(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: July 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

riku | kingdom hearts | open!

[limitstorm]

[ next to those cookies, a basket of fresh demi-baguettes and hand rolls, shaped into different shapes is set down by a boy a little less than six feet with chopped-short silver hair and an earnest, sober expression. he sets down a few bottles of water as well. most people might be drenched, but there's not much to actually drink.

riku glances around for any familiar faces, but he's more concerned with other new arrivals. the people he knows will probably not be too bowled over by this new place, after all... while he spends a lot of time at the tent talking to those who stop by for a bite or for questions, he is absent at times.

riku tends to pass out or bring people into the tent to give them a little more insight to where they are or any possible answers he can give them. he's done this since before he can remember--and it's a good thing he has another basket with sweeter and softer breads. ]

[taijiya]

[Sango will run into him while carrying a tray of cookies inside the tent, stopping to eye his assortment of bread with Kirara at her heels.]

Oh, wow. That was a good idea. Cookies are nice, but they're all sugar, aren't they?

[limitstorm]

They're flour and egg, too. [ he half-teases, looking at her with a little smile. ]

I just thought it'd be familiar.

[taijiya]

[Sango returns the little smile.]

Well, more than most of this, perhaps. These are my only very palatable recipe at the moment, though, so they'll have to do.

[What is cooking with modern utensils.]

[overclocking]

[The draw of fresh bread is an inescapable one, which is how an (apparently) young boy finds himself drawn to Riku by his nose. Chrono can't help thinking to himself that this individual just doesn't look like the baking type. But that leads into a musing about whether there really is such a thing as a baking type, and he's far too exhausted for that.]

Did you do all of this by yourself?

[limitstorm]

[ riku turns his head to look at the young boy, previously having his attention drawn by a few natives looking at the new arrivals in the wrong way. hands in his pockets, he looks over what he's brought and then lifts a hand to rake it into his hair. ]

Uh, yeah... except the cookies. I didn't do those.

[ a moment. ] It's... a lot less work than it looks. [ his hand slips back into his pocket. ]

[overclocking]

[He reaches for one of the rolls--glancing at Riku as he does so, as if asking permission--before taking it. He honestly didn't realize how hungry he was until the smell hit him, and now he's sure he might fall over if he doesn't eat something soon.]

It's still a really nice gesture. It's... [He frowns, glancing around at the assembled people.] A lot of people to feed, after all.

[otherness]

[Roxas doesn't see Riku at first. He... ignores a lot of the hullabaloo so that he can try some of this really sweet-smelling food. If Riku turns around, he might find a blonde boy with a danish shoved in his mouth.

Huh. This is pretty good.]

[limitstorm]

[ wow, that is not what he expected at all.

excuse him, riku has to stifle his laughter at seeing his face, mouth running on autopilot. ]

Wow, Roxas, you sure can stuff your mouth.

[otherness]

[Roxas looks up with alarm, another (blueberry) danish in his hand. Not that he's going to try eating both at the same time, but it's free for the taking, right?

Except this guy knows his name and Roxas thinks he's seen him before and --

Okay, first, CHEW AND SWALLOW-- then he wipes his mouth on the back of his sleeve.]

How do you know my name?

[onehundredswords]

[Well, he might not be new, but those cherry danish pastries look good, so don't mind Gin as he helps himself to one for now.]

D'ya make these yer'self, kid?

[limitstorm]

[ he glances over to gin, raising a brow. he's seen him around, every now and then--but he doesn't stop him.

yet. ]

Yeah, I did. Name's Riku.

[onehundredswords]

Not bad! I oughta come to these welcome wagons more often if yer' all handin' out free stuff like this.

[He looks around at a few people, probably some of the newbies, but not with any particular interest.

He's actually looking for someone in particular, but noone has to know that.]

[soul_sister]

[A girl in an almost comically old fashioned dress had stopped for a few, careful swallows of water. The comment isn't so much directed as audible, as she looks around.]

Is everyone here young?

[limitstorm]

[ he glances up to her upon hearing her plight, and can't help but give a little smile. ]

No. Most of the people who're here helping are, though. At least half of the people I know here are older than me.

Need an adult? [ that's a tease. ]

SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY!

[soul_sister]

[She waves it off with a certain ease.]

I wouldn't know what to do with one if I found one.

