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]

I was with others, so they'll notice my absence immediately, but... I really wouldn't wish to leave my position to them.

[More because they do not deserve this amount of stress than it being a reflection on their abilities.]

[inaclearing]

Your position?

[Brett's a curious sort of person, of course he latches on to a vague mention like that.]

[onemillion]

Yes. I am the current Supreme Commander of Earth.

[A brief pause as he considers that not every one else's worlds may have the exact same position.]

The... leader of humanity, essentially.

[And also beastmen, but it's a bit easier to explain it like this.]

[inaclearing]

You're serious?

[onemillion]

Of course I am.

[It ends up sounding almost more like a question...]

Why would I make something like that up?

[inaclearing]

I don't know, for clout?

[That'd be an impressive-sounding lie, in a strange place among a bunch of strangers! But Brett's sort of smiling - more openly bewildered than accusatory.]

I guess it makes sense why someone like you might get kidnapped. I'm just - I'm just a podcaster, I'm not anybody important. We don't even have all that much money.

[onemillion]

[For clout........... yeah, okay, he could see someone doing that. Someone very dumb. Someone who does not understand or appreciate how difficult it is to actually lead people, particularly in times of crisis that involve making incredibly difficult decisions—]

What is a podcaster?

[That probably is not what he should be stuck on, but here we are.]

Given the state of things here, it may not be money they're after.

[At the very least they seem to have plenty of cash to spend on expensive food and gaudy decor.]

[inaclearing]

That's true.

[Looking up at the gaudy decor, again. He shifts a little nervously, looking down at his hand - his wedding ring is still here, even.]

I can't think of any other reasons, either. [.....] A podcaster is...it can be almost anything you want it to be, but basically, it's someone who creates audio content. Like a radio show. I do some freelance writing, too.

[onemillion]

Oh, I see.

[Yes, so not exactly the most high-profile job that one would pick for a kidnapping... at least for monetary gain.]

I'm likewise not sure what exactly they want from us, but it does seem as though we come from very different backgrounds.

[Judging mostly from the profiles, anyway.]

[inaclearing]

[He's not even, like, the Night Vale guy or anything.]

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Really different worlds and everything. There's people here I wouldn't have even thought were real.

[onemillion]

What do you mean by that?

[inaclearing]

Well, humans are the only sapient species in our world, at least that we're aware of. We have some robots, but definitely nothing self-aware.

[onemillion]

Ah, I see. We have robots that are... somewhat similar, albeit far larger, though they aren't sapient in the same way.

[i mean there's whatever's going on with lagann, but that's not rossiu's business!!]

It's been... rather interesting to hear about so many different places.

[Sort of A Lot, but that's not really a bad thing.]

[inaclearing]

It is! I'd be really excited about it, if...things were different.

[Even under these circumstances, he still seems able to manage some enthusiasm about it, though - he's smiling.]

Just think of all the different stories here.

[onemillion]

Certainly, even despite the circumstances, I think that's something worth enjoying.

[Sure, this whole thing sucks, but you've gotta make the most of it. Or something like that, anyway.]

[inaclearing]

[His smile softens.]

Yeah. It's the little things, you know? We should all try to get to know each other, anyway.

[onemillion]

Yes, indeed. I believe that will help tremendously. Learning more about one another can only serve to benefit us.

[It'll help us work better together!! But also it may prove useful in those trials we will definitely not have.]