(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: February 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings, while older Transports are returning from the mission to Uruguay.
Warnings: None.

While those who have been guests of Exsilium since at least the last wave of Transports return from their desperate mission and are pressed out of the Transporter room and into the Courtyard, the Initiative prepares to receive a second wave at the same time. And if you're in that second wave, the fresh meat, then 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

Nill | SO OPEN

[reassures]

[Despite the haze lingering in the back of her mind, Nill managed to absorb most of the information that she'd been given on her way to the courtyard. She got her weapon, got her banking information set up, got her room number - and promptly spent the duration of her time being lead around listening and examining these strange people. From what she can hear they seem kind enough, but she's suspicious of them regardless. They've just dragged her into a war, after all.

Finally though, they leave her to her own devices, and Nill stands at the edge of the courtyard, dressed entirely in black; black jeans, black jacket, black books. It almost looks like she was trying to blend in. She might get away with it too, if it weren't for the long, blond hair tied up with black ribbons, or the small, white wings on her back. The two guns at her sides probably don't help matters, but she's not trying to hide them. She figures it's probably easier to tell people they're her weapon than to hide them.

Nill takes a few moments to look around, to try to find someone, anyone that she recognizes. When a first glance fails her, she decides she should probably get out of the rain if she wants to spare her ammo, and she heads over to the coverings near the walls for shelter. She still had questions, and maybe she could find someone that would be willing to answer them.]

((ooc; Telepathy permissions are over here! If you aren't cool with her reading your character's mind, please let me know.))

[solitaire]

_{( He’s not really the type of person to go around and greet everyone he sees—he just doesn’t have the patience for it. But he does spot the wings, and for a second he thinks of Warren, and it’s enough of a hook that he’s walking over a few moments later. It’s not really unusual to see even a young woman touting guns in this city, so he takes that very much in stride. He approaches with a nod of greeting, calling out to make himself known. )}

Doin’ alright there, fille?

[reassures]

[Fille? It isn't a word that Nill has ever heard used before, and for a moment Nill looks confused as she turns her head to looks this man over. It isn't difficult to guess he's talking to her though, so Nill nods despite her initial confusion.

Instead of the confusion going away though, as he gets closer it just gets worse, more obvious in her features. Something isn't right, but she can't tell if it's because she only just arrived and isn't up to her usual yet, or if it's because of him. After a moment, she shakes it off, and unfolds the tablet she'd been given. It takes her all of a second to open a notepad program and begin typing with one hand.]

I think so. Are you a Transport?

[solitaire]

_{( He quirks a brow when she starts typing, but doesn't comment on it otherwise. Instead he reads the words and then turns his gaze back to her face. )}

That's right. Kinda easy ta pick us out from the natives.

_{( He nods to the marketplace, where the refugees of Exsilium are selling their wares or just going about their business. There is a certain look about them, and even just the uniform drabness of their clothing marks them as more a part of this world than the Transports would ever be. )}

[debtor]

[Here's a familiar face. Even if he's a year younger and a few inches shorter than she might remember.

Like most people here, he's only recently gotten back from a mission (fortunately sustaining only minor injuries), and he's famished, which is why he's busy shoving mantou buns in his mouth. And he happens to be standing by the walls when she approaches, turning and glancing at her with eyebrows raised.

She looks like another transport, and he doesn't think much of how she's armed or what she's wearing. He just nods his head and says, as politely as he can manage with a bun in his mouth,] H'lo.

[reassures]

[It's a much more casual greeting than Nill was really expecting, and it almost makes Nill do a double take. At first she just glances at him, because she's still looking for people she knows, but then she realizes, wait, that is definitely someone she knows.

...She has no idea if he knows her. He'd greeted her, but that wasn't really a very good indication of knowing someone. Is he-- shorter? Was that just her imagination?

At sort of a loss for what to say him, after a moment Nill just lifts a hand and waves at him, her wings fluttering awkwardly against her back once.]

[debtor]

[...He lifts his hand and gives a small wave back. She's giving him some sort of look, he's not really sure what that is. Er...!

—And are those wings real? Whoa. But he's courteous enough not to stare. He's seen weirder.

When a moment has passed and no one's said anything more, though, he swallows his food and tries a smile.]

Have you just returned from the mission?

