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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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[Sheryl must be attracting the clumsy newcomers today because this is the second time she'd been bumped into by someone. This time, however, she isn't pulling back the slight annoyance.]

Please watch where you're going next time!

[Then again, it's completely short-lived once she takes a few breaths, clears her throat, and relaxes, smoothing down her raincoat with the hand that's not holding the umbrella. For a brief second, her blue eyes widen a little at the recognition of French phrases, and as someone who knows that language, the corners of her lips quirk upward as she asks.]

Puis-je vous aider?

[A courteous way of saying "How can I help you?"]

Edited 2013-04-03 21:46 (UTC)

[He looks like little more than a lost school boy with the backpack and apologetic gape, lifting a harmless hand to emphasize the apology. He's ready to continue when she interrupts his thoughts with his mother language, leaving him quiet for little more than a moment.]

Ah, oui!, s'il vous plaît, euh - [He shakes his head, eyes downcast.] Je ne sais pas - je suis juste un peu perdu. Je m'appelle Peter. Peter Gaudin.

[A courteous nod is followed by uncertainty, lips parted without much else to contribute to the conversation.]

[ooc: translated when you hover the text!]

[This isn't the first time Sheryl has heard French in conversations, but she's rather pleased at the familiarity — a small comfort in places like Exsilium. There's a brief pause before she continues speaking in the foreign language, a confident tone to contrast the newcomer's uncertainty, fixing her attention on him.]

Aah. Enchantée, Peter! Je m'appelle Sheryl. Sheryl Nome.

["Aah, it's nice to meet you, Peter! I'm Sheryl. Sheryl Nome". Eventually, she switches back to English.]

Lost? That's what all the new people say! [A brief pause as a small frown appears on her face.] Sorry, but you're now stuck here like the rest of us.

[The familiarity of the language does manage to pull a small smile from him, yes - especially when it's accompanied by kindness. The words that follow brush it away softly, but the politeness is still present in Peter's eyes.]

I - yes, I realize that. [His eyes are downcast, now, fingers pressing into the muzzle in his hands.] Someone explained it to me.

[There's a pause - then Peter looks around briefly, as if afraid he might be overheard.]

There's really no other way?

[Her expression shifts into a thoughtful one, a frown morphed from a smile as she shifts the grip on her umbrella.]

The only way you can leave is if the Initiative sends you home themselves. It happened to my best friend and other people I knew before.

[While Sheryl misses Ranka, she's keeping her tone relaxed, more in a matter of fact kind of way.]

You'll have to get by in here.

[There's some hope in his eyes when she continues, brows slightly knitted.]

So I just... wait?

A few months, weeks... no one really knows how long we'll be staying here. Probably until we can win this war.

[She waves her hand around with a headtilt. Even if she brings in some hope, the only thing this requires is endless patience.]

[He nods, quiet for a moment.]

What can you tell me about this war?

[There's a faint eyebrow arch at him.]

Haven't you been paying attention to the guide? She told you all the important details! Something about the United Earth taking over this world and the Initiative fighting against them...

Edited 2013-04-08 22:13 (UTC)

[w...ince]

I-I know, I just - wanted to hear about it from someone else.

You'll be hearing similar things from these people here anyway.

[A quick pause with a slight wave of her hand, frowning.]

The group also sends everyone back in time to do special missions because they want us to change history, to obtain the chance to defeat United Earth.

[Her explanation is said in a somber tone, serious nonetheless.]

... But what's the point?

What's the point? [She repeats with incredulity.] The sooner this war is over, the faster we can all leave!

[Well.]

... How do you know we all get to leave?

Because of the people who experienced this place longer than I did.

[Time to give him an expectant look.]

Are you done with these questions? Because I think it's only fair that I ask now. [She points to the muzzle, curiosity in her face.] Did you lose a dog?

[Fair enough.]

I - what? Oh - no, no. [he lifts the muzzle a little carelessly,] It's what I picked back in that room. With all the weapons?

... That is your weapon?

[Eyebrow quirking is a go.]

How lame! Couldn't you have received a better one? A muzzle won't do anything!

Edited 2013-04-12 23:31 (UTC)

[wINCE.]

I didn't want something dangerous...

[This makes no sense to her, okay.]

But how are you going to defend yourself or make a difference in a war? I understand not wanting to fight, but you need to prepare yourself anyway.

Well, there... There must be other ways, right?

[In his case, he could just turn into a giant wolf and get it over with - but she doesn't need to know that.]

What do you mean other ways? Explain yourself.

[So straight to the point, Sheryl.]

If you're talking about ways to contribute, you could volunteer to help out an injured person.

Edited 2013-04-15 19:47 (UTC)

I could - yeah, I could do that. I don't really have any knowledge in that area, though.

Ask someone to teach it for you over the network! Basic first-aid isn't too hard to learn, and I'm sure there are doctors around here.

[he offers her a nod after a beat. she's right, even if it's all still very new.]

I'll do that.

[such an obedient boy.]

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