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sinfucks2025-01-01 12:00 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2025-01-01 12:00 pm
Entry tags:
▶ 008. TEST DRIVE #8
TEST DRIVE #8
▶ 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 …
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 2279 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 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.
The cafeteria will be hosting its own version of a feast to ring in the new years. The robots on base will be offering a savory mochi soup with both lab-made and fresh vegetables procured from Transylvania. There will also be a self-serve bar of soba noodles with a simple broth. These are all accompanied by vegetables which have been prepared in various ways to last throughout the month, and act as side dishes to every meal. As the vegetables are a work in progress, some will look or taste peculiarly, or have a bitterness that remains on the tongue.
Additionally, an impressive bronze cauldron now sits proudly in the corner of the cafeteria, marked by a small sign reading "LILITH's Community Perpetual Stew."
True to its name, the stew is now a constant presence, and after every mission, the cauldron’s contents are conspicuously replenished, ensuring it's always filled to the brim for all to enjoy. What the stew evolves into over time is anyone's guess, but for now, it boasts a hearty medley of Transylvania's freshest meats and vegetables, seasoned to perfection.
Visitors and team members alike are encouraged to contribute their own ingredients, with one rule in place: the robot staff, ever vigilant, are programmed to detect any malicious tampering. Should anyone attempt to add something harmful, they will be politely but firmly asked to leave the premises.
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 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:
What are your new year’s resolutions?
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 2279 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 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.
The cafeteria will be hosting its own version of a feast to ring in the new years. The robots on base will be offering a savory mochi soup with both lab-made and fresh vegetables procured from Transylvania. There will also be a self-serve bar of soba noodles with a simple broth. These are all accompanied by vegetables which have been prepared in various ways to last throughout the month, and act as side dishes to every meal. As the vegetables are a work in progress, some will look or taste peculiarly, or have a bitterness that remains on the tongue.
Additionally, an impressive bronze cauldron now sits proudly in the corner of the cafeteria, marked by a small sign reading "LILITH's Community Perpetual Stew."
True to its name, the stew is now a constant presence, and after every mission, the cauldron’s contents are conspicuously replenished, ensuring it's always filled to the brim for all to enjoy. What the stew evolves into over time is anyone's guess, but for now, it boasts a hearty medley of Transylvania's freshest meats and vegetables, seasoned to perfection.
Visitors and team members alike are encouraged to contribute their own ingredients, with one rule in place: the robot staff, ever vigilant, are programmed to detect any malicious tampering. Should anyone attempt to add something harmful, they will be politely but firmly asked to leave the premises.
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. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
While normally the shrines tucked away within the bustle of the city are quiet and exude a certain tranquility about them, they will be brought to life with celebration for the New Years. Similarly to years before, they will have street vendors offering all the traditional classics, but some will also have a spin to them. For the year of the sheep/ram, there will be fluffy cotton candy to represent the fuwa fuwa of sheep, onigiri in the shape of a ram, and hearty lamb curry.
The temples themselves will have several offerings, but the biggest event is always the bell chiming in for the new years, as well as the celebration for the first sunrise of the year. In light of this, many vendors will be passing out sake, as well as energy drinks. Regardless of the timing, the area for one to purchase their fortunes will be made available. For those who get an awful one, thankfully, there is no shortage of people who are queued up in order to hang up their bad fortunes in order to cast them aside for the coming year.
Outside of this, there will also be corners in which people can write their new years greetings out to their loved ones. Both digitally, or in the form of a physical postcard. People are encouraged to decorate and send their own, and they may or may not be pressured to do so if they so happen to catch the eye of enthusiastic locals. Those who find themselves trapped into this, will find themselves compelled to be honest as soon as their pen hits paper, or for those who opt on a digital card, their true thoughts will be conveyed instantaneously.
The shrines and vendors outside of them aren’t the only ones getting into the spirit of things. The shopping districts are also banking on the continuation of the holidays. As with every year, they will have special sales, and every store will put out their “lucky bags.” The lucky bags will often be sold at discounted prices, but there is no telling what the actual items in them will be. Perhaps, you can test your luck and make a profit while you’re at it?
