Object
Royale Front Desk Drawer
A shallow, recessed palm‑sized drawer set into the Royale hotel's front desk: worn varnished wood face with a narrow dull‑brass pull, scuffed edges and faint coffee staining. The compartment tucks flat under the service counter and opens with a muted scrape to hold keys, receipts, petty cash or a small concealment. In the lobby confrontation the Bellboy yanks it open and hides/retrieves a compact revolver, making the drawer a quick‑access prop that transforms hospitality furniture into an immediate tactical locus.
2 appearances
Purpose
To store and conceal small staff‑accessible items — in this context, a compact firearm kept within the front desk for immediate retrieval.
Significance
Functions as a plot catalyst: the drawer’s concealment enables the Bellboy to arm himself, shifting the scene from institutional confrontation to urgent, personal action. It transforms the front desk from a bureaucratic barrier into a site of emergent violence and desperate protection, intensifying stakes and forcing characters to confront both physical threat and systemic indifference.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used