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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

[alethiological]

He's tempted to hold it above Lion's head. But the subject gets dropped, so fine. Take your notebook back. Silly rich kid.

And Jade's not the only one with a problem over being shuffled around like a bunch of cattle. But that doesn't mean going along with it is pointless. Jade's taking faces, Will's taking conversations, and he's already looking off and getting distracted by one until that comment floats by.

Never reaching his face, but sounding completely amused when he turns back. "I'm sure you'll find a close-range fighter someday. Keep your hopes up. Positive thinking does wonders."

[llywelin]

Both of them and their concerns earn a smile. Each concerned with different aspects, accessing the situation, doing what they can. Different methods but it's obvious. They really did have a nice routine before this, didn't they?

Lion puts the notebook away. "Why don't we go for a walk?" Only so much they can do but anything to help a feeling of productivity.

[clinical]

Every party needs a tank and a healer. Everything else is icing.

"It's nice of you to see that Will gets exercise."

[alethiological]

Oh, but Jade you're not a healer. That means you're the same level as icing. Must suck not being a seventh fonist, huh?

And, while he'd normally go along with Lion's suggestion, Jade's spin on the matter earns a sigh. Right back to the annoyance-tinged apathy. "I'm not a dog."

[llywelin]

Now for the magic of Lion's thought processes, in which this statement is the end result. "Oh, I don't know. Stereotypical Dog traits would fit, wouldn't they? I only have a passing knowledge."

For those playing at home, Lion means the Chinese Zodiac. Oh all those years in school with blood type horoscopes and astrology and palm readings and throw the paper a certain way and ugh.

[clinical]

Range is always icing. Delicious icing, but icing regardless. Jade is fully aware of this.

He is not fully aware of the Chinese Zodiac, however, so his contribution ends up being the following: "It's nice to see a couple that can be so open with one another."

[alethiological]

It's nice Jade doesn't contribute. It means the stab is entirely let go to give Lion a look that's specially reserved for things that fall under the filing of 'Battler Logic'.

"One, I highly doubt I'm a dog sign. Two, we didn't use the eastern zodiac. Three, please don't tell me you believe that nonsense?"

Just considering the last one as possible means you Battler Logic'd, Lion. Good job.

[llywelin]

"I don't have any investment in it but I've listened to enough about it. Personality superstitions are very popular." The look given here reads plainly as, 'How dare you insult my honour?' Really, Lion has better things to do than wonder about stars guiding the future. "As for the first one, that's easy enough. I'm sure somewhere here will have a chart I can use to check. Just for fun."

A casual shrug. The odds are in Will's favour that Lion is wrong, so what does he have to lose, right? And backing out of such a harmless little bet would look silly.

And for Jade's sake, Lion turns to him. "I don't know if you have anything like it because of the Score but both Western and Eastern traditions have charts that supposedly predict your personality, compatibility with others, careers, romance and so on based on the day or year you were born or the alignment of the stars, things like that. I believe Will would be born under the Year of the Dog."

It is just teasing. Though, Lion finds some irony in the idea that Jade's world might not have silly things like this because they did have a guide.

[clinical]

Will's turn as victim set aside, Jade turns it over. What an interesting concept to have in place of the Score. He says, "The Score was more than sufficient for those purposes. Generally speaking, people pursued employment and marriage based on their Score."

Jade's own aide-de-camp had only entered the military because a Scorer had said he would one day aid a great and noble man as a soldier--and so Marco died protecting Fon Master Ion. A Scorer will never read a Score of death.

Well, Ion had said that the Score is best used as a guide for choosing between the many possible futures. It would seem that it is human nature across more than one world to seek that kind of guidance.

"Please tell me what Will's zodiac is when you find out. I'd love to know if we're compatible."

[alethiological]

"It's still a superstition," said only the slightest bit more stern than usual. Laziest angel ever, yes, but that's still an angel. Superstitions aren't real, it's just one of numerous illusions humans keep setting up, and even if it's for amusement, Lion just made an attack out of it. 'If it's not real, then why be concerned'.

It's ridiculous, but backing down would be even more ridiculous. So the entire situation is answered with a shrug, eyes closed and back entirely to dismissing everything ever.

"Sure. If it's any good, I'll marry you instead."

[llywelin]

Oh Will. If that's the attitude, then it might be best he's never gone to high school. Lion can only imagine his reaction to girls asking for his blood type and birthday to do dating charts over lunch.

But since he's taking that option, well, challenge accepted. "I already know mine. It shouldn't be too difficult to do ones for you both. It comes down to number crunching anyway."

[clinical]

"Why thank you, Lion," Jade says. And then unhelpfully adds, "I was born on the 22nd of Sylph-Redecan, ND 1982. A Loreleiday, if it helps."

[alethiological]

He'd get angry the first five times, then every time after would be giving false dates and times just to mess with them. Their own faults for buying into second-hand occultic nonsense.

