Next stop: Utopia Academy

[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 sleeping passengers. The air is muggy and thick, the atmosphere relaxing. Almost too relaxing; the warmth and the silence make it difficult to immediately muster any kind of reaction or thought. 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."

Comments

[bitofafiction]

The moment Sherlock catches himself dozing, he startles into full alertness. For a long moment, though, he doesn't move.

Whatever he dreamed about, it's not available to him anymore. He'll think about that later. Right now he is more concerned with examining his surroundings. Heat and glare of sunlight, smell of brass and leather. (Why does a faint scent of snowy pine linger in the back of his mind? Later.)

Still taking in new data and storing it away for later use, Sherlock gets to his feet and goes looking for someone to interrogate.

[utopiamods]

The majority of passengers were already milling around, but the conductor was alone at the front of the carriage. Two girls in matching uniforms had apparently just talked to her, as they were headed back towards their own seats and what were presumably friends or acquaintances.

As Sherlock approached, she glanced in the mirror, then turned her head to smile at him. "Something the matter?"

[bitofafiction]

"Yes," he says, very politely. For now. "Beginning with: where exactly am I?"

[utopiamods]

"We're just arriving at the Academy," she indicated the station they were about to pull into. "Not long now! Are you looking forward to it?"

[bitofafiction]

"Yes."

[utopiamods]

"Mm-hm. Would you like to see your ticket?" Apparently this was now a common request.

[bitofafiction]

"If you please."

[utopiamods]

The drawer was opened, the stubs rifled through, the appropriate ticket produced.



[OOC NOTE: it says 'Holmes, Sherlock. One-way. [name of last known canon placement] to Utopia Academy']

[bitofafiction]

"Sunnydale, California to Utopia Academy," he murmurs. "Well, that's clear enough. Thank you."

No need to be rude to the badly programmed robot.