(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

[supitslilith]

Nothing! Nothing, I mean, I think most kids are about your height. Taller friends would just be easier to see.

[lifemelody]

....I'm sixteen.

that face

[supitslilith]

Haha! What? No way.

[Salvador was short, too, but he was just kinda stumpy. Tina was taller than Garnet and three year s her younger. Just no way.]

Come on, let's try to find someone you know.

forever and ever

[lifemelody]

Yes...way!

I turned sixteen over a month ago.

still in denial

[supitslilith]

[Lilith still doesn't believe her.]

No way. There's no way you're even that old!

You're like, 10, max.

[lifemelody]

Ten-!?

[Even if she wants to pose as a commoner? The tone that screams of indignant royal sure is coming forth]

I am not of ten years! I am sixteen!

[supitslilith]

[Lilith brings her hands up in defense!]

Alright alright alright alright.

[And she lowers them.]

Like, eleven, max.

[lifemelody]

[yep, mad now]

I am not a child!

[supitslilith]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a kid, you don't gotta lie about it.

It can, ya know, be cool.

[lifemelody]

I am not lying! I am sixteen!

[supitslilith]

[Okay she raises a good point why might she be lying hmmmmmm]

Alright okay, if you're really sixteen, prove it.

[lifemelody]

How would I prove that?

[supitslilith]

[IMPASSIVE SHOULDER SHRUG]

I'unno.

[lifemelody]

[Yeah the only ways she can think of are WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE and thus a big no]

I assure you, I'm telling the truth!

[supitslilith]

[Lilith hasn't even thought ahead to what sort of proof Garnet could actually give.]

Is the planet you're from just like, full of really small people?

[lifemelody]

[RUDE]

I am of a more average height there.

[supitslilith]

Hah, that's weird. Like a planet of midgets or something.

[She's mostly thinking out loud to herself.]

[lifemelody]

[WOW, RUDE. And she's had enough about the height and age cracks so]

Thank you for your assistance.

[And she turns and starts walking away]