[Voice]

[faceguy]

You know, I never got to do the big road trip thing. I never thought this is how I'd get to do it, but hey, new experiences!

[It's good to look on the bright side, right?]

So what fun road trip games do you guys know? There's gotta be some good ones! Some of you guys are from totally different worlds, right?

Here, I'll kick us off. I spy with my little eye something... blue!

Comments

[guidemyway]

Yeah, I know. But my sister is here with me, and she's already relentless about this.

[faceguy]

Uhhh... one of the cars?

[There's more than one to choose from.]

[faceguy]

Hmm... do the screen thingies get Google Maps?

[Hold while Leo pokes around it to see.]

[faceguy]

Ohhh, let me guess: older sister?

[constantvrunning]

The computer infrastructure has been fairly simple thus far, from my investigations.

[Just a homing-beacon tied to the keys, and this network.

Still, that does not prevent V from anticipating if Leo is successful.]

[undyingcrow]

Oh, I've seen plenty of darker vehicles, but no.

[He tries to suppress the amusement in his voice, but a little still sneaks through.]

[faceguy]

[Click click click... smack... tap tap... click...]

...Nope.

[faceguy]

[He catches that amusement, and pauses.]

Oh, you picked something hard, didn't you?

[constantvrunning]

[And V... sighs.]

We'll have to keep a lookout for one as we travel, then.

[Pity this isn't THAT much like a video game, or instead of just stat boosts killing monsters could yield items!]

Still, I appreciate you humoring me. Talking like this is... a better distraction than the alternative.

[Aka existential crises]

[guidemyway]

Yeah, of course she's older.

If I were the older one I'd be the one teasing her!

That's how these things work.

[undyingcrow]

Where's the fun if there's no challenge?

[You've activated his trap card, Leonardo. Goro Akechi does not hold back...]

[faceguy]

[No one wants an existential crisis!]

Yeah, no problem. I guess it was too much to hope for, though... These things aren't as nice as my smartphone.

[Which he doesn't even have because he lost it before he came here.]

If we find a map... will anyone even know how to read it?

[He's never used a physical map before.]

[faceguy]

Heh, that's true!

Okay, in younger sibling solidarity, I will not tease you. Much.

[faceguy]

Uuugh, okay... Is it the wraps on my arms?

[Someone else picked Leo himself, so it's not a crazy guess!]

[constantvrunning]

... Possibly in the same fashion we were able to understand the shrines.

[Though from their tone of voice, they hope it's not THAT direct a parallel.]

If it is a topographical map, features like mountains and rivers will mostly be self-demonstrating.

[faceguy]

The shrines? You got close to those things?

[After his experience with the grove, Leo gave that one a wide berth.]

[constantvrunning]

Only the one. I wanted to see if there was anything readable. Names, places...

[Their tone sours.] I had no intention of taking anything, and something pressed that message into my skin regardless. I made my post to the Network after that happened.

M-Bot and I were able to take some pictures of the shrine, however. They're blurry, but not hazardous.

[Small consolation though it was.]

[guidemyway]

Deal.

I'll extend the same courtesy if your older sibling or siblings show up too.

We'll definitely need an alliance going if that happens.

[undyingcrow]

A person? An inspired guess.

[Getting warmer, at least.]

Though, no. It's not you.

[faceguy]

Oh yeah.

[Leo didn't join in the lore gathering because he didn't have anything to contribute.]

Do the pictures tell you anything useful?

[faceguy]

[Leo can't help but chuckle at that.]

Deal.

His name's Raph, and his color is red too.

[And Leo really hopes he never ends up here. He deserves his happy ending. And he deserves not to be turned into a monster against his will, again.]

[faceguy]

But that means it is a person. And if it's not me... It's gotta be you, or someone close to you!

[It'd be cheating to pick someone Akechi can't see, after all!]

[undyingcrow]

Hmm... But if it's me, which part of me?

[Time to test Leonardo's memory here. They had just encountered each other by the trees...]

[constantvrunning]

They mostly just qualify as a point of reference for how the shrines are set up in general - to make it easier to identify any in future, I suppose.

[V sighs.]

I wasn't particularly keen on taking pictures of the message I'd been given, though I did record it elsewhere so the Convoy as a whole can access it.

[guidemyway]

Oh- Good to know.

So if our alliance comes crumbling down. I can always try to form a red alliance then. Perfect.

My sister's Yang. She's more on the yellow side of things. Not sure if you've run into her or not.