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

[keepmeinyourheart]

I am afraid I'm still not quite sure what the context of a state is. Those do not exist in my world. [Which is fine. It seems to be another way of saying district or territory.] But this California and the place you are from has many cities? Who governs them if they are a United States?

[hellahighwater]

[ Ugh, she's doing her best but she hates talking about politics, it's a sucky conversation. ]

A whole bunch of people, one dude's the President and then there's a whole Senate under him? Shit like that. Each city's got a governor or a mayor and each state's got people in the Senate... It's a whole system, but please, don't...ask me about it in depth. Please.

[keepmeinyourheart]

[.........]

That sounds as if it would be a disaster in the making.

[hellahighwater]

The US government can be a shitpit sometimes, can confirm.

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Why do people keep swearing???]

Aside from the faulty leadership, is it a pleasant place to live?

[hellahighwater]

[ IT'S JUST HOW SHE WORKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE'S PISSED GURL ]

...Some places in it probably are. Not my hometown, though.

[keepmeinyourheart]

[The Oracle does not swear, even if the situation demands it.]

Can you not leave?

[hellahighwater]

What, with no money, no contacts, and no way to keep my mom from having a heart attack and sending my step-prick after me? ...It's funny, I'm a little hesitant to jump at it.

[keepmeinyourheart]

So it's just as difficult there... [She shakes her head, chiding herself for that though.] It seems we both share that unfortunate lot in life.

[hellahighwater]

[ ... ]

Life's a bitch and then you die. That's how it goes, isn't it?

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Chloe, in the future, when she regains her memories, Luna will let you know just how right you are.]

I agree... But what we do along the way is what matters, is it not?

[hellahighwater]

You sound like some kind of self-help book. [ ... ] Or...Max, actually.

[ That... She shrugs. ]

Yeah, I guess.

[keepmeinyourheart]

A self-help book? [She tilts her head at that.] The Max here, or another Max?

[hellahighwater]

...Another Max. My Max.

[keepmeinyourheart]

.... Is she kind?

[hellahighwater]

Yeah. And she's the kind of girl you want on your side when everything goes sideways.

[keepmeinyourheart]

Have you told her this? That you appreciate her?

[hellahighwater]

Yeah. ...I- I think she knows.

[keepmeinyourheart]

I'm glad. Everyone should know that someone cherishes them dearly.