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[sixpartsgin]

This new arrival could be Kaito or Shinichi, the hair halfway between Kaito's messiness and Shinichi's combed down flatness. He's quite obviously carrying a gun strapped to his hip, a small-calibre weapon in a well-cared for holster. There are other weapons secreted on his person, not quite as obvious. Some are as simple as a knife kept up one

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[infortherelics]

This Kaito (several years older than many of his counterparts in the mansion, he had found) had positioned himself in one of the chairs in the lobby, feet propped up on a coffee table as he skimmed through (yet another) book on hieroglyphics. Said book is propped lazily in his lap as he watches the new arrival with one eyebrow quirked. Looks like Kudo... wait, no, looks like me?

Dresses like them. Unless he's just trying to set a new fashion trend.

"Lost?" His tone was curious, demeanor deceptively relaxed as he lounged back in his reading chair, elbow resting on the arm and chin in his hand.

[sixpartsgin]

He looks at him silently, longer than he needs to take in everything about the other and more... He's confused, a little, scared, hesitant... but in the end, a scant three seocnds later, his training wins out.

"I think so," he replies neutrally. "Where am I?"

[infortherelics]

"We just call it the Mansion," was Kaito's quick reply, and he shifted in his seat as he pulled his feet off the coffee table. The book was closed with a snap and placed on the table in return. "And before I go into specifics, I'll warn you that the explanation isn't going to make sense at first."

He lifted an eyebrow at the newcomer, gaze studying him carefully. Obviously armed, with a smaller weapon... probably armed in other places as well. Wary, attentive, moves quietly, like he's trained for this. Doesn't look like he's from my world. Huh.

Part of him wondered if he should leave. The other part of him was far too curious to bother. "You still wanna hear it?"

[sixpartsgin]

"I haven't had any explanations yet," he replied neutrally. "What you have to tell would be appreciated."

Blue eyes. Those eyes, his eyes, the same as the both of them... this couldn't be a coincidence. And the age of the man in front of him... was it him, or his opposite? And how far ahead? Had they done it yet? Was he even one of them? A solid explanation for this place was what he needed. And if this person was who could give it to him...

He shifted his postion slightly, enough to look relaxed whilst still able to move any way he might need to.

[infortherelics]

Neutral. Relaxed. No reaction. Not bad.

"Inter-dimensional nexus," he offered. There was no reason not to tell this guy; he'd figure it out eventually, "Spatial-temporal flux. A house that exists in the space between worlds. You know, all that good science fiction stuff."

He watched, searching for a reaction, but expecting none.

[sixpartsgin]

He was quiet for a moment, thinking. He'd disbelieved the boy when he'd told him all those things, but another? He was sure they were past needing to be tested by now.

"What should I expect from that, if that's the truth?" Another neutral question, not as observant as he could have been, nor as precise.

[infortherelics]

What was it with this guy and neutrality?

"It won't be easy to get home, for one," Kaito responded, a disarming grin blossoming on his features, "'S not like there's bus that'll take people back and forth, y'know?"

He tilted his head, pondering which of the many questions he had he should ask. "Not many people come here armed, either. What do you do back where you come from?"

His curiosity was seemingly innocent, gently prodding for information that could be valuable at a later date.

[sixpartsgin]

A quick flicker of a smile, the barest show of emotion. "Secret agent." It's obvious to him that he can't hide as much as he'd like to, if Kaito's words are true. His theories might even be correct as to who Kaito is.

"I was supposed to be in Berlin five minutes ago." A small show of information, a hint of openness that suggested an unintentional revelation that he wasn't as blank as his demeanour showed. "It'd be rather troubling if I wasn't there on time."

[infortherelics]

"Berlin, huh," Kaito commented idly, "For a secret agent, you sure are forthcoming with information. Inter-dimensional nexus or not."

[sixpartsgin]

"I'm not that secret to people I know... and I do know you, don't I?" A frank gaze, and, almost unintentionally (or seemingly so, as everything was an act) a hint of vulnerability. Please be the person I know, it said.

"If this is a nexus, like you said, then people would be doubled. Which one of us are you?" Basing lies on the truth, not all of his openness was a fake.

[infortherelics]

Kaito didn't answer right away, too caught up in that expression and trying to figure out what it all meant. "Maybe not me, personally," he finally said, "But there's a possibility you know who I am. In a way."

He quirked an eyebrow at the second question. "Us? I'm not an us, unless you're counting doubles." A tilt of his head and a shrug. "I'm a me." A pause, and then his name. "Kaito Kuroba."

[sixpartsgin]

"..." Then, what did that mean? He could barely fathom that. Not an us? Did that mean he didn't know him? A pnag of loss tore at his chest; he wanted to shout, tear something down, cling so tight to his other half they'd end up with bruised hands.

He winced, placing a hand to his chest without thinking about it.

"That doesn't mean anything to me," he said, still keeping up the act he'd created. "Kaito Kuroba?" A tilt of one shoulder, hand dropping back to his side again. "Tell me more about you."

[infortherelics]

Well that was an interesting reaction. If his name didn't spark a familiar reaction in this newcomer, than that meant he was--

"Why should I?" the thief answered with a shrug, and out of his pocket he tugged a box of Pocky. His gaze shifted downward, demeanor casual and seemingly unguarded as he flipped the box open. "If my name doesn't mean anything to you, then I don't have anything to share."

"Then again..." he glanced up again, still curious, "Maybe the name Shinichi Kudo does?"

[sixpartsgin]

"...No, I'm sorry, it doesn't." Answering the question first, then pushing on for an answer. "If you tell me about yourself, I might know if you are one of us. You look like my partner or I might in ten years."

How long was it since they'd heard their birth names out loud? Since they'd been banned from being themselves and shaped into something new?

[infortherelics]

"One of you," Kaito repeated, almost to himself, as he plucked a cookie from the box. He shook his head, turning over the new information in his mind. Someone who looked like him and Kudo, but didn't respond to either name. Someone who dressed in black. Someone who was armed. Someone who was a 'secret agent.'

The younger Shinichi had mentioned that there were similarities across worlds, and that the men in black seemed to be a constant among all of them. He supposed it was possible... "If by 'us' you mean people who dress in black and like to nickname themselves after things you'd find in a bar, then no, I'm not one of you."

And that would be why I'm not telling you anything about myself.

[sixpartsgin]

A startled look, then a flash of annoyance.

"How many people here know about Them? You're the third person who's thought I was one. Which I am not." A firm gaze, almost a glare. "I work with the FBI."