open log » ❝ mission oo1 briefing ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: 04.04.3312
Location: Training Gymnasium in the Initiative Hold.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: Everyone is summoned to a briefing and training, pre-mission for the very first mission.
Warnings: None.

There would come a demanding ping on every netbook at once. An urgent call to arms, a request for each and every transport to return to the Initiative Hold immediately. If ignored, the ping would continue until it reached its full volume -- overtaking the senses only until its owner complied, deafening in its insistence. At the Hold, there were several more Initiative attendees to rush each and every transport into a large training gymnasium previously unseen by all residents of the island of Exsilium. The auditorium was massive -- its walls whitewashed, its ceiling patterned with dim, purple ambient lighting.

There was a stage set up near the very back of the large room. A man, stern and young-looking, stood in the center of the stage and held a microphone in front of his pursed lips. Behind the stage was a set of time travel plates more populated than even the arrival room -- there had to be at least forty-five plates, all attended by a member of the Initiative, who stood beside the plate in wait and with a distant expression. Only once all of the transports were successfully congregated into their auditorium, did the astringent, black-haired man begin to speak. "This is a briefing," he began, his voice equally authoritative and matching the expression of great urgency on his angular features. "Tomorrow, we begin our very first mission. A mission into the past.

You will be sent to the year 115 CE, in the midst of a turmoil between the Romans and an Assyrian village. It is in both ours and imperatively your own best interest to help defend this village, and to send the Romans retreating to their own homes. You absolutely must comply with this mission. Not only for yourselves, but for your families at home in their own worlds. For all of us.

You will have twenty-four hours from this time to utilise this gymnasium. You will find an array of weaponry at your disposal, and will have access to your own chosen weapon. Use them. Train fiercely, as you have no choice in this initial mission to pick a different path. You all must fight. After your twenty-four hours of practise, you will be given your cloaking devices -- they will make you untraceable to the native people to the time in which you find yourself. Do not, under any circumstances, remove your cloaking device. It will not only be detrimental to you, but to your friends and your colleagues here, as well as your friends and family in their home worlds.

You will be summoned back from whatever your whereabouts at the success of your mission. Should you die during your mission, you will be summoned immediately and brought into the Initiative Infirmary and you will be healed. Do not die. Do not turn your back on your colleagues and your friends. Remain vigilant. The imperative nature of the success of your mission will be made clear upon your return to this world. There is nothing more that we can give than our word.

Finally, I will be coming with you. I will be your mentor and your guide during our mission and I will do my utmost to keep you safe, prepared, trained and informed. Slowly, our world here in Exsilium will become less and less enshrouded in mystery. Slowly, we are able to reveal our true selves, and with it we hope we will gain a much-needed trust. We do not withhold information easily, and it comes to us at a great cost. Thank you, everyone, and let your sessions begin!"

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[honkhonkwoof]

"Motherfuck." That is the first thing that tumbles out of his mouth after they're done their little speech.

His shoulders are tense, all a bunched up and crumpled line, and he's definitely not quick to start all this training again. The prospect of real fighting, killing (again, but ugly, warm colors of dark red are all he'd ever see then). But then he stops, forces himself to think clearly -- they didn't say killing anyone was completely necessary. Just protecting and fending off, right? His 'voodoos were good enough for something like that alone.

... who is he supposed to practice these with, or on? It's not something he's eager to get going. Gamzee doesn't have as much as control over them as he'd like to imagine...

So he stands there rather numbly, watching everyone else instead. Not speaking to anyone in particular yet; but he'll probably try approaching any other trolls. And if Karkat isn't busy yet, definitely him.

[pushedaround]

... Hey, Gamzee.

[ Tavros wished desperately that he could, at least, pretend he's not terrified and nervous as hell. Nope. It's not happening. The panic was written all over his face as he approached the highblood.

So much for getting his confidence on. ]

That was some, uhhh, interesting speech. I guess.

[honkhonkwoof]

[ He sees the clear discomfort on Tavros' face, and for now, he puts on a braver, calmer face, smiling a little. ]

Hey, brother. Sure motherfuckin' was, being all the most interestin' thing to all be hearin' lately. Heh, but I bet it won't be too bad, so I ain't gonna let my bad self get all down 'bout it.

[pushedaround]

No, man. I wouldn't want you to, um, get upset or anything!

[ Not that Tavros understood just how terrible things can turn out if Gamzee ever lost his cool. He was kinda oblivious to that issue.

He shifts uncomfortably; looking somewhat pale here. ]

But, I was wondering, uhh-- Must we really kill people and ... stuff?

[honkhonkwoof]

[ He doesn't respond right away, although his expression stays rather blank. Then; ] Nah. They weren't sayin' it's all a thing we gotta be doin', so maybe we can just avoid it? Can't say it's a thing I want to be doin' all quick like...

[pushedaround]

[ He stares at Gamzee for a moment. ] ... Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Um. [ He shifts his gaze elsewhere, shrugging. ] I'm sorry. I was hoping a lot of questions would be answered, but that speech was, uhh, really unhelpful.

[honkhonkwoof]

[ He shrugs. ] Yeah, it was that, wasn't it? All shades of vague. So don't get your apologize on for nothin'. [ And he offers a smile again. ]

[pushedaround]

Alright, Gamzee! [ Look, bro. Tavros is all smiles now, standing up straight and all. Only because Gamzee's chill attitude is rubbing off on him, and it eased his anxiety. Therefore, he decided not to moan about it any longer. ]

So, uhhh, are you going to get into the training or something?