[destinedwaters]

[If he's looking so much, then he may be seeing a vaguely familiar face headed right for the same cover from the cold rain. Not that she had a problem with the rain, per se - just the cold being so sudden after the warmth of the islands.

When she does get under shelter, however, the first thing she notices is the scent of freshly-baked goods - that, and a presence that was...familiar?

Huh. That's strange. It's familiar, but different as well. Matured, maybe? This was a little unsettling that she couldn't quite put a finger on it. Might as well address the one who put these down though, right?]

Did you make these?

[limitstorm]

[ he does see her, but tries not to focus on her to not look like he's stari--yeah, that's out the window. she gives him such a... familiar feeling. it's like--warmth? nos... talgia, is that what the word is?

(he needs another vocabulary lesson.)

he lets his eyes drift away as he mulls on that feeling, focusing on the two halves of his power, both pure but evenly split apart and under ironclad control. there's a half-remembered memory somewhere of that familiar presence that's near him--there has to be, if he can remember her somewhat... he swears he can feel the phantom of a hairruffle before aqua brings him out of his reverie, and he leans back in the chair he's sitting in, hands clutched onto the middle of the seat's edge. ]

Oh, uh...

[ a second passes, turning eyes onto her. ]

Yeah. I did. Sorry. I guess I'm a little out of it. You remind me of someone.

[destinedwaters]

[Aqua notices the staring quickly. Mostly because she was staring, too. Strange, this light... and that darkness. Both seemed so familiar, but - nah it couldn't be. She'd just seen- Nah.

(yes it is and does she need to get an english textbook out and start teaching you.)

Instead she focuses on his words, laughing quietly a likely familiar laugh.]

It's alright. Though, I can't say you don't seem familiar, either.

[That light was so much like Terra's... but it couldn't be one of the two she knew who seemed so alike, right? ...Riiiight?]

sorry it took so long <3

[nauticalsmile]

[Kairi looks something akin to a christmas tree with her recent purchase of a long green raincoat and red hair. She had picked this tend because she could see chairs and cookies.

Should she verify that she really can take anything? Tucking a bit of wet hair behind her ear as she reached up to give a tug on Riku's shirt.]

Excuse me, is it really okay-

[Oh. Hello other biffle!]

To take whatever we want? [Finishing up what she was saying as she was smiling wide. There is something much better than treats that she might want to take.]

no probs <333

[limitstorm]

[ at first, riku's too distracted by the few natives hassling new arrivals, almost about to get up to defend them before some older transports start pulling them into safety--when kairi starts to speak, he nods absently, not tearing his eyes away from them until... ]

... Kai--Kairi?

[ he near-breathes, eyes wide. riku isn't the kind to grin as brightly as sora, but he forces a sharp, incredulous laugh out of his throat when he reaches out to put a hand over hers, the one tugging his shirt. ]

It's really you.

[grooves]

[ shiki's head is still reeling. everything had been so intense back there -- back in shibuya -- that things here seem eerily calm as a result, at least for now. she's somehow been thrust into a life here that she doesn't entirely understand; a life of hiding, and right now, the only thing she knows is that she can't go back.

these people need her help, and everyone else's who've been transported here along with her. but why her? what could she possibly do...?

she's able to keep mr. mew, at least; that much she understands. she'll be training with him, and of course she's holding him in her arms when she catches a whiff of those cookies and riku's baskets beside them.

... she's actually paying them more attention than she is him, for now; but that's easily subject to change. ]

Omigosh... [I don't think I noticed how hungry I've been...]

[limitstorm]

[ focused on giving a new transport directions to the housing building, riku doesn't notice shiki until he turns after giving them a wave. (he sure hopes they don't get lost again...)

upon seeing her, though, he straightens like a lightning bolt hit him. ]

Shiki? Is that--you?

[comprises]

[It's the food that catches Joshua's attention. And the fact that there's a little bit of shelter there. So he ducks in, running a hand through his wet hair before eyeing the food.]

Not a first timer, I take it. A shame, really, that the nobody had the foresight to at least hand out raincoats.

[But he shrugs, taking one of the water bottles, though it figures that he's more thirsty than anything else right now.]

But I guess that'd just be too easy.

[limitstorm]

[ riku tries not to snort under his breath. ]

You look like a drowned cat, Joshua.

There's a girl giving out umbrellas, you know. I guess you didn't go that way to get here.

Here, have mine. [ he offers his, the shade a simple black. ] ... though it's not much help.