On the platform: New characters and old ones that want to come and meet them!

[utopiamods]

As you all crowd onto the platform with your new and still 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 - skirts, waistcoats, and light summer shirts that seem totally inappropriate for the thin layer of snow and ice coating the station platform. Both have a beret with a crest - one shows a sword, the other a shield.

At the first lull in the chatter, the shorter girl speaks up, her soft voice somehow cutting over you.

"Excuse me,"

She explains, in precise, quiet sentences, that they're prefects, representing the two schools in Rakuen. Nanami of Fortitude, she says, placing a hand on her own collarbone, and Santana of Conquest, here pointing to the taller girl she's leaning against. The girl nods, looking fairly bored.

"We will be sorting you now. When we say your name, please move quickly and quietly to whoever called you."

"Yeah," Santana interrupts, "Then we can go back to the dorms. It's not getting any warmer however many times they make us do this."

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

[keepscalm]

[Alright there's a lot of questions about that to ask, he should really pick the most import--] The fall of where? [Or maybe he'll just go with the most obvious one that's already been answered. That sounds like a plan too.] That's not-- that's impossible. And even if it were possible, there is no bloody chance in hell that I'd relocate my people to that arsemonger!

[Look who forgot that he raised someone. Oops.]

[countryofassholes]

London. Napoleon's armies conquered it in 1862 forcing Queen Elizabeth III to flee to the recently subdued colonies with my first boss, Sir Ricardo von Britannia. She named him her successor on her deathbed.

[keepscalm]

...

[Stare.]

Napoleon. [His voice is so flat that it could put paper to shame.]

[countryofassholes]

[What, you mean you aren't a doormat in your world? Weird.]

Yep!

wow i've never gotten to use this icon before

[keepscalm]

[Stare.

Give him a second. One, two...

On three, he absolutely explodes into laughter, starting with an extremely undignified snort that he muffles behind his hand. It's a while before he can manage words at all, never mind making them coherent.] Oh god-- you can't-- aha, that's--

[He clearly thinks this is the best joke he has ever heard. He eventually gives up on trying to remark to continue laughing.]

Happy to help! ... however short lived it might be!

[countryofassholes]

[At England's explosion of laughter, Britannia gains this slightly confused look because- what's so funny? Seriously, she's just explaining history and if anything, she wouldn't think being conquered is anything to really laugh about.

So she'll give him a minute.

... and another minute... okay, now she's getting impatient.] England?

[keepscalm]

[He waves a hand at her dismissively, and then holds up his index finger in a universal gesture of "hold on". The laughter tapers to chuckles after a couple of seconds, peppered by heavily-drawn breaths.]

Oh lord-- you can't be serious. France couldn't even hold onto the colonies that were weaker than him at that point, much less conquer the only one with an empire larger than his. [...that explanation was interrupted by a laugh or two here and there, but not uncontrollably so.

And yeah, the implication in that statement is that his empire was the largest in the world. But he hasn't really made the connection yet that that may not be the case in Britannia's world.]

[countryofassholes]

[At England's insinuation that's she's lying or wrong, that she doesn't even know basic history much less her own origin story is, as always, insulting. It's like she's talking to Ukraine all over again.]

It's true, he won the Battle of Trafalgar which allowed him to invade the British Isles. [And so begins the arm crossing and the defensiveness.]

[keepscalm]

[He really almost wants to laugh again. But he knows that look. He's pretty sure it was the one he was wearing when she first introduced herself.

His amusement fades, and his face goes pale. Oh god.]

You are serious.

[countryofassholes]

My sense of humor isn't that bad, you know. [Despite her light tone, she is most definitely annoyed. It's in her eyes and the way her stance is rather rigid despite her attempt to look casual.] Is it really so unbelievable?

[keepscalm]

I can't know that. You don't exist in my world. [That was blunt, but he needs to say it, for both of their benefits. He shifts a little, looking a bit more serious.] It's entirely unbelievable. [...well, he's a little biased.] Maybe your France took a few lessons on how to not crawl into a faraway hole when things get a little tough.

The 1800s were my moment to rest upon the laurels of glory where I hail from. I controlled a quarter of the world; France could only dream of usurping my throne from me. The scenario of your home seems quite implausible in comparison. [He's not trying to lecture her, he's just stating facts. ...Facts that are a little dramatized, but the point is, his tone isn't condescending. He doesn't know how it is where she came from, he just knows she can't expect him to conform to the standards of whatever England she's familiar with, especially if they're weak enough to get conquered by France.]

[countryofassholes]

[For the longest time, Britannia just watches England as he goes into his little rant, stating what is true for him and why her existence is just so... impossible in his world. The longer he speaks, the more amused she actually seems to get until by the end of it, she's openly smiling at him. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say, however, that her smile is rather frigid, even if she seems genuinely amused.]

Really? But what you just said also seems totally unbelievable. For as long as I've been alive, the United Kingdom has done nothing but be occupied or remain neutral, staying out of the conflicts between the world's superpowers. To me, you haven't done anything important.

... well, except lead to my formation, I guess.

