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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.
.


gimu: (pic#17030894)

02.B (AAAA HELLO)

[personal profile] gimu 2025-03-05 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ these monks, shameless in their appropriation of the Outsiders’ considerable ability to carry things. choso’s found himself trapped in the same situation, unable to really say ‘no’ in the face of Being A Good Person, and thus laden with nothing less than two large rolls of carpeting slung over his shoulders.

it’s the carpet roll, actually, that finds yuta first. being so laden, choso can’t see so well, so when he walks into another good helper, he really doesn’t notice until the poor guy is right there, right in the way of the roll. incoming. ]


Aa. Look out.

[ as far as warnings go, it’s very lacklustre, but the effort has been made. ]
copy: (1 0 2)

HI bestest oniichan!!

[personal profile] copy 2025-03-05 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ How convenient for those audacious monks that there's a pair of push-over big brothers so readily available for them to take advantage of. Such is the burden of being the responsible eldest, alas. Yuta's not even really keeping track of what he's being made to hoist around anymore, but the three bags that have currently been stacked into his arms have accumulated into something that's taller than he is. (Filled with soil, he suspects, by the weight and smell of them.) The small mercy is that the path he's meant to take is a simple one, a straight line to his destination from A to B, and so his obscured vision shouldn't be too much of a hindrance.

Should being the keyword.

Maybe if he'd reacted the moment he heard the muted warning, he could have avoided whatever he's meant to look out for, but there's a strange familiarity to the voice that snares and snags on his attention which costs him a crucial second or two of reaction time. Unfortunately for Yuta, it makes the collision inevitable and down he goes with a startled cry that's soon muffled as he gets buried beneath the very bags he'd been carrying.

There's a beat of silence in the aftermath before the now sprawled and covered figure lets out a soft, pitiful: ]


... Ow.

[ This is fine. He's fine. Who needs air anyway? Just give him a second. ]
gimu: (pic#17035866)

[personal profile] gimu 2025-03-15 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ as far as impacts go, it isn't horribly hard, but the resulting collapse of the whole stinky lot takes choso somewhat by surprise. for a good five, pungent seconds, he can only survey the scene with a wrinkle of the nose that takes all five to reach full zenith. a mess like this would bring more fuss from the monks, another headache in the making.

pay attention, choso. look: there's a body under all that, gangling limbs and the drab greys of LILITH-standard issue marking him an Outsider. those monks were running a tight game. ]


Oh. Good. It would be a pain if that KO'd you.

[ hm. try again. ]

Is anything broken?

[ better. proceed. ]
copy: (0 4 6)

[personal profile] copy 2025-03-16 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. Even if it's muffled, that's a familiar voice. Familiar presence too now that he's paying attention. Recognition sparks excitement and Yuta wastes no time shifting his arms to grab the bag covering his face in order to lift it so he can confirm with his own two eyes the company he's in. And sure enough... ]

Choso— [ Genuine delight in both voice and expression alike until the bag held aloft tears enough to send some soil spilling out and his jubilation gets cut short at the faceful of dirt he receives.

There's absolutely nothing dignified about the flailing and spluttering that ensues, the bag dropped aside as he hurriedly bolts to sit upright. Please hold a moment while he takes care of that — shaking his head like a distressed dog, brushing his face with frantic fingers, spitting out disgusting damp earth — before he remembers to answer the question. ]


Urgh, I'm fine.

[ Debatable, honestly. But nothing's been hurt save for perhaps what little pride he has. ]
gimu: (pic#17198466)

[personal profile] gimu 2025-03-18 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ see, while choso hadn’t been expecting this poor guy to actually know his name, what he expects even less is the neat line of stitches bisecting an unfamiliar face before the soil-fall hides it all again.

for the duration of this fellow shaking himself off, choso stares. not daring to move, much less think, he watches wide-eyed while his stomach does flip-flops and his heart clenches as if beneath a titan fist. even flattened, even covered in garden-ready dirt, this little man strikes a terrible chord that rattles all of choso’s bones. ]


Aa, I see.

