##%=~~~~., ,.~~~~=%##
###@%*=~., ,.~=*%@###
####@%*=~, ,~=*%@####
@@@*~.,,,, ,,,,.~*@@@
###@%*=~., ,.~=*%@###
#@@%%*=~., they built the final nightclub on top ,.~=*%%@@#
###@%*=~., of an undocumented research site. each ,.~=*%@###
@@**~,,,,, floor closer to the collapsed warp ,,,,,~**@@
#@%%=~,,,, prototype. did they know at the start? ,,,,~=%%@#
#@%%=~.,,, classified maps had gone missing some ,,,.~=%%@#
###@%*=~., years before. ,.~=*%@###
#@@@%*=~., ,.~=*%@@@#
@%*~,,,,,, the deeper you descend, the stranger ,,,,,,~*%@
###@%*=~., the environment - first more ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., enthralling and intrusive, then seedy ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., and predatory, but pierce deeper and ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., there will be more peculiar effects. ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., your sense of space will seem to ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., distort (it's actually the spacetime ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., itself that is becoming fluid), then ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., your body, and finally your sense of ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., self. ,.~=*%@###
#@@@%*=~., ,.~=*%@@@#
###@%*=~., # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ##### ### ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ##### ### ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., ### ### ##### ##### ##### ##### ##### ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., ###### ###### ###### ###### ###### ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., ###### ###### ###### ###### ###### ,.~=*%@###
@%*~,,,,,, ###### ###### ######## ######## ,,,,,,~*%@
####%*=~., ######## ######## ######## ######## ,.~=*%####
#@**~~~.,, ######## ######## ######## ######## ,,.~~~**@#
@%*~~.,,,, ######## ######## .................. ,,,,.~~*%@
##@*=~,,,, .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ,,,,~=*@##
##%=~~~~., .... .... .... ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,.~~~~=%##
###@%*=~., ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,.~=*%@###
@@%**~,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,,~**%@@
@*=~,,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,,,,, ,,,,,,~=*@
###@%*=~., ,,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,.~=*%@###
#%=.,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,,,,,, ., ., ., ., ., ., ,,,,,,.=%#
##@*==.,,, ., ., ., .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ,,,.==*@##
###@%*=~., .. .. .~ .~ .~ .~ .~ .~ .~ .~ .= .= .= ,.~=*%@###
@%***~.,,, .= .* .* .% .@ .# .# .# ~, ~. ~~ ~= ~* ,,,.~***%@
@*==.,,,,, ~% ~@ ~# ~# ~# =, =. =~ == =* =% =@ =# ,,,,,.==*@
@@*=.,,,,, =# =# *, *. *~ *= ** *% *@ *# *# *# %, ,,,,,.=*@@
##%*~.,,,, %. %~ %= %* %% %@ %# %# %# @, @. @~ @= ,,,,.~*%##
###@%*=~., @* @% @@ @# @# @# #, #. #~ #= #* #% #@ ,.~=*%@###
##@%%*=~., ## ## ## #, #. #~ #= #* #% #@ ## ## ## ,.~=*%%@##
###@%*=~., #, #. #~ #= #* #% #@ ## ,.~=*%@###
####%*=~., the ceiling is covered in actual stars. ,.~=*%####
###@%*=~., eyes above ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., fading into silver flakes as they fall ,.~=*%@###
#@@@%*=~., bubbles in drinks ,.~=*%@@@#
###@%*=~., ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., drinks with a secret ingredient, that ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., makes you see the stars even when you ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., close your eyes. ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., ,.~=*%@###
@@%==~.,,, at these deeper levels it can be hard ,,,.~==%@@
###@%*=~., to remember who and where you are ,.~=*%@###
@*=~.,,,,, (were). normal staff is as transformed ,,,,,.~=*@
##@@%*=~., as guests. instead, care and protection ,.~=*%@@##
###@%*=~., are offered by (overly flirty) ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., pool toys and other such automatons. ,.~=*%@###
@*=~~...,, ,,...~~=*@
#@%**=~.,, if you stay above absolute madness, ,,.~=**%@#
###@%*=~., there is some sort of control to be ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., had. you could slip into your ideal dog ,.~=*%@###
#%%=.,,,,, body there, explore that. you could ,,,,,.=%%#
####@%*~., drink poisonous ambrosia and not be ,.~*%@####
###@%*=~., burned away. you could explore ,.~=*%@###
#@%***=~., territories just as mapless as those ,.~=***%@#
####@%*~., closer to the core, but with a chance ,.~*%@####
###@%*=~., of finding your way back. ,.~=*%@###
@*~~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~~*@
###@%*=~., ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,# ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., .. the honey is a trap and there's a .. ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., ~~ sting, a sting, a sting. ~~ ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., =, it's in your eyes and it's in your ,= ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., *. mouth and your hands, their hands .* ,.~=*%@###
@%*=.,,,,, %~ it's in your heart and in your ~% ,,,,,.=*%@
###@%*=~., @= mind and the minds of those around =@ ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., #* you, their hearts, their bodies. *# ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., #% #% #% #% #% #% #% #% #% #% #% ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., and if you're lucky, you'll never get ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., out. don't bite the other guests. ,.~=*%@###
#%%***=~., (or do) ,.~=***%%#
##@%=~.,,, ,,,.~=%@##
###@%*=~., the deeper the floor goes, the more ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., expensive the drinks. this is not ,.~=*%@###
##%=~~~~., coincidental. the more expensive the ,.~~~~=%##
@@@*~.,,,, drinks, the more likely it is that ,,,,.~*@@@
@%%%%*=~., someone will buy them for you. ,.~=*%%%%@
@%**~.,,,, this is also not coincidental. if ,,,,.~**%@
###@%*=~., someone buys you a drink, they are very ,.~=*%@###
###@%*=~., likely to take care of your needs in ,.~=*%@###
####@%*~., other ways as well. ,.~*%@####
@@%=..,,,, ,,,,..=%@@
#@%*==~~., ,.~~==*%@#
#@%*=~,,,, ,,,,~=*%@#
###@%*=~., ,.~=*%@###
####@%=~., ,.~=%@####