And with the sweat of your brow...

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know that if the multiverse is real, there could be an almost infinite square mileage of completely unexplored ocean out there?

No reason.

...

You wake in one of 25 rooms with a sense of unease that doesn't quite track with how nice the accommodations are. Maybe it has something to do with the giant window leading out to the sea. The temperature is low, which might make you wish you had woken up under the luxurious covers instead of atop them. The lights, too, are low. But next to your bed is a small personal radio, and it's playing a song for you. There's also a small note printed on folded cardstock next to it.

Dear Prospective Citizen,

Welcome to the Helios Suites at New Rapture. The time should currently be 12:00 PM. Please take a moment to get your bearings and become acquainted with your new environment, then meet in the hotel lobby at 1:30 PM sharp for an orientation with Mayor Fontaine.

With only that for guidance, there's only the one thing to do: get out there and start exploring... well, it's hardly a full city, but it's something! And in the halls (or on the wall of your suite or the lobby), you very well may find up to 24 other captives.

What you do until your meeting with Mayor Fontaine, well... that's up to you. Every room certainly gives you something to talk about.

Comments

[honeyedtea]

[ Mielle wakes up like she's been jolted from a nightmare, air slamming into her lungs and wheezing back out in panicked, uneven gasps. She doesn't so much as climb out of bed as she does fall and ends up scrabbling across the floor in a most undignified way until she can find– something, anything to see her own reflection–

When she finds her way to the mirror, Mielle spends a long moment simply face to face with the girl staring back at her. At first she doesn't trust her eyes – but then she reaches back and sweeps her hand slowly down the long, blonde hair falling down her back, feels the ruffles of her dress shifting and moving against her skin and knows that despite how completely unreal everything about this place seems, it feels entirely too solid and present to be a dream.

Let's go back to the past. I'm sure we'll be happy this time.

A shudder wracks her whole body and her knees unhinge. She has to sink to the floor and let the delayed rush of adrenaline and fear crash through her before she can finally bring herself to climb back to her feet and start exploring.

The rest of the gang in teen girl suite will probably encounter her first, puttering around the common area and looking completely and utterly out of her depth. The instant she hears a door open, Mielle whips around with the frightened expression of someone expecting to be scolded or struck. ]

P–Pardon me, I just– the door was unlocked, so I made my way out here to... [ Then, upon realizing she doesn't recognize this new face – nor do they recognize hers – she just... blinks at them owlishly.

When she manages to make her way out of the suite, she only looks increasingly lost and puzzled as makes her way around the rest of New Rapture. The architecture is almost familiar and though the technology and construction of this new place is well beyond her, she can at least tell they're somewhere high-class and well-cared for. She can't quite decide how she feels about it.

The lobby at least is comforting in its familiarity, even if being here at all is strange and disconcerting. She wobbles her way into a chair and gazes up at the profiles lining the wall. It's... almost a relief to see no one she recognizes here, even if her stomach churns at the thought of being alone. And her own profile...

It's odd to see an image of herself from what feels so long ago. Happy, smiling and at peace. Certain of her place in the world and her own future. Mielle wants to grab that smiling girl and shake her, hard. Maybe then she'd wisen up and stop being such a fool.

Suddenly she finds she can't stand to look at it anymore. All in a fluster, she hurries up and out of her seat and makes for the door. She's in such a hurry that she barely notices she's charging right into someone's path and– ]

Kya–!

[ ... There she goes. She manages – just barely – not to tumble right over but she's so small it's quite the near miss. ]

lobby

[dullshooter]

[Oh, there she goes. With a squeak. Are humans known to squeak?

He squats down in the way you're not meant to when talking to short people. To talk to her.]

...You alright there?

[honeyedtea]

[ Mielle blinks and then when her vision doesn't clear of this... whatever it is that's in front of her, she squeezes them shut tight until she sees starbursts behind her eyelids then lets them flutter back open.

It's still there.

She immediate staggers back, darting in a way to put chairs and tables between them and with a look on her face like a deer that's just glanced up from grazing and spotted a wolf in the trees. ]

S... stay away from me...! [ Her voice immediately goes high and shaky. ] Don't come any closer!

[dullshooter]

…Okay, fair response.

[Misfire scuttles back, still crouched, trying not to make any sudden movements. Something he should, in theory, be used to given Spinister’s tendency to attack things he finds particularly startling - but it comes out a clumsy movement all the same.

