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]

Maps? Schedules? They were all old things. You didn't need maps for trains when you couldn't catch a train from one city to another.

"This can't be real..." He knew it was, but... How could he be somewhere that wasn't No. 6 or the West Town?

[jurist]

"It seems real enough to me."

Could it be a dream or illusion? It certainly didn't feel like one, but you couldn't always tell.

[savedbyasong]

"Yes... It does but it makes no sense..." But there was no dream that could feel this real.

[jurist]

Juri shrugged. "Not everything in life makes sense." Her life certainly didn't, sometimes.

[savedbyasong]

"No..." It should do but it didn't. The last... it had only been a few hours that he and Nezumi had been traveling through the correctional facility but it seemed longer... had taught him that.

[jurist]

"At any rate, it will never make any more sense if we just stand here wondering about it." Not that she really had any kind of plan herself, but anything had to be more useful than that.

[savedbyasong]

Shion nodded, "I suppose we should go out there..." Into the unknown, once again.

[jurist]

"I don't see what choice we have," Juri said to the boy—what was his name, again? Come to think of it, had she even introduced herself? Perhaps she should remedy that.

"Ah, I'm Juri, by the way. Juri Arisugawa."

[savedbyasong]

Shion blinked at the strange name but smiled. "It is nice to meet you Juri Arisugawa, my name is Shion."

[jurist]

"Likewise, Shion." Odd that he had only used what sounded like his given name, but that was his prerogative, she supposed. "And you don't have to address me by my full name."

[savedbyasong]

"Your full name?" He had thought her name was very long but he had no idea how he should shorten it, perhaps she meant into a nickname. "What should I call you?"

[jurist]

"Arisugawa will do," she said. It wouldn't do to get too familiar too quickly, after all.

[savedbyasong]

"Then it is nice to meet you Arisugawa." He smiled, this place was strange but he was determined to learn all he could and find a way back home.