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Ambience

((I listened to this with some soothing wind/cityscape sounds and it was a DREAM for this))

Team Sun were able to claim a table on the train to New Coventry without a hitch. In the dead of night, no one was boarding from Neutral City which made the first part of their journey easy. Micha'el was thankful that the train wasn't busy, and the line itself had so much money put into it over the years that it was of the highest quality. If you weren't looking out the window you wouldn't notice the train had pulled away from the station at all. A partnership of Asmodian, magnetic metals, and New Coventry money to purchase arcane engineering meant for a quick, safe, and comfortable journey. Every hours or so the train would stop at a new town, and it wasn't until dawn when they began nearing the city that the team noticed more people boarding, and the closer they got the more fancy their clothes were. Micha'el slept for most of the journey, finding himself leaning against Lottie's shoulder. The brunette was staring out the window for most of the ride, wanting to see everything should could. But she would deny every falling asleep herself, which she definitely did between trying to get Tsuna's attention to point out some interesting landmarks or mountain formations. She even swore that she saw Bergrisok, the Moving Mountain in the distance to the north. Micha'el remembered being shaken awake to try and look for it, and he guessed she may have been right considering it would be on it's way to Autumn's rest near Asmodius in the west.

It was late morning by the time they arrived in New Coventry. The sun was alright high in the sky, but not overbearing now that it was late summer. Micha'el had been awake for some time and watched as the landscape turned from endless, rolling hills on one side, with mountains on the other. To flatlands and small woods, with the occasional town and industrial settlement. The announcer warned all passengers to prepare for the end of the line - New Coventry City, and suddenly the train moved into a tall forest of deciduous trees. Light streaked down to hit the thick, grass ground around them like spears from heaven. The atmosphere in the train even began to become more lively, with passangers collecting their things and talking to each other energetically. The passengers ranged from businessmen to classy entertainers. Lottie had noted how she recognised some elite guardians of the world, famed for taking down monstrous threats. 'Anyone who is anyone comes to New Coventry' Micha'el had told them, and now it really made sense. The trees parted and suddenly the city was before them, stretching into the distance, gleaming beautifully with a few skyscrapers. Dead ahead a gigantic hall, completely open on the side nearest to them, beckoned to engulf them as the train came to a gentle stop, docking at Greatstation. Team Sun quickly gathered their things and emerged from the wide open doors of the train to step out onto the platform, immediately becoming overwhelmed with the grandness of the city.

The station was huge, perhaps the biggest in all of Occulas. It towered high above, as if reaching to the heavens with a beautifully crafted, barely golden tinted glass roof. It lit up the marble pillars and walls as if it was submerged in champagne. There was a huge tower in the centre of the hall with a huge clock face on the front of it. Beneath it was a fountain, decorated with shrubbery that spiralled around its tower. At the edges of the hall, in all directions were different shops. Fragrant perfume shops, esteemed tailors, hairdressers and more. Anything a visitor could need before entering the beauty waiting for them behind this station. Micha'el almost felt a chill as he looked up to see a balcony with enchanted instruments delicately playing live music. Strings sung, brass hummed and a grand piano played sweet, rich notes that sunk into your brain. Adorning each pillar at the edges of the hall were baskets near the top, housing white lilies and cascading, viridian vines and leaves. Chandeliers hung from the glass ceiling with huge glass bulbs that would be lit at night. Carpets of cream and blue directed you to any area of the station, flowers pots at every corner. After taking it all in, Micha'el lead the team down the marble steps from the platform into the main hall, seeing a bright light coming from the main gates dead ahead, leading to the city. It was as if heaven itself waited for them. Lottie was so amazed by the sight of it all that she hadn't said a word, and was instead turning around slowly as she took it all in. "Welcome to New Coventry City" Micha'el said, "the city that never sleeps, and presents itself as heaven on earth." Nearby a group of young men and woman rushed by, excited to be getting on about their day. Another few walked by, talking about how Neversleep Mansion was holding another party tonight. It was busy, very busy, and yet somehow the place conveyed a sense of calm and serenity. But it wasn't in the same way that Zakernand might present zen, for example. It wasn't like running water of a river, calming your mind. It was as if the strings of the music played on your heart, taking the notes that feel most beautiful, tasted most sweet. It wasn't fake, as if it was covering up a wound with a colourful plaster - but it was purposeful, as if to make you forget about your worries. Wistful and longing.

