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

[allatonce]

Not really.

[She shrugs, turning to read over the profiles until her eye catches on her own.]

Oh, that's just rude.

[onemillion]

[Rossiu glances over them as well; these are... A Lot...]

Are you speaking of your own?

[Some of these seem very rude.]

[allatonce]

Mostly I'm annoyed that it's been like five years or whatever and I'm still being referred to as a "research assistant."

[She makes the air quotes. They're important.]

And they said I only got my job because of nepotism.

[onemillion]

I see. If you don't mind my asking, how would you describe your job?

[allatonce]

I guess you could say I'm a field researcher in the area of multiversal travel. [A beat.] Basically I travel to different universes and take notes on how minute differences can cause huge changes.

[She realized that first description was a little opaque.]

[onemillion]

[Thanks for the clarification, although that feels like it just leaves far more questions than it actually answers.]

Different universes... How do you travel between them?

[allatonce]

[She puts her hand to her ear, like one might for fiddling with a bluetooth earpiece.]

We have these little devices that can establish a neural connection. To get somewhere else, though, you usually have to bring yourself to a nearby universe by doing something weird.

[onemillion]

Something weird? Like what?

[allatonce]

Like... putting your shoes on the wrong feet or drinking orange soda if you hate it. Something that you wouldn't normally do that can bring you closer to the place you're trying to go.