Round 3 [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.

- 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."

The sound of thunder and pounding rain jolts you the rest of the way awake. 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 anyone onboard is ushered off and directed through the rain -- sans umbrella -- to the front lobby of the school. You 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. The lights are all off; the large flat screens set into the walls are dark. A few staff members are standing around; they approach the new arrivals to take you to your dorms, assuring you that the round announcement will happen tomorrow.

((OOC: The staff will not answer any questions about what's going on; if asked, they will refer the new students to the Exaclan manuals that are included in their briefcases. Students don't have to follow the staff to their dorms; they can wander about the school if they like. In the rain.))

Comments

[traces]

"What in the..."

Dahlia remained in the lobby; without her parasol, she was hesitant to step outside.

"What is all of this?"

[allurprincess]

Sora was sodden through by this point, but she had one major advantage: an armful of umbrellas from the stand in the Red dorms. She bore down on the lost-looking girl with all the cheerful force of the storm crashing around them, and held out a blue one.

"Welcome to Utopia Academy! Sorry about the weather..."

[traces]

Dahlia's eyes widened in surprise; grateful, she took the umbrella and managed a shaky smile at Sora. "Oh, that's all right; we can't control the weather, after all.

"You're too kind... Were you kidnapped also?"

[allurprincess]

"Yeah, but it was a while ago now!" Sora glanced around for anyone else, and elected to just leave the rest of the umbrellas by the door. They'd be alright; she needed to help this girl first. "I'm Sora! Sora Himoto. What's your name?"

[traces]

She sure seemed upbeat about the whole situation. What a weird kid.

"Dahlia Hawthorne," she replied. "I'm so sorry for you. And everyone else..."

[allurprincess]

Whilst Dahlia seemed as worried and upset as expected. Sora smiled, only more determined to help them with the loss of her friends.

"Don't worry," she said, firmly, "A lot of us are working together to beat the game, and get everyone free-- Ah," sheepishness crept into her voice, "I guess you haven't been told about the game yet... I could tell you about that, first!"

[gingabishounen]

Takuto was soaked to the bone, but that wasn't the most important thing on his mind at the moment. He looked around the lobby, peered out of the doors into the rainy courtyard, feeling particularly nosy. Well, of course he was, when he hadn't a clue of what was going on. Was this perhaps something that the Glittering Crux had staged? No... couldn't be, there was so many people there he hadn't seen before. Actually there was no one here he HAD seen before at all.

"Ahaha... It's a piiinch..." he laughed to himself, trying to not concentrate on how his hair dripped water down inside his shirt.

[myblueskies]

A small figure popped up from seemingly no where to stand next to Takuto. Romeo had came down to the lobby with Miss Sora when they had realised there were people coming in on the train and it was still dark and rainy and they might be scared! He saw a man stood looking drenched to the skin and a little lost.

"Hello sir!" He smiled brightly, "Do you need any help?"

[gingabishounen]

Blinking down at the newcomer, Takuto managed a sort of smile. "A... aaah... where is this, exactly?"

[myblueskies]

Romeo gave another grin, glad to be of help to somebody. "Welcome to Utopia academy, sir! We've all been kidnapped, but don't worry, Miss Sora has an amazing plan to rescue everybody." Or at least Romeo assumed she did, she was always so certain that they would all escape.

"I'm Romeo, sir, would you like help finding your dorm?" Under Romeo's arm he had a collection of colourful umberella's to keep them dry when they went out to the dorm blocks.

[gingabishounen]

"Kidnapped? Miss Sora?" he didn't know that name, but kidnapped? Really? It did make sense...

"My name's Takuto-- oh. If it's fine..." he wasn't up for settling in somewhere if they were kidnapped to it. It just sounded weird, why keep dorms for people if you've kidnapped them?

[magicallife]

Marino was on her way to the lobby to look into requesting a flashlight - it was definitely something that would be useful when it got dark if this blackout was going to go on much longer. Thankfully she had an umbrella with her to keep from getting wet even in the downpour.

