(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

HEY NOW. They're large eyes, not bulbous like a dragon fly! *SNIFF*

[iorhael]

[Clean-shaven indeed, DWARVES. Hobbits are not covered in too much hair, like something that must be part bear.

Frodo studied him, eyebrows knit as he tried to place the face. Really, he was certain he had seen a sketch of him before, and the name is just on the tip of his tongue.

Best do what Bilbo would have done in such a situation, and that was stall for him until he came upon the name again.]

I am afraid I am on an Adventure or two myself, though none of which are ones I would have particularly chosen or wanted.

[he'd always wanted to go on adventures, but in his mind, going with a bunch of dwarves to the Lonely Mountain is a lot safer than getting hunted by Black Riders.

trade you]

Are you... Thorin, by any chance?

is it edible tho that is the real question here

[ex_cashcow493]

Programmed. [ While she knows of some terms, that's one that isn't exactly granted to her. ] I am afraid I do not understand, milady. Forgive my ignorance when you can.

[ Can't a knight escort a lady without her tsunning all over the place? Christ. ]

that's called cannibalism, saber

[immortalize]

[ Are you serio-- ] Nature. A program is just numbers and data; you have to make it a certain way.

[ Obviously not. ]

[wolfmd]

It's nothing. I can stand a little cold, but it looks like you'll need to find some more clothes before you do anything else.

[He is chatting casually while Steve puts on the coat, and indeed, doesn't seem to notice the cold much.]

Isaac Hunter, by the way. What's your name?

[protects_no_one]

Then you admit you are a boorish and weak race, not entitled to the arrogance many members of that race wrap themselves in.

but then she can literally be called an ass muncher

[ex_cashcow493]

Afraid I cannot understand, milady.

[ TOO SERIOUS FOR THIS THREAD. ] Are they associated with robots?

[iorhael]

I haven't, I'm sorry to say. Are they friends of yours?

Saber, King of Ass Munchers

[immortalize]

In a way.

[ MOVING ALONG... ] Have you been here long?

[iorhael]

[A rather large gleam of gold has caught his eye, and Frodo's eyes grow impossibly wide when he turns to look at the source.

It can't be anything but a real, live dragon, though certainly a good deal smaller than the dragons in the stories, and judging how close the vender is to it, perhaps a good sight better mannered.

Frodo can't help it. He has to have a better look. The hobbit slips through the crowd, and past what Sam would have called a comfortable distance. ]

[heartsink]

Her laugh in turn was subdued, but it was hard to fault anyone for that in a situation like this. She stood as he did, with a little more economy of motion; even with the rain, she tried to keep herself from shivering.

"Any time. And I mean that." She frequently acquired incorrect first impressions from people, but he seemed like a genuine enough person; if nothing else, she was sure she had absolutely known and cared about worse.

It was the 'miss' gave her pause—after a conversation like that, she could feel the pang of guilt for the lies she was, and would be, offering in turn. If they had time enough, then maybe...

"Anyway," if she had any hope of starting new, she had to be consistent. "I'm Haruka. Takahashi, that is, in case there's a few of us here. But, I guess I'll see you around, ... ?"

[debugerror]

Getting lost would imply you have somewhere to be.

[A slow shrug. Kariya isn't even facing you, silly Hazama, you look quite silly gesturing like that.

Though I suppose the air currents convey something too.]

The Initiative doesn't seem in much of a hurry.

['Not enough of one' goes unspoken.]

[debugerror]

I'll see what I can do.

[He sounds amused, but he does start moving, slow, shuffling lopsided steps. He's not actually going much of anywhere, but it's probably best to leave before he's questioned further.]

Good luck.

[inthejunk]

Sure, I can put it off for a few weeks if you want.

[And if you don't want too bad, now you have to go anyway!

Okay maybe not. But he'll only take no for an answer if you refuse more than three times.]

It's no trouble.

[debtor]

Er. [He looks down at his hands, remembering he hadn't brought his own today, so that he'd have two free hands to lug food home. Ah, well. He'd have offered it, otherwise.]

One of the vendors might be selling some! Or a coat, at least.

[He takes a step, gesturing down a line of shops.]

Perhaps, this way...?

[tofindthesun]

[it does carry, and even had he never heard her voice before he could not think it anything but an elven one.

whether it is the crowd that parts or he that moves between the gaps, the distance between them is quickly covered, and he lowers his head in a gesture of respect.]

