Yomojo

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"I'd probably be taking it better if we were in the real world. Or, Kodo, right? That's what casters call it? But, as different as this is, I can't say I'm really surprised. We knew this was a civilization of Amalgamates after all, it wasn't like..." June is interrupted, a clank and a thud coming from behind them.

Looking back, it seems the robot butler had fallen over. The slight incline, heavy bag and what might be curiosity seemed to have been too much for the poor little thing, who was now lying on its back and staring straight into the sky. June's suitcase had also been dropped, and was laying on the ground beside it. "Oh no! Ah, I should have thought about that..." Juniper says, walking over towards the bot. "I hadn't expected the walk to meet King would be this long, so I didn't bother giving the poor guy a full charge before we set out. Carrying the bag this far seems to have used enough energy that he couldn't adjust to the change of incline fast enough." she explains while kneeling down beside the bot.

Reaching behind the robot's head, June pushes a button and the robot goes limp. She then takes each limb and tucks them in so the robot is in a fetal position before standing back up and taking her wrench off her back. Bringing the wrench around, June touches it to the back of the robot's head, causing some mechanism to curl the automaton back into the spherical shape it was stored in while the charge meter on her wrench slowly drains to about the halfway mark. She then puts the robo-ball back into its carrying case, picks up both suitcases again, and turns to continue heading to the top of the hill.

"Well, looks like I'll get to show off to King after all. Oh, and I might want you to re-charge this battery for me at some point, I did bring extras but I don't see the point in walking around with empty ones when I'm traveling with a caster." June calls to Hueco, catching back up with him.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"Doing well, yes. I just didn't expect for there to be this much lead-up. It feels like it's been half an hour since we left your portal, even though I know it's been less than that." Juniper replies, seemingly comfortable in this strange environment, without being as excited as Hueco is. "If I'm going to be honest, it's been tough keeping my nerves in check. I mean, I knew what I was getting into, but it's a bit different being here, you know?" she offers, looking to Hueco with a knowing look.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
Juniper takes a look back to make sure the Automata is still following as she walks with Hueco to catch up to their guide. Not having been given any new orders, the little robot is still trudging along carrying the suitcase, head still turned to the side. As far as it knew, with its borderline nonexistent knowledge of the way the world works, this was a completely normal occurrence.

~That plant Amalgamate definitely was not speaking that well before. Either he was putting on a show for some reason, this pocket dimension place has special properties, or there's some sort of magical broadcast in this city that makes Amalgamates more human, probably coming from either a group of casters or a machine~ she thinks, continuing to follow along in silence. She didn't feel like there was anything else worth saying, and she wanted to take in this city as much as she could anyways.

The streets, the buildings, the sounds, and even in a strange way the people, all made June feel like this place was somehow familiar... but that was impossible, of course, since this was only the second time in her life she'd been in Yim, the first being earlier today with Hueco. Still, there was something she couldn't place about this city. ~If this plant guy had any intentions of telling us anything about this place, he would have done so already. So much mystery and ambiguity surrounding this group, but I guess that makes sense, given the reputation Amalgamates have in most places. I'll just have to ask King all my questions, I suppose.~

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"I..." Juniper managed to start as a response to the Amalgamate, before being cut off by Hueco. Peeking past the small frame of the beastkin to get a look at what had startled him, she found herself momentarily lost for words "Wait... what? That's... that's a city. Alright, well, I was definitely not expecting that."

"Hueco... are you sure this is a pocket dimension? Like your library in Yim? I thought you said..." she trails off, cutting herself off mid sentence. Seeming to think better, she shakes her head. "No, nevermind. I have too many questions, and I don't want to just stand here asking them. So, where do we go now? It looks like there's an entire city in front of us." Lucy asks, still facing Hueco, but turning to finish the question directed towards the Amalgamate. After all, from his reaction, Hueco knows as much about what's going on as she does. Okay, well maybe a bit more, considering he has a pocket dimension of his own.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"Well, I am glad that you've opened yourselves up to potential allies." June responds to the Amalgamate, tone of voice implying that her thoughts were elsewhere. She hadn't expected to have this much lead-up to the meeting, and all the walking and waiting had built up an amount of suspense. She tenses and relaxes the muscles in her hands, an absent-minded tick she often did while feeling anticipation.

Looking back over her shoulder to check on her Bot, she catches it doing something a bit strange. Its gait had not changed, the steady and mechanical rhythm seeming like it could go on for days without stop. Its head, however, was turned to one side, no longer looking straight at the suitcase it was carrying. While Juniper watched, she notices that the Automata's head moved slightly as they passed rooms, as if it was looking at the doors. ~Interesting, is that a sign of curiosity? I didn't see any of that back in Ammonia Avenue... I wonder if those things are actually capable of developing some form of personality? Something to look into when I get home.~

Unlike Hueco, June didn't feel awkward walking in silence. Footsteps echoing through the hallway, she felt no further need to break the silence as they made their way to the meeting.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"Just a reminder, Hueco, we're here as diplomats, not researchers." June says calmly, then looks to the plant-man sheepishly. "That being said, a lot of what we will see here will be new to us, so I hope you don't take it as us being rude. We're part of the Universal Machine, after all. Being curious is in out nature."

