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

[angel_of_death]

Defensive, Walter's response is light on information. "I said I was on a mission, didn't I? I got into a fight." And that was true, but what he doesn't explain is how he actually sustained the injury. Blood on the breath could be caused by a couple of things-- a direct hit to the side of the face, concussive damage to internal organs, for example-- and both of these he had. And a couple of sets of what would by now be spectacularly dark bruises underneath his shirt, but despite all that Walter is still being stubborn.

What Walter really doesn't want to talk about is how his wires failed to cut through his enemy. He didn't want there to be any chance of a stranger overhearing that.

[bloodthirsts]

"I gathered." Seras says, digging into her well maintained supply of patience. "Alright, specifically how and where were you hurt, Walter?" She guesses it must be blunt trauma, as far as she can pick up on there's no open wounds that she can pick up on.

[angel_of_death]

Damn it. Damn it. Of all the things the girl had to press on, it had to be the one that made him look weak. "There was a werewolf with them. He was... fast." And strong. Hideously strong. Alucard had been torn apart by a single kick. Before he...--

Shutting his eyes, Walter blocked out the last thought from his mind. He didn't want to think about being left by the vampire to fight the werewolf alone. He had to focus on what was happening now. After all, questioning his partner was impossible at this point.

"He managed to land a few hits on me."

[bloodthirsts]

The Captain.

That beast comes to mind immediately, the only werewolf that had seemed to be in Millenium's employ, possibly the last werewolf to have existed. In the thirty years since that war Seras had encountered no other. Her expression softens and she gives his shoulder one last light squeeze before letting go, "We'd better get you somewhere you can rest up then."

Not just physically either.

"You can come to my quarters, it's safe there." He likely has his own assigned already but Seras would rather be able to keep an eye on him for the moment. She can also make a better assessment of his condition and whether she should try to call in a doctor of some kind.

[angel_of_death]

"I said I could take care of myself." Though worded as a protest, the vehemence has drained out of his voice and his posture. It isn't that he's objecting to the idea of rest-- he's conceded that much in his mind-- but the idea of needing to go somewhere because it's safe manages to grate a little on his pride. He's already suffered a great many wounds to his pride already today. So that much, at least, he wants to keep.

Scanning the hall with his eyes, Walter's gaze lands on the saucer now resting on the floor-- the saucer he had thrown earlier-- the fork resting a couple of feet away, and the vegetables and partially-eaten block of meat jelly that lay strewn in between. As he does, the rest of the tension in his shoulders drains, and the look on Walter's features transitions to one of shame.

He hadn't intended to waste the food. He wouldn't have brought it all this way if he'd had such a thought in mind.

Quietly, he steps over to the mess, and taking up the fork and saucer, collects the food from the ground. Perhaps if he could manage to find a bit of water, he could rinse them off.

[bloodthirsts]

"I know you can. But I want to help, if you'll let me." Seras says, trying to assure him that she really means no disrespect to him, she's speaking out of affection.

The draculina steps after the butler, looking at the food as he picks it up. Her thoughts don't echo his in the respect of wastage, the thought of low supplies and rationing is the last thing on her mind at the moment.

"We can go back and get some more." she offers quietly.

[angel_of_death]

Some more. Fresh food does sound appealing, but Walter's sense of preparedness trumps any inclination to have at a greater supply of food than what he has already taken for his meal. But, rather than reject the offer bluntly, he offers an explanation the Draculina will hopefully understand.

"From what little I've heard about this place, there don't seem to be any steady supply lines. I'd rather not let anything go to waste if I can help it."

The bits of food successfully collected once more back into the saucer, Walter returns to an upright stance.

"But I will... let you help me."

[ooc: Want to make a log to play out their time in her room? We could make it open to her roommates, to make it interesting.]

[bloodthirsts]

Seras looks at the food, wondering if it's particuarly hygienic given how long this place has been empty. Then she takes a moment to think a little more, of Walter, where he's come from, rationing. He's from a time where wastage was literally criminal and besides that, he is actually right about the supply issue.

"Alright." she nods her acceptance. "Come on then, there's a sink in my room, we can give it a rinse off from any muck."


[ooc: That sounds swell :) let's do it]]

[angel_of_death]

Hygiene is something that does concern Walter. Who knows what sort of illnesses-in-waiting could be dormant in the dust of this environment? But even if he couldn't eat the food himself, there was still a chance it could be useful somehow.

"I think I saw a few animals around here. If I can't get it clean enough to eat it myself, perhaps it can go to feed one or two of them instead."

That all said, he waits for Seras to lead the way.

[ooc: Would you like to set it up, or should I?]

[bloodthirsts]

"That's a good idea. We'll be sure it's not wasted." She agrees, thinking privately that she'll get him some more food regardless after she has him resting.

She leads him towards the west wing of the moonbase, back to unit 196.


[[Here we go :)]]