▶ 007. TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #7

[synfluxmods]

TDM & SIMULATION #7

CONTENT WARNINGS: ptsd, ptsd (of children), bloodletting, medical needles, survival-horror elements, vampirism, partial nudity

▶ 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 the desire of your normal life. When you awaken, 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 wakes 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:
Blood Type:

Do you believe in ghosts?

<raw code><table width="80%"><br><div align="center"><img src="IMAGE_URL" style="width: 200px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"> <!-- CARD --> <div style="width:230px;padding:20px 0 0;border:1px solid #f2f2f2;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:right;gap:5px;background:#fff;"> <!-- CHAR INFO: start --> <div style="width:150px;font-family:courier;font-weight:bold;font-size: clamp(14px, 1vw, 10px);letter-spacing:1px;line-height:1;color:#000;"></lj-raw><font color="#00686E">NAME</font> <lj-raw></div> <!-- CHAR INFO: end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE START --> <div style="width:230px;background:#eee;"><details><summary style="cursor:pointer;text-align:center;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;background:#ccc;color:#000;">+</summary> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content --> <div style="width:190px;margin:0 auto;padding:7px 0;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;color:#000;"> </lj-raw><b>Username:</b> !!ANSWER HERE!! <br> <b>Civilian Identity:</b> !!ANSWER HERE OR SAY UNDECIDED!! <br> <b>Age:</b> !!AGE HERE!! <br> <b>Species:</b> !!SPECIES HERE!! <br> <b>Origin:</b> !!ORIGIN HERE!! <br></br> <b>Blood Type:</b> !!BLOOD TYPE HERE!! <br></br> <b>Do you believe in ghosts?</b></br> </br>!! ANSWER HERE !!<lj-raw> </div></details></div> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE END --> </div></div> <!-- CARD name: END --> <!-- CREDIT --> <div style="width:100%;margin-top:-15px;font-size:10px;color:#ddd; text-align:center;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#ddd;">credit</a></div></center></table></raw code>

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 that 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 a small array of food: blood sausages, blood soup, pumpkin curry, candy corn, and iron pills to each Outsider. The blood for the sausages and soup are supposedly from donations and whatever was left from the medical bay. There will be enough iron pills for people to distribute amongst their teammates if needed, as well as other supplements.

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.

Outsiders are provided sufficient downtime after the last optional mission. Additionally, LILITH will still be offering the same services as the aftermath of the previous battle, including the usual medical assistance and therapy. Those who have lost body parts will be provided a synthetic replacement when they are ready. This replacement will function just like the body part that is lost and can look way cooler (up to you) or blend in with a character's natural body (also up to you.) Refer to our rewards page for more information. Characters will receive a replacement prosthetic (e.g. the basic prosthetic arm/leg/eye) but will need to put in a reward request to further enhance their prosthetic (e.g. to buy a machine gun for their prosthetic arm).

Just because LILITH provides therapy, doesn't mean a character has to go, but the option is there. Outsiders may also be encouraged to visit these facilities, depending on their general mood, which occasionally seems tracked through their oculars. Team members will also be incentivized to reach out to one another to check in and provide some much needed emotional and/or physical support.

While not required, LILITH will still resume its usual simulation training, and those who desire to participate will be asked to arrive at the simulation in varying intervals in their LILITH-issued plugsuits. The design of this simulation will be a bit different and will take on the form of a horror and/or survival game: participating Outsiders will be expected to complete puzzles and make it through various levels of difficulty in order to complete the simulation.

Each Outsider will open their eyes to what appears to be an abandoned town. The town almost appears to be colorless in many ways and is covered in a light fog. The simulation will provide various objectives that range from protecting a single civilian or child found in the midst of this town, to defeating several monsters. The monsters will be reminiscent of any monster the Outsiders have already seen before, the only exception being the “final boss.” During the final boss fight, Outsiders are encouraged to give it their all and push their abilities in order for LILITH to be able to better gauge everyone’s abilities and growth.

