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

[newcycle]

[well she's going to be in the hallways, staring at rule 7. That-- what? That didn't sound right. In fact, that was one more thing that seemed completely off about this setup. The other being-- how the heck did she even get there?? She'd been about to give herself up to save the airbenders and now...]

Oh no-- I-I have to get back...!

[Later, in the bathrooms, she's going to be marveling not at her orange jumpsuit, but at her hair. How did it get so short? She certainly remembered having long hair. But this is.... hm. It didn't look bad, but... did anyone else get a haircut?

Finally, Korra finds herself staring at the espresso machine.

What is this weird technology? Help her out, wise ones.]

HIS TIME HAS COME

[dejabrew]

[This was a sour awakening, but there’s coffee. Thank god there’s coffee, and...someone who looks way out of her depth.

His customer service instinct kicks in first.]

Can I help?

HELP HER SHE DOESNT KNOW HER ESPRESSO FROM HER POUR

[newcycle]

Uh-- Sure? I mean, be my guest. Just... one thing...

What is this?

[dejabrew]

It’s... [He’s not sure what part she needs explained, here.] It’s an espresso machine. It’s a way to make coffee.

Want me to make you something?

[newcycle]

[start with "coffee", because the look she gives makes it pretty clear she still has no clue what any of this is]

Sure. I'll try anything at least once.

I'm Korra-- do you... live... here?

[someone hasn't looked st the profiles yet.]

[dejabrew]

Me? Haha, nooo, I’m still half expecting HAL 9000 to speak up any time now and tell me this is all a bad dream.

I’m Bolton. According to this thing, [he raises his arm to show off the slightly clunky device] I’m the ‘Champion Barista.’ Which, you know, means this.

[His movements are practiced and fluid, making it look as easy as a circus performer makes the high wire. He pours milk into the steaming pitcher, grinds the beans and tamps them into a flat puck then clicks that handle back into place, starts steaming the milk, and then starts the shot pulling, getting a cup and mulling for a few seconds over which syrup to put in before he selects a basic vanilla and then adds half a pump of lavender as well. The result is floral and fragrant and warm, and when he pours the milk over the espresso he takes the extra time to draw an intricate leaf in the foam on top of the latte before he presents her with the mug.]

Hallways

[in4apounding]

Get back where, miss?

[Have a small ginger girl who's just as confused as you, Korra.]

...Do you know how to get 'back'? Does that mean you know where this is?

[newcycle]

Well... no. I just know this isn't where I need to be!

[oh no how do you explain what was happening? Korra wasn't sure. It's not like it was in the news...]

Do you know where "here" is?

[in4apounding]

Oh.

[Deflating just a little bit.]

No. This definitely isn't where I'm supposed to be, either. And my weapons are gone.

[newcycle]

[wee woo wee woo weapons? that just reminds her that rule 7 is a thing, and she has no clue why. Uh. But-- she's not worried. Not yet.]

So, wait, are we all not supposed to be here?

[in4apounding]

[Why are so many of you from places where weapons aren't the norm, it's weird.]

Probably? I haven't talked to everyone, but no one I've talked to so far knows what's going on yet.

espresso machine

[quadjumps]

[ yuri's investigating the cafeteria, making note of whatever's available. well....at least they've provided food, whoever their captors are. he looks over at the machine, and waits a few seconds for this girl to get out of his way. but she's just....staring. how annoying.

so he's going to shove his way past her, over to the mini fridge, without a word.

RUDE. ]

[newcycle]

Ah-- hey!

[he's lucky he's already past, or she'd shove back. Instead, she folds her arms over her chest, and glowers at him]

You know, an 'excuse me' would have been nice. [Punk.]

[quadjumps]

You were blocking the way.

[ how bothersome, he thinks, not even bothering to spare her a glance and opting to dig inside of the fridge instead. ]

You were staring at that thing for way too fucking long.

[newcycle]

And?

[he still could have said something, and she's folding her arms over her chest. Don't make her get sassy.]

[quadjumps]

And what? You're the one who asked a question.

[ korra is gonna have to get sassy. i am so sorry. ]

esssssspressssso

[stillstands]

[At least there's coffee. Even if it's not her favourite drink ever, there's ... something familiar about it. Even if she hasn't seen half these syrups, which is what Miki's been focused on while she's been by this espresso machine.

She's never seen something as fancy as an espresso machine, so this? This should go swimmingly.]

Are you alright?

[newcycle]

[she makes a motion at the whole of the machine, when Miki speaks to her]

What is this??

[stillstands]

[... That's... fair. Miki only knows what this is from seeing them at coffee shops.]

It's an espresso machine. For making coffee.

[She'll take that as a 'no' on the "Are you alright" front.]

[newcycle]

[mild confusion registered, because that follows with her next question...]

Espresso? Coffee?

[stillstands]

...

[Oh boy.]

It's... [Bean juice. It's hot bean juice, Korra.] a drink. Um, usually served hot with water, and people add milk or sugar if they want to sweeten it...?

bathroom

[lovecolored]

[ oh, hey. someone else fiddling with their hair. Marisa runs a hand through her own. ]

...did these weirdos mess with your hair, too? Looks like they lopped my braid off. Super creepy.

[newcycle]

Yeah-- I normally have a lot longer hair than this!

[she missed her wolftails.]

What even was the point of that?

[lovecolored]

Hmm...

[ ...... ]

An arcane ritual that needs hair from its sacrifices?

[ MARISA COULD YOU MAYBE LIGHTEN UP A BIT ]

[newcycle]

... A what.

[hey, at least rituals aren't triggering to her yet.]