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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.
making it a trash trio (fitting)
—Oh, no problem, as it turns out. She’s got it, so, there. Look, it’s clean. Can he go now, et cetera. ]
Hm?
[ He pauses and takes the cigarette that he’s been lazily smoking from between his lips, then nods. ]
Sure do. This is around where I work.
[ Which makes it a good place to put in a token effort of trash pickup, since he works at a dive bar... ]
Would rather just ditch though, to be honest with ya. This is a waste of time.
lilias ditching immediately
Tezca’s frankness when he mentions wanting to ditch does make her smile, though—just a hint of a smirk. Even though she is only a human aristocrat—and a fairly low-ranking, down-on-her-luck one at that—she has too much pride to be happy about picking up trash to satisfy some higher-up’s power trip, and it was mostly a combination of stubborn work ethic and solidarity with her fellow Outsiders that led her to make an effort in the first place.]
You have a job in the city?
[She sounds approving; it’s smart to get a separate source of income that LILITH doesn’t govern. She intends to start looking for work once she’s learned a little more about the people here, too.
Oh, but she’s neglected to address the more salient topic. She wheels a couple paces over to a trash bin, and unhooks the little bag of litter from her wheelchair so she can drop the whole thing inside. No sense in carrying that around anymore.]
Let us put our valuable time to better use, then.
good for her!!
[ He gives the grabbing arm another twirl as he watches her head to the trash, since at first, he figures he’s here with another square. Like, good for people that are dedicated to this task, but that’s just not him. He’s not exactly someone that likes to be told what to do. But as she tosses the trash and also wants to ditch, his bored, lazy expression turns to one of pleased surprise. ]
—Oh?
[ A little grin follows, and he steps closer so that he can deposit the grabbing arm into the trash too. ♥ ]
Well, gotta apologize, in that case. Here I was thinkin’ you were the boring, dutiful type.
[ He tucks his hands into his pockets, then steps away to lead the way. He’s not actually going to go to his bar, at least, since he spends enough time there, but there are plenty of other options around here to get in trouble. ]
no subject
As she wheels herself in the direction her companion has chosen, she mutters something that sounds like “Come,” under her breath—but it is clearly not aimed at him. In any case, the whisper is barely audible over the city’s background noise.
Half a street away, a large raven takes off from the street and flies lazily after them, depositing a cigarette butt into a garbage can as it goes.]
Must one be both?
[Her tone is lightly disapproving, though perhaps only humorously so. It is true that Lilias finds duty a commendable thing, when devoted to a worthwhile cause or person. She just doesn’t judge their current assignment to fit that criterion, and can’t disagree with the assessment that devotion to such a task would inherently be a little dull.]
I thought I might multitask: Earn a little goodwill, see some new parts of the city.
no subject
[ looks at liem across the void (joke) ]
[ Tezcatlipoca nods once she's settled, and after taking a look at the nearest street sign to reorient himself to where they are in the district, he starts to head towards the left side of the sidewalk so that they can turn that way at the end of the block. ]
Not that that's a bad plan, though. Hell, when I got here, it would've been better. Just annoyed about this one because it's about some shit that ain't on us. Even more so for you, right?
[ He chuckles and shrugs. ]
Would say sorry for making a mess that you've gotten thrown into, but that's a little on the nose.
no subject
Her late husband was possessed of both qualities, too. He was fussy, and too gentle-natured for his own good; not one for adventure. How he would have hated being in this place.
Melancholy passes briefly over her face as she follows alongside her current guide. But it fades as quickly as it came.]
I do seem to have been assigned to one of the more maligned teams.
[That probably hasn’t helped matters for her—though as far as she knows, chores like this have been assigned to everyone, regardless of team. The little she knows about the situation paints a picture that terminated in some disgrace for all four groups.]
You actually fought the serpent beast in the flesh, then?
no subject
[ He looks back at her appraisingly, and hums like her general countenance might give him the answer. Eventually, that might be the case, but for now? He still doesn't confidently understand the logic behind team assignments, so. ]
Don't think you're Brimstone, so Revelation?
[ He's biased, but those are the two teams he thinks are getting the short end of the stick at the moment. But it's still mostly just a fun exercise for him. Without enforcing their desires, a capricious god like Tezcatlipoca will still what he wants. ]
But yeah, I did. Did a great job too, despite what our "leadership" might say about it.
no subject
[She wonders what his scrutiny means—whether he was just trying to determine if he’d seen her around before, or if there are specific characteristics people sorted into different teams tend to have. The former seems more likely, but she still feels like she’s been sized up somehow.
Well, she sizes him up right back.]
Then it would seem greatness is not sufficient, by LILITH’s standards.
[The circumstances surrounding her arrival have made Lilias suspect that only results matter to their overseers. If the higher ups can’t control the results, they can at least control their underlings to satisfy their own frustrations. She’s known more than a few people like that.]
Is this kind of discipline for unsatisfactory mission results common here?