Besides, it wouldn’t be considered an actual simulation without a proper battle.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET:
NAME: TRIANGLE HEAD
HEIGHT: 3 METERS
WEIGHT: 300 KG
CLASS: UNKNOWN, CANNOT BE CLASSED.
THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE-SEVERE
LOCATION: Unnamed City, USA
ABILITIES: Able to appear from people’s shadows, able to instill a sense of fear in others. Wields a sword, which it also utilizes as a long ranged weapon.
WEAKNESS: Susceptible to the emotions of the other party. The more acceptance they have in their hearts, the less powerful it becomes.
EXTRA NOTES: Once it is able to instill fear on its target, it is able to cast illusions. These illusions can differ from person to person, but seems to make them confront their biggest fears.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Identify any living civilians and take them to safety bunker while fighting off monsters.
✖ Take out all monsters and/or kaiju that are in the area.
✖ Protect safe zones.
✖ Defeat TRIANGLE HEAD.
EXTRA NOTES: Assisting other Outsiders and working together also increases the overall score.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:


At the end of the simulation, they will be rewarded with a little pin that says: “I’ve survived ☺” with either a cat, ghost, or witch on it. Outsiders may challenge this as many times as they would like. Unfortunately, as this “horror simulation” hinged deeply on the subconscious, some will find that after the simulation is complete, they may have residual fear left in their bodies that trigger at random times. Whether this be when they’re going to the bathroom at 2 AM, or they’re in the middle of the cafeteria grabbing a late snack. They may also have the feeling that they hear monsters lingering around base, and be struck with the sudden fear that they’re being followed.

While LILITH will rework everyone’s oculars in order to deal with this problem, in the meantime, they suggest watching heartwarming videos and shows. LILITH will have a library of suggestions, including old Christmas movies, cartoons, and even old episodes of reality TV to act as an appropriate distraction. Maybe arrange a comforting sleepover party?

▶ 003. THIS IS HALLOWEEN.

Outsiders who choose to venture out into Neo Tokyo will find the city bustling with life, just as it always is. Halloween has always been a holiday well loved and celebrated in Neo Tokyo, and not even the very real threat of kaiju can dampen the spirits of the people. If anything, being able to find some humor in the sordid state of the world seems to be keeping the spirits of the people up. The fact that some people are walking the streets dressed up as very real kaiju that have attacked the city before seems to prove this point.

Though Halloween is over, the celebrations are dragging on for longer than usual this year. Lucky you, right? After a month of loss and devastation in Transylvania, you still get to enjoy Halloween! Shops, restaurants and bars are milking this holiday for what it’s worth while they still can. They come fully decked out in spooky decorations - skeletons, cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns, and the occasional witch cauldron! Outsiders may simply enjoy the sight of costumed locals wandering the streets, but if they feel inclined to dress up as well, they can buy a costume from a store or use their style upgrade to make a costume (or simply assume that the style upgrade chip had glitched them into a particular costume). Some events running in the city include:

- Bars and clubs are serving Halloween themed drinks and food. Some examples of this would be alcohol served in a jack-o-lantern or smoky cauldron, blood-themed cocktails, cookies with frosted spiders on them, candied apples, pumpkin-flavored food and many more. Feel free to make up your own.
- The Harlem bar in Tokyo is hosting a Halloween rave with drinks, music, and a costume party! The customers with the most impressive, scariest, or sexiest costume get to be crowned king or queen of the bar for the night and will be treated to bottomless drinks and a 50,000 KRYPTO gift card.

- The Tachikawa region of Neo Tokyo is hosting their annual yokai festival! People are filling the streets wearing masks or dressing up as yokai, and coming to the festival in a costume is mandatory or you will be turned away. Don’t worry, a face-painting stall has been set up to help characters become the yokai of their dreams! Live music is playing, people are dancing, and there are numerous stalls selling traditional snacks and yokai-themed foods.

- Pop-up haunted houses and zombie houses are still running in the area! Test your courage by wandering through a spooky, dark room filled with ghastly ghouls, zombies and werewolves (who happen to be … robots or people in costume). Or perhaps you fancy a zombie run event in the dead of the night? Being chased by zombie actors and robot zombies sounds like an excellent way to get some cardio in. (These zombies and ghouls are paid actors and will not harm the customers in any way, so any violence against them is prohibited and will get you kicked out.)

- The Bandai store is excited to reveal its latest holographic virtual pet: Kasper! Kasper exists as a keychain of a cartoon ghost. When turned on, it projects the hologram of a cutesy-looking ghost into the air. This small ghost can float around in the air and phase through walls and people. It is programmed to behave like a pet, coming to its owner when called, enjoying being petted, and getting into some mischief on occasion. Very much like a Tamagotchi, Kasper needs frequent attention or he will fade away and the user will need to start the game over. Outsiders may purchase this toy if they wish. It is for leisure purposes only and cannot be used for carrying things or espionage.

