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

Entry tags:

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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She smiles slightly as they walk, enjoying the ride. ]

When I was stuck on Earth, I used to imagine that you would come and save me. [ Her voice is faint, but it's obvious that she's rambling a little bit, trying to simultaneously explain and keep the mood light. ] You would pick me up like this, and Rose would hug me....

I don't know where John was, but that's okay. I bet you saved him, too.

[He just listens to her talk since he can't talk. He nods his head as he listens.

And maybe his chest tightens a bit. It isn't a good feeling and it hurts a little. Because maybe John isn't there because he's dead. Maybe Dave didn't save him. And he won't tell her that, because it sounds like she so believes that he did save them all.

But he knows better. The only way to save them was keeping their Alpha versions alive. But that would mean that any Doomed version ceased to exist and all the Doomed versions of himself were doomed to die.

But if she believed that he saved her and John. He'd want her to believe it. Because maybe, some universe, he did. Just not this one.

Dave gently puts her down once they reach the infirmary and steps inside for a little bit before coming back out with the first aid kit. Yeah...that's not getting returned. He's keeping this in his dorm room in case.]

[ If she notices that she's been sat down, she doesn't say. She just continues with her story. ]

But then you didn't come. And John was never in my clouds, but you and Rose were...and you thought I was dead. I tried to call out for you, but... [ Her voice fades for a moment, and she continues. ] I stopped believing in my dreams. And I knew you wouldn't come.

And then I got on a train, and I dreamed real dreams without Prospit. But first...there was black. Just lots of black. And no one was there to talk to, either.

[Dave is quiet for a bit. Finally, he reaches out to grab her wrist gently. He presses his forefinger to her arm and writes out sorry. He doesn't know if she can actually tell that he wrote that out, but he hopes she gets it.

If he could have saved her, he would have. He knew he would have. He wouldn't have wanted to leave her there unless it meant he couldn't get to her.]

[ She can't quite make out the entire word -- S, O -- but she doesn't really need to hear the rest to know what he's trying to say. ]

It's okay. [ She turns her wrist in his grasp so that she can grip his as well. A small, sad smile flits across her face. ] I lived on my own for a long time, but I'm here now. And you're still my best friend.

[ She tries to think of something to talk about in order to change the subject. ] Oh. Do you...speak the hand thing?

[ The hand thing being ASL, of which she knows one phrase; she holds up her free hand to him. Even though it's a sore sight to look at, bloody and nails cracked or gone, the meaning's still the same.

The symbol for 'I love you'. ]

If I knew best friends forever, I would use that one too.

[He nods when she mentions the 'speak the hand thing' to him. He's pretty sure she knows what she's referring to. It would be quite something to try and figure out what else it could mean.

He feels a flush rise on the back of his neck. Always so forward!

But he returns the gesture. The rest though, he has to switch to his PDA.]

if you want
i can teach it to you
...
we should head to the dorms though
so you can get some clothes
then we can get food together

[ Jade is the most forward paramour. Not that she really knows exactly what she's implying, which is why it's doubly adorable. But she nods. ]

I'll learn it for you. But... [ Her stomach hasn't rumbled in a long time, but she looks down at it anyway. Her body is so thin that you can see her ribs through the holes in her shirt. ]

Food sounds yummy. I haven't had food in a long time.

pizza
my treat

[He pockets the PDA and motions at her to get back on his back so he can get them to the dorms. He'll ask what dorm she is once they get there. It isn't all that important now.]

I don't think I've ever had pizza...

[ Has she? If she did, it was a long time ago, when Grandpa would make it. She climbs on his back again, yawning a bit. ]

Do we get to go to bed soon?

[Oh shit. Never had pizza? Dave is going to make sure you are indulged in all kinds of delicious and unhealthy foods. Not sure if cheetos exist here though.

Dave nods though. She can sleep in a warm bed and things will be as normal as you can get at this school.

He shudders a bit as they get back out and he's just gonna book it towards the dorms.]

[ She shivers against him, mumbling something a little incoherent, something about meteors and doomsdays and repeating her friends' names again and again. Jade is tired -- she's spent her days crying and her nights wandering -- and Dave is warm enough that she thinks she might be able to get a nap on the way to the dorms.

When they get there, he will find her fast asleep on his back. ]

[Shit. Shittttt. He doesn't want to wake her up, but he also wants her to sleep. God, why can't life actually be easy peasy instant mac and cheesy? Wow, he did not actually think that.

Instead of waking her up to find her dorm room, he takes her to his. With some miraculous multi tasking skills (and the fact she's pretty fucking light), he's gotten his door open and gently puts her on his bed.

He gets back up so he can get a washcloth and some water so he can clean her hands and feet (and anywhere else that he can clean that isn't awkward) before wrapping her hands and feet with clean bandages. She doesn't have to be awake for this anyways. She just better not fall asleep when he gets food with her.]

[ She doesn't wake up through the bandaging or washing; Jade's a pretty sound sleeper. But as soon as he's finished, her eyes flutter open, looking a little clearer after their nap. ]

What did I miss....

[He's just shoved the first aid kit into his bedside table and just points at her hands to indicate that he didn't really do all that much while she was asleep.

He still needs to make sure you're in some decent (read: warmer/comfier) clothes before they head back out. Not that...these uniforms are all that warm in all honesty.]

[ She looks at them carefully. They're no longer bleeding, though she's not quite sure if she's glad that Dave saw her deep cuts and gashes on her hands. ]

I did that myself.

[ To not tell him would be breaking some kind of friendship code. But to tell him feels shameful. ]

[He takes a seat next to her. He's quiet before there's the sound of clicking from his PDA.]

you dont have to do that to yourself anymore
not here

[He meant it. Sure there was fighting. But there wouldn't be any crazy session bullshit. No constantly dying for stupid reasons. It wasn't all that bad here other then his constant suspicion as to what this place wanted.]

[ She nods. ]

I thought it would make me feel better...but it doesn't. It just hurts. And then it bleeds...

dont worry
itll heal
just give it time
we should get you into new clothes though
and then hit the town up
i think youll like it
its nice
i guess

[Maybe it'll make her smile. He'd like that. To see her cheer up.]

I've never been in a town before. Do they have food?

[ She sits up, and oh hey, there's even a little smile at the prospect of clothes and town. ]

Shoes sound nice, too.

course they do
theres a cafeteria here too
so youll be able to eat there whenever

[Oh. She's smiling a little. That's a start.]

you know your dorm???
well head there
then head to town together

Yeah, I'm 1-B. In the Black dorms...is that where we are right now?

2-a
my dorm
i didnt wanna wake you up or something
we can go to yours now though

[Hopefully she isn't like suddenly weirded out that he took her to his dorm. It's not like he's alone anymore now.]

Will I get my own bed?

[ nope she's not weirded out at all. ]

[Just...this face.

He's not sure if she's pulling his leg or something. Is this a joke? It's got to be a joke right?]

[ She looks at him, a little worriedly. Did she ask a wrong question? ]

Do I have to...sleep outside? I don't mind, I...I've been doing that for months. [ Looking down at her (now properly bandaged) feet. ] As long as it's not sand, I don't mind.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject