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. Sun shines through the window, lighting up patches of the floor. If you look out of the window you will see flower filled meadows and a drift of smoke from the train passing the window. Inside the train it is warm, the heaters are running blowing hot air from under the seats.

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, and just outside 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

[sensible_one]

Kaoru awoke, groggy, from an exceedingly strange dream where he is running down a path with undefined boundaries. It was as though he was in a dark tunnel, and all color was washed away, leaving everything in grayscale. Running along the walls, like a moving picture, were memories, pieces of his life. Once in a while, Kaoru would focus on a particular scene as it went by, however, once it was gone, he promptly forgot everything having to do with that bit of his life.

Far ahead of him, Hikaru, the only thing with any color to it, was skipping and laughing. Periodically, he would turn his head back to look at Kaoru, speaking inaudibly and gesturing for Kaoru to join him. Kaoru, always loving being at his brother’s side, changed his leisurely gait into an all out sprint, frantically desperate to get to his brother. “Hikaru! Hikaru, wait up!” He called out. Hikaru continued to laugh and make his way down the tunnel. Ever so slowly, he started to gain on his brother. “Finally, Brother., I’ve found you.” Kaoru reached his hand forward to grasp at his gay brother, but the instant before he touched Hikaru, the scene before him changed.

Sleeping while lounging on an uncomfortable chair is difficult to do. Having that chair on a moving train makes it even more-so uncomfortable. To maintain some modicum of luxury in such a situation, one must consistently toss, turn, and reposition. During one of those repositioning moves, Kaoru was awoken. Groping beside him, thinking he was still in his bed at home, he reached for his brother. Shock beginning to set in at the lack of is brother, the train shudders to a complete halt, causing full consciousness to beset Kaoru. He looked around, wondering how in the world he could be on such a lavish train. Slowly standing (his body was stiff from curling in the chair), Kaoru made his way up and down the train car, coming to the realization that Hikaru wasn’t there. Kaoru couldn’t remember the last time he had seen his brother, but did have an inkling that he had been gone for a while from his home. Remembering his dream, he had a feeling he would see his brother soon.