He raises both hands in a gesture of submission.]

See, look - not coming closer. The opposite, even. And I promise, I’m not gonna hurt you either.

teen girl suite

[prompocalypse]

[The face that stares back at her belongs to a beautiful girl with ears that are just a bit peculiar in their length. On her face is much less shock and befuddlement, and much more confusion and sharp wary concern. She walks out into the common room wearing a pink dress that looks like it might have been expensive but has since been singed and cut into a ruined mess.

At least it still fits.

There's a lot to be alarmed about in these new circumstances, but there is a distinct relief in seeing another person, particularly a girl, who is just as fucking confused and lost as she is.]

Hey, no need to explain anything to me. [She raises her hands and wiggles her fingers slightly before dropping them down to her sides.] I'm just as confused as you, I'd bet.

I like your dress, by the way. It's like, pretty in a regal way. [Priorities: she has them. She also figures it's probably a good way to put her more at ease.]

[honeyedtea]

[ Oh, this girl...

Immediately, Mielle feels a prickle of unease that makes her spine stiffen and her posture turn tightly wound and a little overly formal. Something about the way the girl carries herself brings Aria's entourage to mind and any reminder of her sister is enough to put her on edge in a situation like this. She claps her hands in front of her and does her best to put on a smile. ]

I... thank you very much... [ She has a feeling it would come off as particularly fake sounding if she returned the compliment, considering the state of this other girl's dress, so she'll refrain. ] But... you mean to say, you don't know what's happening here?

[prompocalypse]

[She catches the stiffening in her posture, and the slight wariness in her smile, as well as the hesitance surrounding the thanks. Which, fair, but it does annoy Penelope a bit. God, she was even trying to be nice.

Penelope steps forward and runs her hands over the leather of the seats, examining this room like she's a customer and this is all to be hers.]

I mean, I can guess.

We've been abducted by some powerful force for some nefarious purpose. [She pauses.] Or a so-called benevolent purpose, sometimes the really preachy ones do the kidnappings instead.

Do you remember being taken?

teen girl suite

[sastruga]

Ah--

[There's a moment where they both seem almost frozen, neither expecting another girl in their face so suddenly. One beat. Two.

Then Mafuyu remembers herself. Smiling sympathetically.]

Sorry, you surprised me! I guess I should have expected to see more people here.

[honeyedtea]

[ The first thought that pops into Mielle's head once Mafuyu steps out is just what is she wearing...?

She has the self awareness to realize that should be relatively low on her list of priorities, at least, and after a moment she gives her head a little shake. Just to steady herself. Then – ]

When you say 'expected'... you mean to say you knew there would be people other than yourself in this same situation?

[sastruga]

Ah, well. I didn't so much know as...

[And she steps back a little, to gesture at the profiles displayed there.]

I was only just looking at these. It seems there's a lot of people involved in this. It certainly is elaborate.

There must be people in the other rooms, too.

lobby

[withagun]

[ Amusingly, they're like a mirror image; while Mielle is a small girl, Hodaka is only a few inches taller— and weighs less, as his soaked t-shirt emphasizes, hanging loose on his frame. He only just manages to grab onto a nearby bust, using it to keep himself from toppling.

...But, of course, the bust itself does topple. ]

Hu- crap! [ It hits the ground with a solid thud. ] Crap, crap!

[ Torn between checking on whoever he bumped into (of course he assumes it's his fault) and the bust, his head jerks between the two and he ends up blurting out: ]

Sorrrap!!

[ That's gomenabai for any Japanese speakers at home. ]

[honeyedtea]

[ As the bust topples, Mielle starts forward as well with a mind to steady it before it hits the ground. Of course, given that Mielle looks to be constructed entirely of matchsticks, she hasn't got much hope in picking it back up – but she also doesn't think their hosts would be as gracious as they've been so far if they immediately start smashing the place up.

She lets Hodaka get the apologies out of his system as she carefully stoops down to peer at the bust. It doesn't... seem like it's about to go to pieces so she lets out a long, relieved breath before rising smoothly back to her feet. ]

Well, it's still in one piece, in any case. So there's no harm done. [ ... then, as if belatedly realizing what a sorry state he's in, Mielle blinks at him and narrows her eyes. ] ... did you swim here?

