transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date: January 3rd
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been led to a banquet room within the Hold.
Warnings: None.

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. "You're in luck that we have enough rooms for all of you; the housing building is getting awfully full. Please, let me show you into the courtyard."

You pass what looks like huge gymnasiums, all with dummies and targets strewn and splayed around the room. Training areas. There are even classrooms, and a few small offices. You're rushed past a large library while the Greeter informs you that you can find almost all your information there, if you've got the time to look—and trust her, you'll have time. You don't spend a lot of time in the bank, and it's a bit of a blur of exchanges with more and more of these strangely-accented and oddly polite-seeming members of the Initiative.

Soon enough, you're in a massive courtyard bustling with all the other Transports. It's not exactly what you'd expect, and it looks more like barracks than anything—huge walls of concrete and stone, separating you from all of the hallways you'd just passed through. It's raining heavily, and dark clouds loom in the air, though it hasn't turned to snow. It's a chill cold, and there are shelters—long cloth hangings that extend from the walls of concrete to house you from the rain, but not enough. Most notably, the courtyard is filled with a marketplace. Even in the cold and the rain, there are several citizens seated at their covered booths and tables, bundled up against the weather. They're selling all manner of their own handmade goods and foods, and citizens and Transports alike are traveling from one small covered shop to another in search of all manner of necessities.

The Greeter's voice has become so faint now, but you swear you can make it out in the back of the crowds as she tells you, "Good luck. Be safe!"

Her voice is drowned out by the busy marketplace, though even the transactions taking place are somewhat subdued. Nobody is overly happy, really, though most citizens can be found with smiles on their faces. It doesn't seem like they're that shocked to see you, either; even if you're not bound in tattered rags and wrapped in heavy shawls as they are. You're welcome to walk up to a shop, and find yourself something to eat—hey, maybe you'll even find something akin to a raincoat. Or, you can join the others under the coverings against the walls. Where am I? What war? She was talking so fast, and it didn't all make very much sense… did anyone else catch it all?

Welcome to the courtyard. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium

Comments

[punk_cute]

[Kanji is out poking around for cloth, so when he catches sight of the pattern on that hoodie, well he has to get a closer look. Also, bare feet make him a little concerned. It's cold and wet enough that he's wishing for another jacket himself.]

Hey. Mind if I ask you something?

[frorn]

[ Jack doesn't startle as bad as before when another teen approaches him, but it still earns some surprised blinking. He wishes he could say he could get used to this, but after 300 years, it might take some time for that to happen. He has an easier time shoving that feeling aside now though, and he tilts his head curiously, wondering what this guy might ask of him. ]

Hey. Go ahead, ask away.

[punk_cute]

Where'd you get that hoodie? The pattern is really pret-- I mean cool!

[No, he meant pretty, but backpedaled a bit because...well, he's not sure a guy would like his clothes called pretty. He's quite taken with the pattern. It seems he likes intricate designs, from the brightly colored and delicately embroidered one on his shirt that's peaking out from under his coat.]

[frorn]

[ Of all the things he could have been asked about concerning his appearance, his hoodie had been the very last thing Jack expected. It's so unexpected Jack only barely manages to suppress a laugh of disbelief.

Honestly, he wouldn't have minded if the guy had said 'pretty' and more than likely, wouldn't even have noticed it until Kanji backpedaled to 'cool'. It earns an amused smile, but he's also a little impressed. The guy obviously has a good eye for detail. ]

Sorry, I got it years ago so I'm afraid I don't really remember. [ ... Many years. Not to mention it actually was just a plain, blue hoodie. It was just that things started frosting over when in close contact with his body and the hoodie had been no exception. ]

[punk_cute]

Oh. [He's a little disappointed for a moment.] But at least you took real good care of it! It looks just like real frost--

[And that reminds him of his other reason for coming over. He glances down, not connecting the frost on the ground to anything else.]

Speaking of, are you okay? Maybe you should get shoes or something. It can get really cold here.

[frorn]

It was probably in Burgess though. [ He adds quickly at that flash of disappointment. Even before he'd remembered his home, Burgess was the one place he was always drawn back to. Although it doesn't really matter if he got it there and he's about to state that it's because it is real frost, but then the shoes comment distracts him.

