New Arrivals (All new characters)

[utopiamods]

You're falling, and you can't remember why. It's a sickening feeling that makes your insides lurch; the darkness and the vertigo combine, and all you can think of is a story you heard once, somewhere.

Ah, I remember now. It's... a simple story that everyone knows. A legend of a Princess, the Demon Lord who kidnapped her, and the Knight who fought to save her. The Demon Lord had kidnapped the Princess countless times, but every time the Knight bested his challenges and rescued the Princess. No matter what tricks and ploys the Demon Lord used, the Knight would always triumph in the end. This was because--

The world tilts on its axis one last time, and the dream slips from your mind as easily as it arrived. A new voice intrudes on your sleep. Mechanical, monotonous.

"Next stop: Rakuen City. This train terminates here. The next stop is Rakuen. All change." The train rocks steadily. Rain pounds on the train and runs down the window in rivulets. Despite the rain there is a ray of sunlight streaming through the window, heating the air and making the seats almost uncomfortably warm. A puff of steam from the train winds its way lazily past the windows when the wind is right.

It's strangely difficult to shake off the sleep; the rhythm of the train seems to lull you back into slumber and the air is warm and heavy, making it hard to keep hold of a thought. Finally, though, the nausea settles, the last of the dream fades and you can take in your surroundings. And, perhaps more importantly, those around you in a similar state.

"We have arrived at Rakuen City. All passengers must leave the train. This train is terminating here. This is Rakuen."

Comments

[stoatallymad]

Fortunately for Sherlock, Firifale knew exactly what was going on. Sherlock's excitement fed his own and he sprung out of his chair as well, practically bouncing up and down.

"On a train, in a new place! Rakuen! Look!"

And he flung an arm toward the window, as if that explained everything.

"New!"

He beamed up at Sherlock.

[notanangel]

Sherlock stopped, staring at the man in an odd combination disconcertion for a second; his eyes picked out the details automatically:

Ill-fitting clothes, far too long for his limbs and torso, but tight in the chest especially; therefore not his--

Animal hairs, mostly concentrated on the shoulders; all from a single animal, but accumulated over time--

His brain did a quick search and ruled out canine and feline families immediately, then went through the order mammalia and into carnivora before finding its match--

Mustelidae.

Probability suggested ferret, but weasels and their relatives were a distinct possibility as well--

Poor impulse control, hardly worth the time it took to notice, it was that obvious; he discarded it--

Recently at sea; his clothes hadn't washed in... two three days, but clearly not worn in that time period--

Odd wear pattern on the interior of the sleeve hem; most likely a concealed item carried by its original owner--a knife, then; irrelevant--

Irregular rhythm in speech, abnormal inflection and simplistic, fragmented diction; Sherlock's mind reeled through the list of accents and languages, but came up empty--

Sherlock grappled briefly with irritation and confusion--if he didn't know any better, he'd think he was trying to talk to a ferret.

"Yes, I see the train, thank you," he replied in a clipped, brusque voice.

[stoatallymad]

Firifale was used to people staring and being confused and irritated, so he took it all in stride.

"Ah!" he snapped-- a neat trick of the fingers, quite fun! "The why." He gave a sage nod before the grin re-emerged. "No clue!"