[ the rugs drop, their impact kicking up even more dust and dirt than what they started with. what a mess.

even more of a mess-in-the-making is the way the blood peels away from the mark on choso’s nose, forming an ominous ball over his head with the same ominous air of a guy holding a hammer over a cuckoo clock. ]


Not for long.
copy: (1 0 9)

[personal profile] copy 2025-03-19 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ So preoccupied Yuta is with brushing off the evidence of this smelly blunder, that he's completely oblivious to the crisis that (a part of) his appearance seems to evoke. It isn't until the rugs are dropped — the resulting kicked-up dust threatening to make him cough and his eyes go watery all over again — that Yuta lifts his gaze and finally catches on that something is very wrong from Choso's expression alone. ]

Choso-san...?

[ For a very brief moment there's nothing but utter confusion as he stares up at Choso with wide-eyed innocence, eyes tracking the little rivulets of blood as they peel away. It's as the ball begins to form that Yuta's suddenly hit with horrible, terrifying clarity by the way of two realizations occurring almost simultaneously. Firstly, he remembers what Yuji had said about Choso not remembering anything past Shibuya. Secondly, Choso's been staring at his forehead and... oh.

Oh no.

If it isn't the consequences of his own monstrous actions.

Hastily the rest of the bags are shoved off so Yuta can at least get his feet under himself even if he doesn't have time to stand, just in case, before his hands go up in a gesture of clear surrender. The rushed tumble of words that proceeds to spill out of his mouth turns his voice an octave higher with every panicked word. ]


Wait, wait, wait-!! I'm not who you think I am!
gimu: (pic#17089257)

[personal profile] gimu 2025-03-21 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ that sounds like something a sneak would say, but in the short time that choso has known of geto-kenjaku, he would have never said anything like this guy does, nor wear those kinds of expressions even if it was for the bit. it’s really that thought alone that stays choso’s murderous hand where it is: pressed to the other palm as if in prayer, hiding away the trembling, dense orb of blood in preparation of a Bad Time.

he points the business-end (fingers) of his joined hands up and away from the guy’s panicky face as his own chin tips up. ]


Who, then? I will allow you twenty seconds to explain.
copy: (1 0 0)

[personal profile] copy 2025-03-22 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yuta's hope for a saving grace lies in the fact that Kenjaku would never bother to pretend otherwise once found out, but it's not as if he could blame Choso if anger blinded him. Crouched low, hands up, gaze darting between Choso's face and tracking those hands like a particularly nervous hawk, Yuta looks, for all intents and purposes, like he's cowering. (Something Kenjaku would also never do.) In reality, Yuta's subtly poised to act. First instinct has him wanting to be ready to dodge, yet mindfulness of their surroundings and the potential of other people in the vicinity has him preemptively reinforcing himself with cursed energy instead. Blocking a Piercing Blood is probably going to hurt as much as catching Ryu's Granite Blast did, but he's prepared to do it. Rika is only a mere thought away, too.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that as he doesn't want to hurt Choso in any way to get him to stop either. He apparently has twenty seconds to make his case and he wastes no time blurting out whatever comes to mind first, almost breathless in haste yet gaining an evenness as he speaks. ]


My name is Okkotsu Yuta. I'm a second year in Jujutsu High. I killed Kenjaku and copied his technique which I had to use in order to help defeat Sukuna, that's why—

[ One hand briefly leaves its position of pleading surrender to motion to the stitches on his forehead before returning. And oh, there the even tone goes again with the next sentence, voice breaking a little with the abrupt increasing pitch. ]

As my kouhai, Itadori-kun can vouch for me!

[ Maybe he should have just started with that. No doubt Yuji's word will hold more weight than his ever will. ]
gimu: (pic#17035933)

[personal profile] gimu 2025-03-26 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ despite his short time in life, despite his detached nature, choso still knows what fear looks like in the faces of humans. he knows the gleam of fear in their eyes, how the whites of them shine as the lines of their facial skin deepen in their terror. he knows of fear and its stink, but look:

okkotsu yuta displays none of it. as quickly as he speaks, for all that his words nearly trip over each other, he holds all the self-assurance of yuji.

and speaking of— ]


‘Kouhai’, you say. He has mentioned your name before, Okkotsu Yuta.

