exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( He really needs to stop doing this, today, but he's automatically just moving with it, letting himself stagger back, though his back his a wall with a bit too much momentum for it to be comfortable. )

Uh, n-no, my-- my fault.

( Though his gaze falls on the burns on Zuko's face, and immediately, he gulps. Fire can be a dangerous thing, and his hand spasms guiltily. Somewhere along the way, his skin had gotten immune, but there was always that fear of pushing his body too far.

Donny's too self-conscious to stare, too aware of how much it sucks, so he looks away quickly. ) Are, uh, you-- okay?

( Somehow that sounds so, so awkward. Story of his life. )

[ Zuko blinks at the other boy. Donny's response and behavior kind of throws him for a loop. What is this guy's problem? He looks him over thinking maybe he bumped into him way too hard but seeing that Donny's almost backed into a wall, stuttering and avoiding his gaze after he'd been caught staring at his scar, Zuko takes a step back in case he's come off as threatening. ]

Uh- I'm fine. Are you okay?

Yeah. J-just--

( No, he's holding his breath, and he has to remind himself to breathe. Be calm. Passing out won't help. )

Getting used to, um t-to b-being here.

( Phew, how do you sentence? ) Are you-- new, too?

Not too new. I arrived last month.

[ He'll just go ahead and add: ] It gets easier.

Okay.

( All right, Casey. Breath. You can do that, can't you?

His own thoughts run rich with condescension, as he eases himself off the wall, nods his understanding. ) That's, uh, a r-relief.

( Although he's chewing at his lip. ) I'm uh, D-Donny.

Call me Zuko.

It takes some time. Uh-- if you need help with anything... I can maybe answer some of your questions.

( Oh, boy. That sure was going to be a name to say. It takes him a moment, practicing it in his head before he stumbles over it. ) Z-- Zuko.

( God. Idiot. ) N-nice t-to uh, to meet you.

( Thanks is embedded in his tone, for the offer, and he's taking a moment to think it over. )

Is the uh-- the h-housing. D-do you think it's um, safe?

( Living somewhere provided by the Initiative, living in close quarters with so many you don't know. )

(no subject)

HELLO HELLO and sorry for the slow, had an epic flu battle. (and also essays blergh)

HI THERE! D: noooo feel better soon!

I THINK I AM NOW VICTORIOUS tyty

EXCELLENT THEN LET US CONTINUE

WE SHALL BOLDLY GO

WHERE MOST MEN HAVE BOLDY GONE BEFORE

AND NOT NECESSARILY THAT BOLDLY TBH