IC INBOX

[reveilation]

Tsubomi Kido

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(uhh, insert whatever message Terry had on his phone last)

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TEXT / VIDEO / VOICE / ACTION

© EFRYNDIEL

Comments

[16lab]

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...

[reveilation]

[ 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. ]

[16lab]

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...

[reveilation]

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.

[16lab]

[ 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.

[reveilation]

[ 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.

[16lab]

[ 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.

[reveilation]

[ 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.

[16lab]

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.

[reveilation]

[ 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 ]

[16lab]

They are simply a dummy.

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

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

[reveilation]

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

Sure, go ahead.

[16lab]

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. ]

[reveilation]

[ 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. ]

[16lab]

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

Do you have spare rations?

[reveilation]

...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.

[16lab]

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. ]

[reveilation]

[ 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. ]

[16lab]

[ 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...

[reveilation]

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? ]

[16lab]

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... ]

[reveilation]

[ Uh. All of this raises more questions than it answers, and Kido finds herself looking between RO and her dummy before finally settling on the dummy. ]

You can't just call her "the dummy" though...

[ She wants to ask what the dummy's name is, but she supposes RO isn't really a name, either, just a series of letters and numbers. But said enough times and it sounds like a name, just like anybody else's and this... dummy or copy or clone or whatever you want to call it, should have a name too. ]

[16lab]

[ ...

Oh. Right. The word sometimes has a derogatory meaning behind it. RO is so used to copies being referred to as dummies, because that's how they were always called. The dummy blankly looks at Kido back, staring without a word. ]

She's called a dummy because she is part of the dummy link system, in which a T-Doll like myself controls four other copies. I only have one with me at the moment.

[ Her dummy is essentially useless without her combat core and gun anyway. ]

... Did you want to name her?

[ Is this what human sentimentality is--wanting to name a dummy. ]

[reveilation]

[ Yeah, it's human sentimentality, wanting to name a dummy because looking human means Kido would see her as human. The same reason why she still believes that Mae is a normal person who can make themselves look like a cat-thing, or and why she forgets Terry is a demi-god and won't die falling twenty feet. ]

Oh. Um, shouldn't you be the one to name her? It would mean more, coming from you.

[ Being put on the spot like this, all Kido would be able to come up with is something following the standard Ichiro, Jiro, etc. by number order, but that's somehow worse than leaving it as "dummy" ]

[16lab]

... I'm sorry, but I don't really understand why it would.

[ RO looks genuinely confused at the question. ]

She only listens to commands given to her and is mainly suited for assistance that requires another body. I can issue commands internally, so I would not necessarily need a name for the dummy...

[ She really is trying her best to justify the dummy having the name, but she doesn't see it. :( Sorry, Kido. ]