After taking it all in, Tsuna was the first to break the groups silence. Micha'el nodded in agreement. "She's right" he said, glancing at Lottie, and then around the room once again as he imagined glimpses of his past. "It's idealistic here, and easy to... get lost"

Micha'el saw the imagine of a young child vacating a nearby train. The boy was young, with blonde messy hair and wide eyes peering through spectacles. He was holding the hand of his brother, who had hair as black as night and stood at double the youngling's height. The boy led his older brother down the steps, running past the commotion of the train station, gawking at everything buzzing around them. The older brother held the boy back, with a smile, and knelt down to him. Something was muttered - words that Micha'el could not remember. The young boy then smiled back and let his older brother lead the way, who stared deterministically out the giant archway ahead. Micha'el could remember that whimsical feeling, he never wanted to leave...

"Let's go" Micha'el said, leading the team out through archway, letting the midday sun beam down over them like golden curtains. As they emerged, Micha'el saw the world outside come into focus. Tall buildings dotted the landscape. They were standing atop stairs that overlooked a grand boulevard lined with emerald trees. Ahead, the path stopped at a halfwall and split either side, leading down to the boulevard. This street was strictly for pedestrians, except for another road that cut through it from left to right, where taxi's powered by arcane crystals lined up and took passengers around the city. From what Micha'el could see, there were very few privately owned vehicles here. Another elevated railway stretched across along the side of the boulevard, carrying a city train that vanished into the horizon, possibly heading towards the other end of the city. Down the main boulevard was also a tramline, filling with people who hurried about their day, with smiles filled with earnest, and wallets filled with Octen. Fresh air gently blew by, rustling the rows of trees nearby, as if pulling them into the city. "I can see how you may never want to leave" Lottie said, walking to the edge of the steps where she could lean over the wall to observe the street beneath them. "Everyone here looks so happy. My sister has performed here several times and has always said it was a great place to be..."
"She's not wrong - New Coventry is genuinely nice... but that's because its undesirables have their own place to be. Come."

It didn't take them long, perhaps 30 minutes to reach their location. It was off the centre of the city, along a line of shops. Micha'el took them to one particular building and told his team not to agree to anything they try to sell. Lottie looked up as he headed inside the building, reading an arched plate above the double doors that read 'La Porte du Paradis', Heaven's Gate in French. The shop's slogan read 'where dreams are made real' beneath it. Lottie scowled, looking up to Tsuna before passing through after Micha'el. Immediately the smell of incense filled her nose, alongside a peculiar smell of jasmine. The shop was of moderate size, with hanging plants of dark greens and flowers of red and blue. There was a particularly Asian theme, but it was delicate and upper-class. Private rooms could be seen through doorways, and a curved staircase climbed above the counter at the back. The walls here were lined with various scrolls and papers, books and ornaments. Above, a balcony with a great dreamcatcher made of metal and silk watched over them. Behind the counter was an elf, wearing an elegant black and white dress. She had pale skin, long brown hair which was tightly pulled back into a long tail. Jasmine flowers adorned her chest like a broach on one side. "My, my" the elf said sweetly, with an earnest smile, "you're a little young to be coming to a place like this. Tell me how we can assist you. Do you need a dream realised? Or a nightmare forgotten?" she leaned forwards, eyeing Tsuna before Micha'el stepped in the way. "We're not here to weave dreams" he said. However the woman couldn't help but glance at Tsuna over his shoulder. Lottie instinctively held onto Tsuna's hand. "Dreams are what make us who we are, nightmares warn us whom we shouldn't become" Micha'el said, eyeing the woman.

The elf did not expect Tsuna to become to brazen and to-the-point, however it did appear to catch her attention. Micha'el shifted slightly as Tsuna stepped up beside him, where the two casually exchanged a glance. He swallowed. The elf then grinned, leaning back and cocking a hip as she crossed her arms and said "I'm not sure if you read the sign, my lady, but this establishment does not deal with portals, and particularly not to the southlands. I can however spin a tale of a grand adventure to such a place, weave a dream, or a memory, and let you live it over and over. You could be the hero, the villain, you could be rich... accepted... wanted."
"Enough" Micha'el said, clenching his jaw together as he eyed Tsuna again. Something bothered him. Lottie then stirred, innocently stepping up as she said "we need access to the Greymarket. We're certain you know how"
"I know of no such Greymarket nor does my business revel in such activities. Now, unless you plan on trading memories and creating dreams, then I have no business for you"
"The Playground." Micha'el muttered. The elf paused, taking her eyes away once again from Tsuna. Micha'el added "we were told what was down there... and we wanted a peak." This was one of the few phrases used to get into the Playground. The elf scowled, narrowing her brows inquisitively, attempting to see through Micha'el's words. Her tone, now less sweet, carried a different wait to it now. "And why should I grant you passage just because you know the right words?" she asked, reluctant to help them.
"Maues" he said, anxiously. "I'm Filomena's son. She gave you plenty of business" There was then the sound of a door opening beside them, from one of the private rooms where a lady with long braided hair and tattoos on her skin stepped into the room. She was decorated in silver jewellery and wore some modest black clothes, including tank top, skirt with tassels and black tights. One side reaching her knee, the other her ankle. Her heels hit the floor as she moved to join the elf, a sheer grey cloth hanging from arms, neatly resting behind her back. "Malika" the elf said obediently. Malika made no eye contact as she moved, speaking softly with a barely noticeable accent. "I thought i'd seen your face around here... Filomena" Malika mused the name, "... I haven't seen her in some time. You must send her my regards." She finally looked up at the elf and said "Emmerlita, prepare the lift please. I'll escort Team Sun." Finally, Malika turned to the team and gave them a small smile, leaning her hands against the counter as Emmerlita moved out from view. "What brings you three to the lost and found? Tell me, what do you seek?" Malika asked, genuinely. Micha'el couldn't tell if she was trying to be threatening, friendly, or was simply a lady that was hard to read.

