dropkicks him right into the velvet room

[pyrrhicjustice]

[The Velvet Room is now host and occupant to a Goro Akechi who is lying flat on his back. It certainly seems he arrived that way, and he shows no sign of moving yet. His school blazer seems to have been rained on, although in the blue lighting of the Velvet Room it only seems darker than usual.

Maybe once he's been encouraged to move into better lighting, it'll be noticeable that the rain was of a distinctly red nature, but that's for then, and this is now.

Oh, and there's also a blue butterfly flittering nervously at Igor, who seems sad at its presence.

Poke the (not exactly) sleeping Akechi?]

Comments

[pyrrhicjustice]

[She does indeed land on his hand. She... seems remarkably comfortable there, too. Enough to recoup her energy for... a little bit.]

[fogboundcrow]

You can stay there as long as you need.

[He's... not sure what else to offer, so he'll just let her chill, watching curiously.]

[pyrrhicjustice]

[She appreciates it. It's not like she can really talk, it seems, so the ability to just... recuperate her energy is welcomed.

It also gives the Akechi on the floor enough time that his eyes start to subtly blink open, but he's not quite fully awake yet.]

[fogboundcrow]

[The butterfly holds his attention until... wait a sec. The not-dead Akechi's eyes are opening.

Time to inspect.]

Ah. Finally waking up, are we?

[pyrrhicjustice]

[At first he just blinks up, not sure what he's seeing. Then he stares. Incredulous. He knows that face.]

Lavenza, you've taken me back too far.

[fogboundcrow]

Never heard of Lavenza, but... welcome to the Velvet Room?

[Igor chuckles and from across the room:]

This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter...

[He facepalms using his free hand, so not to disturb the butterfly.]

Yes, that.

[pyrrhicjustice]

[Lavenza-the-butterfly starts flapping around excitedly at those words, enough that he half-heartedly puts his hand over his eyes to shield himself from it in his own facepalm.]

I suppose that explains my continued existence. But if you don't stop buzzing in my head, I'm still going to find a fly swatter.

[He... is not actually going to do that. The butterfly isn't even feeling threatened. But he's making the threat on the principle of the thing.]

[fogboundcrow]

...So you are dead.

[That explains the blood. However, this raises many other questions, such as-]

So, are you a zombie? A ghost? A vampire, perchance?

[pyrrhicjustice]

I might as well be.

[Dead, erased from society's cognition when cognition and reality were merged - same thing.

He sighs.]

An idiot.

[fogboundcrow]

Do you need something to wipe off all that... It's blood, isn't it?

[It's too dark to be water, so it might as well be. And either way, it's quite the sorry state to be in.]

[pyrrhicjustice]

[He somehow manages to lift his arm to look at his sleeve, and... oh, that was something that was happening, wasn't it?]

It isn't mine. [As if that'd make a difference- then again, at least he hasn't been stabbed on top of everything else.] It'll be all over. It was- raining.

[fogboundcrow]

...So do you need a change of clothes? I can probably find something.

[Because something tells him, this Akechi isn't likely to get up any time soon. He looks like he just wants to lie there, becoming one with the floor.]

[pyrrhicjustice]

That... [-wasn't going to be a problem, before, he almost says. But whatever this cognitive space is, that's a kid.] would be appreciated. Not that I'll be able to do anything about it until I'm out of this- entrance hall? [It's a question. There's a pause. And then,] Hm.

[Like he was talking to someone else for a moment.]

[fogboundcrow]

Yes, you should probably get up if you have the energy to do so. I'm not sure the Velvet Room is the ideal changing room, after all.

[What with Igor right there, it's not exactly a private space.]

[pyrrhicjustice]

[Not to mention that even lying on his back like this, he can still see the numerous doors on each side. Anyone could come in at any time - like this kid had, in fact.

He begins making the herculean effort of sitting up, at the very least.]

[fogboundcrow]

Need a hand?

[He'll offer one just in case. It's only fair.]

[pyrrhicjustice]

[He resents needing the help, but at this point he's lost all of the pride he'd been holding onto so closely. The kid's already seen him dead (ha) on the floor. And Lavenza is just hovering, waiting for him.]

Fine.

[So he gives in and takes the hand. It doesn't make it hurt that much less, but at least it's over quicker.

And then, he's stood.]

[fogboundcrow]

Any preferences?

[He gestures to the myriad doors.]

I'm guessing Tokyo's more familiar to you, and since everything's free, I suppose you have options. Or we could just raid my older self's closet. He mostly just wears his Shujin uniform, anyway.

[pyrrhicjustice]

As long as I don't have to go back to Shibuya, I don't care.

[He's... tired. Part of him has just felt homesick for weeks - but it's not like he's been able to do anything about it.]

...your older self goes to Shujin. [And that older self clearly isn't me, goes unsaid.]

[fogboundcrow]

Hmm, Junes may be better, then.

[He'll go ahead and lead him toward the Inaba door as they talk.]

But yes, he goes to Shujin, and is apparently not only a detective, but a "Phantom Thief," a "Shadow Operative," and is dating someone named Ren Amamiya who other people know as "Akira Kurusu."

[pyrrhicjustice]

[He freezes up at that name. And- dating. A version of reality where they could do that.]

Junes? Fine. How- likely is it that we'll run into them?

[He knew that he'd have to face Akira again, but he'd prefer more time. (Ha, time. Isn't that funny) and worse still if that other version of him... well. His voice makes it sound slightly strangled.]

[fogboundcrow]

He's likely at home right now. We live with two young children, so one of us always has to be available to look after them.

[Thankfully, with the power of thought, all Akechi has to do is will Junes to be on the other side and, boom. There it is. Still...]

Is there a problem?

[pyrrhicjustice]

My life has been one problem after another for the past several weeks. Whatever's going on here might as well happen.

[Still.]

Children, though? I thought you said he was still in school.

[fogboundcrow]

...That's because the children entered our care here. He's gay, and even if he wasn't, I would assume he'd use a fucking condom if he really couldn't control himself.

[Honestly! He would hope his future self is more responsible. And... well, trans people are also a thing, but he's made no indication that his boyfriend is trans. Granted, that is also a deeply personal thing and outing is bad, and-

Right. Junes... He'll just. Lead this other Akechi toward the doors.]

[pyrrhicjustice]

Right. [He's taken that in, but in its own way it just makes it harder - more differences, more things he can't have...] I should hope so.

[He's listening. He's just... not completely there.]