Let me take a #selfie!

[adaptiveimmunities]

Who: Everyone!
What: Shaun's Nightmare Mingle Post
Where: Fyre Resort
When: Social Media Competition Weekend!
Warnings: As needed in the threads!

Welcome to the Fyre Resort! We hope you enjoy your stay, and all of our fine amenities, including gym, spa, pool, beach, and shuttle to a local theme park! Make sure that when you post, you include the tag #fyreresort per the contract you signed when you accepted our offer. Have fun! Relax! And of course, let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable.

Gym:
Do you like to work out? We sure hope so! Here you'll find any gym equipment your heart desires, perfect for the traveler who likes to stay in shape, whatever their fitness needs! And if all you want to do is jog a couple of steps or sit on a machine with a towel around your neck and take a selfie? We won't tell.

Spa
Need to relax? Stop in for a spa treatment! Facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, ...colonics? Hey, we don't judge! Whatever you need to to feel good, we're here for you! Don't forget to have our technicians snap a picture to show how relaxed you are!

Pool
Need we say more? Come swim, or stretch out poolside while the family plays! There's plenty of room for everyone to have a great time in our pools! Lifeguards are on duty from 8am to 10pm, and we even have a splash pool for the little ones! Remember to take pictures and make those memories last!

Beach
Grab a towel and head to the beach for a day in the sea, sun, and sand! Fyre Resort has beachside access from the ground floor, and beach chairs are available upon request. Don't miss the chance to dip your toes in the ocean. #beachlife, am I right??

Theme Park
Looking for a little excitement in your life? Hop on the shuttle and head over to Local Theme Park! Roller coasters, flumes, and other rides are sure to thrill you, and with no lines or waiting for this special weekend, you'll be coming back again and again! Ride photos are available at the end of each ride.

Food
Room service and fine dining are both available at Fyre Resort. A full bar is also available (must show valid ID!), and if you don't see something on the menu you like, just ask! We are happy to accommodate all dietary needs. Remember to tag the chef!

Day One Social Media Rankings: (Initial)
1. Mahir Gowda
2. Una Persson and Blanche Devereaux
3. Theon Greyjoy
4. Dorian Gray
5. Anna and Lester Sheehan
6. Francis Crozier and Thomas Jopson
7. Jonathan Strange
8. Shaun Mason and Family
9. Harry Goodsir

Day Two Social Media Rankings:
1. Shaun Mason and Family
2. Una Persson and Blanche Devereaux
3. Jonathan Strange
4. Mahir Gowda
5. Francis Crozier and Thomas Jopson
6. Theon Greyjoy
7. Anna and Lester Sheehan
8. Dorian Gray
9. Harry Goodsir

Final Standings!
1. Anna and Lester Sheehan
2. Una Persson and Blanche Devereaux
3. Mahir Gowda
4. Francis Crozier and Thomas Jopson
5. Shaun Mason and Family
6. Jonathan Strange
7. Harry Goodsir
8. Theon Greyjoy
9. Dorian Gray

[Feel free to use this post as a general mingle to come across friends, rivals, mortal enemies… And you don't have to just use these locations! There are all kinds of places you can run into each other! Have fun!]

Comments

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun is Fine. He's been a social media darling since the day he was born--like it or not--and by now he's used to it. He knows his part in his family, and he plays it whenever the cameras are running, which is always. He's the Goofball Son. Happy-go-lucky, perpetual frat boy, never serious about anything. His blog is full of idiot stunts, rooftopping, and the occasional parkour, and he's made something of a name for himself from it. Of course, his family name helps. His parents were gaining fame when he was still in diapers.

He'll be spending the weekend climbing all over the resort (sometimes literally). He's usually in the company of his family, or just his sister Georgia, but sometimes he'll be on his own. He is, after all, the only one of them interested in the Local Theme Park or the rooftop of the resort, and he's the only one of them troubled by nightmares and insomnia. He doesn't sleep much, choosing to make use of various resort amenities instead.

