GUEST SERVICES - HUNTER

[cluedin]

Comments

[cluedin]

That's a very good way of looking at it, yes!

And you all RSVP'd. [That's important.]

[counterclocked]

Eh, debatable. Very debatable.

[But he gets the idea that isn't an argument he'll be winning, so.]

One more question, sorry, but...

[He feels like he's getting a handle on what's going on, so he starts ticking the following off on his fingers.]

Okay. So we got summoned into this mansion where we're all at risk by being possessed by rat monsters and a variety of other stuff that nobody can guess yet, there are mysterious forces stopping us from leaving, there's a recluse who doesn't show their face but is charge of all of this, apparently unexplained things have happened here before, weird things have been happening to our senses and I've seen another version of myself running around...

Am I good in assuming all of this is happening because we're in a haunted house?

[cluedin]

Well you're right that all of that's happened so far...[But that seems to be where her thought trails off.]

[counterclocked]

Darn. There goes my poltergeist theory, I really liked that one.

[please]

[cluedin]

You've been keeping up pretty well so far, Hunter. I'm sure that won't be the last theory you have.

[counterclocked]

Right.

[After a moment:]

Hey, I know I said one more question, but... I feel kind of bad, going on about where I'm from and not asking you. I know you've said you've worked here for a while, but what were you doing before all this?

[cluedin]

Why feel bad? I'm the one who asked and your school sounds interesting even if it's...kind of scary. [Haha. But she swishes her tail a bit at the question.]

We've been working for Master Blue for a long time, but everything before that isn't really that important, I guess. Nothing memorable, at least.

[counterclocked]

Still, nobody likes to hear someone go on and on about themselves and not get the chance to talk, right?

[And that's part of why he tilts his head, curious.]

Really? Not where you grew up, or your friends from before?

[cluedin]

I guess not, but I don't mind if you do. I like learning about our guests and it's not like you're actually talking too much.

[Storytime with Hunter is nice and only mildly weird. She shakes her head though.]

I didn't really have a lot of friends before, and this mansion's been our home for so long anyway.

[counterclocked]

[He gives her a smile in response to that first statement, and then he's moving on to another curious look.]

How'd you get this job in the first place, then?

[cluedin]

Master Blue has known us for a long time. When the Master realized having help around the house was necessary...we came to stay. It kind of worked out to benefit all of us. We have room and board and in exchange Master Blue has us kind of as liaisons to help during the events.

[counterclocked]

Sounds like it would be a pretty good arrangement if this place wasn't... You know, the way it is. Was he a friend of the family or something?

[cluedin]

More or less. It's more of a favor than anything but Master Blue has always been very kind to us. I don't mind being here even with the disturbances in the house.

[counterclocked]

I mean, if you're working for him it isn't really a favor, is it?

[cluedin]

Why can't it be both a job and a favor?

[counterclocked]

I guess I kind of think of a favor as something you should be paying back, which... You’ve already done if you’re working for him. If that makes sense. Sorry, it’s probably none of my business...

[cluedin]

No it's okay! I get why you think that...but maybe we just think of them a little differently. That's okay, isn't it?

[counterclocked]

It’d be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything.

[He has to wonder why she considers it a favor, but he can figure that out later, probably.]

[cluedin]

Good point. [Hunter's a good boy and someday maybe he'll learn things.]

...I'm surprised you're in here, by the way. [Considering this was linked to the crime scene this weekend.]

[counterclocked]

Ah, yeah, well...

[He hesitates, rubbing at the back of his neck.]

Sorry, I feel like whatever I could say is pretty morbid.

[cluedin]

Have you seen the rest of the house? [There's a light laugh.] Try me.

[counterclocked]

[He smiles, though it’s a little uncomfortable.]

It’s just... There aren’t that many rooms that aren’t bedrooms, right? If the rules are right about the once a week thing and I started avoiding areas where something like this has happened, I’m going to run out of places to go pretty quick.

[cluedin]

When you put it like that, it makes a lot of sense. [Like. That would mean eventually Hunter's just locked in his room.] It's probably better not to be afraid of the rooms in this house anyway.

[counterclocked]

Right.

[Hm.]

After five thousand years, everything that’s happening now must seem pretty normal to you, huh?

[cluedin]

You could say that. There isn't a lot that we haven't seen from our guests in the last several years. But at the same time there's always something new to learn.