► Upon receiving the message, and deciding to leave for the resort, you had to pack a suitcase. What did you bring with you?
--*--
Knowing that I'll be staying at a very popular resort, I start to pack my suitcase full of essentials. First I pack all the clothes I'll need, anything from underwear and tank tops and shorts to jackets and pajamas and sweatpants, so that I know I'm prepared no matter what kind of weather there is. Of course to go with all the clothes I also pack a couple different types of shoes, sandals and sneakers, and my deodorant. I don't pack my boots since I'll be wearing them out. I also bring a few pairs of swim trunks because I'm dearly hoping there's a pool!
From there I pack other essentials, like toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo and conditioner, just the main list of travel items everyone should take along. I also pack a flashlight with some extra batteries and a rope because who knows what kind of weird situations people could get in.
There are things I debate like matches and scissors but I don't want to be stopped anywhere and told I have a weapon, so I skip those.
I pack away my laptop, which comes on long trips with me everywhere I go, though I have my own laptop bag to keep it in so it stays separate from my suitcase. Along with my own leisurely items is a drawing book I can also use as a journal, and several pencils and pens in a small baggy tucked away for drawing and writing.
After this the only thing left to pack is plenty of water and snacks, and I do so with no hesitation. I love food too much to skip out on it.
I stuff my cash and card in my wallet and make sure I have my I.D. and phone on me, and walk out wearing a shirt, sweatpants, a light jacket, and my boots. My wallet hangs around my neck and my sunglasses rest up on my head, and as my laptop bag hangs over my shoulder, I wheel out my suitcase and hope I have everything I'm going to need. Some of my companions are in charge of my apartment while I'm gone, and I hope no one lets anything go to shit while I'm away. It's with hugs and goodbyes that I head out the door towards this so called "Doki-Doki Resort."
--*--
► Traveling can be long and boring. How did you arrive at the island? ( Sleep on a train? Play sudoku on a plane? Listen to music on an Akumu pulled carriage? )
--*--
I don't live anywhere close to the resort, so I take a taxi to the airport, knowing that plane will be the best way to get there. I am a seasoned traveler and am used to planes, so I arrive at the airport at least a few hours in advance so I can have time to get through security and down to my gate.
After all the checking in, the security, eating and waiting at the gate, listening to music on my phone, and finally, eventually being called to board the plane, I settle in and do what I do on any flight. I look at the tiny screen on the back of the seat in front of me and I play Bejeweled until I just can't take it any longer. It's a good thing I love Bejeweled and have a high tolerance for long flights, because it eats away at my time. I listen to music the whole flight, and try to rest and relax. I order apple juice when the flight attendants roll the carts by our seats, and eventually the flight comes to an end, and getting up to stretch feels reaaally nice.
I get off the plane and grab the train away from the terminal to baggage claim, pick up my suitcase, and head out of the airport, catching a bus that's going to the resort. I spend my time on the bus just looking out the window at the scenery.
--*--
► Upon arrival, you received a room key. Describe the resort and your room.
--*--
I am not surprised this resort is so popular just by the looks of it.
Beautiful, pearly white marble flooring, a chandelier in the lobby that shrieks "expensive," and everyone who works here looks so classy. There's beautiful lounging areas with white and red furniture around, plush, velvety couches, and even the area where the continental breakfast must be every morning looks extremely high class. A piano sits to one side, waiting for someone to play it. I'm not actually sure how I afforded to stay at such a place, but looking at the beautiful lobby around me, I feel more like I'm in a dream than a real hotel--excuse me, resort.
It actually takes a minute for me to remember that I actually won a trip to stay here and am not paying for it, and even then I have to wonder if this whole setup could /really/ be free. It's so beautiful and high-class I just can't imagine that this is all free.
Everything is lined in gold filigree, and I'm so mesmerized just by the lobby it takes me a moment to realize I'm supposed to go to my room to drop my luggage.
When I do get to my room though, it's just as nice. A white headboard and bedskirt to go with golden pillows and comforter, beautifully hanging golden chandeliers, and soft, warm yellow walls lined in white borders. The wooden bedside tables are a dark rosewood which look to have been hand-carved before being stained. They have black and gold lamps on them, and there's a television in front of the bed that's a nice high definition flat-screen. Even the bathroom has nicer towels than the small, thin towels you get at most hotels, a beautiful marble counter top and the same pearly marble flooring that was in the lobby.
There's a small table with a chair in the room for working on a laptop like mine, or just for decoration maybe, I'm not sure, and there's a mini fridge and microwave and coffee pot all set up in an area towards the door, tucked away neatly so as not to disturb the aura of such a beautiful room.
