and then they fell. [rakuen revolution opening post]

[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 as it winds its way through white drifts of now. Sunlight streams through the window, heating the air and making the seats almost uncomfortably warm. A puff of steam from the train winds its way lazily past the windows when the wind is right.

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.

"We have arrived at Rakuen City. All passengers must leave the train. This train is terminating here. This is Rakuen."

Comments

[swordofzero]

"I said stand down." Suzaku tried his best Knight of Zero voice but it did not work as he was tackled into his seat by who he could only assume was one of the Black Knights.

"Arresting you Zero for crimes against Brit..." Wait... hadn't Lelouch taken over Britannia, wasn't Zero... neutralized in some way? They hadn't fought him in a while. They had changed Britannia, why was Zero still fighting?

He felt dizzy and when he shook the feeling away, forgetting his train of thought he saw Gino and blinked.

"Gino." It sounded like a mixture of horrified surprise and an attempt at a threat. He really wished he had a weapon.

[subjugated]

[Now really the only thing that is lacking to make the situation a complete disaster is Britannia walking in on them. With this in mind, 11 lets go of Suzaku and stands quickly, meaning to - do what. It's not like he is strong enough to fight off two young men. He might have been able to do that two decades ago, but not anymore.

All he can do is try to do something with his words. The question is, what.] I do think there must be a grave misunderstanding here. [.............okay that was not very convincing. But maybe it triggers talk and buys Zero some time. Which might be all that he needs. Hopefully.]

[veepofchess]

He's silent for a long moment. "You've made this decision then, Suzaku?" He made a mental note of where the nearest exit was.

[trollofthree]

He'd loosened his grip again the moment he remembered they were meant to be allies, quote unquote, with Zero now, but he didn't really regret it if he'd caused the guy discomfort.

That name, though. And before it, a familiar voice. Who wasn't supposed to be there. His mind blurred, going fuzzy around the edges, and he dismissed the idea. He tugged Zero to the side, out of the way, and let go with a friendly pat on one shoulder.

"Suzaku too?"

[swordofzero]

Suzaku blinked in confusion, Gino was here... and he was being friendly...

Gino might not be a typical knight, or a typical Britannian but he had been pretty angry last time they had met, and probably for good reason since Suzaku had wiped out the Knights of the Rounds.

But surely Gino should be trying to arrest Zero as well... after all Zero was a terrorist even if Gino didn't agree with Lelouch taking over...

"Take your mask off Zero or I will do it for you." The other man got a glare, since he didn't know how to keep out of things that he knew nothing about.

[subjugated]

Wow rude, all of this affects him pretty directly! And Suzaku should really learn to respect the elderly. Huffhuff.

He'll move so he is standing in a position where he almost blocks Suzaku's view of Zero. He's not sure why Gino behaves the way in which he behaves, but it definitely changes the situation. And makes it likelier that this can be solved through negotiations. He likes negotiations. Keeping the balance. It's less risky than battles.

"Surely you must understand that the odds seem to be against an action of that kind, Mr", and then he suddenly hits a solid brick wall. Not literally, of course, but... what is Suzaku's last name? Sure, he knows that he has one, but what is it? Something - he can think of a few people with the same name, but that does not help him find the name, "... Mr pilot. I would ask you to refrain from causing a commotion in a very public space like this.

[Note: The "Mr pilot" does not sound weird in Japanese, but it is probably clear fromt he break and the double "Mr" that something is off with it.]

[veepofchess]

Gino didn't seem to hold any direct hostilities to him. This was strange. But this was no time for this. "Very well, Suzaku." He turned and made for the doors.

[countryofassholes]

And probably nearly smacked right into the person coming up the aisle between him and his destination.

"Careful!" Britannia called cheerfully as she put her hands out against Lelouch's shoulders to keep him from bumping right into her. And though her voice and smile were warm, friendly even, the gaze in her eyes was downright frozen. She knew this mask, this overly dramatic uniform... and she didn't care for it one bit.

