On the platform: Meet the neulings

[utopiamods]

As you all crowd onto the platform and peer through the thick fog that chills the air, you are met by five girls and six boys. One of the girls is a somewhat humanoid grey-skinned, finned alien, but the rest all seem human. All eleven are in uniforms that would match if not for the colour differences - skirts and trousers, waistcoats, and light summer shirts that seem totally inappropriate for the light rain. They're all sodden and cold, and some are irritable while others look excited. Each has a beret with a crest pinned to the front - five depicting a shield on green, the other six a sword on red.

At the first lull in the chatter, one sickly-pale, shield-crested girl speaks up, cutting through your conversations with her cold, soft voice.

"Attention, please."

She explains that the eleven of them are the current prefects of Rakuen, representing the two schools on the island. Nanami, she points to herself, Yuri, Sonic, Jade, and Lelouch of Fortitude; and Santana, Flynn, Feferi, Gino, Nephenee and Kevin of Conquest. She doesn't care to explain why the prefects in red and white outnumber those in green and black two to one.

Santana interrupts, "Yeah, yeah. Look, come over when your name is called so we can all get inside." They all move to stand in two groups some distance away from each other, and the two that spoke read off names from their clipboards.

Comments

[fracturedsoul]

[ While his face doesn't change, he does stiffen up a little at that. Wait... What does that even mean? He's the only Strider, thank you very much. ]

Good to know. I'll just be going.

[fracturedsoul]

You know -- I tell you something, and you use that information to change the future. You might make things better, but then again, you might make them worse. There's no telling. [ Not that time travel is a thing he is aware of, but he's seen enough movies. ]

[greenspaces]

Everything. We also have to fight, but it's not so bad. Because no one gets hurt from fighting.

[ whoa those pajamas whoa she finally notices. ]

You're a Derse dreamer. [ Suspicious. ] Where did you come from? Was there another session? I thought we were the only one....

[greenspaces]

[ D: D: D: D: D: ]

Um. You're in Fortitude, so you live there...and I guess you would teach. And then we fight. And by fighting, we might get to go home.

[ SCARY DERSE LADY PLEASE JUST ACCEPT HER EXPLANATION ;o; ]

I'm Jade. You come from Derse...right?

[mamarosa]

I hope your stay here is pleasant, if you have any questions you can come to me.

[brbdocumenting]

[Blankest. Of. Stares.]

[huge_bitch]

If we fight, we get to go home.

[MIGHT WANT TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE BEFORE SHE DECIDES TO PUNT YOU, JADE. Then she can go home!

...Oh, maybe she won't because you seem to know her. Good, it is about time one of her former Derse subjects turned up to do her bidding, even if you do look really weird.]

That is correct. You don't look like anyone I met but I suppose that with being Queen it brings you some amount of popularity and celebrity status.

[fracturedsoul]

... [ His expression doesn't change, but under his shades he's staring at her something fierce. ]

There will be. It hasn't started yet.

The game hasn't even come out yet, but from the way you phrased that it sounds like you've already played.

[greenspaces]

[ She can feel it RECOILING ]

That doesn't make sense...we played. And my timeline failed. But my friends all played and won. I think.

[fracturedsoul]

Sorry, but I have no idea who you are. If there's another session I haven't heard anything about it.

[greenspaces]

That's not surprising. We didn't hear about any other sessions, either.

[ Shaking her head. ] I'm Jade. What's your name?

[greenspaces]

[ Stepping back. ]

It's a fighting system, but you're not supposed to fight during the off rounds. And it wasn't my fault and also please don't hurt me.

[ :'( ]

[fracturedsoul]

[ He's going to get to the bottom of this... ]

Dirk. So you're a prefect here, Jade? How did you manage that?

[greenspaces]

They picked me. I got all of my power rings, and this weird light thing happened, and then we came out of the dungeon and they told me I was a prefect.

[ showing him the hand that has five power rings on it. And then showing him the necklace that has a sixth, as well as a memory charm. ]

[mamarosa]

[Dolorosa, seeing the exchange and noticing Jade's fearful expression, decides that she needs to step in. She walks over and places a hand on Jade's shoulder as if to signal that everything will be okay, she is here to take care of the situation.]

Unfortunately any status as a Queen will mean very little here. I am just a regular troll and I hold a higher position than you here, as does Jade here. That being said, I understand if you are angry but there is a proper place and time to let out your frustrations, and that is not here and now. If you have any more questions we will be happy to assist you, is that not right Jade?

[no one scares her babies and gets away with it]

[fracturedsoul]

...huh. [ He leans over to take a closer look. He's definitely going to have to read that manual. ] So once you did that, you were granted a position of relative power.

Light thing? Could you be more specific?

[knightofred]

[You are approached by a strangely dressed man!

He offers Yuki his cloak.] Excuse me... if I may? [He gestures with his hands, saying he's waiting for her permission to lay the cape over her shoulders.]

[anotherpath]

[She looks up and just- stares blankly. The similarities between him and Sora are amazing]

[She nods blankly]

[whitestknight]

[ ... and wow doesn't that just remind you uncomfortably of Yuri and Zaude and weeks of trawling the coastline between missions. He's halfway to tracing a First Aid spell before he remembers the blastia don't work any more, so he just concentrates on supporting her without jostling her. ]

How fortunate for them. [ he briefly considers asking if he should apprehend the person responsible, but he doubts she hasn't already thought of that. ]

[knightofred]

[And the cloak is settled neatly onto her shoulders, his fingers light and careful in his movements. Once that is complete, he steps back and offers her a short bow.]

My name is Adam. I know we've just met, but may I ask you a question? [Surprisingly, it is not "why do you look familiar?"]

[straightupzorra]

[Oh god she wishes he could have a healing spell used on her]

Don't tell anyone I needed help, okay?

[anotherpath]

It's nice to meet you Adam, I'm Yuki. [she smiles at him, he's so kind]

Ah, sure? Ask away.

[knightofred]

The pleasure is mine, Lady Yuki. I was actually wondering if I could ask you about this place. I don't recognize it and I'm a little lost.

[xxiisfool]

Get myself killed? [Now she's even more tempted to ask.]

Just what kind of game is this...?

[anotherpath]

[Lady Yuki? Oh. Swooon]

The town is called Rakuen and we're here to participate in a type of game called Exaclan where Players pull holographic weapons out of their Weapon's chest and battle because the town wants us too. But I'm sure that doesn't make much sense... We're trapped here though.