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

[naicha]

[ A knight who comes to save his princess, good versus evil, the makings of a fairy tale - these were no strangers to Taiwan's daydreams. But something was off, especially when she finds herself shaken awake by the stopping of the train. ]

Rakuen? [ Taiwan has her hands and her nose pressed against the glass window, peering at the city before her. Everything looks larger than life, so surreal, so... so... ]

Aiyo, this sounds like an anime. My dreams are getting really weird lately. Ah! Does but this mean I'll meet my prince this time!?

[ Priorities, she has them. ]

[nusantara]

[It all feels like a day dream. She hears people talking, but she doesn't pay attention to it all. She's about to get off when a voice snaps her out of it.]

Is your name Sita? [She can't remember why on Earth she would ask this girl this, but she felt like she had to.]

[naicha]

[ The girl nearest Taiwan gets her attention. She pushes herself away from the window to answer. That is, if she could find the answer. ]

Hm? No, actually, I... [ What was her name? ] I don't know.

[ Then she laughs ] Sorry, ahaha. That was probably a weird answer, huh?

[nusantara]

[She shakes her head.] No, it's not weird. Names are complicated things. [only because Indonesian names are beyond complicated and there are 100 ways of changing your name.] I have a lot of nicknames and a lot of names, so I'm not sure which one is the real one.

[Then a brilliant idea comes to her.] You should give yourself a name! Or you could give yourself a lot of names if you really wanted... then we can exchange names.

[naicha]

That sounds like a good idea! I wonder what I should name myself... I've always wanted to name myself after a famous person, you know. Like that girl on TV, R... Rrr... Aiya, I forgot her name, too.

[ She smiles sheepishly once more. ]

But a lot of beautiful girls are named after flowers! Right? So I was thinking, maybe I should also name myself after a flower!

[nusantara]

I have a few names after famous people, but sometimes that gets confusing, ya? [She's remembering them all.] Sometimes people think you're related to them.

[oh oh oh flowers. She smiles, laughing a little.] I think you being named after a flower would be a good fit. You're very beautiful and pleasant.

[naicha]

Only a little... [ She acts coy. ] I have an island full of orchids, so I could call myself that! That name sounds like someone I already know, though. [ Netherlands is written with the character for orchid. ]

[nusantara]

I have many islands full of many different flowers, too. [Orchids, orchids... the word sounds familiar but she can't recall what it is.] What are orchids like?

Then you should pick something different, then. [She looks at the character, tilting her head. Ah... maybe learning all these Western languages has messed up her first languages. She points to it.] What does that mean? I must be getting rusty with my characters.

[naicha]

Orchids are... it's hard to say! They're flowers with a very unique shape. There are many kinds, you know? The ones I have at home look a little like moths. [ She must be from a place where orchids aren't common. Or perhaps she's just sheltered? It's hard to say. But Taiwan doesn't even know her own name, so she won't judge. ]

This is how I write Holland in Mandarin. [ It's a word with two characters, so she points at the second one. ] This is the character that means orchid.

1/2

[nusantara]

I want to see all the flowers of the world, so now I must see what these orchids look like!

[nusantara]

[wait did she say Holland...? Her eyes widen, and she's a bit flustered for a few seconds.]

You know Oom Netherlands, too? Are you here to meet him on business? [she still thinks she's in the east indies sob... it's not her fault nederbutt keeps changing all her city names without telling her.] Are you a diplomat from the mainland?

[naicha]

No, no, I'm not from the mainland! [ She waves a hand dismissively. ] And I'm not here to see Netherlands. I just woke up here all of a sudden... What about you? Why are you here?

[nusantara]

[... that is a good question.] I think I was going to get some food and accidentally fell asleep... [this is a safe answer.] Would you like to join me? There are a lot of places in the city that sell cheap food! [nooo don't promise these things.]

[naicha]

Wah, I'd like that very much! [ bounces in her seat and claps yaaaay ] We better get off the train, now, too... Haha, I don't know anyone else yet, so help me think of one while we eat!

[ She looks reliable. Despite... accidentally falling asleep. SHE SOUNDS LIKE SHE KNOWS THIS CITY, SO. ]

[nusantara]

It'll be my treat since you're new here. [aka charging on someone else's tab. She nods, getting off the train.] Well I'm the best person to run into because I've known this place for over-[then she looks around... and this is so not any of the cities or villages near Batavia. She looks around, her face confused. She looks back at Taiwan briefly before looking around again.] I think we got off at the wrong stop aduh...

[naicha]

[ That's alright! At least they're both lost.

Wait, that's bad. But Taiwan remains optimistic! ]

Ehehe, where are you from, miss? Rakuen doesn't sound like one of the cities down south...

[nusantara]

... I'm from the Dutch East Indies. [she hasn't been in another place in a while.] It's sort of hard to keep track of all the city names because the Dutch keep changing the names.

[looks around more...] Do you have an idea what country this is?

[naicha]

I see, so you're Indonesia's! Mm! [nods, but something's off. Dutch East Indies?] This isn't Indonesia, but it's definitely got to be my brother's place. It sounds a lot like his language, you know. But I can't remember what it's called. Ahh, I'm forgetting a lot of things today!

[nusantara]

You know me? [oh no did she forget this per- wait she mentioned her brother's place?] Are you saying you're a nation too?

[Pauses, trying to think things out.] Maybe the trip has made you tired, ya?

[naicha]

Maybe! But I don't think I'd forget my own name so easily! I mean, I'm a country!

... too? What do you mean by "too"?

[nusantara]

[she bows a litt.e] I am Indonesia, you see. That is why I was so confident in showing you around when I thought we were in my house.

[She's trying to remember a nation looking like her, but... she can't remember. A nation who knows Mandarin, has siblings...] It could be something is happening back in your place. Maybe if you tell me more about yourself, I can figure it out and we can get back home.

[naicha]

Indonesia!? [ how could she forget AFTER TRYING TO GET ALONG WITH THE SOUTHEAST ASIANS FOR YEARS ] Aiya... ahaha, I knew that! I was just testing you...

Thank you so much! [ takes both her hands in hers ] Ooh, I really owe you this time!

[nusantara]

It's alright. Even most of my siblings don't know what I look like these days. [oh no... ]

But you knowing me is important! That only leaves a few nations. [She starts counting on her fingers.] Are you Macau? How about Hong Kong? [she won't even bring up Formosa because the last time she saw her was when she was a tiny baby in Netherland's place and once or twice with Japan.]

[naicha]

[ INDONESIA THAT IS REALLY SAD. ]

Macau and Hong Kong are boys! Besides, I'm not that tall...

[nusantara]

They are? I've never seen them before, but I've heard of their names. [Thinking more...] How do you know the Netherlands? If we do find him, I'm sure he'll know the answer. He knows almost every nation, I think.