The temples themselves will have several offerings, but the biggest event is always the bell chiming in for the new years, as well as the celebration for the first sunrise of the year. In light of this, many vendors will be passing out sake, as well as energy drinks. Regardless of the timing, the area for one to purchase their fortunes will be made available. For those who get an awful one, thankfully, there is no shortage of people who are queued up in order to hang up their bad fortunes in order to cast them aside for the coming year.
Outside of this, there will also be corners in which people can write their new years greetings out to their loved ones. Both digitally, or in the form of a physical postcard. People are encouraged to decorate and send their own, and they may or may not be pressured to do so if they so happen to catch the eye of enthusiastic locals. Those who find themselves trapped into this, will find themselves compelled to be honest as soon as their pen hits paper, or for those who opt on a digital card, their true thoughts will be conveyed instantaneously.
The shrines and vendors outside of them aren’t the only ones getting into the spirit of things. The shopping districts are also banking on the continuation of the holidays. As with every year, they will have special sales, and every store will put out their “lucky bags.” The lucky bags will often be sold at discounted prices, but there is no telling what the actual items in them will be. Perhaps, you can test your luck and make a profit while you’re at it?
▶ 003. NEW YEAR MERCENARIES.
Amid all of the public celebrations, local businesses and organizations throw New Year parties for their employees and members. Many of these parties take place at luxury high rise hotels or award winning restaurants in the city. These celebrations are easy to plan, safe within the city limits.
However, there are some groups that won't settle for just safe and easy. No, they have to show off their wealth and influence by going on luxury trips outside the city to the traditional inn on the outskirts of the city. The journey outside the city is risky– there is a high chance their entourage may be attacked by kaiju on the way to the inn and when they arrive, their activity will surely draw attention from even more kaiju. Still, that doesn't stop them from setting out and reveling in celebrations.
These figures will hire mercenaries to escort them into the mountains and keep them safe through the duration of their stay. Most of them are wealthy CEOs and politicians who may or may not have certain shadowy connections so they can afford to pay for protection. They promise high commissions and even offer to pay for a shared room and meals.
Sure, they have to share a room and they might not get the same high quality meals and drinks as the main party but it's not so bad, right? They're free to use the hot springs after everyone else is finished, too. All they have to do in return is spend some time out in the freezing cold and keep kaiju away so everyone else can have a good time.
Just remind yourself: You're doing it for the money!
However, there are some groups that won't settle for just safe and easy. No, they have to show off their wealth and influence by going on luxury trips outside the city to the traditional inn on the outskirts of the city. The journey outside the city is risky– there is a high chance their entourage may be attacked by kaiju on the way to the inn and when they arrive, their activity will surely draw attention from even more kaiju. Still, that doesn't stop them from setting out and reveling in celebrations.
These figures will hire mercenaries to escort them into the mountains and keep them safe through the duration of their stay. Most of them are wealthy CEOs and politicians who may or may not have certain shadowy connections so they can afford to pay for protection. They promise high commissions and even offer to pay for a shared room and meals.
Sure, they have to share a room and they might not get the same high quality meals and drinks as the main party but it's not so bad, right? They're free to use the hot springs after everyone else is finished, too. All they have to do in return is spend some time out in the freezing cold and keep kaiju away so everyone else can have a good time.
Just remind yourself: You're doing it for the money!
▶ 004. A DEADLY SOAK.
A few days into the new year, people living outside the Neo Tokyo metropolitan area have been having a hard time due to the recent appearance of medium-sized kaiju. No one knows where they had come from, but there’s reason to believe that a small rift has emerged somewhere and it’s mutating the local wildlife. One popular, family-run business that is going through some hard times is the Yuryo onsen, in Hakone, an outer suburb of Neo Tokyo. Seasoned Outsiders might be very familiar with this onsen resort already, as it’s one of the last surviving ones outside Metropolitan Tokyo and hosts a huge colony of feral cats.
