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

[heritrix]

(I. waking up)

[Rin's a bit slow to wake up, but it doesn't take long with all the shouting. What's...? Even feeling addled from sleep, the unfamiliarity of the situation is as jarring as an ice cube down her back. This isn't her home, and this definitely isn't what she was wearing before. Like many of the others, that wig is being pulled right off, though she keeps a handle on it. What on earth is going on?

This is the part where she'd probably be demanding questions, but from the arguing going on, it becomes quickly apparent that no one here has a clue what's happening either. Lips pressed into a frown, Rin watches them warily before slinking off to a corner of the room, fingers tapped lightly to her temple.]

Saber. [Her voice is a whisper.] Can you hear me...?

(II. sneaking around)

[So she probably stayed around to chat a little, and presumably long enough to figure out what's up with that capsule on her belt by watching everyone else because there's now a Mienfoo by her side. She's... not sure what to make of the creature. Something about it feels empty, but it's pretty intent to stay close to her, almost on top of her heels. That raises a lot of red flags, but it doesn't seem threatening either... Well, she'll just keep a close eye on it for now. There are other problems at hand.

After stumbling onto the dorms and the people sleeping with in them, she takes some time to put her wig back on, huffing and muttering under her breath the whole time. "How did it even fit before??" Honestly, she has too much hair for this. But eventually she gets it and circles back to where they woke up, stopping whenever she finds one of the other people she recognizes were in the room with her.]

I'm taking a look around. Do you want to join to me?

2

[niceoppai]

[Chelsea adjusts her own wig and wrinkles her nose.]

These things are so itchy! But you're right, we gotta blend in. Probably, anyway. I don't know about the yelling guy.

[heritrix]

I'm surprised no one's busted in here after him already, but that's probably to our benefit for now.

[Rin fusses with her wig a little more herself, hoping it's on straight.]

If they haven't yet, that either means they're not around, or they're allowing it. Ignoring all the red flags that raises, that gives us a good chance to investigate.

[niceoppai]

Allowing it? You mean they might know about us and they're just letting us mess around while they laugh at us?

[heritrix]

I can't say anything about that, but someone brought us here. So they definitely know about us already—but in spite of that, the door isn't locked, and there are no guards.

[Rin steps ahead for the door with an irritated frown, only to half-stumble over the Mienfoo pattering by her ankles. For a breath, she looks like she might scold him... But the look he meets her with is so apathetic she just ends up sighing. She'll just watch her steps more carefully, so she doesn't trip or trample over his body.

Doesn't look like there's anyone immediately in the hallway. Rin double checks to make the coast is clear, then inches out.]

[niceoppai]

[Chelsea follows after quietly, ball in hand.]

At least we're gonna blend in, anyway.

[heritrix]

Mm. [Moving on ahead, Rin sticks close to the walls.] I'm Rin, by the way. Since we're partnering for the time being, we might as well introduce ourselves.

i

[factorization]

Saber...?

[Sounds like a name, but no one seems to be responding to the girl. Also the way she's doing that... Perhaps she's...]

Are you an esper?

[heritrix]

[Blinking, Rin snaps out of her intense concentration.]

An esper...? [She says it slowly, parroting the word back. That was an unexpected question.] Like some sort of psychic person out of a manga?

i

[hesychast]

[ All it takes is hearing that one word to snap Shirou to attention in an instant. He was still taking bearing of his surroundings (the wig long been discarded) and of all the people and strange sights and sounds—hearing such a familiar term shouldn't come as a surprise, yet it does. Was it a good or bad revelation? He's not sure, but he decides it's better dealt with now rather than later. With a small muted smile and more composure than he has any right to have in this situation, he approaches Rin. ]

No, I think any links to the outside have been severed. [ The words are innocuous enough that he can easily shrug off using this particular terminology if this turns out to be nothing more than a strange coincidence. And if this was a Master, his easy reply instead of confusion also spoke for itself. ]

1/2

[heritrix]

[This isn't like Alice with her fairly innocent question; mild as his words are, the voice behind her speaks with such understanding that Rin feels her spine wire straight.

It could be a lucky guess, but she doesn't think so. Immediately she's on guard, and turns to regard the newcomer with a sharp-eyed glare.]

[heritrix]

[...A glare that immediately falters. Her eyes widen, as round as saucers as she takes in his appearance. Whatever hostile retort that was on her tongue disintegrates in an instant.]

Shirou...?

[Voice cracking on the first syllable, small and high, she sounds unsure. Alarmed, maybe, and in disbelief. No. There's no way this is him. She knows that, but confronted with a man with her boyfriend's face and Archer's coloring, her heart is still catching up to her head.]

[hesychast]

[ That makes two of them caught unawares. He had been prepared for an unknown master at worst, or a simple misunderstanding at best. But to hear his name stated so plainly-he couldn't see hers. Did he lose his access to his set of skills as Ruler, yet she maintained hers? A Third Ruler was surely ridiculous, but-

The smile on his face falls, and his eyes narrow. ]

How do you know my name? [ He should have phrased that question more carefully, but in his surprise he misses that she only spoke his first name and not his last. ]

[heritrix]

[Okay, if anything she looks more alarmed. No, no, no. After everything—after her promise to Archer, and how hard she and Saber have tried to make a life for Emiya-kun where he can find happiness... He wouldn't. He wouldn't make a contract with the world knowing in his soul how what what he stands to lose. Would he?]

