[open] "fun" with impostors, a saga

[succeeder]

Who: succeeder, a Togami-bot, and anybody else
When: backdated range of time from IC 6/20 to 6/26
Where: outside on the town OR in your CereVice
What: a catchall post for the whole robot event + Togami: public arguments, formal dinner dates, and VIOLENCE.
Rating/Warning: VIOLENCE, I SAY! (but not gory violence.)

---

A; action, june 20

[ Togami's feeling especially indulgent this month, for some mysterious reason. He's not going to question it; it's a rare impulse for him, and he frankly deserves to indulge a little when circumstances align so neatly. And after "roughing it" for as long as he has been in Cerealia—that is, being without a wide selection of people he can just order around to get things done for him—a personal servant sounds positively delightful. Whatever voice in his mind would say, "hey, don't activate that highly suspicious robot," is a little too quiet today. Whatever. He can handle it, whatever happens.

So of course he's stuck trying to handle a robot now following him around and asking annoying, invasive questions. The worst thing that could possibly happen!! He had thought that maybe forcing the robot to come run errands would distract it, but instead it's just asking these questions in public now, which is even more inappropriate. ...Not that Togami is helping, with his refusal to clarify anything. He seems to think disapproving silence should suffice, whenever he's asked about his friends, or his family, or school, or work, or anything.

Until about the hundredth time that the robot explains that it needs more information in order to better serve him, when Togami snaps, whirling around to raise his voice in the middle of a busy public street. ] —It's none of your business. I will decide what you need to know in order to be of use to me. Why don't you learn your place, you lump of scrap metal?

[ This relationship was already pretty doomed from the beginning. ]

B; video, june 25

[ Dealing with such an annoying robot isn't making Togami feel like he deserves nice things any less. Despite the creepiness of the robot evolving to imitate him, and how he should probably have taken things into his own hands by now, there's a stubborn part of him convinced that nothing will make up for this except for the robot finally becoming properly subservient. It's at least become more independent and capable as the week goes on, so maybe there's hope. Even if it's still making stupid mistakes like getting an inferior vintage of wine, or making reservations for two instead of one at the high-class restaurant Togami has decided to attend. What, did the robot think it was going to get to come? But whatever. He can just show up alone to the reservation... Right?

What a shame that the robot is becoming about as fed up with Togami as Togami is with the robot. Of course the robot is going to the reservation. But the +1 isn't for Togami. It's for one of his friends.

Friends? Well, maybe not. Togami's been as tight-lipped about his acquaintances as he's been about himself, and he makes a regular habit of scouring his CereVice clean of any texts or voicemails, since long before the robot was around to spy. The robot doesn't have any easy way to tell which people on Togami's CereVice contact list are best friends forever, which are mortal enemies, and which are people he might not even have met. Not to mention anything in between.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It's going to go down the list and act like it picked correctly. Eventually it will pick someone appropriate. Right?? So, no matter how well you know Togami, you might be getting a sudden video call from someone who certainly looks like him. (Or maybe your robot gets the call. It's kind of a whole epidemic.) ]

I have a dinner reservation for two this evening. On me. Formal attire. I need you ready at 7:30 PM sharp. I trust there will be no problems with this.

[ What could go wrong. ]

C; action, june 26

[ So you're minding your own business, somewhere in public. Hopefully you're not dealing with too much trouble what with all the killer robots. All of a sudden, Togami(?) rushes past you, looking disheveled and worse for wear. It turns out that another Togami(??) is in hot pursuit of the first, tackling him and pinning him down to the ground. The first cries out in pain, before immediately turning to you with a grimace. ]

Don't just stand there, you useless imbecile! Do something!

[ Which one is which? Who knows—but the robots have been becoming more dangerous lately, haven't they? Quick, what do you do?! ]

Comments

C

[babermetrics]

—Togami?!

[The first thing he gets out of this is Togami is in trouble, which it certainly looks like he is. His feet do the thinking before his brain does. Within seconds, Leon darts after them and flings himself at . . . Togami . . .

