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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] sinfucks2025-02-27 09:29 pm
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TEST DRIVE #9

TEST DRIVE #9


CONTENT WARNINGS: nudity, medical procedures, possession, puppets, bug kaiju, monster mutations

▶ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA. (KYOTO BASE)

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, you regain consciousness in a pool of stasis liquid along many others. You realize you are underground. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.

When the pool mostly drains of its liquid, each Outsider will find themselves in what appears to be a large pool of some sort; they are underground. The base in Kyoto isn’t fully equipped with individual pods, and so the newly arrived will find themselves in a tangle of limbs, or depending on when they wake, utterly alone in this vast space. While normally they arrive in their undergarments, there is a chance that they could arrive totally nude due to lack of resources in Kyoto. Those who are not nude, however, may find themselves in whatever undergarments LILITH could provide for them at the time. Maybe it's something basic and simple like whitey tighties, or something saucy like a lingerie set, maybe matching Hello Kitty bra and panties. When they fully regain their bearings, they will be ushered into the medical bay space right across from the stasis pool, in which several grey LILITH-issued yukata will be prepared for them.

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 stasis pool, 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:
Syndata File: 🎉 NOW PUBLIC ACCESSIBLE 🎉

Have you ever had a dream that that you um you had you'd you would you could you'd do you wi you wants you you could do so you you'd do you could you you want you want him to do you so much you could do anything?




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! Also, current Outsiders will see that their Syndata Files are now accessible for all to see. (If you would like your Syndata file to be private for some reason, just assume it is inaccessible for some reason.)

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 mess hall at this base is on the surface level; not underground, and while larger, it does have a lot of empty space that still needs to be fitted in. The kitchen can be seen and one or two robots are busy stirring pots and preparing the dishes. The current offerings are a spicy turtle soup and deep fried vegetables roots that have been cultivated at this base in Kyoto. Not all the veggies used are a hit, some more pungent than others. There also seems to be several mystery meat dishes for those who wish to explore a new culinary world. Some are made as lab meats, and some most definitely come from smaller kaiju, but nobody needs to know that. Additionally, as only so much robotic staff could be brought over at a time, and since most are being used to rebuild parts of this base and the one in Tokyo— Outsiders will also be encouraged to make their own food. The recipes will all be made available on their oculars, but considering these meats come from various sources, they’re not all guaranteed to be tasty.

Someone else is here to check in with the newcomers; none other than Dr. Spim, the lead medical doctor here. A genius in an adorable, cat-sized body.

"So sorry about the weird question, but because of the previous damage done to the NEO TOKYO BASE, SYNTHIA has been acting kind of funny lately. Apologies for that. We are working quickly to fix her so she can return to purrfect operation."


▶ 002. KYOTO: THE BASE.

The Kyoto base was originally built as part of a large temple and its smaller structures, blending into a traditional yet modern building. As a result, it has all of the fixtures one may find in a temple, including several tori, as well as other areas of quiet meditation. If it weren’t so overgrown, a lot of the sights could have been considered idyllic at one point.

While Outsiders were encouraged to go to the bunkers after the mess of Tokyo, they are now offered a space within the base in Kyoto, as well. Though, the catch is that they have to help rebuild it. While the robots have been quick to rebuild the most important parts of the building, including the area for the giant stasis pool, a barebones research facility, the mess hall, and some rooms, it’s clear it’s still a work in progress. As mentioned, it has some area underground, such as the stasis pool and medical room.

The rooms available are designed as a traditional washitsu, where there are tatami floors, and futons to sleep on. As not all the rooms have been prepared yet, Outsiders will also be required to room up during their stays in Kyoto, unless they prefer to travel between the Tokyo bunkers. Each room can hold a maximum of three (3) people, four (4) if they push their floor futons very, very close.

