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sinfucks2024-08-21 10:56 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2024-08-21 10:56 pm
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▶ 006. TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #6
TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #6
▶ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA.
It happens in the blink of an eye -- a dash of time. You're taken from where you were. What you were doing... it isn't important anymore, and slowly, you give up to desire your normal life. When you awake, figures are looking down on you from a surgical table.
"Yeah, this one will do; let's take them to the rest." That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.
"Your questions will be answered soon enough as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.
Just then, your pod opens in a dim corridor with many others. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.
The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakens each Outsider. Outsiders emerge from their pod in only their undergarments which have been supplied to them, and head to a locker room in the medical bay to find a towel to dry off with and a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in assigning the Outsiders to their rightful teams. If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here. It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like there’s a foreign body lodged on the inside of their head. This pain will subside quickly as their body adapts to the changes, but there will always be a sensation of something being not quite right; that their bodies have been changed forever. They would be correct in thinking that. In the pod, all Outsiders have been surgically fitted with ocular and brain implants that will enable them to communicate with LILITH and the rest of the crew, as well as providing them the information they require. Almost like a computer screen has been loaded into their brains, they will see a loading screen as the implant completes its download. A questionnaire will then pop up, waiting for their answer. A voice, robotic and feminine, will also read along in their brain for them.
█ █ █ LOADING COMPLETE … BEGIN ORIENTATION …
The system will give Outsiders one chance to provide a truthful answer and choose their username and civilian identity. Should they refuse to cooperate, the implant will download the answer directly from their brain (and give them a username or civilian name against their will). This questionnaire will then be posted on the network for all to view and reply to. Almost like an ice-breaker, if you will. LILITH wants all their newest recruits to learn about each other!
Outsiders will receive a quick brief about their situation: they will be told that the year is 2278, and they have been taken to Neo Tokyo, one of the last bastions of mankind in a world terrorized by various Kaiju and monsters. Only a third of the population remains, and LILITH has gathered talented people from other dimensions here as a last ditch effort to save humanity. Outsiders are free to continue asking LILITH questions through their implant, but there’s no guarantee they will provide them with a straight answer …
Outsiders will also notice an implant in their dominant wrist. This implant has a barcode in it that will enable them to purchase goods from the local stores in Neo Tokyo. They will receive a starting balance of 15,000,000 KRYPTOS (about USD 100), which is barely enough for a few good meals, groceries, and supplies. They can view their current balance through a hologram window projected by their ocular implant.
While there would normally be a meal available for them in the cafeteria, this doesn’t seem to be the case this time. Robots working within the cafeteria will instead be handing out food ration bars to each Outsider. They are dense with calories and nutrition, but taste a bit like sawdust.
That familiar, robotic voice is heard again:
"Yeah, this one will do; let's take them to the rest." That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.
"Your questions will be answered soon enough as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.
Just then, your pod opens in a dim corridor with many others. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.
The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakens each Outsider. Outsiders emerge from their pod in only their undergarments which have been supplied to them, and head to a locker room in the medical bay to find a towel to dry off with and a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in assigning the Outsiders to their rightful teams. If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here. It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like there’s a foreign body lodged on the inside of their head. This pain will subside quickly as their body adapts to the changes, but there will always be a sensation of something being not quite right; that their bodies have been changed forever. They would be correct in thinking that. In the pod, all Outsiders have been surgically fitted with ocular and brain implants that will enable them to communicate with LILITH and the rest of the crew, as well as providing them the information they require. Almost like a computer screen has been loaded into their brains, they will see a loading screen as the implant completes its download. A questionnaire will then pop up, waiting for their answer. A voice, robotic and feminine, will also read along in their brain for them.
█ █ █ LOADING COMPLETE … BEGIN ORIENTATION …
Name:
Username:
Civilian Identity:
Age:
Species:
Origin:
A trolley is headed down the tracks at high speed towards a fork. On its current path, five people are tied to the tracks. You stand in front of a lever to switch the tracks to the other path, where only one person is tied to the tracks. Assume the trolley cannot be safely stopped before it hits the people, and they cannot be freed before the trolley gets there. What do you do?
