(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: September 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings.
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

Seras Victoria | Hellsing

[bloodthirsts]

[There's an audible thud when Seras drops the butt of Harkonnen to the ground, half leaning with her arm around the cannon as she looks up at the drizzling sky. She's rather grateful for it unlike many - daylight she doesn't mind, bright sunlight however is draining to put up with for long periods of time. When it's like this however, this she can cope with, even the rain doesn't bother her.

Memories are currently rebounding about her head. It was thirty years ago this last happened to her, yet the sudden return of the knowledge barely made it seem like a couple of hours.

The third time she's been stolen from home and each time it's been different. This time she's supposed to fight for an army. It's a lot to take in and she might have only been half-listening to the explanation in the aftermath of the transport.]

At least you haven't got so much to worry about at home this time, old girl.

[She says it to herself, but anyone nearby might hear.]

[reassures]

[There are many days that Nill is grateful she decided to be the weapon instead of gaining one. She had no idea what she was in for at the time, but gaining back the ability that the Core had given her years ago had made this life here easier for her than it would have otherwise.

There were adjustments, of course. Things to get used to. She's practicing that now as she watches transports filter in from a rooftop, using her fingers to lift two small rocks into the air as she sits. She spins them idly, practicing more refined control. It was something to do. She liked to start these days out from high places - they let her see new people better than she might otherwise.

She loses her control though when a familiar woman finally makes her way outside. A moment later, and the rocks are dropped to the ground, along with Nill, ducking down and out of sight.

Because of that, when Seras hears the quiet voice in her head that belongs to Nill, she won't see her anywhere. Nill stays where she is, and closes her eyes. Even as she says it, she doesn't keep her hopes up.]

Seras?

[It won't make a difference this way. It's just her name, one simple word-- If it's not the Seras that she knows then the woman will probably just react oddly, maybe think she was hearing things. Nill would never have to look at her and see the lack of recognition on her face.]

[bloodthirsts]

Seras?

[That foreign though enters her mind, almost missed with her preoccupation in rearranging all her memories to fit in an orderly line.

But then... she knows that telepathic voice and it's a surprise she didn't expect because--

Nill stayed, Nill wouldn't come. Seras asked her, she wanted her to come with her so badly, back to England and to make a home with Hellsing. Even though they were in the middle of bloody war and now she wonders if she could have kept Nill safe and done what she had to do still.

She starts looking around, spreading out her senses, searching for where that thought came from and responding to it joyfully.]

Nill!

[reassures]

[Nill doesn't respond right away. Had she not reached out to Seras, had she not been listening in, from this distance she wouldn't have seen what Seras thought. But she did.

She sees herself in Seras's memories, beaten and sad but also somehow glad, because... Seras was leaving, and Nill wasn't. There are images there before that, Nill using abilities she's never had, fighting with Seras and almost actually keeping up with her.

In the background she can see flickers of the remains of the baseball diamond at that point.

...what..?

It takes her a few seconds longer than it should to gain her bearings. Nill inhales sharply, suddenly aware that she had stopped breathing, and she opens her eyes again, sight traveling down to the rooftop beneath her.]

I'm coming.

[Now wasn't the time to think about it. She stands from her spot on the roof, albeit a bit shakily, and makes a dash for the stairs.]

[bloodthirsts]

[Seras waits, her hand on Harkonnen, a smile spreading across her lips unhindered. She can't help it.

When Nill reached ground level Seras spots her immediately and is striding over with an easy gait, wanting to run. She holds back on that impulse but not the second one.

As soon as they're close enough she deposits her cannon down and reaches to pull the young woman into a hug, mindful of her fragile wings.]

Nill! I'm so happy to see you!

[reassures]

[It doesn't take her long. Barely a minute with the way she sprints down the stairs, two at a time, in part to get her there sooner and in part to keep her mind off of what she saw in Seras's.

Despite it, she can't help but smile when she's close enough to see Seras's face, to see the recognition there. She's quick to return the hug, and for a moment she wonders when the last time she got to hug someone was.]

I missed you.

[bloodthirsts]

How long have you been here?!

[She asks ectastically, actually lifting Nill up from the ground and spinning in a circle before setting her down to her feet again.]

I thought... my minds all a jumble at the moment, but I never imagined I'd see you again. I'm so glad you're alright!

[reassures]

[For a moment it actually makes her giggle - normally she wouldn't like it, but this was Seras, and Nill can't remember a moment in her life where she didn't trust Seras. She lets go of Seras a moment after being set down again, and then looks up at her, leaving one hand on her shoulder.]

I've been here since February... It's September now.

[Then, after a hesitant pause,] How long has it been for you?

[bloodthirsts]

That's... [A moment for mental calculation.] ...seven months.

[Seras is looking over her, pleased to note Nill is looking well. But that question gives her pause as well.]

I went home for a while, a long while actually. It's been about thirty years there, but it also seems like no time at all. It's just like everyone said... I didn't rememeber anything until I got here.

[bittertears]

A rather peculiar name to call yourself, I must say.

[Alice happened to be nearby, and couldn't help but take notice. For an 'old girl,' this blonde woman still appeared to be rather young.]

Would I be correct in assuming that you've only recently found your way to this city, miss?

[bloodthirsts]

Oh er, just an expression really!

[She laughs a little, embarassed at being overheard.]

My name's actually Seras. And yes, barely an hour ago, I think.

[bittertears]

A pleasure, Miss Seras. My name is Alice Liddell, and I'm afraid you've been brought into a rather fine mess.

I do hope you were not in the middle of anything terribly important.

[bloodthirsts]

Pleasure to meet you.

Not-- [This time.] not at the moment, thank goodness. What do you mean by a mess?

[bittertears]

Surely you've been made aware of you've been brought to, am I correct? Unfortunately, the Initiative is far more incompetent than they let on.

[bloodthirsts]

I thought you meant perhaps there was some incident going on.

[She rubs the back of her head.]

How so?

[bittertears]

Perhaps not right now, though I expect that to change at any given moment.

That they've forced you into this very war should be enough reason, though I would say their severe disorganization, and a constant shortage of information.

[bloodthirsts]

I am none too pleased about that, admittedly. They don't seem open to just letting you go home if you say no though.

Re: Seras Victoria | Hellsing

[pride_of_amarcia]

H-hey! I'm not that old.

Am I?

Re: Seras Victoria | Hellsing

[bloodthirsts]

I--

I was talking to myself! [She says this quickly to assure the girl who spoke up.]

Sorry! Of course you're not.

Re: Seras Victoria | Hellsing

[pride_of_amarcia]

... Oh, okay.

*The red-and-white-haired girl can't help but smile.*

You're new, right?

[bloodthirsts]

Yes, yes that's right.

[She recovers herself quickly.]

Seras Victoria, nice to meet you, miss...?

[pride_of_amarcia]

I'm Pascal!

*And the girl plops a hand right on Seras' shoulder.*

Pleased to meet'cha!

[bloodthirsts]

[She's a friendly girl, Seras gives her that. She's not used to people being quite so forward.]

Are you a new arrival too, Miss Pascal?

[pride_of_amarcia]

Nope! Been here a few months.

Just looking for people from my world, or people who could use the help of an engineer.

Say, fixing up that big 'ol gun of yours.

[bloodthirsts]

[Seras knows that feeling. Back in Siren's Port she'd done the same thing, hoping to see someone she knew. For a few months she'd had them, then they left.]

Oh! This is Harkonnen. [She pats the gun, introducing it rather like an old friend.]