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sinfucks2025-02-27 09:29 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2025-02-27 09:29 pm
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TEST DRIVE #9
TEST DRIVE #9
▶ 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 …
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.
"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?
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! )
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)
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.
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.
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.
.
un: typhoon / !!!!!!!
( No hi, no hello. Just Vash turning on his heel the minute he sees the profile, hightailing it back to base! )
un: punisher ( HI HELLO! )
that was rhetorical, by the way. )
hey to you too blondie
cafeteria
this is the best day of my life!!!!
Okay.
Don't go anywhere, don't go anywhere. I'm on my way back, I'll be fifteen minutes. I'm going as fast as I can.
( Maybe more if he just starts bawling in the street but no, he's fine, he's got his emotions in check. Everything's going to be fine!!! )
oh god i hope i don't disappoint!
not going anywhere, promise
i'll be here when you get here
( for the love of everything, vash, please don't just. start bawling in the middle of the street. obviously he has no idea how long you've been here, or how long it's been since you've seen him, but the waterworks shouldn't be necessary.
( the narrative knows better, probably, but sometimes ignorance is bliss, you know? who doesn't want a tearful reunion for the sake of some awkwardness? ) )
i am hearing only good things!!!!
( Not really, if the way he almost takes some poor monk out is anything to go by. Vash has to set the man to rights before he can continue on his frantic trek back, heart seizing up in complication. Because it's one thing to lie to yourself and everyone else that you're happy that your friend isn't around anymore, that he has better things to be doing, more deserving causes, that you're all good thank you. It's another to have it crumble at the first hint of a possible return, and Vash feels ...
Relieved. Hates that he is.
But it still takes him less time than he said, boots squeaking against the cafeteria floor as he careens around the corner like a Toma with a bad rider, shoulder hitting the door frame as his gaze sweeps, pulled by some invisible string. But there he is, dark haired and real in the light. Immediately the strain leaves Vash's face, a helpless smile flickering to life as he takes the remaining space. One long stride, two, three. )
Wolfwood. ( Hands lift as though to touch, hover for a moment. ) You're here.
i will still try to live up to them!
( he doesn't know that he's been here before; he doesn't know that he's been here and gone and left vash thinking that he was alone all over again, and if he had known that? it wouldn't matter that it was something he has no control over.
this idiot doesn't deserve to think that he's been left alone. )
the moment he sees him, god, he likes to think he's always been able to read vash like an open damned book, but this is something else entirely as he approaches and tries to keep it all to himself; it's almost like he's been left wanting for too long, and wolfwood is giving him something that he's gone without, and just that thought alone is enough to set his mind whirling.
he tips his head to the side, and offers a lopsided grin. ) Heya, blondie. You good?
🥰🥰🥰🥰
Mhm! ( Bounce, bounce, bounce goes his head. ) Hi.
( He's a sight for sore eyes. Vash's gaze keeps skipping behind the orange of his glasses, greedy for something, desperate to check Wolfwood is all in one piece. He looks the same, the smile a balm for a hurt Vash hadn't been aware he had. )
Ah, sorry, sorry. I just didn't think - ha. ( He'd come back. That Vash would see him again. He blinks very fast, shimmies off the energy with a roll of his shoulders, twitchy with it. ) Okay, okay, I got this. I can do this. Hi, again. Um, just checking something real quick. What's the last thing you remember?
( He knows enough of this place now to check. )
vash you dummy stop being CUTE i am going to vomit
he gets the feeling that something is going right over his head without him fully realizing it, and he doesn't appreciate that, but he likes to think that he can roll well enough with the effective punches that he can keep up.
he blinks — once, twice, — behind the darkness of his glasses and reaches for one of those hands to steady it, fingers gently curling against fingers as they may or may not have before now, the pad of his thumb smoothing over the inside of a flesh palm as it might have one of the younger kids at hopeland after a nightmare.
it's okay.
what's the last thing you remember? ) We took you back to your ship. After the, ah— everything on the sandsteamer.
( there's a lot to unpack there, but. hey. that can happen later. )
NO IF HE DOES HE WILL *DIE*
( Wolfwood takes Vash's hand and he goes still with it, breath a gut punch. It feels too much and not enough at the same time, the starvation for touch rising at the back of his throat. He hums a singular note, the corner of his mouth lifting in helpless, hapless delight before Wolfwood's answer catches up with him. The sand steamer. HOME. Not later. Not all the way up to the very end, the truth stretched out behind them. He opens his mouth, closes it again, voice lost in the hollow.