Just as she got to the doors, a red-haired figure caught her eye inside. It was hard to make out features in the gloom, but what she saw was definitely familiar. "Takuto-kun?" she asked.

[gingabishounen]

He turned at the voice, and was promptly surprised. "Eh...? Marino-san!" That was a face he hadn't seen for a while. He was most certain both of the sisters had left the island a while ago-- then again, this wasn't that island, so it shouldn't be strange at all, stupid Takuto. And a familiar face was welcome right now, no matter what the circumstances.

[magicallife]

Marino stepped under the overhang so that she could lower her umbrella and quickly noted that the boy was utterly soaked. "Did you just arrive on the tram, Takuto-kun?" Other than her sister and Shindou, her surveys of the other students had found no one else from the island here, at least at the cafeteria and at the classes she had attended.

Meanwhile, she could not shake the feeling that she was forgetting something, but whatever it was, it eluded her.

[gingabishounen]

"A-aaah, it was... kind of strange. Did you wake up on it too?"

[kings_thief]

Locke looked around the lobby, not entirely certain what to make of these new surroundings. However, he certainly didn't like being herded around and he wasn't going to wait to be herded some more.

"It's just rain."

He looked around to make sure no one was going to stop him and left the strange lobby, he was going to find out more on his own terms.

[womenwouldgrieve]

Edgar had an umbrella, and was, in fact, on his way to the lobby. Despite the rain, it was a new arrival day, and he was going to be there if any of his friends were.

Nevermind the fact that they could all be dead. By all rights he should be, but here he was.

He was about halfway there from the White dorm when he saw him: The thief.

[kings_thief]

He shivered as the rain soaked him through again, but he didn't let it deter him.

Locke was just about to make his way across the grounds when he became aware of someone coming towards him. Turning to look, he was pleasantly surprised to see a very familiar figure.

"Edgar?"

[womenwouldgrieve]

This was a pleasant surprise. Edgar couldn't keep the smile off his face as he held the umbrella out for the other man to take. "It's about time."

[kings_thief]

Locke smiled too, it really was Edgar. He pushed the umbrella back to cover the blonde man.

"Thanks, but you keep it, wouldn't want the rain to mess up your perfect hair."

[westernwinds]

No matter how he tried to rationalize it, today still wasn't a good day. Dealing with an unpleasant headache on top of being soaked in the rain wasn't exactly his idea of fun, and with a heavy sigh he plopped down into one of the chairs in the lobby. There were so many questions left unanswered... Well, at least he wasn't in the rain anymore. That was something. It wasn't much, but still.

Didn't stop him from clutching his head, though.

"Hope I don't catch something," he said softly.

[discarded]

Miwako hadn't wanted to leave her dorm in the rain, but now was about the time the announcement should have been happening. But... it wasn't. The power was out here, too. And she didn't recognize anyone...

Hearing what the strange boy nearby was saying, she offered a gentle smile. "Ah, there's an infirmary... I can walk you there if you're worried."

[westernwinds]

He actually jumped upon hearing that unfamiliar voice, but the look on his face was swapped for a sheepish one soon enough. Well, this was a little embarrassing. Maybe he could still save face... Rudy's movements were a bit sluggish as he rose from his seat, but he didn't appear to have any difficulty standing or anything like that. Thank goodness.

"Really? That'd be great," he said as he tried to offer a slight smile in return.

[discarded]

"I don't have an umbrella, though, so... we'll have to walk through the rain. Sorry." She felt pretty awkward about this, but, if she could be helping someone...!

[westernwinds]

"It's okay. I've already been out there anyway. But...you really don't mind going out in the rain?"

Even as he said that he was trying to think of a way to help her stay dry, just in case. He had the beginnings of an idea in his head, but as for whether it would work or not...well, that part was still up in the air.