(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

Lacus Clyne l Gundam Seed

[singstheprayer]

['Welcome'? Well, no, this situation was not really welcome at all. Lacus had just been involved in stopping the war between the coordinators and the naturals back home. Another war was the last thing she wanted. And yet, it seemed that whoever had brought her here, this Initiative, had other ideas, regardless of Lacus' wishes. She couldn't say she approved, lips pursed a little as she listened to the explanation and chose her voice as her 'weapon'. She knew she was no fighter, that she was more someone to help from the sidelines, as a pacifist, she did not want to wield a weapon the way Kira or Athrun did. But perhaps she could find other ways to help instead, if she truely had no other choice in getting back home to Orb and the orphanage.

When she was at the courtyard, she paused for a moment when the Greeter left, looking down at her money and notepad. The notepad shouldn't be too hard to figure out, once she looks at it later, she decides. Right now she should get out of the rain, under the covers near the walls to think about all of this. To figure out if perhaps Kira or any of the others might be here or if she was the only one from home here thus far. She wasn't quite sure how to go about that though, and considered the situation as Haro, her pink robot Athrun had made her, bounced at her feet, apparently not pleased either. 'I won't accept that!']

[redheadcarrier]

[Asuka's hustling her way through the courtyard, skirting the edges to stay out of the rain. She almost passes Lacus by without a second glance, but the little robot bouncing around her feet catches her attention and Asuka skids to a halt, shoving her hood back so she can get a better look.]

Hey, what is that?

[[She doesn't bother to introduce herself. She just jabs a finger at the bouncing pink ball.]

[singstheprayer]

[Lacus blinks, turning to Asuka when she asks about Haro. Well, he was quite unique, and if it was true people were here from various worlds and times, not everywhere might have had the technology to have something like Pink, she supposed. So it was understandable that Haro might attract some attention and curiosity. She simply gave a small smile, reaching to pick him up and show the other girl.]

This is Haro, or, well, I call him Mr Pink since I have others back home as well that my dear friend Athrun made for me. He realized how much I liked him and Athrun kept making me more of them.

[redheadcarrier]

Huh. That's kinda neat.

[Asuka leans over to get a better look at the little robot. That's kinda weird. Cool, though. They don't really have portable robots where she's from. She glances up at Lacus, one brow arched.]

What's it do?

[singstheprayer]

I certainly think so. I really appreciated it, since it does get a little lonely sometimes back home. I just find it nice to have them around to keep me company at home, though I guess here I just have Pink with me at the moment.

[Pink rolls around in Lacus' arms, 'Haro, Haro! Feeling fine?']

Well, they really like to play, and they can sort of have some conversations. Athrun keeps saying they don't have emotions, but I'm sure they were excited when he came around to the house, since he didn't often. I like having Pink around to talk to sometimes, but I guess he is limited by Athrun's programming.

[Essentially, Haro is like some robot pet for company. He didn't really do much other than bounce or roll around and chatter.]

[redheadcarrier]

It would be, wouldn't it? It's just a robot.

[Asuka tries to give the little robot a poke with a finger as she listens. So, yeah. Basically a robot pet. That's... different. Then again, Misato had a hyper-intelligent penguin, so as far as pets go it isn't that weird. She steps back after another moment of giving Pink a long look.]

You're new, huh? Welcome to the rainiest place on Earth! Home to a bunch of misfits and freaks!

[singstheprayer]

Yes, he is. All the same, I really do appreciate Athrun taking the time to make them all for me. I just hope nothing happens to Haro here, if the parts to fix him might not be available.

[That and, Lacus herself has not yet had to try to fix Haro, since Kira or Athrun offered to if there was something wrong with her robot. She is not even sure if either of them were here in the first place. Haro flaps his 'ears' at the poking, but this time otherwise stays quiet.]

I guess I'm new here, I just recently arrived. It certainly does seem like pretty bad weather, I hope it isn't this dreary all the time. Misfits and freaks?

[redheadcarrier]

They did tell you why we're here, right? We're supposed to save the world!

[Her tone goes all sing-songy - it's clear she doesn't think that highly of the idea. Or at least she holds the Initiative in contempt.]

They're pulling people from all over the place to try and win their war. So our merry band of misfits is going to beat the big, bad empire! Isn't it great?

[Well, that's her take on it anyway.]

Get used to the rain, though. It's always raining - as for your robot, I don't know. We don't really have all that much tech. They let us have the best stuff, but... I haven't seen any robots around.

[singstheprayer]

Well, yes I was told of the situation when I arrived, and I know we were brought here to help the Initiative, that there are people from all kinds of different worlds, but I'm not sure how that makes us misfits. We are all in the same situation, after all.

[Lacus doesn't really approve of the situation, at least in regards to the weapons and fighting, but she is hoping to be able to help at least in diplomatic approaches.]

It is? Well, I guess that can't be helped, we can't change the weather, after all. That is a shame, I do hope nothing happens to Pink here then....

[selfdestructed]

[...He was just wandering around the area to get his mind out of the strange result he got from the mission earlier on, though, it's kind obvious that he didn't mull this over for too long as his train of thoughts immediately dissipated when he heard familiar robotic voice.]

...?

[Of course, that alone got him to start investigating as he turned the corner to find...]

...Lacus?

[singstheprayer]

[Lacus turns to the sound of her name. And, as she figured from the voice, it was indeed Athrun. Haro seems quite excited, rolling around faster at Lacus' feet before she kneels to pick him up as she sees Athrun. She is both relieved and conflicted at seeing him here as well. While it was comforting to have at least one familiar face, at the same time, of course she would never have wished for Athrun to be here and involved in another war. She hoped he had not been here too long, that he hadn't been hurt.]

