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

[quadjumps]

...This has to be a joke.

[ he's been hearing it from others, and it's just...becoming more real to him that maybe--maybe, despite what he just said, that they really are in space. ]

How the fuck did we even get here? What kind of sick shit is this supposed to be?

[hellahighwater]

If it's a joke, please direct me to the punchline. Do you see one none of us do?

[ She stands her full height, arms crossed. ]

We're in some fucked up sci-fi shit prison. That's it, that's what I got so far.

[quadjumps]

[ jesus okay ]

A prison with a cafeteria, library, and other crap.

[hellahighwater]

A luxury prison, then. Here's a tip: if it's a place keeping you against your will, it's a prison. Did you sign some waver, kid?

[quadjumps]

Holy shit--I'm not trying to fight you on this, okay? I'm just saying how fucking weird everything is and how none of this make sense. That's literally it.

[hellahighwater]

You sure seemed pretty fighty a minute ago, so how am I supposed to know? [ Her edge softens a little. A little. ] Go in guns blazing at everyone and you're gonna get yourself hit. Alright?

[ she's aware this is a little hypocritical but also she kind of has a bit of self-control. ...maybe. ]

[quadjumps]

That's just how I am. [ fighty by default or something. ]

I'm just as pissed off as you are. I'd fucking tear them a new one if it weren't against the rules. What are we supposed to do?

[hellahighwater]

Well, you've gotta pick the right people to be fighty at. And right now, that's not the other confused shits like me walkin' round here.

[ ...is she- is she offering him advice-- ]

Even if we can't lay a fucking finger on 'me, save all that anger for the assholes in charge of this murderstation.

[ She says this but the moment she sees there's a cop here, she's going to direct her anger there. ...so you know, good job, chloe ]

[quadjumps]

They're fucking cowards for making that rule.

[ capture them and then say they can't lay a finger on their overseers? he's not surprised, but fuck that noise. ]

[hellahighwater]

Of course they are. Assholes have to have their fucking insurance...

[ It does feel better bitching about this with someone instead of at them, for once. ]

[quadjumps]

[ seriously, though. yuri's been pretty combative with most people but it admittedly does feel nice to be in agreement with someone. ]

Any guesses on why they're keeping us here? I say it's for some kind of experiment.

[hellahighwater]

An experiment or someone just gets their rocks off on people fucked up and at each others' throats. Some masturbatory sicko thinking murder's the next best thing since sliced bread.

[quadjumps]

God--

[ that second thought is just. holy shit. he doesn't even want to acknowledge that that could be a thing, but it very well might be. ]

What a sick, twisted bunch of fucks.

[hellahighwater]

You can say that again.

[ ...Uggghhhh- ]

...What's your name, anyway, kid?

[quadjumps]

Yuri Plisetsky.

Yours?

[hellahighwater]

Chloe Price.

[ It'd be easy enough just to get these off the PIP, but...that's kind of creepy, honestly. ]

[quadjumps]

[ chloe, huh.... ]

Nice hair.

[hellahighwater]

Nice attitude. Point it in the right direction and it'll get you places.

[ like into seedy bars, into debt, into a private school bathroom where you get shot,,, ]

[quadjumps]

Sounds like you're talking from experience.

[ is she really that much older than him? maybe she's just seen a lot of shit?? ]

[hellahighwater]

When all you've got to get by is your charming personality, you learn to use it.

[quadjumps]

...So what's your story, anyway? You look like you could be in some kind of rock band.

[hellahighwater]

[ She snorts. ]

No thanks, I'd rather be listening. Just a girl who likes to mosh and bake. What about you? Skinny kid who still looks like he wants to fight the world, that's an interesting combo.

[quadjumps]

I'm a figure skater. Maintaining this figure's ideal for me.

[ it helps him look more graceful on the ice! ]

[hellahighwater]

...Like, professionally?

[quadjumps]

Yup. Professionally.