[Open] A robot arrives in the Dressing Room

[gorobo]

'Well, that didn't make any sense. Thanks for nothing, weird old man,' is what he thinks.

"Ah, I see," is what he says, smiling at the long-nosed, bug-eyed old man sitting in the middle of the strange blue room he's found himself in, "thank you very much for your warm welcome. I appreciate your introduction."

Despite his near perfect disguise as a human, Goro's ultimately mechanical body bows politely, as if he'd gained any valuable information from this, instead of being spoken at nonsensically. What the hell is this place? The Velvet Room? Forming bonds? Concern about the place from which he came? As far as he's concerned, this is all looking like it's going to be a huge headache. 

Still, his scanners indicate that this is... not quite like the Metaverse, but something like it? The strangeness of it all certainly makes more sense when he looks at it that way. It's a place outside of his normal reality, that's for certain, though when he tries to recall the memories of how exactly he ended up here, all he gets back is some glitchy static that makes his limbs twitch. Fun! Lovely! Shido-san is going to want to know about this!

He blinks away the intrusive thought, the only indication of his upset as he looks around. Internally, he sighs, already resigning himself to figuring out how this place can be useful to Shido-san. He has better things to do, technically, but apparently, it's not like he's gone in his own world, so it's not like it'll really make a difference, either. Who knows? Maybe exploring this place will prove useful, in the long run. He's not sure what kind of 'bonds' he's expected to make, if any at all, though maybe finding someone and speaking to them may prove fruitful.

... Sure. That sounds logical enough. He's not exactly eager to hand yet another boon over to Shido, but it's not like he can refuse either. He's already here, after all. Not to mention, he is curious...

Hmm... usually, he's forbidden from leaving Tokyo. These doors lead to places outside of Tokyo, but since this is Metaverse related, perhaps he can try to...?

When he does not receive an internal error (though he's not sure if he's exactly happy about that), he opens one of the doors...

1.  ... and ends up in a city, which his internal GPS immediately pings as Iwatodai. From his databases, he knows the Kirijo Group has many connections here, which immediately sets him on edge. His body, however, does not react to his internal distress, nor the vague impulse to return to the Velvet Room already, and sets out to explore. 
2.  ... and finds himself in the middle of a shopping district... filled with closed shops. He gets pinged with "Yasoinaba" for a location. It's surprisingly quiet, but he finds that he doesn't mind all too much. Eager to find out what's so special about this town in particular for it to show up here, he starts walking around.
3.  ... and ultimately decides that he should familiarize himself with the Tokyo of this strange place. At first glance, it seems to be mostly normal, but the 'supernatural' feeling from before lingers. Legs moving near-automatically, he finds himself strolling towards LeBlanc.

Comments

3

[seekerofjustice]

The robotic Akechi finds that there's someone standing outside of Leblanc, staring at the door somewhat distractedly.

It doesn't take getting much closer to see that his features are very familiar... although the odd thing is that it's very plainly obvious he's human, and if you really doubted it from a glance, any scans would reveal the same.

"..."

This other Akechi reaches his hand towards the door, readying to step in... but with a strange heaviness to his actions as though he's carrying a weight upon his shoulders.

...The hesitation is palpable, why is he taking his dear sweet time? He's not even sure, himself, but it has to be annoying for anyone wanting to get in, as well.

[gorobo]

... What the hell. No, really, what the hell. Is that... him? He looks almost exactly the same as Goro, but he's... human? A genuine human? How? How does that work?

Weird cognitive bullshit as always, he thinks. He's not a Metaverse being, though, which makes it all the stranger. Despite his human-ness, there's something weirdly off about him, though. And not just because this is weird.

'Ugh, is he just going to stand there all day?' Goro thinks to himself, growing impatient. Weird or not, he's here to gain information, and he's going to get it.

"Ah, is something the matter?" he asks, politely tapping the shoulder of his... human clone? "You've been standing here for an awfully long time."

[seekerofjustice]

And that's enough to snap him back to reality, causing Dove to turn to look at the new Akechi with a quick flash of a smile... though it's clearly false. Huh, he must be off his game.

"Oh! My apologies, I was merely remembering something... Ah, never mind. It's nothing important."

