reveilation | IC INBOX

The stone that I placed the ofuda in is... there.

[ RO leads Kido to the center of the castle. One of the ofuda has been turned into stone with three more slots looking pretty identical. Guess it kinda looks like a door. ]

Nothing much happened other than it glowing in a blue light.

[ It... kinda looks like a door. Like one of those cellar doors on the side of houses that lead down to some protective bomb shelter but all Kido can think of is how the dungeon at the school just kept leading them down and down and down. ]

Why couldn't it have been normal keys? At least those we could pick open... But let's see what we can do about this.

[ Nekogami comes out, fur over his shoulders bristling, and blasts the door with dream needles. None of them make a dent, and some of them bounce back toward them. Haha. ]

[ At least RO has always been quick to react--pulling Kido out of harm's way first and dodging the needles herself. Thankfully, it wasn't much that she needed to dodge in the first place. Phew. ]

Perhaps... he can try to make an ofuda shaped ice in the slot...?

[ Kido hisses out a breath of relief as Nekogami turns and gives the pair what would've been a sympathetic look except he sort of has soulless void eyes so it's hard to tell. ]

Yeah, why don't you give it a try?

[ Nekogami doesn't have that sort of intricacy, but he does cover up the entire door in a slab of ice that has to have filled all three slots, but nothing turns to stone and nothing glows bright blue and nothing happens. ]

I guess it'd be too easy if we just found something to plug up the hole.

It was worth a try. It seems that the door is impenetrable unless we get the remaining three ofudas.

[ If Nekogami can't bust the door open, RO doubts Astraea can either. She crosses her arms and inspects the door, but she can't find anything else that's weird about it. ]

It would be better if there was a magic sonar ability that someone could use...

[ Kido runs her hands over the ice as well, but while the cold feels good in the summer heat, there's nothing much they can do about it for now, besides leaving it alone to thaw. ]

I know a guy who might be able to help, but I don't know what else we can learn about this thing.

[ She raps her knuckle against the ice, but the sound is dull, like there's no hollow space underneath the door at all. Maybe it's because of the ice. ]

I see. If you can figure out anything about this stone, please let me know. But as far as I know, this is where we'll be stuck for some time unless we can dig up anything new.

[ Hm. ]

I will also try to research the significance of the ofudas in the meantime. This castle as well, if I can find anything...

Sure. I'll ask him about the ofuda and castle too, in case there's anything important about them.

[ She is not going to remember to ask though because she keeps getting distracted by leaves ]

Have you been doing all your research in the library? I wonder if there's anyone in town who would know about those things, since folk tales and the such aren't always written in books, let alone published.

[ Those damn leaves... ]

Is that so... that doesn't sound like a relative safe way to store information, but I suppose it's more a cultural custom. I will be sure to ask around for that as well.

[ It's less information and more... well, never mind. ]

Great, thanks, RO.

[ Research isn't really Kido's strong suit, but while she would leave it at that, there's also the nagging thought of how she's always pushing different tasks on RO, and she steps back from the door on the ground to look about the castle, squinting a little at the Velvet Room door, and then to RO. ]

Is there anything else you're looking into that you need help with? If I can't help, I might be able to point you towards somebody who can.

[ RO thinks about that for a moment, mentally running through a list to see if she actually needs help with anything. ]

In that case, I would like to request information of where I can find rations that are very high in carbs, cheap, and preferably small. I had attempted burgers already, but it doesn't seem to be enough.

[ That's... very specific, and Kido gives her a weird look for it. ]

Do you have to eat?

[ Isn't she a robot? Is this an insensitive question... ]

I could probably make something a little healthier than burgers, that you can carry around, if you let me know what you like.

As long as it is high in calories, I will take it. I do need to eat every now and then to refuel.

[ ... ]

I need to feed a dummy, in which they favor high calorie or carb rations or they will eat everything else in sight.

[ whispers into the sky "but where does it all go??" ]

A dummy... Terrence? Hibiki?

[ Dummy is an affectionate term, like Kido's "Fool" is for Hibiki, right? yeah ]

They are simply a dummy.

[ ... Hm. Terminology seems to be difficult to explain. ]

If you'd like, I can call for them right now.

[ Simply a dummy... She must mean Leon. ]

Sure, go ahead.

Understood. Please wait. [ RO steps out of the castle for a minute and RO seemingly... returns. Though it looks like she is missing her megaphone. She lacks an expression with her constant poker face and merely stands next to Kido without a word. ]

[ Kido stares at the dummy and continues waiting. And waiting and waiting......

When is the dummy coming out? She thinks she would hear Terry or Hibiki or Leon far before she sees them. ]

[ The dummy looks over at Kido, and breaks the silence between them. ]

Do you have spare rations?

...Uh. Not on me, right now. Weren't you going to call somebody so we could talk about it?

[ She looks around the castle again, before looking back at the dummy. ]

You didn't call them here, did you? We're way out in the castle, so maybe it'll be better if I just speak to them on the phone.

I do not have a phone, and I did not call anyone.

[ Her tone of voice is also very flat, even more robotic than RO's usual self. ]

[ RO never seemed the type to make fun of people, but here she is making fun of Kido— at least, that's what it feels like— and Kido narrows her eyes at her, obviously ticked now. ]

You don't have to lie about not having a phone- you could've just told me you couldn't reach anyone. Whatever. High calorie food, right? Do you know what your friend likes to eat?

[ Feels kind of weird to call whoever it is her dummy, so friend it is. ]

[ The dummy stays silent before opening her mouth to speak, until the real RO comes back to the castle, looking slightly agitated when she finds the dummy there. ]

I told you to wait at the entrance--

[ She turns to look at Kido briefly. ]

I apologize if the dummy has done anything inappropriate, Kido. If you could look past that...

Huh- What?

[ There's a sense of déjà vu that sends her reeling— along with the overwhelming urge to punch the dummy (or RO, whoever's closest within arm's reach) because seeing two of the same person has to be an illusion and that's how she gets rid of Kano's. ]

Is that your, uh.

[ Friend? Dummy? Evil twin? ]

Yes, she's the dummy. I am usually allowed for a max number of four dummies in order to increase my combat efficiency. However, they also require rations to function, which was why I asked earlier... I had her scout nearby if there were any dangerous animals on our way to the castle.

[ They're even wearing the same clothes, so it's difficult to differentiate them... ]

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