Before I get into what this RP is about, I shall tell you a small story about how I came up with it;

Recently, I took a school trip to the south of France, to see Roman monuments and ruins in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It went pretty well, but on the way back, my iPod Classic's HDD crashed, so I was left with only my PS Vita for listening to music. However, the only thing I had on my Vita was, aside from games, the OST of Persona 3 FES and Persona 4. Suddenly, as the TGV was speeding alongside the absolutely beautiful mountains in the countryside, with Persona in my ears, Romans and medieval France on my mind, and reading a book on spies, I had an idea for a Persona inspired RP, in a fantasy setting. So, after reaching Paris, having a dinner of sushi and boarding the train to head back to my home-region of Normandy, I started writing the first thing that came to my head was regarding the setting (which, if the RP gets interest, will definitely be expanded upon).

With the story of my school trip aside, here's what I wrote, and the music I was listening to when I wrote it:

In a train station at a dawning hour of the autumn morning, a single figure was waiting. The cold air bit at him, his cheeks growing rosy as did his nose. He stood in a freshly washed uniform that had not a single wrinkle on it and had not yet adopted the shape of his body, the platform beneath his feet had many cracks through which weeds and other vegetation grew. While the station itself was well-lit, the surrounding city was left unlit save for a few candle lights shining through the windows adorning the houses in the sleepy town.

It was foggy. In fact, thinking back on it, it was very much possible that this "man" was in fact a woman. The _____'s uniforms, while differing between the sexes, could perhaps be confused for one another from a distance...

Actually, our narrator may just be blind.

Returning to the situation at hand, this unknown character, alone in the deserted station, seemed to be awaiting his or her train; a reasonable assumption, if we consider the location. With the fog of the morning creating a thick veil over the area, the features and exact look, feelings and emotions emanated by the figure were vague at most, but an observer could possibly and barely see that this person seemed at least somewhat excited to meet their new fate. Something in the way they stood gave off an aura of security, confidence and acceptance; acceptance of what fortune had chosen for him-slash-her.

Suddenly, lights could be seen through the fog as the awaited train approached. In response, the unknown character picked up their lightly packed bag and headed towards the edge of the platform. The train came, only a single car following behind it. The machine's brakes groaned and it pulled in up an almost supernaturally perfect fashion directly in front of the character.

Not a single man descended from the vehicle to make the figure enter, but the person quietly entered nonetheless, not letting the nonexistence of an escort subtract from their noticeably good mood (or was it?). Before entering, however, the character took a look around, and with the fog now steadily dissipating, the character's features were now able to be seen in detail, even by our perhaps blind narrator.

This "character" is you.

Feel free to ask any questions regarding the setting and RP and I'll be happy to answer them. I know this post is a bit light in terms of explanation, but I prefer to either surprise people or let them know about things they feel that they need to know through answering questions.

Going off the train can I assume it's a modern setting and if so will it be based in a school or will it take place outside of it.

ooh interesting!!

I came for the Persona. I stayed because I am legitimately interested.

Where would this be set? When I read about the train in your prompt, I though of Tatsumi Port Island/Gekkoukan High, but then I was read over your explanation I saw something about Rome.

It's a jumbled mess in my head, sorry. The setting doesn't really alter my level of interest, but it just makes for some clarity.

Original post was 2 weeks ago?
Guess it got buried or something since interests seems to be sparking ever since the first expression of interest.
I'd be more than happy to give a Persona type RP a go.

I'm guessing it's not Tatsumi Port Island though since it's Persona Inspired, making me think it's an original setting? Coupled with the train stations appearance (weeds and such).
No new questions from me, though like others I would like a bit more information regarding the actual RP itself.

I mean the motive behind the RP is interesting, and the introductory post is well written....
But I don't really have any idea what to expect from this RP besides the involvement of Persona-like elements.

Beware the 'Train Carriage World!!!'

Either way, I'm still very interested. Please PM me if ever you get an OOC up :)

This going?

Possibly not considering how long it took to get the first expression of interest, someone might want to send a PM to nudge the GM with a friendly reminder xD

I sent him one!

I'm here! Don't disappear on me!

