exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Food seems to be abundant in this area, so it's not what draws him over though they look delicious. It's the small creature to the side of them. In his world, something like that would likely be a monster and being a researcher of things slightly related to that, he's naturally curious.]

That's a cute creature.

Oh, Kirara?

[Of course he means Kirara.]

Yes, she is when she wants to be.

[The creature in question meows innocently.]

Kirara, is it?

[Aster kneels down, eye level with the table to get a better look at her. She sounds like a cat, but doesn't look like one. Maybe this is how they look in this world?]

Is it okay if I touch her?

You'd be better off asking her.

[Kirara doesn't look particularly opposed to it, though, watching Aster curiously with her tails flicking back and forth and meowing again.]

[Aster has a quiet laugh at the request. It makes sense, really. He's more than happy to oblige.]

Hello, Kirara. Do you mind if I pet you? You don't have to worry about a thing. I've pet many animals before.

[He knows his way around a good pet.]

[Kirara actually nods complacently, tails still flicking, waiting for that promised professional petting, as Sango watches.]

[A promise is a promise. He reaches out to pet her with no hesitation, though he's cautious and gentle with her just in case. Aster's a bit surprised and pleased by Kirara's level of comprehension. Clearly this is not a monster.]

There we go.

[While petting her, he directs his attention back to the woman.]

I take it you were recruited here as well?

[If anything, Kirara just enjoys it.]

Yes, though... well, it's been close to two months.

[She seems to be a little surprised by this, herself. Time flies when you are busy fighting an impossible foe and nearly escaping death.]

[Yes that would be a quite the time consumer indeed.]

It's hard to believe that others have been here for so long already. It's a lot to take in.

I've known others who have been here much longer, though... but yes, it's rather overwhelming. You're new, right?

[That's something he'll have to check out once he gets settled in his nice cot and all. Who was the oldest person here and see if they were willing to impart some of their knowledge on this place?]

That's correct. Is it that easy to tell?

[He says that in a lighthearted manner and glances back towards the crowd of people. Some of them were obviously new and others he had a difficult time figuring out. Aster stops petting Kirara, though he does smile down at at her.]

Oh, I apologize. I haven't asked for your name yet. Mine is Aster.

Well... you learn to look for the general confusion stamped on people's faces.

And I'm Sango. It's nice to meet you.

Yes. The guide explained everything very well, but it's still difficult subject matter.

[Aster doesn't seem too confused though. At least no anymore. Instead he's somewhat amazed. This is an amazing discovery.]

It's nice to meet you Sango. And Kirara as well.

Mm...

[She can't help it.]

You're in... well, an awfully good mood for being... here.

[Even though he was rudely taken away from his own research, which will bum him out eventually, Aster's still taking in everything.]

It's all quite interesting. To think, there was a world like this out here. Even the brightest minds in Sybak would have never imagined such a possibility.

[Let's just ignore the fact the United Earth is being a hooligan. For a second.]

[Uh.]

Well... I guess that part is interesting... but knowing about it and living it are sort of different.

[She shouldn't be trying to rain on his parade but she can't help it.]