waiting for the world to stop

[itstotallyaliens]

Date & Time: September 1st, mid-day
Location: The Hold
Characters: Fox Mulder and YOU!
Summary: Now arriving: One Very Uncooperative Transport
Warnings: Language might get mild, anyone who chooses Option A will probably have to deal with violence, but overall it's just another day.

When the lights in his apartment building's elevator go out, he's unimpressed, but unsurprised. When he starts falling instead of rising, then there's cause for alarm. But when he opens his eyes and he's in a white room, well. Mulder's lip curls in disgust. Really? he thinks. Out of the frying pan and into the abduction. Fantastic.

But what he's expecting isn't what he gets - he gets the same thing every new Transport gets, of course: The Speech. But he doesn't even let her sweep him along into the armory - he stands his ground as firmly as he can and demands answers. He only gets as good as any other new arrival does, and that's not good enough.

Soon enough he's raising his voice:

"I don't care WHAT you're trying to sell me, I want to know who put you up to this! Was it the Cancer Man? Was it someone else? Whoever it was, I want answers. And I'm going to get them. Because I've been through ENOUGH the last couple of days."

She tries to assuage him, and he reaches out and shoves her, by both shoulders. "I didn't even get to help bury my father. You people are scum, you know that? You'll do anything to keep the public at large in line, to keep the world the way you want it. And if you really think that dragging me here - however you did it - is gonna stop me? You have so many more thinks coming that it's not even funny."

With that, he reaches for his gun ... and security arrives. At this point, anyone wishing to actually have something to do with this kamikaze ball of crazy has two options...

[A:] You're part of the security detail. Congratulations, it's now your job to try and rein Mulder in and get him to the holding cells where he can cool his heels for a couple of days and Think About His Life Decisions.

[B:] Post-containment Option 1: Once security threw Mulder into his cell, they gave him his tablet, since he might as well have something to do with his time. Anyone looking through the feeds will see him scowling down into the screen and sullenly poking at the controls, but not saying anything. He won't speak until spoken to: he doesn't trust the thing yet, after all.

[C:] Post-containment Option 2: You came to see the new nutjob in person. You'll probably have a better chance of having a rational conversation with him than anyone in Option 1. (NOTE: This can either be in jail or outside the Hold, because I forgot to be specific and flexibility is a good thing. :D)

Comments

A

[highfrequency]

Raiden had suspected someone would probably end up panicking. Not everyone took well to being thrown into a proxy war against their will, especially one happening in another dimension.

When Mulder reached for his gun, Raiden was already quickly approaching him, his stride swift but not yet a charge. His clawed hand came to a rest on on the hilt of his sword, which had pivoted to his hip from his back on a rotating mechanical arm the moment he turned in Mulder's direction. If a shot was fired, he was confident he would be able to react in time to deflect the bullet.

He just hoped his ghoulish and clearly cybernetic appearance would not make this situation worse.

[itstotallyaliens]

Mulder had seen more than his fair share of unnatural atrocities ... but to date, someone with mechanical grafts of that nature had not made it onto the list. It was enough to give him pause, but hardly enough to calm him down. In fact, it might have just made things worse.

"So are you what's in store for me? Is this what I've got to look forward to? What you're doing, now?!"

[highfrequency]

Raiden kept one palm on the hilt of his sword and lifted the other hand in a calming gesture as he slowly closed the distance between them.

"Right, first thing that's gonna happen is you're gonna drop the gun and calm down. Can you do that for me?"

[itstotallyaliens]

"Not until you tell me what's really going on here." Mulder's eyes narrowed, and he held his ground. Outwardly, it was a show of will, but really, he was taking the time to assess the situation: and what he saw wasn't making any sense.

He'd been abducted, sure, but if the security detail was physically augmented with what looked like highly sophisticated alien technology, why was he carrying a sword? That didn't seem to jive. He swept his gaze over Raiden, taking in as many details as he could: any other weapons, how he might be carrying himself...

[highfrequency]

Raiden carried himself like a seasoned warrior or a soldier-head high and shoulders back. His demeanor said "military".

There was a small blade sheathed on the underside of his scabbard, but no other visible pieces of weaponry. Unless, of course, one were to count his blade-like claws.

"Well, what's really going on here is probably kinda hard to wrap your head around. That's pretty normal, though. Confusion is to be expected..."