He can't. He doesn't want to. It isn't fair. )
Oh. ( A laugh, light and slightly tinged with hysteria. Maybe it would be enough to give him away if Vash didn't immediately follow it up. ) Okay. Don't freak out. But you've been here before. Not here, Kyoto, but here with LILITH. That happens, apparently. I was here too! Someone told me so, mentioned some real good pizza options that the other me made, only I don't remember them. You left uh, four months ago? I don't know why, but I can help with anything you might not remember. We stuck pretty close together when you were here.
( An understatement, Vash slept on Wolfwood's floor to avoid losing him. But if the undertaker doesn't remember then maybe he doesn't need to know. Vash can only keep looking at him, a little furrow between his brows. He jolts a bit at the last second, patting down his pockets - letting go of Wolfwood's hand mournfully. But Vash makes up for it by pulling free the battered cigarette packet he's been keeping the whole time, bright and eager to please. )
You left these. Here. But um, they don't let you smoke inside here. It's weird.
well shit we can't have that can we, not allowed
vash can read him well enough, sure, but he's not so great at keeping things to himself when they're eating away at him. only time will tell on that front, won't it?
it's almost like there's a crack in the blond's voice when he finally speaks up again, just enough for wolfwood to take note of, tuck away and save for later in case he needs some sort of backup reasoning to support bits and pieces of future conversation. ( like what aren't you telling me, for starters, but that's neither here nor there, so we're just going to move right along for the time being. ) he lets him talk, say his piece and mulling it over, because he doesn't remember being here before, but it might just go without saying that weirder things have happened?
so maybe it. shouldn't seem that weird. jury's still out on that one.
we stuck pretty close together when you were here. he decides to latch onto that first. ) Oh, good. ( he says lightly, conversationally. ) Somebody's gotta keep an eye on your jumpy ass, might as well be me. ( maybe that's an understatement. maybe it's because he wants it to be him.
don't worry about it.
vash lets go of his hand to go patting down his pockets, and wolfwood doesn't hesitate to take one of his freed fingers to poke at the furrow between the other's brows, rubbing at it gently before letting his hand drop again. keep letting your face do shit like that and it's gonna stick that way, spikey.
he looks at the newly emancipated pack of cigarettes, battered as it might be, and his heart does something funny ( read: stupid ) in his chest. ) You kept 'em?
he'll do his best not to!!!
Um.
( Get it together, Stampede. )
Yeah? You arrived after me and you know, LILITH pays us but only after missions, and then you were super busy so I just kept things on hand for you. They might be a little dented considering they've been in my pocket for so long but I guess it worked out, because half of the base got knocked down and they might not even exist anymore if I hadn't.
( And it's an offering, almost. Feels right. )
Here, take them. They're yours. And I can show you how to get out of here if you want to smoke. ( Absolutely forgetting the concept of a lighter, he doesn't have that. ) If you have questions I can help. Or whatever you need.
he damn well better!!!!!
kindness has never been meant for someone given the name punisher, after all. much less anything more than that. but if vash wants to pretend he isn't wearing all of that want, all of that need as clear as day in the brightness of his eyes and the shape of his mouth, he'll pretend he doesn't see it for what it is.
and they will continue being absolutely stupid about everything.he listens again, and looks again at the cigarettes, finally taking them and shoving them somewhere they might be moderately safe from more battering. ) How 'bout that. ( he ends up mumbling under his breath, more to himself than anything else.
it still kind of feels like the room is spinning, but he's just gonna chalk that up to all the info-dumping spikey is doing. ) Wouldn't mind gettin' outta here for a little bit. ( go somewhere more private? so they can talk? he's not about to say that out loud, but that's his reasoning, because he really isn't thinking about having a smoke or how long it's been since he last had one.
for once. ) … Doesn't surprise me that somebody sayin' you were here before mentioned pizza. ( just! gonna go back to the very innocuous thing he didn't comment on before. it's not a distraction tactic from his own thoughts, not at all. it's just very convenient that he's a little bit slow on the uptake still, and can use that as an excuse for not having so damned many questions all at once. they'll trickle in, one or two at a time, just give it a bit.
he grins, just a little bit of tease for the trouble of it, because that feels a whole hell of a lot more normal than whatever his stupid heart is still doing in his chest. knock that shit off. ) What'd the other you consider good?
no subject
( A task is better, a task helps. Vash rocks on his heels for a brief moment before reaching out to snag Wolfwood's LILITH issued grey sleeve. He doesn't even mean to do it, but it's easier to tug him gently along that way, like the undertaker is a kite he wants desperately to keep a hold of. ) This way. Also, listen, it makes sense the other me had a pizza thing because pizza is sent to soothe us in our most trying times.
