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.

[honeyedtea]

... Excuse me?

[ Mielle's already looking a little unsettled, but at that her already pale face practically turns green. ]

[bathymetric]

What's the matter, Saintess? Didn't read the rules?

[honeyedtea]

I didn't think you were serious! Even– even for someone mad enough to bring us here against our will, wouldn't that be a step too far?!

[ She makes a shaky noise, that almost – but not quite – becomes a hysterical little laugh. ]

Surely this is some sort of crude joke on your behalf?! You can't expect to turn us against each other like a pack of wild dogs!

[bathymetric]

Well, I'd say I don't make the rules, but I did literally write them, so. I'll say this: wild dogs get caught. You might surprise me and all play nice in your cage! Gotta say, it would warm my cold, cold heart.

[onemillion]

[Just going to jump in here...]

What would happen to us should we refuse to play by your rules?

[bathymetric]

Break a rule and you'll be punished. Don't worry, though, we don't usually kill for first offenses.

[honeyedtea]

I–

[ Mielle reaches a level of indignation that renders her mute for a moment. Then her voice bursts back out of her, shrill and shaking, and with it comes a shower of furious tears. ]

I refuse to take part in this! You have no right to bring us to this dreadful place and enforce these wretched rules of yours! Why– why would you bring me here just to have me killed again?! How dare you! How dare you!

[sastruga]

["Again"?

...No, never mind how possible such a thing is for now. There's someone in distress and Mafuyu immediately forgets her own questions.]

Mielle-san--

[What can she do here, other than to take a few steps forwards? This is above her pay grade.]

[sixthnonsense]

[Given the shrieking, it's hard for Hagakure to miss this.]

H-Huh?

["Again"?]

[bathymetric]

I'm not claiming to have any right to this. But I do have the power, and that's what's important.

[withagun]

[ Hodaka has his own reasons for being pissed. His own problems he's caught up in. But it really is impossible to ignore Mielle, especially considering that voice... It's entirely opposite of what he'd heard before.

His own anger doesn't fade. But it takes a backseat, so to speak. ]

Mielle-...san...?

[ It seems he isn't the only one concerned. Thankfully. He doesn't think he can do much of anything, anyway. ]

— Mielle-san. You...shouldn't have to listen to this.

[ Again. It turns over in his head, slow-cooking in the background of everything. ]

[hellaethics]

Oh dip, you too?

[It takes Jason an impressively short amount of time to remember that no, that's specifically something he's not supposed to talk about and clams up- but not before moving himself just a few steps forward. It doesn't feel good to see someone freaking out like this and just not doing anything but he knows well enough not to overstep.]

[giddyundertaker]

Again, you say...?

[ Hi, local mortician is interested in you and for once it's not because you're funny. ]

Now how did you manage to come back from death of all things?

[prompocalypse]

["Again" catches her attention, but Penelope catches herself stepping forward and putting a hand on Mielle's arm with a stern and serious look. Her voice is hushed, clearly addressed solely to Mielle but still audible to anyone nearby.]

Listen, sweetie, I get how you feel, I do. But let's not antagonize the floating evil voice that kidnapped us and holds our lives in his hand, okay?

[Her voice drops to a slightly gentler tone.] ...We'll find a way out. There's always another way.

[buriedstar]

Oh, same here. [ Seo Dawon does not sound the least bit offended or angry, but he pipes in to mention that Mielle isn't alone. It'd prob help if his tone wasn't incredibly flippant but here we are. ]

[hotpaprika]

That still does not explain how you were able to release me from his captivity! No one knew where I resided and my attempts to find rescue were destroyed by the Count!

[bathymetric]

I know where everyone is when I want to, Friend.

[hotpaprika]

That’s not possible! You cannot possibly know where every person on Earth is at any given time!

[specialyellthing]

Don’t worry bud, you’re safe now and ain’t no one touchin a hair on ya.

[hotpaprika]

Ma’am, I thank you kindly for your courage, but I wouldn’t want you to harm anyone for my safety, especially if our captor is already threatening murder

[specialyellthing]

Don’t worry.

I’ll only hit ‘em if they’ve got it comin, and only hard enough to make ‘em think twice.

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan shakes his head.]

It's not that I don't value your kindness, but I really don't want you to fight my battles for me. It wouldn't be proper.

[specialyellthing]

Hah! [Jonathan gets another friendly whack on the shoulder.]

You sound like my boys in The Blackhawks before I saved their asses. You don' have to worry about anything, I'm a veteran. Fought plenty of battles to save the entire world before, so don't you fret about proper.