Enter the reflection

[darkerstripes]

The first thing he notices is that he's no longer plugged into his charger base. He wasn't asleep- he doesn't have the need- but he'd set his senses to 'hibernate'. It passes the time faster than being alert all night, when his (caretakers? friends?) humans are asleep. He has his danger alert system on, so if something entered the apartment he would know.

Apparently the same was not true of exiting the apartment. His eyes come back online with a soft green glow and he starts in surprise. Dust, cobwebs... stone. Nothing is familiar. That isn't possible. He doesn't dream, and he sensed no change, no movement. Hesitantly, he stands, glancing around, poised at every joint to run or dodge.

No danger is apparent, no matter how many times he scans. He can't trust his sensors, though, because they didn't even detect his arrival here. How could he have been moved without noticing?

"Kotetsu?"

He calls to his host. His own voice echoes back through the room, sounding eerie as it returns to his ears from the outside. They buzz with light feedback. He frowns. If anything has happened to Kotetsu... The android feels his eyes flash red for a moment at the thought.

He can feel the anxiety rising in his wires, sparking circuits and making his voice box feel squeezed. He remembers what Barnaby taught him, about controlling fear. Breathing in three, out five. In three, out seven, in three, out ten. Focus on your physical form. Take stock of what you know is true, toss out what you're assuming. Start over.

He is in a throne room. There is no immediate danger. He is unsure how he arrived. He is unsure of Kotetsu's whereabouts. The android takes out his phone and attempts to send a message. No signal. He does another breathing exercise. He doesn't actually need the air, of course, but his body requires the pressure change to speak, and the rhythm of it soothes even his synthetic body.

All other options exhausted, he must explore and search. He opens his map program and begins with a fresh, empty blueprint. He estimates the dimensions of the room, adds in the doors. He chooses one of those doors, and begins his exploration.

Comments

[darkerstripes]

As much as he is hoping that is true, that Kotetsu (even a Kotetsu who doesn't remember him) would find him charming, he would get quite embarrassed to know he succeeded. True praise is still something he's unused to and is still learning how to take. He thirsts for approval strongly, but he still doesn't know what to do when he gets it. Maybe Kotetsu can continue to help him with that.

Toshi would laugh at himself, if he knew how much his expression resembled Barnaby's. He's taken cues from both heroes now, after spending so much time with them. Having them around as he slowly develops his own personality, free of forced obedience coding and with the Brooks' Natural AI program running, has definitely affected his habits. Some of them are his own, certainly, and some of them he borrowed from other sources, but there are strong veins of both Kotetsu and Barnaby in his behavior.

That is surely a horrible picture of him but oh well. Kotetsu has a habit of taking unflattering photos. It's just a thing.

He has something else to fuss about a moment later, anyway. He's making sure he can keep track that he knows Toshi. That's... so touching. The android fidgets happily as he follows. "I am not sure why we don't remember arriving... or why you don't remember me." There are multiple explanations that don't have to be 'memory fuckery', but none of them are great. Still, the effort is so appreciated.

"Hopefully it is not another Maverick case." He doesn't want to have to lose his shit on another Maverick, but he will.

[oldmantiger]

"I don't think it's Maverick himself. I've been looking, trust me, and I don't think it's like that old bastard to stay out of sight this long." He would have tried drugging someone by now. He would have made a play by now. "But it's not like the powers of a NEXT are completely unique. It could be someone else with similar abilities pulling the strings here." And then, of course, he'd have no idea what to look out for. Either way, Kotetsu tries to make sure there's at least someone else in the kitchen with him whenever he cooks something. Just in case.

If it is another Maverick case, Toshi will have to wait his turn to lose his shit.

"Or it could even be something in the air. Something about this place, like gadgets always staying charged. We're up in the sky, you know? This castle is flying. Whatever's keeping it up...maybe it messes with our heads, whenever we're brought inside the field." Like an EMP for the thoughts. "I haven't met anyone here yet who wasn't brought here like we were."

Wait. That reminds him.

"Not everyone here is human. Or even, uh, human-shaped. There's other monsters here, besides the big green jerk. But they're all pretty harmless, so far."

He doesn't want Toshi to be alarmed at the sight of walking skeletons.