Well, he might as well have a little fun with this and see if the guy can figure it out on his own. ]

I'm fine, the cold doesn't bother me. [ Subtly he lets his staff touch the wall behind him, making an intricate floral pattern of frost bloom to life behind him without even looking. ]

[punk_cute]

[Kanji might not have been able to put it together from the frost on the ground, but seeing it blooming right before his eyes is enough. First his eyes widen a little, and he does take a minute or two of concentration, but then he grins. He doesn't seem to find the idea unusual at all.]

Oh. Oh. Ice is your element, huh? Wow, that's awesome and--

[A pause, and then he laughs a little at himself before nodding at the hoodie.]

That's real frost on there, ain't it? Well, it still looks nice.

[frorn]

[ Not quite the reaction he'd been expecting, but it certainly wasn't a bad one. It looks like this guy was used to unusual stuff. Jack grins back cheerily. ]

Yep, as real as it can get. [ Jack reaches out, although there's a moment of hesitation because what if he just passes through, but he pushes himself past that and takes it on faith. He touches Kanji's jacket with the tip of his finger, making to same intricate designs appear and cling to the fabric. It's not going to last like on Jack's clothes, but it's a small token of appreciation all the same. ]

You into that sorta stuff? Clothes, that is.

[punk_cute]

[Kanji simply beams at the touch, enchanted by the ice and the pattern it makes. Already there are ideas for making something pretty with the patterns in his head.]

Cool... Thanks. You must be really strong with ice, huh?

[And then he goes a little sheepish. There's a split second's hesitation, like he's bracing himself for a bad reaction, but when he does plow on, he's proud.]

Yeah! I love sewing an' things. I do all the designs on my own clothes now, and dolls and other stuff.

[frorn]

You could put it that way.

[ Kanji's reaction was not unlike a child's and it delights Jack. He's not one to judge by appearances, considering North and how intimidating he looked while still being the jolliest person Jack has ever known, so when Kanji reveals his love for sewing, he doesn't even look surprised.

And if Kanji's looking for a bad reaction, well then he can keep on looking because Jack continues on quite cheerfully, impressed even. ]

Really? That's pretty cool! Kids must love you. [ He actually takes a moment to look more closely at Kanji's clothes now with that knowledge in mind. ]

I gotta say, that's impressive.

[punk_cute]

[It's less an expectation than a lingering fear of bad reactions. He lived under a cloud of them for a very long time. But Jack's positive reaction has an instant effect. He relaxes and brightens further, getting excited.]

Yeah! They really do. I was surprised as hell at first, 'cause I thought they'd think I was all a freak an' things, but a lot of 'em have been really cool about it. Makin' somebody smile is the best feeling.

[And he really means that, beaming at the good memories. There's a little bit of awkwardness in his smile, because positive attention for his hobbies still feels new, even after so long, but it's honest and open. And as for his clothes, the jacket hides most of the design on his current shirt, but what can be seen is very intricate, with tiny stitches and bright colors in an abstract design that sweeps over and under and curls around itself.]

[frorn]

I don't see why they would ever think that, if you can make them toys, you're right up there with Santa I'm sure. Not everyone can do that.

[ He straightens again now that he's had a closer look, smiling knowingly at the last thing Kanji said. A kindred spirit (though not an actual one) was always nice. ]

It really is. What's your name?

[punk_cute]

Yeah, it's getting more that way now. But where I'm from, boys ain't supposed to sew or like to make dolls an' crafts, so for a long time I got nothin' but shit for what I love doin'. And I made it worse by lettin' it get to me in bad ways, and being scared an' covering up who I really was inside.

[He puffs up a little, proud and happy.]

But I learned better, an' now I'm true to my own self, all the parts of me. I'm not letting anybody make me hide again, or tell me how I should be.

An' my name's Kanji! What's yours?

[frorn]

[ His grin widens at that. ] As you should be. Besides, since when has anyone let 'not supposed to' stop them? I think it's neat. And aren't most fashion designers guys anyway?

[ Not that Jack knows a lot about it, but hey. ]

I'm Jack Frost.

[punk_cute]

Uh? In France an' stuff, I guess? Anyway, that's all the past for me. I'm movin' forward and who knows. Maybe I'll get to meet some big fashion dude someday.

[He grins.]

Nice to meetcha! Frost, huh? It's almost like the name's predicting your power.

[He has no idea.]

[frorn]

Yeah, who knows. You look like you could pull it off.

[ Oh Kanji, if only you knew. That definitely gets a grin out of him. ]

You too. And I guess you could say so.

[punk_cute]

Maybe I can! One might come to Inaba! We already had a popstar an' a famous detective.

[He laughs, amused by the idea.]