[keepscalm]

Yes, really. [He frowns a little in disdain. He's not exactly appreciating much her telling him why he's so pathetic in some other world either.]

That's all well and good for you, then. But if that truly is the case, then I'll thank you not to expect the same of me that you'd expect of that pansy with my name, because they are clearly a very separate person and nation from what I am.

[He'll accept that he's not so strong now, but he's not going to be denied respect for what he has accomplished just because fate decided to take a blade to the knees of some alternate-universe England.]

[countryofassholes]

[At England's statement, Britannia actually gives him this weirdly excited look.

While it's true she doesn't respect the England from her world, she's had time to get used to the concept of alternate worlds. That there are completely different versions of the people she knows out there in existence, people who could pose a challenge. People who might actually be capable of matching her strength and might.]

It's alright, I don't usually expect anything from you so this should be really fun!

[keepscalm]

[That sudden mood whiplash of hers reminds him of Russia, and that's what causes him to pull a mildly disturbed facial expression. He's not sure he's going to like this nation, but he can't exactly avoid her now that he's posed what's equivalent to a challenge.]

Charming. You certainly know how to endear yourself to a person. [When all else fails, sarcasm. Because he is really not looking forward to another rivalry, especially with someone who reminds him of Russia in any way, shape, or form.]

[countryofassholes]

[It's less rivalry and more inbred curiosity. She wants to know if England has a chance of taking her down and if she can overcome that. Adapt, evolve and survive, those are the traits she prizes the most.

Still, with their differences settled (or as far as she's concerned they are,) she gives him another smile, this one fairly easy-going and gestures at the school with a thumb jerk.] Want a tour? You can tell me how the history in your world went. Do you know there's another world out there where you're a girl?

[keepscalm]

[It's still creepy. It's probably the stepford smiling. He does not deal well with stepford smiling.

He's confused at the offer, and even more confused that she actually seems to want to know his world's history. Wasn't that upsetting her not five minutes ago?] Um...

[...well, it would be beneficial to figure out where everything is. A tour couldn't hurt too much.] ...alright. [He sounds awfully hesitant, though.]

...I can't really say I'm surprised. I've ventured into the theory of alternate universes before, and that's a fairly obvious change to make. [Though he can't even imagine how her life must have been in the ages where sexism was even more rampant than it is currently. Not everyone could manage like Hungary did.]

[countryofassholes]

[It was the insinuation that she was lying that got her annoyed. She knows her own history, she's seen it with her own two eyes. Telling her she can't possibly be real (like everyone else has been doing) has really started to become a sore spot with the empire, to the point that it gets her irked right from the get-go these days. You'd think she wasn't supposed to exist or something silly like that~]

I was though! [She starts walking towards the center of the island, towards the mercantile quarter.] I ran into a guy who said he was Ukraine and that Kiku in his world is a girl named Kikyo! Oh, by the way that's Conquest- one of the schools. [She points at a series of buildings they're currently passing.]

Do you know which one you're in yet? I'm in Fortitude.

[keepscalm]

[...yeah, fancy that.

For some reason, the male Ukraine draws more surprise from England than the mention of his own gender-switched self did. Probably because of Ukraine's...figure practically being her trademark. He has trouble imagining her without it.]

Really now? Should I prepare myself for a similar encounter? [That'll be a little awkward, that's for sure.

Oh right, the schools...] I believe I am also in Fortitude. [Reasonable conclusion to come to, since the Fortitude prefect had said his name, right?]

[countryofassholes]

Probably. A lot of the countries here are different in their own way. [She glances when England speaks, opening her mouth to make some remark about how Fortitude is okay but they're not all that strong when she stops to openly stare at him. Like she's forgotten what he looked like in the few seconds she took her eyes off him to look at Conquest.]

Uh...

[keepscalm]

[Staring. Always with the staring.

He gives her an openly affronted look -- though it's not severe, it's obvious. If she's going to gawk, he's not going to dodge around the faux pas of it.]

May I help you?

[countryofassholes]

[The voice is... definitely familiar. She gives something that might be a sheepish laugh, if she were capable of that emotion, and shrugs.]

I guess I should tell you about the missing memories. You are England though, right? Someone could have switched you out and I wouldn't even know.

[keepscalm]

[...missing memories. Wonderful. Spectacular. He'll just...go ahead and have an internal freak-out about that now, but he sure as heck isn't going to show it around Britannia.]

I am confident that I am the England of my world. I make no guarantees as to any similarities to the England of yours, especially considering what you have told me.

[countryofassholes]

[At his answer, she starts laughing.]

Actually, I was just making sure because I keep forgetting what you look like. This place takes away memories and doesn't give them back until you pay them. [And, like what she just said is perfectly normal and that there was absolutely nothing wrong with her statement:] This is the shopping area and the arena.

[keepscalm]

[Yep okay that's horrifying.]

You have t-- [He shakes his head, like he's trying to rid himself of the thought.] You have to buy your lost memories back?

[Immediately, he can't help but wonder which memories have been taken from him. He definitely has a wide selection for the stealing.]