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[ He's a harsh teacher himself, sure, but he also sees a pointed difference in how he conducts his Trials versus how LILITH is punishing them now. Mostly in that he sees their retaliation as something petty, and that's never the tenor of his lessons. He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. ]
Well, that's my view of things, at least. But I got a different one from most.
[ But before she might be able to ask about that, he looks her way. ]
Drink or smoke?
[ It's a tone that's asking which she'd rather do. ]
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Isn’t that why they’re ditching their makework to find something enjoyable to do? Certainly neither of them had needed to pry themselves reluctantly away.]
Mm…
[Lilias regards him with a considering look, mulling over his question. In this area, she’s assuming neither option is guaranteed to be of any particular quality. While she prefers not to bother with bad liquor, she’s even more choosy about what she smokes.]
Drink. With a bias towards atmosphere, given I cannot realistically be choosy about quality.
[She’s still getting by on broke-ass newcomer money.]
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[ He says it proudly, since he is fond of this shitty little district already… But that also makes it easy since drink is an option that’s closer. The smoking bars are harder to find, but definitely not impossible. ]
There’s a good place a block away. Or “good” by that definition. Trouble Peach. Local legend that’s been here ages, from my understanding.
[ He nods to her, or more specifically, to the chair. ]
The chair might be a squeeze, but we’ll make it work.
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I’m happy to experience a bit of local culture.
[The more different the atmosphere is from what she’s experienced at the LILITH base, the better. Military asceticism is very much not for her.
Of course, that does raise the issue of navigating whatever cramped environment the bar in question ends up presenting. This would not be an issue somewhere nicer, but she’s been to enough dives to have a good idea what to expect.]
I could just park it somewhere, [she says, with a slight nod that has the character of a shrug,] but it would be a nuisance if someone ran off with it.
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…Yeah, we’ll figure out somewhere inside for it, at least. Like, it’d be weird if someone nicked it, but I wouldn’t exactly put it past the kinda people that hang out here. Like, some dick stole my water bottle? I think they just like stealin’.
[ Again, he doesn’t seem disapproving of that kind of petty crime, but it is annoying. Her chair is certainly more important than his water bottle as well. ]
You like music, by the way? That’s kinda the appeal of the place. Lots of “old” music, least by this world’s timeline. Sounds new to me, though, to be honest with ya. But point is, so long as it ain’t busy, can pick what you wanna listen to from the guy’s collection.
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[In Lilias’s experience, some individuals who frequent less-reputable neighbourhoods really will just steal things—or vandalize them—just because they can. She doesn’t pretend to understand the impulse, but past experiences would suggest that the chair LILITH supplied her won’t necessarily be safe just because no one around has any use for it.
In a way, she agrees that petty crime can be a little scamp-ish, perhaps even colourfully charming in certain lights. It is also, however, definitely annoying.]
I do like music. [This at least makes her manner thaw a little further.] I doubt anything in his collection will be remotely familiar to me, old or not, but one must start somewhere, yes? It would be dull to spend the foreseeable future here and not listen to any.
Do you like it? The music at this place.
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[ It’s the weird, complicated thing with how gods work where he’s from. He could be separate from the world but also observe it, which practically meant that he knew about things like pop culture and modern music, but as if you were reading about them in a book. So, naturally, getting to experience them this way is more satisfying to him. ]
If you don’t expect it to be familiar though, gotta ask. What’s music like where you’re from?
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Let us just say that where I am from, the only way to enjoy music, generally, is to hear it performed by a live person.
[None of this newfangled audio recording nonsense. Well, actually it might be possible to accomplish such a thing magically, but it’s far from the standard, and anyway muddies her point somewhat, so she’s ignoring that right now.]
You might imagine the tavern songs, choirs, and wandering minstrels variety.
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Oh, yeah, that's what I'm used to as well, don't get me wrong. Knew that people had figured out a way to listen to it without needin' the performer, but never experienced it myself until I came here. Even where I'm from, the ability to do that... Well, let's just say it got lost.
[ That's the simpler way to put it without it surely becoming a different conversation. The fact that his world was on the precipice of ending would seem like a more interesting topic, he imagined. But it isn't. Music is better. ]
Not quite that genre, since we didn't exactly have taverns or minstrels, but principle's the same. Plenty of poetry and music to go around, 'specially in the capital.
[ But rather than dive into that, they turn another corner to find their destination lit up with a neon sign. There really isn't a good place to safely stow the chair outside, and the doorway is tight... But it'll fit. Maybe barely, but it still counts. Tezcatlipoca steps inside first and at least holds the door, but he doesn't offer any further help, though that's only out of his personal principles as a god. ]
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Mm. Most of the songs I like best are ballads.
[Now, though, she’s ready to roll the dice on something new. Perhaps she will find that “rock” and “blues” are to her taste also.
As they approach the bar, the raven that had been following them at its own lazy pace swoops down to perch on Lilias’s shoulder. It’s for the best that her companion leaves her mostly to her own devices as they head in, since, her need for assistance still being a somewhat recent development, it still rankles her to be offered very much. She follows the god inside with a brief nod of thanks, intent mostly on what sort of place Trouble Peach will end up being.]
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