Drawn in by the comfort of a warm bath in the cold winter, a troop of mutated macaques have made said onsen resort their home, and they have made it impossible for any customers to visit. These monkeys vary in size depending on rift exposure, with some of them as large as a lion, and others as large as an elephant. Business for the local onsen has been impossible with the macaques occupying the hot springs, stealing food and harassing guests. Though appearing docile as they sit and bathe in the springs, these macaques have become fiercely territorial following the rift’s influence. When they identify a threat, they will let out a piercing scream that’s enough to make ears bleed. Their claws and teeth are sharp, and primates are known to be brutal when tearing apart their enemies. It’s a situation that needs to be contained immediately if people are going to continue living in the outer suburbs.
The macaques aren’t the only wildlife that have been affected by rift. Pockets of Yama-Kujira have been seen roaming the forests and abandoned small towns. While a large portion of the outer suburbs are uninhabited, there continue to be some stragglers toughing it out in the abandoned houses. They all have their own reasons for choosing not to live in the armored city but they will need to be protected all the same. The Yama-Kujira are blind but vicious, making up for their lack of eyesight by charging into anything and everything. Refer to our bestiary or previous TDM for more information about this boar kaiju.
With the increased reports of mutating local wildlife, LILITH has requested that Outsiders also round up the colony of feral cats that normally roam the onsen. If a pride of mutated felines were to emerge in the outer suburbs, the results would simply be disastrous … These cats, fearful of the kaiju, will be skittish and very, very difficult to catch.
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Nihonzaru
HEIGHT: 2-10 meters
WEIGHT: 20-200kg
CLASS: Moderate threat
LOCATION: Tokyo, Japan
ABILITIES: A piercing scream that can cause ringing in the ears, temporary deafness and bleeding from the ear canal with frequent exposure. Razor sharp claws and teeth. Considerable strength and muscle. Highly intelligent, capable of using basic tactical strategies, using tools (please do not leave your weapon unattended), capitalizing on weaknesses (please do not leave your children unattended) and reading the movements of their enemies. Family orientated and attacks in groups.
WEAKNESS: With how intelligent they are, they might not find a battle worth fighting if they are at a clear disadvantage or there are benefits to being passive. This means they can be bribed to a degree. It also means they will run away if outnumbered. Their skin is not particularly dense and they are weak to being stabbed in their vital organs.
EXTRA NOTES: Juveniles are playful, mischievous and can build bonds with humans, mistaking the humans as their family. Some of the adults can also build bonds with enough bribery.
█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Incapacitate and capture the Nihonzaru and Yama-Kujira and bring them back to base. Large cages will be provided for this purpose.
✖ Kill the kaiju if necessary, especially if they are threatening the people in the area.
✖ Capture the feral cats and bring them back to base.
✖ Following the return to base, these cats will require care. As LILITH does not have the resources for this, the ban on pets on base will be lifted and Outsiders will be encouraged to care for the cats.
█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:
Drawn in by the comfort of a warm bath in the cold winter, a troop of mutated macaques have made said onsen resort their home, and they have made it impossible for any customers to visit. These monkeys vary in size depending on rift exposure, with some of them as large as a lion, and others as large as an elephant. Business for the local onsen has been impossible with the macaques occupying the hot springs, stealing food and harassing guests. Though appearing docile as they sit and bathe in the springs, these macaques have become fiercely territorial following the rift’s influence. When they identify a threat, they will let out a piercing scream that’s enough to make ears bleed. Their claws and teeth are sharp, and primates are known to be brutal when tearing apart their enemies. It’s a situation that needs to be contained immediately if people are going to continue living in the outer suburbs.
The macaques aren’t the only wildlife that have been affected by rift. Pockets of Yama-Kujira have been seen roaming the forests and abandoned small towns. While a large portion of the outer suburbs are uninhabited, there continue to be some stragglers toughing it out in the abandoned houses. They all have their own reasons for choosing not to live in the armored city but they will need to be protected all the same. The Yama-Kujira are blind but vicious, making up for their lack of eyesight by charging into anything and everything. Refer to our bestiary or previous TDM for more information about this boar kaiju.
With the increased reports of mutating local wildlife, LILITH has requested that Outsiders also round up the colony of feral cats that normally roam the onsen. If a pride of mutated felines were to emerge in the outer suburbs, the results would simply be disastrous … These cats, fearful of the kaiju, will be skittish and very, very difficult to catch.
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Nihonzaru
HEIGHT: 2-10 meters
WEIGHT: 20-200kg
CLASS: Moderate threat
LOCATION: Tokyo, Japan
ABILITIES: A piercing scream that can cause ringing in the ears, temporary deafness and bleeding from the ear canal with frequent exposure. Razor sharp claws and teeth. Considerable strength and muscle. Highly intelligent, capable of using basic tactical strategies, using tools (please do not leave your weapon unattended), capitalizing on weaknesses (please do not leave your children unattended) and reading the movements of their enemies. Family orientated and attacks in groups.
WEAKNESS: With how intelligent they are, they might not find a battle worth fighting if they are at a clear disadvantage or there are benefits to being passive. This means they can be bribed to a degree. It also means they will run away if outnumbered. Their skin is not particularly dense and they are weak to being stabbed in their vital organs.
EXTRA NOTES: Juveniles are playful, mischievous and can build bonds with humans, mistaking the humans as their family. Some of the adults can also build bonds with enough bribery.
█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Incapacitate and capture the Nihonzaru and Yama-Kujira and bring them back to base. Large cages will be provided for this purpose.
✖ Kill the kaiju if necessary, especially if they are threatening the people in the area.
✖ Capture the feral cats and bring them back to base.
✖ Following the return to base, these cats will require care. As LILITH does not have the resources for this, the ban on pets on base will be lifted and Outsiders will be encouraged to care for the cats.
█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:
▶ 005. AFTERWORD.
Welcome to our 8th 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 9 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.
Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each and will count towards January AC.
There are currently 9 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.
Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each and will count towards January AC.
TDM #8 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.
2. HAPPY NEW YEAR: Outsiders are welcome to visit local temples for New Year's activities, which include drawing fortune slips and writing down their wishes for the new year. Many sheep-themed goods and foods are also on sale to welcome the Year of the Sheep.
3. NEW YEAR MERCENARIES: High-profile businessman and politicians are hiring bodyguards and protective mercenaries to keep them safe as they enjoy new year's travel and celebrations. In return for being out in the cold and fighting smaller kaiju during the holidays, they offer high monetary compensation.
4. A DEADLY SOAK: Monkey and boar kaiju are attacking the outer suburbs of Tokyo, including a popular onsen spot. Capture/kill the kaiju and protect the people living there. Round up the feral cats to prevent them from rift exposure.
.
no subject
she pats his shoulder. musters up her most awed expression, dewy-eyed. ]
That's what real power is, like you always said. The power to commit.
no subject
Still, he sighed, as if it was a great burden he had taken on. ]
See? I knew you were listening to all those lectures.
Here — [ He indicated a turn. The library. ] — There are spaces where we won't be overheard to talk.
[ about actual important things and not frivolous things like saving the world or whatever. ]
no subject
Is there someone to watch for?
no subject
[ He says it with his usual flair for paranoia. ]
There are few. Sebastian in the cafeteria is one. [ A tightening of his jaw, around one eye. ] That one will try to ingratiate himself to you. Don't allow it. He'll notice things that you don't even realize you've given away.
[ His tone was sharp, like a scalpel. He reached out for her, hand on her shoulder, and leaned forward. Just from that — his shoulders tense, bite in his tone — insisting it was important.
