(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

[vocalizer]

[ He's been lost since he woke up on this world, and while he understands the situation perfectly fine at this point that's not making him feel any less lost.

As soon as he's dropped off into the courtyard on his lonesome he turns and stares back at the Initiative hold for a good five minutes before he reaches up and pulls the hood of his jacket up over his head. Sort of useless at this point considering his hair is drenched from standing there like an idiot staring at the building, but ah well.

This can't be right. This definitely can't be right...

Wheeling around and heading down through the marketplace he'll be addressing anyone that's close enough and doesn't look like they're aggressively trying to ignore him. ]

Hey! Is this part of Platinum Jail? Can you tell me how to get back to the Old Resident District from here?

[ Denial isn't flattering on anyone... ]

[flashmaiden]

[Cheria has an armful of umbrellas and a sixth sense for new arrivals. Okay, so she doesn't really have a sixth sense, since it's usually pretty obvious from what they're saying. This guy is obviously one of those new arrivals. And he's talking about... prison? What.

She stops to face him. She hurries closer, holding her umbrella out over his head.]

No... No, this isn't a prison. [As alarming as him talking about a jail is, he doesn't seem like a bad guy to her. She'll go with her gut on this one.]

Here, you'll catch a cold if you get drenched like that. [She's offering her umbrella to him. She's definitely got more where that one came from too.] I'm sorry. This is Exsilium.

[vocalizer]

[ Yeah, he'd heard the whole explanation about Exsilium another world, the United Earth... but it was a little hard to take in, especially when he had something to be doing. Admittedly considering what it is, if this was Platinum Jail he probably shouldn't be so quick to try to flee but considering he's completely by himself here finding any of the others seems like it should be his first priority....

He takes the umbrella from her, looking a little baffled by what she's saying. ]

Huh? Prison?

[flashmaiden]

[Cheria is confused by his confusion. She pulls another umbrella out from under her arm and opens it for herself.]

You said jail... didn't you? [Was she wrong? Did she make a poor assumption. She feels bad now, thinking she might have wrongly judged him. What a terrible first impression.]

[timehalt]

[Miranda's a bit taken aback by someone seeking answers--she'd been expecting to be ignored (if not glared at or otherwise poorly treated after the recent events, not that she can blame anyone). She takes a step back automatically.]

Platinum Jail...? [What kind of place is that?] I'm sorry, what's that?

[vocalizer]

[ It's too bad half of his head is covered with a hood right now. If she'd seen the blue hair that probably would have made him stand out from one of the residents here a little more. As it is he's sighing at her response and looking just a little frustrated. ]

You really don't know?

[timehalt]

[Blue hair would be a treat.]

I'm very sorry! I've never even heard of such a place. But I haven't been here very long and...[She pauses, thinking hard for a moment.] Ah, maybe we could ask someone else?

[vimdicare]

[Erika didn't really expect to find anyone she knows and she doesn't really want to, either. But she comes down with an umbrella over her head on the lookout for any familiar faces. Aoba isn't one but she's bored and he looks funny.]

Ah, excuse me but you'll scare people with such a strange appearance. Are you from a science fiction novel?

[vocalizer]

[ Well at the very least he no longer looks lost, but that question tossed his way he still looks pretty confused. Not that she's that far off about him being from a scifi but sure as hell doesn't know that. ]

... Strange? What's wrong with the way I look?

[vimdicare]

[She just talks that way. Though, really, the girl dressed in lolita clothes has no room to judge.]

It's really loud, isn't it? Is it normal where you're from? You would definitely get stared at back home.

[eyecaptivating]

[Momo's got her own hood over her head, along with the umbrella she actually didn't forget this morning, as she wanders the crowded courtyard. When she hears, and sees, an older man speaking to her though, she stops, quickly rushing closer with the umbrella. Wow, he's soaked!]

H-huh?! No... No, I don't know about any jails here! [She shakes her head quickly. Why in the world would he even be looking for a jail, honestly.

She soon gets a better look at him though, and immediately stops. ...Oh. Well, that's. Weird. What's with this guy's outfit?]

...Ah, is that some kind of cosplay? [she asks before she can even think through the words properly.]

[vocalizer]

[ Well there's another person that seems to think he's talking about an actual prison. Platinum Jail was fairly well known on his world though, wasn't it? Even if he's somehow off the island people should still know what he's talking about. It does put a certain uncomfortable amount of credibility to the Initiative's claims.

Also the second person to comment about his outfit. He had no idea the way he dressed was so strange before today. ]

Uh... No, this is what I usually wear.

[eyecaptivating]

[Ohhh. Well, she can't exactly fault him for his clothes. Don't her own friends make fun of the way she dresses sometimes? He's obviously just got different opinions on what's stylish. Like her!

