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

[oldmantiger]

In this, they would actually quite agree - although of course, Kotetsu would never use those exact words or even say so directly. But he's only just begun to accept the idea that Barnaby is allowed to worry about him, which is a category that was previously only really occupied by his mother and his brother. While he certainly won't stop Toshi from scolding or lecturing him, Kotetsu is also going to be much more likely to tune him out with the best possible intentions. Already, he's back to thinking about how he knows best how to look after himself, and that it's more important to protect Toshi while he finds his feet here.

Toshi will no doubt be able to bring Kotetsu a little further back into line soon enough, however. He's already proven that he knows how to talk to his model just to get as far as having Kotetsu walking comfortably beside him.

"Great! I mean, he probably can't get everywhere. Just keep an eye out for places big enough for a giant crocodile to hide. Like, um...the library."

He's only risked going in there once or twice, so far. And only to look for his hat. He hasn't had any luck, so far.

"Speaking of places to hide, I should probably show you where Bunny and I are staying." He scratches thoughtfully at his head, already trying to review his own very shaky mental map of the place. At least in as much as anyone can map the castle. "It's an empty hallway otherwise. So you can pick whichever room you want." Not that an android would probably need to sleep, he realizes even as he's saying this. But...well, what else are they supposed to do? Leave him out in the hall? Toshi deserves to have a place of his own if he wants it...and he should know what to look for, if he needs to find them in a hurry otherwise.

[darkerstripes]

Patience and persistence has gotten Toshi very far in the past, even with the short time he's had free of his Master's control. He can be patient again, picking at Kotetsu's particularities until he's counted among those who are allowed to fuss over him. Until he's close enough to his human original to feel like he can have the casual touch he so craves without asking every time. That's enough to hope for, he thinks, even if there was far more between them starting to bloom and settle when he left... no, he can't assume that will be the case again.

Besides, he will be happy enough to be allowed to care for Kotetsu and Barnaby, and to be considered a friend. The hugs and smiles are a fabulous start.

"That is very good. I would prefer all of the residents of this castle not be in constant danger." They would all have their work cut out for them.

He perks up, almost catlike. Kotetsu is going to show him his and Barnaby's rooms? Such trust, already. He smiles a soft smile and shakes his head to himself. Of course Kotetsu would trust him so much again so quickly. He never should have underestimated. Still, it's a significant gesture. "I don't really need..." he trails off as a series of thoughts intrude. He doesn't need a room because he doesn't sleep. He doesn't sleep because he simply recharges. He arrived here uncomfortable because his charger was unplugged and left behind.

He has no charging station. He will eventually run down on battery and be unable to continue operating unless he finds or builds one. Right?

[oldmantiger]

"Mm?" Kotetsu looks over curiously at Toshi as he trails away. He doesn't immediately guess at the true reason why, however. "You don't need what? A room? Well, I guess not. But there's plenty of rooms around. No reason you shouldn't have one if you want one. Even if they all seem kind of plain and boring." He makes this assumption after seeing maybe a grand total of a half-dozen otherwise unoccupied rooms in the entire castle. "But you can keep books in there. Or flowers!" He's tried bringing flowers into his room, just to brighten it up a little. He even risked taking out a few books, the last time he was in the library (not knowing that it had been a different library entirely).

Let's see...they went up that flight of stairs, they turned right, and now here comes the...third door on the left? Probably the left. Maybe he's actually looking for the third door on the right. Maybe they should have turned left. Either way, Kotetsu pauses to open the door that's his best guess on where to go next. Sure enough, his expression brightens. "Aha! Ballroom." They're definitely on the right track.

It's a vast room - one of the biggest in the place, as far as he can tell - with a gleaming polished floor that's otherwise empty except for the long table piled high with cakes and pastries of various descriptions. Kotetsu mostly ignores them as they head towards the door on the opposite side of the room, and not just because he knows there's jewelry baked into them somehow.

[darkerstripes]

He's lost in his own fussing, and doesn't entirely take in Kotetsu's face and reactions. He is still very charmed that Kotetsu wants the android to have his own space, even if he doesn't need a bed or anything like that, so he tries to not overreact, going through the problem-solving motions in his head as he follows along through doors.

