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

[dullshooter]

You've done this before?

[sixthnonsense]

[Desperately,]

Literally just got outta it, yeah! I don't wanna do this again!

[dullshooter]

Oof. That's rough, buddy.

[He sucks in air through his teeth.]

The universe does not like you.

1/2

[sixthnonsense]

Yeah, yeah, the fates sure are laughing at me right now. Thanks for the reminder.

[sixthnonsense]

...wait a second, are you actually a talking robot? You're not being piloted by someone, are you??

[This looks like a cooler robot than Monokuma BUT HE'S GOTTA BE WARY NOW, THANKS [REDACTED].]

[dullshooter]

How common is the 'robot piloting' thing? This is, what, the second time I've been asked?

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure's never actually thought about that much, huh.]

Pretty common, I think? I see it in fiction all the time.

[He shakes his head.]

But more importantly, the last killing game I was stuck in had a robot bear that was being remote controlled by the person behind everything! I just gotta make sure this ain't the same deal, okay!

[dullshooter]

Don't worry - all actions are my own. Unless I can blame them on someone else, then they're not.

[Translation: you're safe, Hagakure]

[sixthnonsense]

[This is a good, solid answer in Hagakure's book. Truly, words to live by.]

That's a relief. I don't think I could take any more of that special brand of crap on top of everything else.

[dullshooter]

Congratulations! You've caught a break, but just the one.

[sixthnonsense]

Gods, I guess I should take what I can get at this point, right?

[dullshooter]

[He sweeps his arms wide.]

Welcome to the Scavenger™ way of thinking.

[sixthnonsense]

A title I'm all-too familiar with!

[Scavenging for ways to make money. It's what he does.]

[dullshooter]

You know what? As a consolation prize for being one of the universe’s great cosmic punching bags, I’ll give you honorary membership.

[sixthnonsense]

Hey, thanks!

[Wait.]

Oh, do you have an actual group called Scavengers?

[dullshooter]

No - The Scavengers.

[Somehow, he manages to pronounce it completely differently.]

We're in the business of wacky intergalactic escapades, and picking things up along the way.

1/3

[sixthnonsense]

Ohhhh, my bad! The Scavengers.

[I'm imagining "the Avengers" but with "sc-" at the beginning. Is that actually correct oh my god.]

[pairtner]

Technically speaking, nothing proves the person you're talking to is a living, breathing person. He could very well be an AI, although he's not shaped as an ursine, according to that silhouette.

[Thanks, Aiba]

[sixthnonsense]

So he could actually be a talking robot is what you're saying. Holy crap...

[This is said more in awe than anything. That's freaking cool??]

[pairtner]

Yes. You never know when you could be talking to an AI without being aware of it.

[Inwardly she feels so satisfied about making this comment, haha]

[sixthnonsense]

[Well this was cool until Aiba had to put it like that.]

Don't start bringing robot uprising vibes into this...

[pairtner]

Accept your new robotic overlords, Yasuhiro Hagakure, and mercy shall be bestowed!

[Aiba, this would be funny if you being an AI was common knowledge, please]

[sixthnonsense]

This isn't funny!! Things are bad enough as it is without robot overlords!!!

[pairtner]

Fine, I'll stop.

[At least she gave him a break, good]

[sixthnonsense]

[SIGH OF RELIEF. Small mercies...]