"Hm hm!"
The Host nodded in gleeful self assurance.
"We have around two minutes before starting! Any questions?"
On the other side were three people with splashes of red on their faces.
Varying in expression.
"Suicide."
"Uh wow okay. Heavy stuff already."
The Host then briefly scrutinised the three.
"Did something happen?" They scratched their head.
"Have you seen someone crazy shoot themselves unexpectedly? I already knew that but… haah…"
The Host's eyes flickered left to right quickly.
"Uhhh… Happens on the job!"
The Host smiled with a thumbs up.
"..."
The Host lowered their hand. A long line drawn from their lips.
"Well it's starting. Do your best."
The theme song played in the background, culminating to a peak. The curtains flowed swiftly to the sides.
"Weeeeeeeeeelcome back everyone! I'm your host! Sirk enda! I definitely didn't make that up. What are you talking about?"
The audience was silent.
"Today, we have some new buddy buddys! And one special! Isn't that interesting? Three times in a row! How lucky."
In this aghast space, it was only The…m.
Speaking.
"Yes but you see! I have no assistant for the week! A certain someone decided to have their lunch break…" The Host lamented with false sadness. "Thus! We'll spin the wheel! And–"
–Bang!
The door that leads backstage opened with massive force.
There, the Assistant stood.
Blood sliding off the black mask. Breathing heavily.
"Uh."
The Host puckered Their lips.
"Jarvis, send her to the dungeon."
[Yes master.]
A trapdoor opened and down she went.
"A~ny~way! Let's spin the wheel!"
The wheel came up, now with who knows how many names.
"I chose hard! Ultimately there was only enough for around sixty. Two are unable to be on it, and the last one I couldn't choose."
The names on the wheel were not at all previous men–
"Enough of that shpeel. Spin and ye shall receive!"
With a flick of a hand pressing a button, it spun. The lights radiantly flaunting in a blur.
Slowing to a halt, the arrow, passing names with deliberation until finally…
"Wowzer. Background Ian who was mentioned in that one episode of her thoughts. The irony is real."
The Host rubbed away a false tear with a struggling smile.
"Anywho, give me five seconds! Wait no, maybe a few minutes."
The Host snapped their fingers and a round flat disk leading to somewhere opened.
Showing three people sitting outside.
The gateway let the sound of crackling fire drown out the everlasting silence.
Standing up, The Host rounded Their cheaply made game show desk. Stopping right before the gateway.
"Now my contestants. Persuasion is a skill. And is highly needed. Watch a master at their work." Their smile darkening.
On the other side of the gateway, the audience could see the three people engaging in something.
The Host entered and let no sound reach them.
"Go… Fish."
"This is poker you fucker!"
"...What?"
"...Sigh."
"What are these for then?"
"Where… oh my god." The man with a hat covered his face.
The vampire just had an incredulous expression.
"What's this then?"
"Ahaha I've beaten my habits!"
"Lying through the skin of your teeth. Fatass'll eat it when I'm not looking."
"I really did!"
The wolf mocked the vampire purely with a face. Shaking the burrito left to right.
The vampire's eyes following it.
"This damn guy is a hypocrite through and through. Quin, look at this bastard."
Quin raised his head irritably.
"These fucking idiots…"
"Tch. Can't contain that same look of gorging on everything Jatta."
"I… Can!"
The wolf looked at Quin.
Quin merely blinked.
Then his eyes widened.
Posture stiffening.
Jatta's face turned stone cold. Serious as can be.
"...You guys. Are you– Who the hell touched m–!"
'Rip.'
'Lord, pray for his soul.'
"...."
The Progenitor had an overbearing look. The face illuminated by the dim light of the fire.
"Howdy do." The Progenitor grasped Their hat.
"My apologies. I was not familiar with your game."
The Progenitor looked at Their hand and at the wolf on their hands and knees.
"YYYYYYYYYou!"
"Yes!" Quin answered immediately.
"I'm gonna borrow 'em for a bit."
"...How long!"
"Uh, bout one week. Might be two."
The Progenitor touched their chin.
"Want to be included? You don't need to but you can."
"No thank you!"
"You?"
Jatta shook his head.
"Okay… Ian mah boy! Chosen aide of me! Adventeer awaits! Uh. Over there."
"Huh."
Then a gateway opened under Ian.
"Aight Imma go. Do well on this assignment and you'll get a biiiig wish."
The remaining two locked eyes.
"Yes ma'am!"
The Progenitor nodded and waved Their hand. Crossing the gateway when it fizzled out.
"Maybe he'll finally have a grave next week."
Leaving them behind, The Host raised an arm and bowed.
"That my contestants is the art of asking! With my assistant for the week, geezwheredtheotheronego, completion! Thus we start. Assis-tant!"
Said Assistant was face molding the desk.
"Oh."
The Host didn't say anything for a few seconds.
"...He'll be fine in a few minutes. Now, the conundrum. Reintroduce-slash-introduce yourselves!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What a debbie downer. Ah~ the fate of a host. Do say it though."
"..."
"Alex Lupin."
"Galatina~."
The Host walked into the vision of Mina.
"Think lightly."
Spinning around on Their heels, They addressed the audience.
"Since we're low on time today, I decided to forgo the usual. But the objective is clear! Conquer fear! A cliche of a cliche! Don't worry, they throw hands."
The wheel went under and a board sprung down. Displaying a place reeking of the rotten.
"The same place of heaven, exists the hell described only by our eyes." The lights dimmed. "Between both lie the purgatory. Listlessly uncanny to the senses."
When all eyes directed to The Host focused on the words, the flickering essence guides.
"How the gray feels. Vanishing into a numb castle. Rooted beneath the scorching sky and the freezing underground. How it may be, the echoes still come."
Once again, The Host raised their arm. This time to the left. Grabbing the fedora and placing it over Their chest.
"Root out the foundation dearest contestants. Replace it."
It still appeared. The smile.
"Our friends take kindly to a game for Entertainment."