The main temple ground is currently being retrofitted into a training ground. While there is no simulation room, they do have hologram options in which characters are able to choose to fight with several different kaiju, as well as general soldiers, and they’re even able to link memories from their oculars to fight against– whether this be an enemy from their respective home worlds, or otherwise. The only issue is that their powers haven’t been scaled yet, so enemies which seem weak, can be strong, and vice versa. LILITH also wants to be sure Outsiders get as much practice as needed, even without the simulation rooms, and so all manner of futuristic weapons will be offered to play around with.

While many have been made familiar with certain spaces at the base, including the mess hall, or the medical bay, there will also be a general map of the rest of the base, and Outsiders are free to explore those freely. Just like with the bunkers, there are communal baths, and even a library. Most of the reading offered here are of older texts, but there will be some books that were on base that may have been moved sometime between last year. They may have even mistakenly put up books salvaged from the base that may be personal items, whether that is a diary, notebook, or even doujinshi that Outsiders could have been keeping. Surely some of these doujinshi don't look like you, right?

Getting settled is priority number one, however one glaring issue will be made apparent during the initial week of them moving onto the base in Kyoto. The monks who were residing nearby, or even utilizing the abandoned temple spaces on the outskirts of the base, all seem to have issues with the Outsiders being there. As such, LILITH hopes to offer them assistance in exchange for giving up those areas. Monks will be asking Outsiders for help with numerous tasks, and are allowed to call upon any Outsider they see— whether they need them to clean some of the halls of their own living spaces, or even to help cultivate plants nearby. Some may even ask them to put on a performance appropriate for their cultural celebrations. It’s never too late to learn something new! On the bright side, in two weeks time, they will (probably) be out of everyone’s hair, right?




▶ 003. KYOTO: REBUILD .

Kyoto itself had been largely abandoned before the Outsiders first stepped in last year. Since then, some pockets of civilization that existed nearby have made the move to Kyoto in hopes of a better life. Additionally, those who have been scarred by the battle in Tokyo have decided to also make this move. Some originally from Kyoto, are grateful for the help of the Outsiders as they can finally return to their old family homes.

Outsiders are expected to use this time off from battle to not only assist the civilians in their efforts in rebuilding their lives, but to also help create an impact in Kyoto!

This is where the Outsiders are able to assist in pitching their idea of necessary infrastructure to Kyoto. As of right now, there are only so many resources, and whichever ideas are most well-justified will likely end up becoming a part of Kyoto. As of right now, the civilians themselves seem to want hospitals, shops/entertainment businesses, and even parks! Outsiders will be expected to help not only plan these ideas out, but to go around and rally support for these projects, which can be them creating annoying ads via oculars, participating in city hall debates, and/or even clogging up the network on why their idea would be best.

Despite bringing in a fair amount of food supplies to start, not only growing some of the food they had successes in raising via the lab, growth time is still a huge factor, especially as the LILITH-grade greenhouse is still in the works. In the meantime, Outsiders will be expected to hunt and gather their own food. Kyoto is still largely overrun by some populations of smaller boar kaiju, and even off the coasts of Osaka, there are several fishing spots available. As for whether they’re safe for consumption, everyone will get a ping on their oculars which includes a whole archive of signs of what is safe or unsafe to consume. Some will also find some fish will still be supersized and may take more than one Outsider to reel in.

Who doesn’t like a bit of risk to go with their fishing?

( After the TDM, characters will have the opportunity to rebuild Kyoto in a meaningful way, just like playing a game of the sims! In the next event, players will be encouraged to share their ideas for infrastructure and LILITH will provide assistance with building it. Interested characters may even have the opportunity to take up roles in running and governing the city following that. As a mod team, we are looking forward seeing the fruits of a player-run city. So rally your ideas and let's make Kyoto a great new place to live! )




▶ 004. PUPPETMASTERS.

While the new beginning is exciting, things never stay calm for long. Outsiders will receive a briefing that there is trouble afoot in Awaji Island, an island close to Osaka. Awaji Island, now mostly deserted, was once known for its traditional puppet theater. These puppet shows, of course, have not been running for decades, but they are still remembered fondly by the people who used to live there. Following a mass exodus by the citizens living there a long time ago, these puppets now lay abandoned in the theater, untouched for decades.

