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

kitchen

[hellahighwater]

[ Chloe at some point gets bored of sitting waiting at the cafeteria tables, so she goes to look in the kitchen too, mostly to figure out if there's anything she can do to jump start this meeting they have to attend? Ugh.

She should expect to see someone in there, but she doesn't, and look what kind of someone it is! Ohh she's read the profiles by now, she knows which one this guy is.

He's the fucking cop. Just her luck. Chloe scowls and turns on heel to just leave before she's noticed, but her shoe (space shoe? spoe?) squeaks, giving her away. Betrayed by footwear. ]

puck the folice

[andjerry]

[A lot of teens don't want to talk to police, but Thomas considers himself a deputy only by the barest of technicalities and so does most of Greenvale, so as immersed as he is in the knife count Max interrupts later, his head starts up and it takes a second to recollect himself.]

You're Chloe, aren't you? I was going to start in a couple minutes if you wanted something. It's- I think we'll be here for a while.

[hellahighwater]

[ Look of mild disdain. See, she's trying, it's only mild. ]

We better fucking not. [ ...Even though she says that with less conviction than she'd like. ]

[andjerry]

I don't mean days. [He doesn't know how long he means, and he isn't ready to think about that - Miki can worry about rationing - so let's. talk a tiny bit about the obvious problem and make a weak joke and an awkward smile.] I left my badge wherever they took me from.

[that worked with Carol's friends]

[hellahighwater]

[ ...She raises her eyebrows. ]

What, do I scream delinquent that much?

[andjerry]

No, no, of course not! [he's read her profile, he knows you have Problems with people like him] I just don't know many young people who like the police.

[hellahighwater]

Maybe there's a reason for that. [ Gentle sneers. ] Stay out of my business and I'll stay out of yours, got it?

[andjerry]

That isn't what I do. [look he has to get a friend to deal with problem bar patrons by talking to them, who gave this man a badge] I don't look for problems.

[hellahighwater]

Uh-huh. Sure. Look, I'm not letting my guard down just because I'm stuck in space land, I know you cops and wannabe cops are just itching for a reason to haul off and be the big man. So don't talk to me.

[andjerry]

[that is in no way an accurate accusation, but he's not taking it personally. kids want to act like they have a hard shell when they're in over their heads, he's seen Carol do it and then crumble on him at the end of a very long night at work.]

If you want something, then I won't bother you. [He sidles over towards a corner, making the knives clearly visible to Chloe.]

[hellahighwater]

...Well. Good, then.

[ It catches her off guard. Guy's a disciplinarian, he's supposed to be pissed at her and reprimanding. She's not really interested in the knife...but she's interested in a snack. Chips? Ugh, freeze-dried. ] Bullshit.

[andjerry]

[He can't help but speak up softly so she doesn't keep breaking his concentration.]

... Miki said there might be space Twinkies somewhere in there.

[which are probably real twinkies i mean they literally last forever right]

[hellahighwater]

[ She looks slightly annoyed that he's talking to her again, but. ]

Space Twinkies? ...Fuck, fine. [ She's a girl on a mission.

[andjerry]

[and that is it on the knife count as he rolls the door closed and holds his fingers up to remind himself of the number; he isn't going to check this religiously but he'll be in here so often that he will know

he'll leave Chloe to her Spwinkie hunt, peeking out to the cafeteria, but before he goes:]

I need to warn you about something.

[hellahighwater]

[ Why she twitches and just barely turns her head, one arm digging through a cabinet. ]

Yes? What is it?

[andjerry]

I'm going to be in here a lot. If you don't want to even see me, we can work something out.

[hellahighwater]

[ This guy doesn't have a spine at all. It's...honestly starting to annoy her. ]

Oh my God, I'm not a wimp, I can handle seeing you. Fucking- just don't get in my business.

[andjerry]

I already said I wouldn't. [he's defensive now instead of taking it, pitching just a sliver more harsh] But I know how it feels when you can't stand somebody you're stuck with.

[hellahighwater]

I'm just saying- that's all. That's all you need. Get it?

[andjerry]

I know what you want. This seems bad enough without making enemies your first day. [enjoy your spwinkies]