if I could see all the symbols, unlock what they mean

[lifeinit]

Yaeko... has no idea what to make of this. She's half certain Akira mentioned something about a Velvet Room once, but it didn't make any sense - to her or any of the others - so she'd dismissed it. Too readily, it appears.

She lingers at the conspiracy board for a while, since it's a useful source of information from the looks of things (thirteen variations of Akechi? Why on Earth did anyone think they needed that many in one place?), before proceeding onward. Her first stop is Tokyo proper; for all she has no idea where she's going to stay now, it's somewhere familiar.

People-watching isn't nearly as fulfilling as usual when the people have no substance to them, but she can still find plenty to draw.

Once she's found her bearings, she heads for Iwatodai. Yes, it's nearly midnight according to her phone; that's the point. She's not fool enough to go into Tartarus alone, but she still wants to see it. These other cognitive anomalies are fascinating concepts.

Comments

Tokyo

[tricksterviolet]

As Yaeko walks through Tokyo, she may spot a girl nearby, looking around at some of the buildings as she passes through.

She seems to be trying to figure out what she wants to do, herself.

Honestly, Sumire's a bit indecisive. Maybe she could try to explore one of the clothing stores? She's been meaning to experiment with fashion, but...

Her eyes spot Yaeko from across the way, and she stops, processing her.

"...?"

She doesn't mean to be rude, but Yaeko *really* reminds her of Yosuke! It's uncanny!

At the very least Sumire should stand out a bit from the cognitive people, looking at Yaeko with a mildly surprised look.

[lifeinit]

She does, a bit, enough to catch Yaeko's attention. "Did you need something?"

There's no accusation in her tone, just curiosity.

[tricksterviolet]

Sumire snaps out of her thoughts, shaking her head.

"O-Oh, no! I'm sorry, it was just... You reminded me of a friend of mine, is all."

Maybe they just have a similar aura...?

"I'm sorry, am I in your way?"

[lifeinit]

"Not at all. I'm just taking in the scenery, though the people-watching opportunities are... rather lacking, all things considered."

She must have one weird friend, if Yaeko's that similar. (She does not think this is a bad thing, as she'd much rather be weird than boring. But the point stands.)

[tricksterviolet]

"Ah... That does make sense... The people here aren't very lively, are they?"

That's not quite the word she wants, but it was the first that came to mind. They're not really the same type of 'alive' as a real person...

"Oh, I should introduce myself...! I'm Sumire Yoshizawa. It's very nice to meet you..."

Actually, what is this girl's name, she wonders?

[lifeinit]

"They really aren't. It's odd." Tokyo isn't meant to be this comparatively empty.

"Kitagawa Yaeko. Pleased to meet you."

[tricksterviolet]

"...Kitagawa?"

She can't help but repeat that in surprise. That's Yusuke's family name! Surely he doesn't have a living relative... Does he?

"Um... You wouldn't happen to know a Yusuke Kitagawa, would you?"

It's so uncanny, what the heck?

[lifeinit]

"...No, I can't say that I do. Should I?"

[tricksterviolet]

"No, not necessarily! It's just... a funny coincidence, is all. That's the friend you reminded me of. You both have a similar energy to you. I can't really explain it..."

...Relatives? Counterparts? Sumire's practically got a question mark over her head.

"But um...! It's nice to meet you, Yaeko-senpai...! Are you new around here? N-Not Tokyo, I mean, but the Velvet Room."

[lifeinit]

Well, Yaeko certainly wouldn't know. Another mystery to add to the conspiracy board?

"I am, yes. I'm still trying to get my bearings, and I have no idea where I'm going to sleep, but I can work that out with time."

[tricksterviolet]

Sumire can't help but look concerned when she hears that.

"You don't have a place to stay? Oh..."

Maybe she should offer to let her stay with her...? There's plenty of bedrooms at her house, and it's pretty quiet there...

"Um... If you can't find a place to stay, then you're welcome to stay at my house for a while."

She hopes she's not being too forward with this...

"T-That's only if you want to, and if you can't find someplace better, of course."

[lifeinit]

"I appreciate the offer, and I'll be sure to keep it in mind if nothing else presents itself. I suppose it's more a matter of... not exactly being between places at home, as such, so much as not having a place I gravitate to as a home base."

She's not going back to that damned atelier, and she's at her wits' end with the Kosei dorms as it is, so that's out as well.

[tricksterviolet]

Oh, so that's what it is...

"In that case, I hope you can find someplace that speaks to you soon...!"

She can't imagine having no idea where to go to... It's honestly a kind of scary thought, not thinking of anyplace as home.

Even if her house feels empty and Kasumi's room remains untouched, it still feels natural for her to be there of all places.

"Um... What kinds of places do you normally feel drawn to? Maybe I can help you find something?"

[lifeinit]

"Somewhere with a lot of natural light, preferably north-facing windows, would be ideal."

Of course she has art priorities. When would she not?

[tricksterviolet]

Lots of light and north-facing windows... Where on Earth could that be...?

"Maybe you could use one of the fancier apartments with a nice view? The people here don't seem to mind if you claim someplace."

[lifeinit]

"That's certainly something to keep in mind."

It would feel odd barging into someone else's place like that, but if no one here has enough substance to care beyond a few select people...