(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: March 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings.
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

Hilbert | Totally open, but especially to newbies!

[idealord]

[This guy's got the rhythm of how things happen here by now, and with his promise to Kido to look for recruits he's setting up quite the act to bring people around. His Rotom's flying around, trying to get people to follow it, but the main attraction is Hilbert himself. There's a blue bag at his feet, bulging with what he's usually got and extra special cargo, and once he's got a gathering he'll grin and start.]

Welcome to Exsilium! Things are pretty peachy-keen here, you know, and despite being dragged away from your home to fight a war that isn't your concern and leaving every family member and friend behind it's pretty nice! In fact, there's missions for people who don't do so well in battle and some for those who are really good at fighting. But what happens if you don't comply?

[Hilbert pauses. And smiles sheepishly.]

Well, you're kind of forced into it either way, actually, but still. The Initiative's got no reason to lie to us. But the fact they send us off on these missions is warning enough that they've got plans for us, yeah? There's a Transport Hospital for those that don't trust the services they're providing for us [for good reason, maybe? hilbert hasn't gotten injured enough for that.] and there's a very special club that meets Saturdays if you want to make some friends!

[At that, he reaches into the bag at his feet and takes out stacks of papers, tossing some out into the crowd and handing them off to others. They're pretty much just fliers with "MEKAKUSHI DAN - FIGHTING FOR YOUR FUTURE! MEETS IN CATACOMBS ON SATURDAYS AND HAS A SUPER CUTE LEADER." on it.]

We're the Mekakushi Dan! Were you one of those people that didn't belong back home? We'll take you in! Trying to get used to the Transport life? We'll help you out! Want a date with our super cute leader who's got a kick as powerful as a Rapidash's back legs? Don't even try, because she'll use her fists against you! It's a really nice environment for being in the catacombs, and they're all really friendly too. If you're interested, please come! I'd love to see you there!

[After that no doubt rousing speech, he'll take questions.]

[ipsofacto]

[Rousing, indeed. And it at least gives Chihiro a little confirmation of what it is, exactly, he's wound up being plunked into the middle of. But he really doesn't know what to do with the flier now clasped in a hand, other hand occupied keeping his laptop held snug to his chest and away from rain...]

Um...

[So many questions. Well, one at a time!]

What was that you said, about missions for people who aren't so good at, ah, fighting...?

[idealord]

[Rain? What rain? Hilbert doesn't seem to notice a thing for all his giving out of fliers, which probably dampens everything anyway, and he points at Chihiro.]

A very good question! There are two kinds of missions, diplomatic and battle, and I've seen action in both.

[Once. Each.]

The diplomatic dealt with getting someone elected in the wild west. I've still got some souvenirs from there, haha, but I'd look too out of place with them on. A lot of people who were more... hot-headed and bored started some fights and got in trouble and all, but they're specifically for people who aren't too good with their weapons. It was fun!

[ipsofacto]

The 'wild west'? That is, America?

[Well, naturally he knows about what that is, though it's still boggling to think of all of these time travel shenanigans!!! Boggling and amazing because technology and science.]

All you had to do was get someone elected? [That's not too hard at all, is it...]

[idealord]

Yes and yes. The guy was an... interesting candidate, so it took some convincing that he was the guy for the job.

[Crazy old coot. Hilbert liked his enthusiasm though!]

[ipsofacto]

Interesting? He wasn't a bad person or anything, was he?

[Just to, you know, make sure. Chihiro's surrounded--or was surrounded--by weird people, so he understands people being 'interesting' for the most part...]

[idealord]

Not at all! I'd say he had a screw loose, but he had a good heart. So I didn't mind helping out too much. It was pretty cool being able to see history in front of your eyes!

[ipsofacto]

And to be able to influence it...or something like that sounds interesting.

[As long as it doesn't cause like a break in space time or what have you.]

[alphonse]

[Calmly, as if the speech never happened, Al points up at the Rotom.]

What's that thing?

[idealord]

[Hilbert waves the flier a little more, than drops his hand and sticks up his free thumb at Eeks.]

This guy? He's my friend from home, a Pokémon called Rotom. But his name's Eeks.

[A knight of some kind? He tilts his head, wondering if that armor protected him from the rain really nicely...]

[alphonse]

A Pokémon? I've never seen anything like him before.

One good introduction deserves another

[devilsfruitdoctor]

[Ibin's drifting around the marketplace when he catches the beginning of Hilbert's little presentation, and he listens with great interest. When it's his turn to say hello and pose his questions, he does so with a fair amount of flourish.]

Pleasure to meet you, and thank you kindly for the generous invitation! My name is Ibin Cenna! [He snaps his fingers as he says these words, a small bandage unrolling from each sleeve to read in vertical print: "WORLD-FAMOUS" and "DEVIL'S FRUIT DOCTOR." With another snap, the bandages roll themselves and disappear back up his sleeves.] I am a man of peace, and would like to hear more about missions for those who do not fight! And, er, more about being forced into missions either way. [And here he looks distinctly nervous.]