cycleofages | ARRIVAL LOG

Who; EVERYONE!
What; The new residents of HQ make their arrival!
Where; All unrestricted areas of HQ (and maybe some restricted areas, you naughty people)
When; July 24th, Mid-morning on
Warnings; None as of yet, can be changed if content changes

IT'S A MINOR BLIP IN TIME
Maybe you were showering, or sleeping, having breakfast. You might have been participating in your morning commute or fighting off a horde of zombies.

Whatever you were in the middle of, a strange sensation of disconnection comes over you, as though you're watching your life on screen, a passive audience to the proceedings. It's almost like, well, being sucked down the drain like every adolescent nightmare, the feeling of disconnection replaced quickly with a pain so deep, it's as though every atom of your being is pressed too closely together, and your vision goes dark. Then, just as quickly as the pain came over it, it's gone, reality snapping back into place like a stretched rubber band.

WELCOME TO NEW YORK CITY

When your eyes adjust, you find yourself in a slightly spartan room, standing on a platform that seems to be made of glass or some sort of crystal. Energy currents in blues and greens swirl within it, dizzying and hypnotizing if stared at for too long. You're shocked from the vision by a cheery, bubbly voice that belongs to a petite brunette grinning at you from the base of the steps that lead down from the platform. She apologizes for any inconvenience you may have been caused, and hands you a small package, explaining that inside you'll find a phone, a directory of locations within the complex you've arrived in, a charge card with a balance of $500, and a key to a room in the dormitories which can be reached by following the green line on your directory.

She apologizes again for how confusing this must all be, but assures you that everything will make sense soon!

OOC NOTES: Feel free to hit up any of the NPC starters, start your own threads under any of the locations provided, or start your own threads independent of the starters! Prose or brackets are welcomed! Once characters leave the Receiving Room, they will have full access to the Network, and you're free to post there as well!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

More than just another place to explore, Rogue was drawn to the cafeteria because it reminded her of home. The actual space looked nothing like the dining hall at the mansion, and she was sure the kitchens would be quite different as well, but it was the feel of it. Everyone coming together, life convening in one space with a shared purpose. If nothing else, she'd be able to remind herself what it was like to be around other people.

The only problem? She wasn't hungry. No matter how long she stood there examining the menu posted on the sign, she couldn't decide on what sounded good, because there was no pleasure in eating anymore. But she couldn't just stand there, so in she went, looking around the room and feeling rather... lost. At first glance, she didn't recognize anyone there, and why should she?

There were tables, and a counter. Right. She needed something so she didn't look completely out of place. Approaching the counter, she asked the man behind it, "Could I maybe just have a cup of coffee?" There was hesitation in her voice, and if he cared to notice, he'd see that she was clearly exhausted. It had been one hell of a long day.

The older werewolf knew something of that haggard expression. It was someone near if not at the limits of their emotional and physical endurance. He smiles kindly, nodding and motioning to a seat at the bar.

"Sure thing, kiddo. How do you take it?"

Kiddo. Lord, for a second there he almost reminded her of Logan. The thought sent a spike of emotional pain right through and she winced slightly before taking the indicated seat.

"Just black, please." Normally she'd have it with cream or sugar, but it had been so long and she was so tired. Black would be better, it would help keep her alert a little while longer.

He sets out a mug and fills it up. "Girl after my own heart." His expression turns sympathetic as he goes about wiping down the counter nearby.

"Look, I don't know where you came from, and I know you don't have any reason to trust me, but I can assure you this place is safe, and we'll do our best to find you a way home."

Rogue wrapped her hands around the mug and nearly sighed at the warmth that immediately began to seep from the porcelain to the cotton gloves she'd borrowed from Airy. She could see that sympathy written in the older man's expression and she just... didn't know what to do with it.

"Thank you," was her immediate, instinctual response. Southern manners would forever be ingrained in her. But going home, that was something she couldn't even begin to wrap her head around. Would she wake up as she was supposed to, in a new life with no memories of the war? Or would she be right back in that mountain temple, watching the Sentinels about to kill them all for simply existing.

And could any place really be safe for her?

After blowing on the steaming coffee for a moment, she took a cautious sip and really did sigh as the taste of it hit her tongue. Oh, she'd missed this, so very much.

Gus nodded at her show of gratitude. Most people in this city were assholes. He'd raised his family in a small town in upstate New York until, well, that wasn't important. There was a sense of community in a place like that. Here? It was every man for himself. Maybe he felt that sort of connection with this girl.

Or maybe it was the obvious sharing of trauma. He didn't spend much time thinking about it.

"Don't mention it, kiddo. It's what I'm here for. Everybody's gotta eat, right?"

Rogue remembered what it was like to be part of a community, to always have each others' backs. It was a distant memory though, tarnished by what had come after. By being left behind.

"Right," she agreed quietly, staring down into her mug. After a few moments, she looked back up at Gus and hesitantly asked, "Do you need any help? Here? I... like to keep busy." And it seemed like she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Gus smiles at the question. He's not going to argue with the girl, and if he were honest, it was the same reason he'd agreed to run the dining hall in the first place. To keep busy.

"I can always use an extra hand or twelve around here. There are a lot of mouths to feed, and some of them eat more than others."

The way he described it sounded just like the mansion. She felt a pang of homesickness and grief, because that home was long gone for her.

"I know how that can be," she commented, taking another sip of coffee. "I used to teach at a boarding school and I helped out in the kitchen a lot. I can do just about anything you need... though I might be a little slow at first," she admitted quietly, almost as if she were ashamed of the fact. "I don't have much strength right now."

"Well, you know, you could start by actually eating something. That'll always get your strength up."

He smiles, friendly. "We're...a big community of orphans, really. We're not just going to kick you out, and I'd love the help."

Rogue gave him a small, sheepish smile at the comment about eating something. She knew she would have to before long, even something small - she was too thin and she needed to nutrients. But after three years of hardly eating anything... well, she had to actually think about things like chewing and swallowing, and that didn't make for a pleasant meal.

A community of orphans. Lord, did that sound familiar. "Thanks. When should I start?" Because it wasn't as if she had a busy schedule at the moment.

Gus smiles, truly appreciative of her offer, and her earnest desire to get started. He shakes his head.

"Tell you what. Why don't you spend the next week or so getting your bearings, and come see me next week?"

A week. It sounded manageable, but long. She could do it, though, and she'd be just fine.

"That sounds good," she agreed with a smile, finishing off her coffee. "And this coffee is amazing. Really."

He smiles at her reaction, nodding in satisfaction and appreciation.

"I've had a lot of practice, kiddo."

ARRIVAL LOG - First Wave

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus

CAFETERIA | NPC: Gus