[darkerstripes]

Toshi makes a thoughtful noise as he listens. Probably not Maverick himself, then, which makes sense. He would be very, very surprised if it was. Though, again, with the timeline nonsense... still, Kotetsu's points are good ones, as always, and Toshi trusts his judgment. If it does turn out to be Maverick, though, Toshi will happily wait in line to use him as a punching bag.

"Perhaps some studies are in order." He isn't the most well-equipped to be testing a place for strange effects, but he could be less so. It's strange that whatever it is that messes with them, or brought them here to begin with, seems to have equal power over an android... and, apparently, over other creatures.

"Interesting. It is good that the monster ratio is so in favor of nonviolence." He's gone into scientist mode a bit.

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu punches the air in emphatic agreement. "In lieu of someone to punch in the face for this, I'd say some studies are definitely in order." Though, much like Toshi, he has very little idea of where to start. "I've been doing some climbing." He holds up his grappling hook watch for evidence. "Frisk mentioned there's some folks who can fly around this place, but I haven't met 'em. I figure most of them are probably trying to find a way down. Maybe there's something hidden on the roof or in a corner no one's noticed yet."

He doubts it, really. But what Kotetsu is mostly trying to avoid is getting complacent. Even claiming a room here for his own was almost more of a concession than he was prepared to make. He has to find a way home. He will find a way home. If it means getting back to Kaede, no stone in this place is safe from getting unturned.

...but in the meantime, they've arrived at those reluctantly chosen rooms. And Kotetsu has at least made some outward sign of marking them as their own. One of the doors bears a wooden plank sign nailed to its front. The words "Barnaby Brooks, Jr." have been neatly painted on that sign in black. An identical sort of sign, only bearing Kotetsu's name, has been affixed to the door next to it.

Kotetsu, meanwhile, lets out his breath in a long sigh, running his hand distractedly through his hair as he surveys his handiwork. "In the meantime...home sweet home, I guess. You can pick whichever room you want, and I'll make you up a sign as soon as I find the art room again."

[darkerstripes]

Toshi can't stop the fond smile that forms when Kotetsu punches the air. He's just like a little kid sometimes with his enthusiasm, but it's so refreshing to the android. It's pure and it's wonderful, and it makes him feel content in reality, as stupid and romantic as that sounds. "I shall work on some test designs, then." And make sure Kotetsu can be there for it, since he's so enthusiastic.

"As long as you're careful..." Fussy mombot strikes again. He lost track of you and when he found you again you'd forgotten him, okay? He's worried. "Flying would be extremely useful." He hopes he can find these flight-enabled persons.

There has to be some sense, some order, some force behind this place and everyone's arrival here. Toshi is going to hunt for it. Hm, that's very scientific of him, isn't it? That's another moment of individuality for him to jot down and keep close. A logician. Makes sense, he thinks, considering he's a being of binary and physics. There's an ounce of pride in his smile for a moment, before it goes back to just being fond of Kotetsu.

And his adorable little signs what the heck. Toshi grins a bit wider at them, warmth tingling on his skin. "Thank you." For being so kind despite not knowing him, for being welcoming and trusting and offering him a place near yours to call his own, for the sign offer. For just existing, really. He shyly approaches the room next to Kotetsu's, opening the door to have a peek inside.

It's a room. Dusty and full of webs and signs of misuse. It's simple, sparse. There is a desk, at least. Almost a table with a chair, really, but that's enough. He doesn't need the bed. Toshi's nose wrinkles at the mustiness, but perhaps cleaning it up will be a good distraction from his worries.

"This one will do."

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu scoffs. "I'm always careful." This is not as much of a goddamn lie as it sounds, at least from his perspective. He's always as careful as he thinks a hero can let himself be. But sometimes, you have to put yourself in danger so that others can be safe. It's just part of the job, really.

...still. Even he can guess a little at why Toshi might be especially inclined to fuss. Kotetsu smiles as reassuringly as he can, and pats Toshi on the shoulder. "Relax, pal. I'll make sure you don't lose track of me again that easily."

