Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

Comments

[playthedamncard]

We need more information. Not theories about alien life.

[hellahighwater]

What, they are? [ ...She may have just lashed out without realizing she's a bit of an odd one out, #JustChloeThings

She pulls up the profiles again and, nearly immediately: ] Holy shit, who hates you?

[ WHAT A TITLE, GUY. ]

[stillstands]

[Oh. That's a very mundane memory... and yet here she is?]

And then suddenly you were waking up here?

[challengesfate]

[. . .]

...I...I'm sorry. I still don't understand, but...perhaps this is a discussion for another time. We are still in an unfamiliar place under unfamiliar circumstances.

[But once this is all straightened out, which surely it will be, she'd love to hear about the tele-visions and the moving pictures.]

[le_mat]

[He grins, pushing up his glasses with a knuckle to give them just the right sheen]

Oh, you caught me.

[discalibur]

No, I don't believe so? Well, I do hunt in a way, but I can't say anyone has ever called me that.

[challengesfate]

I...don't believe I am, no. Does that make it a code, then?

[If it's a code then that makes more sense, but what a strangely lighthearted thing to put to code.]

[le_mat]

[Is it suddenly warm in here? He tugs at the collar of his jumpsuit]

I... don't get along with law enforcement sometimes.

[challengesfate]

Oh...so, you touch it lightly, then?

[She watches, observing, and then...tries it herself. She manages not to flick around through half of the profiles this time, instead staying on her own! There is hope for Lucina yet.]

Ah - it works! [She smiles, the gesture small, but bright.] You have my gratitude. What is your name?

[discalibur]

That makes most of us, I believe. It's a strange situation we have all found ourselves in.

But I'm sure we'll get our answers soon enough!

[karappo]

Perhaps not...but where I am from, total virtual reality is also not...exactly something that exists, either. Not that I am saying it is impossible-

[This guy just seems so sure of what this place is that Karamatsu's struggling to argue it.]

Either way, if it were a game- as you call it- what sorts of games are you familiar with in which people are allowed to murder one another?

[keepmeinyourheart]

Yes, though we have not formally met. You refered to Noctis as "Noct", and I very much doubt someone he is not friends with could get away with calling him that. And you look younger than what I imagine his guard must be.

[Deduction!]

Now that we have met I can thank you in person for helping Pryna and being a good friend to Noctis. So thank you, Prompto Argentum. For taking care of two important beings in my life. [She gives him a bow, a more assured smile on her face when she straightens up.] I for one am glad there is someone friendly here with me.

[karappo]

[Laughs hollowly]

I do not foresee it coming to that, at least not now. We may be total strangers to one another, but it would benefit us more to work out what is going on together, non? As opposed to getting up in arms about it.

[discalibur]

Is that so? I can't believe I had no idea. Not that technological advances are my area of expertise, but even so...

How shameful that my knowledge is so limited...!

[in4apounding]

I see. I'm sorry, you just- sort of sounded like you knew what was going on?

[Do you regularly get spacenapped, sir.]

...oh! Yes. Of course, THAT holiday. I must have forgotten. [hic]

[lovecolored]

Ya got that look about you. 'Ooooh, I'm quiet and mysterious and smell like I just bathed in a coffee pot, I'm just a simple shopkeeper, don't mind me.'

[ despite what she's saying, she doesn't say it derisively. Instead she sounds a little...impressed? ]

[stillstands]

[... Okay.]

Reassuring.

[But okay.]

But alright. If whoever's in charge shows up and doesn't play fair, I'll remember to wing it.

[discalibur]

I guess it might. Not that we can appreciate that right now, but it would make this better.

[karappo]

Hm...there must be some reasoning for it otherwise. There is also a possibility that they are simply incorrect, but...I would accept a positive title over a negative one.

[Ha...ha...]

[keepmeinyourheart]

[A flaw...]

Would you be able to tell if there was a flaw in this? It seems rather simplistic.

[karappo]

[Oh good, he was just starting to get over that.]

It...it is not really so bad as it seems! It is....a u-unique title, non? No one else here has one that is as lengthy as mine!

[That's Bad though.]

[discalibur]

I see. That does make sense. In that case, I will embrace the title fully!

Champion Scorpion has a nice ring to it after all.

[why are you both like this]

[in4apounding]

You were trying to take it apart? ...I think most electronics will shock you if you do that.

[challengesfate]

[...Huh?]

Is something wrong with the title you have been given? Is it inaccurate?

[karappo]

Oh...that is alright. Neither do I.

[Don't act like you're a criminal??]