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

[stillstands]

... [Good question. Aesthetic, maybe?]

Metal is pretty durable, so that might have something to do with the amount of it here. But where I'm from it's not a hugely common building material either.

[challengesfate]

Oh, so it's...not normal everywhere. That's good.

[Because it sure as heck isn't normal where Lucina's from.]

I mean...it's a relief. But then, why would we need to be someplace that must be durable enough to need so much metal?

[stillstands]

Not like this. Buildings made complete of metal are uncommon. They might have parts of them built with metal, or supported by a metal frame though.

[Hmm. Isn't that the big question.]

That's why I mentioned sci-fi. It looks like futuristic stations you see on those. Ones that are drifting in... [Ah.

Ahhhhhhhhh. Hold up she's running to one of the windows to actually take a look outside.

Ah]

... space...

[challengesfate]

...Space...?

[I mean. There is...awareness of space as a concept. Personal space, open space, cramped spaces...but when you're just using the word "space", you get a young woman looking at this teenage girl in a sort of blank confusion.]

Isn't that...just the sky at night?

[stillstands]

[Don't logic loop her, you're technically right...!]

Well... yes, but it looks like we're in it. There's no horizon or landmarks, just...

[She really didn't expect this. Kidnapping? That was weird enough. Worrying enough. But this is...]

Space. Outer space.

[challengesfate]

[No horizon, no landmarks? Hold on, we're going to look at this and then probably block out how impossible it is when Chloe comes over and tells her not to look out the window.]

That's...no, that can't be right. Surely there's some ground somewhere - unless this building is...strangely positioned.

[stillstands]

[Boy, this sure is. Unnerving.

After a moment and a real nervous swallow, Miki grabs the edge of the window and pushes herself up against it, trying to get a higher point of perspective before she presses her face to the glass to try and see if there's... something under the building? Station?? Wherever they are.

When she drops back down again, she looks a little... pale.]

I-I can't see any. There's just... more nothing.

[challengesfate]

[-Ah, she's trying to get to a better angle. Lucina tries it herself, standing on her tip-toes, but...]

...Perhaps...what's holding us up is thinner than this building?

[When in doubt, denyyyyyy]

[stillstands]

[C'mon Lucina, you're taller than her!! Use that height to your advantage!]

Wouldn't we be wobbling if that were the case...? It wouldn't feel so balanced.

[Srry 2 say.]

[challengesfate]

You could use support beams to keep things balanced. Buttresses and the like.

[Yes Lucina, there are flying metal buttresses underneath the space station. Of course.]

[stillstands]

That still doesn't explain the... [God, just look at it.] nothing out the window. There should be skylines, buildings, something.

[challengesfate]

It...could be a very isolated area? And we could be incredibly high up.

[stillstands]

Darkness wouldn't go that far down. There's... an end to it. Surely you'd be able to see something...

[challengesfate]

...You would be surprised how dark a night can become, under the right circumstances.

[But...Grima can't be responsible for this. It can't. What evil dragon makes metal prisons in the sky?]

[stillstands]

... ...

[She. Really wants to believe that's true, but.]

I... guess we'll find out in the cafeteria, when he time comes....?

[challengesfate]

...I suppose we will.

[Miki don't make her take you into future!Ylisse.]

[stillstands]

Yeah.

[... She sighs.] And whatever else they want to tell us.

[challengesfate]

...What else could there be?

[Hi guess who hasn't learned about touch screens yet]

[stillstands]

... Have you not checked what's on the computer yet?

[well, luckily someone here can help her out. And make things 100% worse when she gets to read what's on there.]

[challengesfate]

[There's a pause, and Lucina sighs - mostly to herself.]

I don't know what that is.

[This is getting to a ridiculous point, but it's true.]

[stillstands]

[Look.... Lucina didn't get televisions or movies, she's not about to try explaining computers as well.]

Okay, um. Do you mind if I bring up a couple of screens I think you should read?

[challengesfate]

Um...no. I don't mind at all. [There's a pause.] I...do know how to read, just. To clarify. I am starting to feel rather foolish...

[stillstands]

No, it's fine. Just... it might be easier than explaining everything now, like you said.

[She's just going to... tap a few options on the screen and bring up the mini-map, profiles and rules for her.]

... I think a lot of us are going to have questions about rule seven.

[challengesfate]

[The profiles she'll look at in-depth later, the map makes enough sense for now. It's the rules Lucina lingers over, making sure to keep in mind the things that she is now expected to heed.

Sleeping in no place other than what's apparently now her bedroom? Not a problem, it's an actual bed, which is better than the ground. No tampering with the device now on her arm? Less than ideal, but the actual ideal would be to not have it at all. The mention of Overseers makes her brows knit slightly - so there were more than just the captured people here? - but lastly, she lingers over rule seven, her face falling into a grim expression.]

...Then, at least, I won't be alone in asking. [She meets Miki's eyes.] Truthfully, it is imperative I return home - but I cannot accept such a price as my only means of escape. I doubt anyone else here would, either.

[stillstands]

[Miki stands back, waiting for Lucina to finish reading over the rules - and she can see the exact moment that Rule 7 is read. Her face probably did something similar when she first read it, it seems almost... impossible?]

Right. [She doesn't look away, but does folds her arms around her herself a little tightly. There's... nothing wrong with Lucina's statement - it's entirely reasonable and actually a little reassuring to hear her say she wouldn't dream of killing to escape. But words are words, and she's missing something very important.] But you wouldn't be the only one who needs to return home, and fast.

Don't just... [How does she put it?] dismiss it because you wouldn't do it personally. Desperation can do extreme things to a person. I don't want to hurt anyone either, but how can either of us speak for everyone else here?