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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.

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I am not one to charge into battle. The lack of subtlety does not suit me.

I am more of a...

[He considers which word he should use. "God" is the one at the tip of his tongue, but instead he goes for-]

Sorcerer.

[That's vague enough for now. He doesn't want to say too much too soon.]

A sorcerer with a sword? That sounds like a good strategy. [ She looks amused at the thought. That's more like a dragon than a human, combining strength and spells.

But most importantly: ] Are you human?

[ He seems really tall for a knight in training, actually. And there's something a little off about him, compared to the humans she's seen so far... ]

Might may yet prevail where my spells do not.

[He looks at the sword again...so many months of planning....such big dreams...all for this simple looking blade. He feels bitterness rise up in his throat again at having been stolen away from Latveria.]

Nay. I am not human.

Really? [ Okay, now she's interested. He's too small to be an ogre, and way too tall to be a nyphid... and with that, she's pretty much out of guesses. She leans in a little, looking him carefully up and down. ]

What are you?

[With a sly grin]

Something else.

[ What hey, not fair. That sounds like an answer that she'd give.

Feeling a little spiteful, so: ] You look human enough. The differences can't be that great, whatever they are.

Does looking human mean one is human?

[ She starts to answer, but-- pauses. Not only does that sound exactly like one of the questions her nyphid teachers would have poised to her, but she's living proof that the answer is no. She frowns. ]

...Not always.

[He hefts the sword]

...The differences are great.

[ There's a tiny smile in place, and possibly a new curiosity in the study. ]

I propose a trade, then.

Oh?

[ she's not... totally sure this is a good idea, but hey. if he's not human, he might make a good ally. ]

Share your differences, and I'll do the same.

Very well.

[People are bound to figure him out fairly quickly, anyway. He will not be keeping his godhood a secret for long, not when it can be used as leverage to get himself out of here.

[He folds his arms over his chest]

What are you?

[ Oh, no way. She folds her arms over her chest as well, mirroring him. ]

It was my idea. You go first.

Ah...I thought ladies first was the polite way.

[ Her eyes narrow suspiciously. ]

I hadn't heard that.

Where I hail from the considerate thing to do is allow the lady to go first in all things. I would not wish to put myself before you.

[A gesture as his voice grows conciliating]

You are far too lovely to be treated as a peasant.

[ Well. The compliment helps, but doesn't entirely soothe her displeasure. She frowns, giving a short shake of her head. ]

I would think of it as considerate if you went first.

[ After all, what if he's something totally useless? She's not selling her secrets for a half-ogre in a good disguise, or anything. ]

Edited 2012-10-02 18:33 (UTC)

If that is your will.

[He bows slightly]

I am an Aesir.

[ Any annoyance fades into a blink of bemusement. ]

What's that?

[His fingers flex around the hilt of his sword]

A God.

[ She goes still, suddenly watching him a lot closer. A god? That can't be right. Takhisis would never be in such an unassuming shape. She would be powerful, imposing, dominating. A dragon queen, as she was meant to be. Even Paladine wouldn't be this humble, would he?

...But, on the off chance that this actually is a god, maybe she'd better not make these suspicions of hers known. ]

That's no name I've ever heard for "god", but... our worlds are very different, I think.

Likely. There are many worlds.

[He waves a hand towards her]

'Tis your turn, now, I believe.

[ She hesitates. There's no question that a god is a useful ally, if that's really what he is. But what if he's not? What if she's giving away her secret for a convincing liar? She catches herself biting her lip between those weak human teeth and forces herself to stop, to stand up a little straighter. ]

I'm a child of Takhisis, the Dragon Queen. [ It's out like a challenge when she finally reaches her decision. ] And a black dragon, specifically.

A dragon? Truly.

[He grins again]

I hope I can see your real face one day.

(no subject)

onblackwings - 2012-10-03 07:04 (UTC) - Expand