exsiliumlogs | (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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ringo's around making her usual greeting-rounds, an umbrella in hand for any of the new transports that might have needed it when she spots-- a pretty interesting sight, honestly. It wasn't every day you came across a guy with flowers and sweets having a conversation with his super cute animal friend.]

It looks like the Initiative's timing was pretty inconvenient, huh?

What? Oh, yeah. [Bolin looks down at the flowers & cupcake and grins ruefully.] It could've been better.

Sorry. They've got a pretty bad habit of that. [And worse, but. No need to overwhelm the poor guy.] Do you need any help? I know this all can seem a bit... much.

No, no, no, I can handle this. [And by "this" he means the stuff in his hands. Everything else? That's a different question entirely...]

Suit yourself. You can have this if you want, though. [She offers up a smile along with the umbrella, her eyes focusing on his ferret then.] Unless your friend here actually likes the rain.

I can't take your only umbrella!

[Pabu chirps indignantly and leaps over to the girl's shoulder. Bolin can get as wet as he wants! Pabu wants to keep dry!]

Ah! [That little ferret was way too cute, and Ringo smiles as she reaches up to pat its head.]

It's alright, I don't mind. I'm used to it by now. You'd get better use out of it if you want to explore.

[Pabu trills and rubs his head against Ringo's hand. Bolin gives the fire ferret a brief, unimpressed look. Playboy.]

I guess. [He scratches his head and looks around him. It doesn't exactly look like the most fun place to explore.]

Hey, I haven't even gotten your name. I'm Bolin.

[She notices that look and just smiles slightly. It looked pretty dreary, but there were some nicer spots. Plus, know your surroundings and all--

She was much too charmed by Pabu to really bring it up just yet, though.]

I'm Ringo, it's nice to meet you. Want me to help you and your friend here find anything?

He's Pabu.

[Bolin's stomach grumbles.]

Any of these booths sell dumplings?

[She gestures at some of the stalls up ahead for them to start walking, hands then coming up to grab Pabu to make sure that he wouldn't get wet.]

Probably! They're surprisingly accommodating here. We can check.

[As they walk, Bolin pulls out the plastic card and studies it.]

So they gave me this thing and said it's got money on it. How do I use it?