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

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?

[honeyedtea]

I...

[ Mielle trails off and her brow creases – no, her whole expression tightens a bit, somewhere between discomfort and thoughtfulness. Would it even have been possible to... take her, from where she'd last been? The last few months have taught her she should never be too quick to dismiss something as impossible but...

She can't imagine Aria would have been so quick to let Mielle out of her claws, when she'd finally gotten her just where she wanted her.

After a moment, Mielle slowly shakes her head. ]

No, I don't. And... considering my circumstances... I think an aspiring kidnapper would have some difficulty abducting me.

[prompocalypse]

Mhm. Likewise. Any would-be kidnappers should have been massively outnumbered by people who wouldn't wanna let me go. [And yet, here they are.]

Even just by myself, I would have been able to put up a pretty serious fight. But now that I'm here, they've taken all my magic away from me, so if they could take that much... Maybe they'd surprise us.

Having said that... [She crosses her arms, toying with a lock of hair.] I mean, it's not like we can rule out that we maybe came here by choice and just don't remember. We don't remember being kidnapped either, for one.

[honeyedtea]

- Magic?

[ There's much more in this situation to be concerned about, but that word alone sends Mielle's train of thought toa screeching halt. Her alarm is plain as day on her face - as well as something you could almost mistake for fear.

Is this girl one of Aria's entourage after all? Some ally of hers, come to keep an eye on Mielle? ]

When you say "magic"... that is to say- you're of the imperial bloodline?

[prompocalypse]

[Oh, is that why she's being weird and suspicious? Penelope cocks her head and gives her a funny look. Does this girl not know what magic is? For real? Well, it's not like Penelope's not heard of planets with a minuscule connection to the outer planes... Still, what a boring life to live.]

...Honey, I don't think we're even from the same world.

If you're worried about me being someone from your past, the best I can do is like... promise you I'm not?

But no... I'm with the Aguefort Adventuring Academy. It's a place in Spire where they train upcoming heroes.