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

Huh?

( Oh. Right. He-- okay, yeah, he gets that, but he's just double-checking his backpack, making sure nothing fell out, no armour is visible. Nope, good, it's okay, and Donny glances back to Peter. )

Um. I'm-- D-Donny.

Oh - right. Peter. [Have a lame wave.] Hi.

[... awkward.]

Do you... need help with anything?

Peter. Nice t-to um, nice to-- m-meet you.

( Phew. Words. Why. His chest feels tight, awkward and unhappy, and yeah, he'd really like to get home, get back to Max and make sure she's okay. There's something forlorn in his expression, but he just glances down and shrugs. There are so many people, and so many things, and today is just a lot. )

I dunno. I'm-- I'm worried about some friends.

Are they here?

( A shake of his head. ) N-no.

( So completely lost, because Max might not need him, but he relies on her. And keeping her safe, that's the only thing in his life that matters. It's the most important of his life, and yet he is here, rather than there, with her. )

I d-don't-- don't know what t-to do.

[Poor guy. Was Peter this helpless, too-?]

Do you, uhm. Are you hungry?

( Donny is hungry a lot, more than he ever used to be. Something to do with his magic, he's pretty sure. )

Y-yep.

( He ate earlier, but man. Comfort eating is a thing, too. )

D-do you um, know... anywhere?

( Crystal took Atlas somewhere earlier, but it's an opportunity to learn a little more about this place, the places in it. )

They're handing out cookies, not too far from here. [he's pointing with his thumb as he talks, but - ] Unless you're hungry for an actual meal. I know a place, not too expensive. You've got your money with you, right?

( Nodding, and as much as he loves cookies, he could use some actual food. There's always something comforting about a hot meal, so far as he can figure. )

Uh. Yeah.

( A little cautious. He was never a good conversationalist. )

H-hot-- hot food would be g-good. T-too-- too m-much sugar.

( And he's going to need to figure out how to do his training without the facilities Max and her contacts set up. )

Which w-way?

Here, I'll show you. [with a nod and his hands in his pockets, Peter begins to lead the way. It's not like he has anything better to do right now. The only place he really knows is the same Jules took him to. It's become sort of the Go To thing for him since.

(When he isn't in the Outlands hunting for other kinds of food, that is.)]

Maybe we can find someone you know on the way-?

[He's trying to be optimistic for his sake. Really.]