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[ He doesn't notice her reaching out until something touches his hand, and Robby looks down to see it there. Blinks at it, but he looks up as the confusion reaches his eyes to meet hers, and her question--he ducks his head with an initial silence that might be an answer in itself.

Until he looks again, and gives a lop-sided smile into one of his cheek, brief and small. ]

I'm doing better about it. I, uh-- I'm trying to be better. [ He pats the papers against one hand, a meaningless action. ] I went out of my way to try and get back at everyone, but I just felt awful in the end.

[ He stands for a moment, feigns a look around them before he shrugs. ]

I was trying to make up for it, but then I ended up here. Tough luck, huh?

I kinda know a thing or two about luck. [ With a little twist of her mouth as she releases his hand. ]

And usually how it works is that things that seem kind of terrible usually have a way of working out for the better. Not that I think there's a whole lot of good about ending up here, but...

You got to meet me, right? I'm pretty great! [ Wow, she's so modest. ]

And maybe you'll learn a thing or two that'll help you with trying to be better! If anyone here calls you a screw up, I'll fight 'em myself!! To me, anyone can mess up, but the people who try to learn from that are the coolest ones in the end.

[ Wow, so modest indeed. Not that Robby particularly mind--or considers--the words in any particular manner. Robby can tell a cheer up session, and he gives her a half-hearted smile, something that doesn't reach the eyes, but it doesn't need to, right?

He looks back down at the papers, rocking on one of his feet, and--it's strange. His brow creases again for the moment he seems softened by Tsuruno's valiant attempts, when, like in a half-daze: ]

...I don't know why I even told you all that. [ Those words of encouragement might have snapped something out of Robby. Wait. Uh, did he really just tell her... ] Uh... okay.

[ The chuckle he gives is awkward, which about matches the rest of Robby. He rubs at the back of his head, and decides to shove the papers into his pocket. ] Um, okay. I-- don't worry about that. Sorry. That-- that was too much.

[ And why the hell did he say any of it? ]

It's okay. Seriously.

From what I can tell, it's been making people really want to talk about what they got, even if they look like they don't actually want to. Someone actually flat-out told me "I don't want to talk to you."

[ Tsuruno doesn't appear to be all that dismayed by it. ]

What-- 'cause they told you something?

[ ??? ]

I think because she didn't... want to do what you just did. She's kind of the closed-off type.

[ Nebula's so cool. ]

Oh. [ Oh.

Honestly, either way, he'd get it; once his brain gets out of the fog of what he just did. If this other person blabbed embarrassing, cringy, tales of assault on another person to some other person? Robby would want to ditch them too. Kind of wants to do that now, actually!!

But he's confused. Which isn't anything new, but in this moment, it's getting him to frown, and stick around. ]

But I already got something from that vault, and I didn't do any of that before. [ Hell--he'll even take it out of his pocket to hold it; not showing it, but the frame back is visible. ] I've still got it.

[ Any words coming to mind? Coming out of his mouth? He's waiting, and--nope, even a small shake of his head! ]

Nothing.

Mm... is it something you recognized? Because maybe it belongs to someone else.

[ Which is what happened to Tsuruno, after all. ]

It's a picture of me. I mean, I haven't seen it in ages...

[ He hasn't seen it at all, but regardless, it has to be his. Robby shows it to her now, though it might take Tsuruno a second to recognise the Robby in the photo: he has a bob haircut, softer features, standing next to a wooden sign that reads 'MIYAGI-DO KARATE' under a chiselled out bonsai tree. He's smiling bright, eyes twinkling, and a man stands beside him with a hand on his shoulder. Look at this man, he is the most dad-looking man to behold. ]

See?

[ Tsuruno hums inquisitively, peering down at it now that he's showing it to her and she can rest assured she's not accidentally shoving one foot through the drywall of His Secrets. Again.

But as she looks at the picture, her eyes widen a bit. ]

Wait, that man...

What? He's not here.

[ So that's not it. Does he need to keep holding this framed photo out? Unless Tsuruno gives him reason not to, Robby will drop his hand after a while. ]

Maybe there's just another item around in there. This place doesn't have to make sense. [ Right? ]

[ he can drop it, she won't make him hold it out forever. ]

No, I... [ her eyebrows furrow. ]

You're sure he's not here? I mean, I guess the guy I met looked a little bruised, but...

Why would he be here? I would know--

[ It's reactionary, the fact he hasn't seen Mister LaRusso around, and Tsuruno's thinking--no, saying she's maybe seen him? But Robby manages to shut himself up, lips pressing together, the hard line of his brow or on his mouth not going anywhere. ]

When did you see him? Did you get a name?

Ah, it was maybe a week or two ago, but... I ran into him when I was trying to find an apartment to stay in.

He said his name was Daniel LaRusso? He really seemed like a dad type, but then he said he is a dad, so I guess that was spot-on.

[ ... She is not sure if Robby is displeased or confused, that sure is a face he's making. ]

[ --Daniel LaRusso?

The face Robby's making isn't going anywhere when he hears that, frozen for a moment, a name he wasn't actually expecting to hear. But it does begin to change, as the realisation--or acceptance--that the man is actually here... He's been here this entire time?

It's a different kind of confused--it's a (nearly) speechless shock. ]

...Which apartment? Do you remember?

[ It's safe to say he recognises that name. ]

I could show you where? We wound up going to a pharmacy later and I'm not even sure if he lived there or was looking around like I was, but...

... So you two have both been here but missed each other, huh?

[ That's unfortunately ironic. ]

I didn't know to look for him. [ To be very fair to him!!! Which he does sound like he regrets now.

But, he's nodding. ] Show me.

Sure thing!

[ Which sounds like permission granted for Tsuruno to start jogging. Not flat-out running, at least, maybe because she can't guarantee she won't be taken out at the face by someone's reflexively swung groceries if she goes at full speed, or maybe she's just trying to be considerate of her companion who might not want to go at full speed. Either way, Tsuruno is leading the way to an apartment building that looks like... well. Like an apartment building.

Daniel LaRusso is not standing there with arms outstretched or anything. ]

[ what the fuck what do you mean there's no daniel larusso!!

Robby wasn't looking to run, thank you, though he probably didn't need to jog either--but he isn't really going to complain about getting to the location quicker, nor the help he's being given by Tsuruno doing this for him. The building is about as expected, no welcoming sensei on the steps waiting for them magically...

Which means having to actually investigate. Robby looks at the building when they come to a stop, considering that, and looks back at Tsuruno. ]

Thanks for bringing me here. I'll go ask around and see if I can find him, or if anyone's heard of him. I'll be fine -- maybe someone's got something of yours around.

[ Because he's not expecting Tsuruno to use more of her very precious time helping him out. And what if there is someone out there walking around with Tsuruno's belongings? ]

[ Thankfully, no one has the most important thing belonging to Tsuruno or she would be going through a Very Different Kind of Time right now.

But she blinks at him, as if genuinely puzzled by that statement. Maybe because yes, she is genuinely puzzled. ]

Are you sure? I don't mind helping out.

Let me know if you see him around? [ Since Robby knows there's not a sure chance he'll find Mister LaRusso here... ] But seriously, I'll be alright.

[ Letting people help you too much? Sounds cringe, honestly, Tsuruno!! And Robby is thinking about if someone is carrying something of hers... ]

Yeah, if that's what you want... [ her shoulders droop, slightly. ]

Then I won't get in the way. I hope you find him soon.

[ No one would seriously be sad about something like this, right?? Right. So: ]

I'll let you know. But thanks, again.

[ you're da best, Tsuruno... he'll message you later!!! ]

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