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sinfucks2025-06-26 11:42 am
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2025-06-26 11:42 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE #11
TEST DRIVE MEME #11
โถ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA. (NEO TOKYO BASE) .
It happens in the blink of an eye, a dash of time โ you're taken from where you were. What you were doing... it isn't important anymore, and slowly, you give up the desire of your normal life. When you awaken, figures are looking down on you from a surgical table.
"Yeah, this one will do. Let's take them to the rest." That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.
"Your questions will be answered soon enough, as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.
Just then, your pod opens in a dim corridor with many others. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.
This is Neo Tokyo. The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakes each Outsider. Outsiders emerge from their pod in only their undergarments which have been supplied to them, and head to a locker room in the medical bay to find a towel to dry off with and a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in assigning the Outsiders to their rightful teams. If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here
It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like thereโs 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 pods, 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.
โ โ โ LOADING COMPLETE โฆ BEGIN ORIENTATION โฆ
Outsiders will receive a quick debrief 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 thereโs no guarantee that they will provide them with a straight answer โฆ
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.
In the cafeteria area, food is being served. The kitchen can be seen and a few robots are busy stirring pots and preparing the dishes. The current offerings are cold soba with questionable sauces, leftover sand crocodile skewers, artificial rice and sweet shaved ice. As most robotic staff have been directed to finish rebuilding parts of the base, 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, theyโre not all guaranteed to be tasty.
With SYNTHIA alongside them now that they are back to Neo Tokyo, she is happy to chime in.
"Yeah, this one will do. Let's take them to the rest." That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.
"Your questions will be answered soon enough, as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.
Just then, your pod opens in a dim corridor with many others. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.
This is Neo Tokyo. The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakes each Outsider. Outsiders emerge from their pod in only their undergarments which have been supplied to them, and head to a locker room in the medical bay to find a towel to dry off with and a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in assigning the Outsiders to their rightful teams. If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here
It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like thereโs 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 pods, 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.
โ โ โ LOADING COMPLETE โฆ BEGIN ORIENTATION โฆ
Name:
Username:
Civilian Identity:
Age:
Species:
Origin:
Syndata File:
Are you a leader or a follower?
Outsiders will receive a quick debrief 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 thereโs no guarantee that they will provide them with a straight answer โฆ
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.
In the cafeteria area, food is being served. The kitchen can be seen and a few robots are busy stirring pots and preparing the dishes. The current offerings are cold soba with questionable sauces, leftover sand crocodile skewers, artificial rice and sweet shaved ice. As most robotic staff have been directed to finish rebuilding parts of the base, 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, theyโre not all guaranteed to be tasty.
With SYNTHIA alongside them now that they are back to Neo Tokyo, she is happy to chime in.
"Greetings, my name is SYNTHIA and I will be taking care of you today while the rest of the crew is busy handling a recent issue. Worry not, my children. You are in safe hands."
โถ 002. RETURN TO NORMALCY?
As a result of a successful mission, the agents of LILITH begin to recover from their month-long ordeal. Commander Shiro has passed away due to the Sumerian flu while the rest of the team has successfully recovered. Captain Yamakawa has just been promoted to Commander in a brief ceremony, and anyone who would like to pay respects will find that Shiro has been cremated, and a memorial for him will be found for him at the Greenhouse. There is a lot to process and it will require time, but time is not something they can afford in this world. Research and missions must resume before the next threat approaches. Commander Yamakwa instantly heads to a RESTRICTED AREA of the base. She is going to be working hard during this time.
As far as the Neo Tokyo base, the most important areas have been constructed and reinforced but Outsiders will see there are some areas (mostly the additional ones) that are under construction.
However, the civilians outside of LILITH who were unaffected by the fever have concerns. Theyโve noticed how quiet LILITH has been and somehow, rumors have been leaked on the internet about a crisis among their ranks. This has led to many civilians becoming anxious while others have decided to take advantage of the opportunity to take over the streets and bully the locals.