I'm not sure if I feel like I deserve to be here.
--*--
► In your room, you find a brochure with various events going on around the island. What event(s) are you most excited for?
--*--
As I'm looking at the brochure I found on my bed, I can't help but smile at a few of the happenings around the island. It looks like there's a surfing class of some sort for those of us who never learned how, and since I just adore swimming I can't help but want to learn immediately. And of course I'm sure there's a beach gift shop nearby somewhere where I can get one of those cool spray-on t-shirts that I used to get all the time as a kid.
There's an area of the island that seems more like a jungle listed in the brochure for canopy zip-lining, and more than anything else in the brochure I'm interested in doing that. I've zip-lined only once before in my life and never on a vacation, it had just been a day out, but I've always wanted to zip-line high up in the canopies of a jungle. I'm so fixated on this and this alone that I actually forget the rest of the brochure exists, and I make a note that I have got to ask the hotel staff downstairs about signing up for the canopy zip-lining.
I do wonder though... I don't see it in the brochure, but I have to wonder if there's any sort of dance classes you can take on this island. I'm not sure why I want to do this specifically on this trip, but I can't help but think a dance class at night on the beach or something would be a lot of fun. It's another thing I'll have to ask about when I go to the lobby later.
--*--
► In your room, you find coupons for a cafe in the resort. Somewhat hungry, you decide to take a look. What kind of food does the cafe offer?
--*--
As I'm sitting on my bed, I pick up the coupons, a little bit nervous. With such a fancy hotel I'm expecting everything on their menu to be super pricey, but somehow I afforded to stay here so maybe it won't be that bad? At least that's what I'm hoping.
Taking a look at the coupons, I end up taking in a sigh of relief. They do offer more fancy foods and pricier things that I overlook, but they also offer more simple selections like sandwiches and soups and bagels and pastries. Sandwiches even come with chips, it looks like! Chips!
My stomach growls at the thought of a delicious sandwich or some soup right about now, and I decide it's time that I definitely go and grab a bite to eat.
--*--
► While walking around the resort, you find many posters with this symbol on them. Apparently, some 'shady' individuals have been spotted near by. Should you be worried?
--*--
After grabbing some food from the cafe, which was absolutely delicious, I must say, I decide to wander around the resort for awhile. I'm so fascinated with everything I see, with the beautiful pool outside, the tiki torches starting to light up for the night, that I barely notice the posters at first. It's as I'm walking a particularly long hallway that I start to see them. They're everywhere, and I hadn't even glanced at them before.
Blinking, I step towards the wall and take a close look at the poster. As a member of The Runeland Judgment Group, I furrow my eyebrows seeing my group's symbol tacked up everywhere. It's only when I read the words under our symbol that I understand.
It seems like maybe other people in this hotel aren't just members of the Judgment Group, or maybe there's some sort of foul play going on somewhere on the island. I wouldn't say I'm scared, but it does make me a little wary.
From here on out, I make a note to keep aware of my surroundings and everything happening in the resort and wherever I go. If I spot anything suspicious I'll be sure to tell someone, and I make another small note to lock my door to my room and keep my curtains to my windows shut at night for safety. I don't want anyone stealing my things, or worse, trying to hurt me for some reason.
My nerves are going to keep me aware and on the lookout this whole trip, I'm afraid, but I won't be deterred from having fun on this vacation!
--*--
► On the way back to your room, you notice that the resorts front desk has a bowl on it, full of small, cute shaped candies, with a sign that says 'help yourself!'. How many do you take?
--*--
While heading back to my room, I have to pass by the front desk, and I notice the bowl of candies sitting there and wonder if I just didn't notice them before when I was so awed by the resort itself. I blink at the receptionist(is she a receptionist? what title do you give these people?) at the front desk, and step up to look at the bowl. I notice all the cute colors and shapes of the candy, and originally I just take one, happily staring at the piece of candy in my hand.
When I look back at the bowl, though, there are so many other cute shapes and they're all in different colors and I wonder if all the flavors are different and I just want them all. I glance back at the woman working on her computer, making sure she's not watching, before taking another piece of candy, a different shape and color this time. I continue to do this until I have four candies, each a different shape and color than the last, and I tell myself I need to stop.
I tuck them away in my pocket so no one will see, and I feel like some dirty thief and scrunch up my nose at myself. But the candies did say I could help myself, right..?
I try not to think about it or be bothered by it as I head back to my room.
Ragaki-Runeland -
Congratulations! You have won a trip to Doki Doki Island- the most popular tourist destination in all of the Runelands!