With the popularity of Halloween, law enforcement is on high alert for unruly characters and will be breaking up gatherings of too many people or arresting anyone appearing to be heavily intoxicated in public. There’s a certain gang of trouble-makers who seem to be finding joy in scaring people for real, and they do this by dressing up in clown costumes and chasing people down the street with real weapons. There have even been reports of these hooligans assaulting people for real. Any Outsider who can wrangle these trouble-makers and present them to law enforcement will receive a decent reward from the city.

For the period of Halloween, LILITH has given clearance for inhuman Outsiders to roam the streets without their cloaking disguises. They might get many compliments for their impressive ‘costumes’.

▶ 004. BLOOD DRIVE.

Not only is the mission to Transylvania highly classified, but the existence of vampires amongst the Outsiders is also classified information. For the sake of Neo Tokyo’s stability, LILITH will be ordering all Outsiders to keep this information under wraps. Thankfully, a fanged vampire would not look too out of place amongst the many costumed crowds in Neo Tokyo. In fact, play into the vampire theme, and you might even get your picture taken! You don't need to answer them when your image doesn't show up on film, it's all part of the magic with nowadays technology.

As Dr. Spim works tirelessly on a cure, freshly turned vampires will need to find ways to cope with the changes. A special monitor will be added to their implant that will alert them when they are dangerously low on blood and need to feed. If they continue to ignore these warnings, LILITH security robots will prevent them from leaving the base, forcing them to feed on a blood bag or find a friend to feed on. With some Outsiders going feral from their thirst for blood, LILITH simply cannot allow the people of Neo Tokyo to be put at risk. Vampires who are sensitive to the sun (it's up to you if you would like them to be a daywalker or not) will be given medicated sunscreen that will offer some protection from the sun. It is still recommended that they wear protective clothing and stay in the shade, however.

With the grave hit that LILITH has taken following the last mission, LILITH’s blood bank is running lower than ever before. Not only did the wounded require blood transfusions, but a good number of Outsiders have been turned into vampires and require a regular food source. A creative solution has been proposed: it’s time for a blood drive! LILITH has set up a medical booth in the streets of Shibuya where volunteers and Outsiders may visit and donate blood. For some added irony, the blood drive is vampire-themed, but LILITH would prefer that Outsiders not tell the donors about the fact that some of their blood will go on to feed actual vampires.

Donors rest on one of the comfortable chairs provided, and a trained medical staff or robot will prick them, drawing out enough blood to fill a bag. Those who do not know their blood type can be tested today and get a cute sticker with their blood type on it! Outsiders may become donors themselves or volunteer to prick others; specialized training will be provided for volunteers. There is a refreshment and relaxation area providing beverages and a light meal (such as little cakes, small sandwiches and onigiri) to all donors.

▶ 005. THE ORPHANS.

Following the mission in Transylvania, several cultist children have been brought back to base. LILITH has prepared a holding area with beds for them to stay in temporarily as a long-term solution is prepared.

These children are understandably very affected by what had happened to them and the town they once considered home. In their perspective, LILITH Outsiders had come out of nowhere and the adults in their town had treated them with hospitality. It was typical for the people of the town to occasionally disappear, and the adults would call it being ‘chosen’ by the Lord of the Forest. What was not typical was what had happened in late October: how chaos had emerged between the people of the town and those from outside, which led to parts of the village being burned down, food being taken, and children being whisked away to this mysterious land.

Someone should probably fill them in on the real story.

Being ripped away from your entire world in such a drastic and violent way would not be easy for anyone to cope with. Most of the children appear miserable and withdrawn, some refusing to eat, some crying in their corners and some refusing to speak. While most of the children are shaken with terror, a few of them cope with their raw emotions by lashing out, hitting the other children, kicking the walls and throwing things at other people. The road to recovery for them appears to be a long one, and currently, it’s not clear if they even can go on to live a normal life after everything they have been through.

Since the Outsiders now have some time on their hands, they are heavily encouraged to make an organized effort to help these children. The holding area looks as clinical as any other hospital room and could use …warmer decor. The area is also bereft of toys or anything a child would typically enjoy, so there’s little for these troubled children to do but sit in their corners feeling miserable for themselves. LILITH does provide robot nannies capable of changing diapers and teaching mathematics, but they are cold and emotionless, lacking any real affection. Presently, LILITH does not have the funds to do anything more than meet these childrens’ basic needs, so they are counting on the Outsiders to provide their support in any way they know how. Keep them company? Teach them something new? Give them treats? Take them trick-o-treating? Every Outsider has a different skill to offer.