There aren't nearly as many enemies as before, and really? Anyone that Silco thought would threaten him — like Ereshkigal, or Kaladin — would likely ignore his daughter even if he upset them and they knew. They were the types that had scruples, and were too concerned with what other people thought about them. Sebastian, though... Well. Silco knew well that the demon could do so much more than anyone could imagine. He can't explain it, or describe it — technically, he could — but he was saving that for when it would be necessary. Required. He'd need that. ]
no subject
she never forgets, not really, but it's heady. smoky. she tilts on his axis. ]
I'll be careful.
no subject
He'd also thought that he was careful, and the demon had very nearly taken him regardless. He can't describe that, not without context, not without explaining his folly. So he does not. It's too much, too soon. This must already be overwhelming.
Silco's mind invents reasons why he cannot share, and he allows his mind to do so. ]
I know you will.
[ He does, but even so. Jinx is used to being the smartest person in the room, what would she do, when she's faced with a demon that with thousands of years of experience? He knows she'll listen — try to listen — but she does what she wishes. Mania and whimsy guiding her more than he does. He resists the urge to say more — or worse, threaten Sebastian to stay away — but... that's even worse, because he would know. ]
I would be remiss not to warn you. He is particular with whom he... bothers, but as long as he doesn't know...
[ He reached out for her hand, to take it. It's her left, and his eyes flick toward it, before the glint of metal catches his attention, and his fingers tighten, just so. A flash of something across his eyes — anger, something else, that hopelessness of realizing he was behind. His question came out as a hiss of anger. ]
What happened?
no subject
It's nothing. An enforcer shot it up.
[ mentioning who wouldn't mean anything. mentioning how wouldn't mean anything. this is a fuck soup of memories. they're swimming in it.
will she let silco drown? ]
They came down hard on the Lanes. So I had a little fun.
no subject
[ Who doesn't matter at the moment. They're the only ones from their world. Who it is doesn't matter. If someone shows up, he sure will ask if it is them. Maybe he'll ask later, but it's more important to figure out the shape of things. She believed he'd left her, so something must have happened.
Does she know who did it? (lol)
His jaw clenches, his fingers do too. Silco always knew they would, the closer they got to breaking free, the more Piltover would tighten their fist over them, put the boot to their necks. ]
Did you make them pay for it?
[ It's said with that usual arch tightness, the one that indicated the rant was coming. ]
I'm not surprised that they've come down hard. They have been practically chomping at the bit. I can't imagine that they wasted time to take the opportunity, hm? First chance they had?
[ Without him and Marcus to keep them at bay, at least. He knew the sheriff was dead, vaguely, but he'd barely spared him a thought in the time since he'd been taken from the bridge. No, it had all been Jinx, about what had happened to her, if she would survive, his anger if she didn't. ]
no subject
she gives a girlish scoff. ]
I took out the Council.
[ she ducks away from him for a moment so she can twirl her footsteps. remembers the fated steps she took. walking forward. the red moon overhead. everything was so silent then. no more noise, no more judgement.
she turns, aiming her fingers right at his chest. she squints, pretending to be a sniper. ]
Blew them up! Brought it all crumbling, tumbling down. Three of them died.
no subject
[ There's something in his eyes, when she stepped away, twirled like it was nothing. Her words were enough to spark something in him, memory and pride and that satisfaction of vengeance that was irrational, yes, but still he felt it. He should chastise her for doing something so explosive, to put the Lanes and everyone else in danger, but he didn't. He'd spent long enough hating them for what he'd assumed was killing her — they hadn't done it, he had no way of knowing it was her childhood friend — and thus it felt like a sick sort of vindication. Victory. Making them pay for nearly taking her away from him.
Was it that? No, Vi had been doing that already. Silco had been doing that already. He'd certainly never questioned where Vi went, but he hadn't bothered to care either. One of his old friend's kids, and he hadn't even bothered to look. Hadn't even bothered to care.
No, he'd been doing that, but her death — "death" in his eyes had washed a lot away, made it easy to look away from.
What was in his face, more than anything else, was pride. ]
I knew you could, Jinx. I knew you could show them what we were capable of.
[ He hated them, for everything they did to Zaunites, from the moment they took their first breaths.
