Hôtel Chouchou (ホテル・シュシュ, Hoteru Shushu) is a location in Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. It is a hotel located in the heart of Paris, run by and for Vampires. Count Parks Orlok who acts as a liaison for Vampirekind in the human world has close ties to the hotel and often will call upon it to be used as a sanctuary for Vampires stranded in the human realm with nowhere else to go. This is what happens to Amelia Ruth, who after no longer having a home due to being a cured curse-bearer, is given by Orlok a place of employment at Hôtel Chouchou.
Hôtel Chouchou is where Vanitas and Noé reside together for the duration of their stay in Paris, as they journey towards their shared goal—to save every curse-bearer they possibly can.
Description[]
The Hôtel Chouchou is a small, cozy hotel located between a bookstore and the Musée Grévin. The hotel has multiple floors, and the rooms decorated in a comfortable and romantic style — some of them offering a unique view of the Parisian rooftops.
Notable Locations[]
Vanitas and Noé's Room[]
Since arriving in Paris and making his presence as the Kin of the Blue Moon and holder of the Book of Vanitas known, Vanitas along with Noé who had agreed to be his companion begin working with Count Parks Orlok in order to investigate and solve cases involving curse-bearing Vampires. Though reluctant, Orlok nevertheless corroborates with them to provide them assistance and resources in exchange for their operating under his constant watch. In order to keep the pair within vigilance, Orlok provides them with a complementary room at Hôtel Chouchou where he has significant influence. Thus from then on, throughout their journey to cure every Malnomen they find, their room in Hôtel Chouchou serves as a resting point for Vanitas and Noé in between their adventures.
The room is a standard two twin-bed hotel room that is modest but not meager in size and space. The two share the number of amenities offered, such as the bathroom, the desk, and the closet. Noé treats the space as he treats every living space he has dwelled in; messily. Leaving his bed unmade, leaving his clothes lying around, leaving the odd trinkets he picks up piled on the desk. This is often a point of contention between himself and Vanitas, the subject of many arguments as they learn to cohabitate. Vanitas in contrast begins his partnership with Noé, and thus ownership of the room, at a distance, often never even sleeping at night in his bed. However after the two investigate the Catacombs and Chasseurs together, Vanitas more often will come back to the room in between his frequent outings. The window above Noé's bed is perpetually left open, as it is always treated as an entrance to return to by Vanitas.
Roof[]
Hôtel Chouchou is an average-sized establishment with two stories to its name. Thus the height of its rooftop is comparatively low from its neighboring buildings, the vantage point provided allowing for a close view of Paris's cluttered skyline. The room shared by Vanitas and Noé is on the second floor and thus the window often used as an entance by Vanitas leads directly out onto the rooftop. The pair often spend their time on the roof; Vanitas for his general proclivity for high places, and Noé accompanying him. They can often be seen eating breakfast together while sitting on the roof and watching the sunrise. The rooftop of Hôtel Chouchou is where Vanitas declares to Mikhail that if he could have one wish, he wants Noé to be the one to kill him.
Dining Room[]
One of the many amenities Hôtel Chouchou provides for its guests is a dining room in which meals can be served and eaten. The dining room itself is a cozy and humble little eating area with a number of tables to be seated at. A small kitchen available for use by both staff and guests is connected by a side door. Very rarely do Vanitas and Noé eat here, as the meal they most commonly share together is breakfast which they take while sitting on the roof. Though sometimes they can be spotted enjoying dinner together in the dining room on rare occasion. The connected kitchen is where Vanitas makes tarte tatin for Noé to make up with him after their disastrous fight, and the dining room proper is where Dominique and Jeanne have their heartfelt conversation that leads to them professing love to one another.
Reception[]
Hôtel Chouchou's front reception is rarely if ever shown, but when it is it is presented to encapsulate the entirety of Hôtel Chouchou itself: small, cozy, and welcoming. Glass doors and wide open windows allow for a full view of the interior from outside. Luxurious couches and chairs are placed for guests to sit upon, and the front desk is tucked away neatly into the corner. Other nonessential amenities decorate the space, such as a small piano, a warm fireplace, bookshelves filled with trinkets, and so on. Behind the desk is a spiral staircase leading to the upper floors, and beyond it to the left is a doorway leading to the dining room.