Outsiders who gain the trust of certain children will be granted clearance to take them around the base and into the city of Neo Tokyo. These children have grown up isolated from modern technology and people outside their town–the sights and sounds will be overwhelming for them, especially with so many people in costumes, so field trips need to be planned carefully.

While still in the early stages, the Outsider known as PUNISHER (Nicholas D. Wolfwood) has proposed that an orphanage be raised to provide shelter for disadvantaged children in Neo Tokyo. LILITH has plans to make a generous donation to this project, and is calling on Outsiders to raise funds however they see fit. Some examples on how to raise funds include: speaking to investors for toy companies, spreading awareness to their social media followings, putting up musical performances or selling merchandise. (If you wish to have your character gain fans or a following online to aid in the fundraising, you do not need mod permission and can just assume it happens.)

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our 7th 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 8 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for when APPLICATIONS open.

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 November AC.

TDM #7 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. Newcomers are placed in gray loungewear while they are being sorted into teams. Blood based food will be served for all vampire turned Outsiders with Halloween themed food for non-vampires. Characters who lost a body part or two in Transylvania may get a free prosthetic when they are ready. On-base therapy and counseling sessions are offered.

2. SIMULATION: An optional simulation prompt featuring TRIANGLE HEAD is offered in a survival-horror themed simulation. Some after affects from this simulation may cause characters to feel fear and panic and are encouraged to watch comforting videos, possibly together, to counteract the side effects.

3. THIS IS HALLOWEEN: Halloween celebration spills into November with Halloween themed bars, costume parties, youkai festival, and the reveal of Kasper, a hologram virtual pet. Troublemaking gangs dressed as clowns wreck havoc when they see a chance and Outsiders are free to intervene for a reward.

4. BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive to aid in feeding vampiric Outsiders is offered in Shibuya. Outsiders may be donors or phlebotomists for this task.

5. THE ORPHANS: Cultists orphans are held on base while LILITH works on establishing an orphanage for both cultist children and orphans on the street. Outsiders are encouraged to take care of them and even take them trick-or-treating until their new home is ready.

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Comments

Yato | Noragami | Everlight

[intertwinedfates]

❄️ 1. ICEBREAKER

Yato

+

Username: Destiny
Civilian Identity: Tsukasa Toi
Age: 1000+
Species: God
Origin: Japan, Earth
Blood Type: Divine

Do you believe in ghosts?

Of course, since I normally employ them as my weapons.

credit

🎃 2. RAVE MASTER

[For Halloween this year, Yato's decided to go traditional by getting all decked out in a blue onmyoji outfit that he's made himself. It's not quite god-level wear, but it'll do, yeah? At least he hopes so, since he's entering that rave's contest for BOTTOMLESS DRINKS and KRYPTOS!!

So he can be found roaming the bar (no surprise there) but instead of drinking, he's trying to drum up votes for his attire. Maybe someone would still like to offer him some refreshments in exchange for a blessing?]

--and that's why you should pick me as the king of costumes! I can ensure your good fortunes AND fulfill your wishes! And aren't I just the most dashing fella here, huh? Huh??

[Waitaminute-- Does this constitute bribery? Maybe someone needs a stern talking to...]

😈 3. YOKAI NO LIE

[Meanwhile for the Tachikawa Yokai Festival, your neighborhood god has gone into fanboy mode by opting to dress as a favorite demon from a manga. That surely counts, right? And thanks to the style chip, the long tail on his back is prehensile and capable of being used for mischief, which you can bet your buttons he's getting up to.

Have a tail of your own, or maybe a long wig or trailing costume? Guess what he's pulling. That snack you're holding oh so loosely? He's trying to snatch it. Your drink, bottoms up! It's gone! He also might be... accidentally brushing the bare legs of ladies in costume as he walks around the place. Hey, that thing has a mind of its own, okay?]

🃏 4. WILDCARD

[Feel free to come at me with whatever!]

01 Icebreaker

[norwegianblade]

[ Sigrun is surprised to see that!]

That's not something you hear everyday! I've seen them run amok and try to kill me, but I've never heard of something like that. How do you put a spirit in a sword?

[intertwinedfates]

[Fufufu, yes, that's right. Be impressed with his special godly abilities!]

It's less putting them into a sword and more making them into a sword themself by giving them a name. Blessing them with a god-given name turns them into a shinki - a divine instrument.

The form they take depends upon the god and the spirit in question.

[norwegianblade]

[[Listen, woman hears about man (god but she don't know that) who can make weapons. She's DEFINATELY gonna ask about that.]]

