(PrP) The Cat's Meow

[Hector]

<<Big Den of No Pack... grrr... Ho-Tel! Curious>>

Hector struggled with the limitations of his lupine form. His body language rapidly grew as cagy and careful as Chris; his head swivelled from side to side, bringing in both the Irakka and the Elodoth into his conversation. Not to play favourite, he let his narrowed eyes seek out Viola. Hopefully his body language would pass on the context of his feelings and suspicions.

<<Wonder what a Bell Hop is doing out in the... yards. Another thought for pack: perhaps we make this Bell Hop our totem instead?>>

Hector mused aloud for a moment, letting himself slouch onto his haunches given their progress had apparently stopped. The Cahalith looked about him; he watched the to- and fro- of the hub; he inhaled deeply the aroma of the picture perfect dream made whole and lifelike in the Shadow Realm.

And then the Bell Hop spoke again, calling out to its superiors.

Hector didn't wait for his pack's response. Limbs surging, the Cahalith was upright and muscling his way forward so he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder (well, kind of, it was more of a head in front) with Odie. He was Alpha, after all. Any talk should go through him, right?

[Tristan Hardt]

So this place isn't at open war, per-se, but it's still pretty tense. Spirits are weird creatures... the kind that'll eat each other as soon as combine with one another into something new. Sometimes the latter happens because of the former. But where does the laughing voice fit into all of this? If it is alone among this roiling alien landscape, it must truly be a survivor.

But here in this 'hotel', they're likely about to be greeted by a spirit more powerful than Bell Hop. Mouth full of discarded bag, Tristan-wolf has to drop it at his feet before attempting to speak. <<Totem should offer strength, Alpha. Bell Hop only offers service.>> he growls, in a very matter-of-fact assessment. Speaking of Bell Hop... whatever purpose he serves here and whatever he serves might make itself known. But Tristan doesn't feel like sitting in silence to find out.

<<Bell Hop! I have bag. You may take it, if you tell me of this place.>>

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-24 19:43:35		Tristan Hardt rolls 7 to Manip 2 + Persuasion 3 + Spirit Envoy 2 (10 Again)		1, 2, 8, 7, 6, 1, 4		1 success

[Saber Sloth]

The Hotel is as familiar as it is foreign, the denizens following their patterns and purposes easily for they are clearly laid out. ...for those that walk them.

Bell Hop's loop is interrupted by the Elodoth's words, the presentation of his 'bag'.

<<Another Guest!>> the Spirit turns to Tristan-wolf, rings its bell <<This is the Hotel! Guests are brought here to stay!>> said with blithe cheer, reaching for the bag as it had done Odie's. <<This way!>> it says before resuming its path, towards the desk in the center if the far wall.

[Chris Laurent]

Ears flatten as the Alpha suggests the Bell-Hop as a possible totem. Disdain rolls off of Chris as an odd mix of wolf and human mannerisms. There's obeying an Alpha...then there's whatever the hell this thing is. The Irraka moves to stand near the rear of the pack, both to watch the back and to be the battering ram out if needed.

He gives a hearty huff of agreement as Tristan shares his own thoughts on Bell-Hop as a totem. Chris's head drops an inch as the spirit beckons them further inside. Eyes continuing to watch around the pack, not trusting the place they had walked into so easily.

[Hector]

See. This is what happens with an inexperienced Alpha.

For a moment, embarrassment rolls of Hector as the thoughts of his pack mates are made known.

<<Fair points>> The Cahalith grunted.

He didn't get chance to say much else as the Bell Hop chirped triumphantly and made for the desk. Hector's eyes widened as the weight of the words 'Guests are bought here to stay' played through his mind. However, he was committed, and padded after the trilling spirit on the last leg of their journey.

<<We finish this>>

Hector was Frasil Luhal. Iron Master. And he wanted to know the lay of the land, its territories, and personalities in the Shadow Realm that overlapped his pack's territory. Knowledge was power, after all.

[Tristan Hardt]

The Tristan-wolf gives a human nod of his head, acknowledging the spirit's explanation. A simple one, which could very well be as straightforward as it sounds. Bell Hop seems more automaton than any creature he's met on the other side. But, such are spirits. Alien in nature. Hell, his own nature might be tied to them through birth and rite, but his mind is still human. He watches the creature drift towards the desk, but does not follow.

Hector's voice rings out again, in agreement. Thankfully. Tristan doesn't feel the least bit guilty for offering his opinion, either.

But the newly christened Alpha does what an Alpha should, afterwards: he makes a command. You don't have to know everything to lead, but you do have to make decisions. Tristan eyes the Iron Master and dips his head a little.

He needs to know what - if anything - the Bell Hop will offer next, but in the mean time? The grey wolf keeps his eyes and ears open for any sudden changes or new arrivals.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-30 20:09:40		Tristan Hardt rolls 11 to Wits 4 + Composure 3 + Urhan to stay alert (10 Again)		1, 3, 7, 6, 8, 7, 4, 2, 7, 6, 7		1 success

[Saber Sloth]

Patiently, cautiously, the Pack waits and watches. Bell-Hop dosen't seem to care or notice that the wolves, it's Guests, haven't followed it up to the massive yet unmanned desk. Depositing the bags, with a ring of its bell before it drifts away, back out into the mimicry of streets.

The Uratha wait and watch. Senses directed to the massive desk that Bell-Hop approached. A fixed structure within this Hotel.

There is no one behind the desk.

But each of the watchful Uratha notice that the desk is not a desk.

Monumental in scope, wooden panels attempt to keep to a desk like shape, failing miserably as spiralling grey cords attached to bases and receivers both criss-cross over the length and breadth of the plains.

Telephone lights blink on and off, the Rolodex sitting atop if it all, whirls and winds.

Above it all is a voice repeating in time with the lights flashing, <<You've reached The Hotel, please hold,>>

There is still time to go back the way you came, The Desk hasn't noticed you yet...

[Chris Laurent]

Silence sounds as Chris quietly stays at the rear of the pack. His massive wolf head tracks Bell-Hop as the spirits wanders back out of the hotel. Lips curl back to show teeth as the spirit disappears back outside. Yep, useless. Yet the Irraka remains silent. Disagreeing with the Alpha was enough for now.

That desk though. Something isn't right. Then it speaks. Well shit. The Talon's tail stills. And Chris stills with it. Body tense, waiting.