[velveteened]

( oz happens to be looking around himself when nill does, and so it happens that their eyes meet. what he'd been hoping to find was someone familiar. he smiles, though, apparently not put off by all the black or the guns or anything. )

[reassures]

[That's what Nill was hoping for as well, but this person isn't actually unfamiliar to her. For a moment she actually looks startled, before quickly making her way over to Oz. It takes her all of a second or two to unfold her tablet, type up a message, and hold it up for Oz to see.]

Is your name Oz?

[velveteened]

( the approach, as well as the recognition, is unexpected. could they have met before? he's pretty sure he'd remember a girl like this, though.

he nods. ) It is.

[payback]

[Rin is keeping to the edges herself, trying to avoid being doused by rain and... partially succeeding.

She's not paying much mind to the newcomers this time around, partly because she's not entirely paying mind that there's a new glut yet. But when she catches a glimpse of white wings - well, that's familiar. She lived with Nill for a good while, after all.

The jolt of recognition might be something Nill would notice, or it might not be. Either way, Rin's not approaching yet.]

[reassures]

[She wouldn't. Not at first, anyway, not now that her abilities have been so diminished and there are so many people around. What she does notice however is Rin, and the moment Nill spots her she looks visibly surprised to see her.

Okay. That is someone she hasn't seen in a long time. Her wings flutter, and she quickly glances away. It's probably not her precisely, but Rin had always been a little bit too smart. She was always asking questions she shouldn't when Nill had known her. So... if anyone here would know what and what not to trust, it might be here, even if she wasn't the same person.

Making up her mind, Nill steels herself with another interaction with someone that no longer knows her, and makes her way over to Rin, pulling out the tablet she'd been given.]

Hello.

[payback]

[Rin stares at her. She's going through the same mental circling, in a way, steeled to smooth the interaction over with a little glossing-over of truth of prior acquaintance.

So familiar. This place is so strange...]

Hello... [Nill, Nill, Nill. The name practically echoes in her head.]

[inthejunk]

[Yosuke is mostly here to steal a few cookies when no one's looking, but he's also staring around anxiously for familiar faces.

At first he glances right past Nill, but the glint of the guns catches his eye. He gives her a surprised once over, and his eyes come to rest on her wings.

Woah. Now that's just awesome. She could have stepped right off the pages of a manga! She must be an angel...or at least a battle princess.

Hel-lo miss.]

Don't shoot, I'm unarmed.

[reassures]

[Nill is otherwise preoccupied - she's still getting used to the strange new way her abilities work, and sort of coming to terms with the fact that they're been diminished significantly. She doesn't even take notice of Yosuke until he says something, and when he does her head snaps up immediately. For a moment Nill stares at him, before a grin spreads across her face. She looks so relieved, and so happy as she steps over to him. It is probably the happiest a girl has ever looked to see Yosuke.]

You're here-- I didn't think you would be... [Nill didn't believe in miracles, but Yosuke had managed one once, and she thought it was too much to hope that he'd manage it again.]

[inthejunk]

[Woah! That is a voice in his head! Is that her? Can she do that? No way!

He definitely gapes in surprise for a few minutes before he can manage to get it all worked out. When he does, he grins right back at her. So cool!]

Uh, yeah. I guess I am. And so are you, right?

[wilder]

[Zelos was moving quickly to get out of the courtyard, back to the apartments where he felt marginally safer- at least more in control. Large crowds at the beginning of the month never ended well for him. ]

[On his way to his favorite alley to slip out, his eyes catch sight of Nill. It's the wings of course, that catch his eye. He hasn't seen any besides his own since arriving here, and even those he only let out once or twice to check on them. But even if no one could see them, like phantom limbs he could almost feel them ruffle up in apprehension.]

[Calm down, he tells himself. They're too small to be an angel- maybe it's just a costume. Young girls like dressing up in stuff like that, don't they?]

[Either way, he still has to get past her- she's standing in front of his favorite escape route. So he'll approach, seeming nonchalant]

Excuse me, my dear.

1/2

[reassures]

[Nill's spoken to a few people by this point, and she's getting more accustomed to the strange way people seem to address women around here (never really by their name, just odd compliments), so she turns immediately, expecting someone else to have come to talk to her.

The moment she spots him, Nill freezes, her wings automatically folding in closer to her back. She's looking less at him, and more at his hair.

