Chapter 3: The Arrival
A short one this time, but next will be longer.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is owned by Nintendo.
Inside his lab, one Professor Elvin Gadd was making some tweaks to the Pixelator, all the while working on a list of questions to ask the guest during his stay. And maybe he was also coming up with a few experiments he could perform as well. There was no sense in wasting such a fine high-profile ghost and not perform his usual experiments on them!
It was while he was thinking as to whether he should add the electro chamber to that list of experiments that he noticed an odd glow coming from the Pixelator. Humming curiously, he took a closer look at his prized invention, in hopes of maybe spotting the origin of the mysterious glow.
Across the valley were the Last Resort was located, a large explosion was heard. If one were to pay attention, they could even hear someone exclaim the word "Criminy!" out of shock.
"Where are you going, sir?" Steward asked the professor, watching as he, along with the green ghost hunter himself, Luigi, packed his car full of equipment the bellhop couldn't make sense off.
"Why back to my old lab in Evershade Valley, my boy." The professor explained, casually directing Luigi to continue packing when he reared his head up from the car's luggage compartment. "As you might have heard last night, one of my inventions, the Pixelator, has suffered a malfunction of catastrophic proportions! One of the couplings inside had broken off somehow and caused the device to go haywire. I need my Spectral Welding Torch to repair it, but I left it behind in the Valley before I came here."
Steward nodded along to the professor's explanation, pretending to understand everything that he said.
"While there, Luigi and I will try and pack up the rest of my equipment to transport back here, so I'm afraid to say that I won't be around for the guests stay." The professor explained, not noticing the sigh of relief from both Steward and Luigi. "Such a shame too, I had so many questions and experiments that I wanted to make. But since you are still here, you can still knock off the question part off the list." He handed Steward a questionnaire, along with a pair of keys. "I also want you to lock up my lab. I forgot to close it."
As the professor walked towards his car, Luigi came to great the bellhop. "Hello, Steward! You guys are ready for the big day, right?"
"Indeed we are, sir! Everyone has prepared for this day. You might not be able to tell, sir, but I'm incredibly nervous."
"Well there's no reason to be. You guys gave me and my friends a great time, so I'm sure you can make this one just as good." Luigi said. When he heard the professor call out his name, he gave the bellhop a thumbs up and a "Good luck!" He ran back towards E. Gadd's car, and as soon as he entered, it revved its engine and drove its way out of the underground parking lot.
"Okay everyone! Today is the day!" Steward announced to the entirety of the hotel staff, all having gathered at the lobby for the big meeting. "I want to remind you all about what is at stake! If this doesn't go well, then we won't just lose a potential guest. No. The hotel's reputation will plummet; we will lose the hotel, and we will all not only lose our job, but our home as well! That is why we must make sure that these next two days are the best two days in one Mister Ghoulanu Graves' unlife! Make sure that every single need of his is met and that every single thing he experiences is as spectacular as popular. Understood?!"
Everyone gave a loud cheer of affirmation.
"Good! Now let's all go over the schedule. Once our guest has settled in, he will first be allowed to roam the hotel as he pleases, meaning he can show up anywhere. After that, he will go to the 11th floor for the triplet's performance at 6, followed by Wolgeists' recital at 7. After that will be his tour of Morty's studio followed by dinner in the mezzanine. He will then return to his room, concluding his first day. Tomorrow will be the busy day. He'll be attending King Macfrights' jousting performance, followed by a trip to the botanical gardens, a party in the dance hall, and dinner in the Spectral Catch. Now, everyone head back to your floors for final preparations. The guest will be here in a few hours."
The staff started to talk amongst each other as they headed towards their floors, leaving behind Steward to take of his cap and wipe the sweat off his forehead.
"I always love it when "confident Steward" shows up." Kruller said as he floated up to the bellhop. Steward, in response, straightened out his sleeves with a look of pride of his face.
"What can I say, I'm a damn good bellhop."
"Well the damn good bellhop also has a receptionist desk to attend to, doesn't he?" Chambrea commented, startling Steward into nearly dropping his cap.
"Oh, uh, yeah, I should. Oh! And before you go, could you get rid of this?" He handed to Chambrea a certain clipboard. "It's a questionnaire the professor made."
