[Closed] CW: discussion of potential violence

[dollmaxing]

[Location: Leaving Shibuya Central Street]

Once Zenkichi Hasegawa finally left, got his fill of terrorizing her, Ichinose ran into the back alleys of the cognitive city until she had to slow down. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins, and she picked up the damn bomb of a tracked phone out of her pocket.

It doesn't matter if he finds out - she needs help.

Flutter is all that works. Ichinose opened it up, going to the conversation she had with those in her posts, and directly messaged the man that was a strange if a bit shifty cognitive psientist. After her encounter just now, she understood exactly why he was being shifty.

She sent a message. Hello! Can we meet up in person? Please call and respond ASAP. :)



[Location: Maruki's Laboratory]

Maruki is a lovely host, if nothing else. This place is huge... but for now Ichinose was fine finding a seat and just melting into the cushions, an arm draped over her eyes as she tried to quiet the unease still buzzing in her brain.

At least the snacks were nice. And a lab setting was pleasantly familiar.

"What've you gotten into, Kuon..."

Comments

[paradisefraught]

Dr. Maruki told him they'd be having a guest, and here they are! Morning's happy to see them. "Hi!"

[dollmaxing]

A voice? Not Maruki's - Ichinose sat up, her smile popping up on her face to properly greet--

"Oh? Kurusu?"

[paradisefraught]

"No! I'm Akira. Akira Maruki. What's your name?"

[dollmaxing]

"???"

Akira Maruki? What? Ichinose just stared, completely dumbfounded. "I-- oh. Okay. Uh? Maruki-san didn't tell me he was a father. He seems young for it."

[paradisefraught]

Oh. This is someone whose name he should know already...silly Akira. He didn't tell her about me...makes sense. I'm not...

"Oh! The Dr. Maruki here isn't my dad. I have one at home..."

[dollmaxing]

"Oh! I see, I see. Sorry, I think he did say to expect someone here... you just happen to resemble someone I've been working with back in my world," Ichinose remarked, tilting her head and tapping her chin thoughtfully as she looked at him. It really did look just like Kurusu. "I've arrived in a bit of a frazzle, but it's good to meet you, Maruki-kun."

[paradisefraught]

"I'm. Uh. Just a version of him whose dad happens to be Maruki-sensei..." he plays with his glove. "It's good to meet you too! What do you study?"

[dollmaxing]

"I'm an artificial intelligence engineer," she replied, though she still studied him curiously. "...Are you still a Phantom Thief?"

[paradisefraught]

"I'm not a...Ferret Tank, no."

[dollmaxing]

"Ferret... Tank? Huh? No, I said Phantom Thief."

[paradisefraught]

"I'm not a Photon Tree, either." As he's working his glove, he runs his hands over the lanyard on his neck. "Everyone asks me that. I don't know what you're talking about, sorry."

[dollmaxing]

Her eyes catch the lanyard, and after a moment of tilting her head to read it, she plucked it so she could see it clearly.

Actualized.

The phrase that was on the board... interesting. He couldn't perceive the phrase 'phantom thief'. She'll have to pluck more information from Maruki later.

"Interesting. So, do you work here with Maruki-san?"

[paradisefraught]

"Yes! I love working towards a perfect future!"

[dollmaxing]

"A perfect future, huh?" Ichinose repeated, leaning back against the seat and crossing her legs more casually. "Pitch it to me, then. What's the perfect future like? What's the plan to get there?"

[paradisefraught]

"Well, everyone wants to be happy, right? Our theory is that, with the power of the collective cognition, we can bring a world where everyone's needs are met and there's no more struggle!"

[dollmaxing]

"Using the collective unconsciousness, hmm... trying to reduce material needs down to nothing would be a challenge, but outside of that initial rocky state of actually establishing a system, it might be possible."

[paradisefraught]

"I'm sure you can ask Dad-- er. Dr. Maruki about more details!" He hums. "Artificial intelligence? I'd love to have robot friends!"

[dollmaxing]

The trip-up...? "Is your father also here?"

[paradisefraught]

"My Dad isn't here, no..." Morning laughs, sheepish, looking away. "I...force of habit? Dr. Maruki looks and acts pretty much like Dad..."

[dollmaxing]

Hah! That's pretty funny - at least, she thinks so. "It's a little like when you accidentally call a teacher 'mom' or 'dad', isn't it?"

[paradisefraught]

"Exactly! He's a sensei, even!!" Morning laughs along.

[dollmaxing]

"Does he treat you well, Maruki-kun?" she asked, idly playing with the fabric of her labcoat between her fingers.

[paradisefraught]

"Of course! Also, I go by Morning, Sensei. Since there are so many Akiras and a couple of Marukis here, too..."

[dollmaxing]

"Morning, then. Did you pick that one yourself?"

[paradisefraught]

"Yes! I thought about Assistant, but Morning sounded better."