LILITH's first task is two-fold: reassure the citizens that all is well and help restore normalcy to the streets of Neo Tokyo.
Outsiders and LILITH agents will be tasked with community service and public appearances to show that all is well. This involves volunteering at the orphanage, helping with food banks, assisting at clinics, and providing whatever aid they can. Additionally, some will be scheduled to do news interviews or appear on talk shows to help convince the public that things are fine. Totally fine.
For those less PR-friendly, they will be assigned missions to take down local gangs, shut down various smuggling rings, and generally reduce crime in the city by any and all means. Some of these thugs have gotten too comfortable while LILITH has been down and they need to be dealt with swiftly.
As far as the Neo Tokyo base, the most important areas have been constructed and reinforced but Outsiders will see there are some areas (mostly the additional ones) that are under construction.
However, the civilians outside of LILITH who were unaffected by the fever have concerns. Theyโve noticed how quiet LILITH has been and somehow, rumors have been leaked on the internet about a crisis among their ranks. This has led to many civilians becoming anxious while others have decided to take advantage of the opportunity to take over the streets and bully the locals.
LILITH's first task is two-fold: reassure the citizens that all is well and help restore normalcy to the streets of Neo Tokyo.
Outsiders and LILITH agents will be tasked with community service and public appearances to show that all is well. This involves volunteering at the orphanage, helping with food banks, assisting at clinics, and providing whatever aid they can. Additionally, some will be scheduled to do news interviews or appear on talk shows to help convince the public that things are fine. Totally fine.
For those less PR-friendly, they will be assigned missions to take down local gangs, shut down various smuggling rings, and generally reduce crime in the city by any and all means. Some of these thugs have gotten too comfortable while LILITH has been down and they need to be dealt with swiftly.
โถ 003. THE GREATEST CATCH.
It seems while the Outsiders were away, they missed much of the rainy season. Instead of stormy days, the Outsiders will have to endure high temperatures and humidity. The city is carefully regulating the energy grid to prevent blackouts. Instead, they strongly urge citizens to seek other ways to cool themselves like hanging out department stores and libraries or trying out water activities.
Luckily, environmental groups and the local government have worked together over the months to clean up Odaiba Neo Marine Park. Thanks to special water filters and state of the art technology, they have created a small oasis within the city. The water in the immediate area is perfectly clean and safe for residents to enjoy! The locals gather to visit the park and enjoy the sand and calm waters. A popular pastime is to watch LILITH and the local defense forces fight kaiju on the horizon.
What?
That's right! While the waters might be clean, there's still the ever-present risk of kaiju attacking the shores. LILITH will task Outsiders to work with the local coast guard to fight off small pesky kaiju that take on the form of mutated sea life. Kaiju tuna, kaiju crabs, kaiju jellyfish, and more occasionally can be found in small numbers as well as other types of sea-kaiju. Get fishing!
Luckily, environmental groups and the local government have worked together over the months to clean up Odaiba Neo Marine Park. Thanks to special water filters and state of the art technology, they have created a small oasis within the city. The water in the immediate area is perfectly clean and safe for residents to enjoy! The locals gather to visit the park and enjoy the sand and calm waters. A popular pastime is to watch LILITH and the local defense forces fight kaiju on the horizon.
What?
That's right! While the waters might be clean, there's still the ever-present risk of kaiju attacking the shores. LILITH will task Outsiders to work with the local coast guard to fight off small pesky kaiju that take on the form of mutated sea life. Kaiju tuna, kaiju crabs, kaiju jellyfish, and more occasionally can be found in small numbers as well as other types of sea-kaiju. Get fishing!
โถ 004. HAKUNA MUTATA.
The kaiju that normally are on the outer edges of the city have grown bolder with the city's defenses being down. More local kaiju like the yama kujira have begun to venture further into the city in search of food. In this case, they seem to be seeking out beetles that have been mutated and begun to turn into kaiju because of the rifts. They bring havoc into areas that are unused to these sorts of intrusions. There are also strange reports of aโฆ meerkat-like kaiju that travels with some of the packs?
