Round 1 [new characters and round announcement]

[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.

- 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.

"Next stop: Academy Main Entrance. This tramline terminates here; all change. Next stop: Academy Main Entrance. All change."

Sunlight streams through the windows of the long carriage, making the seats almost uncomfortably warm beneath its waking passengers. The air is muggy and thick, the atmosphere deeply tired. Your nausea settles, slowly. The last of the dream fades.

"We have arrived at Utopia. Repeat, we have arrived at Utopia Academy. Could all passengers please leave the tram, as it is terminating here."

The tram pulls to a stop outside the academy station, and the students onboard are ushered off and directed to the front lobby of the school. They can't miss it; there are signs up pointing toward the main entrance, reading "New student orientation" in big, bright letters. If anyone should care to move off the path, try exploring somewhere else, a teacher will conveniently appear to shoo them back toward the lobby, assuring them that "all your questions will be answered inside".

The lobby is big and spacious, looking more like a university or perhaps a fancy international hotel than a high school. Stood around are any number of students in the uniform of the school. Some of them even look awake. There are several receptionists at the desk towards the back of the lobby, but for now they seem busy with paperwork.


[ Note: the round announcement will go up in a thread once you've all mingled. ♥ ]

Comments

[aureus_veritas]

He immediately feeds off that irritation, inciting his own frustrations further as he shoots a scowl over at whoever he bumped into.

"You watch it," Ed snaps back, barely pausing in his movements to give the retort. He's got authority figures to track down and harass. He doesn't have the time or patience to deal with someone else who might annoy him.

[aureus_veritas]

Ed turns to the girl with a quirk of an eyebrow and a frown. He takes a moment to consider whether or not she was looking for comfort or just the facts. Not that it matters. He's never really been fond of sugar-coating things, and right now he especially lacks the patience to try it.

"Nothing. They just keep spitting out the same bullshit over and over, refusing to be helpful in any shape or form."

[monkeystail]

Huashi stared up at the woman for a bit, before shrugging. But she did, a trifle warily take a step back when the other came too close.

"Uh huh. I've seen how it works," Huashi frowned and then tilted her head. "What sort of weapon do you have?"

[aureus_veritas]

Ed's eyes narrow. Things obviously just went from bad to worse. He had plenty of issues with all the information he'd just been given, though he doubted any amount of protesting would faze these people. With an indignant snort, Ed folds his arms over his chest.

"Wonder what happens if we refuse to do jack shit," he mutters, mostly to himself.

[dreamcandies]

Ten memories. She really didn't like that, especially not knowing what they were. Her expression briefly hardens.

"So, are you a Player?" She asks, mulling over how she'll need to get those memories back.

[loyal_liar]

"Yeah. For this round, anyway," Lyra said, "What about you?"

[formerly_known_as_prince]

"No you watch it!" Clearly this is shaping up to be an intellectually gifted conversation. "And while you're at it, tell me where this is and why i've been brought here!" Herp derp derp we're here for the same reason but are too pigheaded to immediately realize it.

[dreamcandies]

"Weapon." She replied. "Have you found yourself a partner yet?"

She hadn't seen anyone familiar here, but at least this girl was sounding interesting. "I'm Road Kamelot, by the way."

[loyal_liar]

"One. But apparently we can have several?" Lyra told her, shrugging her shoulders.

"I'm Lyra Silvertongue."

[loyal_liar]

"Figures. I just hope they en't planning on attacking us or something," Lyra said grimly, looking around.

[summerstars]

Grenn had only been on her way to look for Yuki, and not about to reply to the mutter, but it wouldn't really be right to let others repeat the mistakes they had done...

"Uh... I wouldn't do that. You... er, after three days of no battling, you, um, start to lose tokens. And if you want your memories back..." Grenn paused to shrug and grimaced. "That's if you're a Player, of course..." The guy was one of the new ones, so Grenn had no idea if his name was up there on the list or not.

[chainedbyred]

"You get your ass kicked," Russel replied, as he walked up behind Ed. He was genuinely glad to see him, but he was showing it in his own way. "Fights aren't so bad."

[firstlady]

"Ah. Already?"

Kuchinawa had to close the book he was reading. He stared at the screen. He blinked once. He blinked twice. His name was still there. He told himself he would rather not fight unless it was absolutely necessary. And now the game made it absolutely necessary that he did.

He sighed. There were other things that he would rather do. But now he had to find a weapon. Fortunately or unfortunately, El was not there to decide for him. Seeing as Yuki Yagizawa's name was on the board as well, it would probably be best if he didn't lose immediately.

[ninjasloveme]

Even here, children were being made to fight. Gaara's expression had gone flat the moment the video had called them 'weapons', and it hadn't recovered yet. If only he could be sure he could fight without triggering the demon... But he had other responsibilities now. Sakura Haruno was here, and he had to keep an eye out for the injured people Enki had mentioned, even if so far there had been no sign of them. When a girl near to him spoke, he glanced over.

"You've been selected?"

[awildcatappears]

"Uh huh." Not that she understands it. Of course she was paying attention to whatever the woman was saying, but that didn't mean she got it.

She looked back at Gaara. "Have you?"

[ninjasloveme]

"No, I haven't." He paused, wondering what else to say. The idea of offering himself as a Weapon was abhorent, but getting back the memories they'd taken was of huge importance. Eventually, he tried, "Do you need a partner?"

[awildcatappears]

Mikoto stayed quiet for a moment, as if contemplating. But what was there to think about? She was a player and she needed a weapon. If figuring this out meant she could find her brother again, then sure.

"Uh huh. I need to find my brother and this might be the only way to it."

[ninjasloveme]

And that was that. He nodded, because naturally everyone would have their own reasons, and to achieve them working together would be everything. In this case, he'd do whatever he could to help her find her brother.

"I'll show you how to use my weapon," he felt this would be a necessary step. No-one looked much like a trained shinobi. "Will you make the vow?"

[awildcatappears]

"Okay." Mikoto thought back on what the lady said. "I have to... promise to protect and serve you right?"

[ninjasloveme]

"Protect and own," he corrected, though he didn't sound particularly happy with that second part.

[awildcatappears]

Mikoto nodded. "Uh okay. Um... I don't know your name. I'm Mikoto. Mikoto Minagi."

[aureus_veritas]

That had Ed looking over to the speaker, cocking an eyebrow. That figures. Of course things were just going to get worse from this point out. Why had Ed thought any differently?

He runs his hand through his hair with an irritated groan. "Great. But what about going home? Does battling have anything to do with that?"

[summerstars]

She turned the wheelchair to face him fully, and briefly gave him a grimace.

"We don't know. We have to assume it will... But this... uhm, game of theirs may just be the beginning..." Grenn trailed off unhappily and shrugged, remembering the muddled 'dream'. "But if we don't assume that playing their game will get us home... And we get punished if we don't, and we can't leave, what to do then?"

There was nothing to do. Unless there was something else, but she wasn't about to share that with the first person she met, and especially not here in the lobby.

[aureus_veritas]

Without looking over, Ed just snorted and rolled his eyes in response. "Of course they're not."

He'd just spent the last 12 hours of his life at home fighting non-stop. It wasn't bad, it was just exhausting. And it sounded like a fight here was pointless. Participating in this game was just a rouse to keep them here longer.

"Great," he muttered, annoyed. "Just great..."

[ninjasloveme]

He checked the screens. It matched one of the names, so everything checked out.

"Gaara."