The system will give Outsiders one chance to provide a truthful answer and choose their username and civilian identity. Should they refuse to cooperate, the implant will download the answer directly from their brain (and give them a username or civilian name against their will). This questionnaire will then be posted on the network for all to view and reply to. Almost like an ice-breaker, if you will. LILITH wants all their newest recruits to learn about each other!
Outsiders will receive a quick brief about their situation: they will be told that the year is 2278, and they have been taken to Neo Tokyo, one of the last bastions of mankind in a world terrorized by various Kaiju and monsters. Only a third of the population remains, and LILITH has gathered talented people from other dimensions here as a last ditch effort to save humanity. Outsiders are free to continue asking LILITH questions through their implant, but there’s no guarantee they will provide them with a straight answer …
Outsiders will also notice an implant in their dominant wrist. This implant has a barcode in it that will enable them to purchase goods from the local stores in Neo Tokyo. They will receive a starting balance of 15,000,000 KRYPTOS (about USD 100), which is barely enough for a few good meals, groceries, and supplies. They can view their current balance through a hologram window projected by their ocular implant.
While there would normally be a meal available for them in the cafeteria, this doesn’t seem to be the case this time. Robots working within the cafeteria will instead be handing out food ration bars to each Outsider. They are dense with calories and nutrition, but taste a bit like sawdust.
That familiar, robotic voice is heard again:
"Greetings, my name is SYNTHIA and I will be taking care of you today while the rest of the crew is occupied. Worry not, my children. You are in safe hands."
▶ 002. SIMULATION.
While Outsiders are given a fair amount of time to recuperate, not only from physical injuries but from the aftermath of their mission in Korea, it doesn’t take long before their training kicks back up again. This time, the stress is on formation, teamwork, and split decision making. While the Japan branch of LILITH believes all the Outsiders at their branch are performing as expected of them, the other international operatives underneath LILITH may not feel the same due to the results of their prior mission. While the higher ups back in Tokyo believe they made the best decision based on the information they had, it’s not to state the other branches of LILITH echo the same sentiment. As a result, there is a strict training regime that all Outsiders must commit to, new and old alike.
The simulation will naturally cover the terrain of Seoul, Busan, and other intermediary cities of South Korea; everything else will seem par for the course with the simulation. Outsiders will be asked to group up with those close to them and practice timing their attacks and specifically aiming for the kaiju’s weak points. Those who have trouble finding someone to work with can assume to be assigned to one another randomly. Veteran Outsiders will be asked to assist anyone new whom they may not recognize.
Despite their best attempts, the simulation feels harder than the actual kaiju, and its settings seem to factor in its incredibly unpredictable nature. As a result, “MISSION FAILED” will be seen more frequently than not. Outsiders will be forced to redo the simulations over and over, even until the early hours of the morning.
As a result, Outsiders will also be provided with energy drinks and coffee in a variety of flavors that are laced with their newest energy boosters. This will keep Outsiders particularly enthusiastic for the simulation runs, and give them the drive to keep them on track! The unfortunate side effect, however, is it that it does come with a fairly significant crash. Try not to develop a caffeine addiction during this time.
Other than the simulations, Outsiders will also be required to clock in for regular medical checkups, and most will result in asking them to increase their general fitness and physical capabilities. They will be required to utilize the gym, swimming pool, and other physical fitness facilities until their doctors sign off on them. While this may seem like a new form of hazing, the higher ups actually believe it could foster better relationships.
The simulation will naturally cover the terrain of Seoul, Busan, and other intermediary cities of South Korea; everything else will seem par for the course with the simulation. Outsiders will be asked to group up with those close to them and practice timing their attacks and specifically aiming for the kaiju’s weak points. Those who have trouble finding someone to work with can assume to be assigned to one another randomly. Veteran Outsiders will be asked to assist anyone new whom they may not recognize.
