(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

[andagain]

Huh?

[Keith snaps his head towards Kotetsu, looking at him oddly and not sure what to say. He didn't think Kotetsu would come in from the future, if anything he should be from the past! It was weird, but he was curious about it.]

What's happened since then? Is everybody in Sternbild alright?

[sidecar]

Everything's fine, I guess, but...

[Wait, no, that doesn't sound very reassuring. Having Sky High around is an asset no matter what, and as bizarre as the difference between them seems, one year is really inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. After a moment Kotetsu pushes his doubts aside and injects more of the usual confidence back in his voice.]

--I mean yeah, of course it is! You guys had it covered, right? It's just... really weird, that's all! Nothing that damn Transporter does makes any sense.

[He manages a half-shrug, and if he had a free hand he'd probably be scratching the back of his head in confusion.]

It even brought your dog along like this is some kinda vacation or something.

[andagain]

May I ask what has happened in that year?

[He was concerned, though judging by Kotetsu's demeanor things couldn't have been too bad. He almost couldn't believe that the duo arrived before he did but experienced a year of events after where he was dropped off at.]

It only makes sense, I was just having John out for a walk. And I wouldn't want him to be by himself you know?

[sidecar]

I'm not exactly in the loop anymore, remember? But I hear you're back on top, so Sternbild's in good hands.

[That's not entirely true; HeroTV's greatest exploits are near-impossible to avoid even outside of the city. But right now Kotetsu doesn't see much of a point in getting Sky High worked up about things that are still to come and a world away. At least not until they've sorted out some way to send people back home with their memories of Exsilium intact enough to make a difference.

As Sky High goes on to explain, he gives John a bit of a scrutinizing look.]

Yeah? I hope your roommates like animals. You're gonna be stuck with two of 'em, but the people they match you up with aren't so bad.

[In his case, anyway. Cailan's a good kid and though he doesn't always get along with Pete, Kotetsu still sees a little of himself in the guy. On the other hand, of course, there's Barnaby's situation...

Kotetsu can't hold back a chuckle. He's not above giving Sky High some slight misinformation for the sake of potentially annoying Barnaby later.]

Heh, except for what happened to Bunny. Sometimes I think someone in the Initiative must've mistaken him for a woman since that's what he keeps getting roomed with.