rakuen | On the platform: Meet the new characters

As you all crowd onto the platform, which is drenched with sunlight though the air is cool you are met by four girls and three boys. One of the girls is a somewhat humanoid grey-skinned, finned alien and one of the boys seems to be a blue Hedgehog; but the rest all seem human. All seven 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 chill. Some seem irritable while others look excited. Each has a beret with a crest pinned to the front - three depicting a shield on green, the other four a sword on red.

At the first lull in the chatter, the sword crested girl who is not a troll speaks up, looking annoyed.

"Listen up!"

She explains that the eleven of them are the current prefects of Rakuen, representing the two schools on the island. Santana (she gestures to herself), Feferi, Nephenee, and Suzaku of Conquest; and Lelouch, Jade, and Sonic of Fortitude.

The introductions are over fast and Santana seems impatient, "So 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 begin to read names from a clipboard.

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[ John is just. Kind of gawking at the buildings. He's in the process of stuffing his jewelry in his royal robe pockets when his name is called. ]

Right here, madame.

[ /completely ignores how she looked like him when he was younger ]

[David almost thought he had dreamed it, but clearly John had also been on that weird boat... wagon... it went over the water, that makes it a boat right? But it was on some kind of road on stilts in the ocean...

Anyway, this was obviously some exotic locale. Possibly enchanted. But he wouldn't have gone traveling with the king unarmed and without armor - what if they were attacked? Not everyone liked the King of Prospit even now. He would stay close to John, then; he could at least try to protect him if anything happened.]

[So only John can hear:] Sir, where are we so far across the sea?

[ John jumped when he heard somebody address him. Usually in places he was unfamiliar with, he didn't bother trying to recognize anybody. He was surprised and relieved that somebody did. ]

[ ...Now. Who was this man again? He seemed so familiar and he had the bearing of a knight, but confound it, he couldn't remember him! ]

The answer to that would be I have no idea.

[ He blushed. ]

Goodness, I can't seem to remember you. Would you be so kind as to remind me who you might be?

[Ow. Way to make a man feel wanted, Peixes.]

Sir David Strider, Knight of the Spirograph.

[this is a joke right] ...Peixes, hurry up and laugh.

[ Staaaaaaring, unrecognizing... until something clicks. ]

[ He covers his mouth with both his hands and starts giggling, though unfortunately not for the reason Dave hoped. It descends into full on laughter and he's clutching on Dave's shoulder for support. ]

Well!

You... haha, certainly weren't kidding about growing up first, hahaha! I suppose that solves the case of the silly Stiller sunglasses, pffffff.

[ Okay, John, stop laughing, that's getting rude. When he finally regains his breath, he smiles at Dave. ]

Good to see you again, boy. I wonder how you grew so much from the last... ten minutes or so that I saw you. Magic?

[dude not funny]

You're not going to convince anyone of your veracity while laughing maniacally without any propriety.

[That's not like John, really. Usually he can hold it in better.]

[ Chill, Dave. He's just trying to get rid of the stress in being in a new place. ]

All right, Sir David, no need to get snippy with me.

[Well if John's going to joke around he could at least act like he's not sincere. Like usual. This is fucking creepy.]

...My apologies, your majesty.

[ He apologized. John blushes, embarrassed. ]

Oh, it's no problem. I suppose I was acting rather childish.

But, um. I am telling the truth. I saw you at the boat last. You were fifteen. How old are you now? Do not say "fifteen and ten minutes".

[That was the first time they'd spoken. Something important had happened then... but what?]

I'm eighteen, sir. I've been in Prospit since May. Are you sure you're feeling well today?

I am not sick.

How did you get old so fast?

[ He strokes his chin. He could see Rose rolling her eyes in her head and telling him to "think". So he does. ]

Take this with a grain of salt, but I am beginning to suspect we are not from the same time.

It fits if, without omission, a wizard did it. [He nods at the ~~train~~ weird vehicle thing.]

Well then, we ought to locate this wizard. We must ask him to send us back.

I don't know about you but I want to check out this odd city first. Have you ever seen towers like these? They are magnificent.

Even Skaia had no towers this high.

Perhaps we could build some when we return.

[ Respectively, Jade is gawking at John. No brother should be that grown up, especially when he is considered the younger sibling. ]

John? You're old!

[ Nobody's called him John in years, and with such familiarity too. ]

I'm nineteen. That hardly counts as old.

But the last time you were here, you were my age! Technically a little younger, because I'm older. [ Puffs herself up yeah older sibling yeah. ]

You're not the same John, are you?

I'm afraid not, m'lady. [ He bows, and smiles charmingly. ] I am King John Peixes, King of Prospit. I do not know where I am. Would you be so kind as to tell me?

[ Whoa bowing. ]

You're in Rakuen. We're here to go to school and fight battles. But you probably have to teach... [ She shakes her head. ] I'm Jade, and I lived on Prospit. But not the same one you're king of!

[ Jade. Jade. That name is so familiar. Who is Jade? He shakes his head, similarly. ]

Teach! What will I teach? No, I cannot teach. My students will end up stupid.

I have not realized Prospit was such a common name for a city. Are you sure? Is your Prospit made out of bustling streets and golden towers?

It is! It's golden towers and lots of people in the streets. And I'm kind of a princess there, but I don't think I'm a real princess. Just a Prospit one.

How is "Prospit" different from "real"? From where I came from, they are one and the same.

One's where you dream. You can't live there, just your dream self lives there.

On the platform: Meet the new characters

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