Power levels dangerously low... please seek out the nearest recharge station...

[gorobo]

 It would've been too much to ask for infinite battery life in this dimension, wouldn't it?

He lets out a curse as his shot misses a Preta, distracted by the warning that's been sitting in his HUD for days, which has finally started blinking on and off, a sign that he's dangerously close to running out of battery. Even his backup power supply is running out, as the ever-blaring alarm in his head ever so graciously informs him every other hour, with increasing frequency as he continues to avoid charging up.

2.47% left, a quick internal scan reveals. 

God. Fuck.

He's... where would he even find a charging station, in this place? Since one of his sisters is here too, she must have a place to charge as well, but he's loathe to ask where, involved with Kirijo as she still is. 

There's always the possibility that his usual station has appeared in this Tokyo, but...

With growl, he throws off the Preta when it charges at him, before vaporizing the thing with a quick Megidolaon from Loki. Mikage-cho has been a great way to both blow off steam and hide away from the others, even if the constant barrage of demons only drains him all the more. Despite that conversation with Morgana and Renée having been... enlightening, in some regards, and texting those who deigned to check up on him, he still doesn't want to see anyone right now.

The files in his head stand out as always. He's given up on trying to remove them himself, especially when power is becoming such a precious resource.

He senses another horde of demons approaching- more powerful ones, this time. He should probably get out of here.

His internal alarms still blare at him when he arrives at the nearby shrine- a place that demons seem to avoid, and he's so... tired isnt the right word, but he feels sluggish. His systems aren't working at their best performance, one by one cutting their own useage in order to keep his body running a little longer in general. A scan outside the shrine reveals that the demons are still hanging around.

... Well. No use in using up more power than he needs just twiddling his thumbs while he waits for them to leave. He can't exactly afford that right now.

2.13% left. 

He settles himself against one of the internal walls- out of sight, so people looking in don't see him immediately, and allows his thoughts to drift.

Entering sleep mode...

His eyes lose their glow as he powers down, head slumping forwards, and in less than a second, he's gone.

Comments

[gorobo]

Hm... it is, once more, not a bad idea. He doesn't remember the last time he read a book simply for the sake of enjoying, rather than presenting a front, or his programming trying to make him appear a certain way to someone. But what book to read? It's been so long... what books even exist in the weird world?

"Not a bad plan," he settles on, "I'll have to check out a bookstore. I used to visit them a lot when I was younger."

The 'but then Shido happened' is implied, even if not said out loud.

[fogboundcrow]

Raven hums softly, bringing a hand to his chin. "If you're lucky, you should be able to read just fine. Magpie had... issues in the past, but I believe that had more to do with his reluctance to make connections and was Igor's bizarre way of incentivizing him to open up."

Which was certainly underhanded, but one could argue that turning him into a child was as well. Perhaps the Velvet Room's denizens operated under their own weird logic.

[gorobo]

"If I'm lucky I what."

Well! If that doesn't convince him Igor is a fucking prison warding toying with lives...

Anger rises inside him- how dare Igor mess with someone's cognition like that, how dare he change them in such a fundemental way, how dare he-

(He doesn't feel panic. Nope. Just angry. Just angry. Furious, even! No panic at all.)

It takes him all his willpower not to get up right here and now and go for another attempt at fighting Igor. He's not charged enough for such a doubtlessly tough battle. Patience.

[fogboundcrow]

Raven winces, but perhaps he should have seen that coming. It's hardly a fair treatment, after all.

"...If it's any consolation, it doesn't seem to affect him anymore. Perhaps Igor has realized how cruel such a punishment was. Or perhaps it was Elizabeth-san's idea all along. She seems... strange."

Sighing, he decides not to question it too much. It is what it is.

"I suppose the best thing you can do is try and hope that the text doesn't get distorted with weird nonsense."

[gorobo]

"You realize that is not comforting in the slightest."

It's not just about the inability to read- it's about the hows and whys and the capability of destroying one's free will this way. How long until they decide they've had enough of them? How long until they change someone from the inside out, how long until he's-

Falcon has gone unnaturally still, his jaw clenched tight. There's not even the illusion of a living being left with how still he is.

[fogboundcrow]

"...No, you're right. Even though Igor-san has been generally forthcoming to me when pressed enough, that doesn't change the fact that the ways in which he encourages bonding aren't always the kindest."

He heaves a loud sigh, slumping over slightly. "I can try to bring it up to him. Perhaps he'll be more inclined to listen because I'm young."

[gorobo]

"Sure." Falcon's tone is clipped. "Go for it."

He's too busy panicking seething about the information that's just been revealed to him. This just keeps getting worse and worse, doesn't it?

Futaba's files dig in his head, and what if, what if, what if-

He needs to get out of this place and soon.

[fogboundcrow]

"...I'm sorry." He sounds so small. So pitiful. "I didn't mean..."

Shit. He should've considered how this would impact him.

"I think it was the books that changed, not the person reading them, but..." No. He needs to stop. He stops himself. Returns to staring and fidgeting with his phone for a few seconds more.

"Is there anything I can do?"

[gorobo]

Oh for fuck's- "Stop that. You have nothing to apologise for."

He closes his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to think straight. He's upsetting Raven, making him think it's his fault.

"If anyone's at fault, it's Igor and his posse," he grits out, despite his best attempts to sound calm. "Don't. You don't have to do anything. I'll take care of the problem myself."

[fogboundcrow]

Raven opens his mouth to speak. He wants to say something. Do something. Anything to diffuse the tension, but—

Suddenly, within a burst of light, Elizabeth materializes in the room with a little huff.

