Chapter 231: The Residents

In a couple of minutes, the boys were quick on gathering evidence. Solomon was quick in figuring out that small holes existed in different corners of certain rooms, as well as being hidden underneath some carpets and rugs. Zazel was exploring one of the Bathrooms, attempting to cast sigils in the area to see if anything would react. One of his sigils was quick on catching the mirror, noticing that there was a slight shift in its reflection. Quickly disabling it, he would raise up his hand and press his fingernail towards it, being shown the slight shift again, not touching each other at all. Stolas was quick in observing the kitchen, opening cabinets and drawers to find standard food items. What he was met instead was of more holes, as well as an eye in one of them, prompting a shout and a star straight into it, forcing the eye to fall back. Harvard was quick on investigating the doors, quickly noticing that, aside from a standard door lock and a latch to hold them firm, there wasn't much security made to protect them. It doesn't help either that said locks and latches are rusted, being capable of snapping open without any need of extra force.

"Ok....this place is not trustworthy in the slightest. One Way mirrors, Holes in the floor, Shoddy security...this place REEKS Privacy Invasion." Harvard would comment, meeting with his friends back into the living room, slowly piecing together that these guests aren't keen on protecting their people. "Oi, Gobbo, Do you have the contract still? The one that you signed away for your friends." He would ask, prompting Gabriel to try and search himself for any certificates, before slowly shaking his head at the lack of such. Such a response prompted an annoyed look, but Harvard focused back at the task at hand.

"Not only that, but it's more than likely they don't seem to try and hide the fact they're watching us. Must've been because of how Gobbo kept observing us the first time we saw him, No offense, King." Zazel would comment, to which Gabriel was taken aback, the makeshift crown nearly toppling over and getting itself tied to his hair.

"I VERY MUCH TAKE IT AS OFFENSE! I AM NOT SOME SORT OF SPY ON ALL OF YOU! I have standards, you know!" He'd complain, before realizing something and offered his own piece. "Hmmmm...Hold on a moment. Are you saying they're....mirroring what I am? Right now? One to one?" Such a question was, at first, nonsensical, before Solomon picked up his idea and tried to answer back.

"Wait, That could be it! These guys must be following the same logic he is! The whole overdramatic stuff, the constant observation. There's a connection. We're gonna need to head out soon and see how else they behave, if we want to get to the bottom of this. With any luck, we could be able to try and snag one in order to bring them back to their normal selves....provided they don't lose their eyes during the transformation." Solomon's words quickly sparked something within the other three, recognizing the plan almost immediately, before having all four be hugged by Gabriel, his trash-like clothing nearly stabbing into the children with the sharp metals and crumpled papers, sobbing in glee as he heard such words.

"YOU'RE GONNA CURE THEM!? Oh, Happy days! Happy days indeed~! Please, by any means, bring them back! I want to see their faces again! I want to pick them up and hug them after the suffering they must've gone through! I'll apologize to them in such a way, Yes, Yes! Just pleeeeeease bring them back..." He would plead, much to the disturbance of the children.

"ALRIGHT, Alright! Just....don't be so sentimental, dude. Also, try to keep your voice down. Remember, they'd wanna watch us over just as much as you did. They're one to one with you, remember that detail. It's gonna come up a lot, so we're gonna need you to ensure it doesn't get us screwed over." Solomon would interject, grabbing Gabriel by his head and pushing him away, having everyone break free. Harvard and Stolas would be quick on going first, opening the lock and latch as they'd make their way to the left, allowing them to explore more parts of the Hotel. Solomon and Zazel would take the opposite side, keeping an eye out for the staff members and searching the right, following such members to see where they go, what they do, and how they're doing it. As they split up, both parties would take notice of their given objective, keeping a closer look than ever to understand their thought process and movements.

Stolas and Harvard would investigate downstairs, watching as the lighting gets lower and lower. More and more holes were visible in the area, giving off an illuminating light. Getting closer to them revealed that they were lanterns, hoisted up on hooks, as well as having a concave glass fixed onto it, allowing the light to spread out even further, providing them a chance to see what lies below. Cracks were somewhat visible across the walls, but they never were connected to such cavities in the structure itself. The two slowly pieced together what their magic could be, but focused on going downstairs further, reaching into a basement-like region. Solomon and Zazel, meanwhile, explored at the lounge and dining area, with a mass of dust coating the seats and tables. They quickly hid themselves under one of them as they paid attention towards the staff members going in and out at the doors, still carrying their respective pattern, still lacking in most of their facial features. When the boys snuck across the tables, using the shadow as cover, they would be able to hear conversations between them.

"They seem to be paying attention. They're mocking our establishment, I'm sure of it. All of these webs and loose splinters..." One would say, having a polka-dot cloak in black and white.

"Pay nothing to it. Soon, they will think it's still a quaint living space. They're not going to take assumptions too early now. Just provide them what they need and make sure they're not doing anything suspicious..." another responded, sporting a cloak with patterns of a wolf's body chasing after itself. The two boys nearly chuckled to themselves, considering who was with them. They quickly sauntered over the counter and into the kitchen, maintaining their distance and keeping watch, keeping as much of an eye out as possible to whatever they may do next.