exsilium | 001; voice -> video

[The entry begins with a quiet sigh, apparently unconscious but no less heartfelt because of it. First a relocation to some post-apocalyptic/cyberpunk/dystopian locale (it's difficult to fit Exsilium into a single box and he feels no inclination to), then told he's to fight a war he has no interest in joining (doesn't he have enough to worry about already?), and then the revelation that yes, yes he should in fact care about this revolution (life is never easy), and honestly, is it any wonder he's beginning to feel tired? Either way, this introduction has long since been forthcoming. He's wasted enough time absorbing the information; now is the time to act upon it.]

Exsilium. Latin, if I'm any judge. Easy enough to guess its meaning.

[A pause, and although it isn't visible, he's shaking his head. Now is not the time to muse.]

Where are my manners? Lelouch Lamperouge, student, although if we're to be working together in the capacity the information I've heard and read suggests, I ought to be more direct: I am a rebel, a leader, a commander—a strategist, if you're looking for a more—

...and also a silly boy.

[Said "silly boy" falters, obviously thrown, then after a second or so of silence—]

C.C, what are you—I told you not to—!

[ There are muffled sounds on the other end of the feed, the jostling of the tablet's camera, a flicking of a switch, and flashes of green hair and violet eyes before it comes to center on a pale, slender woman with an entrancing gaze. ]

What he means to say is that we're looking for assistance.

[ There’s an aggravated sigh from off-camera, practically a huff, and without a care for how it might interrupt the flow of the entry now, Lelouch mutters, ]

I was getting to that. If you could have just waited—

It's not important. Weren't you supposed to bring me a pizza an hour ago? Where is it?

Witch, I told you, I—

[ A loud yelp, and now C.C. is addressing her audience as a whole. ]

Call me C.C. I'm this one's [ a jerk of her head ] partner. You may contact either one of us if you've need of anything.

You're an embarrassment.

Likewise.

((ooc; Joint intro with Lelouch in purple and C.C. in green. Lelouch has also changed his visible name thing (I am the most technical) to "Lelouch Lamperouge" rather than "Lelouch vi Britannia" and will continue to do so until further notice. C.C. has no actual name, but will show up as "C.C." Expect both to be replying, but please do specify to whom your character is replying if you have a specific preference. Do note, however, that either or both may or may not be looking over the other’s shoulder during responses. Because. What is personal space. Yeah. And yes they are rooming together. Thank you!

ETA: Oh, and responses may come as a 1/2 and 2/2 because of the dual nature of this intro with 1/2 probably being Lelouch and 2/2 probably being C.C. Depends on who's faster.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...internal sigh.]

The Initiative's main flaw is that they can't do anything well on their own. They send us back in time to fight a battle for them. Then when we come back something has gone wrong, typically requiring further action on our parts to restore the balance. After that we're kept in relative comfort until the next battle.

That's... about it.

[Unlike C.C., Lelouch is above elbowing or shoving his accomplice when she displeases him, so while Kanaya speaks, he ignores the witch. This is the sort of information he'd been looking for anyway, and when the troll finishes, he nods.]

In short, while they have the means to bring us here and house us, they rely on us almost exclusively to see their battles won. Can you give me examples of ways things have "gone wrong" in the past?

[He does have access to the records, of course, a) this is faster and b) he can't ask records questions.]

[ C.C. doesn't add anything to chime in, sprawling out on the nearest couch instead, but rest assured, she's listening. Feel free to tag uninterrupted for awhile, she'll assert herself back into the conservation if she so desires. ]

We went back in time to the Earth country of Russia and fought a battle there, but one of the Initiative's members left an item behind that alerted the United Earth to our presence in the past. Upon our return to the future they had concocted a punishment for us in the form of monsters literally tearing apart the entire island. We had to defend the Initiative from the monsters until they could go back in time again to recover the item.

... Hn. So the problems tend to arise from their incompetence, not ours? That's not very reassuring.

{After all, if these people were supposed to be their leaders... but perhaps this had been the exception? And he's not even going to get into examining how the time travel factors into all of this, it's giving him a headache already.]

Yes. There's a surfeit of leadership, resulting in most transports thinking they could do a better job and proposing as much, getting half a dozen supporters before the movement fizzles out entirely. It only factionalizes the army further. Don't do it.

[She doesn't know that Lelouch is... Lelouch... yeah...]

[He is insulted, insulted by the implication. Actually, no, just a bit amused, which shows in the faint smile he wears, but surely that's no reason to worry, right?]

Unification does seem to be the preferable option. At the very least, imposing some form of organization on the existing forces can't hurt. Is there any sort of hierarchy in place?

Not really. The Initiative's administrators are a largely inaccessible body, and only sometimes issue mandates such as our trips back in time or our weekly training. I don't een know myself if they have an internal hierarchy.

What about the Transports? Are we just a ragtag bunch or have any of those would-be leaders you mentioned made any sort of headway?

The leader recruitment cap rests squarely at no more than a dozen. We're a group that works in unison and effectively when the Initiative does provide orders - aside from the item accident, the Russia mission was a complete success - but Transport-created armies have actually found confict with each other.

... And no one from the Initiative has decided to step forward and clean up that mess, either. Great.

[This is as bad as the state Japan's terrorist groups had been before he'd stepped in. No, it's worse; here he'd be dealing with who knows how many other super-powered, super arrogant would-be leaders, not to mention whatever grudges they'd carried with them from their own worlds. Again, what a mess.]

In essence, it's going to take a miracle for us to work as a cohesive whole outside of missions. Is that what you're saying?

[Exactly that.]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. I've observed one or two miracles in my time and those are what would most precisely fit the bill.

That's all the information I require, then. Thank you for your cooperation.

So in other words, that will be all... [...?]

Unless there's more you feel I ought to know, yes.

Um... don't be distressed when you discover people you know with different sets of memories from yours; and if that does happen, insist firmly from the outset on leaving the future in the past. That's my best advice. Goodbye.

[Hangup.]

[That's. Not entirely the farewell he'd been expecting, but given that there hadn't been much else to ask, he'll let it slide. After all, she's given him a lot to think about.]

[ ...glancing back over at Lelouch, blinking. ]

What was that all about?

[He leans back in his seat, shrugging.]

I think I offended her.

[Guess who doesn't care. Go on, guess.]

[ Wandering on over to him, leaning against his armrest. ]

Get anything useful out of her?

[ Guess who wasn't really paying attention. Go on, guess. ]

A few things.

[Annnd because he doesn't feel like explaining to her, here, running back through the conversation and playing it for her. You listen to it.]

[ Thanks. Still snatching up the tablet, though, and sprawling out over your legs now as she does so, listening to the playback. ]

She's a bit funny looking, isn't she? Quick-tempered, too. Like someone else I know.

[More or less used to this by now, so go ahead. Damned dead weight.]

I'm not quick-tempered.

I wasn't referring to you.

Kallen?

001; voice -> video

IT'S OKAY YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME THAT WAY...

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video forever and C.C.'s just in the background now

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narration that is probably entirely unnecessary Idk I'm sorry about him he's a dick

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APPARENTLY ACTION forever

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