Togami who is attacking Togami.

This robot thing is getting real fucked up, okay?!

By the time he realizes he's looking at two of them, he's already tackled one of them to the ground. That . . . sure is doing something. He's done something. But was it the right thing?]

Uh—

1/2

[succeeder]

[ The Togami that was tackled certainly doesn't seem to think it was the right thing, going wide-eyed as the wind is briefly knocked out of him. He struggles to get free, choking and gasping to get his breath back: ] You moron—

[succeeder]

[ The other Togami approves, though, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt off of his suit before coming over to cross his arms and look down at his double. ] Finally. This waste of space has been trying to dispose of me all day. Do you have the means to restrain him? [ He looks down at Leon, imperious. ]

[babermetrics]

Uh . . .

[Wwwwait a second here. These are both acting like Togami. He'd absolutely believe that Togami would knife his robot, and that Togami's robot would knife him; the world doesn't need two of him, and they both know that as well as Leon does. Even without the creepy programming.

So he stands up slowly, looking back and forth between the two of them and holding out his hands. If one of them makes a move, he's ready to make a grab.]

I-I can't tell you apart, man!

1/3,

[succeeder]

[ The second Togami also stands up, quickly. His scowl flashes quickly to a smirk, though, and he jerks his head towards the first Togami. ] If you actually tried, that glorified household appliance would fail a pop quiz more quickly than even you would.

[succeeder]

[ And yet, neither is the other Togami deterred. ]

Ha! It's easy to fling accusations, isn't it? I notice you haven't provided any identifying information yourself. Can you even tell me anything about this person, you disgusting facsimile? Go on, just try.

[succeeder]

What a transparent probe for information. Perhaps I should take heart in the implication that CERES's databases are so barren that you feel the need to interrogate me directly for data. You have all the subtlety of a spam email—

[ This could probably keep going indefinitely. But at least they're not physically assaulting each other anymore. ]

[babermetrics]

Holy shit, shut up, both of you! How're you both so much like this?! Damn, those robots are good . . . !

[ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME.

But okay, Leon got one thing out of that whole clusterfuck: he can at least ask questions to test their knowledge. Surely the robot doesn't know everything. So he considers this, rubbing at his hair as he recovers from that barrage of Too Much Togami, and then finally points at the Togami that had done the tackling.]

Where'd we go out after Naegi disappeared?

[succeeder]

[ They don't really quiet down because of being told to, but they do quiet down when the question is asked, and the Togami being addressed responds without being interrupted. ]

The billiards hall. [ He frowns, though, tilting his chin up as he side-eyes the other Togami. ] We talked about that over text message. That's not a very secure question.

b.

[undaunts]

[There's absolutely nothing at all that could go wrong here.

The problem is that Ruby (the real Ruby, not her robot clone, though that's hanging around too), fumbles the call, and before she's figured out exactly what's going on, there's that entire offer.

Invitation?

Demand...?? She's not really sure what to call it.

But it's Togami! And it's been ages since she's seen him. So... obviously she's going to go and make sure he's okay and also maybe he wants to be friends for real now.

Yessssssss.

(Ruby, as if that would ever happen.)

So she will...be there at 7:30 sharp. Not...in formal wear at all, actually. You can't expect too much from her, she's 15.]

[succeeder]

[ Togami himself will expect as much from 15 year olds as he wants thank-you-very-much, but the robot remains blissfully ignorant to any of that child genius nonsense. Thankfully.

It sure has a lot of experience with insults being a major method of communication though, so as it looks up to see her from where it's waiting outside, it gives her a smile and a... ] You look like a dishrag. [ A that. ] But perhaps you're so beyond help that they'll take pity on you and let you in regardless. Shall we step inside?

[undaunts]

[Don't be rude.

Except well... he's rude because he's Togami. She huffs at that, crossing her arms.]

I do not! I at least look like a dish towel. [Ruby no.

