(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: June 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings. Now with 200% more People-Seeking lists!
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. Now and then around you you might spot paper fluttering in the faint wind from somewhere relatively dry. It looks like a list.

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

opeeeeen

[outliving]

[ War; of course that's what it was. But with all the information poured onto him, most of it fell on deaf ears. It wasn't completely disregarded either, but ―

It was the same mess, different place and he didn't care enough . A mess he had no time for. A mess that didn't concern him no matter how much that woman tried to convince him otherwise. She could be lying; not about the war, but just about how big a part it played. They were just pawns; he didn't take kindly to being used. He's had enough of that, hasn't he?

So when he steps out into the marketplace, he doesn't even waste a glance back, brushes crudely past a few, ignores the vote of good luck. He hated them all already.

He tilts the collar of his uniform up, too irritated and tense and fuming to maybe even notice the rain until he realizes he hasn't the slightest clue as to where he's going and he's in a crowd and ―

He really needs to slice something up. And find out if that idiot Beansprout is around. Instead though, he stops, coat dripping wet and long hair clinging to his face and back as he scowls. This was much more disorienting than he first thought. Being lost in the rain was an annoying thing. Feel free to approach at your own risk He ducks under a poor overhang with a huff, throwing the area a glare of utter disdain. ]

[highfrequency]

[Raiden has been crouched off to the side on the rubble of the wall, watching people as they pour in, but seldom approaching any. It is a sea of faces-many confused, many angry, few ever joyful. But why would they be joyful? He was less than pleased to get drawn into this proxy war himself when he first arrived.

When a young man steps under the overhang where he is perched like an impassive gargoyle he grunts, then, without hopping down, he speaks.]

Hey.

[outliving]

[ Kanda would have been perfectly fine if no one approached him. Though granted, he wasn't approached.

But someone was saying something to him and he's lifting a brow and sharply turning his head. His hand is at a comfortable grip around Mugen, the sword wrapped in a simple, tan cloth.

The impassive gargoyle appears to be the source of interaction and he has half a mind to ignore him outright. manners aren't his strongsuit. ] What?

[ If he sounds annoyed, it's only because he is; it's not particularly directed at the other man, but he doesn't feel like trying to be civil right now either. ]

[highfrequency]

[Raiden laughs; a dry, rusty sound]

I said "Hey".

[galactically]

[So far, Sheryl has had little luck spotting people from her world, despite her own mixed feelings about their presence. On one hand, she wouldn't want to any of them to be roped into her situation, but on the other hand, she can't help but feel a spark of joy if either Ranka or Alto shows up in Exsilium. Just a familiar face can give her some small comforts, she supposes, at least to get rid of the annoying loneliness.

Just as she turns around the corner, her blue eyes open wide in seeming recognition, and she gasps with a hand hovering over her mouth. A man in a ponytail captures her attention immediately, could it be...?]

Alto?

[She murmurs out loud. 'Is that really you?!' Her mind is racing with all kinds of thoughts, ranging from 'Where have you been?!' to 'I've been trapped here for too long!', to even 'I missed you, you idiot!' Sheryl wastes no time in jogging over to the presumed man in question, a look of happiness lasting for a mere minute or two before the expression slowly morphs away.

The grumpiness is definitely Alto-like... but it's not him. Not Alto, not especially when that man's hair is black, not blue. Her jogs turn into slow-winded strolls, and a disappointed frown tugs at her lips as she approaches him.]

For a moment there, I thought you were someone else!

[outliving]

[ If (when) Kanda sees someone from his own world, he won't find comfort it. Some sort of minor relief hidden behind the same cold, abrasive walls as always. Maybe he'll withhold habitual displays of irritation. Maybe they'll be the same as usual.

Out of the corner of his eye he catches motion - a motion towards him - and there's the subtlest tension as his tilting his body just a bit her way.

He blinks twice, looks to her, utterly unsympathetic to her disappointment. That isn't my problem is right on the tip of his tongue ] That so.

