(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: June 1st
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings. Now with 200% more People-Seeking lists!
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. Now and then around you you might spot paper fluttering in the faint wind from somewhere relatively dry. It looks like a list.

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

[deadlybanker]

[Good man. Giovanni smiled back at the young man trailing after him. It took a lot of strength to overcome that kind of shock and he appreciated that the gentleman apparently wanted to see him safe. ]

I am Giovanni Auditore.

[He introduced himself first because he very much wanted to know this young man's name. ]

May I know yours?

[lazyinlove]

Stanley. Lucerne. Sup.

[Aside from Chris it's hard to imagine anyone who could be so genial with an abdominal wound, but this guy seemed to be managing it anyway. It was pretty impressive, actually. Hopefully he wasn't already in shock or something...

He gestured to the blood stains, indicating whatever wound was under the man's clothing.]

Do me a solid and don't pass out before we get there, okay?

[deadlybanker]

[Sup? Do me a solid... Well, he certainly had a unique way of speaking!

When reminded of the wound by the young man's gesture Giovanni shook his head, dismissing the idea that he would be unable to make it to where they were going. He was an assassin and had been injured may times, granted this wound was worse than most, but he had to get back to his family. He would not fail in that.]

I swear I will not.

[Stanley was given an appraising look as they took that first turn towards the clinic. He looked young, 16, 17... about his son Ezio's age really.]

Have you been in this city long?

[lazyinlove]

First day.

[Stanley shrugged, a little sheepish. It was just lucky the tablet wasn't too difficult to figure out, or they would have been asking people for directions. And neither one of them looked so hot at the moment.]

Y'know, the other person I had to take to an ER today was unconscious the whole trip.

[deadlybanker]

You have had to guide more than one to this 'ER'?

Had they been brought into this place injured too?

[Or... had the injury occurred here? He doubted everyone would be as friendly and helpful, some might even be very dangerous.]

[lazyinlove]

Nah, that was back home.

[It's been a long day. But keeping the guy talking can't hurt, so Stanley casts about for another topic. Carrying conversation isn't usually left up to him, and it's more difficult than he'd realized.]

So. Got stabbed, huh?

[deadlybanker]

[It must be difficult to fish around for topics of conversation with a bleeding man walking at your side. Still the question, the unique way he phrased it, managed to elicit a smile from Giovanni.]

I was distracted for a moment during a very difficult battle. That chance was all the enemy needed.

[The knife hand been thrown at him from across the room. A very skillful or lucky shot really.]

It was just fortunate the injury was not more severe. If it had been I doubt I could have made it this far.

[With a few more streets behind them the medical building could finally be seen in the distance. Good. Not that it would have been impossible, but Giovanni was getting tired, he didn't want to have to walk even one block more.]

You are a kind young man, to make certain I made it all the way here. Grazie.

[lazyinlove]

No, it's cool. I don't have anywhere to be.

[Not to mention how totally fucked up it would be to just leave this guy to his own devices. Stanley shrugs the compliment off, and glances gratefully up at the hospital as it looms into view. Thank god.]

[deadlybanker]

That must be the building.

[Giovanni paused at the doorway before heading on inside.]

Will you be able to find your way from here?

[He did worry about leaving the young man on his own in this strange and hostile city.]

[lazyinlove]

...There's a map, remember? I've got this.

[But he hesitates anyway. Should he really just leave? This guy probably doesn't have anyone here, either. That has to suck.]

Um. Need someone to stick around for coffee runs?

[deadlybanker]

Mi dispiace, coffee?

[(I'm sorry.)
That particular drink had not been imported to Italy yet... At least not in quantities large enough for Giovanni to have any experience with it.]

If you would like to wait and see the outcome, you may of course.

[lazyinlove]

[Because of the translation settings, he understands that perfectly, so there's no need to ask for clarification. It's a useful function of the device.

Stanley considers the offer, trying to weigh out whether he'll be more helpful or underfoot if he stays. Maybe he ought to leave it to the professionals, in case actually seeing the wound gives him that upchucking urge again.

He mostly manages a wan smile of his own, and gives a decisive wave.]

Sure, but maybe out here. In the waiting area. Until you're ready for visitors, y'know?

[deadlybanker]

Of course.