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: IMUGI ♀
HEIGHT: 1600 feet across, 55 feet high
WEIGHT: 2850kg
CLASS: Extremely Dangerous
LOCATION: Various Locations, South Korea - Map will be auto populated for terrain.
ABILITIES: Control over weather conditions, including summoning of heavy storms, lightning strikes and hurricanes. Can fly up to 1000 feet. By flying amongst the clouds, Imugi releases chemicals into the atmosphere that bring about acid rain. Armored scales, sharp teeth and claws. Camouflage; can disappear into seemingly thin air.
WEAKNESSES: Piercing it in the gaps between its impenetrable scales. There is also a particularly weak spot under its chin that will deal significant damage if pierced.
EXTRA NOTES: This is the female counterpart of the Imugi slain in Seoul. After giving birth, it demonstrated typical reptile behavior and abandoned its eggs. Since its initial appearance in Busan, it has grown. This kaiju seems more agile, is openly aggressive, and has demonstrated intelligence in being able to hold grudges.
█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:
Despite their best attempts, the simulation feels harder than the actual kaiju, and its settings seem to factor in its incredibly unpredictable nature. As a result, “MISSION FAILED” will be seen more frequently than not. Outsiders will be forced to redo the simulations over and over, even until the early hours of the morning.
As a result, Outsiders will also be provided with energy drinks and coffee in a variety of flavors that are laced with their newest energy boosters. This will keep Outsiders particularly enthusiastic for the simulation runs, and give them the drive to keep them on track! The unfortunate side effect, however, is it that it does come with a fairly significant crash. Try not to develop a caffeine addiction during this time.
Other than the simulations, Outsiders will also be required to clock in for regular medical checkups, and most will result in asking them to increase their general fitness and physical capabilities. They will be required to utilize the gym, swimming pool, and other physical fitness facilities until their doctors sign off on them. While this may seem like a new form of hazing, the higher ups actually believe it could foster better relationships.
▶ 003. BLACK MARKET.
It’s clear that the number one priority on people’s minds lately is the kaiju that’s on the loose. However, these hushed whispers on the streets aren’t simply rehashing the recent news, but instead are talking about certain trades happening on the black market. Considering the lack of personnel at base due to the damage control and fallout from the incident in Seoul, Outsiders will be tasked with talking to the citizens and scoping out any and all information on these secret trades. Yes, that's right, the black market is teeming with energy yet again.
Akin to the mission in March, it looks like those associated with Tokyo’s darker undertakings have a new business venture and it’s in Imugi body part trading. It looks like the newest hit in folk medicine is currently illegal research in using the Imugi’s scales, bones, and every part they can get their hands on: they have created dragon scale teas, dragon horn supplements, dragon blood steroids, and many other meats, delicacies, and food items. Some have even taken to grinding down the bones and claws. No one actually knows if this increases one's vitality and cures illnesses, or if it’s an unknown risk to the people.
Each of these leads will need to be looked into, and so Outsiders will be tasked as a group, and encouraged to work together in exploring these undertakings. Apparently, there are three major places that need to be explored: an abandoned factory in Shinjuku, a restaurant that is supposedly acting as a front for trades, and even a club similar to the Sapphire Room for higher VIPS who apparently are offering entire limbs of the kaiju up for sale.
It may be hard to move just by operating on civilian identities, and so LILITH is also offering a disguise by style upgrade, and encouraging recruits to make up an adequate “cover” as they explore. As the disguise on their style upgrade coincides with whatever they decide to make their fake identity, Outsiders are also required to turn in the appropriate paperwork, including what the occupation for the cover is, along with any other details to go along with their bit.
These actions are considered unacceptable by LILITH, and as a result are asking Outsiders to partake covertly in order to capture and bring back any suspicious individuals working for any of these black market distribution circles. These same individuals also seem to intersect with other levels of crime in the city, and so certain missions may coincide with these efforts. Outsiders are encouraged to contribute as they are able to.
