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[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

[gunsling]

[ The whole traveling from one world to another twice in a row thing tends to get very tiring very quickly. While Jake still isn't completely sure what happened, he is at least aware that this was not the overly green world he and the rest of the gang had landed on, and none of his friends were here with him.

Well... discounting the severed head he was still totting around. Something disturbing enough to probably put off even the pluckiest of people trying to shove information into your ear canal. He'd explained the situation once though, and would do it again if the need arose.

And considering he is now standing near the door of a massive, crowded room with busily chatting partygoers the need to explain his stumpy, bloody friend here may arise soon rather than later.

Jake shifts his weight from one foot to the other, marveling at the sheer number of people in the building. He can't recall any point in his life where he's seen so many individuals gathered together in one area. Then again, seeing three other people in the same place at once seemed like a crowd to him. Boy, but while those people sure would be interesting to talk to, some of that food looks pretty good too. He wonders if he can get away with setting down Dirk's head for a moment to snag himself a plate of food without someone freaking out about it.

Or worse, disposing of the head when his back is turned. ]

[ino]

[STARING AT THAT HEAD IN HORROR WHAT THE FUCK.]

[gunsling]

[ Uh-oh, looks like he's already attracted some attention without even doing anything. He tries to put on his best friendly grin and offer the young woman a friendly wave. ]

[ino]

[no, what. WHY IS HE BEING SO FRIENDLY, HE HAS A SEVERED HEAD.]

Um ...

[gunsling]

[ Well yeah! That's why he's got to be especially friendly, to make up for his less than comforting accessories at the moment. ]

Howdy!

[ino]

You ... are carrying a severed head.

[in case he was somehow not aware of that]

[wilder]

[Brooding, angsting, scheming, Zelos is doing all these things while being a recluse and eying the food that just doesn't seem appetizing to him. He's almost lost in his thoughts when suddenly he feels something dripping on his foot and turns to see what it is annnnd]

--- What the hell?!

[gunsling]

[ Yeah, sorry about that, new friend! He was hoping that the dang thing would be done bleeding by now, but you know how it is with severed body parts, right? They're so hard to control the blood flow of, and it is still fairly fresh and all that.

Jake actually has the audacity to look surprised at Zelos' shock for a moment. ]

Is something the matter?

[ He looks down and-- Oh well yes, that probably is a pretty alarming sight, isn't it? ]

Er, I mean, besides the obvious, of course.

[wilder]

[sdflkjsdkf Zelos is pulling his shoe away so it stops dripping blood on him]

Dude..!

I know this is a war, but did you seriously have to bring that in here?!

[gunsling]

[ That's probably for the best, because Jake doesn't really know what to do with the head. He does shift his hold on it so it's on the side away from Zelos at least. That should help so it doesn't start puddling by his shoes or anything. ]

War? Oh... oh no!! This isn't some sort of slain soldier I'm totting around as a trophy. This is my best friend!

[ ... Jake that doesn't make things sound better. ]

[wilder]

[What the hell, bro. What the hell. Sure, Zelos sorta died from friendly fire BUT HES PRETTY SURE THEY DIDN'T TOTE AROUND HIS HEAD]

[OR DID THEY]

Oh! That makes it so much better!

[tipsygnostalgia]

[Roxy never wanted to get her hopes up- she'd not seen one of her friends ever since arriving here- yet every time a new batch of newcomers were brought in she still had to go check them out, just in case.

Making her way through the crowd of newcomers she looks a little disappointed, yet again not seeing anyone she knows. She turns to leave, when something catches her eye. It's a head, a severed head. What the hell? She looks closer, only then noticing the features of said head, and then the person holding it.]

JAKE!! [Move the hell out of the way people, for there's one Roxy coming through.]

[gunsling]

[ Well if there's one person a young lady should be ready to have her hopes up for, it's the boy with hope in the title! Who also doesn't happen to be a part of some destroyer class or another that is.

It's not even that he really meant to show up here, and certainly not under these particular circumstances, but... hey! If one person can be happy about his presence, despite the bleeding cranium he's got smooshed against his stomach as he debates what he can do to hide it from the onlookers (perhaps wrapping it up in his jacket?), then at least his coming here isn't a total waste!

He looks up in surprise when he hears someone call out to him, and it takes a moment for everything to click into place just who it is that's yelling his name. ]

Roxy!!

[ He almost drops Dirk's head then and there. Instead he ends up fumbling with the damn thing and snagging it out of the air when it's only about a foot from the ground. ]

[tipsygnostalgia]

[She makes it over to him, just in time to watch him catch the head once again.]

Jake what in the actual fuck? Did it really bring you here still carrying that?

[At least it lets her know what time point he'd come from- the same as her- at least she assumes so and that he hasn't been carrying Dirk's head around for fucking ever.

