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

[asymptotes]

It's already not looking great if we're all here and don't even know how.

[howveryglib]

I will not claim it looks good, but I am not one to give up in the face of adversity. Every defense has a weak point, after all—we need only be patient and find it.

[asymptotes]

Of course. Like karate, like life. No one's perfect.

[ Even when they can make everything else perfect. Everything else fucks it up. ]

Patient I can do. Let's just hope the other twenty-three people feel the same way.

[howveryglib]

It is merely a matter of leading the rest of our group to the correct conclusion. That is all.

[asymptotes]

Well, I make a half-decent leader, sometimes. Or so the kids at my class say. So hopefully I can at least help out.

[howveryglib]

I would appreciate the assistance of another professional in this matter, certainly.

…

Admittedly, I am better at leading adults, so perhaps you ought to handle the younger members of our number. At times I feel as though when I am dealing with children, they have more command of me than I of them…

[sometimes a bunch of lizards decide you’re their new dad and you just have to accept that.]

[asymptotes]

Heh. That's kids for you. But don't worry, I have two of my own back home. I can take care of them. I'm a cool dad.

[ With every lie like that he wonders more how he's possibly going to keep this up. ]

[howveryglib]

I…

[…Livia’a super dead.

He has tried not to think about it, but she definitely is.]

…

I hope they are well.

[asymptotes]

[ oops ]

Yeah. Well, with their mom around, I think they're going to be just fine no matter what.

[howveryglib]

...I made arrangements in the events that things went poorly, so I believe everything should be fine.

[narrator: everything was not fine.]