There's a moment where Jade speaks, eyes snapping to attention at the seemingly-random spread of words. No, not random. Information that hasn't been filed. Different calendar system? Or an entirely different planetary set-up that results in different timespans? The usual questioning mindset is barely bitten back. A sacrifice, but for a good cause.

"A big help. I'm sure Lion can figure it out." Trolling is always a good cause.

[llywelin]

They can troll all they want. Lion doesn't bat an eye. This is the person who delighted in balancing their household budget, after all. "We can go over your calendar system later. It shouldn't take too long to find a manageable way of using it. And then we'll choose Will's perfect match."

[clinical]

Jade has learned never to underestimate Lion's determination. "Each month has 58 days, except for Lorelei Redecan, which has 60 days. The yearly calendar consists of thirteen months. Sylph Redecan is the eleventh month of the year. Weeks conform to the Earth Gregorian calendar. Loreleiday would be equivalent to a Friday." Jade did have to spend time before meeting the pair of them. The calendar systems had been a curious study.

[alethiological]

Check, filed. No harm in saving it in the records. Never heard of a Fragment with that set-up though. Curious, but irrelevant.

"Sounds good. You can try proving to me that teenage divination is worth something."

Hint: It's not.

[llywelin]

When did the notebook come back out? But Lion writes down the information Jade gives. The odds of Will actually being Year of the Dog are very low, Lion is full well expecting to lose. Still, it will make a fun project.

"That should keep me busy enough with everything else." Sighing softly. "I don't look forward to resettling, especially around a war of all things." Because that is quite inconvenient.

[clinical]

Jade has been hoping that the next time he is picked up and dropped off, it would be in his home. But he is never sentimental enough for homesickness; it's only being reminded that there is somewhere else he wants to be that sparks up a moment of unsatisfied longing. It is gone as quickly as he says, "Consider it a challenge, Lion. Unless you're not certain you're up to adapting a second time?"

[alethiological]

There's a glance shifted at Jade, only for a second, but whether he takes note or not isn't mentioned. Regardless if a heart is read, it's not anyone's place to rip the secrets out needlessly.

"You shouldn't complain. Think of what your other option is." Not using the term 'home', because that's exactly what the move is. There isn't one. If being ripped out of that Fragment was inevitable, a war is better than nonexistence.

A Fragment actually in the records would be a pretty nice right about now, but no complaints over the lack of tentacled queens.

[llywelin]

Even if it's better, it doesn't make it any less sad. Though, Lion feels much worse for Jade, considering his home actually still exists and he isn't dead. Well dwelling on it won't help anyone and Lion prefers those thoughts stay quiet anyway.

"I only meant that it's irritating. I have no issues with adapting again. In fact, it should be much easier a second time." Nothing works better than prideful answers.

[clinical]

"Think of it this way. This time, we are only asked to kill humans." He is doubtful how Lion will do on that front, shotguns aside, but he knows that combat isn't the only use that could be had of them. He does, however, still resist the idea of being abducted to assist in a revolution. It was as rude last time as it is this time.

[alethiological]

"Try to have a bit more tact."

And you know something is tactless when Will, of all people, is critiquing you on it. But that's the only comment said. Even if it's tactless, it's accurate, and a lot of people might have trouble facing that. Best to break Lion in early.

[llywelin]

People like Lion, for example, may not be so eager to kill people. A few different expressions pass in line with whatever thoughts bother Lion at that second. There are plenty of them. But in the end, Lion sighs.

"To be honest, that it's humans is worse. Monsters are just that: monsters." Something nice and easy to strip of humanity because usually they don't have any left anyway. Still nothing Lion would want to do but easier. But with a small nod, Lion continues, "But I also won't allow myself to be killed. So I suppose that's all."

[clinical]

For Jade's part, his statement was mostly sincere, at least to the degree anything he says is sincere. It is far easier for him to kill a human being than to cut through otherworldly beings. Perhaps it is better to fight monsters, but humans are easier prey. "Do you two have any further business here? I'd like to have a look at my new residence before going further. I can't see anything to be learned here."

He is already compiling lists of places to go to, the first being libraries. Jade wants comprehensive understanding of the situation, both the science and the politics of it. He has no intentions of remaining uninformed.

[alethiological]

"You could try less lethal ammunition, but that tends to cause more suffering than just killing them." Hm, but arrows could be aimed to immobilize joints. Possibly worth something to look into. Have to train Lion with it all over again anyway.

There's an internal sigh after at the suggestion. Mostly following the train of thought Jade has - libraries, look into all aspects of the history from multiple sides - with a possible addition of finding a government facility to break into if the results are unsatisfactory. Staying here was mostly eavesdropping on people's realities and arrival conditions but... that kind of research can be just as easily done over the network.

"Nothing that I can't do elsewhere. Can't say I'm encouraged to wait for our escort either." Making a mental map is faster if you're the one wandering, after all.