( Leave him alone, just because he'll put nearly anything in his mouth one time. )
It was pineapple. It sounds good, but I don't even know what a pineapple is and I haven't had time to try it for myself. Or uh, refresh my memory I guess? I don't really know how it works. And I've been busy trying all the normal foods first before I start getting creative. Oh! You get to now. ( Delight bright as he tugs Wolfwood into the hall. At that point he - reluctantly - lets go to fall more into step beside him, navigating the winding halls. ) Are you hungry? I can buy you lunch! I'd have cooked for you, but again, the base collapse.
( Is he mad? Maybe. )
I've been learning. My friend Bakugo's been teaching me the kind of things we wouldn't have back home. I'm not doing too bad. At least none of the kids have complained about being my guinea pigs. ( A pause, stuttering his ramble. ) Oh, you don't know about the kids. Ahhh. You took over an orphanage? I've been looking after it. I've made sure everyone's fed and watered and they all have toys. Nobody's cried for weeks! ( Well, Vash probably has. But none of the children. ) I -.
( Teeth clicking, steam running out as he glances Wolfwood's way. )
I'm talking too much, aren't I?
no subject
and maybe he's grinning a little bit about it. don't look at him. eyes forward and march, mister.
( but putting nearly anything into his mouth one time … no. we're going to take the high road here and not make a joke about that, but just remember that we could have. )) You'd think the other you would've had a thing for donuts, of all things. ( he muses out loud, conversationally. ) Can't go wrong with pizza, though, I guess. It's all bread.( you take that back, nicholas. they are two very different things. not even in the same category. one's a dessert — though they do make dessert pizza, which neither of you know about, and would probably cause one of you to spontaneously combust. you get two guesses, and the first two don't count on which one that would end up being.
vash is talking a lot, but wolfwood wouldn't say it's too much; he far prefers his rambling to his stretches of silence, because the latter always means he's gotten himself stuck in his own damned head and nothing short of a good whap will ever be enough to come close to bringing him out of it. and he sounds … excited? giddy? if wolfwood had been here before, and they'd spent any real amount of time together — if they'd stayed close — maybe he's just that happy to see him again?
he doesn't like that he can't remember it, and he wonders briefly how the other him had treated him. it better have been well, damn it. but he waves that thought away with a subtle shake of his head and waits for a break in the blond's stream of consciousness to finally get a word in. because hold on — ) An orphanage? ( his throat works in a shallow, dry swallow, and his heart does something funny in his chest again.
well, at least something about this makes sense. at least in the sense of taking over an orphanage, given the chance. it makes him smile to himself, just a little, both for the initial takeover and vash looking after anyone there in his absence. ) Don't worry about talkin' too much … and don't worry about feedin' me just yet. ( trust, you'll know when he's hungry enough to say something about it. he probably won't shut up. )
… Tell me about the kids?
no subject
( Immediate, and effusing. He smiles a little as he says it, knocking their shoulders together briefly. )
You were the one to notice first. A kid tried to mug us going home from the bar. We took him for burgers at a stall that runs all night - by the way, the lady who runs it hates me, I'll tell you more about that later - anyway so we took him for food, we were pretty drunk so he probably shouldn't have trusted us. You managed to get it out of him that there were a whole bunch of them in one of the robot-run orphanages, and we sort of just -.
( He holds both hands out in front of him, pressing his palms together. ) Took over? A goddess had to help you with budgeting. She got mad at me last week because I haven't been using the bank account. And then uh, we were in Transylvania, and LILITH - ( A pause, at this his demeanour changes. ) - Well, they let a lot of people run riot. There was a cult. And a bunch of the kids from there lost their parents, and we had to take them in? They've had a hard time of it, but I've been real careful about helping them out. You sort of got sent back home at that point, but I made sure they had a good Christmas! I'll tell you all about that too.
( There are so many other things he could mention. Wolfwood's possession, Vash's vampirism, the weird, accidentally homoerotic biting that happened shortly before he disappeared. But those are Vash-related and not kid-related and he doesn't quite want to mention those. )
The other Outsiders help too! Denji comes over and does movie nights with the kids. Although he's not allowed to pick any more because he keeps making bad choices. ( Guess who watched Bambi? Guess who cried? ) It's been nice. I really like seeing them settle.