Welcome to Gaia! ::

A pod near the end of the line on the third row made a soft click followed by a whoosh and then a thump as something - or rather, someone - landed on the ground just outside of it. Unlike many of the newest waking trainees, however, this one landed on his sandal-clad feet, stretching his dark arms above his head and giving a yawn that echoed loudly throughout the room.

"Ahhhhhhhh what a strange place this is!"

A deep voice, thick with a rolling accent and alive with fascination could be heard from the row of pods. Several frizzy dreadlocks fell about the new trainee's shoulders as he twisted around curiously, blinking away the fuzziness of sleep and sweeping his hair away from his face.

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

Returning to the pod room was like waking from a nightmare. Oliver could remember all too clearly the fear that had gripped him when he first woke up, and the panic and hiding, and the complete certainty Ian was going to kill him. It hadn't ended well. But coming back and being taught about 'pod duty' took the horrible room and made it a little less horrible. It began to make sense, even though he still felt a trace of that lingering unease.

Nodding his head, the trainee was actually reassured some by Stormy's chattering. He might have long since grown out of Disney movies, but to hear her talk so happily in such an ominous, science-fiction-like room, it gave him something to focus on, something to keep his overactive imagination from getting the better of him. After all, he was pretty sure he had played a game once about space-pod zombies...

Oliver was just beginning to think this shift would pass by uneventfully, when he heard the hiss and metallic sound of a pod door swinging open. His expression to Stormy did not show a similar excitement.

He followed reluctantly, nervously, and when he saw the sort of man who had emerged from the pod, he wanted to turn and go right back the way he came. If Oliver could have cowered behind Stormy he would have, because the tall, long-haired, tattooed new trainee was even more intimidating than Jack and Finn smushed together.

Before Stormy could open her mouth, they were swept up and crushed. She wheezed, but it was the gleeful kind that tried to hug back in return anyway, the kind that didn't mind at all that they had been pulled into a bear hug because hugs--and because for once a soon-to-be-trainee was out with a positive attitude; she wanted those to stay more than ever.

"Kia ora!" she greeted him happily once her breath was back and they were back on their feet, energized by the contact and bouncing slightly. "Hi again, Arororo! You're perfectly okay being right here for now. Welcome to Deus Ex! You can call me Stormy, and this," she clasped her shift partner's shoulder gently, half for indication, half to make sure he didn't run away, "is Oliver. Firstly we should make sure you're feeling okay. Getting out of the pod often makes people pretty dizzy and light-headed."

It didn't matter that Arorange (Aroringi? Aromatic? Acrobatic??) seemed perfectly fine; if the big guy collapsed on them, there'd be a problem. She gave Oliver an encouraging look. "Maybe check his pulse first?"

Arorangi's face broke out in a wide smile. He seemed positively delighted to be greeted in his own language, even if it was just a repeated one of his own, and he reached out a hand, clapping it on Stormy's shoulder with relish.

"Ah, and such great names!" he said cheerfully, as the one called Oliver reached to take his wrist. Arorangi obligingly stuck out his arm, grinning cheerfully as he scanned the freckles and the pale, frightened face, and then the darker skinned girl with the pretty smile, Arorangi rocking back on his heels.

"No, I feel fine, I feel fine!" he reassured them both, waving both of his hands and forgetting that boy was still attached. "Oops. My bad, mate. But I'm really fine! No dizziness, no lightheadedness."

He swiveled around, taking in his surroundings curiously. "So where do I go from here, eh? You two been here long?"

At every sudden movement, Oliver had to remind himself that every physical indication of a terrifying new hunter was being countermanded by that bright, enthusiastic personality. He didn't have to run away, and he wouldn't run away. Thinking about the months he had been on the island, would he be as good at this when he was there for a year and a half? Would he EVER be as good at this as Stormy? Probably not.

He blushed brightly at the sheer pride in her body language and then gave her a worried glance, but began anyway. "Um... D-divisions... Uh... The S-sun division i-is the primary offensive division, a-and Moon is the defence." Oliver fidgeted with the sleeve of his jacket, and hesitantly glanced up at the newcomer. See, not that scary. "D-death division handles gathering information, and the Life division focuses on research and medicine. The Mist division does a little bit of everything."

As long as there were no sudden movements, the kid was able to slowly relax rather than darting off like a startled fawn. "Y-your division will be shown on your coat, you'll get that soon," he volunteered shyly.

She had forgotten the little thrill she got from trying to pick up bits of a new language; it had been weeks since she had caught sight of Lucky and shown him her Polish, and Dory's French lessons were missed. Maybe Arororowyourboat wouldn't mind helping her with her collection? "I'm not so good with alcohol, but I won't turn down a smoothie!" Stormy informed him brightly. "Or dancing lessons! Although, um, go a little softer on Oliver? He's like a bunny rabbit, really sweet but really skittish."

See, totally watching out for him!

"You'll get your coat after we take you to the Cove. Hunters fight with special weapons that bond and talk to you in your head," she explained. "So you gotta find the right one. Or, really, they have to find you! You'll see what I mean in a bit. Any questions before we head out?"

The look Arorangi gave Oliver was not one of pity, but one of curiosity and interest, his dreadlocks falling over his shoulders as he peered at him. "Smoothies are good, yes!" he said to Stormy with a wide smile. "Fruit is good for you, eh, mate? Make you grow strong and healthy!"

He clapped another hand on Oliver's shoulder even as Stormy was telling him that he was like a bunny "Do not apologize, my friend!" - and then gave her his full attention.

"Ah! A voice in my head?" Arorangi repeated wondrously. "Like a consciousness, no? How strange, how strange...What is your weapon like, eh? And yours? What sort of voice do they sound like? Are they loud? Will they talk while I am sleeping?"

It took all of Oliver's willpower to resist backing up when he became aware of the close scrutiny. But he did an admirable job keeping his feet planted, and for a second he even managed to glance up, meeting Arorangi's eyes for a decently long second. The more he listened to the new trainee talk with Stormy, the more his anxiety dissolved into what was his naturally nervous state. He didn't even jump when once again that large hand fell on his shoulder.

"Ah, s-sorry," he said again, apologizing for his apology in true Canadian fashion. He didn't know how the two of them could keep track of so many questions and answers in one breath, but he knew at least one of them was addressed to him. "Uh... Jökul is, um..." How to best describe his calm, rumbling partner? "He is like a glacier..."

Oliver fiddled with the cold tooth at his neck, running his thumb across the weathered edge. He hoped whatever weapon Arorangi got, it wouldn't mind answering a lot of questions! The thought made him smile quietly to himself.