Alright.... what now?

[fledglingcrow]

The glowing blue door was new to him, and he'd be lying if he said it didn't interest him. It wasn't attached to a building. It was just a door. So it was someone's elaborate prank or...

The run down was pretty simple. He just didn't know what to do with this information. He also didn't know why he was chosen to come here. To make bonds but it wasn't like he was lonely back home. He let out a sigh as he made his way into Tokyo. He should get himself together as he figures things out. He doesn't know how long he'll be here after all.

1) Somebody Real

He had loaded up a basket of food and other necessaries to live off of. He ended up going up to the counter and pulling out some money, luckily he was out for other things as well, oh no, who'd take care of that for his mom now. He needed to worry about him. He could figure that out later.

The man didn't even look things over, he just told him to have a good day. "I need to pay for these. I'm not about to commit thief." He said upset. Why was this so hard, did this employee really not care enough about their job? He wasn't about to be the victim of that.

2) That you are

He had tried to suppress the act that he was hungry. He had very little experience in the kitchen and he didn't particularly want to try today. It was stressful enough. A new place, new rules, no mom. He just walked around a bit to try and find a decently good shop to eat at. If anything he never felt so much like a kid. He wanted his mom the most. He wanted his friends. He had to be an adult now, he hated feeling like this.

With another step his stomach growled, a light red on his cheeks as he glanced around to make sure there wasn't any real people around. The fakes he couldn't care less about.

3) Higher ground

He wandered the streets, making sure his home was safe. There seemed to only be fake people around. He relaxed a bit at that he wouldn't have to worry about others. He now had to make sure no one had moved into his house. What would he do if someone had? would he have to find somewhere else? He really didn't want to. He looked at the door. He didn't see movement in the windows. He was afraid to knock. Would his key even work? This wasn't his world the lock might not be the same.

He backed out and sat on the curb. This would be easier with someone else.

Comments

3

[fogboundcrow]

Oh. It's... another young Akechi.

The fact that he's sitting on the curb rings familiar. It reminds him a lot of the day he met Ken.

And so, cautious, Raven approaches. "You seem a bit disheartened."

[fledglingcrow]

He looked up, what... that's him, but he's slightly older. Doesn't that cause a paradox? He clears his throat. "Just unsure if I'm allowed home. I don't know if the fakes are living there or not."

[fogboundcrow]

"It should be all right. None of these buildings are really occupied by real people, or if they are, you'd know because they'd likely lock the door." Well, for now, he'll take a tentative seat beside his younger counterpart.

[fledglingcrow]

"It feels wrong to just kick someone out. That's their home. Even if it's not real. They have things there." He glances back at the door. The doors were unlocked if no one lived there then. That was good to know.

[fogboundcrow]

"Well, the cognitions are mostly to make this place feel lived in. If it were entirely empty, I suppose it would feel eerie. That, and it keeps the businesses operating." Raven shrugs. It's clear that this new Akechi has a lot to learn. "The worst thing that could happen is a cognition is there, and you tell it to leave. Then it relocates."

[fledglingcrow]

"I guess that's true. If it was empty I would be a lot more creeped out than I was now." It just relocates. That was... something. Plus dust exists and yeah okay. He could understand it. "So i just ask?"

[fogboundcrow]

"More or less. And that's if there's anyone at all." He glances up at the door. "I was able to find my home without any complications."

2

[gorobo]

Falcon's carrying around a cannister of oil, having gotten it for maintenance purposes (his joints occasionally need it, after all), when the small Akechi catches his attention. Younger than Raven, even- goddammit Igor. He grumbles, annoyed.

More worrisome is the audible sound his stomach makes; one that Falcon can hear, even from where he's standing. He decides to cautiously approach, mindful of his appearance.

"Hello?" he asks, if only to make the other aware of his presence. "Are you looking for something?"

[fledglingcrow]

He knew it, there just had to be someone around here, that responded to him like an actual person. However what was looking at him... didn't seem. What exactly was he? "I was looking for food..." he said carefully.

[gorobo]

Yeah, that's... obvious. He notes the wary look, wonders if he should play up his cheerfulness, before deciding that no, that's not going to make things better. He adjusts the oil canister in his hands.

