transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: December 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold
Characters: Everyone!
Summary: New transports are probably way less pleased about their arrival than their designated greeter appears to be. What are we saying, probably.
Warnings: No, unless you hate joy and laughter.

You, dear Transport, are in for an extra special treat. This is not just any standard protocol information session, although you're still required to listen to the obligate spiel and choose your own adventure your fancy new equipment (or something more familiar, if you'd rather). Once 'the boring part' is over, an excitable blonde with a hairstyle out of a Dr. Seuss book begins ushering you down the halls. Although she glosses over the history of the place that you've found yourself in, she seems much more enthused about telling you that you've arrived in the best month of the year.

It's highly probable that Becky (for that is her name, really) was chosen for this particular batch of Transports not because of her blinding devotion to her informational duties, but to give the other workers in her division of the Hold a few moments of rest from her chipper voice. Any snark or sniping is brushed off easily enough by the bubbly woman as she leads you further into the Hold. She lets you know that although there are serious reasons for you to be here, you should try to include yourself in the local customs in order to foster a feeling of hominess and unity, as that sort of thing is very important...and keeps in close tradition with Non-Denominational Cheer Day, a holiday coming up quickly toward the end of the month. She even presents you with a pink, blue and silver bow made from surprisingly high-quality ribbon along with your netbook, coinpurse or card before she ushers you into the banquet room and encourages you to 'mix with your fellow man – or whatever they might be!'

She disappears with a twirl of bright blue skirt and you're left to your own devices in the banquet room. Perhaps in an effort to make up for the previous month's somewhat lack-luster party (who had time to plan a proper spread when parts of the building weren't even functioning?), the eight-person tables are dressed with various solid-coloured tablecloths overlaid with shimmery silver material. The entire room looks a little bit more 'frosty' than usual (fake snow was so 21st century) – the walls glitter with what looks to be some sort of spray-on ice crystals (they're probably plastic).

Winter beverages line one side of the banquet hall – hot toddies, cider, and hot chocolate with all of the proper fixings – while the other has no shortage of warming foods like stews and casseroles. There's no shortage of cookies for dipping, if that's your thing. Surely you'll be able to find something to eat, or at least someone to talk to...

Comments

[idealord]

[Well, either he's a man who enjoys his food or one who tries to push his problems away for the moment and enjoy his food. Either way, Hilbert thinks he looks really, really cool.

Two swords, man! Two! One was cool (but totally not his thing) but two was awesome.

... He has to warn him though.]

A lot of the sweeter things can make your throat kind of dry, but they've got cider and hot chocolate on the other side if you get thirsty. And some sort of alcoholic cider stuff over there too. I've never had it before myself, and I'm not of age yet, so I'm not touching them. They smell great though!

[The friendliest little bee.]

[boredallready]

[Oh, someone that gets his taste in swords. This should go well! But yeah, he just enjoys his food, he just can't give it as much focus as usual right now. He glances at some of the beverages.]

You think? I guess you do feel more thirsty after you eat stuff like that. If I do get thirsty I'll definitely check it out! But I'm not old enough for that stuff either, so I'll just stick to the regular stuff.

[idealord]

Ha, I met a guy who drank some of the stronger stuff earlier. He said that if you taste paint thinner, spit it out. The advice has been pretty useful.

[Hilbert didn't really think it could be that bad, but you know. Whatever works. He's going to make this as smooth as possible, nodding to Lloyd's twin blades.]

So, hey, are those swords real?

[boredallready]

Paint thinner? What does that taste like?

[Lloyd grins and partially draws one of them.]

Yep! These are even better than the ones I had for the last few months! I got them back just today!

[idealord]

Well, it's... I haven't really tasted it myself, but it's not something you'd want to try anyway. It's really bad for your health. So it'd probably be really bitter or something.

[Ahhh, they're really real! Hilbert's really excited to see a real sword! Rotta had double swords, too, but his were made of bone instead of blade. Samurotts are sweet as hell.]

That's amazing! Are you like, a trained swordsman or something? There's not a lot of people who go through that where I come from, but I had a friend who wielded two like you did. His name was Rotta.

[Pokémon can so be your friends.]

[boredallready]

Oh huh, so that's how you can tell if something is bad for you? [Then again he was pretty sure he had bitter stuff before and didn't get sick. Maybe he was just lucky?]

Yep, I even trained myself at first! I've been in a lot of fights in the last year, too, so I'm getting pretty good. Oh really? That's awesome! What's he like? Is he here?

[Hey, if Lloyd knew what a Pokemon was, he wouldn't disagree.]

[idealord]

Yeah, I guess so. I don't like it too much anyway.

[His Pokémon pals didn't seem to like the bitter medicine that he gave them once, so he's pretty much been off bitter things. They're always bad, right?]

I wish! Rotta's my very best friend. He'd probably love it here, though he'd get on my case of not really wanting to fight and stuff... He'd probably be like, "Do what you must!" and stuff. He's really brave and honorable like a samurai.

[If Pokémon could talk and all. Hilbert knows his starter's feelings well enough though, honorable creature.]

[boredallready]

You really shouldn't like anything that's bad for you, though.

[Which is why tomatoes were the most awful poison ever.]

Wow, he sounds so cool! I wish I had a friend who did stuff like that! But you don't need to worry if he's not here. I haven't seen some of my friends in a few months, but I know everything will be fine whenever I do see them again. For now I'll just do what I can around here.

[idealord]

But some things just taste bad, like vegetables. I'm cool with a lot of them, but some of them? Can't stand. Doesn't make them any less good for you though.

[He'll have to agree with the tomatoes though.]

He'd definitely like you. That's what I plan to do too! No matter what it is, if I can help I will! There's no point in thinking about problems if there's things we can do around here, right?

Sorry for the late orz

[boredallready]

I guess that's true. It still doesn't make any sense, though. If it's supposed to be so good for you, it should taste good.

Exactly! Dwarven Vow #1: Let's all work together for a peaceful world!

It's alright!

[idealord]

I definitely agree. If it tastes great, then more people'll eat it and be healthier! [Fool-proof. Why doesn't nature work this way.]

'Dwarven Vow'? That's a really great motto and all, but what's with the fancy beginning?

[boredallready]

Yeah, that makes a lot more sense! I always thought it was really weird when people said that bad stuff was good or good stuff was bad.

That's 'cause it's the first one! You're supposed to say the number on all of them when you recite them.