[ Said with standoffish passivity because what is being friendly. ] Guess you'll have to look somewhere else.

[galactically]

What a shame, but oh well.

[It's a simple but no less disappointed reply from the idol, but she's quick to push that aside. No point in feeling down when there's a newcomer to greet, even if he's the unfriendly sort. At any rate, she adjusts the grip to her umbrella and fiddles around with the handle, combing through her hair with a free hand at the same time.]

There's a warm room you get to live on at the apartments. Have you checked it out yet?

[whatsupcroc]

Your hair's going to take forever to dry.

( Collette looked up from adjusting her own umbrella on the back of her chair, four feet or so away from this other person. She was leaning to the side curiously, looking up at their face. )

It's worse, when it's always so humid here! I'm just lucky I don't frizz. Did you just come in?

( He looks grumpy enough to have been pulled in today. )

[outliving]

[ Of all the things to hear in this place first is a remark about his hair. At least no one tried to mistake him for a woman. He's reluctant to turn to look - to acknowledge anyone's presence here, because that was part of acknowledging him being here at all - but he turns regardless, gaze travelling down from the umbrella to the girl in the chair.

He's about to say how he doesn't careabout how long it will take but then he's realizing she's still talking about hair.

First:] It doesn't matter. [ not the time, not the humidity, not your frizz or non-frizz!!

A beat, a huff. ] Yes.

[whatsupcroc]

Welcome to Exsilium, in that case! But here, one sec...

( She twists around, pulling something out of the satchel at the back of her chair. An umbrella, all collapsed in and black. She offers it out to Kanda, looking him over with open curiosity as she does so.

Interesting looking guy. Japanese? Was he even from an Earth? She knows it's best not to assume. )

Here! I pick up extras to hand out to people when they first get here. What's your plan of action?

[debtor]

[Allen catches sight of him in the crowd, a brief glimpse of long, silky hair in the distance as he looks over the shelters—

Wait.

He stops, pushes his way through the Transports and natives milling about in the courtyard, racing after the gentleman with the ponytail.]

Excuse me, excuse me... Oi!

[He elbows past a couple of unwitting citizens and comes to a stumbling halt right behind this mysterious figure in the unfamiliar coat. No way, no way.]

Kanda?

[The beansprout himself looks a little different than Kanda might've left him - he's a tad shorter, for one, and so is his hair; and he's wearing a bright yellow raincoat with Timcanpy (who's alive and well, and has apparently also shrunk) nestled in the hood.]

hope this is ok!!! tell me if no and i will chaaaange it c:

[outliving]

[ He would've completely disregarded the nearing sounds of someone calling out to another. For all he knew and cared, it wasn't for him anyway —

But then he hears his name and the voice strikes unbearably familiar. To the point were his irritation piques and he's halfway reaching for Mugen as he pivots on his heel. ] Beansprout. What are -

[ That slips out first as second nature, before he's blinking in confusion as he takes in the other's form. His brows knit and he's scowling almost immediately because the idiot looked so different from when he last saw him. For the greatest difference, he looked well, if not younger and just a bit shorter.

But maybe this was still the fourteenth? It's a risk, and a speculation and if anything, Kanda needed immediate confirmation.

Which is why he's sharply reaching for the beansprout, grip tightly closing around his shoulder as he intends to shove them both to the closest alley he sees. He has questions, and he'd rather ask them now. ]

NO IT'S EXCELLENT

[debtor]

[He wasn't exactly expecting a warm welcome from Kanda (he's not delusional) - but just as he begins to protest the nickname, he finds himself being manhandled backwards - which is a bit ruder a welcome than he was anticipating.

With the element of surprise on his side, Kanda manages to push Allen back a few steps before he catches his bearings and shoves back, trying to pry Kanda's hand off of him.]

H-hey! What are you doing, you idiot!?