He spoke slowly, softly, though he was unable to keep the rust from his voice.

"You've been brought here to fight in a proxy war through history against the United Earth-that would be the fuckers that rule pretty much everything beyond the borders of this island. They're traveling across dimensions sucking other worlds dry to keep their Empire going so you can see why they gotta be stopped."

At this last syllable he blew out a growling sigh. It was all the truth, of course, but nothing that the Initiative hadn't gone over in their debriefing. If this guy hadn't believed it all then, Raiden doubted he'd believe it now.

C Senor

[itsnotaliens]

During her own processing she had heard the others talking about an uncooperative transport. A man who had screamed about conspiracies, abductions and a Cancer Man. There was really only one person who could manage to disrupt and irritate people that much. The only problem was that he was supposed to be dead. She frowned, subtly trying to listen in on conversations as she perused the armory. Once she had selected her 'weapon' she politely asked for directions to the holding cells for unruly transports.

She didn't go right away, of course. She decided to let him cool off for a couple of hours while she went out to get the lay of the situation and gather some information. If she's going to talk any sense into him at all it would help if she knew what she was talking about, of course. Once she had enough intel to assuage some of her own suspicions she made her way to the holding cells.

There he was. She paused in the doorway, watching him poke at the tablet like a chimpanzee with a cell phone. She may not understand everything in this place... or much at all, if she's honest... but she does know that if she's going to make any headway here she's going to need a partner - HER partner. And he's no good to anyone sulking in the hold like a child. She took a slow breath, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips. Her heels clicked along the floor as she walked over, "You're looking pretty good for a dead man."

ohai

[itstotallyaliens]

Scully. He'd been wishing he had her insight only moments ago, and now he had it. Wonders never ceased. He reached into his coat and gave the little leather bag he'd stowed there a squeeze before looking up, with a silent prayer: please let her actually be there.

When he lifted his gaze from the tablet to her, there was a wary sort of relief in his eyes, and he forced the easy smile that he always defaulted to when joking with her, the one that was his own act of cover-up.

"Dead and abducted, double whammy. I feel all kinds of special."

Fancy meeting you here

[itsnotaliens]

She watched his movements carefully, trying to see if he was, indeed, a danger to himself or anyone else. She highly doubted it but she supposed anything might be possible, especially in a place like this. Stepping closer to the bars of the cell she crossed her arms and tilted her head to regard him.

"At least I believe it's safe to say that extraterrestrials had nothing to do with it." i.e. IT'S NOT ALIENS, MULDER.

IKR

[itstotallyaliens]

He certainly wasn't a danger to himself, or to her - he'd be a danger to himself before he was a danger to her, in his own opinion. He knew that look, though, knew she was sizing him up just as steadily as he was doing the same. She didn't look drugged, or hurt ... didn't look as though they'd gotten their claws into her yet. He still had plenty of room for suspicion and concern, though.

"Absolutely nothing? Scully, I was in a boxcar full of them buried in the ground, five days ago. I'm pretty sure they're at least tangentially related."

C

[lazyinlove]

The thing about this place was that people were all pissed off to be here. They weren't exactly interested in helping each other out. Sometimes they'd take a swing at an authority figure, but that was about the limit to how they tried to improve things. The Initiative, on the other hand? Those guys would generally help you if they could. Within reason.

So after an embarrassing conversation with a beautiful woman, Stanley left the main attraction of the day and wandered into the hold instead. The big dude who usually guards the doors must have been sick this morning, because there's no one around to ask permission. Which leaves him stumbling around looking uncertainly for someone, anyone. It's a shame that the first person he finds is in a cage. Stanley stops to headtilt a little at this curiosity. That's a new one.

"Dude, you okay?"

[itstotallyaliens]

"Depends on your definition of okay."

Mulder looks up and frowns at him, the anger that had managed to cool to a steady simmer starting to bubble again. "... How old're you?"

[lazyinlove]

"Fourty-six." He answers easily, by now well aware that a lot of adults got pretty upset to discover that they would be holding ranks with child soldiers and teens as well. It's an absurd lie, but it both acknowledges and hopefully dissipates the tension a bit. It's the response that works best so far, anyway.

Stanley plops down on the floor by the cell, clearly not concerned that maybe this guy is in a cage because he's dangerous or something. He leans back against the bars and puts a palm over his eyes, a little woozy but friendly just the same.

