[ open ] Welcome to Chile, Cadets.

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Characters: ALL.
Location: Valparaíso Shatterdome, Chile.
Date/Time: February 15th-28th.
Summary: The first shipment of recruits into the new Jaeger Academy program arrive. Some are staggered throughout the month, but they all have the same basic greeting. Here you are, there's where you sleep, here's what you wear, get going.
Additional Notes: See here for additional information. For information on the current weather, check out this link.

The Shatterdome didn't look futuristic, swatches of metal and concrete transforming a portion of the harbor into five enormous bays. Nevermind that only two were currently in use. The stark greys stand out against the colorful face of the city, a hulking monolith that's been carved into the face of the city that had once upon a century been termed the Jewel of the Pacific.

Note: Players are welcome to start their own interactions outside of the three main prompted scenarios. Go wild!

Comments

partycrasher incoming soonish. feel free to mess with tagging order as it strikes you

[counterattacked]

Considering the amount of elbows-on-table going on, fancy party this sure ain't. But it's all a matter of perspective—in some ways this is more exclusive than the highest of high society. Besides, fancy parties are overrated when humanity is at stake, and at least most of the people here understand that. The young woman that takes the seat across from him is maybe a few years older than Eren and his friends, clearly one of the new cadets. With a personality that can suddenly swing about as far from "sparkling" as you can get, making friends has never been one of Eren's strong suits. But he's not actually a bad guy when he isn't being difficult, and he's been in an exceptionally good mood all day. So, in return—

"Eren Jaeger," That part's easy enough. He nods to the other cadet sitting at his elbow. (The pretty girl that had been sitting at his other side has wandered off for the time being, but she'll be back before long. She always is.) "This is Armin. You came in with the rest of us today, right?"

[boomerangarrow]

Hell, Kate feels about ten times more comfortable in the Shatterdome than she ever did back home. Fancy parties were never her strong suit. She'd take a shooting range over that nonsense any day. The people here were united against the threat that's trying to take over the world. She's far better company here in her personal opinion. Which is of course, the only one that matters to her.

She nods at them both. She'd ask how old these kids are, but it doesn't really matter. They signed themselves up, so they must know what they were getting into. Kate's not exactly the type to go berating stranger's life choices. "Yeah, that's right. I saw you during the arrivals. How're you guys settling in?"

1/2!

[counterattacked]

They're definitely among the youngest of the new crop of recruits, but ask him and he'll say sixteen is plenty old enough to know what they're getting into. (Hell, if nothing else, they know what it is they're getting into better than a lot of people. What it is they're fighting.) It was hard enough waiting this long. Eren would have enlisted as soon as possible, but they needed to wait for the Shatterdome to open up and prepare to take in the recruits. But they're here now. It'll be worth it. He sets his jaw before he answers.

"We're fine. We've been waiting for this a long time," and it's partly bravado and partly earnest conviction. "Once we get started the kaiju won't stand a chance."

2/2!

[prioritized]

“If they decide to make us pilots in the first place.” Another voice speaks up from behind Eren as Mikasa wanders back within earshot. Never one to wander too far away, she was drawn back by the new face sitting across from Eren and Armin, though she doesn't offer much in the way of a greeting as she takes her seat once again. Mikasa's not the best about first impressions.

She picks up her fork, picking at the food on her plate, “We have a long way to go before that.”

[boomerangarrow]

Kate's thoughts on Mikasa are wow what a dampener. But the girl's not wrong about that. Her face twists into a determined glare. She's made it this far, there's no way she's going back now.

"Then obviously we'll just have to prove we've got what it takes." Whatever the higher ups want her to do, she'll do. Just as long as she's allowed to fight. Kate worked for her place in the shatterdome and there's no way she's letting the chance to fight the kaiju slip through her fingers. She'll work damn hard for her spot.

[counterattacked]

Mikasa earns herself determined glares from two sides as she takes her seat again, though the weight of one is hardly a new development. If she had her way, Eren would be safe and miles away from the nearest kaiju for the rest of his life, and he knows it. But running away is the last thing he can bring himself to do, whether she likes it or not. He didn't ask her to come with him.

"Mikasa—" Sharp, and the warning contained in the word seems to hold an argument all on its own. Impatient, not entirely pleasant, and untempered in a way that speaks to honest familiarity. Like close friends, couples, or—in this case—siblings. Not that they look the part on a physical level. But given the scowl he's busy leveling at her, they sure as hell act it. He huffs out a breath, loudly.

"We got this far, didn't we? There's no way in hell we'll let anything stop us now."

[boomerangarrow]

Kate's lucky, none of her family followed her here. Her dad was busy with his new wife, and her sister was never as combative as she was. If her dad had his way though, Kate would have never been allowed to join the program. Good thing she's legally an adult and there's nothing he could do about it. She won't pry into Mikasa and Eren's relationship, but she knows what siblings sound like.

"Damn right," she agrees as she takes a bite of her bread. Her dad couldn't stop her. She got here on her own merits and she's determined to stay by them.

[prioritized]

Dampener would be a pretty apt description of Mikasa right now; she doesn't look phased by the glares on both sides of the table and Eren's warning falls on deaf ears. It's not the first time they've had similar spats, really it's a fairly common exchange between them, especially once he starts talking about kaiju.

"It takes more than willpower to pilot a Jaeger," She pushes the food around her plate with a fork, giving Eren a meaningful look, "You have to be drift compatible." She doesn't know anything about this girl across the table, but she knows Eren has a hell of a lot of baggage to bring into the drift.

[boomerangarrow]

Right, drift compatible and willing to share your mind with somebody else. Kate winces at the reminder, she's still trying to steel herself for that part. But she still has three months before they really have to think about that. And that's three months of trying to build up enough trust with somebody else, it might be long enough.

"Yeah. Might as well start trying to make connections now, since it's based on trust."

[counterattacked]

Given his stiff shoulders and set jaw, he likely knows exactly what Mikasa's thinking when she says that. He's far from the only one with baggage, here. The problem is that Eren's not all that great at ignoring his, and it doesn't take an intimate familiarity with the concept to know how dangerous that kind of feedback could be.

"It won't be a problem," he insists, and he turns away from his sister to stab resolutely at the last of his dinner. Eren's tenuous hold over his emotions notwithstanding, washing out isn't an option. Not now that they've gotten this far. He tips his head toward Kate.

"So where're you from?"

She's right. Might as well start the get-to-know-yous now.

[boomerangarrow]

She's sure everybody who's here right now, has their own baggage. Some of its probably dealt with, but most of it probably isn't. But getting into a Jaeger without some way of dealing with baggage is a sure fire way to malfunction.

"New York City." Far away from any of the kaiju so far. "What about you?" She gestures at the group.