exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Date: December 1st
Location: The Observatory.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Observatory after their initial briefings.
Warnings: None.

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, solemn and taciturn. 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, or tells you that the DITR's greeters will explain everything. On the tablet, you can find the history of this place and a record of what your new cohorts have experienced. 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; they show multiple variations of satellite images, focused on... somewhere snowy. It's difficult to say more than that, but those that record heat readings seem to suggest there are people there, where ever "there" is. It's night outside the great wide windows, and the lunar landscape isn't much to look at right now. But, hey, at least all the lights are on, right? No more creepy red emergency lighting upon arrival — not that you'd know anything about that.

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, and to the remains of Exsilium.

[[ ooc; As a note for players of current characters: please keep your root comments confined to the various groups and organizations that set up root comments to greet new characters! We highly encourage tagging around here, but since it's a log meant for new characters specifically, we ask that they be the ones to set up root threads to the entry. Thank you, and happy playing! ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And look, Victor could smell trouble. He'd survived this long by figuring out when things were about to go sideways, so he takes her look seriously.]

You're going to have to be more specific than that. People have mentioned airlocks, I don't know how seriously. But even if you got out of here, as far as I know you can't get home. This isn't just a different time, it's a different universe, whatever that means. And the transporter is apparently so hard to use no one but the Initiative people can figure it out.

[He shrugs, and although his voice stays light there's an edge of something else]You'd think people would just you know, convince [the connotation is clear] them to send us home, but that sort of suggestion is liable to get you in a lot of trouble. The people up here take their little heroes crusade very seriously.

[Too damn seriously. Look, the UE had gone this long on one Earth, the chances of them burning through all of their worlds? Let alone worlds populated by the kind of crazy people he'd seen up here? Fat damn chance. And he was willing to take chances.]

[ Her full attention is on him as he speaks, which for someone not used to interacting with such an emotive species, might be even more intense than the look she had given him earlier.

Even with her fear and her rage, she is learning; taking in the new information he offers up. She nods when he finishes speaking. ]

I understand. I will not be violent, but.. [ She hesitates. He said he was from Earth and even if she calls it her home, it is still a confusing place. Therefore, when she does reach out to touch his hand, it's a brief, soft touch. ] I must see for myself. I must see the stars of this universe.

Do you know where there is an airlock?

[At least she seems to be listening, even if it is almost frighteningly intently. She really is quite a looker though, he can't really complain about the attention.]

I appreciate that. There's people up here who're too hung up with being heroes to know their own limits.

[He doesn't know if she knows her own limits, either, but she's got a confidence that suggests she's not used to worrying about other people being injured, and not her own safety. But here? It was difficult to say if that mattered. Back home there weren't many people who really scared him. Here he tried to keep his distance.

The touch, albeit fleeting, doesn't go without notice. He files it away for later] I don't, sorry darlin'. There's been too much goddamn talk about throwing people out of them for me to be comfortable looking, either. But I do know you've got to be careful. I'm going to assume you can uh, I don't know, breath in space? But you want to make sure no one else gets caught up with you because as far as I know you'd be the only one.

[He hesitates, because he thinks he know who might be able to tell her but he doesn't really want to send her that way. As far as he was concerned they were the closest things they had to snitches in this place. But hell, she'd find out sooner or later so-] One of those ah, greeters, you know, the ones with cookies? They might be able to direct you to someone who knows.

[ She thinks of her friends back home, the Titans. They were heroes, yes, but they certainly seemed to know their limits. She misses them, desperately in that moment, her sadness heightened by the disappointing news that Victor could not point her towards even a fleeting moment of freedom.

She nods. ] I. Yes, I don't need oxygen, space is comfortable to me. I'll be careful when I go out.

[ She looks back towards the greeters, but hesitates. She's reluctant to leave behind someone who's offered her kindness in her distress. ]

Victor. What you said about people being heroes and talk of throwing people out of airlocks, what did you mean? I know we are here to fight in a war, but. [ She turns back to him, urgently. Desperate to explain to someone why all of this was so wrong. ] I was called to fight in someone else's battle. It wasn't like this, the people who found me are good, they gave me a home. They are heroes.

