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

[kninja]

Hey, do you think everyone's speaking different languages? It'd make sense, right? As much as the impossible can make sense, anyway...

[withagun]

Everyone...?! But... But... Ahh, I should've thought it was weird that all those Americans and Forrest-san and Mielle-san and Misfire-san were all speaking Japanese...but...

[kninja]

Yeah. I dunno how we can understand each other right now, but I promise, there's no way I'm speaking a language I've never heard of. I'm good, but I'm not that good.

[withagun]

Then what're you speaking?!

[kninja]

Fortisian.

[withagun]

[ ....... ]

I haven't heard of that either.

[kninja]

I have a feeling we're from very far away from each other. Really, really far away.

[withagun]

Oh god. Oh god. What the heck...

[ He's just saying yabai over and over again. ]

[kninja]

[Oh-kay, Obi is no closer to solving the case of the missing language barrier, but this kid maybe needs a break. Or a snack.]

Look, maybe you and I can't figure it out on our own, but there's a bunch of us here, right? Maybe one of them's some kind of expert on languages who can work this out for us. We're not gonna get anywhere worrying about it without good intel.

[withagun]

[ At all times in his life, Hodaka could probably use both a break and a snack. ]

Mnng… This is the worst.

[kninja]

Yeah, this hasn't been my favorite hour or so, either, but I can only handle what I can handle. It's kind of like you said--there's too much still to know for us to mess with this. At least for now.

[That's not quite what Hodaka said, but hey, if it works.]

[withagun]

[ What a generous and thoughtful way to interpret everything Hodaka's said. Obi, you're a real one. ]

I did? I...did, huh. [ Yeah he'll go with it- ] Mmm... I just wanna get out of here...

[kninja]

[In a lower voice, with feeling:] Oh, I do, too. Make no mistake.

[And then he's back to the tone he's been using.]

I have a couple people who're gonna be reeeeal upset to find I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I don't really wanna be chewed out for that again, you know? So, for them, I gotta take care to get outta here in one piece.

[withagun]

[ A moment. ]

Yeah. Yeah, me too.

[ But his tone stays somewhat grave. ]

[kninja]

…Well, I can’t leave someone I just met to a fate I’d rather avoid myself!

[He gives Hodaka a little nudge, puts his hands on his hips, and winks.]

Maybe we oughta look out for each other. I help you get back before whoever you’ve got back home gets too wound up, and you do the same for me. Everybody wins, right?

[withagun]

—Huh?

[ It pulls him from his gloom, almost magically. ]

...You want to?

[kninja]

[Oh, kiddo.]

Sure I do! Hahaha. Do I look that much like I’m used to working alone?

[withagun]

...Uhhhh...

[ Hodaka squints. ]

No?

[ Truly the boy cannot tell. ]

[kninja]

[Excellent. Keep ‘em guessing.]

Exactly. I barely know where to start on my own. So—

[He sticks out a hand to shake.]

Do you mind working together, for now?

[withagun]

[ After a moment, Hodaka takes Obi's hand—with his right one, the one without the handcuff. ]

Okay. I'm Hodaka.

[kninja]

And I’m Obi! Lookin’ forward to our partnership.

[Yoroshiku ne!]