here they talked of revolution, here it was they lit the flame

[initiates]

Date: October 1st
Location: The Observatory.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Observatory for the show of the year. Initial briefings are very brief this time around, and that Greeter just won't stop crying.
Warnings: new confused people and old sad people??

Your arrival here has been very unceremonious. One second you were somewhere else, and now, very suddenly, your feet hit the glowing white of the Transporter pad, and you're here. You aren't alone, either. There's a crowd of others around you, each seeming just as bewildered, angry, or confused as you might feel. At the head of the group is a woman in purple robes, with eyes red as if she'd just finished crying. She hurries over a quick overview of your intended purpose here, and gives direct answers when asked for them, but to most things she simply shows you how to access the tablet you've just been given. There, you can find the history of this place and a record of what your new cohorts have experienced — although it won't have Network access for another 8 hours. Someone stands on hand to give you a weapon, and though the armory is now greatly reduced, you should be able to find something to suit you.

You're shepherded down a walkway tunnel and into the Observatory, where you will find screens mounted on three sides of the wide room. The only lighting comes from dull red emergency lights, and the scenes of a dreary, rainy city from various cameras up on the screens; the largest of the screens opens up to a view of Earth from a good distance away -- this one isn't a screen at all, you might realize, but a window. As you watch, all screens in the room fill with light, impossibly bright. It consumes the buildings, the people, everything. There is no sound played, perhaps mercifully, only that white light -- and then nothing.

Through the large window, there's a pinprick of light over one of the landmasses on the blue planet. It grows to a tiny blossom and then dies away, but a cloud begins to mushroom outward in the same spot. It pushes the natural clouds out of the way, claiming that small portion of the world and wrapping it in a uniform gray.

Strings of numbers begin to fill the blanked out screens as the base's AI begins collecting data and calculations, but the show seems to be over. You're free to explore the base, visit and use any of the VR rooms, or discover your new room and roommates, but try not to step out of any airlocks if oxygen is a requirement for your system.

Welcome to the moon base, with front row seats to the grave of Exsilium.

[[ooc; reminder! The Network will be down for 8 hours after the wave of new Transports.]]

Comments

[celestial_wizard]

[ She knew a few words in French - not much though. That guy in Phantom Lord spoke snippets of it, before she was captured, so she appreciates the basics. ]

I see... I'm sorry. I've never been there, but I've seen pictures in some of the books I had below. It was really beautiful. Maybe you'll get to see it again?

[ AA! I want to try some! Maybe I can get Lucy to make it. I guess you can't eat candy either, huh? ]

[everydayraphael]

[He'd be happy to teach her more, if she wanted him to. He's used to helping people out.]

With luck, maybe we'll all get to see it if we're allowed to travel back in time. Even if it's unsettling I can promise you the city would be worth it. The pavement sings when you walk on it!

[I can't! It's not good for us dogs. I'll get Raphael to make some too, if Lucy can't. He knows how to cook a lot of things.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ She'd like that! Raphael seemed really nice, after all. And Plue was hitting it off with his dog pretty well too. ]

Sings? You don't mean literally, right? [ Because honestly, Lucy has seen stranger! ]

[ Plue wiggles a bit excitedly at that. You can speak to your master? ]

[everydayraphael]

Well, it depends where you are! The Champ-Élysées definitely sings when you walk on it, and the Tuileries Garden has no shortage of harmonies when there's festivities. It's really the people themselves that make the music, whether they realize it or not, but it's still something to see for yourself.

[Kind of! He gets the gist of what I'm saying, you know, but not always. Why, there was this pretty lady - a real pedigree poodle! - and he just didn't understand why I wanted to impress her so badly. Fondue harrumphs, thumping his tail on the ground a little for emphasis on the ridiculous on it. Raphael's still young.]

[celestial_wizard]

You'll have to give me a tour, if we ever get sent there. As a native, I bet you'd know all of the best spots. [ ...assuming the mission is a success and they manage to turn back the clock on Exsilium's destruction. ]

[ Plus meanwhile, continues chatting along in his own way: It's the same with Lucy and I. Maybe if your master meets a lady he'll understand! (.. he wisely doesn't say a word about Lucy's own mantroubles. Cough.) ]

[everydayraphael]

Every street corner! [Thinking of France makes him warm. Ah, yes. His city of Paris.] What was your home town like, Lucy?

[Fondue barks in laughter!!! A lady! Let me tell you, Monsieur Plue, about the girl from home... She was very kind and had soft hands and could play the violin. Raphael a le coup de foudre, it was as if he was struck by lightning! Love at first sight! But we had to say au revior. (Actually, Lucy kinda looks like her too, but Raphael fell at first note.)]