Recently, LILITH has received reports of puppets coming to life and walking the streets, causing panic within the small population still residing in Awaji Island. First, they were simply feeling their feet, roaming the island with no real aim in mind and giving the residents a scare. Eventually, they have started to attack people. It was reported that a young woman was ambushed by animated puppets, and all that was left of her remains were bones and tufts of hair.

Outsiders will be mobilized immediately to Awaji Island with the goal of dealing with the situation. They have the option of boarding a LILITH-issued ferry to the island, or donning an Ocean Gem, gem-like implant that temporarily gives them the gills and tail of a marine creature. These gems will be provided temporarily to all Outsiders requesting them and will need to be returned following the mission. Please note that the transformation can be quite uncomfortable.

Upon arrival on the island, they will be tasked with hunting down the animated puppets, investigating the situation, and eliminating the threat. The capture of one specimen will reveal its true nature. Within the hollow body of a marionette, there appears to be an infestation of ant-like creatures, and much like hundreds to thousands of tiny puppetmasters, they are animating the puppets and using them for protection. These insects have learned to move within their marionettes in a way that’s similar to humans, and within the marionettes, they will attack as humans do, brandishing readily available weapons such as knives and farming tools. When the shell of the puppet is cracked open, they spill out, swarming the nearest human they can find and attempting to eat them or infest their body.



█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Marionant
HEIGHT: 2cm
WEIGHT: 2g
CLASS: No threat when alone, moderate threat when in a swarm
LOCATION: Awaji Island, Japan
ABILITIES: When in a swarm, they act in a hive mind and are highly coordinated. This allows them to take down much bigger prey. Razor sharp mouth pincers with a mild, stinging venom that can become lethal if a prey gets bitten too many times. More durable than your average ant, able to withstand 100kg of force without being crushed. Shows ability to think and plan their movements when working as a hive mind. When they infest a body, they seek to control it while eating up its insides, turning that body into a puppet slave.
WEAKNESS: Fire or drowning in water.
EXTRA NOTES: It is very difficult to stop them once they have started infesting a body. Avoid this at all cost. Seek medical attention immediately if you or a teammate has been infested.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Rescue civilians from the ant kaiju.
✖ Avoid infestation or lethal bites.
✖ Use fire or water as it is their weakness.
✖ Seek out their nests and destroy it without letting them scatter.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO: Linking Photo (cw: bug illustration)

▶ 005. THE RIFT .

Following the events of the month before, Mt. Fuji has now been cordoned off and put under restricted access. This means that no civilian may go anywhere close to the area. Outsiders are given patrol duties in groups of 2-3 around the area and instructed to eliminate any stray kaiju that try to rear their head out of the rift. These kaiju can include common kaiju such as the boar kaiju, the coconut crab or the yamadenki. These shifts are designed to not last very long, as prolonged exposure to the rift can result in rift poisoning effects (headache, nausea, impulsive behavior, hallucinations). It is not recommended to stick any part of your body through the rift, given that we are working with what we don’t understand (please contact a mod if your character decides to do this).

While nothing seems out of the ordinary at first, reports pour in within a few days of trespassers spotted within the restricted area. With a large, visible portion of Mt. Fuji now destroyed, it’s only natural that civilians will become curious. Against their better judgement, a group of civilians have sneaked into the restricted area during a change of patrols. There is little video record of how this had happened, but being near to the rift without LILITH’s protective suits has made for a devastating consequence for the foolish and daring group. Mutations! Outsiders will come across several mutated humans, their bodies mangled with grotesque growths. Some of them might have developed tentacles, some others multiple eyes or hardened shells. They flicker between lucidity and ferociousness, at times crying and begging to be saved, at other times trying to kill and eat people.

The orders are to subdue these people and bring them back to LILITH for further investigation and treatment. While lethal force is highly discouraged, LILITH will not extend punishment toward Outsiders who see fit to exterminate the threats as a last resort.



▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our 9th 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 15 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. Current Outsiders will have their Syndata files accessible for all to see. New characters will not have a syndata profile but players can write a short blurb about the character for this.

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 points each and will count towards March AC.


TDM #8 BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. ARRIVAL PROMPT (KYOTO): Newcomers arrive with ocular and brain implants, and are given a breakdown of the premise with an icebreaker orientation to complete. They arrive in the Kyoto base in a communal stasis pool which is underground.
2. THE KYOTO BASE: Most of the base in Kyoto has been rebuilt. It sits in a large temple which has been modified to accommodate for LILITH's needs. There is a giant stasis pool, a research facility, a mess hall, dorm rooms, medical facilities, a library, a training ground and a communal bath. Each room houses 3-4 people. Outsiders may fight in the training grounds, where they can train against holographic monsters or enemies from their home world. Outsiders will need to appease disgruntled monks by completing chores around the base.
3. REBUILD KYOTO: Civilians have started to move back to Kyoto in search of a better life. Outsiders are tasked to support them in rebuilding Kyoto. Gather ideas and rally support for these ideas. This is a lead in to a future event where players can present their ideas for mod consideration. Outsiders are also expected to hunt and gather their own food in the mean time. There are many boar kaiju available for hunting in Osaka and fishing spots available.
4. PUPPETMASTERS: Outsiders take a ferry or Ocean gem to Awaji Island where there is trouble afoot. Puppets are coming to life and attacking people! Inside these puppets there appear to be a swarm of ant kaiju that are highly dangerous. Eliminate the threat at all costs.
5. THE RIFT: Following the last event, there is a huge open rift at Mt. Fuji. Outsiders must take patrol shifts of 2-3 and kill any kaiju that jump out of the rift. Civilians are banned from visiting Mt. Fuji, but a group of civilians trespass illegally and become heavily mutated from rift exposure. Subdue these mutated humans and if necessary, kill them.
.


curingidiocy: (aloof)

1

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-02 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ratio, being the bookworm that he is, is of course in the library, perusing the collection of books, new and recovered from Neo Tokyo, to see what gaps exist in the available material that should be supplemented by him and other interested Outsiders.

At the same time, he's been reorganizing the books, especially the doujinshi, which seem to be interspersed between all the shelves indiscriminately. Already, he's found several doujins of Outsiders which he's taken note of but otherwise has dutifully sorted them to their places.

It all stops when he finds a book about himself and Aventurine, which is where Yato finds him, flipping through it with an apparently unperturbed look on his face, despite the salacious content. He shuts it a moment after Yato pipes up.
]

It seems someone with quite the active imagination has put their fantasies onto paper.
intertwinedfates: blush (216)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-03 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh man. He should've known that if anyone was going to be here, it'd be Ratio. He's a scholar, after all, and one who prides himself on being knowledgeable about all manner of subjects. The only good thing is that he's also a calm man, one who takes things in stride.

Not the sort to freak out over being featured on the cover and in the contents of an amateur book of pornography. Thankfully it's... tastefully done? At least, it's not as bad as it could be. Maybe. Possibly.

It's still enough for Yato to groan internally and scrub at his face briefly before leaning closer to make sure that-- yep-- it's the one of Doc and his boyfriend. Go figure. He would stumble across that one out of all the books here...]


Ah, yeah, it sure looks like it. A-At least it seems to be mildly flattering...?

[It's in no way insulting or derogatory, just... explicit. And a touch kinky.]
curingidiocy: (pic#17171050)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-04 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ The edge of tension in Yato's voice is all Ratio needs to confirm that the god had something to do with the thin book in his hands. He hums thoughtfully, considering its content matter. ]

Indeed. I am no stranger to being the subject of others' sordid fantasies.

[ He's seen the forums online. He knows what people think about him. He knows there's a subset of his fanclub that goes still goes feral over that bathtub photoshoot and cries for more publicity photos along those lines.

