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]

Toshi makes a small, very undignified sound. "O-oh. Um. Thank you." How do you compliments? "S-sorry, I got all off-track and now I'm being... awkward." He knows he's not the best at social interaction. Better he be a bumbling gay mess than he get all anxious and lash out by accident, at least.

[mediadarling]

And Mettaton smiles. "Toshi, sweetheart, you're not being awkward--you're being enchanting.

"But yes, we did get a little off topic. After all, I'm more interested in finding out what kind of hero you are."

[darkerstripes]

He's definitely being awkward, but how is he supposed to argue with that?! Toshi swallows hard, trying to keep down another undignified sound. You are way too much, Mettaton. "I'm not used to... such enthusiastic interest." Or really anything about you, Mettaton. He is totally unprepared.

"W-well, I'm not really a hero yet. I like the idea of it but... I don't like fighting." Or rather, he doesn't like what fighting reminds him of. He doesn't want to become a mindless violence machine again.

[mediadarling]

What a darling.

"Who says you have to fight to be a hero?" Mettaton shakes his head. What have people been telling this poor man? "There are all kinds of ways. You just have to find the one that works for you, and then go out there and shine your brightest!"

Time for another pose for emphasis!

[darkerstripes]

Mettaton, you're a gem. Toshi looks up from his hiding place and smiles.

"Well, there's heroes, and then there's Heroes with a capital H. Back home in Sternbild, there are professional heroes, NEXT who fight crime on camera and are both heroes in the traditional sense, and also actors sponsored by companies. You... sort of have to fight bad guys to do that."

And that's the part he isn't sure about.

[mediadarling]

That's more like it.

"Hmm...." He considers that for a moment. "Sounds like that's a formula that could do with shaking up. Not to take away from your traditional Heroes, of course, but if there's one thing I know about television, it's that audiences always love something new."

[darkerstripes]

Toshi isn't half so confident as Mettaton... but he's clearly someone who knows what he's talking about when it comes to entertainment. So maybe he has a point. Could Toshi really bring something new to the formula of Hero TV? How could he possibly do that? He wouldn't know where to begin.

Still, the thought is appreciated. "I don't know much about television or audiences." But he isn't shrinking away in shame, just being shyly honest.

[mediadarling]

He drops an arm around Toshi's shoulders and grins. "Never fear, gorgeous. You've landed right next to one of the best consultants around. I'll make sure you become the most popular Hero ever--just you watch!"

Glinda's popular starts playing

[darkerstripes]

Toshi flushes slightly darker both from the touch and from the idea that he could 've popular. He was Sternbild's Most Wanted, for a short time, before anyone knew who was really behind the destruction. Could their hearts really be swayed? Does he even want that much attention?

"You know, I actually believe you. In spite of... Me." Not that he would ever question Mettaton's skill, exactly. Just that Toshi is, well, Toshi.

XD

[mediadarling]

Mettaton gives him a little squeeze with his arm. "In spite of nothing, beautiful! You're gorgeous and cute and already I can tell you have a lot of heart--so to speak. You'll be the darling of your hometown before you know it!"

[darkerstripes]

Toshi flushes just a little darker as he's squeezed and complimented. Help. How does he deal. He doesn't get you at all, Mettaton, and has no idea how to give back as good as he's getting.

"If you say so." His voice is a little high pitched.

[mediadarling]

His grin widened. Every time he thinks Toshi couldn't possibly get more adorable....

"I do indeed say so! Trust me. I know audiences, and I know what they like, and you" --he squeezes him again-- "are it."

[darkerstripes]

There is really no point in arguing. Mettaton is certain, and Toshi really is flailing in the dark here. He doesn't know what he's talking about, and Mettaton is an expert. Still, the limelight overwhelms him. He can't decide if it's in a good or a bad way.

"I suppose you're the expert," he concedes, bright red and a bit curled in on himself.

[mediadarling]

"I am," he agrees, but he has an eye on that small cringe. Time to change topics.

"It looks as though we're nearly at our destination." He sweeps out a hand to indicate the large double doors in front of them. "Would you like to do the honours or shall I?"

[darkerstripes]

Toshi is grateful for the out, but he does feel a small twinge of guilt at dismissing Mettaton's compliments. He's bad about that and he knows it. Kotetsu would give him the Face and make him take the compliment.

That thought at least makes him smile a little. "Please," he gestures his hand forward to give Mettaton permission.

[mediadarling]

With that permission, Mettaton strides forward, his long steps showing off his legs to their advantage. He plants a hand on each door and pushes them open with full strength.

"Voilà!" he declares as the doors fly open. "First stop in our tour: the ballroom!"

[darkerstripes]

Such a showman. Not that there was ever any doubt, but Toshi enjoys watching it shine. He chuckles very softly at the theatrics of it, striding on his own long legs to catch up.

"Very grand," he concedes, still very much amused.