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 a girl and three boys, one of whom is a troll. All four 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 three have a shield.

At the first lull in the chatter, the girl speaks up, cutting through your conversations rudely.

"Hey morons,"

She explains, sounding annoyed, that the four of them are prefects, representing the two schools in Rakuen. Santana of Conquest, pointing to herself, and Yuri, Lelouch and Gamzee of Fortitude.

"When your name gets called go to the person who called it. Actually, fuck it. You're all in Fortitude, screw name calling. I'm leaving."

She walks off leaving the three boys on their own. The one introduced as Yuri speaks first.

Comments

[traces]

... [ She tilts her head. "Miss"? ] What are you wearing, sir? That's an unusual outfit. And your hair...

[conquistador]

Hm? My clothes, of course. ( He looks down at his clothes. ) Do you think so? It's the newest uniform. . .

( Why does he feel like Austria is nagging at him to change his clothes. )

What's wrong with my-- ( He touches the pony tail to see how long it is, ) Well, it could be cut sooner rather than later, I suppose. . .

[traces]

Newest uniform? But nobody said anything about the school uniform changing...

Ah, I see. I'm sorry; I hadn't noticed your hair was growing out, that's all.

[conquistador]

Yes, I got it before I left but. . . it's almost been a year. . . ( This conversation is beginning to get a little strange. ) I'm sorry, have we met, miss?

[traces]

...what...?

Um, it's me. Dahlia.

[conquistador]

Dahlia? ( Like the flower? ) That's a beautiful name.

I'm-- well, you already know, don't you?

[traces]

...yes, sir. You're Mr. Antonio Fernandez-Carriedo, our world history teacher. We met weeks ago, when you became my Player...

[conquistador]

¿Perdón? ( No. Spain will never be a teacher. He was a student for almost a century. He's never going back to school. Ever. ) No, you must have me mistaken for someone else. Someone who is really named Antonio Fe-. Ay, I'll have to pick another name. . .

[traces]

Ah... I think I may know what's going on. Sometimes, somehow, the same person may appear here twice. Different versions of the same person. It's happened before.

[ ...pick another...? Was he lying about his name? ]

[conquistador]

( There's a curious silence and Spain reaches out to place a hand to her forehead. Is she delusional? Sick in some way? Hm, she feels fine. . . )

That doesn't really make any sense. There can't be two of me. Where would we put our houses? Portugal and I can barely share as it is.

[traces]

But it does happen here. People seem to come from different universes, so...

Portugal?

[conquistador]

( This girl is obviously mad. . . )

Sí, Portugal. My neighbor. One of them, at least but Francia is on the other side of the mountains.

[traces]

[ Oh, right, that delusional lie he was telling about being some country. Ridiculous. ]

I see... Ah, which country were you, again, Mr. Antonio? You kept saying you couldn't remember...

[conquistador]

Isn't it obvious? ¡El reino de españa! The Spanish Empire, the kingdom of sun on which the sun never sets. The greatest empire in all the world! ( CHECK OUT THIS INTRO. CHECK OUT THIS EGO. ) But you can call me Spain.

[traces]

[ ...he can't be the same person. Mr. Antonio was never this egotistical. She looks a bit bewildered. ]

I-I see...

Would you like to meet the other Mr. Antonio?

[conquistador]

Can I? Why not? This could be interesting; sí.

[traces]

He's the World History teacher at Fortitude Academy. Which school will you be at, by the way? Wouldn't it be interesting if you were both at the same one?

[conquistador]

Well, isn't that a coincidence then. It looks like we are, Dahlia.

[traces]

That should be interesting! I do so hope you get along.

[conquistador]

Hm? Are you worried we won't? I'm an easy person to get along with, I promise.

( As long as you listen to him and do as your told. . . )

[traces]

I can't say, really. I've only known the other Mr. Antonio for a few weeks. But if you think so, then it must be true.

[conquistador]

A few weeks is plenty of time still. Are the two of you good friends?

[traces]

I'm not sure I'd say we're friends, but he has been very kind to me. He protected me when he was a Player and I a Weapon.

[conquistador]

( Again with the player and weapon talk. )

What do you mean by Player and Weapon?

[traces]

Ah-- you weren't told? It's the basis of this city's society. People called Players do battle using objects that they obtain from people who care called Weapons. It's a very crude sport, but we're all required to participate.