Akin to the mission in March, it looks like those associated with Tokyo’s darker undertakings have a new business venture and it’s in Imugi body part trading. It looks like the newest hit in folk medicine is currently illegal research in using the Imugi’s scales, bones, and every part they can get their hands on: they have created dragon scale teas, dragon horn supplements, dragon blood steroids, and many other meats, delicacies, and food items. Some have even taken to grinding down the bones and claws. No one actually knows if this increases one's vitality and cures illnesses, or if it’s an unknown risk to the people.
Each of these leads will need to be looked into, and so Outsiders will be tasked as a group, and encouraged to work together in exploring these undertakings. Apparently, there are three major places that need to be explored: an abandoned factory in Shinjuku, a restaurant that is supposedly acting as a front for trades, and even a club similar to the Sapphire Room for higher VIPS who apparently are offering entire limbs of the kaiju up for sale.
It may be hard to move just by operating on civilian identities, and so LILITH is also offering a disguise by style upgrade, and encouraging recruits to make up an adequate “cover” as they explore. As the disguise on their style upgrade coincides with whatever they decide to make their fake identity, Outsiders are also required to turn in the appropriate paperwork, including what the occupation for the cover is, along with any other details to go along with their bit.
█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Create false identity to go undercover.
✖ Sneak into or receive an invitation to one of the following locations: an abandoned factory in Shinjuku, a restaurant chain that is supposedly acting as a front for trades, and Club Spades.
✖ Capture and round-up any suspicious individuals who may have information. Bring them back alive.
✖ Turn in any kaiju parts, items, and stock in.
These actions are considered unacceptable by LILITH, and as a result are asking Outsiders to partake covertly in order to capture and bring back any suspicious individuals working for any of these black market distribution circles. These same individuals also seem to intersect with other levels of crime in the city, and so certain missions may coincide with these efforts. Outsiders are encouraged to contribute as they are able to.
▶ 004. INTERROGATION.
In the midst of the ongoing investigations into the black market, there are rumors that the entire black market scheme was hatched up by a LILITH operative. Due to the timing of the Outsiders touching down in Tokyo and how swiftly the parts collected became distributed, a majority of the suspicions seem to fall on the Outsiders themselves. As a result, everyone on the base will be subject to routine checks on base, and may notice some LILITH drones may be keeping surveillance of them when they leave the premises.
LILITH is also offering rewards to agents under them who are able to discover their peers in possession of any sort of contraband. This includes kaiju parts which may have been given to them for safe-holding during investigation, research specimens that were given to them, or even any items crafted from kaiju, including food items. If any Outsiders are found with these kaiju parts and/or items, they will be taken in for questioning.
During questioning, they will either recruit a fellow Outsider to assist in these cross-examinations, or have them done by another agent under LILITH. Everyone who is brought in to be questioned is forced to ingest a truth serum. Upon consuming the serum orally or aromatically, they will be forced to tell the truth. They will also find themselves particularly loose-lipped, or uncharacteristically forthcoming. Unfortunately, while this serum may clear them of the smuggling accusations, these effects will continue to linger even after the interrogation has ended.
Additionally, while the Outsider or agent may not have been planning anything nefarious by holding onto these kaiju parts, they will be lightly punished. This may include being locked with another Outsider for 24-48 hours to watch AI-generated videos on the importance of going through the proper venues of tagging kaiju parts and not stealing.
LILITH is also offering rewards to agents under them who are able to discover their peers in possession of any sort of contraband. This includes kaiju parts which may have been given to them for safe-holding during investigation, research specimens that were given to them, or even any items crafted from kaiju, including food items. If any Outsiders are found with these kaiju parts and/or items, they will be taken in for questioning.
During questioning, they will either recruit a fellow Outsider to assist in these cross-examinations, or have them done by another agent under LILITH. Everyone who is brought in to be questioned is forced to ingest a truth serum. Upon consuming the serum orally or aromatically, they will be forced to tell the truth. They will also find themselves particularly loose-lipped, or uncharacteristically forthcoming. Unfortunately, while this serum may clear them of the smuggling accusations, these effects will continue to linger even after the interrogation has ended.