It's an original setting, and I've had quite a few more ideas regarding it since posting the IC. I'll elaborate on it all in a bit.
For the moment, however, here's the pretty banner I made for it one night I had insomnia and needed something to do. The choice of font should help you realize the setting a bit better, at least in terms of time-setting (modern day).

Also, it has nothing to do with Rome; the architecture and society stuff that I learned just inspired me, plus the beautiful countryside down south really got my creative juices going.

That is pretty...

Please keep us updated if you post an OOC!

Ahem, so here's that further elaboration I referred to earlier.

The Closed World takes place in 2014, in the Independent Japanese Federation, an alternate history version of Japan. Its history is best explained through this timeline, which begins in 1918, with the first divergence from true history...

Timeline said
August 1918: Following the death of the Tsar and his family, Lenin and other leaders of the Russian SFSR are killed by a western-power hired group of assassins. The communist government falls into in-fighting and eventually falls.

December 1918: After the fall of Soviet Russia, American supported capitalists take power and establish the Russian Federation. The new Russian Federation spends the next few years rounding up countries that declared their independence during the revolutions and manage to restore pre-revolution territories.

1921-1929: Despite its initially close nature to the United States, the two begin to grow apart and in 1929, following the Wall Street Crash, decides to cut most alliances with the other power. The Russian Isolationist Period begins.

1932: Higher-ups in the Russian Federation aid Adolf Hitler in gaining power in Germany, due to incentives of technology sharing, though they still remain guarded in regards to international interactions.

1939: The Russian Federation and Nazi Germany sign a pact, though the Russian Federation chastises Hitler for his war-mongering in that year and ready their forces in case of war. As the Germans invade other countries in Europe, Russia refuses to aid Germany.

1940: Germany invades the Russian Federation. The latter declares war on the former and its allies, ending the Russian Isolationist Period. While the Russian Federation focuses its forces on the western front, the Japanese Empire invades and occupies Primorsky, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk and Magadan.

1941: The Allied powers incite a revolution in Paris and power over the occupied zone is taken by the allies. Vichy France is invaded shortly after. Italy defects from the Axis and joins the Allies. Germany sends most of its forces to the western front and makes an uneasy armistice with the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation removes its troops from the west and focuses on Japan.

1943: The Russian Federation takes back the occupied areas of their territory and invades Manchuria and Korea. At the same time, the United States, retaliating to an attack on American holdings in 1942 by the Japanese Empire uses its naval power to liberate areas in southeast Asia.

1944: Following the liberation of Manchuria and Korea, the Russian Federation prepares to invade Japan. They begin the invasion in July, beginning with Hokkaido and have taken most northern territories by the end of the year. America liberates all of southeast Asia around this time and sends aid to their Russian allies.

August 1945: Russia takes Tokyo and the Japanese Empire surrenders. Earlier, in the same year, Germany surrenders. The Second World War ends.

1947: Korea and Mongolia are granted independence by the Russian Federation. Shortly after, the United States grants the territories in southeast Asia independence. However, Japan remains occupied by Russia, with the exception of Kyushu and Shikoku, which are occupied by the United States.

1949: The Russian Federation and the United States, both tired from the Second World War, decide to watch from the sidelines as the Communist Party takes power in China, much to their chagrin.

1950: Occupied Japan is officially incorporated into the Russian Federation as the Autonomous Republic of Japan.

1953: Southern areas of Japan previously occupied by the United States are granted independence.

1961: The Russian occupied area of East Germany is reunified with West Germany.

1987: The United States supports a group of southern Japanese militants in taking Honshu back from the Russians. Hokkaido then declares independence and secedes to the southern provisional government.

January 13th 1990: The Independent Japanese Federation is founded, with Japanese (70%), Russian (20%) and English (10%) as its official languages. Russia, despite its obvious chagrin on the matter, decides to remain neutral on the matter.

1995: The IJF and the USA make an economic and military alliance and the Japan Self Defense Forces are founded.

2014: Present day.