This was not something to be sad about. It was to be celebrated. ]
no subject
who she is, who she is. solidified, made flesh. jinx. a maelstrom of power, pain and luck. the flip of a coin. the click of a barrel. she finished his weapon and took out the council. she was — and perhaps, will always be, his jinx. his perfect girl.
she chews on her lip absently.
so why doesn't it feel as good as it used to be? where's the luxuriant high, the dizzying feeling, the mania? where is it?
hands behind her back as jinx keeps her gaze away from him. ]
Yeah.
I showed them all. Just like you wanted.
no subject
He is, however, blinded by idea of Jinx — he always has been — she's more than just his daughter, she's the very idea of what Zaun could be. Strong, smart, brilliant children who persist despite everything. Their city ground them down, tragedy after tragedy, but here was Jinx, strong, proud, perfect. Like he'd always known she could be.
She looks away from him, and he doesn't know why. ]
Just like we wanted, Jinx.
[ It had never been just him, right? It was their dream, for Zaun. To scare them. Terrify them into understanding that they were more than just Trenchers who'd gotten too big to stay in the fissures where they belonged.
The last time she'd done something this big, she'd been elated, exuberant to show him, complete with explosions and the fanfare he'd expected.
How much had him — leaving (dying, was he dead? he could only assume?) — changed her? How much was wrong? Had she done this because of them? Because they'd taken someone else from her? Was the sister involved? He'd known, as soon as she resurfaced, that she would hurt her more than anyone could.
He doesn't reach out this time. She's — the same, but... but — she's so different. How long has it been? ]
Three councilors... [ He said, instead. Something like shock, or is it wonder? in his voice. ]
There is no turning back from that. We were beyond the point of no return, after that.
[ He'd always hesitated, to finally breach that threshold. Perhaps there was still a part of that weak man he'd once been in there. ]
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instead jinx crosses her arms a sight churlishly before turning to face him, in control of herself. the noise was low. her gums itch. ]
It's not just them. Someone from Noxus is throwing up a fuss. And a lot of armed soldiers. They rounded up a bunch of us. I had to bust them out of Stillwater. Oh, and the chembarons are gone. It's all shit.
[ and I'm still here. which, deep down, she knows, is what matters to him the most. she's not toying with him, she's leveraging the future. sweetening the pot. it's a fool's hope to litter the road with gold and expect a prize at the end.
I'm still here. And you're not. I can't be you. I won't be you. I'll never be you. I don't know what anyone needs. I want it to burn. Even your dream.
but seeing him now, a cookie-cutter mold from every memory she replayed since he's gone, every ghostly conversation she had with his chair, jinx just . . . falters. she can't quite — can't quite —
finally, she meets her gaze head on. ]
What would you do?
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Just the little portion he hears, it's all shit. He's not there to keep it in control. The chembarons are gone and falling apart, and is he truly surprised? He'd always thought Renni could be a stopgap with Sevika's guidance (and could have, perhaps, if it were not for Ambessa's machinations) but it sounds like she is out of the picture in some form as well. Finn? Who knew? (lol) The rest... they were all merely out for their own profit and prominence.
The rest were parasites, consuming at the edges of Zaun. Necessary, but still parasites.
Jinx asks the question, and his lips twitch, his eyes flick from downward to her face, searching. She is here, present and real, and a part of him still didn't quite believe it. How many times has her very presence been dangled before him like a fleeting hope? He half-hadn't wanted her here, but here is better than — He swallowed, considering. This is a question. An important one.
Perhaps there was time, here, to teach her what she needed. He didn't know if it would hold, or if he would even make it back. Was he taken then? After? How, he doesn't know. He doesn't want to ask, and bring up what's probably a memory to make her quake and fall back into her old habits. She's... stable, right now. Silco knows better than to set her off at the moment. ]
Armed soldiers, and Noxus throwing up a fuss. [ His fingers drift down his lips. ] Do we know what they want?
[ For all that Piltover's heel was on their throat, Noxus would crush it. ]
We would have to be slippery, and agile. We still have resources, and Noxus would not stop at simply using them. Shimmer can't be of that much interest, but I suspect they wouldn't hesitate to use it, either.
What is in play?
