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

[guffawsungraciously]

That, or he has extremely particular tastes, which seems more likely to be the case.

[why are there so many damned romance novels. he had to sift through so much trash...]

[leaveittomother]

[She picks up a trashy novel set in the Victorian era and then just jams it into another shelf with a frown. No, get that shit out of here.]

His tastes remind me of things I read when I was a school girl.

[Embarrassing.]

[guffawsungraciously]

I will admit, I have never quite had taste like... that.

[HMM HMM HMM.]

But I suppose some people never do grow out of those particular phases, do they?

[leaveittomother]

They were popular at the time.

[Look... look. Don't judge.]

No. Some don't... somehow I feel a little relieved our Captain hasn't.

[guffawsungraciously]

Fair enough, fair enough.

[He doesn’t sound any less amused, though...]

But hmmm. I am not quite sure what this would indicate outside of bad taste, really.

[leaveittomother]

[A shrug. Guilty as charged, she guesses.]

A youthful taste, perhaps? Maybe naivete. It's a stretch but we don't have much to go on.

[guffawsungraciously]

True, but I do not feel that sort of thing makes anyone any less dangerous, mind... or any more, really. Youth and naivete are... unpredictable, I would say.

[leaveittomother]

[She pauses then gives a laugh.]

That's very true. You never should judge someone based on their age.

[guffawsungraciously]

Yes, true enough. Or... apparent age.

[the luminary is legally an adult, we guess, he can get married and everything

but the older of the two sisters... the gremlin..............]

[leaveittomother]

[I mean she can't judge. Her child is like two centuries old maybe? She really can't say age should be apparent.

...She laughs.]

That's certainly very true.

[guffawsungraciously]

In any case, I am at the very least glad to find a few non-fiction books. It will doubtless be a boon for however long we are here given the subject matter, both for practical and entertainment purposes.

[leaveittomother]

That's true at least. I'd be more happy with a wider selection but this will work for a while.

[guffawsungraciously]

Indeed, and it is really somewhat difficult to determine if we will even be here long enough for us to tire of the selection.

...

I do not have particularly high hopes, but, well, perhaps.

[leaveittomother]

Well, we'll have to wait and see for now, unfortunately.

[guffawsungraciously]

Very unfortunately.

[WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, THOUGH...]

In any case, I presume you will not be averse to sharing recommendations if you find anything worthwhile?

[leaveittomother]

Of course. I hope you'd do the same for me?

[Hope you like cheap thrillers about Jack the Ripper, Jasper.]

[guffawsungraciously]

Most certainly. May I have your name, then? As for me, I am Sir Jasper of Heliodor.