[ anyone can use yuji’s name, he’s aware; anyone can claim acquaintanceship, but Kamo wouldn’t lower himself like this if his rotten life depended on it.

it is with a visible effort and a thick swallow that choso lowers his hands, allowing the bead of blood quivering in his palm to drop to the floor, where it spatters and vanishes into the scattered dirt. ]


He never mentioned that you did such a thing.
copy: (0 2 7)

[personal profile] copy 2025-03-27 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's a brighter spark of hope to be found there in knowing that Yuji's mentioned his name before — that he isn't an entirely unknown element claiming (no doubt) seemingly outrageous things. No matter what he does or says, Yuta's painfully aware that the stitches on his forehead will brand him suspicious regardless. Still, his burgeoning hope gets rewarded when Choso's hands lower and Yuta watches the blood fall and mix with the dirt. He can't help breathing out a sigh of relief, shoulders sagging a little as some of the tension in his frame gets expelled along with it. Slowly, carefully so as not to spook, he lowers his own hands.

He can't fault Yuji for not mentioning it, least of all because he was deliberately kept in the dark for pretty much all of it; the plan to kill Kenjaku, Yuta's decision to take over Gojo's body. ]


That's not surprising, it's... a very unpleasant thing I resorted to. [ The way his eyes drop down briefly is not out of some sense of shame, it's more a flicker of sorrowful resignation before he forces himself to look back up again. ] And due to circumstances, we couldn't involve him in the planning leading up to Kenjaku's assassination.

[ Because that's pretty much what it was and what he's done. Gingerly, Yuta rises to stand up only to then bow deeply in apology. He's been doing a lot of that. ]

I'm very sorry for giving you such a scare.
gimu: (pic#17035863)

[personal profile] gimu 2025-03-31 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ a lot can be gleaned in words, choso has found out; not in the words themselves, but the spaces between consonants, the hang of vowels in the throat, the words that hang unsaid in the air. yuta tells a story that echoes with all the things he doesn't say but that choso can supply anyway.

he can trace every logic line of this revelation and each one leads to sukuna. ]


Don't be. I'm the one jumping at shadows.

[ is this what awkwardness feels like? the need to move and bustle, just to fill the quiet? weird. but choso's at it anyway, kneeling to pick up his dusty carpets because he can't bring himself to make yuta stop bowing. ]

The marks... if that technique was instrumental, then who was it you rode?

[ he thinks he knows the answer, but it isn't one he wants to utter just like that. ]
copy: (0 2 7)

[personal profile] copy 2025-03-31 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
No one can fault you for that.

[ Yuta certainly doesn't and there's only gentle understanding in his voice. Knowing Kenjaku and what he's capable of, one can better be safe than sorry. Being mistaken for him does... hurt isn't quite the word for it, but the heavy unpleasant weight that's settled in his gut is something. Something to be ignored, swept under the rug, he's only got himself to blame after all, it doesn't matter. It's only when he sees Choso's movements from his peripheral and he realizes what he's doing that Yuta spurs himself back into motion, too.

They've made a mess of things and it won't do for the monks to catch sight of it. He's back on his knees to gather and stack the bags again, carefully maneuvering the broken one to avoid more spillage. A mental note is made to retrieve a broom once he's moved the bags and—

It's only a natural thing to ask — Yuta had been half-expecting the question Choso poses — it shouldn't stop him short the way it does and yet his hands still, hovering over a bag. ]


... Gojo-sensei. [ He doesn't look up this time as the quiet admittance slips past his lips, expression painted a careful blank where he stares down through heavy-lidded eyes, unseeing. ] He was the only one who could really counter Sukuna's domain.

[ It had been necessary, but only because he let it get to that point. He should have planned better, not gone after Kenjaku so selfishly, but what's done is done. ]