Looking the unhooded Amalgamate in the eye, June can't help but have her eyes wander curiously around the vine-laden face. ~Is this normal? A plant based amalgamate? I guess that could be the effect of a stone rune, that's the closest type of magic I can think of to plants.~

Not wanting to seem hypocritic by staring herself, her gaze wanders off the Amalgamate's face, and onto the inside of the elevator they were in. It was in good working order, to be sure, but the technology they used here was at least a decade behind what June was used to back in Ammonia Avenue. There was some appeal, however, to the antique look of the gears that she could tell weren't formed by a machine, the welds that were obviously done by hand, and the occasional small jostle while they were moving up. It felt almost quaint, like a bunch of primitives pulling together their imitations of advanced technology to try and impress emissaries from the big city. ~Well, that's a thought I should definitely keep to myself.~

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
Juniper puts her hand to her mouth and coughs, suppressing laughter at Hueco's attempt at flexing. "Yeah, sure thing. *ahem* I mean, good to know. Thanks Hueco." she says, reigning her tone back in. ~What, does he really think this is an ambush or something? Poor guy must be more on edge than I initially thought.~

Walking down the corridor, June smiles and nods politely as they pass what she assumes are the residents of the building. ~It's just as important to leave a good impression with the populace as it is to leave one with their leader.~ Walking past all of these casters reminded June of being back in Ammonia Avenue, a non-caster surrounded by people with brands. She'd lived in that situation for long enough, however, that it made her feel strangely more comfortable rather than intimidating her.

Walking into the elevator, she is momentarily surprised to hear a voice coming out of the hood of the one who had lead them inside. Realizing that this might be an important moment to make a good impression, she turns to the man without missing a beat, telltale twinkling in the eyes betraying the smile hidden by her collar. "Thank you very much. When I said your town was lovely, by the way, I meant it. I've felt welcomed ever since I stepped out of Hueco's portal. Hueco being my Beastkin compatriot there." she motions to him, then points the hand to herself "And my name is Juniper. We very much appreciate the hospitality." June finishes, small nod of the head showing her sincerity.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"Um, alright... thank you." Juniper says to the man, a bit taken aback by his silence. Maybe he was a mute? Either way, she doesn't want to be rude, so she offers a small bow before heading inside. ~Gotta say, the whole not talking while completely obscured by a large robe routine is not helping the Radiance's "not being a cult" platform~

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
"Well that is interesting, for sure. Gives me even more hope that King knows what he is talking about. Oh, and don't forget about the flowers." Juniper reminds Hueco, saying it in a lower tone to make sure they were still out of earshot of the person waiting for them.

"Well met!" June then calls out to the man in the robes, raising a hand in a wave and striding confidently towards the apartment entrance. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting. Lovely town you have, if I may say. I assume the others are inside?" The automata speeds its waddle up slightly to keep pace behind June's longer strides.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
Trusting Hueco's judgement, June makes no remark on the fact that he is carrying an Amalgamate in a suitcase. ~If I didn't know him better, I'd think he was crazy. Must be a pretty good reason behind it to bring an Amalgamate along with us, in a suitcase of all things.~

"Well, he's a leader of sorts among the Radiant, so I see two options here. One: the whole lot of them are disillusioned optimists not aware of the consequences, in which case we'll hopefully realize that soon enough to get out of here. However, the more likely scenario is Two: they know something we don't. Some ancient magic passed down through the generations that can bring sanity to an Amalgamates perhaps? Or maybe potion, or a collar, that can keep them in check." June talks as she walks, and from the distant look in her eye one could tell she was saying this as much to herself as to Hueco. "One way or another, we don't want to offend them. This is a different culture that we're going to have to try and integrate into, so ditch any cultural stigmas you might have about Amalgamates. You and I both know that Amalgamates, as we know them, are terrifying and destructive monsters, but I'm going to try my best to ignore that fact, and I trust you to as well."

The bot is doing an admirable job keeping up to them, despite its smaller stature. Because of the relatively large load it is carrying, it has adapted its stride to more of a quick waddle in order to stay stable. Despite carrying the suitcase in both arms, thus obstructing what would be the eyes if it were a human, it hasn't wandered off course, tripped up or bumped into anything so far. "Oh, and one thing I wanted to ask, Hueco." Juniper says, looking over to notice his gaze locked on the bot. "Is there a local formal greeting we should be using? Or just the default "Pleasure to meet you" and bow?"