Athrun!

Apparently letters start disappearing from my mind as the night goes on-

[selfdestructed]

[The familiar voice as well as her face cast away his doubts within seconds that the person before him was indeed the very same woman who should be back home and not involved in this hidden war in the future. Of course, this brought him into a small state of shock that he quickly flung away as to keep his composure.]

When did you arrive...?

[Didn't stop him from sounding a bit bewildered though.]

You are not alone in that with late tagging, it's okay.

[singstheprayer]

[Lacus held Haro to her as she straightened up, unsure how she felt about Athrun being here in this war with the Initiative as well.]

Not too long ago...What about you, Athrun? Did you just arrive too, or....?

[Or had he been here longer? It didn't seem like it had been too long since she had last seen him, but then, for all she knew it had been a while for him, perhaps time worked differently here, and they had been told people could be pulled from all manner of different worlds and times, if she recalled the initial explanations correctly.]

[selfdestructed]

I've been here for a while, actually.

[Ah, that explains a bit, of course she's a new Transport considering she hadn't been there a few months prior, but either ways, he's going to slowly ease up from his previously tense posture.]

Did Kira come along with you?

[singstheprayer]

How long is a while?

[She is still trying to take all of this in, part of her relieved to see him in having a familiar face with her here at least. Lacus' hair shifts as she shakes her head, raising Haro a little to her chest.]

If Kira is here I haven't seen him yet. But perhaps I've missed him with the crowd, it seemed there were quite a few of us arriving around the same time....If he is back home, I hope he will be okay looking after the orphanage.

[selfdestructed]

Two months, actually.

[He can't believe it's been that long, but when you're getting used to a place, these kind of things happen.]

...I see.

[In either case, he's sure that Kira can handle things by himself when the situation calls for it.]

[singstheprayer]

My, that is a while. It sure doesn't seem like it was that long since I last saw you. Although, I suppose perhaps we could be from different points back home. Or it may be that back home nobody notices our being gone while we are here. I would like to hope that may be the case, I wouldn't want to worry anyone....

[Especially if Kira was not here as well along with her and Athrun. She knew how upset and confused he would be to find her gone if that was not the case back home.]

Re: Lacus Clyne l Gundam Seed

[ultimate_coordinator]

. 'I won't accept that!'

Huh? That sounded like ...

[ But it couldn't be ...

Kira paused and turned around. For a second, he could have sworn he heard Lacus's haro. He was about to dismiss it as his imagination, but he heard it again. It didn't seem possible that he imagined the same thing twice. He ran towards the direction of the voice, pushing through the crowd. ]

Lacus! Lacus!

[singstheprayer]

[Lacus turned when she thought she heard her name. Was that...Kira? Was he pulled here as well? She supposed it might have been that he was here for a while before she arrived or if he did at the same time, they missed each other in the crowd of other new arrivals that came with them.]

Kira? Kira!

[Her face lights up, relieved to see him, a familiar face in all of this as he manages to push through the crowd. She did worry at him being in this situation as well, but at the same time it was good to know he was all right, that he wouldn't be back home wondering what had happened to her.]

[ultimate_coordinator]

[ ... then he finally sees her, and he gives a sigh of relief. At the moment ignoring the subtle changes. She was shorter than he remembered. Not by much, just maybe a few inches. At the moment, he only concentrated on how happy he was to see her and that she looked alright and unharmed.

As soon as he reached her, he takes her hand and gives it a squeeze before pulling her towards him for a hug. ]

You're alright ...

I'm so glad ...

[ He didn't know what he would have done if anything happened to her and he could do nothing to prevent it. ]

[singstheprayer]

[She didn't immediately notice the changes in Kira, they weren't that obvious and it was not too important right now, not when she knew he was okay. Lacus takes his hand and returns the hug, noticing then that he seemed a little taller than she remembers, as she relaxes in the embrace for a moment. Haro is still bouncing at her feet, Haro, Feeling fine? No problem!]

Kira....I was worried, if you were back home and wondering where I was.

[ultimate_coordinator]

[ Kira laughed and caught the bouncing ball with his free hand. ]

It is good to see you too, my friend.

[ His attention then turned to Lacus, his other hand still touching her cheek. ]

It's alright now. I don't know where we are ... and why we're here ... but we'll figure it out.

[singstheprayer]

[Lacus managed a small smile as they pull back a little and Kira picks up Haro. She raises a hand on top of Kira's at her cheek, expression worried but softening at the same time at the reassurance of him being here as well.]

It's all been a lot to take in, but together we can figure it out, you're right. I just hope things are all right back home at Orb, the orphanage.

[ultimate_coordinator]

I am actually worried too. I am worried if Reverend Malchio or any of the kids are here ...

[ He pulls away from her hug, but he doesn't let go of her hand. He didn't like all this. He didn't like it at all. ]

Lets go. We should look for some place safe ... and seenwhat we can find out.

Do you have anything with you? Just you and Pink?

[singstheprayer]

I hope the children aren't involved in all of this....and I don't see what help Reverand Malchio might be in this situation...

[Because. He is blind and all, so she really hopes they aren't here as well. Her gaze lowers a little as she shakes her head at his question.]

I didn't have anything else, just Pink. But I think that would be a good idea, I think they said something about us having rooms here, if we can find the right building.