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

[isur2ndprincess]

[Magical girls is a bit too much for poor Yuki to take in right now]

Ask who what? If they don't know us how would it help? Where I'm from we're just students.

[Maybe she was drugged or something. Or they were drugged]

[shootingforpeace]

...I haven't met anyone I know from home yet, but...well people forget things here. You can get them back, but you have to participate in the fights.

Are we all just from different places and happen to look the same?

[allurprincess]

Eh? But you're definitely both my treasured friends...

[isur2ndprincess]

You both look like my friends as well. You can't be suggesting that there are alternate universes? [Koharu have your romance novels taken a science fiction turn?]

This fighting seems like the same thing that we- that I used to do at school.

[shootingforpeace]

I-I don't know what I'm suggesting, but we clearly all remember different things. Wait--is it?

[allurprincess]

It is? I know the name Exaclan, but it means something different.

[isur2ndprincess]

What does Exaclan mean to you?

[shootingforpeace]

...Um I've never even heard of Exaclan where I came from? Though I suppose I could have forgotten.

[allurprincess]

Exaclan is the name of the company that manages idol heroes like us.

[isur2ndprincess]

Exaclan is the battle system used to treat females like less than human... they pulled weapons out of our chest and fought, not caring how much it hurt us. [her voice trails off]

[shootingforpeace]

[That makes Koharu pause and stare wide eyed at Yuki. Somehow it seems worse to her than her own fate, though perhaps that is resignation taking hold rather than actual fact. Saying something like 'I died' didn't seem like it would make things any better and she hardly wanted to belittle Yuki's experience]

I'm so sorry...Here, players are chosen anew every week--so where you lived, only females were weapons always?

[allurprincess]

[ that's beyond awful. Sora falls momentarily silent, both because Koharu is speaking and because she's trying to process the idea of people being hurt like that. ]

That's what I'm fighting against? Your me?

[isur2ndprincess]

Yes, it's different where I'm from. There only females were weapons and it promoted rampant misogyny. It will be interesting to have the chance to be a Player here. [she nods] That is what we're all fighting for, to end it. Sora wasn't a Weapon but a Player and collected us in order to save us.

I'm sorry, you two must have had hardships as well.

[shootingforpeace]

Here it just...seems to be a game actually. A game that hurts but without a real specific purpose. Or at least the prefects won't tell us what it is...

[Koharu remains silent on the 'hardships' front]

[allurprincess]

[ so anyway I hope you weren't using your hands for anything because Sora catches one hand from each of you. ]

If this game hurts people too, I'll definitely fight to end it!

[isur2ndprincess]

[Yuki smiles at Sora, so like her Sora]

I will fight by your side.

[shootingforpeace]

[Koharu blinks but beams at Sora. At least that never changes]

Of course. We can fight it together.

[allurprincess]

Yes. Even if we're from different places, we're still us!

[isur2ndprincess]

[she smiles at the both of them]

Then we will work together.

[shootingforpeace]

[Koharu's smile quivers and she almost wants to cry. Why couldn't it be that simple at home]

I'm glad. Do you know which school you're going to?

[allurprincess]

I can't remember what it's called, but it's the green and black one.

[ wait they're both wearing red. ]

[isur2ndprincess]

I'm in Conquest. [she notices the colors she's wearing and that it matches Koharu but not Sora] If we're separated by our uniform colors than I think Koharu is with me and that... we're against you, Sora. [she frowns, she wanted to work with both of them]

[shootingforpeace]

Ah...Well...Well we just won't fight each other, that's all!