Welcome.

[azumods]

AWAKENING. You're asleep, and the first thing you're aware of is the pulse. It comes quickly, flooding through your system and jolting you awake; the room you're in is dimly-lit but the bed you're in is soft, and while all of this is jarring you'll soon become rather aware that you aren't going through this alone. The room you're in is lined with beds not unlike the one you're in; you'll be able to hear other people stirring, coming awake as they respond to the pulse too, and... ...And it will soon become evident that whatever just happened, something is wrong. Whatever your response may be to waking up in a low-lit room full of people is going to be highly amplified, the emotion rubbing your nerves raw in a way that makes you feel like you're experiencing it for the first time, and whenever you manage to sit up, you'll feel something...strange on your head, tickling the sides of your face, and as you turn your head a little you'll catch a glimpse of an odd, synthetic-looking green. A wig...? Your clothes, too, are different from whatever you remember last (because whatever you remember last, it wasn't this room, it wasn't this place - ); they feel warm, designed to withstand cold weather, and if you throw the blankets off at any point (or even just pause to look beneath them) you'll be greeted with an outfit made of thick material that's alternating parts black and white and glossy silver, with an emblem inscribed on the chest - a G inscribed in gold and black. Whatever's happening here, you aren't given much time to dwell on it; everyone here seems about as confused as you are. There are twenty-four of you in the room altogether, and you're all going through the same thing; whatever you're experiencing, the door is closed, so at least you're experiencing it in relative privacy. For now. It isn't long before a voice can be heard, soft but agitated-sounding, as though trying very hard to not awaken everyone in the building; it sounds like a man, and you can hear his footfalls pause just outside your door as he speaks to someone else, voice soft and androgynous. "And you're sure they're gone?" "Yes, Commander." "And don't you think something should be done about that...?" "Right away, sir." With that, the man and whomever he was speaking to can be heard parting ways, one moving rapidly down a corridor and the other pausing, shifting a bit before eventually moving on himself. You have several options. I. You can sit here for a while and get to know each other, seeing as none of you know what happened. That might be a good idea, all things considered, and as long as the door remains closed there's no rush. It's the middle of the night, after all, and it isn't as though anyone is going to come looking - despite the urgent conversation outside, there isn't any alarm going off, nor is there any reason for most of the building to be on high alert. II. You can explore the building. Should you do that, you'll find several winding corridors leading to what look like dorms, with several rooms containing sleeping people and areas such as formal break rooms; exploring a little further will let you find conference rooms and other large, empty spaces that don't seem to have much of a purpose. There are signs and notices in several places referring to "Team Galactic" and its protocol, all adorned with the same emblem that's on your clothes. Some of these corridors also lead to doors that are, unfortunately, locked and staying that way; some of them lead to people dressed exactly like you, bizarre wig and all. They seem to be a little strange, however; they'll greet you, and they'll speak to you if spoken to, but they look odd and dead behind the eyes and there's not much to their answers, and asking them about preferences or any personal information will just net you a blank stare. It's going to be a long strange journey through the building, but at least you're traveling light; you don't seem to have any belongings with you - save for the outfit you woke up in and the red and white capsule attached to your belt... III. You can also pause to try to figure out what's going on with those capsules. They each contain something very important to you, after all - a creature that seems to have been assigned to you specifically. They don't seem to have anything on them indicating a name or another person that owns them, at any rate, so it's probably safe to assume it's yours. That said, something seems decidedly wrong with it - it seems alarmingly apathetic, the look in its eyes dull and resigned as opposed to alert and emotive, and while it's willing to follow you (it's almost a bit too willing to follow you, it will stay close by your side in the manner of a dog trained to heel if you try to walk away from it) it doesn't seem to be due to any sort of genuine affection. It's all very...sterile, for lack of a better term. Welcome to Sinnoh. Glory to Team Galactic. [OOC: Welcome to Azume! Feel free to use this log to get to know one another iCly; you can use the prompts given or come up with your own, though for now you're confined to the building. The Commanders are currently not present in the building (anywhere that you can find them, anyway). For now, have fun getting your bearings.]

Comments

[hesychast]

[ "My Shirou?" It's enough to allow him to catch himself, even if this situation still feels like it could spiral out of control. Some of the tension leaves his shoulders, though his eyes are still alert. His tone is more even, similar to how he first approached her when he replies, but there is a notable delay before he answers. ]

Shirou Kotomine. [ Pointedly, Western name order. ] And you are?

[heritrix]

[..........

It's a new kind of shock that flashes through her eyes, as if something struck her, but she doesn't want to show it. You'd think his response would set her at ease, and while it does on some level... She looks calmer now, but boy, are we just playing a game of "increasingly more wary of one another".]

Rin. Tohsaka Rin.

[hesychast]

[ Ah. So he wasn't entirely mistaken. The surname he recognizes of course, how could he not? But the girl in front of him....He searches his mind but finds no answers there either. Tohsaka wasn't a name that had passed through his purview in quite some time. And there was that strong reaction she had to his name too. Yes, he was right to approach her; he needed to get to the bottom of this.

Slowly he takes one step forward, not in an effort to encroach upon her space but more to get out of earshot of anyone else nearby. This is a conversation he would much rather have in private, but given well everything, this will have to do. ]

Allow me to apologize, I believe there has been a misunderstanding between us. You seem to have some familiarity with me, more than I have of you. [ His hand goes to his chest where his cross normally lays before he lets his hand drop. The more he speaks the less tension there is on his end, though his tone is authoritative even if it is colored oddly by a small smile. ] If I could reintroduce myself, I am Shirou Kotomine the overseer for the Great Holy Grail War. To my knowledge, the Tohsaka's have not been involved in the pursuit of the Holy Grail for some time now.

[heritrix]

[She allows him to move into her space, though it's clear she's still eyeing him with suspicion. Her posture is perhaps strange: shoulders rigid, tense, but no longer frightened. If he thought introducing himself as an Overseer would set her at ease, he was mistaken.

But she speaks more levelly now, even if it's only to scoff.]

Not involved? [Her laugh comes out as a harumph.] As much as it might have been in our better best interest, that's absurd. I won the Fifth Holy Grail War.

[hesychast]

The fifth...? [ A flash of incredulity flickers across his face before he reigns his reaction back in, though the smile has disappeared entirely. ]

I see. [ A beat. ] The last Holy Grail was the Third, given the events that transpired and the loss of the Greater Grail. Up until now, there has been no need for an Overseer following Risei Kotomine. Of course, there were imitiations....

[ But his tone suggests that he doesn't wholly believe the latter is the case, as he lets himself trail off lost in thought. ]

[heritrix]

[Loss of the Greater Grail? ...Ah, she thinks she gets it now.

Despite the fact Shirou's claim clearly contradicts hers, Rin merely raises her chin for now.]

A relative of yours?

[Indicating Risei, of course.]

[hesychast]

My father. [ He raises his hand and brushes his bangs with a quiet sigh. After a moment, he manages a small smile. ]

Knowing that you're a Tohsaka, it's clear now why you seemed familiar with me. You mentioned the fifth war, but Risei was intsrumental in helping your family in the aftermath of the third.

[heritrix]

[She frowns again at that, but this time it's more with... uncertainty? It's the first thing he's said she doesn't actually know for sure. Honored as she considers her ancestors, she never met any of them, and the notes and knowledge they left behind for her didn't extensively cover their exploits.

Mages lean more toward academic accomplishments, after all, than they do individual bonds. She can't confirm how truthful he's being.]

I knew him briefly, when I was young. [Eventually she admits this to him.] He was a dear friend to my father. They were both casualties of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

[Yup, still insisting on there being ones after the Third. She waits to see if he's going to argue with her again before going on.]

[hesychast]

...hm, I see. [ No resistance here, but- ] Risei has since passed away, but not under those circumstances.

[ A thought occurs to him, but he opts to let Rin continue onward if she wishes. If not, he certainly has a question to ask of his own. ]

[heritrix]

[He doesn't look too broken up about it, so she reasons it must have happened some time ago. Good; she doesn't want to regret being callous later.]

Let's not dance around the subject then, yes? You and I clearly remember different things. There's overlap, sure, but the devil's in the details.

[Putting a hand on her hip, she tilts her head sharply and observes him in profile.]

For us both to stand here, whatever event caused this crosses into the boundary of Second Magic.

[hesychast]

Yes. I had thought when I awoke that this was related to the Greater Grail, and while that likely still is the case...this is unprecedented. [ There's no tension in his voice or body, the only tell that this situation isn't precisely to his liking is a slight purse of his lips. ]

I suppose I should not be surprised.

[heritrix]

I am.

[She's a long ways from trusting him, but some on Rin's hostility fades now. As much as this man puts her at ease, she wants to honestly understand what's happening to them both.]

For me, the Holy Grail War ended months ago. The city's steadily returned to normal, and there's been no incidents that could cause something like this...

[hesychast]

Ah—is that so? [ His eyes flicker to her, his expression unreadable. ] For me...the war was drawing close to its conclusion.

[heritrix]

[...hrm.]

I can't deny the Holy Grail has the power for such a thing, or the possibility a single one could have something to do with this. The presence of everyone else in this room, however, leaves room for wonder. They seem to have much less in common with us. I think we should investigate further.

[hesychast]

Yes, I doubt they are all involved. These circumstances and this garb is also odd, not to mention the creatures that seem to have been given to us. While they're clearly not servants... [ Maybe they're something similar? Shirou can't be too sure yet, there's almost too much at once to process. One thing at a time, then. ]

I believe it would be beneficial for us to talk later, once we have had time to better access the situation. There is still much I would like to speak to you about Rin. I assume that feeling is mutual.

[heritrix]

It is, yes.

[Against the way her soul is crying out, hurt and confused by just his appearance and name alone, she answers firmly.

She won't shy away from this, just because it's difficult. She won't even allow her voice to give away her reluctance. If anything, it motivates her more.]

We'll definitely meet again, Kotomine.