transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 23rd, 2012.
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings.
Warnings: None.

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. "This isn't standard," she's saying, walking perhaps faster than most of the people she's dragging around. "We don't normally have so many Transports at once. Please, let me show you into the courtyard."

You pass what looks like huge gymnasiums, all with dummies and targets strewn and splayed around the room. Training areas. There are even classrooms, and a few small offices. You're rushed past a large library while the Greeter informs you that you can find almost all your information there, if you've got the time to look—and trust her, you'll have time. You don't spend a lot of time in the bank, and it's a bit of a blur of exchanges with more and more of these strangely-accented and oddly polite-seeming members of the Initiative.

Soon enough, you're in a massive courtyard bustling with all the other Transports. It's not exactly what you'd expect, and it looks more like barracks than anything—huge walls of concrete and stone, separating you from all of the hallways you'd just passed through. It's raining heavily, and dark clouds loom in the air. It's a chill cold, and there are shelters—long cloth hangings that extend from the walls of concrete to house you from the rain, but not enough. Most notably, the courtyard is filled with a marketplace. Even in the cold and the rain, there are several citizens seated at their covered booths and tables. They're selling all manner of their own handmade goods and foods, and citizens and Transports alike are traveling from one small covered shop to another in search of all manner of necessities.

The Greeter's voice has become so faint now, but you swear you can make it out in the back of the crowds as she tells you, "Good luck. Be safe!"

Her voice is drowned out by the busy marketplace, though even the transactions taking place are somewhat subdued. Nobody is overly happy, really, though most citizens can be found with smiles on their faces. It doesn't seem like they're that shocked to see you, either; even if you're not bound in tattered rags and wrapped in heavy shawls as they are. You're welcome to walk up to a shop, and find yourself something to eat—hey, maybe you'll even find something akin to a raincoat. Or, you can join the others under the coverings against the walls. Where am I? What war? She was talking so fast, and it didn't all make very much sense… did anyone else catch it all?

Welcome to the courtyard. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium.

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

They have told me much. [Enough to be overwhelming, actually, even to her. She pauses, hesitant to reveal just how lost she really is.] Have I truly no choice in the matter? None of have yet found a means to leave?

[firstroar]

[if experience has taught him anything, then:] No. If there is a way already found, no one has spoken up.

[but saying just that doesn't sit well.] Though...my time here has been very brief. Others have waited longer. I don't know how strong the effort has been to return.

[inafadingcrown]

[She purses her lips. None of this sits well with her.]

I have neither the time nor the inclination to fight another's war.

[firstroar]

[the thought is apparent, even though unsaid: i'm sorry.

he's bitter about it, and almost resigned. this isn't the first time he's been yanked around, world to world, cause to cause. maybe it won't be the last.] It's a confusing, dangerous thing, what these people are trying to do, Lady Galadriel. I don't believe they're prepared for the consequences. For having brought so many strangers here at once, for wanting to manipulate their own history.

I don't believe it will be another's war for long.

[inafadingcrown]

[His words are... reasonable. Sensible. She could see the wisdom in them. But she also knows that a less distant threat looms over her people. And she has been taken from them. The protection of Nenya had been taken from them. Would Lórien fall without her? The thought was unbearable.]

It may matter little, in the end. I have been taken my people in their time of need, forced to abandon them when they need me most; if ever I am able to return, it may well be too late.

[firstroar]

[it's a conflict all her own, but Blue can't help but feel familiarity in what she says. Naska is breaking apart under his people's feet while he barely wakes...and now he is here. and it's. not the first time. that's the thing lingering in mind. it pushes him to speak out:]

Or not a second gone by at all. [his hand settles back on his chest.] I've been taken to a foreign place in this way before. The circumstances were different, but all the same...Hundreds of people from other worlds, all drawn to one point. A machine...The reasons unclear. That much was the same. And in returning... [he shook his head.] As if I had never left at all. [which is probably a good thing in the light of her words, but he looks pained when he says it. something he pushes out of his expression, determined to keep the focus on her.]

It wouldn't be foolish to believe in that. If you can believe what I say.

[inafadingcrown]

You would offer me hope.

[She doesn't know if she can fully believe it. Not yet. But just having that glimmer there means everything. She, more than most, knows the importance of it. It may not be perfect, but it's enough. And her eyes say what she doesn't with words: thank you.]

[firstroar]

Yes. If nothing else, then that. [it kept him going for as long as this. he nods slightly, accepting the quiet response.]

[inafadingcrown]

You have been most kind to me. [And he didn't have to be, she realizes.]

[firstroar]

[it pulls a brief, faint smile out of him.]

Even if I wanted to...I don't think I'd have the power to in front of you.

[inafadingcrown]

[A small chuckle- it's half-hearted, but it's there.] Am I so frightening?

[firstroar]

[holy smokes there was supposed to be a "power to be unkind" in there wtg overtired self. LET'S PRETEND COHERENCY.

but Blue shakes his head.]

I've not felt a presence like yours before.

[inafadingcrown]

[Eh, I knew what you meant. IT HAPPENS.]

Does it trouble you?

[firstroar]

It... [...hm. he has to consider trouble. he doesn't want to offend, but he doesn't want to be false, either. his shoulders drop with an exhale.]

It frightened me. The way...[ouch, this parallel:] Humans fear the unknown. But in another way, too. [which eases the sting out of the previous statement:] I feared you were someone else I had forgotten.

[inafadingcrown]

[She's not offended in the least. In fact:] In truth, I would have thought you foolish, if it did not give you some alarm. You know more than others the potential for a gift such as mine. [But that second part... she doesn't quite understand.] Have you forgotten many?

[firstroar]

[his head shakes slightly, slowly.] If it's many...I don't know. Not yet. I've only begun to find fragments of my memories outside of...the world I originated from. [but...this shouldn't be about him. one small, quick shake of his head – like trying to shake an insect buzzing by his ear.] From what I've gathered, it's not a common effect here. I would think nothing was hidden from you like that.

[inafadingcrown]

[She frowns a little. He may think it shouldn't be about him, but it's her natural tendency to shift things away from herself. She can't help but wonder.]

I did not ask out of concern for myself.

[firstroar]

[at that, he's finally able to pull his gaze away and elsewhere.]

I don't have answers for either of us, in that respect. I'm sorry.

[inafadingcrown]

You need not apologize. You have already been of great help to me.

[firstroar]

[looking back her way, he pauses before replying.]

Then I've done something worthwhile here. I'm glad.

[inafadingcrown]

Shall I let you go, then? I would not keep you overlong.