(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

[galactically]

[While she knows this feeling isn't exactly positive, Sheryl is grateful that at least she made her thoughts known to this newcomer, and she mentally thanks herself for it as well, even if he may not like what she says. In her mind, he'll just have to deal with the situation like everyone else trapped in Exsilium had to, including herself.

Another sigh escapes her lips as she daintily flicks a wrist, arching an eyebrow at Aoba with skepticism marring her features.]

The only sure way to leave here is to be sent home with little warning. [A pause as her frown tightens.] That's how my close friend was able to go. You'll be receiving similar answers from everyone else here, I'm sure.

[God, does she miss that friend still, rueful tone heard as she speaks. And while she'd normally be very optimistic at another way out, she's not sure that she can trust him with it. He's new, after all.]

[vocalizer]

[ He'd definitely heard from other people about the random disappearances back to their own world, but he does have to wonder how random they are. It's not like people just disappear from one world and appear in another every day--

Well okay, that's pretty much what happened here, but it was because the Initiative was specifically trying to pull people into this world. As far as he knows his world doesn't have technology like that. Though he can't say the other worlds out there don't. ]

From what I heard it's not the only sure way, but...

[ Well he already mumbled out his comment about not wanting to bring the UE with him, so he's already heard that story too. ]

[galactically]

— No "but"s!

[Cue the exasperated sigh out of Sheryl. Hey, it's nothing personal; she doesn't usually like to deal with apparent Debbie Downers, it's all. The more this specific topic continues, the more irritated she's starting to show, whether it's because of that boy's mannerisms or otherwise.]

Regardless if there's really a way out or not, there are certain things in life that will be out of your control. You either come up with creative ways to get by and be on top, or you let it take over you completely.

[Why the advice? It's to get it through that kid's head, of course! If she can do it, then why not everyone else? Either way, she randomly points over to the direction of the apartment complex afterwards.]

Three blocks to your right and then walk straight down. I forgot to tell you earlier, but you'll be getting your own room.

[vocalizer]

[ Kid? What a rude way to think about your elders, Sheryl! The nerve of young people these days--

Wait what is she talking about. Not the thing about life events being out of his control, and the two ways of dealing with them. He gets that part. He's more confused by the second line of thought about his own room being three blocks down. He was given a key and all that, but it's pretty easy to forget a tidbit like that when you're focused on the other world and the fact that you don't get to go home thing. ]

... Huh?

[galactically]

[He looks younger than her in her mind, okay?? :C

At any case, Sheryl tilts her head and looks at him with a baffled eyebrow raise. Does she need to repeat herself? Because she really doesn't... but that's when her eyes widen in realization, mouth slightly agape. Perhaps he hasn't been told about the new housing yet! Yeah, that must be it.]

The apartment complex! Just right across from the Hold, that's where you'll be living in for now on.

[There's one other explanation that's right on the tip of her tongue, a sudden thought occurring to her now that her head is cleared of previous tension. Owlishly, she gestures with a hand pushed down near her thigh, palm facing the ground and fingers stretching stiffly.]

Ah, and I almost forgot! I saw a dark blue pomeranian, very fluffy and small. He was looking all over for you.

[Good thing Sheryl still remembers important details like the description of what the dog's owner actually looks like.]

[vocalizer]

[ Shame. SHAME!! ... Admittedly it's an easy mistake here. It's not like Aoba really is an old man or anything. Early twenties ain't that much older.

It clicks in to place when she actually says it, but instead of looking relieved he's frowning again. Another reminder that they have no plans of letting him go home any time soon if they're actually providing him with a place to live here. He doesn't really like the way she said "from now on" either. There's something about it that implies he'll never be getting home at this rate, but he's at least smart enough to keep his mouth shut on that.

He doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about that though, because the second thing she said? That's a lot more interesting.

Aoba's focus snaps back on her, eyes wide and shoulders tense now. ]

Ren is here? Where did you see him?!

[galactically]

[At the outburst, Sheryl's mouth turns agape once more, and noticing the immediate tension from that person, she tucks a free hand against her hip and looks off to one side.]

Somewhere in the streets!

[Okay, so Sheryl didn't really pay attention to the exact location, but at least she let the dog owner know that his pet is around, one with a tablet strapped to its back... yeah. She pivots on her heels and begins to walk away, though, moving that hand of hers off her hip to comb it through her pink locks.]

You should hurry up and look for him yourself, boy!

[vocalizer]

[ Ren's pretty important to him. Actually, that's putting it way too mildly. Ren's like a family member to him despite being just a robot dog (as far as Aoba knows anyway...) There's some immediate relief in knowing that he's here in Exsilium too, and Aoba isn't alone.

He's already turning his head and every which way to see if he can spot Ren, and only stops when he hears Sheryl's last comment and lets out an indignant huff. ]

Thanks for all the help, kid.

[ Making sure to stress that last word, and talking loudly because he doesn't want her to miss it. But he doesn't have time to stand around and sass teenagers any more right now if Ren's somewhere nearby.

Before anything else can be said he's quickly weaving his way into the crowd, keeping his eyes on the ground for any sign of something blue and fluffy. ]