So she does the only thing she can think to: she laughs.] Ehehehe... I'm sorry then, I'm really sorry! I guess I just don't know a lot of people who dress like that.

[A short pause.] Um... But why are you looking for a jail?

[braavado]

[Picked the wrong person to be asking questions to, buddy. She's just as new and clueless about this place as you are.]

You're lost, too?

[Then she loses the semi-friendly smile and leans perceptively away, suddenly suspicious.]

Why are you supposed to be in jail again?

[vocalizer]

[ He really hates Toue right now for naming his stupid tourist trap what he did. ... He hates Toue for a lot of reasons, but his poor choice in naming vacation spots is definitely on the list at this point.

Holding up one hand palm towards her. Look, he's definitely not looking for a fight here. ]

Not that kind of jail!

[braavado]

Not that kind? How many kinds of jail are there?

[This is a legitimate question, okay. Last time she checked, there was only one!]

[paracosmic]

[babydoll glances over her shoulder at the guy addressing her. her brows furrow by a fraction as she thinks over the name. platinum jail? whatever that was, they definitely didn't have it here.

she turns to face him completely, crossing her arms. she's sympathetic towards people like this.]

No, I'm sorry.

[then, wait -- does this person not understand what's happening?]

We can't go home, not right now.

[vocalizer]

[ He understands, but he doesn't want to accept it. With every person that assures him it's not here, he's feeling a little more hopeless about the situation he's in.

He's letting out a big sigh at her last comment, and his tone of voice is kind of flat when he responds. ]

Because of what the United Earth did last time someone tried it, right?

[paracosmic]

[oh? she's a little surprised he knows about that straight-off.]

Yes and no. I know they tried to send people back, but it was recent. They hadn't tried anything before then as far as I know.

[which makes her question their priorities, but-]

I don't think they want to risk anything again.

[galactically]

[Sheryl turns around on her high heels, keeping the grip on her umbrella nice and firm, and arches an eyebrow delicately at the blue-haired boy behind her. First thought: what kind of prison names itself "Platinum Jail"? That sounds more like a bad fashion label! Second thought: an escaped prisoner?

Turning herself completely around to face him, she frowns pensively.]

Oh, you're asking the wrong person if you're looking for a way out of here! This is Exsilium, not whichever jail you're coming from.

[vocalizer]

[ There's a long suffering sigh here. He needs to stop asking about it. It's become painfully apparent by this point that wherever he is, other world or not, he's definitely not anywhere near Platinum Jail. All he's doing here is getting off on the wrong foot with anyone he actually talks to. ]

It's not an actual jail...

[cynics]

[ ok so neku has immediately opted to yank off his headphones as soon as he'd found a dry spot and (gently...!) start tapping against the earpads as if that would help prevent water damage or something.

he doesn't look too preoccupied though - and definitely much less like he's disregarding people than when he's got his headphones on, which doesn't even consciously register with him generally because his people skills are about as smooth as sandpaper.

so when this guy starts talking to him -- what is he even talking about??? -- he's compelled to pause and give him a Look. ]

Does this look like a jail to you? [ he's been in the courtyard all of 5 glorious minutes but really, man? ] Use the map.

[vocalizer]

[ Aoba lets out a sigh. One day he is going to find Toue, and one day he is going to kick that man in the face for including the word "jail" when naming his stupid entertainment zone.

And for a few other, more important reasons, but he's definitely getting a kick for the headache this name has caused Aoba today. ]

Platinum Jail isn't an actual prison.

[pomerenian]

[The sound of small paws pitter-pattering across the ground is probably drowned out by the rain and sounds of the market place. But as soon as Ren caught sight of a familiar head of blue, he was dashing between people's feet to get to him. He doesn't want him getting further away. Once he thinks he's in hearing distance, he calls out to him.]

Aoba.

[And a few seconds later there will be two wet front paws pressed against Aoba's leg to get his attention. ]

[vocalizer]

[ When he first showed up in the Initiative Hold without Ren he'd panicked. He'd bugged the woman trying to give him a tour about his All Mate, but she wasn't particularly helpful and had indicated that if he hadn't been holding Ren at the time he was brought into Exsilium it wasn't likely that Ren had come with him.

It had been disheartening to say the least.

So when he hears that familiar voice call out to him Aoba's almost wondering if he's imagining things. Still he's pretty fast around to twist around and peer through the crowd his hopes rising up until he feels Ren pressing his tiny paws against Aoba's leg.

It takes all of half a second before Aoba is kneeling down and scooping Ren up into his arms, pressing his face against Ren's tiny little body. Who cares if he's sopping wet from the rain? Aoba's feeling overwhelmed by relief right now. ]

Ren!