Some information about the wonderous IJF:

Capital: Tokyo
Official Languages: Japanese (70% of the population native speakers, spoken mainly Honshu and Shikoku and the rest of the country), Russian (20% native speakers, spoken in Hokkaido and most northern regions. Was the sole official language until 1990) and English (10% native speakers, spoken mostly in Kyushu and other southern regions)
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Currency: Yen

The IJF is divided up into multiple Republics, which are the following;
-Hokkaido
-Tohoku
-Kanto
-Chubu
-Kansai
-Chugoku
-Shikoku
-Kyushu
-Okinawa

Aside from this, there is also the Federated City of Tokyo and the Southern Islands District (including Tanegashima and Fukue-jima, among others). Each Republic is independently-governed, though they also answer to the National Diet of Japan.
Other than its alternate history status and aforementioned differences (languages and thus cultures depending on area), the IJF is very close to our own world's Japan in terms of technology and daily life. See internet information for these kinds of things).

By now, you may be wondering why I've chosen to have this take place in an alternate version of Japan and not just normal Japan. Really, it's only for reasons of character diversity and to give a bit more interesting background so this RP isn't just a Persona wannabe.

Now then, here's some more information regarding the setting of the RP. It takes place in the Southern Islands District, on the island of Tanegashima, which, as part of an Japanese-American funded project in 1980, was connected to Kyushu by an over-water railway system (which was later connected to the countrywide railway system after the IJF became independent). At the end of the line is New Harumi City, of which modernization and construction began in 1979 and was finished in 2004. In terms of architecture, technology and standards of living, it is similar to Tatsumi Port Island of Persona 3. Unlike other areas of southern Japan, only Japanese is primarily spoken there, much like any city from before the war, with English and Russian being kept to schools.

No one knows the reason behind the construction of the city, but its high standards of living and calm yet modern atmosphere quickly brought in new population. Most teenage students in the city go to Shirasagi High, which applies to our characters.
Regarding our characters, they don't seem to have much in common, but a common struggle, pertaining to the title of this RP will pull them together...

And that's all for now. If you wish for more elaboration on a certain subject, feel free to shoot it or any suggestions my way and I'll be happy to answer them.

EDIT: KEEP IN MIND THIS IS ALL TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON SUGGESTIONS. NONE OF IT IS DEFINITIVE FOR THE TIME BEING!

I'm probably the only person that though of a 'gun' when you mentioned 'Tanegashima' xD
Have to admit that the alternate history is pretty interesting, though I do question relevance a bit, I was sort of expecting Russian Experiments to be a factor, but guess not.

Bit disappointed in the location too since I always look forward to changing seasons in RP's. Snowy Winters and golden red leaves of Autumn etc. Not too familiar but considering southern Kyushu's climate I'd guess snow would be unlikely (it's basically tropical island) and the scenery would be pretty constant throughout the year.

... Bleh I feel like I'm just being a hater now >_<
Pending involvement in this RP since I might be starting my own (depends on numbers).
But you've got my subscription for the time being :P

Kanami said
-snippy quote-

It's still all up in the air. For all that we know, the location of New Harumi could change greatly from this Interest Check to the OOC, so seasons that actually look different are still a possibility. Perhaps an area in western Shikoku so it could still fall into the former American occupation zone and the whole backstory of the city would still work.

Regarding the whole mystery aspect; stay tuned. The Russians may still be a factor!

EDIT: I don't suppose that gun shoots tornadoes, does it?

Tornadoes? xD Don't think so. Tanegashima = primitive Japanese gun

Don't mind me, I'm just being a bit strange I guess.
I mean Tatsumi Port Island hardly acknowledged seasons at all (constantly being a urban setting)
I usually think Yaso-Inaba when I think Persona since I played P4 first. But even P4 didn't really acknowledge seasons due to the stupid fog :/ Bleh.

West of Shikoku might work for seasons, but there's not too many proper islands you could choose from.
Personally I like conjuring up imaginary island/towns etc since I don't like being geographically bound, but that's just me xD

That answered many questions I'm glad I lingered. Looking forward to hearing more.

i'm interested still!

Brilliant, I shall start work on the OOC in a spell.

Are we going to create our own persona?

We shall see. To begin with, the presence of Personas is only a possibility at the moment and nothing has been decided as of yet.