(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

[otherness]

[Roxas presses his fingers to his temple as he rests against the wall. There's so many people, so many more than he ever thought he'd see in one place. It's simultaneously terrifying and exciting to be freed of the Organization, to be his own master. He won't be able to find the answers he needs, right? But...

... But, this is what he was talking about, right? When he said they could all just run away. Maybe it's not running away, though. They have to fight some kind of war. He doesn't know anything about war, but he's pretty sure that it's more than just missions. He won't be dispatching Heartless, he'll be dispatching people.

His gloved fingers tighten into fists, and then he slips into the crowd. His first purchase is, strangely enough, some freshly-baked bread. It's warm and airy unlike the rain falling down around him. He's quick to put up his hood and slink off with his loot somewhere else, but it's easy to bump into him while he's making his getaway.]

[substitutable]

[Shintaro meets a lot of people by bumping into them and this is another such encounter. He nearly drops his umbrella when they collide. He yelps, stumbling back a step]

S-sorry-- are you okay?

[otherness]

[Roxas' hood falls down. He looks a little shaken and startled, but he's fine and he's still on his feet.

This is the first time he's bumped into someone like that, really. The kid looks to be around his age, too. He pulls his hood back up.]

I'm fine. [What'd he say?] Sorry.

[substitutable]

[Roxas' words don't agree with the look he had on his face and that sets off alarms in Shintaro's head. He's probably not sorry, he's even being curt. Snappish? Oh no oh no.]

N-no, it's fine, are you sure?

[otherness]

[omg you anxious little shit, Roxas doesn't even care!!!

He nods.] I should've watched where I was going.

[substitutable]

[He can't tell! Why is your expression blank? It makes him anxious. Actually, he would be anxious even if you were smiling. Sorry Roxas.]

Aah, well, I wasn't watching where I was going, either.

... Um, are you new here?

[otherness]

[Oh, Shintaro. Never change.

Roxas flicks some bangs out of his eyes, as awkward as ever.]

Yeah, I am. Are you new, too?

[substitutable]

Compared to some other guys, yeah. But I got here two months ago, so I know my way around... you lost?

[onehundredswords]

[Gin doesn't confront the boy upon picking him out from the crowd, deciding instead to just follow him from a distance.

He doesn't make much of an effort to duck in and out of the crowd to remain unseen, either; he simply follows at a leisurely pace, watching Roxas carefully.]

[otherness]

[Roxas feels kind of like there are eyes on him, but when he looks around, the only unusual thing he sees is a guy with silver hair. Not really a big deal, though he reminds him of... someone else...

He finds a less-packed corner and breaks off a piece of the bread. As he pops it in his mouth, he sees the silver hair out of the corner of his eye. What the-- is that the same guy?

He hesitates for a second, not sure what to do. He's being followed. What should he do? Usually he's the one following /them/.

... Maybe he just wants some bread?]

[onehundredswords]

[At the very least, his lack of a reaction is a smart move, even if it's unintentional. Gin tends to do this just to bother people.

So when he sees the kid isn't biting, instead he simply approaches, stops for a second and stares - despite the eyes being closed - then laughs, shaking his head.]

Oh, whoops! Looks like I was trailin' the wrong person. Sorry Kid.

[otherness]

[Roxas isn't trollproof. Maybe Gin can try again later. Roxas is, at least, a little creeped out by the perpetual kitsune-smiling.]

My name's not 'kid'. It's Roxas.

... Are you looking for someone?

[onehundredswords]

Ah, kinda, kinda...

[He waves his hand, as if dismissing the question.]

See I come around every so often waitin' for someone - friend of a friend, who I'd feel like I'd need to look out for if they ever turned up.

No luck this month though, so it's all good.

[No mention of the name part, though. Everyone's "kid" to him, unless they get some other nickname.]

[otherness]

[Roxas might like the reprieve, but he's not so naive that he can casually accept the idea of fighting a war. He doesn't know the first thing about fighting wars, but missions? That's totally in his realm of expertise.

Maybe he'll ask this weird guy some questions since he knows what's going on.]

Being alone is a good thing?