Never heard of something like that! It would be useful troll hunting, letting those who fell also have a chance to continue fighting the good fight!

Shiny. Shinke. Shinki. Wait a minute. How do I- This thing is... going to take some time to get used to...

Interesting... ghost weapon term.

Sooo... Is the weapon transparent and goopy or something? Something more ghostly? If they are just a sword made of a spirit.

[intertwinedfates]

[Fair enough. It's not everyday one can make living weapons at that.]

Exactly! For warriors, it's a great way to quench their thirst for battle. Not so much for kids, though.

Hehe, don't overthink it, yeah? It's a wild method of communicating.

Oh no, definitely not. It's less they're ghosts and more pure souls of deceased spirits. So clean, pristine. That sort of thing. And they draw the line between what to cut so that a skilled shinki can cut a person inside without leaving a mark externally.

[norwegianblade]

[ Exactly!]

I can certainly see that! I'd assume it wouldn't be good for untrained soldiers or kids who aren't skilled in that stuff.

We don't even have half the technology where I am from.... So this stuff is... weird. Efficient, but weird. I'm starting to think this is what mages feel like.

Huh, interesting. Don't know much about spirit stuff to be honest. Not exactly my expertise. We got mages to thank for that. Little over my head, interesting though. So if you stabbed someone with this shinki it wouldn't hurt them really? Just... the soul part?

2. rave master

[swiftshatter]

[ Thoma listens attentively as Yato lists off the many reasons why he deserves a vote for his costume. It's not the flashiest costume he's seen that night but the earnesty and enthusiasm in Yato's voice wins him over. He laughs, nodding his head. ]

Okay, I got it, I'll vote for you. Can you really make all my wishes come true though?

[intertwinedfates]

[Urk. There he goes again, promising checks his abilities can't cash. But more than wanting to win, Yato doesn't want to let this guy down now. So he thrusts a finger in the air dramatically, poised with his other hand on his hip.]

O-Of course! Or... at least, I'll do my damnedest to see them through! Some things are a little beyond my power, it must be said.

[Like, a lot of things. But hey, gotta drum up business somehow!]

[swiftshatter]

[ Yato is doing his best and that's what matters! That's what Thoma believes anyway. Whether or not Yato actually fulfills his promises doesn't really matter in the end, they're here mostly for fun. ]

Haha, it's okay if you can't make them come true. It's more important to work hard for your dreams, right?

[ That's what he'd done after leaving Mondstadt and it had worked out for him alright. Thoma claps his hands together, analyzing Yato's costume. ]

But if you really wanna win, we might have to add some additions to your costume.

[intertwinedfates]

[That's one category he will always come out on top of in his own mind: best effort, because boy does he try his best! It's not like he makes said promises without any intention of fulfilling them, too. He wants to! He's just not always able.]

Heh, that's true! What would be the point in living if someone handed you everything on a silver platter, yeah?

[Lifting his arms a bit to better show off the different angles, he twists this way and that to give Thoma a better view.]

You think so? What's missing, ya think?

[swiftshatter]

[ Thoma circles around as he thinks, looking up and down and all over the costume. It's pretty well-made as far as he can tell, with a good number of accessories. ]

What about a mask? It'd give you a little mystery.

[ People love mystery. ]

Or some decorations for your hair? To really make it pop, you know?

3

[newphew]

[ hunter has no costume. in fact, he is just kind of staring at yato in his disguise. ]

What are you doing? Why do you look like that?

[ and then his food gets snatched. or, well, yato manages to tear off about half of hunter's donut, because he pulls it back possessively ]

Hey! Get your own food!

[intertwinedfates]

It's Halloween!

[Duh? Isn't that obvious? Or is it his costume that's garnering the weird look? Oh well.]

Oops~ Sorry about that. It kinda has a mind of its own.

[So he says, but his tail distinctly brings the donut up to Yato's mouth so he can nibble on it way too cheerfully. Ass.]

[newphew]

Which is what, exactly?

[ hunter is not fooled!! he glares at yato, and then... shoves the rest of the donut in his own mouth. kind of looking like a hamster with his mouth full, but now yato can never get it!! ]

[intertwinedfates]

You don't know about Halloween?? Costumes! Candy! Parties and drinking!

[Said like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Which, it might be to him, although clearly this guy's not from somewhere on earth, so maybe he should be a bit more understanding.]

It's a festival celebrating those who've passed away. Or at least for some people it is. It used to be to soothe the spirits of the deceased, but these days it's a chance for kids to get candy and adults to party.

