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

Re: <3

[wrecklesswreckinball]

["Pals!?" She said... we're "PALS"!?" Ralph can't help smiling as a rush a warmth spreads across his cheeks. Never in his life did he expect the Sarge to refer to the two of them as "pals". Though he did consider her a close friend (and friend of Felix is a friend of his... so any wife of Felix's must be a little more special than that), he figured he was just someone she had the misfortune of having to associate with. Unable to hide his smile, he nods in understanding.]

Capisce, no more freebies! Heh, thank you though, for the coffee... and the cup.

[I'm gonna have to get used to NOT wrecking otherwise I'm gonna run outta IOUs... He carefully finishes off his coffee before remembering the key he'd stashed in the pocket of his overalls. He digs in, looking for the tiny key, before presenting it to the Sergeant.]

Yup! Right here! ...Uh.. you think they'll be able to accommodate me?

[He awkwardly gestures to... well, all of him...]

[chargethesebatteries]

[Oh no, don't grin like that, come on, don't get sappy. Ralph. Ralph pls. She just sort of waves off the gratitude. She meant what she said: it's her job to make sure the newbies find their feet, and if that means buying them a cup of coffee so be it.

[Her eyes move to the key, then to the vague gesture at all of him, and she shrugs one shoulder noncommittally.]

I crack my head on the ceiling in those Niceland apartments too, but everything here seems... more proportionately sized, so I don't think you'll have too much trouble. [Ralph's a good head and a half taller than she is either way, but he's slightly less gargantuanly scaled when he's out of his home game, at least. She quirks her mouth a bit then.] As for finding any new clothes that fit, though, you're on your own.

[wrecklesswreckinball]

[Luckily Ralph's gotten pretty used to being in cramped spaces, so as long as he's not going to be in his roommate's way he's happy. Besides, there has to be a dump or something around here if the apartments don't work out. He stashes the key in his pocket before standing from the table.]

Well that's good news, I s'pose I should go check the place out!

[He pulls at the strap of his overalls gently.]

Well, I've never really had an extensive wardrobe... I'm sure these'll do just fine! ...They could probably use a wash though. But hey, thanks again for the coffee and everything, just.. being here. I should probably let you get back to work, huh? I'll go check out my place, and I'll try not to bug you too much while you're on the job... But if you wouldn't mind, uh... hanging out with me now and again? I'd really appreciate a familiar face when possible.

Awww geez, I hope that didn't come out too needy...

[chargethesebatteries]

[One eyebrow arches fiercely.] Might I recommend at least having something to change into while you're washing your overalls? Skivvies aren't uniform regulation for the laundromat.

[And then, perhaps surprisingly, she sort of laughs.]

Honestly the lack of bugs while I'm on the job is still throwing me off. But keeping out of the way is a good idea.

[At his request, she looks a bit surprised, actually. She didn't really think she was the sort that people really wanted to hang out with in the first place. She likes her solitude, even if it exacerbates the acute lack of Felix in her life right now, but she's never been terribly social, not even in her backstory. She takes another sip of her coffee, then gives Ralph a look over the lip of the mug, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

[She sets the mug down and shrugs one shoulder noncommittally, the faintest hint of a wry grin tugging at her lips.]

Well somebody's gotta make sure you stay out of trouble.

[That's as close to a yes as he's going to get.]

[wrecklesswreckinball]

[He feels his face flush as he realizes the laundromat is public.]

Well in that case, I'll just keep the overall on while I wash my long johns and vice versa. Easy as pie!

[He crosses his arms over his chest, proud of his logic, and smiles warmly at her answer. It's about the best response he could have hoped for coming from Tamora.]

Well, you know me! I'm always up to no good... taking candy from small children, commandeering vehicles, breakin' stuff just 'cuz. Probably better that you keep me in check than anyone else, since you know what you're dealing with.

[He doesn't even bother trying to keep a straight face through all of that, by now she must know he's not a troublemaker. But it's fun to play along.]

[chargethesebatteries]

Just try not to pinch any medals and unleash any monsters in the process and I'll be satisfied. Not too many vehicles around here to steal anyway. [She points dramatically at him.] And you keep your mitts off my cruiser, you hear? This one's new and I just had it detailed, at that. It's official police property now.

[She got a little star painted on it and everything.

[She's only about 2/3 serious, though; she knows Ralph never would have made it to the mountain in time without hijacking her cruiser on the bridge, but she's never going to let him live it down.

[Tamora just sighs hopelessly then and gets to her feet, throwing back the rest of her coffee and leaving the mug on the table with a fistful of coins for the staff. She jerks a thumb over her shoulder.]

I gotta get back to work, but if you go out to the main road here and hang a left, the housing compound is just a few blocks down. [Pausing to lean on the back of her chair, she gives Ralph a serious look then, though it's not quite the same as her usual irritated impatient glower. There's something almost urgent about it.] And watch your back. Remember, we're not in our home games here, so try not to do anything too stupid.

[She's still flabbergasted that Sonic was able to regenerate after the whole zombie thing, but she's not convinced that death wouldn't be otherwise permanent in this place. It's good that time is frozen during their absence, but if they die, what happens then? She doesn't want to think about it.

[She points at him again, then pantomimes a phone with one hand.]

They should have given you a fancy tablet-y thing. It's got contact listings in it. If you get it in your head to do something characteristically dense, at least give the force a two-minute warning.

[Depending on how conversational Ralph might be in Calhounese, he might understand that she's basically telling him to call her if he gets in over his head. But he's gonna have to read between those lines because she's never going to say it so plainly.]

[wrecklesswreckinball]

Don't worry I'm not about to take a ride on THAT death machine again...

[How he'd managed to maneuver it to the peak of Diet Cola Mountain on his first attempt was beyond him. He definitely isn't the least bit curious if he could do it again. He mentally plots out his path home when her warning sends a bit of a shiver down his back. This is a new kind of serious for her, at least to him.]

I will, I'll be careful! You stay safe yourself okay, assuming we get back I don't think Felix would be too happy with me if I didn't make sure you came home in once piece-I KNOW, I KNOW... You can handle yourself, and I'm not saying otherwise... but, well... you know what I mean.

[At least he hopes she does. Vanellope would probably be pretty upset with Calhoun if Ralph didn't make it home... They'd have to look out for each other. He digs in his pocket for the tiny tablet, and presents it to the Sergeant before making his way to the door.]

I got it! Thanks for the directions and everything! Hey you call me if you need anything too!

[chargethesebatteries]

[As soon as Ralph tells her to stay safe she just gives him a long-suffering look and he sort of cuts himself off and disclaims, but there's a part of her that appreciates the thought anyway. She waves a hand dismissively.]

Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. Fix-It'd be pretty upset if you didn't make it home either. [And then she has to sort of laugh at the tiny tablet in his mammoth hands.] Might want a toothpick to type on that thing. Just try not to wreck too much and you'll do all right.

[Heading for the door, she drops the cruiser back to the ground and it snaps open. Shoving the door open and lingering there a moment, she gives Ralph a casual two-fingered salute.]

Good to have you on the team, Wreck-It; see you around.

[And with that she's gone out the door. She doesn't specify what team--it's not really consequential. She has a feeling she and Ralph are going to be a team as long as they're both here whether she likes it or not, so she might as well just hit the ground running. Really, he's pretty useful in the right circumstances anyway, so she can't really complain. Yet. He hasn't wrecked anything yet, though.

[She'll reserve judgment for now. Either way, a familiar face is welcome and she'll take what she can get. Welcome to Exsilium, Ralph.]