Georgia

[adaptiveimmunities]

Occasionally, Shaun's sister Georgia can be found on her own. In appearance, she isn't any different than her counterpart near Shaun. Her hair is still short and dark, and she continues to wear dark sunglasses that she never takes off, no matter what time of day it is. This version of Georgia, however, is more obviously alert--as though she knows exactly what's going on here, and doesn't like it. She scowls more and smiles less.

And she's armed with a .45 that she wears at the small of her back.

[fishandclips]

Mahir is grateful, at first, that this time when the Terror changes around them, he doesn't wake up with a head full or strange memories or a completely different life to lead. The downside of this is quickly apparent, however, because he realizes he needs to find the others, and even if he does manage that... What are the odds that they haven't been changed the way he was on the cruise ship?

He leaves the resort, intending to look for the others and hope that he isn't the only person left unaffected by... whatever this is.

It isn't long before he sees her. Short, dark hair. Sunglasses. Perpetual scowl. The sight stops Mahir in his tracks, and knocks the breath from his lungs.

"...Georgia..." he finally manages, voice cracking.

[adaptiveimmunities]

Her arms are folded across her chest as she surveys the comings and goings of the guests with obvious disapproval. She looks over at the sound of her name, though, and gives Mahir one of her barely-there smiles, before dropping her arms and crossing the lobby to reach him.

"Hey, Mahir. Welcome to Fyre Resort."

[fishandclips]

He can't stop staring at her, the whole time she's approaching him. "...How. How are you here."

[adaptiveimmunities]

She shakes her head, giving him a slightly apologetic look. "I think you know better than that. I think you know what I am. You probably have an idea of what this is by now too," she adds, gesturing around them.

[fishandclips]

Mahir hesitantly reaches out a hand, unable to stop himself until his hand hovers over her arm. "...I never met you in person. Not even when I dream."

[adaptiveimmunities]

She raises her eyebrow at him. "You haven't."

[fishandclips]

He drops his hand back to his side, sighing heavily. "No," he agrees, his mouth quirking into a tiny, sad, brief smile. "You can't tell a kind, white lie even here and now, can you?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

"I don't think you'd really be happier if I could." She sighed softly. "But I'm sorry for your sake that I can't, even if I don't think it would make things easier. How are you?"

[fishandclips]

"Completely miserable." He laughs humorlessly. "And--No, you're right. You always were right. God, I miss you, Georgia. This is Shaun. Isn't it."

[adaptiveimmunities]

"I notice you asked that question but didn't leave room for the question mark in your voice," she says dryly. She nods. "It's him. He's been on the edge for a long time, but this dream share is a little too much." She makes a face. "I hate it too. It doesn't make any kind of sense."

[fishandclips]

Mahir shoves a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. "I wish you were here. Really here. Of course, if you were, this--probably wouldn't be happening. Definitely wouldn't." He shakes his head. "You would hate this whole dream business as much as I do, just like you would hate that he can't function without a hallucination of you in his head. But you know what happened the one time I told him that."

HERE GOES

[fishandclips]

This place is close to their world, with one glaringly obvious difference: the absence of Kellis-Amberlee. No blood tests, no safety measures, no firearms. The internet is full of social media, but no news, unless it pertains to the Fyre Resort and the posts being made by their group. It doesn't seem to matter to the standings that Mahir never actually makes a post of his own.

Mahir tries, over the first few days, to catch Shaun alone. The problem is that he never seems to be able to manage it. If Shaun is around, the ghost of his sister is usually nearby. If not Georgia, then their parents. Mahir watches and observes; if there's one thing he's good at, this is it and it's proving very handy. He's making a study of the Masons.

