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

[onemillion]

Indeed. This area is likely one they can easily keep an eye on us from.

[He'll have to keep a closer eye out for cameras...]

[visiblepattern]

[......]

How? I haven't seen any guards or the like...

[onemillion]

It's possible they're using cameras - devices that can... send what they're seeing to another location. Our captors wouldn't need guards, because they can watch from afar.

[It's pretty crazy to think that seven years ago, he would have been just as clueless about all of this. Technology sure does move quickly!!!!]

[visiblepattern]

[jesus christ - well at least one of us knows what he's doing!!]

So much of what's been created where you came from seems very convenient. Much of what we have relies on magic and not machines.

[onemillion]

Our people have created a great many things over the past seven years; it seems there's always new technology better suited to assisting people. It's been amazing to witness.

[But enough about that!!]

You have magic where you come from?

[visiblepattern]

We do, yes. It's very useful in battle - both for combat and for healing purposes. I... Well, I'm a healer, it's what I specialize in.

[Granted, we probably don't have enough magic to make like 100+ years' worth of technological development in seven years, but eh.]

[onemillion]

Fascinating... We don't have magic at all where I'm from.

[...i mean, there's spiral power... but that's not exactly magic, obviously.]

I can see how that would prove very beneficial in battle.

[visiblepattern]

It's served us well enough. I can't fix everything, obviously, and I don't have my staff here besides... I can't really do much without it.

[So yeah.]

[onemillion]

I imagine that was intentional.

[Mostly because of the rules, if he had to guess. Healing doesn't exactly play nicely with the idea of murdering one another to escape.]

It's possible they took it from you when we arrived here.

[visiblepattern]

Well, if anyone contracts wounds of any sort, I have a steady hand; magic or not, I won't let myself be useless here.

[onemillion]

That's good to know and I've no doubt that it'll be a useful skill here.

[Someone is definitely going to get injured. Look at us, we're a mess.]

Thank you for your willingness to assist.

[visiblepattern]

Of course! Most bad situations can be resolved with enough cooperation; I helped out in the army back home, and I intend to do so here as well. Even if all I can offer sometimes is being able to listen.

[onemillion]

Yes, I agree. I would argue that being willing to listen is very beneficial as well, though.

[i mean. not like he's one to ever talk about his problems. but y'know. in theory.]

As long as most people are willing to cooperate, I believe we'll be able to see this through.

[visiblepattern]

Likewise so. I think we'll all find a way to be all right, if nothing else.

[...]

Might I ask you something?

[onemillion]

Yes, of course. What is it?

[visiblepattern]

I can understand almost everything else, save for perhaps what the Spiral King is, but... Why do you dislike the moon, of all things...?

[onemillion]

Oh, that...

[Hmm. How exactly does he explain that.]

Where I'm from, the moon was... essentially a weapon. I've spent the past seven years attempting to determine exactly what it was, so I suppose that's why it was mentioned.

[This is the nicest way he could think to word it without getting into "we nearly pulled a majora's mask but without the time travel".]

[visiblepattern]

[sometimes it just happens to be that the moon's haunted.

But no, that was a decent enough amount of "when the red light goes on, we push the green button" for him to be satisfied with it, honestly.]

I see... That must have been a horribly large weapon for that sort of thing to be possible; I can't even imagine.

Are all of you all right now?

[onemillion]

We have made it through the worst.

[Which... is hopefully true, but given that he's already been horribly wrong about this before, it's entirely possible he's wrong.]

My allies have taken off to put an end to the beings that would use the moon against us. I have faith that they'll succeed in their battle.

[That's even more confident than the first statement; at the very least, he does trust that Simon and friends will succeed.]

[visiblepattern]

Well, while they're here I'll be sure to pray for their safe return. If you don't mind that, that is...?

[onemillion]

[That gets him to hesitate for a moment, and not in a "how do I explain the moon" sort of way.]

...I believe they would appreciate that.

[It isn't the same, after all. It's just... been awhile since he thought about it, he supposes.]

There isn't much of a reason to worry about them, because they have overcome incredible odds before and they will always find a way to do it again. Still, I do appreciate it. Thank you.

[visiblepattern]

Of course. And I don't mean to doubt their capabilities; I'm certain that they're just as able as you've said. It's just something that I've gotten into the habit of doing, I suppose.

Thank you for allowing it.

[onemillion]

Of course. I see no harm in it. Everyone has their own way of handling such things, and I can certainly understand prayer.