"You guys sound like you're having fun." Britannia remarked after a moment as her eyes glanced up to look at Gino, Suzaku and Area 11 in between them. If she noticed her voice had dropped to a pleasant, almost dangerously low tone, she made no sign of it. Believing that she had a firm grip on the terrorist leader back from the dead but not trusting him for a moment, she glanced back at him, taking another good look before laughing.

"Hey, is this a joke?" She suddenly asked. "Because I don't think I really get it."

[trollofthree]

"Right?" Gino's voice was light, complementing the newcomer's tone. He almost sounded like he was about to laugh. And why not? This all looked like a stupid TV show set-up. With Zero off and away, he moved towards the other two. "Since when does Suzaku the traitor get to order anyone around? And who are you guys?"

[swordofzero]

Suzaku did not seem amused by any of this, he glared at the other new comer but at least he had grabbed Zero, someone who might help in the arrest.

"And you're not?" He asked Gino with dark eyes, after all even if Suzaku had betrayed some people, Gino hadn't joined with Lelouch when they had taken over Britannia, he had fought against them, against Britannia.

"That's a good question." He looked at the two he didn't recognize, his eyes demanding answers.

[subjugated]

The question leaves 11 flabbergasted and he looks from Gino to Suzaku in confusion. He wouldn't have been so surprised about Gino not remembering him - after all he is not a particularely flashy person and to most foreigners, all Japanese people look the same anyway - but that Suzaku wouldn't remember him... They had met multiple times since the young man had been a child, after all. he hasn't even fully realized yet that they haven't recognized the other nation, either.

So the notion of 'Britannia is here and blocking the way for Zero and Britannia just found me in the same room as Zero this is bad' is fighting a hard battle with the confusion and indignation about not being recognized.

He will just try to pull out of contributing to this conversation until he either needs to rejoin it or has understood what is going on. Or both. That seems the best way to save face right now.

"I am sure Ms Britannia would be better fit to answer such questions." That way, he would also get around introducing himself by his number. It just is so very humiliating, especially when the empire herself is present.

[veepofchess]

That name! He looked at her closely, but she wasn't any of his siblings. He could say that without a shadow of a doubt. Judging by her age, he would have definitely known about her.

Again, he found himself without weapons. So he needed a new tack. The door on his helmet opened. "Release me!"

It was worth a shot, anyway.

[countryofassholes]

The fact that neither Gino nor Suzaku didn't recognize her was surprising, but not unthinkable. They had never talked before that point, after all, as she rarely saw reason to speak with anyone else of note besides the current Emperor and (at times because of personal preference) Schneizel. So she let their lack of recognition slide. As she opened her mouth to answer, Zero in her grasp finally spoke again, causing her to pause.

An order? It was nearly laughable.

At the issued command, something faintly resembling a smile curled Britannia's lip as she looked at Lelouch and seemed to mull it over. But, to anyone who knew her, the chances of that actually happening had been nil from the start.

"And let you get away again?" She asked lightly, wondering about the small hole in the helmet as she pointedly tightened her grip. "I don't think I should."

But then, calmly as ever, she did release him- and push him back towards Gino. "I guess introductions are overdue anyway, I am The Holy Empire of Britannia and he-" she glanced at Kiku, "is Area 11."

No, she wasn't really all that happy about finding him and Zero in the same vicinity.

[trollofthree]

"Kinda hard to be a traitor when you're the first Knight of her Imperial Majesty, man. What rock've you been hiding under, anyway?" He gestured to his uniform before turning to catch Zero again in what was becoming some bizarre game of keep-away. Again, he steadied the guy, and would have let him go again, but the stranger had just spoken.

His burst of laughter was more surprised than anything. "This a joke?"

They didn't look like they were joking, though. "... What, seriously?"

[swordofzero]

Suzaku was staring at Gino in utter disbelief, first knight? Her Imperial Majesty, what on earth was he talking about. Lelouch was the emperor and Suzaku was Knight of Zero and Gino was the one in hiding.

That however paled to nothing when the woman who had caught Zero introduced herself and the man Suzaku had thought was one of the Black Knights.

