Room 5 (Press)
“What happened to my Inn while I was away?” Lukas asked in surprise when he entered the main lobby. “Autolycus!” He yelled.
“Yes.” A voice behind the counter answered. An old man appeared. His hands under the ink. “I don’t know what this is,” Autolycus said while overlooking the lobby. “Polites is busy cleaning it, I believe.”
“I’ll need a few more cleaners before this is cleared, though.” A man in a maids outfit said. “Where did this even come from?” His face was covered in inkstains.
“I can only think of one room that could produce this much paper and ink.” Autolycus said. “The press room must be broken.”
“Broken!” a new voice said loudly. “There is more paper here than sand in the desert for Ra’s sake.” A green skinned man walked around a stack of paper. His white robes were covered in ink. “We pay you so much each day, and yet it’s possible to have a broken room?!” The man asked.
“Osiris, not now.” Lukas said while rapidly thinking. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this” He thought seconds before he addressed the God. “If you help Polites and me clean up this mess, I’ll clean, steam and fold your clothes for free.” The Innkeeper said.
“And I don’t pay rent for today.” The God responded.
“You’ve got to be kidding me… Fine. No rent for you today.” Lukas answered defeated. “Just start cleaning.”
Autolycus started cleaning up the desk. Lukas and Polites started at the back and worked their way forward while Osiris started at his room.
“What do we do with the paper?” Autolycus asked. “They’re covered in ink and it looks like some have a form of handwriting on them.”
“Just do whatever with them. I don’t care. Burn them. Not inside though.” The Innkeeper reacted.
“What’s going on here? I was about to say I’ve got some papers for you but I think you’ve got enough of them already.” A new voice said.
“Hermes, I’m not in the mood for your jokes.” Lukas reacted annoyed. “If you’ve got mail for me, give it to Autolycus and help cleaning.” The Innkeeper said.
“I’d rather not. My feathers are freshly cleaned so letting them be covered in ink would just be disrespectful to them.” He said while handing his son a couple of letters.
“You vain, annoying God!” The Innkeeper yelled.
Hermes turned his head. “You called me?” He said with a grin.
“GET OUT!” Lukas yelled.
The God ran out of the inn. Careful to not step in the ink covering the floor.
“Where’s Sugar? She’s got some explaining to do.” Lukas said after cleaning the corner of the lobby.
“In one of her nine rooms I suppose.” Autolycus answered.
“Then find them and bring them to the main lobby!” Lukas screamed in outrage. “I can’t collect rent this way!”
“Mrauw?” A meow could be heard from under a pile of paper.
“THIS GETS PRIORITY!” Lukas screamed when he heard the sound of his cat. Osiris was instantly by his side. Digging his way through the pile. Polites worked from the other side until Lukas could see a tail covered in ink. “You poor thing.” He said while tears started forming in his eyes.
“I got her.” Osiris said while holding Wifi in his arms. Her fur was slick with ink.
Lukas looked up at Osiris. “No rent for the rest of the week for you.” He said while tears were rolling down his face.
“It’s Friday.” The God answered. “ and besides. It’s a cat. My steph-daughter is the patroness of cats. Of course I’ll save one when I can.” The god responded while petting the cat on her head. Not caring if his green hand started to turn dark-blue because of the ink. “I’ll bring her to my room and wash the ink out of her fur.” The god said while walking to his room.
“She’ll be fine.” Polities said. “He’s connected to Bastet through Isis. She won’t let him rest in peace over again if something happens to Wifi.” The cleaner comforted the innkeeper.
“I’ve been summoned?” A voice called out from the stairs.
“YES! What is the meaning of all this?” Lukas asked while his arms conveyed the entire lobby.
Sugar watched it with big eyes. “They found me.” She said, her hands started shaking. “There’s a reason I’m in hell.” They continued. “I’ve been haunted by these papers for so long and ever since I started renting a room here, I’ve been left alone but now it seems they found me.” She said with a trembling voice. “I’ll pay you 50 Soul Coins on top of my 450 if you make sure they don’t come back.” She said while running back to her room.
After what felt like the entire day, a big pile of papers was laid out on the street in front of the Hellkeep. “You want to do the honours?” Lukas asked Sugar who dared to come down while still trembling. With a small nod Lukas gave them a lucifer.
Osiris wore freshly steamed robes and held Wifi in his arms. His attention was more on the cat than on the burning papers in front of him.
“Let’s hope they don’t come back now.” Sugar said while handing Lukas a pouch filled with Soul Coins.