The three ghosts shuddered at what was on the clipboard. They really had to explain to the professor what questions you should never ask a ghost. While Chambrea considered where to throw it away, Steward flew over towards the receptionist desk, but not before Kruller gave him a good luck peck on the cheek.
After some consideration, Chambrea shrugged her shoulders and ate the clipboard.
A goob, a hammer and an oozer, all dressed in typical hotel worker attire, were waiting outside, eager for the guest's arrival. The goob started gesturing wildly towards the distance, and the hammer and oozer could see why: a limousine had appeared in the horizon, and that could mean only one thing.
The limo drove through the gates and stopped in front of the ghostly valets. The door to the driver's seat opened up, and out stepped a purple colored ghost with slicked back black hair, beard, and wearing a very nice-looking black suit, along with some very expensive looking sunglasses. This man was the one and only Ghoulanu Graves, looking exactly like he did in the film he died starring in. He took off his sunglasses, causing the hammer to swoon in awe.
"Hi there. I assume you guys are here to take my car?" He addressed the three ghosts, who could only nod while looking completely starstruck by his presence. "Good." He threw his keys at the oozer, who fumbled a bit before catching them. "Be careful with her, she's a very expensive gal. And thank you for letting me stay at your great hotel. You guys are great for doing that." He shot finger guns at them as he floated towards the hotel entrance. The hammer simply passed out on top of the goob, while the oozer stared at the keys he was holding in his hands as if he was holding the Holy Grail.
Once Ghoulanu entered the building, most of the few residents that were staying in the hotel (plus a few staff members) stopped what they were doing to stare in awe at who had just arrived. Steward himself was rapidly adjusting his apparel, right up until Ghoulanu had reached the receptionist desk. Steward gave him his best "costumer pleasing" smile and spread his arms wide as he greeted him.
"Welcome, Mister Graves, to the Last Resort! Where you'll enjoy your stay so much you wish you could die here! How can I help you?"
"Yeah, hi. First of all, let me just say this, I love what you've done with the place. Best looking hotel I've been in, I can say that much." Graves admired his surroundings as he said this. "Although I gotta ask, this place looked different in the brochure. Is there a reason for that?"
"Yes, sadly. A month ago, the dastardly King Boo brainwashed the entire staff and used us in a ploy to capture not just the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, but also her friends Luigi and… Red Luigi? I don't remember his name. Either way, the hotel was destroyed in the process, but a man by the name of E. Gadd was generous enough to rebuild the entire hotel for us."
"Harsh. Sorry for what happened to your people. Oh, by the way, when will I be meeting this E. Gadd guy? I heard a lot of things about him."
"I'm afraid he's left the hotel on official scientist business. He won't be returning until Monday." Steward sighed internally in relief. "Anyway, would you like to check in, sir?"
"Absolutely."
Ghloulanu followed the bellhop towards the elevator. Once inside, Steward pushed the 15F button, and waited until the elevator doors closed to address their guest. "Let me tell you, sir, we have a wonderful set activities planned out for your stay. Over the next two days, I can guarantee you will experience everything this hotel has to offer at its best."
"You don't have to worry." Ghoulanu smiled as he said this. "I know I'm going to have a fun time here. Especially with the help of your staff, including you, by the way. People don't give bellhops the respect they deserve."
Steward blinked owlishly at the compliment, not at all being used to being appreciated for his hard work. "Oh, umm, thank you, sir. Your kind words are very much appreciated."
A few seconds of silence later, the elevator doors opened, revealing the tastefully decorated (and King Boo free) Penthouse Suite. Steward guided Ghoulanu out of the elevator towards his bedroom. "Your luggage will arrive here in a few minutes, sir. Once you are settled in, feel free to explore the hotel to your hearts content. I advise you head to the Hotel Shops first for coffee. We just received a shipment of Lunoman Greenie today." Steward opened the door to the bedroom, allowing Ghoulanu to admire the room in its entirety. "Your first scheduled event will be at 6 PM in floor 11."
"Thank you, my good man. You'll come over when I ask for you, right?"
"Of course, anything for our guest."
"Good, see ya later." Ghoulanu closed the door, turning towards his bed and laying on it.
"Today is going to be a very good day for me."
Next time, Ghoulanu Graves explores the hotel, his charming personality enchanting everyone in the hotel.