personavelvetroomdr | dropkicks him right into the velvet room

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dropkicks him right into the velvet room

[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?]

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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.]

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.]

[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.]

Need a hand?

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

[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.]

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.

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.]

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."

[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.]

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?

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.

...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.]

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.]

At any rate, I can lead you to the clothing department...

[Here, he'll even grab a basket just to make things easier. Who's to say how much clothing this other Akechi will want, after all?]

[He's sure that he could direct himself there - but he nods anyway. If nothing else, at least this means he doesn't have to carry things.]

How much do you know about this place? Beyond the parroted phrases, that is.

[All things considered, it's a fairly standard Junes. Big, spacious, with signs hanging overhead to direct customers to the larger departments. He'll of course lead the other Akechi toward clothing as they walk.]

It's more or less a multiversal nexus, dragging people from across space and time. There are approximations of real locations, including cognitive planes like the Metaverse and the TV world, which I'm going to assume you never heard of. Everything is free, but many of the 'people' here are empty cognitions.

Judging from just that, most of the people here should be connected to the Velvet Room in some way in their own worlds. You make it sound as though the place is some sort of palace, born from what we expect to see. Or what we want.

[Actually being inside a store - and the clothing section, which has mirrors - really highlights what a mess he looks. He stares at himself for a good minute and then decisively takes off his blazer, which is by far the worst offender.]

Ugh.

Hmmm... I've only really been to Mementos and a few TV world dungeons in my time here. I suppose you could say it's comparable, but I know the Velvet Room was aware of me beforehand. Igor-san had sent someone to keep an eye on me, but wouldn't grant me access until I proved myself.

[He was very close to doing so before he was brought here! ...So maybe he did, in a roundabout way?

Either way, he'll hover around this other Akechi, chin in hand.]

At least everything here is free. You can be as lavish as you wish without consequence.

[Nowadays his taste in clothes is markedly more expensive than the high end of Junes, but he'll take what he can get, and hope there's nothing odd he'll have to contend with. Trousers and shirts are easy enough to find; he can worry about the rest after that.]

Igor did? [He's multitasking by deciding between clothes and resenting that this kid was noticed so young.] I never met the man myself.

Well, I presume "the Nose" is Igor, given the obvious. I never met him prior, but I met someone who resided within the Velvet Room, who had more or less been assigned to observe me and I suppose facilitate bonds?

[He shrugs, hands in his pockets.]

It was all an annoying state of affairs, watching while those around me obtained special powers to cross over into the TV world, while I had to prove myself to get in. But I did it. I got the power on my own terms.

[Hm. Some of that is far too - familiar.] I can relate. To the frustration. Other people having an easier go of things, when we have to work harder for the same.

But I was never watched, as far as I'm aware... at least, not like that. And you're right. I'd never heard of this TV world before you mentioned it.

I could show you sometime. The entrance is actually in this very store, though I'm not sure if going from being covered in blood to exploring a cognitive world is ideal.

[On the other hand, it did help him bond with Magpie. It just required a terrifying Shadow to make it happen.]

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