WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[Awaken.

Fifteen strangers have been gathered to the Depths.

When the strangers awaken, they will feel nauseous in their stomachs. No doubt confused. Maybe a little sick, Perhaps, even terrified. And certainly, there is a good reason for it - they are not where they were before. If they had powers back where they came from, they seem to be all gone. And it appears that someone has left...guidelines for them. All of them addressed to a specific Title.

Their Title. Somehow, each person knows, upon seeing this, this is their Title, even if it seems to make no sense whatsoever. And its clear that whoever wrote these things knew it as well. Who was it?

Its uncertain. So far, there seems to be no one else save for them, and those who dare to venture out of their rooms - save, for some reason, the individuals in rooms 1, 8 and 7 - in this hot and stuffy place. No...'intercessor' to be seen yet, certainly. No outward signs that there's anyone else aside from the people with 'Titles'.


So, Titled: welcome.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[lightnen]

...Living robots and beings similar to humans but much stronger. Your world sounds quite interesting.

[ That's something he means, for what it's worth. He thinks this other boy's world sounds quite interesting and he kinda wants to know more about it. ]

My name's Killua, by the way.

[carries_war]

I'm URTV Unit #666, but a lot of people seem to think it's too long, so you can call me Rubedo if it's easier.

[lightnen]

Rubedo's definitely easier to remember, but your actual name sounds kinda cool, though.

[ Even if it is essentially just a number and a kind of title of sorts. ]

[carries_war]

Really? All of the URTV units have numbers, but only me and the other two Variants have names, so I thought the name was cooler.

[lightnen]

Yeah I could see how that'd make you stand out from the others, but i still stand by what I said.

[ He flashes a grin at this. ]

At least you've done something cool like lead an army. I just ran away from home to get away from what my family wants me to do and I'm planning to take the Hunter Exam... or I would have before I woke up here.

[carries_war]

Yeah, but you get to go wherever you want, and see places that aren't in the middle of wars. I never get to leave the Institute except when someone wants to use us in a conflict...

[lightnen]

Really?? That sounds pretty awful.

[ He's not even being remotely sarcastic about this for once. ]

I can kinda relate, you know. My mom only used to let me leave the house when it was to do a "job". [ A bit of an eyeroll at this. There's a reason he ran away from home, after all. ] So I ran away. What's stopping you from seeing the rest of the world?

[carries_war]

A leader can't just run off and leave his men behind. If I did that, I'd let them down and be marked as a failure. And failed units get disposed of.

Besides, even if I did run away, what would be the point? I'm just a weapon, it's not like I have any real purpose outside of fighting.

[lightnen]

[ There's a bit of a pause at that, realizing how similar Rubedo's situation and mindset was to his own. He can't really give this whole uplifting speech about how there's more in the world than all that at least not yet but for now, there IS something he can say about that. ]

Whoever drilled that into your head is an idiot.

[ Short, blunt and simple. ]

You have a mind of your own and you want to see new places, right? Would a true 'weapon' have desires like that? [ He's honestly trying his best with this whole thing. ] Do whatever you want to. Don't let people tell you what you can and can't do.

[carries_war]

[He shuffles his feet a bit, for a brief moment looking very much like a normal child remembering a lecture.]

Dad...always says we were created as tools, and that we're not supposed to have our own opinions. It'd mess up our missions if we had feelings about the conflict and didn't like which side we were on.

[lightnen]

I know that feeling. Dad always told me that emotions and having relationships with other people weren't needed for what I was going to be doing, cause it'd affect how I completed my jobs.

[ A huff and he then put his hands on his hips and stood up straight, feeling a bit petulant at remembering the whole reason he ran away from home to start with. ]

I don't like having my whole life planned out for me and people telling me what I can and can't do. I think while you're here, you should do the same, and forget about what your dad said and live your own life.

[ A nod follows this and he soon then smiles with very relative ease. ]

Besides. He's not here to tell you what you can and can't think or do around here, right?

[carries_war]

He's not, but...

[It's kind of embarrassing, but this guy's his own age and not someone who looks to him as a leader, so maybe it's okay?]

I don't really know how to be anything else. The only time I've ever been out of the Institute before this is to fight in wars.

[lightnen]

Then i'll help you figure out how to be your own person while we're here, okay?

[ Spoken with such ease, his eyes were bright and held a light to them at the idea of helping someone his age come out of their own shell while sort of maybe getting someone who could become his friend. ]

You're gonna learn how to be just Rubedo. Nothin' else.

[carries_war]

A...alright! And then maybe I can go home and tell Albedo and Nigredo what human kids are like!

[lightnen]

[ That kind of response earns a bit of a soft chuckle from him but he just nods with a grin in place. ]

There you go! Let's make the best of this whole mess then!!

[carries_war]

I bet they're gonna be jealous I got to meet people that weren't Institute staff or part of a war!

[lightnen]

Yeah!! They're gonna wish they'd done that first but you beat 'em to it.