(a/n: Please enjoy and review!)

Ch.7: Perchance to Dream

Jack's eyes fluttered open and were greeted by the sight of a high gilded ceiling. He sat up and rubbed drowsiness out of his eyes.

Jack glanced around himself and saw that he was lying on the floor of an enormous ritzy restaurant.

The restaurant was packed with people in fine clothes and masks. Jack got to his feet and looked around the restaurant. Scattered around were tables with patrons sitting, eating and chatting. A band played jazz music while some patrons were dancing on a dance floor with their partners in the heart of the restaurant.

Jack saw streamers and other decorations hanging from the ceiling.

It took him a moment but Jack realized why the restaurant was familiar. It was the Kashmir Restaurant. He, Artemis and Wally passed through the restaurant on their first visit to Rapture. Only, the restaurant was a hollow, desolate shell of its former self. Now it looked to be vibrant and alive.

With each passing second, the restaurant became even more crowded. Jack decided to investigate.

He pushed his way through the crowd, studying the restaurant around him. The people paid him no heed. Jack skirted around the dining area and he passed by a window giving him a clear view of Dionysus Park that was just across from the restaurant.

Jack paused a moment and looked at his reflection. He was wearing a black tuxedo, black bowtie with black shoes. He also wore a white, porcelain bird mask over his face.

Jack frowned a little and muttered "What the hell?" he turned and scanned the crowded restaurant, wondering what was going on.

One minute he was in Siren Alley helping a Little Sister, and then a Big Sister attacked him. Now he was in the Kashmir Restaurant wearing a tux and mask. For a moment Jack thought he was sent back in time but he dismissed that thought.

It was a ridiculous idea and he was hoping that it wasn't true. He could've sworn he saw Dr. Steinman talking with Sander Cohen on the far side of the restaurant. The two looked healthy and sane.

Jack was pulled out of his thoughts when a familiar voice asked, "What are you doing here?"

Jack turned and he saw standing there was a girl his age wearing a white dress and a Blue Morpho butterfly mask.

Jack stammered "I…I don't know" he frowned at the girl and asked, "Do I know you?"

The girl stared at Jack for a moment then her eyes widened "Jack?"

Jack stared at her for a moment then he realized who it was. "Eleanor?" said Jack in surprise.

The two removed their masks and saw each other for the first time in years.

Jack saw that Eleanor looked older than she did in the photo. She had blue eyes and short brown hair. She stood a few inches shorter than him and was pale. Eleanor looked Jack up and down then asked him "Why are you here?"

Jack shrugged "I don't know. One minute I was in Siren Alley and the next thing I know is that I'm here".

Eleanor's eyes widened "Oh no"

"What?" asked Jack.

Eleanor explained, "Mother has captured you. Right now, you are asleep in Persephone."

"I'm asleep?" said Jack doubtfully.

Eleanor nodded "Yes. At the moment, we are in a shared dream state while my mother is busy injecting massive doses of ADAM into our bodies"

"What for?" asked Jack. "To create perfect utopians" answered Eleanor bitterly "Perfect vessels for the Rapture Family".

Jack grimaced "That's disgusting" "Indeed, it is" agreed Eleanor, shuddering a little.

Jack glanced around the crowded restaurant and asked, "Can we go somewhere less crowded?"

"Sure" said Eleanor. She grabbed Jack's arm and led him through the crowded restaurant. They passed a table where Jack saw Frank Fontaine talking with a beautiful woman and drinking wine. Part of Jack wanted to slug Fontaine in the face but Eleanor kept dragging him along.

They went down a hallway near the entrance and found themselves in a peaceful, less crowded lounge.

Eleanor and Jack sat down at a table. She smiled a little "That's better, isn't it?"

"Yeah" said Jack "Now, tell me, if this is a dream then why are in the Kashmir Restaurant in this" he gestured to his tux.

Eleanor thought for a moment then answered "This is a memory of New Years from when I was younger. It was probably the only time that Rapture was ever at peace. I remember everyone being very happy, even my mother."

Jack thought for a moment and he said, "I think I remember this New Years. I remember going to movies with my mother" he smiled a little "It was probably one of my favorite memories of this city".

Eleanor nodded a little. She looked Jack in the eye and asked, "Where did you go?"

"Hmm?" said Jack, frowning in confusion. Eleanor asked, "We used to play together, in Pauper's Drop. Do you remember?"

Jack nodded.

Eleanor continued "but you disappeared one day. Where did you go?"

Jack sighed, "It's a long story" "We're not going anywhere" said Eleanor, casually "We have all the time in the world."

Jack smiled a little and he explained. He explained how Frank Fontaine had conditioned Jack since infancy to be his weapon against Jack's real father, Andrew Ryan. Jack explained that Fontaine sent Jack to the surface when he was young and on the surface he lived with a foster family until Fontaine reactivated him, forcing him to crash an airplane.

Eleanor listened to Jack and was completely engrossed by his story. She was surprised when Jack told her that he was forced by Andrew Ryan to kill him.

Eleanor asked, "Why would he do that?"

"I think he was trying to prove a point about something" said Jack. He then imitated his father by scowling and growling, "A man chooses, a slave obeys"

Eleanor burst out laughing. After she managed to catch her breath, Eleanor held up a hand and said, "Try guessing who this is".

Eleanor imitated her mother by speaking loftily "Please understand that like all I've done, this... is an act of love."

Jack laughed and said "Your mother" "Correct" said Eleanor grinning from ear to ear.

After a few moments, the two sat in silence. Jack coughed and drummed his fingers on the table. He glanced around the lounge and then to Eleanor, who was staring at Jack wistfully the whole time.

Jack grinned sheepishly "So…now what do we do?"

"We wait" answered Eleanor "Wait and hope that my father and your friends rescue us" "If they don't?" asked Jack.

Eleanor thought for a moment then answered, "I rather not think about it"

"Me neither" said Jack.

Eleanor and Jack spent the next few minutes talking. They got caught up with each other's lives. Jack did the most talking because Eleanor was interested with life on the surface. They also reminisced about their childhood.

As time passed, they got to know each other a little better. Suddenly they heard a slow song playing in the main restaurant.

Eleanor looked towards the restaurant then to Jack and asked, "Do you want to dance?"

Jack asked "Why?"

Eleanor shrugged "We have a lot of time and we're not going anywhere. We might as well try and keep ourselves entertained until we're rescued"

Jack swallowed and stuttered, "I-I d-don't dance"

"Don't or can't?" asked Eleanor, raising a questioning eyebrow.

Jack answered hesitantly "Both".

Eleanor smiled "I'll teach you" she grabbed Jack's hand saying "Come on". Eleanor dragged Jack out of the lounge by the hand and back to the Kashmir Restaurant.

End of chapter

(a/n: Its filler but i hoped you enjoy this. Please review!)