No, no excuses. He's been blocking the way. Instead he just opens the door, smile growing just a bit more convincing with more effort.

"I've been blocking your way, haven't I? Please, allow me to let you through."

And so, Dove allows the new Akechi to go on in first.

He is rather curious about this one... Has he been here very long? Is he one of the ones Dove hasn't met yet? Or perhaps he's new? He can't help but want to ask... but he waits.

[gorobo]

"Oh, please don't worry about it. I wasn't in any hurry."

Not technically, no, but that doesn't mean he isn't irritated about it. Remembering something? In front of a café? And just... forgetting to move? Come on now.

This isn't a human version of himself after all, he decides. No version of him would be this absentminded. Does he sometimes stall while his programming tries to figure out what to do about a new situation? Sure, but at least he doesn't do it inconvenient locations. Seriously.

Besides, that's his own fault! Shido-san's orders are so clear, after all, only a piece of junk couldn't follow them correctly!

... Disregarding that intrusive thought, he enters the café. It looks the same as the one he's used to, so he takes a seat on his usual stool by habit.

2

[fogboundcrow]

Raven intended to peruse the shopping district in order to test the weapons from Daidara Metalworks and cross reference them with the offerings in Iwatodai. That antique shop had some promising selections, and efficiency was going to be key if he was to keep up with Ken in the future...

But, what's this? Another Akechi lurking about? Judging by how aimless he appears, it's certainly not one of the prior residents.

Well, well...

A little grin spreads across his face, and Raven decides to approach. "I take it this is your first time in Inaba? Or, well, this cognitive copy, at any rate."

Re: 2

[gorobo]

Something inside Goro immediately twitches at the casual mention of cognitive worlds, and the only reason he doesn't immediately go on the defensive is a stern reminder to himself that of course they'd know, they're here too. That doesn't mean they're hostile or a wrench in Shido's plans.

Especially since the person in front of him is a child. Come on, a child is no threat.

This results in him staring a little longer at the... actually, this child looks a lot like him, doesn't he? Weird. Incredibly weird. His programming isn't sure what to make of it... and ultimately seems to decide not to do anything at all about it.

Outside of staring a little too long to be polite while he buffers, that is.

"That would indeed be the case," he course corrects immediately, angry buzzing inside his head from his programming at his screw-up, though he doesn't show it outwardly. Instead, he bashfully tilts his head with a small smile that internally makes him want to purge his charge. "I must say, this is a curious place. Do you live here, perchance?"

[fogboundcrow]

Interesting. The staring... it's not wholly surprising. If anything, it confirms Raven's suspicions that this is a newcomer. Most likely, he also moved right past the board. A pity. That may have saved him some confusion.

Nonetheless, Raven retains his composure, with a curious quirk of the brow as he moves to place a hand on his hip. "In a manner of speaking. I've been within this place for... hm. Over six months now? It just so happens that I chose the equivalent to my real home within Inaba for its familiarity even before the house became a sort of roost for other iterations of us as well as Ren... or Akira, I suppose. It's always a gamble which name applies to a given world."

[gorobo]

"I... see."

Well, at least this child should be familiar enough with this place to help him find out more about it. Though, from what he just said, things may be more complicated than Goro thought. Ren... can also be Akira? Does he mean Ren Amamiya?

If he does, how does he even know him? Goro had only just started to get to know him himself, so-

Focus. Perhaps Ren ended up here as well, alongside... other versions of him called Akira. Then, would that mean...?

"You speak of Ren Amamiya, correct? There are more versions of him?" he asks, schooling his face into one of thoughtfulness. " If that is the case... you look remarkably similar to myself. Considering the strange nature of this place, are you perhaps...?"

"Oh, but where are my manners? My name is Goro Akechi," he interrupts himself with a small smile, "though if my hunch is correct, that must be your name too, no?"

Then, after a moment, he lets out a polite little laugh.

"Unless you, like Amamiya-kun, have a different name where you come from."

[herewardbound]

Most unfortunately, it was the morning, and that meant that he, Goro Akechi, was forced to take to the streets in search of the sustaining ichor of the night.

Espresso. Fuck he needed espresso.

Leblanc did not have an espresso machine, however, but perhaps with enough of the house blend in him, he could be ready to face the day.