"Oh my. It seems there's been a gross misunderstanding." She looks between the two Akechis, startlingly unfazed. "Just so we're clear, my master wouldn't dream of subjecting you to such a cruel punishment, given your unique circumstances. That spiky Akechi was a particularly stubborn case who needed a little incentive, which is also why he spent those two months as a child."

This... may not have been quite so reassuring.

[gorobo]

"You-!"

Her explanation does nothing to calm his temper, only serving to make it flare all the more. Even if she says they don't intend to use such a punishment (her own words!!! Her own words!!!!) against him, that doesn't take away that there are circumstances where they deem it 'necessary' to toy with someone like that.

"And how long will that last? When will you decide that the circumstances are 'right' to play with people's minds? With my mind? My body?" he snarls at Elizabeth, practically vibrating with anger in the charging station. "Your words mean nothing when you haven't shown yourself to be trustworthy. At all."

He checks his internal charge, glancing at Raven. Raven seems to trust her, but what if she- what if she decides-

12.5% charged. It's not much, but it is plenty if it comes down to violence.

[fogboundcrow]

Shit. This isn't good. Raven tentatively steps toward Elizabeth. "Please don't aggravate him. He's had an incredibly difficult time of late, and your words aren't nearly as encouraging as they sound."

Elizabeth gives them both a puzzled look, tilting her head and tapping her chin with her finger. "As I understand it, reverting that spiky Akechi to his younger self not only allowed him to gain a fresh perspective toward those who cherished him, but also allowed his child form to alter his own future with the wisdom he gained here. It certainly brought the two of you closer."

Despite Falcon's anger, she remains otherwise unfazed.

"It was my master's way of teaching him a lesson when he saw death as his only possible future and refused to see reason."

ah, the trauma is here

[gorobo]

Falcon growls at both Raven and Elizabeth's words. While he should probably appreciate Raven's defense of him, and the attempt at diffusing the situation, he's way too pissed off to do so. He doesn't need a kid to stand up for him, he doesn't.

She's acting way too casual about this, like it's something trivial, something that can be justified.

Flashes of tendrils in his mind, of his very being being altered, wires made to connect with him, all of him laid bare, ready to be altered at a whim-

"There's no justifying purposely altering someone's mind and body," he hisses out, "there just isn't, people don't do it for good reasons, they just tell themselves they're good reasons, but in the end- in the end- it's all just selfish bullshit!"

Is he even talking about Magpie anymore? Or to Elizabeth? He's certainly looking at her, but...

[fogboundcrow]

"I think you should leave, Elizabeth-san." Raven isn't sure if she'll listen, but he tries to put on his best brave face. Tries to put his foot down, even when Falcon's words remind him of his own involvement in his pain.

Elizabeth blinks a few times and then shrugs. "Very well! It's clear that I'm not wanted."

And so she leaves just as swiftly as she arrived.

[gorobo]

Falcon continues to practically vibrate in his chair, face pulled tight with anger even as Elizabeth leaves. He wants to scream, to yell, he wants to kill something he wants-

He wants to be anywhere but here. He wants to wake up, and realize it was all just a bad dream. He wants to stop feeling so- so-

He wants his mom. He misses his mom so goddamn much.

He barks out a morose laugh, his eyes falling closed as he grits his teeth.

"Fuck," he says. "God. Fuck."

[fogboundcrow]

"...I'm sorry." Raven deflates, sinking back down to the floor. "I shouldn't have mentioned any of that, especially when you're still recovering."

It's obviously still a sore spot. It certainly hasn't helped.

[gorobo]

Raven's voice causes his eyes to snap open again, and he glances at the boy on the floor. He still feels like quivering, even if he doesn't actually. Anger and guilt mix in the most horrible way, and he lets out a low, mechanical noise.

"No, it's good that you did. I needed to know," he says, trying to keep his voice steady (keyword: trying). "I shouldn't have take it out on you. You're not the one deserving of my ire- not for this."

Even if he's still angry about the whole hacking thing, about a lot of things, this is not one of the things Raven deserves to shoulder. One thing is becoming more and more clear:

"I need to find a way to leave."

[fogboundcrow]

"You have important business back home, I presume? Then again, I suppose that goes for all of us."

A hefty sigh squeezes out of him. At least Falcon has calmed down. "I wish I could offer meaningful encouragement, but I suspect it'd just feel patronizing after all of that."

[gorobo]

Falcon's face pulls into a sneer. "Shido has to die," is all he says.

There's a small pause, and he looks away from Raven.

"You're correct. I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't need pity."

[fogboundcrow]

That's... blunt, but considering everything that Shido seems to have done to him...

"Just be careful. From what I understand, his Palace is highly dangerous. You may need backup."

[gorobo]

Falcon's eyes narrow. He knows. He fucking knows, but now, he also knows what's coming, so-

"I'll be fine," he says, "I don't need the Metaverse, if it comes down to it."

Wait, fuck, Raven's a kid, he probably shouldn't have-

... Too late, he guesses. This day has been a shitshow and a half, so this might as well happen too.

[fogboundcrow]

"...Ah. I suppose there are... other ways to contend with him."

Though he stares, at least he... doesn't seem too horrified? Just quiet and wide-eyed, if anything.

[gorobo]

Falcon doesn't reply immediately, keeping his eyes off Raven. This is...

So uncomfortable.

The anger lingers, but he mostly feels bad about upsetting a kid.

"... You don't have to stay," he says, after a moment, "I can manage."

[fogboundcrow]

"Are you sure? You shouldn't have to be alone in a place like this."

He won't force it, of course. But he needs to ask. He needs certainty.

[gorobo]

No, I'm not sure- I don't WANT to be alone here.

"I'm asking you," he shoots back, dismissivly. "This isn't a pleasant place to begin with, and I'd understand if you'd rather leave after... All that."