[ He asks, carefully. ] We do not have chembarons, but who has their gangs? Has Sevika taken control of them? [ A nervous twitch of his lips. She'd always hated Sevika. He moves on rapidly. ] The Pilties, are they opposed to the Noxians, or is this us against them?
We have to leverage what little we have, knock them down, show them that we are not worth the effort it will cost to take us down with them. There is a cost for benefit that we need to exceed. Unfortunately, Noxians have a great deal more to leverage.
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hold on, she thinks viciously. she is in control. she gets to decide. she will work it out. she will. grief rises up in her throat like a wave and she just wants to knuckle down and scream it out until her voice is hoarse because she's being taunted and tempted and fucked with!
but she can't. she can't right now. so she'll let silco be swept away from all this while she gnaws on her fingernail absently. it's fine. she has her finger on the pulse. she can manage this. she's stronger now.
his question gives her a little absent start before she waves it off. ]
They want me. Or at least the head Enforcer does. For my crimes n' stuff.
[ noxus though . . . jinx frowns. she doesn't actually know what they want. she hadn't even thought of it. the gemstone? surely not. but. she heard rumours of disappearances up in piltover.
who was gone? who did they need?
maybe noxus needed her as much as caitlyn's thirst for vengeance did. a weapon.
jinx sets it aside for now. later gator. ]
I have Sevika. And the Lanes. No problem-o.
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He thinks of other things, of course, especially now, all this time away. Most of his mind has been focused on... her. If she's okay, what happened, how to fix this, how to solve this. He's been circling it like water down the drain.
It's like a slight relief in pressure, like the cap has popped off, and there's a focus in his eyes that wasn't there before. Something to chew on that isn't the expected demise — the question of how — and Silco...
Silco was so easily manipulated by someone who knew him best. Who knew what he would focus on.
It's easiest when it's his daughter. How many times had he redirected her? Isn't it just fitting that she do so to him, in this moment.
And he doesn't even realize it. ]
They can't have you.
[ He said it, firmly, forcefully.
Silco hasn't even been offered that yet, but some things remain constant. ]
Even Sevika wouldn't. She can organize some things, but she's... [ Blunt. Brusque. Great at Doing, but people do not follow the people who get The Work Done. ] She's good to work with. She will make things happen.
The enforcer will have to be disappointed, but if Noxus is involved, we need to know what it is that they want. You? No, they would simply take.
[ There would be no working with Piltover, then. ]
There must be something greater. Noxus knows only one language. [ Thankfully, it's a language he knows well. ] Power.
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jinx stops. freezes. her blood chills. she made the first hextech weapons. the others followed suit. there were some irregularities in that one fight. disappearances. hextech. magic. weapons. she could see the lines of power trace back. was it her? had she set all of this in motion?
stop. stop. she tugs at her hair. not now, not now! she had to hold it together. keep it quiet a bit longer. her breathing stutters, jagged and uneven. it wasn't her. it couldn't be just her. focus. if silco sees her slipping now, he'll fill her head. she'll want to be his. she wants to be his and cleave her grief in twain. she digs her fingernails into her palms instead. lets the sting cradle her to sanity.
she scoffs. turns around, braids swinging. ]
Well, there's no way to figure that all now. I guess we'll just have to. Plan some contingencies! Or something! Whatever.
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She turns around, but there's the tightness, in her hand, in the way she moves, there's something wrong, he knows there is. Something different.
Too much has happened. Something is wrong. He knows it.
He doesn't dare speak it into existence.
She could leave, if he does.
But there's a knowing look in his eye, some thing, a rift that seems to be there where there wasn't before — at least before Vi resurfaced — and it feels like it's ever-growing. Silco hates it, he wants to just breach it and tug her back, but Jinx had always been free and stubborn. He couldn't just pull her back, no.
Silco likes problems. They are things he can solve (or make worse) and it turns in his head like a puzzle cube. Except there's another, more amorphous puzzle cube right next to it named Jinx. He may not have realized that she's doing this to distract him, but he knows something is wrong. Different. Not Right. ]
Don't worry, Jinx. [ He says, like it is the easiest thing for her to do. She doesn't have to worry, he'll do plenty of it for her. ] I'll come up with something. Somethings.