One small problem, as he opened the door:

There was another him here. Another another him, a version he was reasonably certain he hadn't met before, and looking... not quite lost, he wouldn't use the term lost to describe that expression. But in unfamiliar surroundings, to be sure.

There were any number of greetings that would've been appropriate, in the circumstances, but also he was tired.

"Mornng," was just about all Mister Neophyte was going to get.

[gorobo]

... Is this a Metaverse being?

His fingers twitch, the subroutine for his finger guns readying itself the moment he sees the large... bird- thing walk into LeBlanc. His scanners don't ping them as a Shadow, but you never know, with the cognitive world. Maybe it's a Shadow with built-in stealth organs.

Who the fuck even knows with Shadows.

Though, once the bird gives him a grumbled version of what he can only assume to be a 'good morning,' he allows himself to relax. Not hostile, then. Still, he keeps a link open. Just in case.

... Why does it kind of look like him? No, really, what is this creature? Why does it have his haircut?

Ugh, don't tell him that this is how the public's cognition sees him in some worlds. He doesn't like what that says about that particular version of him. Or about him in general.

"So, what exactly are you supposed to be? Are you a Shadow, or what?" he asks, a certain snark to his voice, and then pauses, surprised at himself. Usually, his programming would force him to a: not ask something so impolite, or b: reword that in a more polite way. This time, the words just kind of tumbled out of his mouth, and even if his face is stuck in its usual, perpetually polite-smile mode...

"Huh."

[herewardbound]

For reasons unknown to him, there was no cognitive Sojiro Sakura manning the counter, here. Which meant he had to retrieve his own damn coffee. Happily, incompetent at cooking he might have been, but he could just about operate a kettle and throw some beans into a grinder.

"Definitely not a Shadow, technically I think I'm a demon, but it's complicated and a very long story."

[gorobo]

"Can't say I've heard that one before," he says, nonchalant tone at odds with his pleasant, polite smile. "Honestly, aren't demons and Shadows the same thing, in the end?"

He watches the other make coffee for himself- not nearly as deftly as Amamiya, though even if it was him behind the counter, Goro wouldn't be interested. He's especially not interested in whatever slop this guy's making, though.

"... I think if Sakura-san saw you doing that he'd have a heart attack."

3

[cybermask]

Futaba had, well spying was the wrong word. She just liked to check on the smaller version of her. She was satisfied after seeing that she was fine. She walked back passing by....

Goro. She was never shy about being around any version of her brother so she wandered over. "New here?" As far as she knew no one stayed in LeBlanc. It was something she didn't know how to feel about. She was used to the different feel each version had, call it her navigator abilities. She just had to figure out what made him tick.

Re: 3

[gorobo]

Looking up at the orange-haired girl, his face immediately contorted into a small, awkward smile, tilting his head disarmingly.

"Haha, you could say that, yes," he said, tone polite and high.

Internally, though, he found himself floundering. This was... Futaba... Sakura? Isshiki? Either way, the daughter of his first mental shutdown victim, and even if this was a version of her where, perhaps, no such thing had happened...

No such discomfort in his features though. Only that pleasant smile, pleasant face. A little too perfect to be natural, but nobody ever seemed to notice that.

"How about you?" he asked, voice rising with interest, "have you been here for a while?"

[cybermask]

She frowned. That was the most detective prince she'd even seen the Maruki controlled. She hated seeing the fake smile. What was going on with him? "You don't have to fake with me."

She sighed, "yes, I've been here since November so, five months."

[gorobo]

"Fake? I'm not sure what you're talking about," he says, confused and somewhat sad frown on his face. "I assure you I am not being 'fake', as you call it."

She's a genius, of course she'd know he's fake as hell- because he is. He wants nothing more than to tell her to fuck off, but instead, no, he has to sit there with this overtly polite face and demeanor. This is dangerous territory, he has to steer the conversation away from this.

"Five months, huh? That's a lot of time! I assume you've learned a lot about this strange place, then?" he asks, a not-so-subtle attempt of saying 'please don't push this'. "So! Any suggestions for what there is to do? I'm feeling a little peckish... but it appears Sakura-san isn't here right now."

