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

[utopiamods]

As you all crowd onto the platform, all few of you, you are met by three girls and five boys, two of which are bizarre grey-skinned aliens. All eight 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 heavy clouds and cold drizzle. They're all sodden. Each has a beret with a crest pinned to the front - four depicting a shield, the other four a sword.

At the first lull in the chatter, one pale shield-crested girl speaks up, cutting through your conversations coldly.

"Attention please."

She explains that the eight of them are prefects, representing the two schools in Rakuen. Nanami, she points to herself, Yuri, Lelouch and Gamzee of Fortitude; and Santana, Flynn, Feferi and Gino of Conquest.

The girl called Santana interrupts, "Look assholes, I'm tired of doing this every week, just come to me when your name is called." They all move to stand in two groups some distance away from each other, and the two that spoke read off names.

Comments

Open! Come bug one of the grey-skinned kids.

[cullscuttlefish]

[Feferi's standing on the platform, adjusting her beret and turning the rings on her fingers. This was her first new arrival day as a prefect, and she'd be a liar if she said she wasn't nervous. She was determined to face it with a smile, though.]

Hello, everyone! My name is Feferi Peixes, and I'm one of the Conquest prefects. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me, no matter what school you're in. I'm happy to try and help!

[mamarosa]

[Dolorosa decided to come greet the new kids as well when she notices Feferi. Being in opposite schools means they've had only a little time to get to know each other, so it can't hurt to start up a conversation]

This will be your first round as prefect, will it not?

[cullscuttlefish]

Yes, it will. I'm kind of nervous about it, to be honest. But I'm going to try and do my best.

[She pauses.]

I didn't mess up by wanting to talk to everyone, did I?

[mamarosa]

I'm sure you will do wonderfully, and no, dear, it is very noble of you to want to greet those who are new the game. You'll make a good prefect.

[cullscuttlefish]

I hope so. I just don't get why we have to be enemies, the schools. Rivals, yes, but it seems just...I don't know. We're all the same underneath it all, right?

[mamarosa]

By pushing the idea of enemies you are more likely to fall into being rivals, as most hold no true grudge against those of the other school but become accustomed to competing against them. Sadly this results in bad treatment if the rivalry is not sustained or does not appear swiftly enough, but things will become simpler in due time.

[whitestknight]

[ and Flynn is next to her, not quite standing to attention but almost. He hasn't shaken off the daze of waking up yet. ]

Did you become a prefect this week? I don't remember seeing you in the headquarters.

[cullscuttlefish]

Mm. I just moved my things in, before I got here. I haven't had a lot of time to really settle my things in.

[whitestknight]

Ah, in that case, I look forward to working with you.

[cullscuttlefish]

Likewise! You must be Flynn, right? I know Gino and Santana already.

[whitestknight]

That's right. [ he glances away for a long moment, checking on the arrivals ]

Pardon me for my ignorance, but I have not met any of your species until now.

[cullscuttlefish]

It's all right. Most people haven't met one of us before now. I'm a troll, originally from the planet Alternia. There are a few of us here, and the Headmistress of Fortitude is one of us, too.

[whitestknight]

I see. What did you do on Alternia? [ she looks young, comparatively, but trolls could be like krityans, so. For all he knows she's much older than she looks ]

[cullscuttlefish]

I was - I don't remember a lot. I just remember playing a very strange game with a lot of my friends, then waking up here. I think a lot of the memories from my past are locked off in the system still.

[whitestknight]

But you still remember your friends, at least... That's good.

[maidenknight]

[ Whoa she's gray this is weird. And what is on top of her head? Is this some sort of monster, from the fairy tale books her father used to read her? Some sort of Night Walker, come from the north to take her soul?

Brienne isn't doing a whole lot of talking, but she sure is doing a lot of staring. Enough that Feferi probably notices. ]

[cullscuttlefish]

Are you all right? You look like you're confused...

[Not a clue that something's wrong.]

[maidenknight]

I apologize. I didn't mean to stare.

[ God she's dying to ask if this poor girl got Greyscale as a child. But she's never heard of a full-body Greyscale case before... ]

What are the ornaments on your head?

[pennypincher]

[ She looks weird, but Feferi seems a lot more amicable than Santana. So. ]

What do you guys get out of this, anyway? If it's ransom you want, my mother is never going to pay it.

[cullscuttlefish]

Me personally? A lot of new friends and acquaintances from all over.

The schools and the system behind it? I'm not entirely sure myself. But I know they're not out for money. If they were, they wouldn't give it out like they do, and they wouldn't send out a punishment if someone runs too low on it.

[pennypincher]

...they give out money? Like, for free?

[cullscuttlefish]

You'll start out with twenty Raks - the currency here - in your account. Going to school every day nets you a Rak per day, and you can take a side job on Saturdays to earn a little extra.

The rest of it is from participating in battles and vowing with someone, either as a Player or a Weapon.

[pennypincher]

...I see... [ She's already working the figures in her head. ] And what can we spend these Raks on? Do they want us to buy our way out of here, or what?