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

[challengesfate]

The...Halidom of Ylisse. [A pause.] And, where are you from?

[hellahighwater]

...Arcadia Bay, Oregon. So not whatever you said.

[challengesfate]

No, I...can confidently say it's not the same place at all.

[What's an Oregon.]

[hellahighwater]

What the hell... What in the world is going on here?

[challengesfate]

I...wish I could say I knew, but...I think it's apparent that none of us do.

[hellahighwater]

Fuck. [ She rubs at her forehead. And, as an afterthought: ] Sorry for- I don't know, judging you about spaceships and shit.

[challengesfate]

[Oh. She...hadn't expected an apology. Like, at all. Lucina pauses, her expression softening just a bit.]

...It's alright. You couldn't have known that I didn't know...and, I don't take offense.

[She's just feeling relatively self conscious about her lack of knowing anything now, though, which is super great. But still, not really Chloe's fault.]

[hellahighwater]

Yeah... Alright, super. [ At least she takes that in stride. She's apologized, the moment's done. With this out of the way- ] Now, let's focus up on how to get the fuck out of here.

[challengesfate]

Agreed.

[There's got to be some way out of here that's not murder.]

[hellahighwater]

Find any- shit, you wouldn't know what those are- anything marked "escape pod," that's like...a ticket out of here, if we can get someone to fly them.

[challengesfate]

"Escape pod" - I can certainly look for anything with that distinction.

[Gods be praised, she can read.]

[hellahighwater]

Great. You search the station for those and I'll...I don't know, find a pilot or big stick to beat up the tools who kidnapped us.

[challengesfate]

Alright...are you sure you won't need help in fighting them, though?

[hellahighwater]

Don't freak. I know how to get out of a few kinds of scrapes.

[ max caulfield screaming in the future ]

[challengesfate]

Okay. But please, don't hesitate to ask - I've fought my share of battles as well. Usually with a sword, but...I'm sure I can make due.

[All the kid unites in Fire Emblem: Awakening are also screaming in the distance.]

[hellahighwater]

Alright, alright... I guess calling for backup every now and then's acceptable.

I'm Chloe. Who're you, badass swords lady?

[challengesfate]

My name is Lucina. [But Badass Swords Lady is a cool nickname too.] I...must confess, I have never seen anyone outside of my family with blue hair before.

[hellahighwater]

...Don't hang around dye-fiends too much?

[challengesfate]

"Dye-fiends"...?

[hellahighwater]

Hair dye?

[challengesfate]

Oh! Oh...no, that's not something that's...I think it used to be a common practice for older noble women, but, there hasn't been time for that in years.

[hellahighwater]

Well, I'm so hella far from a noble woman...but you mean it? Your hair's...natural?

[challengesfate]

Yes. My brother and father's hair is the same color. It's...just something that's been passed down through my family.

[hellahighwater]

We really are from different planets then, 'cause where I'm from, that isn't possible.

[challengesfate]

...To be fair, it's not a very common color to have where I'm from, either. But if that's all it takes to believe we're from different realms, then...