Additionally, while the Outsider or agent may not have been planning anything nefarious by holding onto these kaiju parts, they will be lightly punished. This may include being locked with another Outsider for 24-48 hours to watch AI-generated videos on the importance of going through the proper venues of tagging kaiju parts and not stealing.
▶ 005. CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ACTIONS.
A few days after newcomers have arrived and the atmosphere on the LILITH base seems to be less tense, a message on everyone's ocular implants will flash: MEETING IN THE SIMULATION ARENA. ATTENDANCE IS A MUST. THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
Characters will be grouped by their team name and in numerical order with the assistance of AI robots once they have reached the arena. If they are questioned, they only seem to answer one thing: COMMANDER SHIRO LIKES THINGS A CERTAIN WAY. Once everyone is organized, it's just a matter of waiting. After a moment, one of the arena walls, which is conveniently also a screen, will project a new looking face onto it.
The face is of a man who appears to be in his late twenties, but he's quite older than that. How he's achieved this, nobody seems to know. His hair, stark white, appears rather ragged for someone who otherwise has a neat and tidy appearance. Most of his face is obscured by a pair of goggles, and he does, on the whole look... human. However, while it's difficult to see what exactly is behind him, it certainly looks like a silhouette belonging to a set of tentacles coming from his back. His fingers are laced together with his chin on top of them as he heaves a sigh. The screen flickers with a bit of static.
The screen cuts out, and another debrief sheet appears.
Characters will be grouped by their team name and in numerical order with the assistance of AI robots once they have reached the arena. If they are questioned, they only seem to answer one thing: COMMANDER SHIRO LIKES THINGS A CERTAIN WAY. Once everyone is organized, it's just a matter of waiting. After a moment, one of the arena walls, which is conveniently also a screen, will project a new looking face onto it.
The face is of a man who appears to be in his late twenties, but he's quite older than that. How he's achieved this, nobody seems to know. His hair, stark white, appears rather ragged for someone who otherwise has a neat and tidy appearance. Most of his face is obscured by a pair of goggles, and he does, on the whole look... human. However, while it's difficult to see what exactly is behind him, it certainly looks like a silhouette belonging to a set of tentacles coming from his back. His fingers are laced together with his chin on top of them as he heaves a sigh. The screen flickers with a bit of static.
"Angels of LILITH, I'm severely disappointed in your failure. Teams Brimstone & Revelation, I expected more of you. If you had not let the Imugi escape, we would not have fallen into the hell that we are in now. We would not have had to make a decision to start with. Read the following instructions carefully. Make up for your mistakes. Don't ever let this happen again. Or else."
The screen cuts out, and another debrief sheet appears.
█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE: COMMUNITY & TEAM BUILDING.
✖ Team Brimstone & Revelation: Treat a colleague from Team Everlight & Team Redemption to a meal to celebrate their overall success. Everlight & Redemption will pick their meal of choice.
✖ (ALL TEAMS) Teach kaiju emergency protocol with given curriculum at the following school: Nishi Elementary School in the Shinjuku district.
✖ (ALL TEAMS) Clean up trash in the following districts: Shinjuku, Chiyoda, and Bunkyo.
✖ Shame fellow colleagues for their MISSED ATTACKS in whatever methods possible. Their codenames are: RUBBER DUCKY, AMBROSIA, CLOWN PRINCE, GODDESS OF DEATH, LILITH69, NADEL, RASGULLA, STARDUST.
▶ 006. AFTERWORD.
Welcome to our sixth TDM! All TDM threads are game canon and characters who don't app will be glitched out of this world. As the TDM will act as the event, existing characters are heavily encouraged to participate. Please use this format for top levels: CHARACTER | CANON | CURRENT / NEW CHARACTER.
There are currently 14 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for when APPLICATIONS open.
