Chapter Text
Contestants disappearing wasn’t common, of course, but it wasn’t something anyone would usually fret over. Marshmallow had vanished while season two was still going on, and soon, so did Apple, though she was already eliminated. The others were able to connect the dots. After all, they weren’t required to stay at hotel OJ, and it could get rather loud there sometimes…
MePhone himself had gone missing before, though he always returned. Even when he was away for a while, hosting season three, he eventually came back. And he hasn’t left since, taking up a room in hotel OJ with the rest of the contestants, both eliminated ones and ones still in the game.
However, when five contestants disappeared at once without a trace… MePhone couldn’t ignore that.
And that led to him, OJ, and Cabby meeting up around noon in the kitchen, hopefully out of earshot of the others. Sure, they would probably notice the absences, but they didn’t want anyone to panic. OJ sat politely in a chair, Cabby had wheeled herself up next to him, and MePhone leaned against the counter, sighing.
“So,” MePhone began, “I’m sure you all are aware of why I would like to talk with you.” Cabby and OJ nodded in response. Clearing his throat, he continued.
“As we all know, five residents at this hotel had gone missing sometime between last night and this morning, those people being…” Mephone glanced down at the list in his hand, “Fan, Lightbulb, Suitcase, Balloon, and Silver Spoon. I called you two here hoping that maybe one of you would have any idea of the reasoning behind this.”
OJ propped his head up on his hand, his elbow resting on his leg. Cabby on the other hand, immediately went to her files, pulling out one for each of the missing people. OJ began to speak first.
“Well I saw Balloon go in his room last night… And same with Silver. I wasn’t near the others’ rooms though.” OJ sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. This getting out would do a number on the hotel’s reviews. And not only that, now there would be an uneven number of towels used! Just the thought alone made OJ shudder.
“Hmm… Well I know Fan and Lightbulb are close,” Cabby began, scanning over her files, “Suitcase and Fan are at least friends, I believe. Balloon and Suitcase are friends and… Well, Silver is friends with a few of them, but not with any especially strong connections, I’d say. It all just seems too random for the five of them to get up and leave somewhere together. And I doubt Silver would want to leave the hotel, seeing how nice it is… The only one I could really see wanting to leave would be Balloon, but he’s tried so hard just to get in that it’s highly unlikely.”
MePhone sat there for a moment, processing the information he just heard. Cabby was right, it was all so random… But maybe there was another reason it was those five?
“How about this,” MePhone began, “OJ, you go talk to the missing people’s roommates; Cabby, you look through your files some more, try to find anything that could have been attributed to this. We can meet back up after lunch to discuss our findings and… what to tell the others.”
OJ nodded before hurrying off, while Cabby didn’t leave right away. Instead, she held eye contact with MePhone.
“And what are you going to be doing?” She asked. MePhone sighed. No one really trusted him after the whole “season four” thing and… well he supposed he really couldn’t blame them.
“I…” MePhone paused. He wasn’t quite sure what he himself would do to help. He sort of just gave the other two tasks while he sat back.
This is why he thought you were useless.
MePhone pushed down the lingering thoughts and focused back on Cabby. In his mind, he settled on something he could do. And something he needed to check.
“I’m… I’m gonna do a headcount… Just to make sure we’re not missing anyone else. Or someone came back.” And with that, MePhone left, leaving Cabby to sit there alone.
She sat there for a moment, before she sighed and wheeled out of the kitchen. She supposed he was right, maybe she would find something helpful if she searched deeper in her files…
✩✩✩
MePhone walked down the hall swiftly, others around him glancing towards him then stepping out of his way as he plowed through. Usually he preferred to walk at a relaxing pace, but he didn’t have time for that now. He needed to see if they were safe.
“Woah, MePhone! Where are you going in such a hurry?” The Floor slid up next to him, somehow matching his brisk pace. Even though he wasn’t who he was looking for, MePhone felt himself relax slightly at the sight of him.
“You’re safe,” MePhone blurted out without thought. Before Floory could question his reaction, he quickly spoke again. “Have you seen Bot?”
“Oh, them? Yeah, I think I saw them in the other room, watching a show with some others.” Floory gave MePhone a concerned look. “Are you alright? You seem tense.”
“I’m fine.” MePhone spun around and zipped down the hall before Floory could follow him. He turned into the doorway the moment he reached the main room, rushing in.
A few people shot him some weird looks, but that wasn’t important. The only thing that he cared about right now was Bot, who, thankfully, was sitting on the couch, wedged between Yin-Yang and Goo. Bot, upon noticing MePhone, looked up and smiled at him.
“Oh, I didn’t see you yet today,” Bot began, kicking their feet back and forth, their default leg length being too short to touch the floor. They waved him over, and he approached, albeit, rather awkwardly. “Wanna sit with us? We’re watching The Trowel House .”
MePhone was relieved for a moment, and almost said yes, when he realized he had a job to do. He waved back, giving Bot a smile.
“Sorry, I need to do something,” He replied, “But if I have time later, I wouldn’t mind.” Bot shrugged and turned their focus back to the TV.
MePhone quickly generated a clipboard, paper, and pencil, before he wrote down a list of all the hotel’s residents. Checking off the names of those and the room, he glanced back one more time before he slipped back through the doorway.
Before looking for the others, MePhone walked back to his room, flopping down face-first onto his bed. He groaned into the fabric, and he was genuinely considering beating his fists against the mattress. But before he could have a full on breakdown, he heard the door open behind him.
“MePhone?” It was Floory again, of course. He seemed to care about MePhone in a way that wasn’t comprehendable to him. After everything…
“Hey.” MePhone felt Floory sit down on the bed next to where he lay. Feeling a hand run gently through his hair finally coaxed him to turn his head and look at his friend.
“Are you alright? You ran off rather quickly earlier, and I was worried.” Floory’s furrowed brow backed up his concern, causing MePhone to sigh. He wasn’t getting out of this without an answer.
“I’m fine… just tired.” MePhone hoped that would be a good enough reply. Well it must’ve been at least satisfactory, because Floory didn’t ask anymore questions, merely letting out a low hum while he ran his hand through MePhone’s hair.
“You’ll be alright,” Floory assured him, “I’m sure of it.”