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

[pairtner]

It most likely was a waste of time. You're not the kind of person who listens to others, are you?

[buriedstar]

I do if their opinions are worthwhile.

[pairtner]

The insult has been noted.

[It wasn't all that subtle -- or at least Aiba interpreted as such]

[buriedstar]

Really? [ Honestly he didn't mean it as one, though he is aware of how he comes off. ]

If I listened to everyone who tried to influence me, I'd be level 5 and broke. I only want what's the best.

[pairtner]

Do you tend to use videogame vernacular?

[People can be quite quirky sometimes. Not that Aiba can look down on anyone when it's about quirks. They may not be as pronounced as they are when she's in a Somnium, but her constant projecting into people's eyes really sap into her resources. It makes her a little more loopy than most of the time -- not that she's not loopy at times anyway, haha]

[buriedstar]

It's not really video game vernacular anymore. Levels, potions, dungeons—they all matter in physical reality where I'm from.

[ #sometimestheworldbecomesanMMO ]

[pairtner]

[do you live in a somnium world 24/7 buddy is that what happened do you live in shovelforge]

You make it sound like you live in a MMO.

[Even though she says this, her tone doesn't show she believes it at all. Levels, potions, dungeons, and other people being involved with the insinuation of an economy of some sort existing really bring MMOs to mind but Aiba just can't cross the final line of accepting that as this man's reality]

[buriedstar]

That's pretty much what happened, actually. I'm surprised you know what an MMO is, the most I've gotten here is a video game, and even that's been fairly rare.

I'm a mage, by the way. [ This is an easier topic than discussing his cooperation. ]

[pairtner]

Please tell me you don't mean to say you use magic spells to fight enemies.

[This is the most nonsensical thing she has heard today and she's currently in an underwater city that will host a murdergame, how can you bring up a situation more outlandish than a murdergame]

[buriedstar]

Well since you asked, I won't. I'll just show you one day instead.

[ Let's not get into the far sillier territory of. Well none of us need to go there, trust me :worrybean: ]

[pairtner]

Seeing is believing. I will have to hold you onto that someday.

[I can't wait to find out a lot of Seo Dawon's circumstances throughout the next two months]