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Beginning
One moment you were elsewhere, surely speaking to your friends, fighting in a battle of your life, dying, or even in a state of non-existence in its entirety. It doesn't matter now, since when you open your eyes it’s become clear that not only is everything around you foreign and unfamiliar, so is everyone. And there seems to be a fair lot of you, at that.
It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.
The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.
A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.
Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.
For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.
Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.
It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.
The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.
A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.
Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.
For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.
Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.
III
. . . perhaps.
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[ he flips the notebook open and readies his pen ]
So obviously none of us have any idea what the fuck is goin' on here, but if ya had to make up a great story for what you think this shit is what would it be?
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I suspect we've been kidnapped, each of us from varying universes, times and places, and brought here for some sociological purpose. Given those ridiculous rules hanging in the main hall, I would further postulate that the purpose is something bloody-- a sort of last man standing. Though what they want with the person who's strongest is a thought that ought to be considered; I doubt it's to congratulate them.
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Knew a place like that, once. They put all kindas criminals who were gonna die anyway in a ring an' made them fight for sport. For rich people ta gamble on an get off watchin' beefy dudes murder each other.
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There are certain people who seem to revel in that kind of cruelty, yes.
[She thinks idly of Fink and his bloody raffle, but then forces the thought out of her mind. He's the last thing she wants to be thinking about right now.]
But you bring up a good point: do any of the people you've seen so far appear the type to be fighters? Criminals? Perhaps one or two, but certainly not all of them. You'd think if the people who took us were after a good show, they'd have brought more-- well, warrior-types.
More importantly . . . how precisely did they kidnap us?
[Frankly, it should have been impossible with her. (And truth be told, that's a thought that terrifies her, but she won't let that show; nor will she let the thought linger for long. How is important, but it isn't going to be solved if she panics).]
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Fuck if I know. That's why I wanted a good story.
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And what other ones have you heard, Mr . . .?
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[ more victims i mean volunteers to come im sure ]
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[ he thinks for a moment, tapping the pen against his lips ]
Okay! Once upon a time there was a big fuckin' dragon - like really, really big dragon, bigger'n normal -- an' he lived on the top of a hill. He had this weird fuckin' castle that was half kinda western but mostly Japanese 'cause it existed in two planes at once and he wanted to show off how worldly he was.
Only there were all these rooms in the house but no people. An' every day the dragon floated around through the house lookin' at his empty halls an' his empty rooms an' thinkin', "boy, it sure is fuckin' lonely in here."
This went on for like 1,000 years, right? And the dragon was so lonely he called up to the gods. "Hey, gods," said the dragon, "Couldya do me a solid? I need some people ta help hang out with me."
The gods listened to the dragon's pleas but they were unmoved. "Dragon," they said, "it was you who decided to live in a castle between worlds. It was you who decided to be so lonely, so far away from everyone else."
The gods did nothin' for the dragon. So he was alone again. An' every day he went through the house waitin' an' waitin', unable to go back to Japan and unable to bring anyone ta his castle.
Another 1,000 years went by and he was missin' Japan and his samurai friends. [ he pauses, frowining ] 1,000....plus 1,000... minus 2010....nah, ok, it was different years here. Not that much time had passed in Japan, but here it had been like 2000 years. So anyway, the dragon really missed his samurai friends 'cause they were badass and fought really well.
This time the dragon called to some demons, "Oh, demons! I need some help," said the dragon.
And the demons answered, "what do you need, dragon?"
The dragon told the demons about his hubris and about his castle and about what the gods had said. He told them about the 2,000 years of solitude and the samurai back home that he used to watch fight. He told them everything and he began to cry.
Now, see, people think demons are all evil and shit but he moved the demons hearts so much with their stories, they wanted to help. "We will bring you friends to play with," said the demon queen, "but there is one condition."
The dragon agreed to anything.
So the demons gave the offer like this: they'd bring warriors for him to watch - all kinds of warriors to meet in this world between worlds from all kinds of different worlds themselves. And they would fight the way his samurai friends had. But the demons needed something in return - some warriors could stay with the dragon but some would have to be murdered and fed to them. It was only just, right? For all the power they used ta bring all the people.
[ majima takes a deep breath and then his demeanor changes back from storytelling to his normal, chill self. ]
Ah, so, there ya have it! Now we're here.
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So she isn't nasty, as she might otherwise be.]
Not bad.
[It's almost like praise, and there's a slight smile around her lips.]
Come up with that on the fly?
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Yup! Storytellin's a fun thing to do sometimes, right?
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[But nor does she seem disapproving of it. Rosalind glances him up and down. He's still got on a frankly eye-searing getup, but she can live with that for now. She offers her hand.]
Madam Lutece.
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No time like the present, Lutece-san.
[ girls mostly get called by their first names but she seems like a Lady ]
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Mm, some other time, perhaps. Tell me instead: what's the difference between -san and -chan?
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Ah, well, "-chan" is for someone cute or someone ya think you're close with. And "-san" is just kinda generally respectful, I guess. Like ya'd never just say someone's name to them, unless you're super close, otherwise you'd be pretty rude.
[ he considers this for a minute ]
Was it Nishitani who called ya that? Feel free ta punch him.
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I might just.
[No, she won't, but she's pretty pissed, which for Rosalind means her glare goes about ten degrees colder as her mouth purses.]
You know him, then?
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Yeah, he an' I go way back. He's got some problems with boundries but he's a good guy underneath it, promise.
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[It's not disagreement; she's just in no mood to offer Nishitani anything remotely positive.]
Can I assume you're a part of the yakuza as well?
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[ he points at the ink peaking out under his layers of hideous jackets. but if she didnt know honorifics it makes sense she wouldnt know this either ]
Had a pin, but they jacked it.
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[She raises an eyebrow as he points to his tattoo. No, she's no idea what that signifies, sorry.]
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[ for all that he logically gets it that she doesn't get it, it's so weird to him. it's this huge unspoken thing everyone knows about at home. ]
Where're ya from anyway?
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England. 1909.
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[That's kind of a joke, or at least not meant seriously.]
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