He should need his station to charge, and he should have been only partially charged when he arrived. His system, however, is telling him that his battery is at full. That makes no sense. Even if he had fully charged before arriving, he shouldn't be at a perfect 100%. His eyebrows are slowly creasing from the thought.

The declaration of the ballroom does make Toshi perk up a little. Kotetsu seems very satisfied about this development, so Toshi pauses his worry to look around. "It is impressive..."

He glances at the pastries but only for a passing moment. He doesn't eat- he kind of can't, there's nowhere for the chewed up foodstuff to go. All he requires is some water occasionally to fill is coolant tank and to replenish his fluids system for sweat and tears and... the like.

He can't keep silent about the worry forever, though, and he knows Kotetsu would scold him for keeping his fears to himself. "Kotetsu...? You have mentioned this castle does some strange things. I must ask, how do electronic systems fare, here?" The technology of the building is archaic, to him, after all. But his battery...

[oldmantiger]

Once they've crossed the gleaming floor towards the room's other door, Kotetsu opens it and peers cautiously out into the hallway beyond. Looks clear. And he thinks it looks familiar. Maybe this place is actually taking it easy on him.

...when did he start thinking of a castle as alive?

He motions for Toshi to follow him. Should be just another couple of turns down the hallway on this floor. Maybe up another flight of stairs.

Even if they've only just met, Kotetsu would definitely scold Toshi for keeping his fears to himself...though neither would he be entirely surprised. It's still gratifying, when Toshi comes right out and admits what's worrying him. It would have taken Kotetsu much longer to come to the logical conclusion on his own.

"Oh, right! Duh, you probably need to charge or something." He facepalms, mentally kicking himself for not realizing as much earlier. Fortunately, at least in this case he has good news to deliver. "Yeah, don't worry about it." He rummages around in his pocket, pulls out his phone, flips it open, and holds it out for Toshi to see. "I don't know if it's something in the air or whatever. But electronics always seem to stay charged, here. My phone's been at seventy-six percent ever since I got here a few days ago. Which is great, considering all the pictures I've been taking."

Hm...speaking of...

"Hey, hold on a sec, will you?" He calls up his camera.

[darkerstripes]

It's very entertaining, the way Kotetsu peers through the door cautiously to make sure it's safe. That crocodile monster really instilled a sense of fear into the hero, didn't it? Toshi will have to stick close to keep him safe until the threat is gone. He resolves to do that, even as he chuckles at Kotetsu's theatrics.

He's so stupidly endearing. Toshi wonders if he's half so charming in his own particularities.

"They don't require charging...?" He peers curiously at the phone which is, as stated, right at 76%. Fascinating. That would explain Toshi's own happy batteries. This place just gets stranger and stranger. It's all just so... convenient in it's finger-wiggling magic explanations. It would be suspicious if it actually seemed to point to anything. "That is one less thing to worry about, then."

Hey wait a minute what. A picture? Why. Why, Kotetsu. Toshi really should know him well enough to expect this kind of nonsense and yet. He makes an awkward face. "All right..." If it will make him happy...

[oldmantiger]

Toshi doesn't have to wonder. Kotetsu is already finding him ridiculously charming - especially in those pecularities he's obviously developed independently of Kotetsu.

He almost laughs at the awkward look on the robot's face, but bites his tongue. That is also an expression he associates very much with Bunny, and not just because it can still be surprisingly hard to get a good picture of his partner when TV cameras aren't involved. Yet the guy balks to have Kotetsu's cheap phone camera pointed at him...

Still, he makes it quick, just to put Toshi out of his misery. Kotetsu makes sure to angle the phone to get a good look at the android's eyes, and then...click! That way, he knows it's not just him in a weird outfit. "There we go," he says, replacing the phone in his pocket. "Even if Maverick's not here, something messed with our memories. no one can ever seem to remember how we got here. So if something like that happens again...at least I'll know I know you."

He replaces the phone in his pocket with a smile, before motioning to Toshi to follow again. "Come on. Shouldn't be too much further."

[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:))