Ladies and gentlemen, your mayor...

[bathymetric]

True to the word of the random pieces of paper next to your desks, at exactly 1:30PM New Rapture Standard Time, there's a chime on all radios in the whole area - and there are a lot of radios. Both the portable radios you've all been issued and speakers all over chime before a pleasant woman's voice calls out to all of you, slightly tinny and distorted.

Greetings, prospective citizens! Please make your way to the lobby for a personal address from Mayor Fontaine! Presented by Fontaine Futuristics, where we bring your present into your future!

Upon everyone's arrival into the lobby of the hotel, several televisions set into the walls light up with:



Until, after a few moments, the screens flicker and cut to the face of... someone, in silhouette, just like the rest of Rapture. There are no features to make out, though, as the top of a huge leather armchair raises above their head.

Mayor Fontaine is watching.

When the Mayor speaks, the speakers seem to have trouble getting it out. There's heavy distortion and static over it, but the voice seems clear enough - male, from the sound of it, and slow and purposeful. A thick Bronx accent, for those of you with a New York to compare it to.

"So. Welcome to New Rapture. I got some things to say, but I'm gonna bet if I just open the floor to questions they'll come up and it'll save us all some time. But to cut a couple off at the pass, so to speak: yer not leaving, this is real, et cetera. Now, ask me some questions, would you kindly?"

Comments

[hotpaprika]

[First of all: how the fuck is he doing that

Second of all: Jonathan freezes at the voice. That was certainly not the Count's voice, but it felt intimidating nonetheless.

Still, he has to say something. He looks at the figure behind the screen, with a mix of both fear and anger on his face.]

What on Earth is the meaning of all of this?! Are you allied with the Count? If you are, why must you torment me so instead of killing me if you are well within your abilities to?

[bathymetric]

The Count? That old Dracula fellow? Nah, no relation. And I'm not here to kill ya! That's everyone else's job.

[fuckingguy]

... Are you sure?

[ LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BRAIN TRUST IS HERE ]

[bathymetric]

...Of what, exactly? I thought I was pretty clear.

[pairtner]

I'm not interested in becoming a citizen of this place.

[bathymetric]

Your objection is noted and ignored, sorry. Better luck next time.

[sastruga]

[She is raising her hand, politely.

...

Is...

Is she waiting to be called on?]

[bathymetric]

... Yeah? You got a question, Marionette?

[dullshooter]

Okay, but what if we ask real nicely?

[bathymetric]

How nicely are we talkin'?

[capreelcious]

Yeah uh, what's the point in tryin' to make us kill each other?

[bathymetric]

Well ain't that just the million dollar question! So here's the deal, Eel, I got a city to rebuild. And I ain't sayin' how just yet, but you guys doin' this? Helps out. The Great Chain demands blood.

Besides, you don't gotta do anything. But we both know better than to let our guards down in a place like this.

[sixthnonsense]

[At least it's not Monokuma that Hagakure's seeing or hearing on the screen, but that doesn't do much to ease his panic.

For those who haven't spoken to him yet, there's an interesting tidbit about him:]

Why me, man?! I've been through this crap once already!!

[dullshooter]

You've done this before?

[withagun]

[ Hodaka's been rather...not quite shy, but more awkward and unsure, with just about everyone here. But now, he barks out to the TV: ]

Where is she?! Where'd you put her?!

[bathymetric]

Your little girlfriend ain't here, kid. If you wanna get back to her, well... let it never be said I haven't shown you where the door is.

[hellaethics]

[...Well this sure squashes all hopes he had of Janet having bing'd him to ComicCon by accident. After a moment Jason raises his hand, just like Chidi taught him in class.]

Mister Just a Voice, I got a question. How far underwater are we? 'Cause back in Jacksonville I got pulled out with the swamp tide once but as long as there aren't any alligators nearby I could probably just kick my shoes off and be able to get to shore pretty easy.

[bathymetric]

... I would recommend very strongly against attempting to leave the city, Florida Man.

[howveryglib]

[...Gaius crosses his arms in consternation.]

I am sure you are informed enough to be aware that we all have far better things to be doing than playing your little game, Mayor.

[bathymetric]

I am aware of your activities, yes. It's why I'm not pretending Rule Seven is just a little fun suggestion.

[inaclearing]

[Brett's quiet at first, listening to the questions shouted by the others and observing some of the reactions. It's not like he doesn't get it. He'd also like to yell about all of the kidnapping and extortion. But that isn't going anywhere. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just to get someone talking at all.]

Fontaine Futuristics? So I take it that you and your company are responsible for this city's construction?

[bathymetric]

Bingo. The old Rapture failed. I stepped in.

[kninja]

...Sure, I guess I'll bite. What're you hoping to get out of all this fuss, Mister? You sure went to some trouble getting us all here from different places.

[bathymetric]

Short and simple: you're an investment in the future of my city.

[prompocalypse]

[Penelope doesn't immediately ask questions. Too busy processing. She might have made fun of him before, but it's different when faced with the guy. There's plenty of questions she could ask, about why they'd listen, how they can trust that he can enforce these rules, how they can trust that he is who he says he is (like it matters to them.)

Instead, she clears her throat.]

Your city's looking pretty dead in the water for a place seeking new tenants. So, what's up with that? Even the lobby's been cleared out.

[bathymetric]

Sad but true. You're all a sort of... fresh start, let's call it.

[vholran]

How long do you believe you have to live before you are tracked down and ... done away with, for the trouble?

[bathymetric]

I think I've got pretty good odds, False King. But hey, you might surprise me.

[specialyellthing]

Oooh! We gotta city boy on our hands.

Oughta give you the chance now. It’s only fair. You wanna let all these people go now, before my friends get here?

[bathymetric]

I'll take my chances, thanks.

[visiblepattern]

[Forrest is standing...well, as off by himself in the room as he can, not really wanting to be in close proximity to anyone at the moment; it takes him a moment to come up with something to say, something to ask...]

...Are the people we were last with safe?

[bathymetric]

I'll say this, kid: I ain't done a thing to anyone you know who isn't here right now.

[buriedstar]

[ Seo Dawon listens for a while before piping up with some commentary of his own. ]

I have a lot of other titles, you know. [ This is his biggest(?) problem here. ]

[bathymetric]

I'm aware.

1/3

[bathymetric]

[ After a while, Mayor Fontaine clears his throat. ]

Alright, well... I can see most of you got your questions out. If you need to talk to me again, I'm just an intercom call away.

Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and leave you all in the capable hands of my assistant, for the time being. She'll letcha know anything else you need on your end. Until next time, citizens.

2/3

[bathymetric]

[Just as your mayor makes a calm retreat from this conversation, a sharp, metallic screech seems to answer him from... somewhere. Everywhere. It rattles the chandeliers, and as they settle, it almost seems like nothing. Until you see it, suddenly clinging to the side of a stone column, watching the lot of you under a deep red glow.

It's a figure clad in some sort of diving suit. The crimson light in the helmet flickers once, twice, then turns to a stark yellow before they release their sole grip on the column and leap to the ground with a metallic thud and splintering tile. Gravity, it seems doesn't appear to be an issue.

They rise to regard the group in full, tall and thin and wired like a predator eyeing down their prey. You'd think they're about to strike.

Instead, they reach up to that helmet and twist at it. Pressure valves release. Restraints unlock. The yellow turns to green...]