[video // @jackwynand56] first transmission.

[belowthesea]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...

[Someone just found his way out of a nightmare dome... he'd been sort of vaguely reassuring himself that this is just another weird city like Rapture, but- yeah, Rapture was lonely, but not oppressively lonely like that.

His video is in first-person, but it isn't showing much. Just his hands clutching a worn short-wave radio so hard that it might just crack under pressure.]

Someone... talk. Please.

Comments

[ video ] un: justaaron

[customplates]

[The image in Jack's mind suddenly is one of a very concerned man in his mid 30s, and the voice that accompanies the transmission is deep, but comforting and kind.]

Hey, you're not alone. It's a nightmare. They...happen sometimes, but it's going to be okay.

[A beat, and he smiles gently.]

Hi. I'm Aaron.

[belowthesea]

[He squeezes his eyes shut for a second at the sound of that voice. That is... too calm, too comforting, and what if this is another trick? What if he's lying, he probably is lying, if he gets attached he'll just-]

I'm Jack.

[He reigns back his conscience for a moment. This isn't Rapture, this is... somewhere new. And it's fine. This is fine.]

I hate it here.

[customplates]

[Aaron is used to dealing with people who are untrusting and have been double-crossed too many times. Consistency is the key to winning their trust. And patience. He has both of those in spades.]

Hi, Jack. I know, it's [He scoffs slightly.] pretty crazy. I mean, we're at the bottom of the ocean and there are these things they implanted us with that let us think at each other, but we do have each other. I know you don't know me, and that doesn't mean anything, but it is something, and it doesn't have to be bad.

[belowthesea]

[His brow furrows a bit as he listens to him. He really wants to trust this man, but that's all the more reason to hold him at arms length. At least he can do that and still be polite.]

I'm used to those parts. [He chooses his words carefully, speaking a bit slower than usual.] Being under the ocean. And... other stuff. I'm sick of it. I want out.

audio: un:TheOtter

[of_bokthersa]

If you're feeling a crushing sense of being alone, keep moving forward until you see others.

[belowthesea]

[There's a moment where he can be heard trying to speak, but... he can't find the right words just yet.]

What if they hurt me?

[That's a stupid question. If they hurt him, he has to kill them. End of story. He's just wasting breath.]

[of_bokthersa]

They're not going to hurt you.

[They haven't yet. Right now they're just stiffing you and overcharging you like a bartender offering watered down beer.]

The longer you stay there, the more your fear will overtake you.

[belowthesea]

[You don't know that. There's no point in saying that. He just squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head sharply.]

I'm not scared.

[This is a flat out lie; his voice even wavers hesitantly over the words. But fear is a weakness and Jack is not weak.]

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

Hey, it's okay. You're okay. What's your name? You're not alone. It was just a nightmare.

[belowthesea]

It all is.

[It's all a goddamn nightmare, all of this. His whole life. This is no different, but... right now, is what matters.]

Jack. I'm Jack.

[11calls]

Okay. Hi, Jack. I'm Alex. Are you in a dome with other people or is there no one else around?

[belowthesea]

[He glances around briefly, and hesitates before speaking.]

Alone.

[Hiding out, away from people... he's sure someone is in this dome - maybe? But people are dangerous, it's better to stay away anyway.]

audio; un: whiteroad

[whiteroadrunning]

It's alright! You're safe, I promise you.

[Safe as safe can be in this place, anyway...]

Are you hurt? Do you need help?

[belowthesea]

I'm fine.

[Not hurt at least... he's double-checking himself in case he forgot an injury. Nope, still intact.]

Just... alone.

[whiteroadrunning]

It does feel that way, lately. It can be overwhelming. If you feel that way again, it helps to keep moving. Just breathe and keep walking. You'll find others eventually.

Audio

[unknownmoirai]

[The voice that replies back is sweet, warm and undeniably feminine.]

Hello.

I'm not sure what you'd like me to say but I can talk if it helps. How about I tell you a story? I believe, it's supposed to start with... once upon a time... There was a young girl who loved to go out in the meadow and watch the flowers bloom. There was this one flower, that no matter how many times she ventured to the field, it wouldn't bloom.

Days turned to weeks and weeks to months.

The flower wouldn't bloom.

She sang to it and told it sweet stories but nothing seemed to work.

One day she fell asleep in the field, curled protectively around the flower. The moon shown softly overhead but by that light she could see everything and when she awoke, she found that the flower had bloomed. You see, it was a rare moon lily that only bloomed at the light of the moon to close up before morning. It glowed a light blue and that little girl decided that this was to be her favorite flower.

[belowthesea]

[He's already decided he likes her by the first few words, and is dutifully silent during her story. This is precisely what he wanted, and it is just as great as he hoped for.

He's silent for a few moments afterward, too, before deciding to speak.]

What next?

[He can't imagine that's the end of the story, because he imagines a story like that would end with the flower getting crushed. But more importantly, he just wants to hear her voice.]

[unknownmoirai]

[A soft musical laugh echoes through the connection.]

Well, she didn't want to pick the flower. She went back to it every night and spoke to it. Sometimes she even sang. It didn't have any other moon lily's around it and she didn't want it to feel alone. Sometimes she would tell it about her day or whatever else came to mind.

The flower lived for several months but you must know that flowers don't live forever.

It was sad the day that the flower finally wilted but something happened.

The blue glow of the flower lifted like a soul leaving it's body. The flower beneath it was white instead of blue and the glow seemed to flicker like it was trying to speak. The young girl reached out to it and the glow eventually rested in her palm. It was warm and she continued to speak to it.

[belowthesea]

[That laugh is honestly one of the best sounds he's ever heard. He's not even sure he's heard a laugh that wasn't distorted by insanity or pure evil before.

He's started properly relaxing now, and continues to be silent while she speaks. He's even got an awkward smile on his face, and totally forgets to prompt her to keep going.]

audio: marshes

[gristle]

Why are you holding a radio like that? They don't work here.

[belowthesea]

Don't care.

[Or it isn't the point, at least.]

[gristle]

Hey. You’re okay. It’s just the domes being weird.

audio | un: adventurer

[verstoned]

Good morn. Or afternoon. Mayhap evenin'.

New, aren't you?

[belowthesea]

Yeah.

[He hesitates a little, wondering if he should elaborate. Maybe he should.]

I've been somewhere else... like this. Under the ocean.

[verstoned]

Mmm. So 'ave I. But unlike this, people had their freedom. Yours was exactly like this, eh?