Citizens may encounter yama kujira (and the meerkaiju) right in the middle of the populated Neo Tokyo areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and more. Unused to being in city centers, they attack their reflections and react erratically to the flashing lights of the city. They charge at cars, buildings, and tear up roads with their tusks and hooves. The elusive meerkaiju attacks with scratches and bites (where did it come from?).
Alerts go out to civilians to avoid boar kaiju and seek shelter while local defense forces try to take care of them. However, they lack the special equipment and skills LILITH has. LILITH will order the Outsiders to take down these kaiju and push them back to the edges of the city where they can't harm the general population. Bear in mind these areas are very much populated so they'll have to pay extra attention to avoid property damage, especially when LILITH is trying to restore their image with the public.
For those less inclined with combat, they can assist by setting up security barriers on the edges of the city. These barriers use electricity and special sonic frequencies to deter most kaiju from entering. There are also surveillance systems that will alert when kaiju of a certain class or size cross the barrier. While these barriers are usually in place, they require regular maintenance due to how often they are destroyed by kaiju. After a month of neglect, some of the systems have to be completely reinstalled from scratch.
Citizens may encounter yama kujira (and the meerkaiju) right in the middle of the populated Neo Tokyo areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and more. Unused to being in city centers, they attack their reflections and react erratically to the flashing lights of the city. They charge at cars, buildings, and tear up roads with their tusks and hooves. The elusive meerkaiju attacks with scratches and bites (where did it come from?).
Alerts go out to civilians to avoid boar kaiju and seek shelter while local defense forces try to take care of them. However, they lack the special equipment and skills LILITH has. LILITH will order the Outsiders to take down these kaiju and push them back to the edges of the city where they can't harm the general population. Bear in mind these areas are very much populated so they'll have to pay extra attention to avoid property damage, especially when LILITH is trying to restore their image with the public.
For those less inclined with combat, they can assist by setting up security barriers on the edges of the city. These barriers use electricity and special sonic frequencies to deter most kaiju from entering. There are also surveillance systems that will alert when kaiju of a certain class or size cross the barrier. While these barriers are usually in place, they require regular maintenance due to how often they are destroyed by kaiju. After a month of neglect, some of the systems have to be completely reinstalled from scratch.
โ โ โ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: TIMONSUTA
HEIGHT: 60cm
WEIGHT: ???
CLASS: Intermediate
LOCATION: Recently seen in Neo Tokyo
ABILITIES: It has sharp claws which allows it to dig through the ground quickly at high speeds. It attacks by burrowing underground and surprising prey. Often seen with packs of yama kujira but it escapes quickly by retreating underground. Possesses sharp teeth that can easily break bone. Due to its habit of digging holes, use caution to avoid falling into them or it might attack.
WEAKNESSES: If it can be isolated and escape can be prevented, it is actually quite weak.
EXTRA NOTES: Authorities suspect TIMONSUTA might be a rift-affected meerkat from a local cafe.
โ โ โ ATTACHED PHOTO:
โถ 005. I CHOOSE YOU, BEETLECHU!
After taking care of the yama kujira (and meerkaiju), the Outsiders might find themselves with some time to relax as long as they avoid beach duties. They can visit some of the artificial parks in the city where local children gather to play the hot new game: Battle Beatles also known as Beetlemons.
Beetle hunting is a popular pastime but thanks to the increased rift energy these days, many bugs have begun to show signs of kaiju mutation. These beetles grow to larger sizes and some of them even have special abilities like greater strength, enhanced speed, light electric attacks, and more. They also develop unique patterns and colors. Now that the yama kujira are gone, it's easier to get bigger and better beetlemons.