1/2 i'd apologize but

[velveteened]

( it's for a few reasons that oz is out and about today.

for one thing, it's force of habit by now, to watch new arrivals for familiar faces; and for another, he still hasn't forgotten what happened when he'd got complacent and didn't bother; for another, it's an excuse to be out of his apartment and floor, both of which are easy reach for the likes of gil and break and lenalee and collette which - is a little more than he wants to deal with after recent events.

that long dark ponytail isn't the least bit familiar, but maybe that's why he notices it and decides to hail that person. )

2/2 YOU KNEW THIS WAS COMING

[velveteened]

( this very pretty-looking lady, if he does say so himself. )

Ah - hello, miss...!

I KNEW IT AND I AM LOVING IT

[outliving]

[ Kanda can't exactly say he was particularly getting used to being approached by others here. Granted, that was almost entirely the only way to get his attention but that didn't mean he at all liked it.

It was in his nature to mentally try and recoil away from anything social. He hears chirp of a hello resounding loudly behind him and —

Hold the front door.

His reaction isn't completely thought through as he simply acts with a quick pivot on his heel and a turn.

If his glare alone couldn't stop someone from coming closer, his hand closing on the hilt of his blade might be enough. Mugen isn't bared yet, but —

this was solely reflex.

be glad he didn't start swinging. but oh is there a glare.

a really dumbfounded, annoyed, hard glare. ]

What did you say?

I'M GLAD 1/gimme a sec

[velveteened]

(






















ah. )

[velveteened]

( wellp )

[velveteened]

( just ONCE he'd like for it to be a sociable, attractive, slightly younger lady

is that so much to ask!!!! )

[acemedium]

[Maya had previously been distracted and wandering (with an umbrella, she'd had that sense at least)and lost in her own thoughts, but hearing a huff caught her attention and she blinked over.. at what seemed like an irritable guy with long and girly hair.]

[So, naturally, Maya does the intelligent thing. She decides to open her mouth to make a very helpful and intelligent greeting:]

You look really wet!

[...Yep.]

[outliving]

[ wat. ]

It's raining.

[ He doesn't really mean to be sarcastic as much as blatantly, rudely obvious . As far as he's concerned, she had just said the most ridiculous statement he's ever heard. ]

[anklets]

[When she sees him, she is already watered-down and chilled through, so that as eyes accidentally-instinctively find, drawn to the long hair she'd begun to envy so much, and slip and slide down his form, Lenalee finds she can go no colder. Even her movement is frozen. Ten feet and a swell of Transports between them.

Not some imagined little scenario, no. She had never wanted to see that figure here, not then, not now— not now, why now—]

This is... [ a dull murmur; afraid that all her thoughts of "it could have been mine" may have set the wheel in motion ] a joke, right?...

lenaleeeee

[outliving]

[ First, he doesn't really notice it as he stands still, throws the crowd a look. That typical look, peppered with irritation, distaste and that subtle passivity with which he avoided possible conversations. He wasn't in the mood - never really was, as it were. Not even now.

Some things never really changed.

But then there's a nagging pulse at the back of his head and it almost feels like someone is staring at him and he's turning his head to check and —

His gaze drifts through the crowd before he finds eyes that are too familiar. His first thought though, was that the Order had sent her.

That their ruse was broken, and somehow, the Order discovered what he was doing. But then her look hits him, starkly, and it's as if she's seeing him the first time in a while and he's swallowing hard because this place kept pulling the worst possible surprises. He can only conclude that she wasn't from his time, either.

( He really wanted to run something through right now. )

He's hovering in indecision, but he does turn in her direction and his brow hardens. ]

[substitutable]

[If living a month in Exsilium hasn't improved anything about Shintaro, it's how jumpy he is. Although he isn't actually in Kanda's way or, really, doing anything, he jumps when Kanda walks under the overhang and gets within a foot of him. He even does a little tiny yelp and back up a little. This guy is radiating an aura of "someone I don't want to get involved with"!]

[outliving]

[ Kanda in turn is flinching at the yelp and sharp movement beside it, head snapping the other's way.

Confusion mixed with instinctive irritation as he focuses his stare. ] What?