(no subject)

[initiates]

Date: July 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

[grooves]

[Brightening up is good. She... probably freaked out for nothing, then, but that makes her feel relieved, if anything.

Phew. Heh, that old saying...]

Y- Yeah... you're probably right about that...

(I mean, if I can get used to the Reaper's Game... there's nothing I can't handle, right?)

Heh, I guess I'm just a little nervous still.

[grooves]

Mm...

[Despite appearing as if she's deep in thought, it seems like Shiki would rather not think about it. She's kind of forced to, of course, but... there's a part of her actively avoiding it, too.

Reviving. That was the entire point, wasn't it? She was supposed to be revived, and yet...

...]

I... don't really know. But now that we're here, we'll just have to do the best we can... even if they hate us for it.

[taijiya]

[She just nods. She's used to the surprise by now.]

You're from much later on, I take it.

[concealingeyes]

Thanks. I believe it. 'Monsters' aren't what people think they are. [Even though she's not as confident as she acts, she does her best to believe it for the sake of the wonderful family that adopted them and her friends who carry that same pain in their hearts.]

If any of the others seem down ever, remember we've felt like this for ten years. They're kind people too, believe me, so... let's do our best to remind them of that.

[concealingeyes]

[Does that mean All Mates are supposed to be cute or hot? Well if she had to judge his human form a little more in depth, it was attractive and no no stopping that thought train right now he's a cute puppy the end.]

Ah... That makes sense. [So both forms are normal for him, though. He probably spends most of his time as a dog with Aoba, right? But...]

Do you like being a dog?

[concealingeyes]

Whoa, you really are prepared. [She's like a fairy or something- oh wait.]

Uhm, just a sandwich... and maybe some soup... That's all though.

[concealingeyes]

[Usually she'd want to tease her more about it but a) Kano isn't with her and b) Mary seems determined to try harder than she did before, so...]

...Some people are trying to make the gardens useable again. If you wanted to help with that, there could be some money in the flowers and vegetables that you could grow. Food is kind of weird here, so...if you can get anything kind of normal, it'd sell. I also know a guy who wants to open a restaurant. But then you'd have to deal with a lot of people.

[overclocking]

[Waves a hand.]

Right, but I found you and now you have a coat. Go get lunch so you can stop being so grumpy.

[overclocking]

[He rubs the back of his head, feeling vaguely sheepish for reasons he's not quite sure of.]

1924.

I think that's probably still the ancient past for this place, but... less so.

[concealingeyes]

There are options but... honestly I don't know a lot about them. If there are people you know here, though, you can find an empty apartment in the housing unit and move in together.

[overclocking]

[There's a brief pause, his expression shuttered somewhat.

Then he lifts his hand, pinkie forward, in a gesture he learned from a grinning little girl on a picnic blanket. His own smile is genuine.]

I'll promise to that.

[concealingeyes]

[A pinkie promise...? Kido's face flushes again. It reminds her of sweeter childhood memories and she tries to ignore that silly feeling. Just be cool.

She hooks their pinkies together and gives a firm shake.]

I'm counting on you.

never forgiven

[terrot]

Hmm? [ she mimes a look down toward it, but it's no more than a motion, more for flora's benefit than anything else. ] Yes, it tends to do that.

[ acting like it ain't no thang. ]

[lazyinlove]

Guess nobody writes stuff down in the future.

[otherness]

[Roxas keeps his gaze nice and even.]

What if I refuse?

[otherness]

[Roxas brightens a fraction.]

That would be great. ... Thanks.

[otherness]

[Gin, you are weird and confusing to the kid who supposedly has no heart.]

Hmm... maybe.

[He's still kind of perplexed but--]

Have you been here a long time?

[yourdistraction]

No need to worry, I am no stranger to rocks and debris! You are so kind to care, though.

[ She has traveled, after all, and the alienage isn't exactly...clean. ]

Yes, um, I have heard— Ah, wait, bombs?

[terrot]

Anticipating who is most likely to oppose them doesn't justify their actions.

[overclocking]

[He shakes right back, pinky's grip firm and tight.]

I won't let you down. You can hit me if I do.

[concealingeyes]

Heh, that sort of punishment is reserved but I'll make an exception if you fail.

[Social Link up!]

[substitutable]

Nah, nowhere in particular. I hang around here and the courtyard when new people are arriving in case someone I know shows up.

[showmeyourwreath]

Mostly?

[khajidont]

Nobody told you? [Jaime frowns, momentarily put off by the fact that all these newcomers are rolling in without any idea of what awaits them.]

It's, uh... well, it's not good news. Last month, the UE brought a supervirus into Exsilium and once half of us were down for the count, they bombed us.

[khajidont]

Yeah. We'll be fighting for the both of us.

[Whether they like it or not. As unpleasant as the Exiles may be, Jaime doesn't want them to die - and more importantly, he doesn't want his world to perish either.

Though after a moment, he can't help but offer he a sheepish smile once he remembers that while the Blue Beetle goes on missions, Jaime Reyes does not.]

Or, y'know, do what we can. It's not all about fighting.