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

[thisaroma]

My Alice's cuteness is an objective and indisputable fact!

[calx]

[ Bringing a hand to his chin in an articulate manner. ]

Is that so? [ ... ] I'd like to meet your Alice, in that case.

[thisaroma]

Well, assuming she's here, you should be able to... But when that time comes, you're only allowed to look at her and admire her from a respectful distance! Don't even think of trying anything!

[calx]

Trying anything? [ He holds his hands up and shakes his head. ] I assure you, I have no interest in anything romantic, perceived or otherwise.

Any experiments I undertake will be with her permission.

[thisaroma]

[ what ]

No one's giving you permission for anything like that!!

[calx]

Well not yet, I have yet to make the request.

[ Said smooth as butter. ]

[thisaroma]

Yeah, well, you'll keep it that way if you know what's good for you, kid.

[ Like, if he didn't get there first, he's pretty sure Alice would destroy this kid's ass herself. ]

[calx]

Kid? We appear to be around the same age.

[ This is his only problem with what's being said, apparently. ]

[thisaroma]

Seriously? Unless you're not actually human, I'm pretty sure I've got a few years on you.

[calx]

Someone could easily be a few years younger or older, yet still be in the same group.

[thisaroma]

Aren't groups like that kind of arbitrary when you can put the boundaries anywhere you want? You just don't like being told you look young, huh?

[calx]

It's important for boundaries to have definition. However, they should be logical and not born out of personal assumptions or opinions.

[ A beat. ]

I don't mind being called young, I simply disagree with the classification.

[thisaroma]

Well, okay, how old are you?

[calx]

For classification purposes, the current record has me at nineteen years of age.

[thisaroma]

All right, and I'm twenty-four, so that's both a solid five years and on the other side of the teenage divide. Seems like two pretty fair boundaries.

[calx]

[ . . . ]

Well, I suppose the devil is in the details. Details that are not necessary to disclose at this juncture. [ That's kind of acquiesce? ]

[thisaroma]

[ ... ]

Oh. Are you a half-elf? Is that why? Don't worry, I've got no issues with it. I won't blow your cover or anything.

[calx]

What is an elf?

[thisaroma]

[ Uhhh.... guess he was wrong...? ]

They're one of the major races, along with humans and dwarves.

[ are there enough dwarves around to actually be considered major, idk ]

They have much longer lifespans than humans do, but... you're not one after all, I guess?

[calx]

[ totes wrong because elves don't exist in genshin impact. at least they dont right now!!! ]

I have never heard of dwarves, either. How curious. [ A nod. ] That is correct. I am neither a dwarf nor an elf.

[thisaroma]

[ Well, that's... weird... ]

Do you consider yourself a human then, or...?

[calx]

[ . . . ]

A close approximation of one.