Aventurine isn't stranger to it either, though usually such desires are tainted with darker motives, given his work and his reputation. At least this one appears to be about the two of them expressing pure, unadulterated love towards one another through explicit means.
]

However, the artist has a middling grasp on human anatomy, which they've attempted to disguise by exaggerating certain features of the body in the hopes of distracting undiscerning readers. I suppose it's good enough for the purpose of this comic, but more practice would improve the appeal of their illustrations.

[ The art is in fact perfectly fine and quite appealing, but Ratio's standards are incredibly high as an artist himself. It is a facet that he's never revealed about himself, since there was never an opportunity to do so here. ]
intertwinedfates: rekki pout (214)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-05 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
Really?

[Despite Ratio's classic good looks, he can't help being slightly surprised that the man knows other people have had kinky thoughts about him. He almost wants to ask how he knows, but decency (what little Yato possesses) and good taste (practically none) demand that he holds his tongue. So instead he merely nods his agreement, humming quietly, if somewhat nervously.

Right now, he's just glad that his bad habits extend to merely drawing lewd art of his friends in intimate situations, not anything more crass or crude. Bad enough to have these materials circulating around and being found by their subjects, honestly. Although once Ratio starts on his critique, that's when Yato gets a touch indignant.

He's fine artist, thank you very much! He's practiced for a thousand years, dammit, and he knows where his skills are lacking! Huffing slightly, he snatches the book from Ratio's hands and flips through the pages for a refresher. ...yeah, it's nowhere near as bad as he says!!!]


Hey, their physical forms aren't that bad. ...maybe it could use a little work here and there, but just because the di-- their equipment is large doesn't mean that everything else is poorly done!

[Huff huff huff! Grumbling aside, though, he can't help looking slightly put out despite his best efforts to remain neutral and in control. If there's one area he's used to be praised for, it's his artwork, so getting dinged for it smarts quite a lot.]
curingidiocy: (aloof)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-05 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ The one word is enough to cause Ratio to elaborate anyway. ]

I am somewhat of a public figure back home, so all aspects of myself and my life have been scrutinized and commented on by the masses. My appearance is one such aspect that is frequently remarked upon.

[ It's a bit of an understatement when he's so famously known as the genius who isn't part of the Genius Society, and whose accomplishments and reputation puts him at the level of a senior IPC executive in terms of power and authority. While he obviously can't compare his popularity to that of a pop star like Robin, anyone who pays attention to the news would know his name.

He allows Yato to snatch the book out of his hands, and when the god is done his rant, the only response he receives is a quirked eyebrow and a knowing look in the scholar's eyes. Yato, you just outed yourself as the artist there with that outburst.
]
intertwinedfates: blushy pout (77)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-06 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Yato listens raptly, ever curious about his friends and what life was like for them on their home worlds.]

Damn, that must be tough. I have the opposite problem, where nobody human can really notice me due to being a god. Though I can easily imagine you getting plenty of compliments on your looks.

[It's still a bit of a surprise to find that scholarly Ratio is something of a super star in his own right. He's certainly not to sort who seems to crave the spotlight, or even enjoy it.

...though he definitely seems the sort who's used to dealing with unruly types such as Yato, who turns sheepish upon realizing just what kind of look Ratio is giving him. D-Damn... Busted, huh. Where to go from here, then...? Nervously, he flips through the pages without really looking at them, quietly grumbling to himself.]


S-So... What're ya gonna do with that book, huh...? Hang onto it? Or burn it?
curingidiocy: (pic#17171076)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-06 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
Not at all. I've had the public's attention since I was an adolescent. It is simply background noise now. It does, however, mean that most people I meet do not truly see me as an individual.

[ So he kind of understands how you feel, Yato. There's just a hint of loneliness in his tone, but Ratio doesn't let his words sit, instead eyeing the doujinshi again. ]

I think I shall keep it. And... perhaps, if you're interested, I'd like to invite you to an art session.