None of the prompts suit your fancy? Feel free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts! (Las Vegas is still being rebuilt and Seoul has closed off its borders to the Japan branch of LILITH.)
Use the code provided in the ARRIVAL prompt if you'd like to participate in the ice breaker, and place it in your top level along with your other prompts. Anything such as civilian name or username can be marked as UNDECIDED if you're unsure of what you'd like your character to have for now. Though it says 'Orientation', existing characters can still participate in the ice-breaker.
The monthly mingle will reveal information about payment for last month's mission and the winners for KO and top hit.
Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each and will count towards September AC.
There are currently 14 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for when APPLICATIONS open.
None of the prompts suit your fancy? Feel free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts! (Las Vegas is still being rebuilt and Seoul has closed off its borders to the Japan branch of LILITH.)
Use the code provided in the ARRIVAL prompt if you'd like to participate in the ice breaker, and place it in your top level along with your other prompts. Anything such as civilian name or username can be marked as UNDECIDED if you're unsure of what you'd like your character to have for now. Though it says 'Orientation', existing characters can still participate in the ice-breaker.
The monthly mingle will reveal information about payment for last month's mission and the winners for KO and top hit.
Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each and will count towards September AC.
TDM #6 BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. ARRIVAL PROMPT: Newcomers arrive with ocular and brain implants, and are given a breakdown of the premise with an icebreaker orientation to complete. Their first cafeteria meal is food ration bars. Newcomers are placed in gray loungewear while they are being sorted into teams.
2. SIMULATION: All Outsiders are subject to a new paired training regimen that focuses on formation, teamwork, and decision making. The training is a simulation of the most recent mission in South Korea and the target is a simulated version of the Imugi. Failed results will be more frequent and Outsiders will be required to redo the simulation until they achieve a mission success. Outsiders will also have required medical checkups with the goal of increasing overall fitness and physical capabilities.
3. BLACK MARKET: Outsiders are tasked to investigate rumors of Imugi body part trading happening in certain areas of Tokyo. They are encouraged to work together and create aliases outside of their civilian identities in order to infiltrate these facilities. Once infiltrated, Outsiders are to capture any suspicious individuals working for these black market circles, as well as to retrieve any kaiju parts or items.
4. INTERROGATION: Everyone on base will be subjected to routine checks with LILITH drones surveilling them upon leaving base. LILITH will be offering rewards to agents who turn in their peers for possessing any sort of contraband; these Outsiders will be brought in for interrogation either by a LILITH agent, or by another Outsider. Those subject to interrogation will be forced to ingest a truth serum; effects of the serum will linger after the interrogation has ended. Anyone who admits to being in possession of contraband will be punished by being locked with another Outsider for 24-48 hours.
5. CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ACTIONS: Outsiders are summoned to the simulation arena for a meeting with Commander Shiro, who expresses his disappointment with their performance in the latest mission. He provides a chance for Outsiders to redeem themselves via various tasks to avoid this from happening again.
no subject
It would be quite simple to test your hypothesis. Instruct any who have ingested this serum to try to withhold the truth, and then ask them easily verifiable questions, such as the colour of their hair or what team they're in. If not a single person is capable of doing so within a certain timeframe of ingestion, then that would prove your hypothesis incorrect.
[ He is indirectly implying that Bakugo try to test him, if he's so skeptical. Because Ratio has attempted to withhold the truth during his interrogation, and he wasn't very successful at it. ]
no subject
You've already thought about it. And you know what I think. If I asked you that kind of crap, you're predisposed to tell me what I want to hear.
[Hence the susceptibility and emotions. But if Ratio's gunning for a test...]
Tell me your hair's red.
[What happens when someone doped up on "truth serum" is told to lie, huh? Will we get this?]
no subject
'My hair is red.' ...would be quite easy to say if you subtract the presence of oinomelanin in my hair, the pigment that dictates blue hair colours. All hair contains pheomelanin, which can give hair a reddish hue if there is a lower concentration of other pigments present. But of course, given my indigo hair colour, you can be certain there is a significant amount of oinomelanin present.