"I can't say much for the taste, but," he nods in the direction of the nearest foodjoint, "if you want, there's a place nearby that serves ramen."

He turns back to the kid, wondering if he should offer to join. He seems... troubled, to say the least.

"I could take you, if you'd like," he offers, "since you seem to be new. Did Igor give you the intro speech, at least? The man with the long nose, that is."

[fledglingcrow]

"Yeah, the speech was something. I assume you don't eat with that phrasing then." he said glancing at the canister.

He bit his lip. "I would like company."

[gorobo]

"It was confusing and uninformative. You can say it as it is." He shakes his head. "But you're correct; I don't need to eat, being what I am."

God, the kid seems so lost. He feels bad for the little guy.

"Very well. In that case, let's go." He quirks his lips up a little, amused. "I could hear your stomach all the way from over there, so you must be very hungry."

[fledglingcrow]

At least he wasn't alone in the feeling of being uninformed at first. He was a bit red at being told he could be heard about his stomach from pretty far away.

"I am just a bit hungry quite normal for a kid," he said as he started making his way over to the shop he mentioned.

2

[tricksterviolet]

Goro may notice someone... A girl a bit older than him, wearing a Shujin Academy uniform. She's holding a couple of bags, and one of them is holding... fruit? She must have been grocery shopping or something.

"Hmm...?"

She notices him, pausing as she does.

"Oh, hello. You look kind of lost. Are you new here?"

She smiles at him, trying to be supportive.

[fledglingcrow]

"Yes, I arrived today." She seemed nice. She had a nice smile. "I'm just a bit hungry, I don't feel like cooking." He said sheepishly.

[tricksterviolet]

Oh, the poor guy's hungry? OK, that's no good at all!

"Oh...! Well, um... If you'd like, you can have one of the peaches I got at Junes today. They looked delicious, and... it's not the same as a full meal, but a small snack is better than nothing...?"

She pulls out one of the peaches from her bags, and steps a bit closer to the new Akechi, holding it out to him.

"It's a lot to take in, being here so suddenly... If you have any questions, I can try to answer them."

[fledglingcrow]

"Oh, um, thank you. Have you been here a while?" he asked taking the peach. He took a bite out of it. It tasted really good. She was right a snack was better than nothing.

[tricksterviolet]

"You're welcome. I'm glad to help."

Sumire nods, shifting her bags in her hands.

"Yes, it's been a few months. I've been here since... I think it was March when I arrived here? March on the Velvet Room's calender, but at home it was September."

She pauses, thinking about it. Wow, it really has been a long time... It's September here now. Time really flies, doesn't it?

[fledglingcrow]

"So... time is different here then?" He hummed. "Do you need help with your bags?"

1

[vessel_ken_amada]

It just so happened that in the exact same store, Ken was browsing the shelves, trying to find inspiration for Raven's upcoming birthday party.

An argument at the counter attracted his attention, though: cognitions didn't really argue with each other, so that meant someone was here. He made his way there, and saw... Wagtail? No, Wagtail was taller. Someone new, then?

"Hello! I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new here?"

[fledglingcrow]

He turned, finally someone then... he had to just stare before composing himself. "What happened to you? Do you need medical attention? I know where to get some." He said staring to forget the argument.

He was so cheerful... did he not know? Or was it some pain response? Or was he going to be a normal thing around here?

[vessel_ken_amada]

Ken recoiled a little. Of course normal people would be scared of him...

"N-no, it's fine, it's just how I look..."

It's just what I am.

[fledglingcrow]

"I apologize if I offended you." He said softly. "As long as it's not causing you any pain."

He cleared his throat. "Let's try this again, I'm Goro Akechi."

[vessel_ken_amada]

Huh? This Akechi seemed to have gotten over it surprisingly quickly... Was he not scared after all? Was it really just concern?

...

"It's fine, I understand that it's unusual. And my name is Ken Amada. Nice to meet you, Akechi-kun!"

[fledglingcrow]

"To answer your question, I arrived here today. I'm not very used to this place." He smiled.

There was probably going to be a lot more for him to uncover as well.