Peckish, right. Awful diversion, if he's going to have to eat something he's going to scream. Internally, of course, but still.

1

[fruitknife]

As he passes the shrine, he might hear a bark.

Koromaru wanted to go for a walk and play on his old home turf, even if it's not home home or the version Shinji made for him in Liminal Space. But it's still nice! Throw the stick again, Shinji!

"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses."

He's gonna have to go upstairs to see what's going on, though.

Re: 1

[gorobo]

"Oh!"

Having come to a stop at the shrine, Goro suddenly finds himself being accosted by an excited dog, sniffing at his ankles. Internally, he feels some irritation rising- who'd leave their dog unleashed like that?- but whatever. It seems friendly enough, at least.

... He must say that he didn't expect a dog to be around this place, but he can't say he's wholly against it. Despite himself, the dog's happy demeanor, so carefree, settles some of his nerves from being in potentially Kirijo-infested territory. There's a voice coming from down the stairs; presumably the dog's owner.

Hmm. The dog seems to be asking who he is. He supposes he can answer that without seeming suspicious.

"Well, hello there," he says, reaching down to pet the dog (any good TV poster child would be nice to dogs, after all!), "I'm Goro Akechi. Aren't you just the cutest?"

[fruitknife]

'Infested' is a relative term. Normally, yes, they do have their tentacles everywhere in Iwatodai, but there's been no sign of Mitsuru so far (and fuck would Shinji like to see her again; he's half convinced he dreamed the time Aki turned up in Liminal Space, but Mitsuru didn't even get that).

"Another one, huh? You'd think twelve of you would be plenty." So presumably the dog is here with this guy, who doesn't look bothered by much of anything. "Name's Shinji. That's Koromaru."

Koromaru is content with pets! And with sniffing the new person. ...Huh. That's weird. But not bad weird.

[reasonliving]

Aigis was going to head back to the Velvet Room, when she finds someone wandering Paulownia Mall. He looks like an Akechi, but something seems off about him. Something she can't really place. She decides to approach him.

"Are you new here?"

[gorobo]

Goro nearly, very nearly stumbles when the- the other Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon approaches him, every alarm bell in his system going off at once. This- this is- this is one of his sisters, very clearly so, even if it is one he's never seen before.

For a moment, his systems ready themselves for battle automatically. If she's here, she must know what he is, there's no way she doesn't-

... Oh? She's just... greeting him? She's not... immediately trying to drag him back to the Kirijo Group? Is she...

Useful for Shido-san! Another assassin wouldn't hurt, now would-

'Shut up shut up shut UP,' he forces his thoughts to clear up. She's not hostile. Maybe she can- maybe if she's smart enough, has good people to help her- if she's not with them-

"Hello there! Nice to meet you," he says, smile on his face, body already replying and bowing in greeting before he's done panicking about her. He tilts his head, sheepish. "Haha, is it that obvious that I'm new? You're correct either way, though."

[reasonliving]

He seemed a little shocked to see her, did this Goro know her? Not likely. Did he recognize her as an Anti-Shadow Weapon when even Ren didn't seem to know until she told him? She supposed that was possible, but it's not worth dwelling on.

"You seem to be confused about where you are. You do seem familiar with the mall though." Just an observation, nothing more. "You may call me Aigis, I am from Iwatodai 2017." Hopefully that would get him to tell her where and when he was from as well.

[youngestdawn]

Aki-chan is exploring the neighborhood around The Roost a bit more when he sees an unusual Goro. He looks...new here.

And.

Weird.

Akira-kun slowly shuffles up to the older kid, backpack and notebook in tow. He looks up at the tall person with big eyes.

[gorobo]

Falcon notices the small child after a moment, finding himself meeting his eyes. He looks... Like a little Amamiya. Fluffy and small.

Adorable.

... He's not saying anything, though. He's just. Staring.

Uh.

"Oh, hello there!" he says after a moment of being stared at. "Are you lost? What's your name, little guy?"

[youngestdawn]

Aki-chan opens up his journal and turns it to the first page, an introduction page decorated with washi tape, and shows it to New Person. In his five-year-old handwriting, it reads:

"Hi! My name is Kurusu Akira. I'm five years old. I have selective mutism, which means I can't talk sometimes. Thank you for your understanding."