01 [video + action]

[clickandshoot]

[video]

[Yet another wild newcomer appears! This one, however, seems more accustomed to the tech as she casually waves to everyone.] Hey everyone! I'm not... exactly sure who I'm talking to on the other line, but I'm not exactly sure how I got here. Here being Prospero. All I know is that we're somewhere in the US, which is great and all, but I really need to head back home.

Is there even an airport around here? Hell, at this point, I'm willing to take whatever transportation we've got.

... There is a way out, right? [She frowns, biting her lip before quietly murmuring:] It's not like the locals've been helpful in that department, either.

[action - Bayview Hotel - afternoon]

[After an unfruitful search for a way out, Elena finally makes her way to the hotel's lobby. She hasn't quite checked in yet, since she's still kind of in shock over the whole "you can't leave" thing, but she isn't exactly planning on going anywhere else yet.

At the moment, she's flipping through a couple of tourist-y pamphlets on the town while she's waiting for... well, even she's not sure what she's waiting for. They seem pretty interesting... if not kind of disappointing at the same time. What kind of town has tourist pamphlets if people can't leave it?]

Comments

[video]

[forgivethemtheirpain]

Nobody knows...

[video]

[clickandshoot]

No one? That's an awful lot of people who can't find a way out...

[video]

[forgivethemtheirpain]

You can leave the island, but you can't leave the world.

[video]

[clickandshoot]

Wait a sec. You're saying I'm no longer in my world? What does that even mean?

[video]

[forgivethemtheirpain]

What do you mean? It means what it means!

[video] /KICKS DOWN A WALL INTO THIS POST...

[hellburner]

Sure there is.

But you won't get back to where you were.

[video] AW YEAH ♥

[clickandshoot]

You won't? How does that even work?

[video] ♥♥♥♥

[hellburner]

Well, you'll get somewhere. I could turn this ship around and sail my ass right to England, but it wouldn't be the England I knew. Every road goes somewhere--I'm a navigator, I know these things.

But you won't get back to your world from here.

[video]

[clickandshoot]

Okay, so you're saying that this isn't my United States? I'm not saying I don't believe you or anything, but I'm finding it a little hard to believe I was just transported to another dimension or whatever they call it altogether.

It kind of sounds like something out of those science-fiction films.

[video]

[hellburner]

Hey, you wanna run around and check, be my guest.

But you don't know the half of the science fiction shit yet. What's your name, blondie?

[ voice ]

[blindknight]

You're free to leave, you just might not like what you find.

[ voice ]

[clickandshoot]

So I've been hearing. It's still kind of weird to think that I'm in the US, but it's not my US.

[ voice ]

[blindknight]

Yeah. Just wait until you fucking try and call your family and get someone else entirely.

[ voice ]

[clickandshoot]

Oh god... [there's a hint of worry too, though she's trying not to show it:] I haven't even thought about that. This may not be my place, but... I hope your family's okay, wherever they are.

[ACTION]

[namedforcat]

[A tired voice comes from behind her at the pamphlet stand.]

Thinking about going on vacation? I don't blame you, most people are at this point.

[ACTION]

[clickandshoot]

[Elena turns to face the other and shrugs a little as she gestures at one she picked out.]

Maybe once I get used to the place. As hard as it is for me to believe, I only just got here this morning.

[ACTION]

[namedforcat]

I see. I'm almost envious, it's been a rough couple of weeks here. Have you gotten the 'welcome to Prospero' lecture yet?

[ACTION]

[clickandshoot]

Only bits and pieces of it. I know that guns work on these things called 'Shadows' and I've got something called a 'Persona', but I'm not exactly sure what they have to do with each other.

[ACTION]

[namedforcat]

I can fill in some of those blanks if you'd like. You see, this place has a special property. There is what we call 'the Dark Hour', which is an extra hour that takes place between midnight and one. The normal inhabitants of this place are not aware of it, and are confined to coffins during that time. However us captives are aware and awake.

During this time, the shadows emerge and are quite hostile to those who exist outside of the coffins. To combat them we use various weapons, including the 'persona' that you've heard about. Everyone has a different one, and they must be awakened before they can be used at will. Most electronics will not work during the dark hour, but guns and other weapons will.

[Action]

[crimsonbells]

[If Elena feels a pair of eyes on her, it might just be a young girl - looks to be about ten - with dark hair and a red kimono, curled up in an armchair in the corner of the hotel's lobby. She's watching the stranger curiously, eyes squinted as if trying to make out details.]

[Action]

[clickandshoot]

[It takes Elena a moment, but she eventually notices the young girl's presence. She offers a smile before she wanders off towards the girl and holds out a pamphlet:]

Did you want one of these, maybe?

[Action]

[raisedroyal]

[Natalia passes through the lobby on her way back to the room, her eyes sweeping the area before falling on Elena. She pauses. Most people don't seem to bother with pamphlets. Could this woman be a new arrival?]

I'm afraid the brochures aren't very informative.

[Action]

[clickandshoot]

[Elena looks up upon hearing the other's voice, and can't help nodding in agreement.] Sure seems like it.

I mean, they'd probably be cool touristy places... but I'm not so sure a whole exhibit on some ancient president's really worth the trip.

[Action]

[raisedroyal]

[Natalia smiles at that, though she's wondering if it might not be at least worth a look. Perhaps this president was aware of some of the unusual goings-on? But then again, perhaps not...]

That as well, but I don't feel that they provide a very accurate picture of the daily happenings on this island. You may have better luck asking other visitors to escort you around the place.

[Action]

[clickandshoot]

Yeah? I guess that'd probably be more accurate. [She returns the smile as she sets the pamphlets back down.]

My name's Elena, by the way. If it wasn't completely obvious, I just got here this morning.