exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Date: April 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.

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[Pippin is trying to stay out of peoples' way down in the courtyard, but he finds himself intrigued by the animal on this person's shoulder, so he comes over to get a closer look.]

Oh, my! Can you understand his speech?

[He looks up at the pair in awe. He has heard of the Eagles speaking, and ravens as well, and of course he himself has spoken with the Ents, but Pippin is still fascinated nonetheless.]

[Awe. Bolin kind of likes awe. After all, he is awesome.]

Yeah! I mean, not in a "word for word" translation kind of way, but he and I can communicate. We've got a connection.

[And....wow. Wow, you're short.]

[Short but sturdy!]

Amazing! What sort of animal is he? I've not seen his like before.

[Pabu's never seen the likes of you, either. The fire ferret climbs down Bolin's arm to sniff Pippin curiously.]

He's a fire ferret. Haven't you ever seen one before? [They're not exactly on every street corner, but they're not that rare.]

A fire ferret? No, I've never heard of such a creature before!

[He leans in, looking at the ferret with equal curiosity.]

He looks lovely, though. Healthy coat, I must say.

The secret is a healthy diet and brushing his fur every day! 100 strokes exactly.

[Pabu licks Pippin's nose.]

[Pippin jerks his head back in surprise, then laughs, wiping off his nose with the back of his hand.]

Friendly fellow, I must say! I'm Peregrin Took, at you service! However, everyone calls me Pippin. Would you happen to be a new arrival?

Peregrin Took! [Bolin repeats his name, trying to imitate the way Pippin says it just because he likes the way it sounds.] It's nice to meet you, Pippin. I'm Bolin, and this "friendly fellow" [again trying to imitate Pippin's manner of speaking] is Pabu.

Bolin and Pabu! Well, welcome to the Initiative. I can say that much, even if I am not one of their number, but a person such as yourself who was brought here to fight their war. Though from how they tell it, it may become a war that spills forth onto our own lands.

Yeeeeeah, I really wasn't following any of that. I was kind of caught up in the "AAAAAAAAAAH! WHERE AM I? HOW DID I GET HERE?!"

[He shrugs]

Have you been here long?

Yes. It has been three months so far. But I will do what I must to ensure the safety of my home.

So you think they're right? These....whoever they are... are gonna attack our homes?

The United Earth. And I find it possible, yes. If we can be plucked from our various lands, then they can visit our lands too, I should think. Better safe than sorry, I say. And so I'm willing to help the Initiative when they have need of me.

You've got a point there. [Still, he's not sure how to feel. (The United Earth didn't kidnap them, after all; the Initiative did.]</small How often do they need you?

Oh, only once a month, if not every two. Things have been quite quiet around here lately, except for today with the new arrivals, of course! That's always exciting!

Doesn't that seem kind of laid back for a war? [Not that Bolin's ever seen a real war, but when the gangs in Republic City went to war with each other, there was some kind of fight almost every day.]

Well, we do not fight it on this ground. We use the-- ehm, the metal machines... I forget their proper name. Anyway, we take them to different places and times to accomplish tasks that will stop the United Earth from forming.

[Yes, this mostly goes completely over his head; he just goes where he's ushered.]

Okay, that makes sense.

..................no it doesn't.

[This is starting to give him a headache.]

Yes, it's... very confusing.

[He laughs, shaking his head.]

I suppose someone with a greater understanding of it had better explain it to you. I hardly know what's what myself. But I do know that I wish to protect my world from this United Earth.

Yeah. [Bolin wants to keep his world safe too. He'd just never thought it was actually in danger. Except for Amon and the Equalists, but this Pippin guy seems to be talking Sozin-levels of Not Good. It's hard to wrap his mind around.]

[Pippin bounces on his heels a bit.]

Do you have any questions that I may be better at answering?

Hmmm. [Bolin takes a moment to think about this.] One: do we have to wear uniforms here? Two: Are there any holidays? And three: how many buildings are there?

There are no uniforms, but on some missions, we wear something upon our wrists that disguises us in some fashion. I don't understand how it works, but it helps us to blend in. Other worlds lack Hobbits, and so I would look odd to others.

[He lifts his eyes skyward, trying to recall.]

There was a celebration not long ago; a festival of independence, I believe? And the other Transports share their holidays from home as well. As for the last, I cannot say how many buildings there are. A great deal too many, I'd say!

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