[newphew]

[ hunter gives him a blank stare as he explains. to be honest, there probably is something similar in the demon realm, but hunter was too busy being child soldier mcgee to know of such festivals. he raises an eyebrow ]

What does candy have to do with spirits? And... costumes? Drinking?

[ get him candy to redeem yourself, yato!! clearly ]

❄️ 1. ICEBREAKER

[blastedass]

You forgot to add the part where they beat you up.

[intertwinedfates]

[He has no idea how that picture made it in there, but he's regretting it already.]

S

Shut up. It's all part of the job.

[Sort of. Yukine does go overboard sometimes, not that he doesn't deserve it.]

[blastedass]

Maybe you shouldn't encourage it.

[intertwinedfates]

He'd do it anyway. That's just how he is.

YOU should know that feeling.

[Ooooh zing!]

[blastedass]

Of course I know it! I beat you all the time!

[Counter zing!]

3 sorry but not sorry

[harboredfeelings]

[ We all know this routine by now. Yato does something, this time the prehensile tail of his getup sneaking up the skirt of a very nice dress. There's an undignified yelp that turns into a growl of rage, a spin on the heel and--

SMACK.

Kaga full on slaps the freshness out of him thinking it's just some idiot drunk (not wrong). Her ears and tails are all standing on end, her vampire fangs are bared, and she's about ready to start really laying into this guy. She's pulling her arm back and forming a full on fist when recognition sets in and she freezes, blinking rapidly. ]

Yato?! [ She's so Mad and also Surprised that she entirely forgot any honorific whoops. ] What the hell do you think you're doing?

never be sorry, this is them haha

[intertwinedfates]

[To the complete surprise of no one, Yato's dirty mind is getting him into trouble again. His tail does its best to sneak up her skirt like a snake, only this is one pathetic hunter - he yelps loud and clear at the whack, one hand flying up to cover his red cheek with a whimper. Perhaps this wasn't the best costume to go with for a crowded scene...

Still reeling, he responds to his name with a pathetic whine and a whimper, tears welling up in his eyes as he regards the mistress of discipline. One day she'll teach him not to be such an idiot. Alas, that day is not today.]

Kagaaaaa~ It's not my fault, it's this damn costume! It has a mind of its own, I swear! [His head is still ringing to the point he even fails to notice the lack of honorific; he certainly doesn't dare think he's gone up in her estimation. Not after this.] I'm just trying to have a good time, honest!

~true friendship~

[harboredfeelings]

[ Yato's whining is pathetic as ever but even harder to take seriously now. Kaga's seen him act like an entirely different person, a merciless figure of bloody vengeance, it's odd reconciling that Yato with the sniveling pervert she's often smacking around. ]

A little too much of a good time.

[ She proceeds to seize him by the front of his ridiculous outfit and tug him towards her so she can glare directly into his eyes. Her ears give a twitch as she glances to the side, listening to her seemingly permanent invisible companion. ]

That is tempting. If they're burned off maybe he'll stop acting like this...

[ And back her eyes go to Yato's, her expression going flat. ]

Or I call your girlfriend and introduce myself as the woman you just felt up. What do you think, Ya-to-chan?

[ To make matters worse she makes sure to pronounce each part of his name slow and deliberately

She won't actually hurt him of course! She's allowed to have a little fun though as far as she's concerned. ]

the kind he needs to keep him in line pfff

[intertwinedfates]

['Which is the real Yato' is something he often wonders and worries about, truthfully. Is he a brutal, bloodthirsty god, or is he just some wibbling little twit? Can both really coexist? It's hard to say. For now, though, he's definitely a sheepish, seemingly nervous nellie.]

Ah, y-yeah. Just a bit, haha... --eek!

[He yelps as he's dragged forward to meet her steely eyes, at least until she looks... away? At something, it seems. He's not sure what, though. Swallowing hard, he shakes his head at the mention of "burn."]

N-No burning, please! I've had enough of that for a while, thanks...

[Both his own expression and tail fall in unison at her reprimand. Ouch, hit him right where it hurts, why don't you.]

U..Um... I think that's a terrible idea...? A little bit of an extreme reaction to a tiny mishap? One I'm very sorry about...?

[His voice climbs higher and higher as he speaks, reaching peak volume at the last syllable. But he doesn't fight her on any of it, just hanging there limply in her grasp, knowing full well that one call is all it would take to break Hiyori's heart, even if he could explain that it's (mostly) a misunderstanding and an accident.]