[ A tight smile. Strained. ] In the meantime, we're stuck here, regardless. Unless you can devise a way out.
[ If anybody could, it would be his daughter. (NO? SILCO?) ]
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[ step in line. she knows the rhythm. she has him now. it's all good. she has a few more days of reprieve. until she figures out what to tell him. you're not just gone, you're dead. someone plugged you full of holes, hint hint.
she's not sure she could do it again. her voice would choke up. and she has nowhere to go. this place is alien to her. it's not hers. stripped to the bone. a jinx is still a jinx but what was she outside of zaun?
a jinx that drifts closer, laying a hand upon his jaw, feeling the tension caught in there. he worries. she knows every twitch, every muscle pull. she nearly says I'll fix it.
swallows it down. fishbones and all. ]
I'll come up with something.
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[ Fingers at his jaw, it's reassuring coming from his daughter, when from (almost) anyone else Silco would sneer and recoil. Maybe slip out one of those many knives he kept on his person and make sure they land somewhere deadly for just the insult of thinking that they could — but he can't do that here, can he? No, LILITH will intervene. He wonders what Jinx will do, if she can't wreak havoc?
He'll find something. There are plenty of things she can do, even if this is just one problem of many. It will happen, he can wait for her to figure out the way out.
And until then? There is more than just the Kaiju, isn't there? There is the whole... issue of technology. She'll be like a child with a pile of candy. ]
In the meantime... you'll need time to settle, I'm sure. Rooms are smaller than what you're used to. [ He cannot give her a bunker, sadly :( ] Have they assigned you a team?
[ He assumes Brimstone, because, well. Of course he does. ]
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Revelation. Funny name. Are all of them weird? Revelation. Like I'm coming in hot.
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Revelation? [ A note of disappointment. As if she had a choice in the matter, but what if it meant something? That she wasn't the same as him. No, it couldn't. ]
They're all odd. Mine is Brimstone, have you ever heard of such a ridiculous thing?
[ At least... he would contact Set. The god would keep an eye out for her. Just...don't think about the number of weird deals he's made with gods. It gets complicated. ] One of my associates is in Revelation. He'll help you if you need anything there.
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[ it's an absent agreement. all these details. teams. houses. people. monsters. they're all nonsensical. ridiculous. she can play the game and it is a game. teams and missions. running rounds in the lanes. leaping on rooftops. she could do that in her sleep. easy. peasy.
it's all faded. sound like embers, flickering, flickering. fading. she remembers, bent down, looking up at silco. the whispering in her ear faded. no ringing. no singing. no blaming. no shaming. just . . . silence.
she can still hear his heartbeat. she wants to engrave it on her own. ]
I — I'm with you.
[ it feels like a weak admission in light of all of it. all she's done. all she's jinxed. all she has fucked up. his dream. his future. she's not weak but she is. her fingers clutch at his clothes. ]
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[ He says, agreeing to whatever she wanted from him, if she wanted him near, he'd be near, because Silco knows of nothing else but to say yes to Jinx. This is a shock, of course it is. How could it not be? He remembered waking up here from — before — and the wheezing, maddened man he'd been. Ready to lash out, and destroy.
Here? It's a cakewalk to any Zaunite. There's ample food, breathable air, and even the criminal element seems more like children than anything of much danger. Jinx would thrive.
But she'd need time, wouldn't she? How long has it been, since he vanished? How long? He wrapped his arms around her, just like always. She's real, and he can almost hardly believe it. The sigh that escaped him was... tired, so tired — like the weight has been taken off his shoulders. Only temporarily, it will return thricefold, but at least for a second, he can hold his daughter close. ]
I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.
[ 🙂 is he ]
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jinx, as silco had wanted, was made of stronger stuff. just like he always wanted.
so she mouths liar, buried under his own shirt and lets it lie. ]