[honkhonkwoof]

[ Gamzee smiles even wider now. He's glad to see his friend perking up and not being so down. ]

[ He nods. ] Yeah, gotta get to it eventually, I guess. We've all down and got us some good time on our hands, so may as well, right? [ But he doesn't move to start... ]

[pushedaround]

[ Man, he’s not that keen on getting to training, to be honest. He’d like to do it on his own time, and not when he’s told to do it. He didn’t even bring his weapon along. ]

That’s the spirit, big bro. I’m, uh, real glad you’re taking this better than me. It puts a brother to shame, you know! [ He keeps his smile, regardless. ]

this is so late i'm sorry!

[honkhonkwoof]

[ Tavros isn't acting down, so he keeps his smile on as well. ] Yeah? No need, bro. We're all here to lift each other up 'n shit. It ain't no thing.

[musclebeast]

"I assume your reply is that of the negative, Highblood," he starts, not too far away, his head sunk down a little as he eyes the speaker before glancing over to the other troll. Equius isn't really feeling this either, they're not being given all the information and he really doesn't have an incentive to help this Initiative either...

Oh, fiddlesticks, right.

"Uh, if I have permission to say so, of course."

[honkhonkwoof]

"Yeah." He says immediately, turning his head to look better at Equius. "It ain't anything that's being a problem." And then he shrugs a little, passively.

"Guess it's being negative. I ain't really thinkin' this's smooth, it's all kinds of suspicious, you feel me?" He doesn't like the Initiative much at all. But he supposes all he can do right now is trust in their words, even if their words are a little fishy.

[musclebeast]

"This entire experience is 'suspicious', Sir. But I wouldn't expect it not to be, looking over the information we do know." Equius stiffens when Gamzee turns to him, but he tries not to make any other movement, standing straight and tall. The blue blood pulls in a deep breath and does well to keep eye contact, despite his glasses.

"If there is anything I can do to assist you let me know. Uh, I realize I cannot relieve your suspicions, but still."

[honkhonkwoof]

"Haha, yeah, that's all what that is..." But he pauses, and his face twists into something almost concerned.

"Y'know, you don't have to be all so motherfuckin' tense all around me, aight? Just relax yourself, man. I ain't 'bout to jump all on you and start smackin' you around."

[musclebeast]

A huff, his teeth grinding for a moment.

"I realize, though you have every right too, just-" A breath.

"Excuse me, I'm not really used to you being a bit more... serious. It's enchanting really." He pauses, glancing to the side for a moment. "If I may say so, highblood." He really is happy you're acting a little more like you should...

[honkhonkwoof]

Frankly, he's pretty damn OK with being sober and clear-headed, but he wasn't keen on riling himself up. Being passive and alright with everything is really all he wants to keep on doing. Partly (or maybe mostly) because of Karkat's influence...

"You can always be sayin' what's on your mind and comin' off your tongue. It's chill." He nods to himself. "Might be being all 'serious' but still isn't meanin' to say I'm gonna be different kinds of rude, now."

[musclebeast]

He should be. It's disgusting to see a troll not in his clear mind and Equius despised it. Equius does appreciate what Karkat does... even if he doesn't quite understand their new relationship right now. He hasn't seen much of it after all.

"Oh, um, if that is an order, all right." Uh, say what's on his mind... that might be tough. He's been conditioned rather well.

[honkhonkwoof]

Their relationship is pretty damn pale. Shockingly pale. Painfully pale. All kinds of pale.

"Ain't havin' to be an order, unless you're needin' it to be. We're calm and just bros here right now, aight. Chattin' 'bout the suspcious little star monkeys 'n all other shit we're wantin' to."

[musclebeast]

Yeah, he's starting to see that with how much he lurks around on the network. It's a little strange... but if it keeps Gamzee's murderous tendencies to a minimum-- even if they are beautiful and magnificent and delectable-- then he'll deal with it.

"Right... bros." No ordering. It's too strange for him not to register it as anything else but he tries to calm down, glancing away with his shoulders shrugged forward.

"So. Um. What do you think of this then? Will you be following your orders from the Initiative?"

[honkhonkwoof]

Bros, yes. Good bros!

He gives a half nod, half shrug at that. "Guess that's what we're all havin' to do. Ain't seein' any way to say no right now, and ain't sure I even would wantin' to bother. As long as they ain't orderin' anythin' on new kinds of ridiculous, 'm... fine with it. And you, bro?"

[musclebeast]

He's trying. If he mentally makes Gamzee's requests for calm friendship and brodom orders, Equius can do it... Kind of. Again, he's trying.

"Not really, no. I respect their passion to get use to do as they please, but since this is use fighting against their government I find it difficult to comply. It's hardly their place to fight against a higher authority and very much not ours then either." A huff, flicking his hair to the side.

"I have no desire to help a rebellion trying to overthrow their superiority."

[honkhonkwoof]

"Haha, yeah, I can agree on with all that noise there." It's kind of ridiculous. But Gamzee hasn't exactly had the same kind of upbringing; he only really starts to think on this now that Equius has brought it into that kind of light.

"Don't think we can do much, though, can we? To be not all doin' what they're tellin'. What the motherfuck would they even do to some sayin' no?"

[musclebeast]

"I am not sure. They haven't really issued any punishments that I am aware of," pause. His jaw clenches, quickly removing a towel to hold against the back of his neck. Oh... oh, punishment. Not they certainly have not done or mentioned anything about that.

"So, I suppose we merely have to see... I will most likely decline service to them, perhaps I will be shown what their reaction will be?" Oh... oh perhaps.

[honkhonkwoof]

"... yeah. Or you could just, be, I dunno, askin' them all right up what'd be happenin'? Wonder if they'd even tell..." Frankly, he doesn't want to know what would happen were someone to say no.

"Uuuh... but I'm not really thinkin' their kinda punishment would be bein' all that enthrallin'. Like, maybe it'd be somethin' worse than just all a slap on the wrist." He guesses Equius can... do whatever he wants with that, though.