(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

[imusntrunaway]

[He doesn't answer her at first. But then his gaze slides over to her and he mumbles:]

You shouldn't be in the rain without an umbrella. You'll get sick.

[nothing]

[ Feferi would be right, but Rei obliges, examining the leaflet. Something given out of concern. It remains unfamiliar. There is some thought, and then: ]

How am I alive?

[ Blunt. She doesn't realize how some might take it. ]

[guntoyourhead]

That's cute. You should tell all the children that want your cookies that.

[He's still really curious about him, but he's not really giving him any interesting information. Or being helpful at all.] What's your name so I can write it in my diary and draw hearts around it?

[readsthelines]

So is being ripped from other worlds and needed to fight in another war.

[She thought they were done with that. But she nods.]

Yes, there are differences between them but it's not well known to the public.

[theboywhodied]

Cedric looks worried for another moment longer.

"Well you don't have to know much about it. It's not really London anymore. All the pubs and shops are gone. But I know what you mean---it's overwhelming. A whole war and everything."

[isinganyway]

[ She ducks her head in response, nothing if not courteous. ]

And to you, ser.

[isinganyway]

What would a Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch abandon his post for in the lands beyond the Wall? Not that your lands are not lovely, only-- [ Here she gropes for words, then finishes lamely: ] It's very cold in the far North.

[admirals]

[That eyebrow crazy dance you've got going on there Bones makes Pike narrow his eyes. What is going on here?

Wait a minute, the speech? Of course he had and he nods at that.]

Of course, right before coming out to this mess. [...] Hard to believe we've been brought into another time traveling issue, isn't it?

[His voice is calm but his eyes are a bit harder, not as welcoming. What are you getting at?]

[isinganyway]

[ Despite herself, Alayne is almost charmed. And she smiles to appear so. ]

Perhaps not. Kaneis it must be, then.

[nothing]

... Understood.

[ At least, there is the attempt. She knows her confusion about his concern for her well-being to go nowhere, and the main focus is not to cause him distress. She will try. ]

You are troubled.

[ It comes out, unbidden. For anyone else, it would be no more than a silent thought, a reading of their signals, but the foreign desire to reach out makes itself known again. ]

Was it destroyed? The Angel.

[fe_male]

[ Hey, you go for that secret identity thing kid. Good luck.

Tony shrugs, moves on. ] You're a vigilante, I'm a vigilante, that's [ pointing to Steve Rogers, barely visible across the courtyard ] another little-lante, [ and now just ticking off his fingers ] diamond-lante, batgirl-lante, Red X, Hoody -- yeah, lots of us, to break meter and screw up the parody.

[nothing]

Fifth?

[ Rei is no longer surprised at the constantly perplexing route this has taken. She prepares to listen. ]

[admirals]

[He can deal with ridiculously obnoxious, he works with Kirk after all.

But that's not an issue until they get that far so Pike just glances at the man and nods.] I did, just today in fact. I take it you've been here a while?

[freewoman]

[T'betray my people, get in and warn his Crows, she thought to herself. Always a Crow, Jon Snow.] You'd have t'ask him. If he were here.

[fe_male]

[ That's kind of a hilarious reaction, although Tony's not sure what to do with it, even as he makes his way over to stand closer to the oddly-smaller man. Weird. ]

Didn't think you were, just maybe had been when they pulled you through. No shoes, not really a shirt, seems like pyjamas.

[ if tony stark is your conscience here, steve, then i'm sorry buddy, but you're spectacularly boned. js ]

Timelines, great. Uh, I'll know you later. You clearly aren't there yet, you got a little ways to go here. But I'm from further ahead in your timeline, cool? [ Squint, because big!Steve took to the future like a kid being taken to the doctor's office for their shots, and he's not sure how little!Steve will be about stuff. He's expecting not that much different, recalling old stories his father told him - some of them, specific ones that weren't told much, only when Tony had been good and Howard was in a good mood - but stories of Steve prior to the experiment are scarce.

Just like Steve, apparently. ]

[redheadcarrier]

His name is Nagisa.

[Asuka shrugs and folds her arms. For a moment she stares at Ayanami - then she grabs at the other girl's arm and tries to drag her under an awning, so at least they'll be out of the rain. Her next words are hissed.]

He's an Angel.

[medicating]

It is. And I doubt Romulans have anything to do with it this time.

[Hey, don't look at him that way. Reserve it for Kirk.]

Can't reach the ship, though that's probably obvious by now.

[holy_prankster]

Then you have choices! It's as simple as that.

[heartsink]

"Yeah..." She has the bow propped against the ground, and she leans a bit more of her weight on it, practically using it as more of a walking stick than its intended purpose. "I'm not sure how they think giving weapons like this, to regular people, is going to make them an army... I mean, I can't speak for you, or anyone else, but I'm not someone who could do that. I can't fight at all."

[readsthelines]

[She only looks it but she won't tell anyone about the time she piloted a giant robot in nothing but her birthday suit. More than once. Oh, and nearly took away humanity's free will.

Naturally, she jumps slightly, hugging her items to her chest.]

Ah, h-hello there.

no such thing!

[velveteened]

( the staring isn't that surprising, given how most people here seem to be dressed. if he'd known he'd be dimension-hopping to dystopian futures, he would've dressed more appropriately! )

Good morning! I was wondering if you know where I could get an umbrella?

( he asks brightly, but he's also totally drenched at this point. )

[admirals]

If they're to be believed it's mankind, not Romulans, as odd as it sounds.

[Though he's doubtful but details. Instead he just nods.]

I tried already as well, not surprising though if the date is right.

[frombrooklyn]

[ Being offered a hand had been one thing, but this was another thing entirely, and Steve was shaking his head minutely from side to side before he knew it. It wasn't just his independent streak, either; the mantle was evidently a part of the other's uniform, and impressive-looking. ]

Oh no, that's alright. Really. I'll be fine. Just need a hand with this thing.

[ A little jerk of his head in the direction of the shield. ]

[debugerror]

You're welcome.

[There's no go-ahead, but perhaps an expectant quality in the silence to follow. It's an oddly friendly silence, if anything.]

[readsthelines]

Eh?! You mean it's like...!?

[COLOR HER SHOCKED. YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A DEMON. YOU'RE NICE!]