Lottie tugged lightly on Tsuna's hand as she moved forward to defend Micha'el, then was forced to let go when Tsuna slammed her hands on the table to get Malika's attention. The woman raised her brows, eyes wider now as she tilted her head at the red-head. "Now now" Malika cooed softly, rolling her eyes, "I heard you the first time, so you didn't need to repeat yourself. And I can get you a portal." Malika turned on her heel, moving around the counter to meet Tsuna. Malika was taller than all three of them, thanks to her being older than them. But Lottie couldn't place an age on her exactly, she had to be early twenties perhaps. "Sure you don't want to hang around a little longer and try out Emmerlita's craft?" Malika asked, tilting her head again, "she's the very best Dreamweaver in all of Occulas, unless you're living the dream now - then she could always make you forget something particularly dull and dreary-"
"She doesn't want any of that nonsense, Malika!" Micha'el interrupted, raising his voice, clenching his fist. Lottie could see his chest was puffed up, moving up and down. He was clenching his teeth in an attempt to hide his heavy breathing. "Micha'el..." Lottie whispered, now clutching onto his hand. Malika simply rolled her eyes again and tutted. "Fine, this way" she said, winking at Tsuna before spinning on her heel and leading them towards the stairs.

They climbed the curved steps, leading up towards the curtained balcony they observed earlier. As the giant dreamcatcher vanished beneath them, Emmerlita pulled the curtains to reveal a wall of dark, dull bricks with questionable cement. Pipes and buttons glowed beside it, and the floor held a circular metal plate. It looked bronze, with all kinds of scuffs and scratches on its surface. "You know, Micha'el, you were much more fun when we were younger."
"No, I wasn't. That was-" Micha'el paused, shaking, then looking to Tsuna as he took a breath and said "someone else."
"Hm" Malika muttered, not caring anymore as they came to a stop as Emmerlita passed them. "Welcome to the Playground, kids" the elf smiled before descending the steps and pulling the curtain shut again. Malika turned to Tsuna and said "I think you'll like it down here." She then pulled a lever and the floor beneath them dropped an inch. Bars appeared from the ground, spiralling around them to form a cage as a green light came to life in the centre of the plate beneath their feet. The lift then began to slowly descend.

Welcome to the Playground

Malika stood silently, but Lottie noticed a grin just before a purply hue filled their little cage, seeping out of the brickwork rising around them. "Don't worry" Malika said "It's just a suppressive agent, calms down angry visitors or... occasionally debt collectors, police, etc. It'll wear off at the bottom." Lottie looked to Micha'el and Tsuna, however she already felt herself becoming calmer than usual. In fact... everything was a little glowy - as if she'd had her first drink. Micha'el felt his senses instantly balance out, he was no longer angry, he was simply fine. He noticed then as the brickwork around them vanished in the front to reveal a gigantic city district hidden beneath the taller buildings and traffic above. Natural light spilt down in a few places, however much of it deflected off stained purple or green glass that caused the district to glow. Malika took this as her moment to begin selling the place to Tsuna and Lottie, who obviously hadn't seen it before. She also knew that the gas surprising their emotions would mostly keep them quiet.

To Team Sun, the conversation that took place was fleeting, choppy, and more like a music video than real life. Was there... music? Micha'el could've sworn he heard music. He looked out, trying not to get wobbly legs as he did so, watching the district beneath them, far far below, slowly ascend closer to them. There was a club or something, he thought, faint music was coming from it. Malika spoke to them, offering what the Playground could give them, hovering around Tsuna frequently, describing exchanging secrets, fantasies, nightmares. Referring to the Playground as a wasteland. Daring them to name a price, that everyone had one.

"Welcome to the playground, follow me.
Tell me your nightmares and fantasies.
Sink into the wasteland underneath.
Stay for the night, I'll sell you a dream.

What brings you to the lost and found, dear?
Won't you pull up a seat?
Everybody got a price 'round here to play.
Make me an offer, what will it be?
Oh, what will it be?"