[ Art, to him, has always been a solitary hobby, but he knows it doesn't have to be. Maybe there is something to be gained by working with other artists. ]
intertwinedfates: grin grit (205)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-06 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
Huuuuh~ Aren't you the lucky duck, then. [Jealous? Him? It's possible. Likely, even.] Except for not seeing you as an individual. That's gotta suck major ass.

[For his part, despite his words, he sounds sympathetic to Ratio's plight. He's been called things like a cult before, a fake god, and even just a lousy bum. He knows the pain of not being seen as someone worthwhile.]

...so you know, huh? Y'know... I think I'd like that. Might help keep me focused, as it were.

[It's definitely been one of those things he did on his own, but he knows that oftentimes artists get together and create if not joint works, then simply their own pieces together. There's something to be said about having company when doing something creative.]
curingidiocy: (smile)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-06 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sorry Yato. Ratio is just an exceptional person. Most people should be envious of him. The only thing they shouldn't be envious of is how much effort Ratio puts in to maintaining that public image, which, until recently, Ratio hadn't thought he'd been putting much effort into.

As it turns out, being in the public eye as a child causes one to suppress their personal desires over time, until you believe you never had any at all.

Which is why Yato's acceptance is met with a small smile from Ratio. This is his personal desire, to grow his bond with Yato and to hopefully have another artist to share thoughts and opinions with.
]

I have not engaged with art since arriving here. I believe it will be a welcome respite from our current circumstances.

When are you available?
intertwinedfates: talk smile (229)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-06 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Hey, it's all good. While Yato's finally come to terms with the fact he'll never be a big name with humans, he's developing a reputation among his fellow gods, which works. It might not help to keep him alive, but it gives him a sense of accomplishment that he never really had before.

Something his father never allowed him to feel. So they're alike in that regard, having to suppress their wishes and hopes for the future.

All the more reason to indulge in mutual hobbies now, while they can. He's certainly got plenty of time on his hands, as it so happens.]


Right? Letting your creative side take over is a good way to unwind. ...though you gotta be careful of what you create, as I've found out.

Whenever is good for me. I'm free all this week, most likely.
curingidiocy: (pic#17171070)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-06 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, I do wonder what Dr. Iki has to say about your artistic endeavours.

[ He's an open-minded person and is far more permissive of certain things in a relationship, but Hiyori probably feels differently. Given how Yato was behaving when he discovered Ratio with the doujinshi, he clearly knows drawing explicit content about his friends and colleagues is frowned upon by said people. Which means Hiyori's reaction would be even more severe, if she has traditional views about a relationship. ]

Let us arrange a session for tomorrow afternoon. I will pick up the materials we need, presuming that we are only sketching. If there are any other mediums you'd like to use, let me know by the end of today.
intertwinedfates: sad worried frown (270)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-06 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Her reaction is probably clear the moment Ratio mentions Hiyori, as Yato's shoulders sag and he turns utterly defeated, sighing heavily.]

No need to wonder... She chewed me out, royally. T-They weren't supposed to ever be seen by anyone else. Especially not by her.....

[Nodding a bit, he fidgets with the books on the shelves, taking some off and putting them back in alphabetical order. Just something to keep his hands busy while they talk. Though he doesn't dare look Ratio's direction out of fear of what kind of expression the man will be wearing. He doubts it'll be as scathing as Hiyori's was, but... disappointment would be bad enough right now.]

Sounds good to me. Sketching is fine, we can start with the basics and go from there later on. I had some watercolors in my room, but they're a bit of a mess thanks to... everything that happened.
curingidiocy: (pic#17171085)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-06 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly, he's rather curious why Yato didn't just draw a ton of explicit work of Hiyori instead. He is attracted to her, right? He can't see himself getting off on images of someone who isn't his lover, so Yato's decision to draw all these doujinshi doesn't quite make sense to him. But he can see why Hiyori would be upset about it. Their existence is essentially proof that Yato finds other people attractive, and has been thinking salacious thoughts about them. Even he would be a little upset if his lover showed interest in someone else.