No... [Shaking her head, she seems to be saying that more to herself, bordering on emotional. But her words gain conviction, and she forces the tremor out of her voice.] No, you're not him. You're not my Shirou. Who are you?

[Her Shirou would at least remember her face... Probably. Archer forgot it for a time too, but his life was different. Even if Shirou fell down the same path and forgot her too, she thinks it would be at least a little familiar.]

[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.

I

[enjoymyatelier]

[god okay he needs to head over to a corner to see if he can actually get his circuits running at all, he feels off enough that he’s not sure they’ll do anything unexpected....

And of course, he feels wired enough that when he hears the word “Saber,” he can’t help but snap over to look at the individual mentioning the word before trying to look like he wasn’t doing anything suspicious, though he does try to get a better look more surreptitiously. She didn’t look like anyone involved in the Holy Grail War... well, not in an identical sense, anyway. He’s seen pictures of Tokiomi Tohsaka, and... well, maybe it’s just confirmation bias.

How does he bring that up, though? Hmmmmmmm. Well, it’s not like he was being stealthy in his reactions, so perhaps the girl noticed. Or perhaps she didn’t. He’ll approach if she didn’t. Besides, if he’s correct, she’s the least terrible person to see him attempting any sort of subtle magecraft, so let’s see... maybe he’ll bite his lip and try to heal it or something.

...any second now. He is trying it. He is trying so hard.]

[heritrix]

[Well!! She is going to give up after a few more minutes, shoulders sagging comically; she'd had a feeling after about the second time trying that this was going to be a lost cause, after all.

Is their connection severed? She can't activate her magic circuits or her Crest, but y'know. That's. Kinda been the norm for her lately? Saber absorbs mana as readily as she takes in three square meals. So Rin doesn't really have a better baseline to go off of here. Still, it was worth testing. Maybe things will change once she leaves the area.

Rin turns around. Until then, she should see if anyone knows—

...

There's a weird guy staring at her.

There are not word to describe the expression on her face, as Rin watches a drop of blood splash down to the floor from his cut lip. Wait, is he biting it so hard he's drawing blood? What the hell? This guy is seriously creepy.]

Ugh, gross...

[So she's!! Just going to walk away now!!]

[enjoymyatelier]

...ah.

Wait, no, you’ve got the wrong idea! Forgive me for-

[SHIT HE’S BLEEDING EVERYWHERE]

-bleeding hell, why isn’t it working...

...look, miss, are you a member of the Tohsaka family?

1/2

[heritrix]

[She's going to turn back around, making a sound like an undignified poodle.]

Geez, are you stalking me?!

[heritrix]

[—wait, he said "family". Rin's family has been, you know. Hella dead for the last decade or so, and had little in the way of family friends who didn't know about their lifestyle. So to word his question like that...

Rin still looks agitated, but her demeanor does a 180 turn at this realization. As if sensing the type of person she might be dealing with, she stands straight and holds her head high. There's a certain poise to her now, as a Tohsaka should always present.]

So what if I am?

[enjoymyatelier]

There are a few things of interest to the both of us that I'd like to discuss with you... preferably away from the crowd.

[...ah, right, he should probably be more forthright so he doesn't look too shady.]

Perhaps I should introduce myself first, though, as a show of good faith. I am Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. Perhaps you've heard of me?

[heritrix]

[She stares at him for perhaps a second too long, a question clouding behind her eyes before it's wiped clean with a blink.]

In passing. I believe I've corresponded with an acquaintance of yours; your name came up briefly when I visited the Clock Tower.

[Namely because the person she was speaking in introduced himself as Lord El-Melloi the Second. So. Not quite a lie.

Consider her interest piqued, Kayneth... For more reasons than one. Though she has the mind to confirm they're both on the same page. The location of the Mage's Association headquarters is innocent sounding enough to not turn heads, while being significant enough any mage worth their salt would catch the meaning.]

ii

[divinedescendant]

[Unwilling to get herself lost, especially not leaving the group behind in the process, Emmeryn hasn't really strayed from the room they woke up in at all—but she smiles, polite and friendly, when Rin approaches.]

I'd love to. Best that no one wanders about this place alone.

[heritrix]

[Rin smiles politely; she's not sure how social she's feeling right now given the situation, but this woman seems pleasant enough. Very proper.]

My thoughts exactly, given the situation. I'm still not sure how we got here, but if we're hostages, it's best not to give them the opportunity to capture us again.

[Rin sets to move out, pausing when she notices the Mienfoo she found staring blankly after Emmeryn and not herself, for once.]

Ah, don't mind him. He's been following me like a lost puppy, but I don't think he poses any threat. [She laughs, lightly.] At worst, you could call him a tripping hazard.