"What'd you do, kick and scream? I bet they'll let you out soon. No one ever says anything about being stuck for long."

[itstotallyaliens]

Oh, he's upset, sure, but not for anywhere near that reason. The wisecrack earns Stanley a ghost of a smile, though: Mulder can appreciate anyone with a sense of humor.

"I told them I wanted the truth about where I was and I wasn't going to take no for an answer." He slid off the cot and scooted over to sit on the floor near the bars. "Firearms may have been involved. ... My name's Mulder, I'm with the FBI. ... Have they done anything to you?"

C

[keep_smiling]

Out in the market, Mulder is suddenly being offered a cookie by a young man in a bright yellow raincoat who looks far too cheerful for this setting. He can't help but approach someone who looks so frazzled.

"Good afternoon! You look like you could use a snack."

we'll say this is post-Scully because eee Elmer

[itstotallyaliens]

"Uh, thanks." He eyes the younger man warily, looking him up and down... but he's not taking that cookie just yet. "Is there free Kool-aid to go with that?"

=D

[keep_smiling]

Elmer just laughs, still holding out the cookie tin.

"I can attest for their safety and deliciousness. This is a proud tradition in welcoming new Transports to the Hold! From the look on your face, I'm going to say you just arrived today."

[itstotallyaliens]

"Proud tradition, huh?" He echoes, biting at his lower lip. That'd be a great big yes to the Kool-Aid. "Matter of fact, I did."

C

[hyanaimne]

People in suits were something Tempest still wasn't used to, even after two months and a mission to modern NYC. It's why when Mulder wanders by, he may feel eyes staring him down, almost assessing. She makes no mystery of it, though; openly staring was just something she didn't bother to hide, and if someone had a problem with it, well. She'd explain herself.

She just so happens to have her hood down, though. Either to let her hood dry or simply because she felt more comfortable for the moment, the ears are hard to mistaken for anything but human.

"Had a rough arrival?" She asks after a moment, honestly curious. He looked it, not that anyone else didn't, but it was a way to start conversation. And she was supposed to be doing the friendly thing anyway.

[itstotallyaliens]

The only reason Mulder had even agreed to try to play fair was because Scully had talked him down long enough to consider it. As such, he was still suspicious of everyone and everything, and less than pleased about where he'd wound up. He was thankful for his raincoat, though he gave no sign of minding the rain otherwise. When the woman nearby speaks up, he turns his head.

"Depends on how you define rough."

[hyanaimne]

"Rough in that you seem like you could use a cup of coffee," She responds with a hint of sarcasm. She pauses for a moment, then quirks a small grin. "Or a drink of an entirely different variety."

[itstotallyaliens]

"Depends on what else they put in it around here." He squints the slightest bit as he notices her ears. Well, that's interesting. Either she was taken on her way to a sci-fi convention, or something was going on.

b.

[lucency]

Well, someone doesn't look happy.

Plenty of people don't look happy, or straight up aren't happy, Belle knows, but it's not often that they don't vocalize their frustration on the network. Just staring bitterly at it doesn't do much good, after all, and for a moment, Belle stares right back at him, frowning as well, waiting for him to just - say something.

And when he doesn't, she clears her throat, peering warily at the screen before, "Is - everything alright?" A silly question, maybe, but it should warrant a response, she thinks, and she hastily adds, "Sir?" to that.

didn't forget you, I promise! <3

[itstotallyaliens]

The "sir" makes him smile, especially after the vaguely frustrated look she'd been giving him for his silent treatment. Even if the smile is a little bit on this side of a smirk, it's something, though, and Mulder has always been a sucker for a pretty face.

"Not really, no. I'm still waiting for my answers."

❤!

[lucency]

"To what questions?"

She hasn't heard the shouting match from earlier, and even if she had, well. Nothing wrong with repeating things calmly and rationally and sorting them out in one's head before getting overworked. It's fine. It's totally fine. She smiles, just a hint of knowingness there. "The normal things? Still trying to sort everything out?"

[itstotallyaliens]

"I guess you'd call them normal if you've been here a while," he reasoned. "But yeah. I don't believe it. I need more evidence. You haven't seen an older guy, graying hair, greyer suit, smokes Morleys like he needs them to breathe?"