[Stanley's shoulder was given a friendly pat before the older men turned and entered the building. He was quickly spirited away by the staff for treatment, a task that did take a few hours. Eventually one of the nursing staff came out of the back to tell Stanley that his father was recovering in a room and he could go to see him now. A small mistake on the part of the staff but a convenient one, otherwise Stanley might have been prevented from going into the room.]

[lazyinlove]

[He fell asleep while he was waiting, so the touch surprised him. Stanley blinked at his unexpected surroundings for a moment and scrabbled up to follow the nurse. What? His father...?

Oh. Right. He understands when he gets to the room, and sees the face of a not-quite-stranger-anymore. Stanley yawns and stretches, then wanders inside. He's got nowhere else to be anyway, might as well make sure the dude is alright.

He's even dried off a it in the interim, though his shoes still squish uncomfortably with every step.]

Hey. All patched up?

[deadlybanker]

[While still groggy from the mixture of drugs he had been given Giovanni was at least sitting up in the bed he had been moved to after the procedure and his head was clear enough for conversation. ]

I believe so...

[Well, mostly clear enough... He didn't remember being 'patched up'. It must have been the drugs.]

Was I away for very long?

[It had been a few hours but time meant nothing when you were unconscious. ]

[lazyinlove]

Dunno. I fell asleep.

[deadlybanker]

Well, grazie for standing watch all the same. I think I will be up and about in no time.

[Mostly because he plans to slip away from this medical building as soon as he feels able to. ]

[lazyinlove]

No worries.

[Stanley isn't exactly a mind reader, but he has known enough crazy people in his time to recognize the suggestion in that sentence. It's a bit worrying, considering the dude was bleeding from the abdomen earlier. But there's nothing he can do about it, so he just drops into a seat, his shoes giving a tired sort of squish. What a day, huh?]

Anyone going to be looking for you? I could show you how the phone thing works before I get out of here.

[deadlybanker]

Si, actually... there is some one who will be looking for me.

[A man about as old as he was who claimed to be his son. It was a strange situation and one he was not sure what to make of. Maybe during his recovery here he could study on that and try to decide if it was to be believed. ]

But, your help with the... what did you call it? I would be very grateful for that. I have never seen anything quite like it.

[lazyinlove]

Phone. I mean, I guess technically it's a tablet. Y'know, mobile device.

[Though actually, he's pretty sure this guy doesn't know. He definitely doesn't look too 21st century.

So Stan finds the tutorial for the dude, and adds a few helpful tips of his own, such as where the maps are now that he knows that. The contacts are easy o find, too. And the network settings seem easy enough, but he waitsfor questions befre taking off.]

I think that's about it.

[deadlybanker]

The lady at the Hold had run through this before but your explanation makes much more sense. Thank you for taking the time to show me the basics of this mobile device.

[He can be taught!
Of course he will play with the device a bit more on his own, but at least he now knows which button does what.]

Will you be heading to the room you were assigned to now?

[lazyinlove]

[It's rare that anyone thinks of something Stanley has done as helpful, abd rarer still to be thanked for it. So he's caught off guard enough for a moment that he doesn't hear the question, except in that retroactive way that people process things. Consequentially, there's an unfortunate moment if awkward pause before he matter if factly replies, unfortunate in that it might give the indication that he's more than duly unhappy at the situation. When mostly he's just unsurprised.]

They ran out.

[deadlybanker]

[Stanley had been very helpful, first in making sure he arrived at the hospital and then taking the time to explain the communication device to him... he should be thanked for that and his kindness repaid in some way.]

They ran out? Where are you expected to stay, on the streets?

[Absolutely not! His rescuer would not be living under a bridge some where.]

I do not know how large the rooms are but you are welcome to take my place. I can find something else.

oh no, sorry about the typoes.

[lazyinlove]

What? No, it's cool. They're giving us cots in the gym or something.

[He's wide eyed again at such an unexpected (and sure, slightly insane,) offer.]

I mean, if it really blows there and you think your couch could handle some warming, maybe. But a guy with a hole in his guts should probably be taking it easy, alright?

Typos sneak up on people. It's fine. ^^

[deadlybanker]

[Well, maybe he wasn't thinking entirely clearly... The strange drugs he had been given no doubt were still having an effect on him. But, being older he felt he had a much better chance of finding a place to stay.
Still, maybe Stanley was correct in that. As much as he hated to admit he was not in top form right now. He should be taking it a little easy... at least until those drugs wore off.]

If it does not work out then we could discuss it?