Of course, it's a different story if Yato drew them before they got together. He has no idea when they were drawn, plus this isn't his relationship, so there's little point in condemning Yato.
]

If you have any other possessions that would upset her, I'd consider disposing of them now, before she discovers those as well.

[ Given how foolish Yato can be at times, there's a good chance he's got other things that he's either made or bought that would make her upset too. This is about as much advice as he can give without needing to know the dynamics of Yato's relationship. Which he doesn't want to know anyway. Of all the people to look to for relationship advice, Ratio would be one of the worst. ]

I presume you're not against still life drawing? We can consider procuring a model in future sessions if you'd like to practice anatomy.
intertwinedfates: sad frown (209)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-06 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
[If there was ever someone who didn't quite make sense, it's probably Yato. Up until recently, even he couldn't give a solid answer as to why he always does dumbshit stuff like drawing his friends in suggestive scenarios. It's only now that he's been reamed by Hiyori and made to actually stop and think that he's come to certain realizations about his behavior. That he's something of a self-saboteur of relationships.

At least he did these works of art before he proposed, although still after him and Hiyori were an item. Meaning there's little excusing his actions.]


Heh, no kidding. Thankfully it's just my dumb art that'd tick her off... At least that I can think of right now.

[It makes him wonder if there's anything else that might bother her. He doesn't have any previous girlfriends, so there's no mementos there to worry about. He doesn't have any of Hiyori's old school clothes here, either don't ask, you don't wanna know, so that's a moot point, too.]

Nope, that works out well for me. If I were to go drawing a nude woman at this point, I think Hiyori would throw her ring at me...

[He says it with a laugh, but there's genuine pain to his voice as he pushes the books back onto the shelf.]
curingidiocy: (pic#17171083)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-06 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
[ At least he's gained that awareness. Even if the cost of gaining it wasn't worth it, he has it now, which means he can figure out what he needs to do to stop himself from sabotaging the relationship. He's more than happy to offer what advice or suggestions he can, but only if Yato asks him. Asking the correct questions is also a part of using one's brain, and he knows Yato has one, even if he doesn't seem to use it most of the time.

He picks up the doujinshi and vanishes it into his subspace storage, preparing to continue with the book organization again.
]

I will let you know the location and exact time in a few hours, after I've completed my task here. If I find any more of your work, I will collect it for you.

[ So he can do whatever he wants with them. Hopefully dispose of them, if he knows what's good for himself, but that's up to him. As an artist, Ratio isn't inclined to destroy them himself. ]
intertwinedfates: smile sad (163)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-03-06 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
[Maybe it's a godly thing, or just a Yato thing, but he's slow to learn sometimes, taking centuries to fully realize the weight of certain lessons. But once he learns them, he tends to take them to heart, deeply. It probably doesn't help that he struggles with being open about his issues, finding it easier to keep them under wraps than reveal too much of his heart to anyone.]

That'd be great. On both accounts. And I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't mention what you find. I'm... gonna be burning the lot of them as soon as I can. I don't want anyone else getting hurt by them.

[Tearing them up would leave too much evidence of his wrong-doing. The only way to make sure is to obliterate their existence completely. Normally he'd hate to do so since they are his creations, but in this case it's for the best.]
curingidiocy: (pic#17171031)

[personal profile] curingidiocy 2025-03-09 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ereshkigal mentioned before that gods cannot change. Ratio doesn't think that's quite right. He thinks it's more likely a case of mental inertia, resulting from thousands of years of life. That Yato was trying to become a god of fortune was evidence that at least he thought himself capable of change, so this is a lesson he should be capable of learning too. ]

Rest assured that I will not speak of this to anyone.

[ With the conversation coming to a close, he turns around and waves his hand half-heartedly as a goodbye. ]

Take some time to sort out your thoughts. A bit of thinking will do you some good.

[ And with those parting words, he walks away. ]