[autocratic]

[ As Saber had been making her way through the crowd of new recruits in hopes that maybe she'll see the one person she wished to see would be among them, she feels the bump. She only stands at 4'9", but her crimson ballroom dress with highlights of gold still sticks out among the gray drabs that move under the rain. Due to her expensive looking vestments, perhaps the person thought she a target for theft? How wrong they will be!

Faster than Roxas might expect, Saber grabs Roxas by the hood and lifts him up by the cloth and holds him at arm's distance. ]

And who are you, boy, trying to slink off after so rudely bumping into me? Such a suspicious choice in clothing, too - you look more the part of a thief!

[otherness]

[Roxas yelps as he's suddenly grabbed and held in the air. That's... not what he was expecting at all, but he manages to cling to his bread. Just in case.

... This girl is wearing some seriously revealing clothes. He manages to keep his eyes on her face, though.]

What?! I'm not a thief! I-I was trying to get out of the rain!

[NO ONE LIKES SOGGY BREAD, LADY.]

Put me down!!

[autocratic]

[ She tilts her head at him, then notices the bread in his hands. Ah. She promptly drops him - hope he was expecting it! She dusts her hand on her thigh before propping that on her hip. ]

You'd put that money to better use by getting other choices of clothing. The one you have seems to be doing an adequate job of staving off the rain!

[ So, you know. If you want to save that bread, stuff it inside! And still slightly distrustful of his words, but she already has let him go. ]

Besides, there are free offers for food. Were they not to your taste?

[otherness]

[Roxas lands lightly on his feet, kind of like a cat. If he had ears they would be pinned back so hard right now. She'll have to settle for the expression of frustration. He's not sure how someone so tiny can be so goddamn strong. Maybe it's kind of like Xion.]

I-- I didn't want to talk to the guys who brought it. That's all.

[One of them knows him from the future. It's complicated.]

[autocratic]

[ In all actuality, his windswept hair could have points that look like ears on his head. Plus, his expression all but reminds her of a hissy little kitten. She lets out a brief, amused sound. ]

Suspicious of their wares? Well, I would certainly find that understandable in your situation. You're swept to this unknown land with the expectations of fighting a war others started.

[ She gives him a look over. Rather young, too. ]

[otherness]

[He's younger than he looks, too. Just a couple days shy of his first birthday.]

Uh, yeah. [Very convincing.] I've never been in a war before. Or... seen one. A war is like a really big ongoing battle, right?

[pactfulfilled]

[There's a bit of a commotion not too far up ahead, at one of the neighboring stalls. A guy dressed in white with a matching umbrella is gesturing helplessly with his free hand, apparently to little avail.]

Hey, come on, please! I've been shopping here for a month already. Could you at least give a reason for refusing my business?

[There's an angry shout, and the young man stumbles backwards a pace, right in the way of oncoming foot traffic.]

[otherness]

[Whoa. That's not the sight that Roxas expected in the marketplace. People being pushed and shoved-- that usually means trouble, doesn't it?

Roxas isn't sure whether he should do anything, or if he can, but then he's being pushed from behind-- and there he goes, bumping right up against Asbel. He catches himself from falling over like a klutz, but only barely.]

Hey, watch it! [The guy who pushed him is gone, which leaves Asbel. Roxas is a bit ruffled, but he's not mad at the redhead or anything.]

Sorry.

[pactfulfilled]

[Asbel has only just managed to reclaim his balance when he gets jolted again - this time from behind. His arms flail at his sides, but he manages to catch himself on his hands and knees before his face becomes planted in the middle of the street.]

[With a groan, he slowly begins sorting himself out, and - confirming that nothing is broken - turns to look back at the speaker.]

It's okay, and sorry. If I'd known it'd end up like this, I would've been more careful. Things have gotten really complicated around here lately.

Are you all right?

[otherness]

I'm fine. [Still standing up, too.] Don't worry about it. Is it really necessary to push people around here or what?

[He considers, then offers Asbel a hand to help him up.]

The guy who was yelling at you... Was he brought here like we were?

[pactfulfilled]

I wouldn't say it's necessary, but it does happen from time to time.

[Asbel takes the hand gratefully and pulls himself to his feet.]

Thanks. And no... He's one of the natives here. There was some trouble a while ago, and ever since then some of the people have been tense, especially around the Transports. I guess they feel like it's our fault this place was targeted again.