On the platform: Meet the new characters

[utopiamods]

As you all crowd onto the platform, which is drenched with sunlight though the air is cool you are met by six girls and ten boys. One of the boys seems to be a blue Hedgehog and one of the girls has wings; but the rest all seem human. All sixteenn 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 - nine depicting a shield on green, the other seven a sword on red.

At the first lull in the chatter, a frail looking girl with a shield on her cap steps forward.

"Excuse me, may I have your attention please!"

She explains that the sixteen of them are the current prefects of Rakuen, representing the two schools on the island. Nanami (she gestures to herself), Lelouch, Yuri, Sonic, Jade, Sora, John, Rebecca, Dirk and of Fortitude; and Santana, Flynn, Kevin, Gino, Suzaku, Golbez and Cirno of Conquest.

The introductions are over fast and the girl named 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; a boy and a girl step forward and begin to read names from a clipboard.

Golbez, the Conquest prefect made an imposing figure, standing there with his perpetual glare on his face, as he read off the names. "Dave Strider, Cheshire, Isabela, Jade Harley, Jack Noir, Hideki Hinata, and Hiyo Shishidou."

Despite what seemed to be a broken leg slowing her down, the Fortitude prefect; Jade looked almost excited in her prefect's outfit and neon orange T-shirt that came to her knees. "Okay, the people I read off are for Fortitude! If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them, but please don't threaten me with violence... Komachi Onozuka."

Comments

[witchofspace]

[Hello, have a girl completely not respond to any of the names called.]

[stoppedhiding]

[ Luckily, he knows what Jade looks like. He approaches her. ]

Jade Harley.

[witchofspace]

[She blinks, ears twitching.]

I think my name is Harley, but I don't remember ever being called Jade!

[stoppedhiding]

[ So those are real ears and not an accessory? Not really much of a shock, what with Jadesprite being around.

Golbez sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

Harley, then.

My name is Golbez. I am a prefect for Conquest, the school to which you've been assigned.

[witchofspace]

This place is called Rakuen, right? How did we get here? And I've never been to school before...

[She is both EXCITED and CONFUSED at the same time.]

[stoppedhiding]

Yes, it is. As for your other question, nobody is quite sure. What we do know is that we were chosen to take place in a battle game called Exaclan, and to ensure our participation ten of our memories have been sealed away.

You were given an instruction manual in your schoolbag. [ He gestures to the bag she has. ] I recommend reading it thoroughly.

[ He's really bad at people. ]

[witchofspace]

What about back home, though? I mean, I have 2 years to spare, but John and Davesprite will be lonely!

[She blinks and opens up the bag, fishing out the manual.]

Are these clothes for me, too?

[stoppedhiding]

It's likely that your friends will not notice your absence. Time seems to stand still in our homeworlds while we're here.

Yes, they are. It's also mandatory to wear your school uniform during the school day.

[witchofspace]

Good! I don't want to make them worry or anything.

[She stares down at the clothes again, pursing her lips a little.]

Can I still wear my own shoes and socks? I like my stripy socks. And how long is a school day?

[stoppedhiding]

Perhaps, but I wouldn't recommend testing the system.

About eight hours long, starting in the morning and ending in the afternoon. Players and vowed Weapons are permitted to leave class two hours early.

[fracturedsoul]

[ It's like if Jade and Jadesprite had a baby. ]

Jade?

[witchofspace]

Who?

[Seriously, why do people keep calling her 'Jade', this is like the third or fourth time! And it always makes her head throb, as if she's missing something.]

[fracturedsoul]

[ Why does Rakuen keep making people forget their names. What the fuck even is this. ]

Okay. Who are you?

[witchofspace]

I'm Harley! Who are you?

[She gave it out tentatively on the train, unsure and befuddled, but she's grown to the point where it actually feels like the right answer.]

My friend Dave used to have a pair of shades like yours. Do you know each other?

[fracturedsoul]

Okay. Nice to meet you, Harley, I'm Dirk.

I know a couple of Daves. But I got this pair from a Dave's older sister here in Rakuen.

[witchofspace]

Nice to meet you too!

My friend Dave only has a super cool older Bro, so I guess it's not the same guy.

[fracturedsoul]

Apparently not. But you get used to that kind of thing around here. Pretty much everyone here's from some alternate universe or a different time period or another timeline they scratched to make a new one.

There's two Daves here and two other Ja-- uh, Harleys, too. Once upon a time I would've had trouble keeping track, but not anymore.

[witchofspace]

[Her ears perk up at the 'timeline scratch' bit, and she lets out the tiniest woof.]

You know about scratched universes?

[She's so intent on the former part of his statement, the latter only gets the smallest thought process of 'wow, thats a lot of striders'.]

[knightime]

[That sure is Dave walking in a obnoxiously bright, neon pink t-shirt. Jesus fuck, he's actually wearing that shit...

He spots Jade.

...Oh okay. He quietly sneaks up behind her before flicking one of the dog ears. Sup Harley, sup.]

[witchofspace]

[GRRRR BARK BARK-- She flips around to face her aggressor, then blinks and grins.]

Hi, Dave! You changed outfits-- or are you a new Dave?

[knightime]

ive been wearing this all day

[Yep. That sure is a PDA being held out to you with bright red text on it.]

it looks like your dreams of being part furry has finally come true

[witchofspace]

Why are you using text?

[She tilts her head a little, confused.]

[knightime]

[Awkwarddddd.]

because i cant talk otherwise
...
yea
i guess talking daves are the normal issued daves
once in awhile theyll be a slightly defected one
doesnt make them any less cool
they just cant always do things the other daves could do
this one comes without a talking function
guess they forgot that talking would be convenient
but oh well
text is pretty fucking chill
surprise
but yea
the talking thing?
cant do it
never could
just wasnt happening
didnt happen
im pretty sure you dont just conveniently know how to sign either

[witchofspace]

Oh!

[She smiles.]

A cool kid is still a cool kid, even if he can't talk! I don't know how to sign, unless flipping someone off counts as a sign, but maybe you could teach me.

[Paradox space is a silly place, and far be it from her to be bothered by it.]

[knightime]

damn right were still cool
but if you want to learn
im basically a master at it
i mean its either learn signing from me or learn signing from sis
either way a bonefide strider will give you the ups downs wriggles and waggles of asl
flipping someone off totally counts

[Right. He's getting carried away.]

were not in the same school
but whatever
where are you on the timeline
just trying to gauge whether one of us needs to bring the other up to speed