But she nods simply at that, because food is food and she's all over that.]

But yeah let's go! What kind of food is this place anyway?

[succeeder]

[ The robot leads the way inside, checking in at the front before answering. They do regard Ruby skeptically in here, but hey, a melting pot like Cerealia probably can't keep one strict standard of formality anyway. ]

French haute cuisine, of course. The apex of the culinary arts. Are you familiar with it, Miss Dish Towel?

[undaunts]

My name's Ruby. And of course I am!

[Are you sure, Ruby.]

I eat oats all the time! With my... oatmeal!

[Ruby no.]

C

[feminine_carnivore]

[ If there is one thing, in the entire world, in any world even, that Chie hates.. it's bullies. She can't stand them. People acting like they are better than everyone, thinking the world revolved around them. It's enough to get her blood boiling even when she sees a bigger kid push a little one around.

So when she's.... something that she can't help but think is bullying, she rushes to the scene. People are already quietly backing up and murmuring amongst themselves, but it's Chie who steps up first to see.. well. A couple of boys on the ground, looking like they were in a fight. And looking strangely identical apparently.

That's just when one of them decides to call her an imbecile. ]

Who do you think you are?! I'm going to call the police if you don't get off him!

[ Give Chie a moment to realize that the identity stealing robots have recently become a thing. ]

[succeeder]

[ Both Togamis turn their attention towards Chie.

Togami... has no idea who this is. This is problematic, because in that case, what way is there for the real one to differentiate himself from the fake? Yikes.

The one who tackled the other doesn't get off of him, but he does freeze in place, not making any other threats. ]

...I simply need him restrained.

[feminine_carnivore]

[ CREEPY. Why did they both have to turn their heads at the same time?! ]

How do I know you're not the one bullying your original?!

[ Why would it have to be bullying? Also, she's figured out at least that much, that they aren't twins at all really. She's got her own robot who mysteriously is nowhere to be found at the moment who looks exactly like herself too. ]

1/2

[succeeder]

[ The Togami being pinned looks a little offended, struggling under the other's grip. ] I wouldn't be subdued by anything as childish as bullying—

[succeeder]

[ But the one on top just growls, frustrated. ]

You don't know that, no. If you'd prefer to restrain both of us just to be safe, please, be my guest.

[feminine_carnivore]

[ Huh. She somehow expected the same response from the both of them, but they clearly think differently! That makes it even harder to tell which one is real here! Which leaves Chie in an awkward position, looking from one to the other. ]

I-It's not like I'm a police officer or anything! But you can't go around pinning people to the ground either! Why don't you just talk it out?!

[ Usually she reacts a bit more violently, but neither of them have really done anything to set her off, so her fuse remains mostly unlit. ]

A; I hope this isn't too late!

[protectthecastle]

[There are two of him.

Veronica's kind of used to seeing that already but even so, she does a quick double take especially when Togami snaps at the robot. Still, she can't just walk by without saying anything.]

....Have you thought of perhaps simply answering those questions? Perhaps then it will not need to ask.

never!!

[succeeder]

[ The real Togami turns towards her, already feeling pretty irritable. ]

Not everyone lacks a brain-to-mouth filter like you do... Or lacks a brain, period. My personal information is not divulged by mere request. Are you telling me you'll recite your credit card number if I ask you nicely? [ He wouldn't actually be surprised. ]

\o/

[protectthecastle]

[Veronica is starting to think that maybe he just doesn't like people asking him questions. Ever.]

I assure you that I do in fact have a brain and I do not lack such a filter. [This is an important point she needs to make, clearly.]

And I would tell it to you if you could tell me why you needed to know it in the first place.

[succeeder]

[ Veronica's not really wrong about him not liking to be asked any questions.

The robot tilts its head attentively, absorbing Togami's interactions with other people. So it's probably going to pick up some great things when Togami replies, ] I need it to prove a point. Go on.

[protectthecastle]

What kind of point?

[She needs this down as specifically as possible.]