"What? That's..." Not possible, insane...

[subjugated]

Suzaku is definitely not the only one who has no clue what is going on anymore, though 11 doesn't have the additional brainbreakage of 'they are nations' going on so he is slightly better off. None of this changes the fact that he'd like to see Zero get away, though.

He simply makes a small gesture towards Britannia, making sure to keep any emotion or sentiment out of his next words. "You might have gotten a stand-in instead of the correct person." He doubts that that will change anything, but he cannot really tell the other nation to let go of Zero.

[veepofchess]

These people were claiming to be Britannia and Area 11? How could-- And his Geass-- This was making less and less sense and he could feel his headache getting worse as this conversation went on. He had to get out of here before someone decided to rip his mask off by force. So he would take the unexpected exit.

So he would try it one more time. The panel on his helmet snapped open again. "Gino Weinberg. Do not allow any of these people to hinder me!"

[countryofassholes]

"His Imperial Majesty," Britannia corrected without skipping a beat, giving Gino a very weird look. "And seriously." She added cheerfully, looking pretty unruffled by all of these people expressing disbelief. With that taken care of, she looked back at 11 and frowned properly. "Real or not, he's still an accomplice." There was a pause as Lelouch tried his geass again, making her sigh.

"And he's pretty obnoxious, so I'd like to kill him anyway. Though I guess Charles or Schneizel might prefer something else..."

[trollofthree]

Gino blinked down at Zero, eyebrows furrowing as he digested the command. Okay, the Empress had told the Knights to obey Zero if what he wanted was reasonable, and. Hey. This wasn't too bad as far as requests went, but there really was something about the way he said it that made Gino want to punch the faceplate.

"Sure, sure. Not my fault if she hears about this and cries. But you've gotta be going somewhere before they're hindering you--."

Oh, that chick who said she was Britannia wanted to kill him. That counted as a hindrance. "Good enough for me. You wanna get out?"

[swordofzero]

"Yes his imperial majesty," Suzaku agreed with the girl who claimed to be Britannia but that really couldn't be true. He glanced at the man, the man claiming to be Japan and then at Gino as he offered to protect Zero.

What on earth was going on.

"Wait, you're going to help Zero??"

[veepofchess]

"Yes," he replied to Gino. Now that this particular problem was on its way to being solved, he could move on with figuring out just what was going on here.

[subjugated]

"I am sure that it would be of advantage to let the humans decide what course of action should be taken in this situation." As nations, they should stay back in situations like this that are very much about interpersonal decisions between humans. ...Not that he expects a nation that is pretty much still wet to realize this. "It is one of those things that should be decided between them."

Okay, he might try to use that truly very wobbly rule to his advantage right now.

[countryofassholes]

Just as Suzaku was expressing his disbelief, Britannia was giving a series of very confused blinks. Finally, after a moment, she tilted her head in confusion. "The Knight of Three is a traitor?"

Because really, what else could she draw from a Knight of Rounds assisting a known terrorist? Still, her confusion was palpable. Of all the knights she would have suspected of this kind of treason, Gino had been one of the lowest on that list. If anything, she would have pitted it on Suzaku, not for his number heritage, but for his personality of doing whatever was necessary to achieve his goals.

And then Japan was speaking, appearing to be so very diplomatic in a situation that was impossible for anyone involved to act as such in.

"You think so? But the fight is pretty uneven right now."

[trollofthree]

"Her Imperial Majesty." Gino corrected, yet again. "Who is, incidentally, the only reason I'm helping you right now, Zero! If she hadn't ordered us to listen to you, I'd hand you over in a second flat. For the record."

Man, everyone was confused right now, weren't they? "Knight of One," he added, with a half-salute to 'Britannia'. "Not a traitor. Anyway, it's been great catching up, but we're getting out of here."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku looked at the four others around him, completely confused. "What are you talking about Gino, are you really going to help Zero?" He looked to the woman who had claimed to be Britannia and then man who claimed to be Japan.

"What is going on?"