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

[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?"

[leftthesafetyon]

Instead of coming any closer, Meryl sat down on the closest wall possible. This other girl still looked apprehensive, but she was at least not running away. That had to be a good sign, right?

"It's a gun- It resembles a Magnum Desert Eagle, but the recoil isn't half as bad, I think." She had no idea that people came from different times or cultures with different weapons here, so she assumed she'd know what she meant.

[monkeystail]

Huashi frowned. A what now?

"A whatnow?" She saw no problem in repeating her thought and planted her fists on her hips. People really should learn to speak so others could understand them!

[leftthesafetyon]

That... was not the reaction she was hoping for. Well, she'd just have to explain this in the easiest way possible.

"It's a projectile weapon that uses either gunpowder, gas, or other means to launch a small piece of either lead, shrapnel, or another metal through a short metal tube." Which is a fine enough explanation in itself, but Meryl felt the need to keep going. "They can range anywhere from taking up a whole room to being handheld, but the larger ones are usually called cannons."

"In a typical battle, handheld guns usually have a distinct range and power advantage, but they're also fairly loud, and have a nasty kickback- that is, the projectile pushes back on the barrel, and makes the gun launch backwards. The Exaclan system seems to have reeled this back, but at the cost of lethality- it may be best to shoot more then once for good measure."

That was shorter then she'd like it to be, but it was vaguely descriptive enough.

[monkeystail]

Another headscratch. Well, while Huashi had only ever held a bow as a projectile weapon, maybe learning to shoot with a 'gun' wouldn't be too hard.

"Would you like to be my Weapon?" She grinned and rocked on her heels, tail swinging behind her. She needed at least one or two extra weapons, so that there'd be less of a chance to lose Kotarou to someone else.

[leftthesafetyon]

It came naturally to some people, but it seemed like a good idea to diversify as much as possible. She smiled and nodded at the proposal- that was a lot easier then she thought it would be.

"Of course." She held out her hand. There wasn't much need for anything formal, so a handshake would probably do.

[monkeystail]

Huashi grabbed Meryl's single outstretched hand with both her own, and while the grip was sincere enough, the space still between them probably looked a bit awkward.

"I promise to protect you and to keep you from harm," Huashi said brightly, having decided this was a good variation of the original vow.

[leftthesafetyon]

The space was awkward, but it's at least less awkward then it started out as.

"I swear to follow orders and fulfill my duties." It was a more proud variation of the weapon's oath. She was still a subordinate, but she was proud of it.