transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date: January 3rd
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been led to a banquet room within the Hold.
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.

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

[inline]

[He's there, hanging off to the side by a fruit stall close by. Shinji gets a wave when their eyes meet.]

You done? Check this out!

['This' being one of those weird hybrids native to Exsilium, namely a... banana-mango.]

[imusntrunaway]

[Shinji takes one look and his expression forms into quiet, stunned puzzlement.]

Is that...

Is that food...?

[It looks so weird. Is it even edible???]

[inline]

I guess?

[He's taken to poking at a kiwi-tomato, and god knows what else they've got today.]

Food 'round here's weird half the time—wait 'til you see the pizza, man. But if you want fresh stuff this place's your best bet.

[imusntrunaway]

[He's imagining the pizza right now and it is a horrific image in his mind. Internally, he shudders.

Shinji joins Kazu in looking over the fruit, glancing at what he'll probably be eating for the next few months. Everything looks strange. Not appetizing in the least to him.]

Is there anything that's... normal? [He should apply that question to this entire city, really.]

1/3

[inline]

Ehhh...

[inline]

. . .

[inline]

Guess you can't really tell the difference once it's all been cooked. There're restaurants around if you don't wanna do it yourself.

[Or simply isn't that great at cooking, like Kazu.]

[imusntrunaway]

[That's not a very comforting answer.]

I-I think I'll stick to those, then...

[Ignorance is bliss.]

[inline]

[The pizza is even less comforting. Nobody here's ever heard of pepperoni as toppings, man.]

They're pretty easy to find! Just watch your allowance, money only comes in next month. You all done here?

[imusntrunaway]

[The SCANDAL.

Shinji nods. He can actually feel his limbs now that he's properly dressed.]

Ah... yes.

[He does a half-bow. The awkward formality is strong with this one.] Thank you. Again.

[inline]

Uh.

[Sort of. Bobs his head on reflex.]

Don't mention it—you've kinda thanked me enough for like five lifetimes already. Any idea what you're gonna do next?

[imusntrunaway]

[Shinji deflates at that. What... did he want to do next? Leaving the Hold was a spur of the moment decision, but now he's got no idea where to run to. He just wanted to get anywhere-- somewhere away from the Initiative. He didn't want to be used by them, like NERV had used him. He shifts his gaze away.]

... um, I don't know yet.

[inline]

[It's hard to miss Shinji visibly wilting. There follows an awkward pause, wrinkled only by the sound of some uncertain shifting on Kazu's part until he ventures, so's to keep the silence from stretching itself into the realm of pain:]

Could always check out your apartment, I guess. [ A beat and the most wrinkled of noses. ] Anywhere outta this crap weather's a good start.

[imusntrunaway]

[That would mean heading back towards the Hold, but... Shinji didn't really have anywhere to go at the moment. And it was freezing cold out here, even with his new clothes.]

Right...

[Still...]

... Kazu? May I ask you something?

[inline]

[Kazu's taken to stuffing his hands inside his pockets, and though it's a gesture that smacks of habit, it's more likely the chill's nudged him to it. Fingerless gloves don't really cut it in this weather.

He straightens out of his slouch slightly, curious.]

Sure, shoot.

[imusntrunaway]

You said you were new, but you mentioned a ball last month...

How long have you been here?

[inline]

Just one month. Some of the others've been here longer, though.

[imusntrunaway]

How long is... longer?

[inline]

Months? Haven't gotten around to asking anybody, s'just... Some of the network posts go way back.

[And he's had reason to go digging, but that's another story.]

People get sent home at random though, it's weird.

[imusntrunaway]

[He mumbles to himself:] Is that so?

[Not that it matters. He doubts he'd be lucky enough to be sent back. If being sent back could be considered lucky...]

I'm sorry. I don't think... I'll be going to my apartment. Yet.

[inline]

...Was just a thought. Not like there's a curfew anyway.

[He hesitates then, wondering if that was his cue to leave but reluctant to leave Shinji on his own like this.]

You gonna be okay?

[imusntrunaway]

[I don't know, he almost says. Instead he gives a polite smile. He shouldn't be burdening someone he's just met with such things.]

I think so. You've helped me a lot.

[inline]

[ nodding, ] Apartments're that way, in case you were wondering.

[He points to a complex located just a block away from the Hold, which is where he was headed before finding himself swamped in new arrivals. A hesitant step's taken in its direction, but he pauses again to leave Shinji with one last bit of advice.]

You oughta get indoors soon. Getting sick'll suck.

[imusntrunaway]

[It always surprises Shinji whenever people go out of their way to help them. This is no exception. Why? He didn't do anything to deserve it... he wasn't anything special either without Eva.]

I'll be sure to.

[He's said this constantly throughout their conversation that it's probably lost all its meaning. There's no harm in saying it again to upkeep his polite shield.] Thank you, Kazu.

[And with that, he turns around and starts to slowly walk away, no direction in mind.]