Never mind that though, she's throwing her arms around his neck, in a weird awkward sideways hug that doesn't mean the head is caught between them.]

Oh my god I have missed you! So much, you wouldn't believe.

[gunsling]

[ Well it is a skull of sorts, it wouldn't be that surprising for Jake to still be hauling it around with him. Though he isn't too keen on the idea of the rotting that would go down, so never mind. To be completely honest he hadn't really considered what he was going to do with this head, he was just so caught up in the moment and suddenly he was on this world while still holding the head.

And still trying to keep his hold on it while Roxy clings onto him. He'd give her a hug back, but considering she's going out of her way to avoid the head and he's got a nice splotting of blood on his front it's probably better not to at the moment. ]

It must have!! Whatever it is!

[ He may or may not have been really listening to what the nice women had to tell him about the place. ... Probably the not one. ]

And as good as it is to see you too, I've got to wonder how you managed to miss me that much in such a short amount of time.

[tipsygnostalgia]

[She lets go after the hug, though she's still hovering right beside him. Honestly she'd still be all over him if it wasn't for the Strider cranium crashing the party.]

Time happens different here, or some shit. Like.. once you're here, it doesn't effect what's happening at home? I got brought in just as we were entering our session, as you were smooching a certain fucking head, and I've been here about four months all on my own.

[caligulas_aquarium]

[Well, that certainly is a guy carrying a severed head.

Though Eridan's the least likeliest person to judge jake for it, he still looks a bit irritable to say the least, but at the very least not freaked out in the slightest.]

Trophies like that are just the height a tastelessness. If you got any sense about you, you'll dump that shit before someone sees.

[gunsling]

[ Jake meanwhile is starting to feel a little concern about the people around here who seem to think that he'd rip off someone's head and carry it around as a trophy. Do people do that often here? That seems like a pretty morbid trophy to carry around.

Well okay, it could actually be kind of cool once the fleshy part is all gone and it's just the skull, but until then it's kind of gross with all the flesh and blood attached to it. ]

It's not a trophy! Whatever war everyone here seems to have wrapped themselves up in, I can promise you all I didn't do this!

[caligulas_aquarium]

Look, relax - I don't giwe a fuck who you killed, or why. Don't gotta get into denial here alright.

Just sayin', drop it. Paradin' it around's pointless since apparently that sorta thing don't fit well with most humans.

[gunsling]

[ Yes, he's definitely a little offended looking now. ]

But I didn't kill anyone! It's not denial, it's a simple statement of fact. And I'm not about to drop it either. While he might be a massive tool, this here belongs to my best friend, as in at one point over the course of his existence it was attached squarely to his shoulders and I'm not about to just leave it lying around for people to step all over.

[caligulas_aquarium]

[Jake he doesn't even know where to start with you.]

It's a sewered head - he's dead. What's the point in keepin' it?

[honkalypse]

[There is someone here who isn't staring in horror. In fact, when Gamzee spots the blood and the head in Jake's arms he makes a beeline right for it, looking delighted. His laugh is disquieting, and his grin shows lots of teeth.]

Well look what's up and motherfucking dropped down in on my lap. WHO ARE YOU BEING AND HOW DID YOU UP AND GET THAT FINE MOTHERFUCKER?

And what about you, my fine headsy friend?

[Yes, he said that last part to the head, leaning down to look it in the... shades and everything.]

[gunsling]

[ Anyone outright laughing and talking to a head is a little disturbing, it's true. People's disgusted reactions? Jake can understand even if they're disheartening. The gleeful laughing less so.

It's a shame Jake isn't from a little further down the timeline though or he might recognize this particular, oddball troll. As it is he takes a step backwards, not totally comfortable with this whole set up suddenly.

... Not that he was particularly comfortable with the head in his hands before. ]

That's something I'm still trying to work on the details for myself about. Unfortunately neither of us will be getting many answers out of him at the moment.

[honkalypse]

Got to get your listen on, brother. He'll be telling at you in the very, very, VERY soft whisper. Can't miss that motherfucker. Won't be repeating nothing what for nobody.

[He says that like...well, he's sure the head can and will talk. It's completely conversational, though Gamzee's gaze rakes over Jake like a predator contemplating a meal. There's a thrill in freaking people out and the discomfort is practically rolling off the human. The thrill is what keeps him from seeking out more violent action, for now.]

[gunsling]

[ Good to know! Well, minus the part where Jake actually knows anything at all here. For all he knows this man could and might attack him at any second, and he isn't exactly looking for a brawl in the middle of a fancy party.

One thing he is certain of, however? This boy has lost his goddamn marbles if he thinks Dirk's head is talking to him. ]

I think you're mistaking the buzz of the crowd for a voice from the dead! Dirk's mouth is decidedly still for the moment, and I can't imagine a single syllable will be slipping out of this particular pair of lips again.