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[initiates]

Date & Time: Evening, 10th February 3312
Location: Transport Room
Characters: Open To All
Summary: Everyone is brought into the transport room at roughly the same time, in a great succession and flow of imported individuals. Everyone is being lead around in small bundles, or left to their own devices together inside the Initiative Hold.
Warnings: None.

Widespread and crowded, everyone is being transported into this unusually bright room with an efficiency that is almost horrifying. One after the other, new people are appearing -- being led, shown around and then ultimately abandoned with one final phrase; "Good luck."

The Initiative Hold is wide, like a small town in its depth and industry. You've received your weapon; you've got your keys, your netbook, and one of those robed strangers has shoved a small pouch full of what you can only assume is money into your open palm. You've been given an apartment, but where on earth -- are we on earth? -- is it? Your best opportunity right now is to mingle; at least, that's what everyone else appears to be doing. Those strangers in the robes have left. They're tending to the people who are arriving, one by one and in a quick procession. Energy bustles all around you, as you're strapped up with your sudden gifts and looking around.

Hey, maybe you'll even see some familiar faces.

Comments

[llywelin]

[Terrible jokes are terrible even in brackets with snare sounds. Lion press closer for a moment before letting go, dropping back down but not really moving away.] If that's the case, is it you I have to thank for my very improper arrival in London?

[A stranger's bed, really Will, how lewd. Well that stranger was Jade so- no it's still terrible.]

[alethiological]

[The fact that's Jade would make that even worse. Though, it's a bad move on Lion's part, since it earns a blank stare in response. Standing back upright, but still completely expressionless in even his voice.]

Improper? I only know you ended up in his house. [The bed part was left out. Understandably, since Lion should know that bland stare usually means there's going to be neurosis-spawned punishments for weeks on end if it's a bad answer.]

[llywelin]

[Lion's face, meanwhile, says, 'oh. damn it.' This is why things get written down. Except Lion wouldn't have written that detail down ever. Well.]

Yes, that's right, though I guess it was a little more. It was very late at night and he is a bachelor. It doesn't look very...decent.

[It isn't a lie but Lion can't even manage omissions of truth. Doesn't stop at least one attempt. That would have still seemed pretty shady in Lion's book.]

[alethiological]

[Eyes narrowing immediately, and that shade of gold always looks all the brighter when he does it. Not exactly subtle, Lion.]

If you want to dodge the answer, at least be less obvious.

[But not saying anything more than that. Subject dropped, but that's even worse. It means it's internalized for ammunition. Ohhhhh Lion, you are hearing about it later.]

[llywelin]

[No way, he would enjoy - well, in a sense - getting to corner Lion about that. So subject not entirely dropped as Lion tries a different approach.]

That was still accurate. Just, ah, I left out the part about landing in his bed. It didn't really seem that bad.

[The 'it didn't seem bad to me' angle always works! Oh wait...]

[alethiological]

[No. No it doesn't work. And his expression is entirely dead by this point. Leveling a stare that just means Lion made the worst move possible. Giving a proper answer but without any explanation. Especially with that kind of thing...

Normally, knocking him speechless is a win. So Lion can take said win. He'll just pull his hand back, using his own worst move in response - completely ignoring in favor of messing with the netbook.]

[llywelin]

[What. No. Lion frowns and, arms folded, leans in to see what Will is doing. That really obnoxious sort of leaning that means Lion's head blocks everything.]

What are you doing?

[Complete even with annoying question.]

[alethiological]

[The best part is they're both standing. Which means it's barely an effort to just move it right up out of Lion's standing range. Dismissed.]

Something productive. [Yes, that was indicating that Lion's not worth the time Yes, that was a shot. No, it lacks the usual amusement. Which means it can now be deduced that yes, he is mad.]

[llywelin]

[Ouch, Will. A waste of time, really? That burn is going to need Battler's tears lotion.

With a very soft, but immensely irritated huff, Lion turns away.]

Yes, I can see you're making progress in- what are you doing again? I'm sure it's important. [No, Lion doesn't care. Only there to say "let it be known that you are called out on being passive aggressive, too."]

[alethiological]

[It's okay, Lion. There's plenty of room at the burn ward. Though your insurance premiums are through the roof from all the multiple visits.]

Does it matter? It's not like you care. [Called out on being passive-aggressive? That's fine. But he's not below taking a small heart shot in response. Knowing a person well enough to pick out their moves can easily be twisted from sympathy to weapon after all. Though it helps that Lion's predictable.]

[llywelin]

[A cheap shot, in that he can easily make them when it comes to Lion. Now the hard part: deciding whether or not to back down. Or rather, deciding who is more in the wrong.

Well. Will is overreacting. So Will should. Best logic.

Forge ahead!] I don't think I've done anything to give you that impression.

[alethiological]

[Lion should be more than well aware the backing down never happens from either end. It just continues until the original meaning is lost and it's back to the usual bickering. Be content knowing that while some games change with location, this one doesn't.

Also, Lion's totally the one in the wrong here.] Don't play dumb. That's one of your favorite starting moves.

[llywelin]

[The best part about bickering is that it keeps arguments from having too much worth in the first place.]

I didn't use it today. It wasn't even my first move.

[alethiological]

[At least it'll give the confused new arrivals something to focus on: someone 6'4" arguing with a brat nearly a foot shorter over, literally, nothing.]

It wasn't your first, but it was still a starting motion. You really need to work on your opening.

[llywelin]

[Nothing fights are the most romantic. And Lion might be shorter but how much this matters is obvious in the confident posture.]

I can only work with what you gave me. Sulking is a horrible thing to build from.

[alethiological]

[That confidence still only makes you 5'4", Lion. Just accept you've lost the height battle forever. Along with most people.]

Most of my other moves tend to worry you or scare you. Be content with just the sulking.

[llywelin]

[Never accepting that loss. Perfect confidence can make up for anything.]

It is a much cuter move. [Moves within moves!]

[alethiological]

[Don't lie, that confidence isn't perfect. Closer to ninety percent.]

How heartless. [Using moveception like that. Especially in a way where he can't take a shot against it without making it worse. Tsk tsk.]

[llywelin]

[Still impressive. And now Lion smiles, just amused.]

Quite the opposite, actually.

[alethiological]

[Not impressive enough. Not even with the trying to play nice. Closing the computer and lightly thwacking Lion on the head in response. Somehow, it's affectionate.]

I know it is.

[llywelin]

[Lion's hands go to rub the spot immediately, even if it didn't actually hurt.]

Nothing has changed at all, especially not your manners.

[Likewise, completely fond.]

[alethiological]

[The action gets one of those infuriating smirks in return.]

Would you be happy if it changed? [He knows the answer is no, just as well as Lion does. Never immune from shots, sorry.]

[llywelin]

[Not fair. Lion can't even joke about that just to get back at him either.] Of course not. Well, I might be happy if you were a little less lazy.

[About as much of a denial that can be managed. Really, even the bad parts are nice somehow.]

[alethiological]

[Lion used one he couldn't fight back on either, so fair game.]

Would you honestly want that?

[He'd be neurotic all the time Lion, is that what you want? Pondering face here.] I could probably manage it.

[llywelin]

[Staring. Remembering all his odd little flips at the stupidest things.]

No, no, just save your energy for what matters.