New Arrivals (All new characters)

[utopiamods]

You're falling, and you can't remember why. It's a sickening feeling that makes your insides lurch; the darkness and the vertigo combine, and all you can think of is a story you heard once, somewhere.

Ah, I remember now. It's... a simple story that everyone knows. A legend of a Princess, the Demon Lord who kidnapped her, and the Knight who fought to save her. The Demon Lord had kidnapped the Princess countless times, but every time the Knight bested his challenges and rescued the Princess. No matter what tricks and ploys the Demon Lord used, the Knight would always triumph in the end. This was because--

The world tilts on its axis one last time, and the dream slips from your mind as easily as it arrived. A new voice intrudes on your sleep. Mechanical, monotonous.

"Next stop: Rakuen City. This train terminates here. The next stop is Rakuen. All change." The train rocks steadily. The sun shines through the window cheerfully and if you look out the window you will see rolling meadows full of spring flowers. Steam drifts past the window, it is warm. A mixture of sunlight and the heating of the seats, it adds to the dreamlike atmosphere.

It's strangely difficult to shake off the sleep; the rhythm of the train seems to lull you back into slumber and the air is warm and heavy, making it hard to keep hold of a thought. Finally, though, the nausea settles, the last of the dream fades and you can take in your surroundings. And, perhaps more importantly, those around you in a similar state. The train judders to a stop, through the rain lined windows there is a building and people gathered on the platform.

"We have arrived at Rakuen City. All passengers must leave the train. This train is terminating here. This is Rakuen."

Comments

[savedbyasong]

Shion opened his eyes the strange story; unlike anything he had ever heard before echoing in his mind. For a moment his mind was lost, caught in the sleepiness of the atmosphere. But it was only for a short time, before he realised that he was not supposed to be here. He wasn't even sure where here was and he stood up.

His face hurt, his shirt was covered in blood. Touching his mouth his fingers came away stained but his ankle wasn't too sore. There was blood there though, blood everywhere and most of it wasn't his.

Where am I? Nezumi are you here? Is this No. 6? He took a few steps, enough to tell him it was not. He was moving, a train then. Was this a dream? He walked down the carriage looking for Nezumi, or anyone who could answer his questions.

Just one question really.

Where am I?

[justaflowergirl]

Yuka groaned. She wasn't used to sleeping in a position like this. Her neck was sore, her legs felt stiff, and her arms managed to be both at once. It was the most thoroughly unpleasant awakening she had had in a long time.

As she began stretching, she got a feeling like there was something wrong. Her movements slowed, and then abruptly stopped, her face turning bright red.

My parasol! Where's my parasol! ... Ah! It had rolled under her seat. She quickly retrieved it. I hope no one noticed that...

Modesty restored, Yuka took in her surroundings. Embarrassment was quickly replaced by confusion. What -was- this place? She could see movement through the windows... a moving building?

As a long-time resident of Gensokyo, there was one obvious conclusion. "Yukari is fooling around again..."

But somehow, that felt wrong too. Yukari may love mischief, but she had certain lines she wouldn't cross. Yuka had never known Yukari to do anything to interrupt someone else's sleep; she loved her own too much to be comfortable with it.

"Next stop: Rakuen City. This train terminates here. The next stop is Rakuen. All change."

A train? She'd heard the term before, even seen pictures in books. But that kind of technology was completeley foreign to Gensokyo.

Was this the outside world?

[the_stand_cometh]

The story was the sort Asagi had read a thousand times, but the details were different. More Japanese- a bit like that one video game that was popular. Was it an electrician? Or a plumber?

It didn't matter. This was a strange train to a city that certainly sounded Japanese, but was beyond his experience. He didn't even bother waiting to get off the strange train to light up a cigarette. He quietly analyzed the situation around him- the other people on the train, the age of the train, even the announcer. She was speaking Japanese as well. It didn't seem like everyone on the train would understand Japanese, but the confused reactions were not over the language spoken.

Asagi slowly smoked his cigarette as he watched the people gathering, not seeming to care that he might look strange with his white hair, gold eyes, and face like a middle-schooler. Nor did he seem to care that he might sound crazy as he asks, "So, you got yourself stuck somewhere else, Izumi?"

[jurist]

Juri peered out the window, trying to make out anything familiar that might tell her where she was, but the scenery outside was completely strange to her. She must have missed her stop... although, come to think of it, she didn't recall having gotten on a train. Or even planning to leave Ohtori, for that matter. She shook her head a little, as if to clear it, but this proved completely unhelpful. No memories returned.

Out of reflex, she reached for her locket. It wasn't there, of course—she knew had lost it when... when... how had she lost it? She couldn't remember that either. What was wrong with her memory?

She took a deep breath to steady herself. It wouldn't do for her to lose her composure, not here in front of all of these strangers. Some of whom, she noticed, looked rather disconcerted themselves. Perhaps she wasn't the only one in this odd situation.