This. [ She spreads her hands helplessly. ] I don't understand this.

[Ah, might have upset her there. Probably should have stepped more lightly, he came here to diffuse situations, not make them worse. Oh well, too goddamn late.]

You and me both sister. You'll find out sooner or later, so I'll just tell you now.

[Not like he's happy to, lies were easier]A few of my friends decided they were tired of the people who brought us here telling them what to do, when they didn't have a stellar record of good decisions making. They've been here... a long time. They tried to deal with it, maybe not in the smartest way, but they weren't trying to hurt anyone. Things got heated, and things were said. Threats were made. They eventually gave up and got locked up for their troubles. Now we're back in the same damn place we were.

I don't know about your fight, but I don't think these people are heroes. I think they're just like any other goddamn leaders who don't care about the people they send into battle. And me? I did my duty, got it over and done with. I sure as hell didn't ask for this place.

[Hell, he didn't mean to dump that on her. But it's true and he doesn't really- can't talk to Chloe or even Charlie about it. Too suspicious. Hell, he wanted to go home.]

[ She listens, of course. She's learned that when Earth people speak with even honest emotion, it is always important to listen. It was different from Tamaran, different from her. ]

I'm sorry. [ But that seems like such a small thing to say. She steps closer and sets her hand on his shoulder. It seems like the sort of contact that is allowed. It must be allowed, at least in times like this when they're both lost and angry. ] I would free all of us, if I could. It should not seem so impossible when they haven't even put me in chains.

[ At least not yet... She is not a pessimistic individual, but the thought comes to her all the same and it chills her. ]

[And that's a very kind and earnest thing to do and it throws him off his game entirely. Because it's what a kid would say, really. Sweet. Too sweet, really.]

I appreciate the offer, but do me a favor, huh? I know it's a lot to ask, but whatever you're planning, don't just run in guns blazing. This place is a powder keg. I'm not telling you to sit on your hands or anything, just take a little time to get the lay of the land.

[It might turn out that this girl's strong enough to take out whoever comes at her. He wouldn't be surprised at this point. But even if she could, the situation was- hell, complicated. He didn't understand the whole time travel thing himself, but he didn't doubt it could go incredibly wrong.]

Speaking of, have you looked around to see if anyone you know is here? A lot of people find their friends or family, in some form or another.

[ She nods, entierly solemn at his advice. Perhaps the Titans would be surprised to see her holding back, but this place is just so different. There is not easily identifiable enemy here, no way to tell who she should lash out at. ]

I will remember what you have told me.

[ And then like turning on a light, her entire being brightens. There is a touch of uncertainty lurking in the corner, a whispers of what ifs, but it's largely dimmed by the hope beaming out of her. ]

I- No, I haven't. I could barely think before you spoke to me, I was so angry. Do you think they could be here, Victor? My friends?

That's all a fella can ask.

[And the suggestion seems to do the trick. At least she wasn't talking about chains and airlocks anymore. He's going to feel a little bad if he's wrong but-]

Could be. A few here have a friend or two. Me included. [It's almost the truth] If you ask around, check out the network maybe, you might find a familiar face.

[It didn't actually apply to him, but he was used to being alone. And he was someone else's familiar face. Almost the same thing.

He smiles]Hey, it can't hurt to try, right?

[ She nods, looking at least a little more at ease now that she has some course of action. ]

No, it can't. Thank you, Victor.

Yeah, of course. Be careful out there kid. I'll see you around, eh?

[And that was that. She seemed calmed down enough and there wasn't anything else he could offer her. Hopefully she'd find an airlock and not any trouble.]

Yes. I would like to see you again as well.

[ She offers him a smile. It's not quite as bright as her normal ones, but it's warm. ]

But my name is Koriand'r. Not kid.

Coriander? [He might be forgiven for mangling the name. He's not chef but he thinks it's a spice? He smiles.] So, not kid, huh? Well, I'll remember it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only