(no subject)

[initiates]

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! ]]

Comments

[redsea]

So no one can ever decide it...

[ She's putting the pieces together here. ]

When people... return to their world, do they often forget this one?

[velveteened]

( she's sharp, he can't help thinking. )

Yes. Sometimes they remember when they return, like I did, but not always.

[redsea]

I see. [ She looks away, unsure of how to faze Oz now. ] Then... the strangers who have been kind to me are not strangers, after all.

[velveteened]

( very sharp. )

That's not true. ( the answer comes quick and easy ) There are a lot of people, and plenty come and go. It was only a day for me, but a friend of mine left for months once.

[redsea]

[ only sometimes, only sometimes

Kougyoku frowns. To be separated from a friends without any communication, that must have been terrible. ]

What happened?

[velveteened]

She was sent back home and returned, I mean.

( though "home" is being generous — lacie had died, but with something more to it than even that. "nothing can be buried when nothing remains," she'd said, and yet she'd returned unaware how much time has passed. )

Though I don't know why it was so much longer for her.

[redsea]

I don't really understand it, but—

When she returned, was she still a friend? Or a stranger?

[velveteened]

A friend.

( he says it on a nod, half-frowning in thought. )

But there have been people gone for much less time who come back without remembering anything. It seems like it really is random.

[redsea]

I see. [ She tilts her head away from Oz, then turns so that he can only see her profile. ] What about you? Can you consider such a person a friend, even if they have forgotten you?

[velveteened]

( there's scarcely a hesitation before he starts to laugh. )

Of course. Even if someone doesn't remember me, that doesn't mean I'd just stop caring or liking them.

[redsea]

[ Fully looking away this time: ] Then be my friend.

[velveteened]

( she may, then, miss the warm grin she gets in response to that. )

I'd be honored to, Kougyoku.

[redsea]

[ Kougyoku then suddenly turns to face him again, losing all composure as she breaks into tears. ]

Really? Ooh...! [ She can't even tell him how happy she is. She's crying that much. ]

1/

[velveteened]

( OH NO CRYING )

2/

[velveteened]

( that much...crying... )

3/

[velveteened]

( well, it must mean a lot to her. )

4/

[velveteened]

Really!

( except he probably shouldn't be standing all the way over here awkwardly while she cries )

5/5

[velveteened]

( so he reaches out to sort of pat her head while trying not to disturb the big hair thing.

nailed it. )

[redsea]

[ Normally, she'd shy away, but she's bawling so much that she can't even be bothered. Good job, Oz... She manages to say this in between sniffing and sobbing: ]

I've never had so many friends before...

[velveteened]

( luckily for kougyoku he doesn't overly question that she seems to be counting 'two people' as 'so many friends' because frankly he knows the feeling. )

See, you're already off to a great start here!

[redsea]

Yeah. [ She's still crying, but she's smiling a little. ] Thank you, Oz... I'm so happy. I'll be a good friend.

[velveteened]

( CONTINUES...HEADPATTING? )

You don't have to thank me for something like that! I know you will.