exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

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Date: May 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings, while those Transports on the mission to Wollongong return.
Warnings: None.

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.

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It's nothing really wrong...

[ He can only keep up the serious look for so long; there's a smile breaking through it again. ]

I'm absolutely starving. Have you had lunch yet?

[Something about the joke makes Mahdi's heart jump and he almost says oh no! He's so happy, yet mildly panicked about the whole thing and he's not sure why.

Was Ashraf always charming like this? He always considered the man to be quite kind and sweet but this is... different. Not bad, though.] I haven't! Would you like to come back to my place? I could cook you something.

I would. [ Both eyebrows quirk up hopefully, the smile grows crooked. ] And I would owe you one. I haven't had anything since I first got to Geffen, and that was — you know, it feels like years ago. And as I remember, your cooking is wonderful.

Of course! I'd say you can borrow some of my clothes, too, but I doubt you'd fit. [Mahdi begins to lead the way out of the area, a little skip in his step.] What are you in the mood for?

[ Ashraf heads after, long strides keeping pace. He looks up as he walks, welcoming even of the light rain falling against his face. ]

Mahdi, all of your cooking was wonderful. How could I be expected to chose?

Oh... Jeez, thanks. [Mahdi fidgets, tugging at his ponytail and fiddling with the split ends. He's very pleased, of course. The only way he can think to reply is with bashfulness.] It won't be anything fancy, just noodles and vegetables, then. I can stir fry it quickly so you won't have to go hungry. [Mahdi barely notices the rain. He feels as if it must be turning into steam the moment it touches his cheeks.]

That would be perfect. And, really, thank you. I hope I can make it up to you!

[ because seriously damn. demon hunting really takes it out of you, he feels a little like he could eat a horse. ]

I'm always glad to help you! [Mahdi is smiling so much he thinks his cheek muscles might give out.] Plus, if I feed you then you'll have more time to tell me all about your time back home, while I'm cooking and you're eating.

You never owe me for stuff like that. I'm happy to do it!

[ That gets a breath of a laugh. ]

That would take a lot of cooking and eating. I have about fifty years to catch you up on.

Fifty years! That's a really long time to be gone... it hasn't been that long here. I guess it'll be a lot of adjustment.

[Yeah Mahdi actually walks a few more steps before he stops.] Wait, aren't you human? Don't you guys get all wrinkly and stuff?

[ Ashraf has to sidestep quickly to avoid running into him, but he manages it without complaint. ]

I was! [ He lifts a hand to his face, pushing at the skin with a grin. ] I was wrinkly with the best of them, I promise. [ His smile grows a little more solemn here. ] But I gave myself to the Valkyries of Valhalla and was reborn.

...You were reborn? Does that mean you died? [Mahdi touches his arm, gently urging them both forward again. He's gone quiet, worried again.]

It does, yes. [ He takes his arm back as they walk again, but only to drop a reassuring hand on top of Mahdi's head (it's just such a convenient height for it), and call down a comforting blessing at the same time. ] But don't worry! It was voluntary. I did it to be able to help more people more effectively.

Hey... you don't need to do that! I'm not hurt or anything.

[Actually, it seems a bit weird to him, having someone else use a blessing. It's nice.]

Did it hurt?

[ He considers the question, then shakes his head. His memories are foggy about it, but although he does seem to recall something of pain, it makes for a poor answer. A lie is much more suited to this question. ]

I hardly remember it, but I don't think so. All I really remember is an impossibly bright light. [ at least that part is true. ]

Were you scared? [For all he's supposed to work with souls and help them make their transitions peacefully, Mahdi doesn't know much about how it feels to die. He hates thinking of Ashraf going through that, even with good reason.]

[ He takes another pause to consider that, then nods. ]

A little. But my wife had just died, and more than scared, I was... [ He frowns, searching for the word. ] Determined.

['My wife', Ashraf says and that's what really drives it home for Mahdi. Ashraf has been away for a lifetime.

And he's loved and lost in that lifetime. Mahdi stops their little expedition and hugs Ashraf hard around the waist, pressing his face to Ashraf's back.\

Their time together in this strange place has been so small compared to what Ashraf's lived, now, and Mahdi, in return, feels small as well.

He cannot fix this. Death as humans know it is a tragedy he only understands as an outsider, but he knows this is more, so much more than he has words for.

There will be a lot for him to consider on his own, later on, after he's cooked for Ashraf and seen him on to wherever he plans to go from here.]

I'm sorry.

Edited (feelings) 2013-05-02 23:17 (UTC)

[ He blinks, caught off guard by the response -- but smiles. He allows that for a moment, before twisting himself around to drop an arm around Mahdi's shoulders in turn. ]

Thank you, but it's alright. It all happened a long time ago. [ And with a cajoling tone: ] And this is a terrible conversation to pick as a way to say hello to each other again.

You can say whatever you want, Ashraf, but don't lie to me and act like something like that is just alright.

[Says Mahdi, who is in no way a complete hypocrite for demanding such. He allows himself to feel a little bit pleased and warmed by the arm on his shoulder, though he's a little angry at how it chips at his focus.]

If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. Tell me about your pretty new robes! Well... they'll be pretty when they're clean.

[ He smiles down at him, a little apologetic. It's possible that sheltering lies really aren't the way to go with Mahdi, although all instinct tells him otherwise — but that one hadn't been much of a lie. ]

I don't mind talking about it. What I do mind is spending what should be a good time on such morbid topics! [ His smile brightens again, and with a fond ruffle of Mahdi's hair, he steps away to continue their walk. ]

They're nice, aren't they? Or — they usually are. I was given an upgrade when I became a high priest.

[Mahdi grumbles softly at the second hair-ruffle. The 'I'm not a child' speech will be saved for another time. Whenever he manages to get the speech out without stomping one foot. He keeps the pace with Ashraf.] So you're a high priest now. That sounds important!

To some people.

[ That's his best attempt at being humble, because yeah, he's totally a big deal. He smiles, tugging the collar a little straighter. (A point well-defeated by its general state.) ]

I've discovered that they'll still only rent out peco peco birds to knights and crusaders, though. If I haven't come all this way to ride a peco peco, then I'm not really sure what the point was.

Hey, maybe our next mission will be somewhere you get to ride birds. You never know! [Mahdi says brightly.] You help people as a high priest, right? I always thought it was so cool you could heal...

Of course. [ A bright smile! ] I'm even better at helping them now, actually.

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moralperil - 2013-05-08 20:56 (UTC) - Expand

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