rakuen | 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 and a boy. All three are in uniforms that would match if not for the colour differences - skirts and trousers, waistcoats, and light summer shirts that seem totally inappropriate for the thin layer of melting slush coating the station platform. Each has a beret with a crest - one girl's shows a sword, the other two have 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 the three of them are prefects, representing the two schools in Rakuen. Nanami of Fortitude, she says, placing a hand on her own collarbone, with her fellow prefect Lelouch, and Santana of Conquest, here pointing to the boy and the taller girl she's leaning against. The girl nods, looking fairly bored, whilst the boy doesn't appear to be paying much attention.

"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. This'd better be the last lot we get in winter, seriously."

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

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Golbez had come by to see who all was arriving this week -- it seemed the numbers of new arrivals were dwindling. That was interesting. Was there some quota that had to be met, or was there some completely different reason?

There was one other thing he noticed, too: The extra prefect for Fortitude. He'd seen that boy on the train on the day they'd all arrived, so he wasn't somebody who'd remained behind with the others... was he?

When it seemed there was a lull in conversation between the prefects and new arrivals, he stepped toward Lelouch. "You," he said simply, by way of greeting. "You're one of Fortitude's prefects?"

Lelouch glanced over when he was approached by the brawny warrior. He knew there were going to be questions, and he had been told a few things about how to address them. Of course, whether or not he chose to pass along the information he had been given, was another matter entirely.

But for now, he'd play the clueless lazy student card. "Ah, yes. I am. Is there a problem?"

"No, no problem," he replied. Not as long as his questions were answered. "I was just wondering when his had happened."

He put on the face of a kid that had been thrust into some position that he wasn't perhaps prepared for. Mild-mannered and sheepish. "Ah, yes, it was kind of a surprise myself." He reached up and adjusted the beret again. He wasn't particularly fond of hats, really.

"Then it wasn't up to you. Why were you chosen?"

There had to be some reason... He'd been hoping a prefect chosen from this group of abductees would be more open with answers than Santana and the others, but perhaps it wasn't to be.

"I'm not sure, really." He shrugged. "I wish I knew so I could pass it along to others. In my opinion, it's worth the extra work for the benefits it gives you."

Surely Lelouch would notice that look of annoyed skepticism on Golbez's face. He was getting tired of having so many questions and no answers to any of them.

"And what benefits would those be?"

"I get my own room in the Prefect's Headquarters. And I have access to a few other locations on campus that I didn't have previously." He shrugged. "I'm rather glad I get to cook in a proper kitchen again."

That sounded rather frivolous to Golbez, but it seemed to matter to the boy, so he didn't point it out. Whatever...

"In any case, I trust you'll keep the rest of us informed if you obtain any new information as a result of your position."

"Ah, sure, I guess. Though I can't say I feel like I know anything more than anyone else." He glanced back at Nanami briefly.

"Just pay attention to your surroundings -- and to your fellow prefect and the headmistress." Although this boy seemed unsure of himself, he was in a unique position. If he squandered this opportunity...

"Ah, one more thing. Do the words six beautiful stars mean anything to you?"

"Ah, I've heard that line before. It's from that poem, isn't it?" He's not lying, per se. Just. Being political.

"That's right. Six stars, guarded by six devils." He glanced briefly at Nanami, then back to the boy, watching carefully for a reaction. "I believe it has an important meaning."

"I don't really think that's a whole lot to go on..." He scratched at the back of his head.

"It's not," Golbez admitted. Hell, he didn't even know if Dunleavy's little fairy tale could be trusted. "But we have nothing else to guide us. All I ask is that you keep it in mind."

"Sure, I will." He nodded emphatically. "I should get back to what I have to do, now."

"Of course." No use getting him in trouble so shortly after his appointment. "Get in touch with me if anything else comes to mind. I'm Golbez, Conquest's astronomy teacher."

"Ah, sure. I'll keep that in mind." He nodded to him slightly, and looked back to the paper he had. Where was that last student anyway?

With that, he left Lelouch to his duties.

This place just got more and more confusing.

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

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