Residents[]
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Plot[]
After the incidents on board of La Baleine, the Book of Vanitas and Amelia are taken into Orlok's custody. He reveals that they intend on disposing of Amelia, as Curse-Bearers cannot be allowed to live, to which Noé objects, claiming that Amelia is no longer a Curse-Bearer, as she'd been cured by the book. To gain the Count's trust and Amelia's freedom, Noé suggests he'd capture the culprit himself, bring them before Orlok and have Vanitas use the power of The Book of Vanitas to cure them right before his eyes. Thus, they set out to look for their target, a Curse-Bearer named Thomas Berneux.
After chasing and curing Berneux, they head over to Galerie Valentine to speak with Count Orlok, since they were supposed to cure the Curse-Bearer in front of his eyes but had to do it before. Nox and Manet shooed them away — telling them to come back in the morning. Nox gave them the address of Hôtel Chouchou, which would put them up for the night.
Upon entering Count Orlok's office, Orlok reveals that Thomas Berneux is dead, with Manet adding that by the time he and Nox had found Berneux he was already turning to ashes, and that from the method of his death it did not appear to have been suicide. Understanding that Noé is worried about Amelia, Vanitas asks Count Orlok what would become of her, prompting Orlok to motion to the door — explaining that Nox and Manet had reported to him about the powers of the Book of Vanitas, and while he's skeptical he's ultimately decided to suspend Amelia's execution for the time being.
As Nox brings Amelia into the room, she's ecstatic to see both Noé and Murr again — though as they celebrate, Orlok reveals that because they can't be sure that Amelia won't lose control again she will have to stay where they can keep an eye on her. Turning to Nox, Orlok states that Hotel Chouchou is looking for maids at the moment, and so Nox makes note of this and will make preparations for Amelia to be employed at Hôtel Chouchou as live-in help so that she can be monitored.
Orlok explains that while he recognizes a small portion of The Book of Vanitas' power, he doesn't intend on allowing Vanitas to just roam around freely. With this, Orlok gives Vanitas a letter, suggesting that he give it to the front desk at Hôtel Chouchou, as he intends to have them keep a room available for Vanitas and Noé while they're in Paris; which Vanitas knows is so that Orlok could keep an eye on them.
Appearances[]
- Mémoire 5: Archiviste — Fangs That Reveal Blood
- Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos — The Shape of Salvation (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 19: Serment — Spell-bound
- Mémoire 22: Hurler — A Calling Voice
- Mémoire 23: Au Pas Camarade — Pace
- Mémoire 38: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part One)
- Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream
- Mémoire 45: Mal d'Amour — The Incurable Illness (Part Two)
- Mémoire 46: Un Autre — Scar
- Entracte: Jours Bruyants — Tales of Lost Children
- Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part Two)
- Mémoire 56: Faire un gâteau — Bittersweet
- Mémoire 57: Au Revoir — Again, Someday
- Mémoire 58: Observation — The Darkness in Between
- Mémoire 60: Bonne journée — Sweets, Complaints, and Reconciliation
- Entracte: Couche — On Clothing
- Mémoire 3: Archiviste -Fangs That Lay Bare Blood- (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 8: Catacombes -Where Death Slumbers-
- Mémoire 11: Serment -Promises-
- Mémoire 12: Deux Ombres -Point of Departure-
- Mémoire 20: Mal d'amour -The Incurable Disease-
- Mémoire 21: Un Autre -Scars-
- Mémoire 24: Après la pluie -His Wish-
Trivia[]
- "Chouchou" in French is a term of endearment meant to be taken with a childish tone. It is somewhat similar in meaning to the English idiomatic phrases, "blue-eyed boy" or "teacher's pet."[1]
- Hôtel Chouchou is based on a real hotel in Paris named Hôtel Chopin.[2] It is located a few blocks away from the real life counterpart of the Galerie Valentine, the Galerie Vivienne.[3]
- Mochizuki when rendering the hotel in panels will spell the name as "Hotel Chou Chou" on its marquee. However Yen Press translates the name as the proper form "Hôtel Chouchou."