Hail, my Lady. A star may not shine, but my heart is gladdened nonetheless. Would that we had met again under better circumstances.

but that is so cliche and awkward and totally not a canonical reference

[tofindthesun]

[no, his name is shiny hair mcelfkins #58276 of house treekind.

the universe is just collecting due taxes, tony.]

Perhaps, with this world's Men. And for those they have brought here as well. [he certainly isn't surprised to be approached by strangers. or strangers with slightly familiar faces.] I do not enjoy watching war, or waging it.

yesss come to me /bats eyelashes

[tofindthesun]

[looking down is something he's still starting to get used to, in terms of socializing. he thinks he knows that hair, those ears, this elf-- he knows his name, at least, and his face. but he will not presume he is known in return.

still, his words give him thought. the fruit seemed harmless, but when zevran sniffs at it, legolas brings his attention to the one in his hand as well. he'd thought it only a byproduct of what lingered in this world's air, just as it was strange and different aboard the ship.]

I, for one, do mind. [especially when war comes with death, and his life is not something he will give to the initiative. he glances from the fruit in his hand, solemnity giving way to curiosity.] But how do you mean? Are we paid too little for extravagant fares, or for poisoned wares?

[....or maybe zevran just doesn't like apples.]

[theboywhodied]

Cedric, none the wiser, gave her a friendly wave. "You will, Haruka. I'll probably be looking for a spot to play football or something. Just to keep my mind busy. You're welcome any time!"

He turned to go, feeling a little better after this.

[debugerror]

[Kariya decides not to give his opinion about the state of the locals; there's no truthful answer he could give and moreover... he's wary of the meanings of 'potential'.

This boy, whoever he is, is looking for something.

(Literally; Kariya can feel it, and the Crest Worms as well. He feels them stir and grits his teeth -- he's been trying not to stimulate them. A familiar convulsive shudder travels down his back; a familiar taste in the back of his throat.)

This trick he likes much less.

He's already against the wall; he has nowhere to go.]

Stop that. Stop that! You didn't need to ask, did you?

[speakveryclearly]

The law? Humans have law? Haruka has if nothing else a sense of humor Kanaya will appreciate. The only thing that's different about people is whether they're funny and whether they lie about it. (Though how many lies does she tell herself? Less than the average human, anyway.) She feels like she played her cards correctly if Haruka is at least more amenable to the notion of rooming with her than the alternative.

"Virtually every transport lives in that complex for lack of anywhere better to go, but I'm afraid you're not going to be with me. I already have two roommates. I'm fortunate; both are girls my age, and they know each other. They're also proof it's possible to subvert the system if your assignments are that awful. One of them moved into the other's room as soon as she arrived and it was weeks before her changed location was formally acknowledged, but her deviation had no consequences.

"So it does happen that there's an empty respiteblock in Unit Seven Zero Five." Another troll word - right, she's trying to be helpful... "I mean room. Though that is not actually an implication of any kind, and would not become one unless in the future you both became not a stranger to me and strongly incompatible with your assigned roommates. I shouldn't have even clarified that, should I have."

It's her turn to smile bashfully. "I'm just. Still getting used to your planet's brand of verbal irony."

I can't think of anyone XD

[heirwithouthope]

I suppose even elves would find use for these things.

[Of course Lord Elrond's assistance with the map was irreplaceable, and he was thankful. But Thorin's hate and suspicion towards the elves is a hundred years old, and deeply embedded inside him. It wouldn't dislodge after one good act--two, if you also counted the handkerchief.

But the war. His gaze wanders to the refugees sitting around with their wares, and the people like him that were pulled there against their will.]

What else can you tell me about this war?

[chore_boy]

[Coby nodded--not to agree with Hazama's comment, but to acknowledge it as important. He didn't want to see non-combatants being forced to participate, himself.]

If you understand your limits, it will be no problem. I don't imagine anyone here would encourage otherwise, sir.

[guntoyourhead]

[He goes over to a nearby vendor and buys a simple umbrella before opening it and holding it over the both of them.] Were you heading for the housing building? I'll walk you there.

[Teasingly:] Oh, and don't think it's because I'm chivalrous. This hair [He points at his own hair with his other hand.] is just too pretty to get wet.

[punk_cute]

Then you're even more awesome! It takes a while to get things just right, even if you do okay on the first try.

[But Kanji's always been a trial-and-error learner, even if he does pick up some things astoundingly fast.]

But baking's never been my best thing.

[debugerror]

Slow down. I'm no mind reader. I've just arrived myself.

[He says it with a hint of a smile (though it's probably difficult to tell).]

But I did say this was a warzone.