exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

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(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.

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Kate. What kind of missions have you gone on where you needed to eat snake?

[There it is. The dawning realization that things are More Serious than she currently thinks.]

[ Well, she's got some thin slices of cheese. She peels open the plastic and slips one in each slice of bread. Now, does she have fresh vegetables? She really needs to get talking with roommates about how often the fridge can be restocked. ]

It wasn't a mission. Not exactly. [ She shakes her head. ] But the possibility is here, too.

[Bette slides herself onto a counter and pulls her ponytail up into a loose bun, deftly retying it.]

Joy. Any other gross things you've eaten?

When you cross a desert, there's not much. [ But she won't ruin Bette's appetite if it hasn't already been. Those were the grueling days of training. But she had soldiered on. ]

[Bette's a little surprised, but not grossed out or disgusted or anything. Well. Not enough to lose her appetite at any rate.]

Yeah, well, you are the mega-trained army girl. I'm sure you were able to cope well enough? At least, you know, I hope you were? Me, I would've tried to find a cactus pear or something.

[ Eventually bits of bologna is slipped onto the sandwiches and Kate goes to toast them for a bit so the bread reaches a light brown shade and the meat and cheese melt together. ]

Speaking of training, you understand now that your costume is your weapon, you have to train with it. [ She's still apprehensive about this, but they are low on allies. Bette can't be completely incompetent, she thinks. Rusty... and in need of discipline.

Maybe she can really train her here. ]

Unless you decide to swap it.

[Bette's stomach rumbles in response to the wafting scent of meat and cheese.] Okay, so I'm a little hungrier than I realized.

[She slides off of the counter now and looks around the kitchen.] I'm guessing that Zesti colas are an unknown commodity around here?

[She pauses now and turns back to look at Kate.] So does that mean that the only one who is going to be able to train me is...you know. Batwoman?

Honestly? I looked at the other weapons? There were these really cool fire-spewing bronze gauntlets, but I felt like those would need an entirely new look and codename. And this just...seemed to make the most sense?

What did you choose?

Most brands aren't available here in Exsilium. If the timeline changes, maybe... [ It's near impossible to tell at this stage.

Kate pauses as she finally sets a plate for Bette and hands it to her. ]

... Myself.

[Bette accepts the plate graciously and grins at her cousin. She tears into the first half of the sandwich, downing it in three bites.]

I should have figured you'd place all of your trust into yourself that way. Which isn't to say that you aren't deserving of it. So, what? You won't turn into, like, Lady Bane down the road, right? All crazy muscular and scary?

[ She makes a face at the thought. ]

I'd hope not.

[ Kate stretches her arm out. It's still toned, she's been keeping fit here. She flexes a bit. ]

My hits are harder. I feel... more durable.

I know. Hideous thought, right? [Bette sets her plate down and flexes her own arm. It's lean and well-defined, thanks to all of those years of swinging a tennis racket back and forth. Probably nowhere near Kate's level of strength though, even discounting her new weaponhood status.]

Although, okay, I'm so wrapping my costume and myself in extra layers of foam padding if you're suddenly Super-Batwoman.

It does making sparring with others harder. [ Her fingers slip into her hair, brushing it back in a swift movement. ]

Amongst other things? [Bette smiles coyly at her cousin.] Tell me you've been letting yourself have some semblance of a personal life, even if you're part of the time-space squad here.

[ Kate takes a bite out of her sandwich and chews while rolling her eyes to the ceiling. ]

There's not much to do here. A group of us have been helping to fix a synagogue. Once it's done, I may just help out another building... they're in bad shape.

If this war ends, these people need a place to live -- a proper place.

Okay, the do-gooder thing I get, and I find it way commendable.

But I meant in terms of a personal life.

As in, you know, romance?

[ She shrugs. She likes Roslyn, but damn she's found a woman more mysterious than her. ]

Finish your food, Bette.

Really? No, really? You're just avoiding this question? Come on, cuz. I spent most of my life in love with a guy who never noticed me. I've gotta know that there's a Kane girl out there having better luck than me. Even, you know, here.

No luck here.

Not sure I'd give it a shot anyway with how often people are being transported in and out.

...I know you'd probably like to be home again, but as much as you can...try not to disappear on me, okay?

Oh, Bette. [ Kate looks up at her, putting her half-eaten sandwich down for a moment. Firmly: ] I'm only going if you go with me.

[That's really all that Bette needed to hear. The fact that no one was ever going to leave her behind again. She squeaks a strangled little squeak - something between excited and sentimental - and launches up, pulling Kate into a hug even tighter than the one she'd given when Kate had found her outside in the rain.]

[ Kate could never leave family behind. A bitter thought is that she could never be like her father.

She jumps slightly, trying not ensure her plate or sandwich don't fall and then smiles. ]

Easy, Bette.

Sorry. I just...sorry. [Bette pulls away, her eyes bright and shining, her smile infectious in its warmth and obvious affection for her cousin. She's always been very reactive to things.] Got a little excited there.

It's alright.

Once you've done all the reading on the tablet, I can show you around the place. [ She looks out the window with very little enthusiasm, however. ] It's not much.

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