[ So. The truth came out anyway. Ratio frowns for a moment. ]
I did try, but felt compelled to continue speaking to justify what I said. 'My hair is red'... is easy to say if I consider it a command and not a truth, but we are both aware my hair is indigo—
Hm. My hair is red... would be a true statement if I were to immediately dye it, but it is not my natural hair colour. That would be indigo.
[ HE'S REALLY TRYING TO LIE. And his attempts come with a lowered volume every time, until he's mumbling to himself. ]
i had to research this for almost an hour...
What the hell, you're just saying bullshit! Who the hell asked you to explain hair coloring?
[Now Ratio's just rambling to avoid the damn command! ... Shit, is this his way of getting around telling a lie?! By explaining it?! Fuck, he's on a roll with this. More information about hair than Bakugo wanted to know. He wants to shove a rice ball in Ratio's mouth to shut him up! Unfortunately the man's older than him and Bakugo doesn't usually do that to his superiors. People closer to his age? Hell yes.
The question is, can just saying something, repeating it, be a lie, if you had no intention to mean it? Like Ratio said, it'd be easy to "say" his hair is red, but it means nothing he'd just be repeating what was told to him.
Dammit, now Bakugo's wracking his brain trying to find some question that makes a paradox... Wait, he heard about this before.]
If the next thing I say is true, but that the last thing I said was a lie, would you believe me?
[He might end up having fun with this.]
Welcome to my life playing this damn genius...
[ The response comes almost immediately, as he's intimately familiar with philosophy and logic. This guy has a PhD in philosophy!!! ]
Albeit worded poorly. In its proper wording, such a statement cannot fall under the principle of bivalence, meaning it cannot be defined as either true or false. One simple way to resolve this is to assign the statement a non-Boolean truth value of 0.5, but I suspect you do not care for that answer.
However, with your wording, which questions my belief rather than the veracity of those statements, I may simply answer no, I would not believe either of those statements because it is clear you are having fun with my current state. I will admit I invited it, however, and will not dissuade you from asking more questions in an attempt to understand the true effect of the serum.
It would be easier to ask me to state, with full belief in my words, a liar's paradox, and nothing more to justify it.
This statement is— [ The word gets stuck in his throat briefly. ] ...is false... has.... a truth value.. of 0.5....
[ Help. ]
The things we research for RP. Little trivia boxes of wonder and weird.
[Of course he knows about it. Bakugo's not surprised, even if his human nature gets miffed Ratio counters his smart choice so easily. Damn Know-it-All. He's trying to prove the truth serum doesn't work by asking a question where the only answer's a damn lie. He can force that by making Ratio state something untrue, but that's nothing more than a repetition of words without any agency on Ratio's part. It has to be a question Ratio can answer of his own volition.
Hey, at least he doesn't have a PhD in dance...]
It's worded fine, dammit! Now you're talkin like a fucking computer! [Yeah no, you don't need to explain Boolean operators to him or lesson on discrete mathematics.] Haa? You can't believe something you know isn't true!
[It doesn't work philosophically or practically! Though Ratio's rejecting the statements and answering about his belief in the question. Which... isn't completely holding to a logical answer, so that's abstract. Fuck.]
Just asking you to state something doesn't mean shit. You can repeat words without conviction.
[Though when Ratio's has some trouble forcing that statement out, however, Bakugo perks up slightly, eyeing the man with a piqued gaze. Does making him state something untrue cause difficulty?]
Struggled to get that one out, huh. [Interesting. Alright. Cracking his proverbial knuckles.] I'm not gonna ask it, but is there something you know you'd always lie about if you got asked?
[Ratio's going to throw chalk at him at some point.]
no subject
The question is, is he willing to go this deep just for the sake of proving the effects of a serum?
Something that he'd always lie about if asked, no matter who was asking? There isn't much he'd hide from Aventurine, and what he would consider hiding from his lover, he wouldn't simultaneously consider hiding from others.