It's interesting to him that they are not so very different than the actual Masons. It makes sense, as they are obviously tied to Shaun's psyche, but it also surprises him that Shaun hasn't imagined them in a more favorable way. Maybe it's part of the dream's effects on them; Mahir isn't sure, and while he could easily fall into the trap of analyzing this whole mess, it's not going to help him help Shaun. Periodically, Mahir notices changes in the Masons. They seem to flicker, changing clothes and appearance, bleach streaks appearing in their hair where they were missing moments before, guns tucked into their clothing where they were not. As soon as Shaun notices them, however, they return to their dream-selves.

Finally, on the third day, Mahir decides that he can't take it anymore. If he can't corner Shaun on his own, he has to resort to making Shaun come to him. He sends him a message:

Shaun. I'd like to discuss a collaboration with you. Can we meet?

OH BOY

[adaptiveimmunities]

Sure. I can meet you at the bar.

When he arrives, he orders a drink--though considering that he's not much of a drinker, it will probably be the only one he orders. Nonetheless, appearances matter, and if he's 'meeting a friend for drinks,' then he should probably have an actual drink in hand. There's always a camera around somewhere.

When Mahir arrives, he waves him over. "Hey. How's it going?"

[fishandclips]

Mahir initiated this, and he knows what he needs to do, but that doesn't mean he's any more prepared for it when it comes right to the moment. He gives Shaun a half-hearted wave in return, and slides into the stool next to him. He doesn't order anything, but he notices Shaun's drink.

Right. Appearances. Well, he may as well get right to it.

"It's not going so well, frankly. How about you?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun frowns a little in confusion. This is... definitely not the conversation he was expecting. "...Fine, I guess. Shame things are coming to a close though. What's up?" He and Mahir aren't really friends, though they know of each other, and Mahir is a friend of George's. Maybe he can help?

[fishandclips]

Mahir raises an eyebrow at him, searching Shaun’s face for any signs that he isn’t completely brainwashed or broken. “Does this place feel right to you? Really?”

[adaptiveimmunities]

He snorts. "Mahir. Dude. Everyone here is being paid to hype this resort non-stop, and it's fine, but I don't know that it's as amazing as we're all making it out to be. I know for a fact that it's not your or George's thing. Of course it's not 'right.' But it's just a job."

[fishandclips]

He shakes his head and pulls his phone out, setting it on the bar between them. "Have you checked the internet lately? Besides anything posted from here?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

"I--" He stops. He'd been about to say he'd been too busy to check, but since when has he ever been to busy to check the internet for something? He pulls out his own phone and opens a browser. It takes him to the hotel's page with its WiFi login and usage policy. He clicks through to try to get away from the hotel page and... it doesn't go anywhere. It just redirects back to the hotel page. That's... weird. He shakes his head. "Okay, so their WiFi is fucked up. It's a new resort. Stuff like that will happen."

[fishandclips]

"Hmm." Mahir hums, watching him closely. "I suppose. But that's not the only odd thing happening." He turns in his chair to fully face Shaun, clearly giving him his full attention. Time to get even more direct. "Shaun. We have met before. We work together. We have since the Ryman campaign."

[adaptiveimmunities]

"Sounds like politics," he says, keeping his tone studiously casual even though something about that fills him with unexpected dread. "I think you're mistaking me for Georgia. Everyone knows I'm not the smart one."

[fishandclips]

"You're telling me that if Georgia wanted to cover a political campaign, you wouldn't follow her?" He gives Shaun a skeptical look. "I know you too well to believe that. And that not-the-smart one-act only works on people who don't know you, either. You're very good at playing dumb, but no one survives the kind of stunts you do without getting killed by actually being dumb."

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun glares at him. "We'd have to break off from the 'rents first," he says, and the sharpness in his tone is a little more than strictly necessary in the moment, almost surprising him. He shakes it off--he's already annoyed at Mahir calling him out. That's all this is. "And I guess you and George are pretty good friends if she let you in on the big secret. Fine. You win. I'm not an actual idiot. I just play one on TV."