(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: February 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings, while older Transports are returning from the mission to Uruguay.
Warnings: None.

While those who have been guests of Exsilium since at least the last wave of Transports return from their desperate mission and are pressed out of the Transporter room and into the Courtyard, the Initiative prepares to receive a second wave at the same time. And if you're in that second wave, the fresh meat, then 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

[solitaire]

Me, obviously. _{( Giving him a look. He's not exactly A-list, but... whatever. This place is weird. )}

An homme is a guy. A man. Should I jus' say Spider-man in future?

[ex_havenofear960]

[ So the suit was probably a dumb idea, not very inconspicuous, but it's not like anyone knew who he was to mock him for it. Anonymously embarrassing, at least? Either way, Peter's making his way through the crowd, backpack slung over one shoulder as he considers just fleeing onto a nearby building, when- ]

Hey, cookies. [ Totally taking one. Maybe two. ] Thanks, man.

[ Except then he pauses, apparently frozen by an abrupt thought - he can't eat with his mask on. Maybe he should go with the fleeing thing just so he can eat the cookies. ]

[motioned]

[She watches him, first in surprise, than appreciation as the glare fades away to a small smile. She's used to people who only seem unkind at first, after all! She reaches towards it, and though she can't lift it, she at least keeps it steady by propping it on an edge.]

Thanks. Um, is there anything you're looking for or something you need?

[ex_bandai157]

"I see."

He was quiet for a moment, considering this. Days now. So he was from before each of their returns to the Hero business - and admittedly, neither of them had debuted just yet. Still, it seemed like he may be from earlier than even that.

"This may sound unbelievable, but I've been here for longer than you have. In fact, it's been more than six months than I got here."

He remembered how hard it'd been to admit to Kotetsu about being here five weeks, and how things have changed.

"Kotetsu's been here for almost as long. The people here are capable of doing strange things with time. I didn't believe it myself at first, but now..."

[motioned]

Oh, no, I didn't mean to, um, ask you for anything else! I mean, you already helped, so I'm sure I can find clothes on my own. Eventually. A-Anyways, it's nice to meet you, Connor.

[Tug.]

Well, kind of. I mean, they gave it to me after I picked it, but it was sort of the first thing I saw that wasn't a weapon. Or, I guess they're still calling it a weapon, but it wasn't a knife or sword or something that was made to hurt someone else. So that's why I picked it, but I didn't expect it to be so heavy...

[hostage]

[Jesse's jaw drops and he spends a good five seconds staring before he remembers that's rude.]

Uh... Yeah, uh. No problem.

[He's still staring. Oops.]

[icy_heavens]

[Yeah, yeah. He's only doing the halfway respectable thing. Don't take it the wrong way.]

If I need anything, I'm sure I can find it. [Except a way to get back to his own damn war, evidently.]

[ex_havenofear960]

[ Have a look right back. Except it's mostly just the same look the mask always has, but it's pretty expressive. ]

Oh.

[ Wait, he knows who he is. ] You know who I am? And I'm not really sure if you're going for a mysterious vibe, because if you are that's cool, but - am I supposed to know who "me" is? Not actually obvious.

[ A beat. ] Are you from New York? You don't really sound like you're from New York.

[motioned]

I was just wondering if there's a reason you're still hanging around here instead of going to the housing place or exploring the city a little more, but if you're sure...

[ex_havenofear960]

[ It's cool, he's used to staring. Flashy spandex, it happens. Still, it takes him a second to catch on, and he actually glances down as if he'd forgotten what he was wearing before commenting nonchalantly. ]

It's the outfit, isn't it? You know, my stylist said the red and the blue clashed, but I figured it'd be good for an entrance.

I guess it works better when I'm not standing around eating cookies. [ Err. ] Or not eating them. Definitely going to go with a more open-faced design next time.

[reassures]

[Nill steps forward, looking for a moment like she might try to hit him again. As she does though, a wave of confusion washes over her face, and she stands there, staying down at the man in the mud.]

...What?

[He doesn't know. He doesn't remember. He honestly looks scared of her right now, because he's never had this experience before. It's so different from the way he looked at her just the other day.

It's not the Jesse that Lisbeth had cared so much about. It's just a man in the mud that Nill has never met before. The disappointment shows on her face.]

...I'm sorry. I think I mistook you for someone else.

[andagain]

Keith blinked, he couldn't believe it himself that Barnaby was gone for months. It had only been mere days since they last seen each other so he couldn't be hiding out in here this whole time.

"Barnaby, are you ill? Maybe you should get some rest. Let me find a doctor for you, it will be just a bit."