And a good way to start with that is getting Toshi settled in to a room nearby. Kotetsu finds himself hesitating for the barest moment as Toshi picks the one right next to his. Reassurances from Bunny aside, he's still having bad dreams. Though none of them have been as bad as that one on the first night, he still doesn't want Toshi to overhear.

...it'll probably be fine. The walls should be thick enough, as long as his dreams don't get as bad as Bunny's. So instead, he just moves to peer curiously over Toshi's shoulder at the new room.

It's about what he expected. Not for the first time, he wonders - how long has this place been abandoned for, anyway?

"Yeah, I know. They're kind of a mess. Hell, I barely got any sleep the first night I was here just because of how dusty it was." Among other reasons.

"Guess the sleeping won't be a problem for you, though. Man, that'd be great. I wish I didn't have to sleep."

[darkerstripes]

He rolls his eyes, facing away from Kotetsu. He most certainly is not always careful, but Toshi doesn't want to argue the point. He will just continue to be vigilant in his protection of his heroes. Kotetsu and Barnaby will protect all of Sternbild... or all of this Castle... and Toshi will protect them. That's how this works.

Toshi is caught off-guard with the display of encouraging affection, and the reassurance against exactly what he was most afraid of. You really are something incredible, aren't you Kotetsu? His face relaxes from it's initial surprise into total fondness. He never knew what he did to deserve Kotetsu's best effort, no matter how often he keeps getting it. Their old pattern of playful banter comes to the fore before he can stop it. "You better," he hopes it doesn't come across as too familiar. His eyes widen again for a moment and he stares at his feet.

"They are clearly unused." Which is for the best, in some respects. Toshi wouldn't want to commandeer a room that already belonged to someone. "This place is very strange." Did someone used to live here? Did it have a purpose and a family and a history? How would they even learn? Kotetsu had mentioned a library... with a big mean crocodile monster in it. Maybe not there, then.

"Shall I help you dust it? It is important to get proper sleep..." Fussy mombot strikes again. And shakes his head. "It can be rather tedious, truthfully. I am fascinated by sleep and dreams..."

[oldmantiger]

((ooc: And I figure we'll call it here with general cleaning/hanging out, say that Toshi met up with Barnaby later, and running off happens?))

Kotetsu knows that he can sometimes be very careless of other people's feelings. It's something that he tries to keep an eye on, because it's something that's caused his most important people a lot of unnescessary pain in the past. He's still not always successful in paying attention when he needs to. But it's gratifying when he is. The way Toshi seems to settle and relax and metaphorically start breathing again in the face of that reassurance is very, very gratifying.

He opens his mouth to tell Toshi that it's fine, that he got his room at least to the point of being liveable a few days ago even if he doesn't especially want to think of having been here a few days. But then he takes another look, and thinks again. Maybe it will do them both some good to get their hands dirty for a bit. It can be a way for Toshi to feel like he's doing something, and a way for Kotetsu to get used to being around him.

So instead, after he makes a play of consideration, Kotetsu nods. "I think we've got it pretty cleaned up, Bunny and me. But hey, another pair of eyes can't hurt, right? Then after that, I can help you straighten this room up. It's only fair, right?"

[darkerstripes]

Any carelessness that Kotetsu displays about the emotions of others is always from a place of ignorance rather than malice, and therein lies the important distinction. Kotetsu would never willingly cause harm to another person, and Toshi believes in that more than he believes in really anything else. Nobody is perfect, that's a fact of humanity, but Kotetsu is always striving to be better, to do better by others. Toshi strives every day to be half as strong a force for good.

It's always especially wonderful when the hero manages to do well with his observing. He continues to relax in slow stages, each breath that passes another little release of tension. He found Kotetsu. Kotetsu is safe, even if he doesn't remember him... he's accepting him again. Adopting him all over again, like he did the first time. "I would like to assist in making sure you can rest well, as long as we are all stuck here." He offers an uncertain smile, still worried his over-caring might not be welcome. But his fears are unfounded, of course, which Kotetsu proves all over again with his insistence in helping.

"The dust will not bother me but... I will not send you away." He doesn't want to leave Kotetsu alone. Not yet. He nudges the hero gently with his shoulder, and turns to Kotetsu's room to begin his battle against the mess of disuse.

((we can call it done there yes c:))