay, Atom? Now I know you don’t want to believe it, but it is going to get better. These people will help us, as we will help them. So there.”

Rose turns back to you and gives what seems very much like a forced smile. "As Atom has mentioned, our hotel has fallen on some… Tough times. Perhaps you have, too? Maybe you just do not know it. We need a helping hand here, and we’re willing to offer you one in exchange: an exciting adventure here at our extraordinary hotel! What do you think?"

What do you think? Should you go on this adventure and help Rose and Atom and this… Echo character? Do you even have a choice?

You’re thinking when an envelope slips out of your CD player. In it is a strange letter.

"Gotta go—good luck!" Rose’s voice grows staticky and harder to understand. "W-w-w-we’re counting o-on Y—Y—YOU…" the TV shuts off.

You read the letter:

Welcome! To enjoy a completely free 13-Day stay at the Somewhere Hotel, please fill out the following form:

Name:

Pronouns:

Appearance:

Packing list (please note that any silver watches will be confiscated if found):

Personality: 

Lucky number:

Is the glass half full or half empty?:

What do you say at the end of a story?:

Is it going to be okay?:

What’s in the mirror?:

Favorite beverage:

*starts singing Broadway Musical songs*:

You wake up and realize that someone has dyed your hair purple. What’s your reaction?:

Aren’t I so good at writing questions?:

Last, and most important of all… What is your greatest weakness? Something you want to fix about yourself?:

Anything else?:

Hmm. This is quite the puzzler, you think. But what else were you going to do—watch reruns on your TV all night? No. Perhaps this 13-Day stay will do you some good. Besides, it’s a hotel. A weird one, but weird is cool. What could possibly go wrong? You fill out the form and lean back on your couch, ready to start this strange adventure.

~~~

We hope to see you soon!