[hostage]

[Jesse gives a little shake of his head, snorting.]

Nahhh, man. Whatever. It looks good. Badass, yo.

[He gestures to the cookies.]

Take as much as you want. For the road.

[readsthelines]

[He may not see it but she too can wear a mask, it was just invisible. But he does get a small smile from her.]

It's nice to meet you Spidey, I'm Nunnally.

[reassures]

[Nill has seen trolls around before. She's known a few too, but never this girl... with fins? Regardless, it's more familiarity than Nill has seen so far, so when Feferi asks her a question Nill smiles slightly in return.

She regrets not putting the guns away, now. She really should have. Instead of lingering on it, she reaches for one of the four pockets on her jacket - but thinks better of it, and reaches for a different one, pulling out her tablet. It takes her all of a second to type up a message before she holds it up.]

Hello. I think I could use a guide.

[debtor]

[Here's a familiar face. Even if he's a year younger and a few inches shorter than she might remember.

Like most people here, he's only recently gotten back from a mission (fortunately sustaining only minor injuries), and he's famished, which is why he's busy shoving mantou buns in his mouth. And he happens to be standing by the walls when she approaches, turning and glancing at her with eyebrows raised.

She looks like another transport, and he doesn't think much of how she's armed or what she's wearing. He just nods his head and says, as politely as he can manage with a bun in his mouth,] H'lo.

[ex_havenofear960]

Nunnally? Thanks, and right back at you - I mean, it's great to meet you. [ Weird name, but he can't talk. ]

So are you from... you're not from New York, are you? [ She doesn't really sound like she's from New York. ]

you see a mask and not a face shh

[ex_havenofear960]

You think so? Thanks, I appreciate that. [ He does. He worked hard on it, okay. ]

And thanks for the cookies. [ He's actually considering putting more in his backpack, but that seems a bit... well, lacking in grace. ] They do feed us, right? Like, I'm not going to regret not wiping out your cookie stash while I've got the chance, am I?

No, wait, what about pizza? Do they have pizza here? [ The hard hitting questions. ]

[solitaire]

Gambit. A' the X-men. _{( He's not exactly wearing his coat with the X's all over it and maybe Spidey got hit in the head one too many times, who knows? He's not holding his breath, though. )}

As for New York--bien sûr que non. _{( He might be doing that on purpose. )}

Maybe you're just more famous than y'thought.

[reassures]

[Fille? It isn't a word that Nill has ever heard used before, and for a moment Nill looks confused as she turns her head to looks this man over. It isn't difficult to guess he's talking to her though, so Nill nods despite her initial confusion.

Instead of the confusion going away though, as he gets closer it just gets worse, more obvious in her features. Something isn't right, but she can't tell if it's because she only just arrived and isn't up to her usual yet, or if it's because of him. After a moment, she shakes it off, and unfolds the tablet she'd been given. It takes her all of a second to open a notepad program and begin typing with one hand.]

I think so. Are you a Transport?

[motioned]

S-Sorry, sorry!

[She immediately reaches to grab the edge with him, pulling it up at least enough that it's as much a burden for her as it is for him.]

Are you alright?

[hostage]

[Now Jesse's actually grinning. Spidey likes his cookies. That's awesome.]

Your money's at the bank and it's plenty to buy food with. And yes, there's pizza, but I can't say as it's the best pizza I ever tasted. You'll get used to it after a while, though.

[skennen]

[Another nod, this one smaller than the last.]

You may want to start your search with those booths... [He motions to the marketplace nearby.] When you get around to it. At least one of them must sell clothing. But it is a pleasure to meet you, as well, Ahiru.

[He eyes the shield again. The Initiative should have warned her about the weight of the thing. Their captors could not be more inconsiderate (and immoral) if they tried... Or so he's convinced.]

It will not do you much good if you cannot hold it up. [After a thoughtful pause, he adds-] At least let me help you get out of the rain.

[reassures]

[It's a much more casual greeting than Nill was really expecting, and it almost makes Nill do a double take. At first she just glances at him, because she's still looking for people she knows, but then she realizes, wait, that is definitely someone she knows.

...She has no idea if he knows her. He'd greeted her, but that wasn't really a very good indication of knowing someone. Is he-- shorter? Was that just her imagination?

At sort of a loss for what to say him, after a moment Nill just lifts a hand and waves at him, her wings fluttering awkwardly against her back once.]

[velveteened]

( oz happens to be looking around himself when nill does, and so it happens that their eyes meet. what he'd been hoping to find was someone familiar. he smiles, though, apparently not put off by all the black or the guns or anything. )