COMMENCE VOYAGE

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know the Atlantic Ocean has a surface area of 41.1 million square miles? No reason.

...

There's something uneasy in the air as you come to.

Well, "come to" is an interesting word in this case. It implies waking up, which is not exactly what happens. None of you are in beds, nor are you really asleep in the traditional sense. One moment you're somewhere else, doing something else with your time, and the next? You're somewhere on board a massive cruise ship - maybe lounging on a deck chair by the pool, maybe getting some Gains in the exercise room, maybe enjoying the tasteful décor in the buffet - and you have no idea how you got here or how you might get back. This is not your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she isn't here.

What you do have, apart from 25 other unlucky souls, is a small smartphone-like device in your pocket with only a handful of things on it: a clock reading 11PM, a pdf of a ticket in your name on a special Atlantic Liners New Year's Eve Cruise, an app labeled Passenger Profiles with some basic information on your traveling companions, and a message:

Welcome aboard, passenger! Please feel free to partake of any of the facilities while you wait for the big event! Remember: when midnight comes, you better make your way to the theatre at the back of Level 1 for the main event! The Captain and the First Mate will be there to take care of you all personally, and to help you ring in the new year in style!

Well, that's a start. But what you do until then, it seems, is up to you!

Comments

profiles

[onlyyoucan]

[Having given up on finding Emily, Sara stares at the profiles, then at the strange man.]

Someone you know?

[hypnowhip]

[Sylvando perks up at the sudden nearby voice.]

Oh, I'm sorry, darling! I didn't see you there- otherwise I would've said hi.

[As for her question, he nods as he looks back down at his device.]

Yeah, but we last saw each other in...less than ideal circumstances. I didn't think I'd see him again, truth be told.

[onlyyoucan]

So we're not all from separate places. Just... most of us, apparently.

[hypnowhip]

Apparently so! That actually makes it even more strange though, huh...?

[Let alone Jasper even being here at all.]

[onlyyoucan]

None of it makes sense. Not yet. That meeting they're building toward...

[hypnowhip]

...is probably where we'll get some actual answers, right.

[Boy are they sure going to be wrong about getting some actual answers though.]

I kind of wish they would just get it over with. Suspense isn't very fun when you're an unplanned part of the act.

[onlyyoucan]

How is any of this fun to begin with?

[hypnowhip]

Exploring the ship was fun for a little while! I've never been on a ship quite like this one. But then it sunk in that it's basically a prison for the time being.

[onlyyoucan]

Being kidnapped isn't a pleasure cruise, even if it looks like it's literally one in this case.

[hypnowhip]

Definitely not! But it doesn’t hurt to keep a little optimism alive, you know?

[Does he have experience with being kidnapped or something...]

[onlyyoucan]

...I don't know about that.

[She looks at the phone, studying the profiles.]

But it is in your job description.

[hypnowhip]

[He nods with a soft smile.]

And believe me, I know it can be terribly hard to keep your spirits up sometimes. Even I’ve been there. But no situation is completely hopeless. We’ll figure this out, I’m sure of it.

[onlyyoucan]

Some things are. You just have to go on despite that. Which means now, we need to look for something besides shrimp and party poppers.

[hypnowhip]

[Mmmm... It's pretty disappointing to hear that, but part of Sylvando knows he probably shouldn't push it right now.]

I'm guessing our first big "something" will be that gathering. I haven't found much else in the way of clues- just lots of locked doors.

[onlyyoucan]

I haven't seen a way to get through them, either.