Wait. ]
...I am responding to this question in a manner that should make it quite obvious what my answer is, because I would not be this obtuse if I had nothing to lose. I must warn you not to proceed any further, because if you were to learn of what I would lie about, I'm afraid...
[ He pauses, very visibly struggling not to continue that sentence. ]
Well. Suffice to say, the answer is yes, and I will not elaborate any further.
[ There's something severe enough in Ratio's tone that makes it obvious that he's very serious about this. ]
no subject
Good thing for Ratio is Bakugo has zero intention of going that deep for a fucking serum. Nor is he willing to let Ratio compromise his own secrecy for that result either. Of course everyone has something they'd lie about! Everyone has a limit. Bakugo, for all his anger issues, pride, and stubborn denial, doesn't lie. He finds doing so a waste of his time and energy.]
I already said I'm not gonna fucking ask it! Use your damn ears.
[Dammit, that precursor was there for a reason! Just so this guy wouldn't think he's some kind of creep. Ratio's struggle does make the central idea of a truth serum working unnervingly tilt towards a certain answer. And yet, Ratio's still fighting against it, so obviously it's effects aren't absolute. Then again, all Bakugo asked was a yes or no question. Damn, even with that, it's compelling him to spill more... So maybe they're half correct each? Can't force the truth, but definitely not doping someone up into a loose-lipped drunk.]
Everyone's got secrets. I don't need to know yours. [Put that to rest.] Those bastards are the ones who lost the hybrids the first time. They should be questioning their own damn staff first, not us!
no subject
The serum predisposes me to speak more than I intend to, so I attempted to circumvent the urge to delve further into my secret by making an elaborate warning. It seems to be partially effective. It was not because I did not hear your disclaimer. You've already shown your consideration quite a number of times, so I was not worried.
[ Oh, that was more honest than Ratio wanted to be. He clears his throat and moves on. Let's all pretend he didn't say anything. ]
Yes, you are correct. I believe they are questioning their own staff as well, but we are not privy to the process.
no subject
[Only that truth can be sussed out from loose lips by directing, manipulating, and suggesting that flow of words. Of course you can get the truth if you impair someone's inhibitions and sense of privacy! Even now Ratio's rambling when a simple "I heard you" would've sufficed. If anything, this serum seems more like it's compelling him to explain everything he's doing or answering.
Bakugo's still not convinced it's able to pull out truth, but it's affecting Ratio enough to make digging out information a lot easier. It's dangerous. He'll admit to that. Ergo, he curbs the questioning rather than keep trying to prove a hypothesis.]
Tch. Forget it.
[If he keeps Ratio here, talking bullshit, that's less time he has to stumble upon someone who wouldn't be so considerate.]
Of course they wouldn't let us see them grill their own people.
[That'd admit they were struggling.]
no subject
[ And it's dangerous, that serum. Not only does it draw out the truth, but it also compels its consumer to reveal more than just that. And if the wrong kind of information spills out during his rambling, it could be disastrous for everyone involved. It's worse than a mere truth serum. ]
I do not believe their staff have been compelled to keep it secret, however. It should be possible to hear of how the investigation has been affecting them if you ask around or eavesdrop.
[ He's already heard a few things here and there as he walked past gossiping LILITH staff. ]
no subject
[To say nothing of other drugs and shit Bakugo's never gotten into because he's a good boy. And an arrogant bastard. Sometimes being the latter is a positive thing. Who knew.
Whatever LILITH plied Ratio and the others with, it's unethical and Bakugo would fight it if their overseers had attempted to force it. He relied on his own sparkling track record to bolster his refusal before things got messy.
Everyone's got dark secrets and dangerous information. Bakugo isn't going to dick around with Ratio's any further.]
Most of their staff stays inside unless there's a kaiju battle or some stupid social event going on. We can't walk up to their fortress and knock on the door for a damn chat with the guards.
[Maybe Bakugo just doesn't hang around places where the LILITH staff are. They seem rare to him outside of those two mentioned events.]