She tells herself to calm down, to be rational, because what little she can remember tells her that the hair of that person didn't look like that at all. It was red, but it wasn't like that. This man has wavy hair, and nothing about his figure reminds her of the person who had been responsible for her death. It's not him. It can't be him, even if Nill doesn't know his face anymore.]

[reassures]

[Nill exhales slowly, and after a moment of getting her blood pressure to lower, she lifts a hand to wave at Zelos in greeting. She doesn't look as shaken as that first second indicated, at least.]

[gunsling]

[ Jake's dodged under the shelter as well, though less because of the need for information (he's found out all he figures he's gonna about this place at this point!) and more because dang it sure is pouring down right now. Not like it's ever not raining here, but some times are definitely worse than others, and a guy likes to stay at least a little dry from time to time.

He isn't actually looking to make small talk with anyone here per say, but when he notices a girl with wings out of the corner of his eye it's kind of hard to just ignore something like that. He's seen his fair share of interesting folks here, but wings are a new one! ]

Woah!

[reassures]

[Nill doesn't think much of the exclamation at first. Things have been a little noisy since she got here, and a little more noise is nothing; she only realizes it might mean something to her when she glances over out of curiosity, and spots a face she actually knows.

She's hesitant to actually approach him. She's run into a number of other people today that don't seem to know her, and she's not sure she wants to do that again. Even so, she lifts a hand, and she waves.]

[encourage]

( ooc: always fine to read Sakura, one day i will get to your permission post )

( Sakura recognizes Nill, which means the same amount of nothing as recognizing anyone around here means. She holds back, considering the familiarity of her form in the crowd. Yosuke had posed a similar problem, if her memories of him were longer, from a greater crossing of worlds.

In the end, there's little to do but smile and nod her head to one man, then another, brushing by Nill almost on accident. She sidesteps any actual contact, tilting herself forward for a shallow bow. )

My apologies, navigating these umbrellas is a trip. Ah -- welcome, that is, to Exsilium.

( And offer a smile that was almost genuinely warm, to a new face in a new place. It's a start all over again, isn't it? It's got to be. )

[reassures]

((ooc; Sweet. ♥ ))

[This, out of all the faces she has run into so far, is not one that Nill was expecting to see. She's visibly a little startled - she wasn't expecting someone to nearly bump into her, sidestep so easily, and then greet her with a face that she knows.

...just how does she still know that face? When she'd arrived in the Port, Nill had forgotten almost everyone. Her head was hazy right now, yes, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the near all-encompassing disorientation that had come with her arrival in the last world.

She's run into so many people that don't know her anymore, though, and Nill was never particularly attached to Sakura. She was just another girl from an awful world. She holds up a finger, gesturing for Sakura to hold on for just a moment, before pulling out her tablet.]

Do you know me?

[It can't hurt to ask that of Sakura. Or at least, it won't hurt as much when she says no.]

[gallopingarcher]

[Himeno is still on a search for clothes that will fit, or someone willing to make them. It's halfhearted by now, and the rain has wet down her curls and made her pants cling to her flanks in the most uncomfortable way when she trots.

But then she sees the angel--to her, Nill could be nothing else at that distance--and it lights her right up. Finally, someone familiar. Someone from home, even if she doesn't know this angel personally.

She would jog right over, but it's hard for a centaur to move easily in a tightly packed crowd so it takes her a while. In her impatience she waves and half-rears to get Nill's attention.]

Hi! Hello~ Over here! It's so good to see someone--

[And that's when she gets close enough to realize there isn't a halo of hair over Nill's head, and her happy expression falls, replaced by confusion.]

[reassures]

[It's a strange feeling when you aren't the one waving at people who don't know you. And whoever this girl is - she seems very large from what Nill can see of her, not someone easily forgotten - Nill is certain she's never seen her before in her life. But when there are three and a half dozen memories conveniently absent from your head, it's really difficult to tell who you do and don't know. As such, she stays where she is, within sight... and stares at the centaur that trots up to her.

While Nill has seen a great deal of strange things and strange people in her life, she's never seen a combination like this before. Still, after the initial surprise, her wings flutter a little, and she waves. She honestly doesn't know what else to do right now, with this poor girl looking so confused all of a sudden.]