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

[capreelcious]

Probably not, but I work at a café- I want my good food.

[ He shrugs, turning around with his plate of tuna sandwiches and leaning against the counter. ]

If they don't let us out after a while, I'm gonna track down whoever brought us here and squeeze 'em until they do.

[kninja]

[Oho.]

Squeeze, huh? You mean that figuratively, or is it literal?

[Either way, Obi feels suddenly and strangely sort of nostalgic. Two years of palace living can't take him entirely out of his old context.]

[capreelcious]

[ Floyd just smirks as he takes a bite out of his sandwich. He'll let you ponder that, Obi. ]

So, who are you anyways?

[ Not that he's going to remember Obi's name, but I guess he's being polite in this moment??? ]

[kninja]

Obi. And you, Mr. Squeeze?

[Two (or three, or twenty-five) can play at the nickname game.]

[capreelcious]

[ He snickers- he'll take that. ]

Call me Floyd~!

[kninja]

Okay, Floyd. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess you have about as much of an idea how we got here as I do, which is none, right?

[Even if they both seem to be taking it relatively well.]

[capreelcious]

Aha, bingo!

[ He takes another bite out of his sandwich. ]

Last I remember, I was back at my dorm, and then next thing you know I'm here. 'S real weird.

[kninja]

[Obi sighs and tilts his head back.]

No kidding. I wasn't even near a deep pond, let alone an entire ocean. What's up with that? Whoever signed me up for a surprise trip, I'd like a word and my return ticket, please.

[capreelcious]

Seriously. I mean, I do live in an underwater place, but this isn't my underwater place.

[ Not to mention, they didn't even invite Jade or Azul here??? The nerve. ]

[kninja]

[Well, that snaps his attention back down from the ceiling.]

Ehh? You live underwater? Really?

[capreelcious]

Yeah! My school dorm's underwater. We use magic to keep stuff breathable. I'unno all the specifics of it.

[kninja]

Your school has magic?! That’s crazy! I’ve never heard of real magic before!

[capreelcious]

Aha, then this is gonna REALLY blow your mind: I go to a whole school for magic! One of the big time ones where I'm from too!

[kninja]

Whooooaaa! Man, awesome! What kinda magic can you do?

[capreelcious]

A whole bunch! I know how to do a bunch of elemental magic like fire and water magic. There's potion making, but I kinda wing it sometimes without following the directions... Oh, and flying on brooms too!

[ This fish sort of knows how to fly! ]

[kninja]

Hahaha!

[Obi seems genuinely excited about this. Then again, why wouldn't he be? Who doesn't love learning about new and fantastic things?]

Brooms? Why? Those don't seem particularly air-worthy!

[capreelcious]

Your guess is as good as mine! I think it's got somethin' to do with like, old-timey mages learning how to fly 'em? Sort of a tradition thing I don't know the specifics of. They're also pretty light, so I guess something that's able to kick up air also has some sort of air magic in it?

[ Either that, or he didn't pay too much attention in class despite Coach Vargas' booming voice. ]

[kninja]

Wild. I'd've tried it with a cape or something myself. They already flap like wings, you know?

[He sweeps his arms out like the billowing of a cape, which is silly, because he has a dumb little shoulder cape thing already. Probably too small to fly with, though, even if that were a thing.]

Still, it all sounds like fun.

[capreelcious]

Haha, right? Capes would be cool~! Watch 'em billow in the breeze or something!

[ He snickers at Obi's little demonstration. ]

I'm sure someone's figured out how to enchant a cape to help someone fly, though. And yeah! With magic, the possibilities are pretty fun and endless~!

[ First sandwich gone! Onto the next one. ]

So what's your deal? If you don't have magic, what do you do?

[kninja]

Mmm, these days? I'm a bodyguard, mostly. I help out with the local patrols and stuff where my lady works, too, especially when they're shorthanded.

[Obi, is it so hard to say, "I'm a knight"?]

I'm sure it doesn't hold a candle to magic school, but we've spent the last two years in a place they call "the city of academics." That's been more fun than expected.