Meet and Greet [intro #1]

[utopiamods]

As you all crowd onto the platform with your bizarre mix of faces, expressions, clothing and wild theories, you are met by two girls. Both are in uniforms that would match if not for the colour differences - skirt, waistcoat, and a light summer shirt that seems totally inappropriate for the thin layer of snow coating the station platform. Both have a beret with a crest - one's shows a sword, the other's a shield.

At the first lull in the chatter, the taller girl, her uniform red and white, speaks out over the crowd.

"Hey, losers!"

She explains, in short, irritated sentences, that they're prefects, representing the two schools in Rakuen. Santana, Conquest, she says, gesturing to herself with a smile that would be smug if she didn't look so annoyed to be out here. Nanami here is Fortitude, she adds, pointing to the pale girl half-leaning on her other arm. The girl nods.

"We're here to get you sorted and back to campus. If you wanna ask stupid questions, do it on the way. It's freezing out here."

The girl introduced as Nanami interrupts. "When we say your name, please move quickly and quietly to us."

"Yeah, then we can go back to the dorms."

They separate, moving to stand several metres apart, and both pull a list from their waistcoat pocket. Alternating, they start to read out your names.

Comments

[straightupzorra]

[Taking role wasn't enough, she had to cross all the names off her list.]

Which one are you?

[secondtoone]

[Red forces himself to meet her gaze, then glances over at her list. It's an awkward angle, but after scanning it for a moment (those are some weird kinds of names) he locates his name and points to it, completely ready to go back to hiding behind people when she's crossed it off.]

[straightupzorra]

Oh my god, please don't tell me that you don't speak.

[secondtoone]

[Red meets her gaze for just long enough to see the eye-roll, then looks straight down. He'd gotten this far without anyone judging for it, but here it is. He's a freak and a failure. There was no reason to expect any other reaction. He doesn't look back up; he wants to walk away, but she might not be done, and his feet won't move anyway.

[straightupzorra]

Look, I don't care if you can speak or not. In fact, I rather you don't speak because then I don't have to deal with you. But if you can't speak then you can't vow any Weapons when you're a Player so you're pretty useless to me and all of Conquest.

[secondtoone]

[He keeps looking down, though his gaze raises just a bit as he listens to her. She's confusing him, but he gets the gist of it -- he's useless and redundant. He wants to ask if he can just go back, but with no way to talk... He gives the paper and pen a look, almost reaching for them, but he doesn't want to grab them from her. After a moment, he gestures to them hesitantly.]

[straightupzorra]

[she rolls her eyes but figures if she wants to communicate with him at all it will be through text, so she hands him the paper and pen]

[secondtoone]

[Red takes the items, leaning over awkwardly to write with his leg as a surface. Then he holds the paper up to Santana, three words written on it. 'can I leave?' If they don't need him here, then he should just go back...]

[straightupzorra]

[She laughs pretty obnoxiously at that. Like, really, really, obnoxiously]

If it were that easy I wouldn't be here anymore.

[secondtoone]

[...Well. So much for that. Red doesn't know what to say, but after a moment he makes himself write more. 'then what?' It's the only thing he can think to ask; she just said there was no point to him being here, right?]

[straightupzorra]

Then you find another way to vow. Paper and pen may work but I can't say for certain. I suggest, if you wanna get anywhere here, find a partner to link with. [she shows him her necklace, the link charm]

[secondtoone]

[So there is something he can do? Red isn't quite sure how all this works, but he looks at the charm on her neck and tilts his head in question. A partner, like his pokemon partners, maybe? They'd all disappeared when he woke up...]

[straightupzorra]

A link charm will link you and another. If you're a Player they're automatically your Weapon, if they're a Player you're their weapon. And if you're both Weapons then you come as a pair.

My partner is the headmistress of Conquest.

[secondtoone]

[Red processes that for a moment. He doesn't want to partner with some person he's never met. Still, he might as well gather the information... 'where do you get them?']

[straightupzorra]

You gotta buy them. You should have a few Raks already and you get more for battling and going to class.

[secondtoone]

[Class? Well, it is a school, he guesses. Weird currency, though... In any case, he nods to show he (sort of) understands. Battling, at least, sounds good. Maybe they lend you pokemon to use?]

[straightupzorra]

Do you have any more questions, I feel dumb talking to myself.

[secondtoone]

[He's not really surprised; she hasn't been very nice in general, so the impatience isn't anything new. There's a moment's pause, then Red shakes his head slowly. Nothing else he can think of, at least. Belatedly, he hands her back the pen and paper.]

[straightupzorra]

Thank god. [she takes the paper and pen and walks away]