[withagun]

[ It's not broken? He hasn't shattered an undoubtedly expensive piece of décor the moment he's set foot in a fancy hotel? Oh thank goodness. Hodaka's shoulders sag with relief, both at that and the fact that Mielle seems to be alright as well, and in good spirits. ]

Ah- huh? Oh, um... No, I... [ How can he...even begin to explain... ] I...got caught out in the rain.

[ There. Perfect. And, it's not a lie. ]

Are you...alright? I didn't mean to run into you...

teen girl aunt arrives

[specialyellthing]

Don't worry about it, Goldie. [Zinda's in the living area, trying to make the tv work. If there's one thing that doesn't fail to remain familiar between time, it's that you can never get a tv to work. She turns away from it, and gives the girl a friendly wave.]

You're not intrudin' on anything. If they didn' want us to snoop, they shouldnta left everything unlocked like that.

[honeyedtea]

[ It takes Mielle a beat longer than it should to realize that Goldie is supposed to be her and all she can do is open her mouth, fail to come up with an answer, then close it again. Ten seconds into this interaction and literally every social script Mielle is used to following has gone clean out the window. If this woman is already comfortable speaking in such an overly familiar way then she's either deeply rude or she's used to being in high enough standing that the normal rules don't apply to her. At that moment, Mielle decides that being polite and deferential never hurts, particularly when you're in the company of strangers and you don't know anyone's standing.

So she ducks her head a bit, putting on a slightly strained smile. ]

Even so... it's quite unbecoming to, ah... "snoop" when you've found yourself somewhere unfamiliar. It wasn't my intention. This just isn't... the place I was expecting to be when I opened my eyes.

[specialyellthing]

Unbecoming, huh? [She laughs, tossing her head back as she does so— flashing Mielle another bright smile as she finishes her laughter. It’s not the first, and it won’t be the last time she’s called that.]

The way I see it, Golds, is that most politeness goes out the window after being kidnapped. A good snoop around is important. Helps you find a way out— or a way to hold on, until backup comes. [Shes gone and blurted out the kidnapping thing—- so she watches the girl for any kind of panic.]

teen girl aunt #2

[daimakaicho]

[ There is a brief second as Hild walks out where she stops and stares, but it's quickly gone as her look of mild surprise melts into a small smile. ]

No complaints here, unless you know something about all this that I don't.

[honeyedtea]

[






Oh, Mielle has no idea what she's looking at. It takes her a moment to begin formulating a response and even then, she stumbles all over it on the way out. ]

I– well, given how little I know about our circumstances so far, I'd expect that anyone else here would know more about our situation than I do.

[daimakaicho]

[ She laughs, pushing some hair back over her shoulder. ]

Well, you're in luck, because I don't have any more of a clue than you do. Just came too, actually. I wasn't exactly expecting to see anyone else here.

lobby

[inaclearing]

Oh - [He reaches out to try and catch her. He's like a foot taller, but at least he's not a big guy otherwise?] - geez, are you okay?

[honeyedtea]

– yes!

[ She says that a little too quickly, taking another sharp step back before he can catch hold of her arm. He's not a particularly big or imposing man but – well, letting herself be manhandled by anyone is a little bit more than she can deal with right now. ]

I... was in too much of a rush to make my leave, it seems...

[inaclearing]

[Fair enough - Brett clocks all of that and withdraws his hands, sticking them both casually in his pockets.]

It's okay. I think we're all probably freaking out a little.

[kninja]

Whoa--

[Smooth as anything, as though he's made such a career of catching maidens in his arms it's automatic, Obi manages to get an arm under Mielle's and steady her.]

Careful there, uh. [Whoops. He almost called her "my lady" by reflex.] ...Miss. You all right?

[honeyedtea]

[ She doesn't quite jerk away from him – it'd be terribly unladylike, after all – but there's a certain sharpness to the way she pulls her arm back that makes the don't touch me subtext clear as day. ]

I'm– yes, I'm fine. [ She lets herself take a moment to hold a breath and then let it back out, slowly, in some hopes of regaining her composure. ] I didn't realize you were making your way inside.

[ She was uhhhh kind of in a hurry. Or a state. One or the other. ]

lobby

[hellaethics]

Whoop-! [Jason all but bends backwards to avoid smacking into her. Perks of being in a dance crew: bending real good and not falling on your butt.]

Yo, you good? You were really tearing outta there.