Outsiders can join in on the fun. They can stick to the artificial parks like the children or take advantage of their own abilities to venture outside the city limits to find even better battle beetles. These beetles can be trained to fight other beetles or if that's too childish,ย they can be sold at black marketsย that will use the beetles for various purposes like traditional medicines or selling them to collectors.
Some of the beetles also appear to have rather docile temperaments and can be easily tamed by people and trained for battle. In general, they do not pose much threat to people but can still cause some harm due to their size and special mutations. However, other beetles that have been subjected to prolonged rift exposure may be more violent and dangerous.
Beetle hunting is a popular pastime but thanks to the increased rift energy these days, many bugs have begun to show signs of kaiju mutation. These beetles grow to larger sizes and some of them even have special abilities like greater strength, enhanced speed, light electric attacks, and more. They also develop unique patterns and colors. Now that the yama kujira are gone, it's easier to get bigger and better beetlemons.
Outsiders can join in on the fun. They can stick to the artificial parks like the children or take advantage of their own abilities to venture outside the city limits to find even better battle beetles. These beetles can be trained to fight other beetles or if that's too childish,ย they can be sold at black marketsย that will use the beetles for various purposes like traditional medicines or selling them to collectors.
Some of the beetles also appear to have rather docile temperaments and can be easily tamed by people and trained for battle. In general, they do not pose much threat to people but can still cause some harm due to their size and special mutations. However, other beetles that have been subjected to prolonged rift exposure may be more violent and dangerous.
โถ 006. AFTERWORD.
Welcome to our 11th 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 APPLICATIONS when they 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 July AC.
There are currently ~15 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for APPLICATIONS when they 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 July AC.
EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA: Newcomers arrive with ocular and brain implants, and are given a breakdown of the premise with an icebreaker orientation to complete. They will arrive in Neo Tokyo.
2. RETURN TO NORMALCY?: With Commander Shiro dead, Yamakawa is now in charge. Outsiders will be tasked with doing various community service activities in Neo Tokyo to alleviate rumors that LILITH is having a hard time.
3. THE GREATEST CATCH: A new beach opens up in Neo Tokyo. Outsiders can enjoy beach activities while also teaming up with the coast guard to protect the shores from lesser kaiju.
4. HAKUNA MUTATA: The yama kujira have begun to venture into the city while LILITH was out of commission. Fend them off and help restore the defensive systems on the city's edge to keep them out. A strange meerkat kaiju is spotted with the herds.
5. I CHOOSE YOU, BEETLECHU!: Local children begin to collect mutated kaiju beetles so they can fight. The same beetles can also be sold on the black market for various prices. Outsiders can engage in beetle collecting for fun or profit.
oo1. slams the fuck in hello future new son
It's fine, Geto's been used to it. )
I don't think it's even cheese.
( Cheerfully, and possibly surprisingly. He might have deliberately veiled his own energy for a little bit there. Sorry kid. He lets it go now though, he does not know if this one is the same, and therefore will not expect recognition. ) It's a strange colour, I'd avoid it.
hello future dad!!! please close your eyes real quick
[ there's something familiar about this person. rather, there's something familiar about the way this person's approached him, like he knows something about something and megumi's a few steps behind the conversation. it's not unusual, per se; adults tend to act that way most of the time. gojo-sensei certainly doesโ did, every chance he could.
and the way this person looks at him, it'sโ
oh. there, like the brush of seaweed against your ankles when you're wading in shallow water โ cursed energy, carefully eased from its restraints.
so that's what was familiar. megumi frowns at his bowl of suspicious noodles, and speaks to it more than to his current companion. ]
You're not from one of the families, are you?
no subject
No, I'm not. ( Fuck those guys. ) But that answers one of my questions, Fushiguro-san. You don't remember being here, do you? A pity, I hate introductions.
( Mostly because every time he tries someone attempts to kill him. He looks at Megumi now, assessing. There's no real shift in Geto's own demeanour, he keeps his body loose, his gait easy. If he's ready for a fight then it doesn't show on his face. Instead he tips his head ever so slightly, an attempt at politeness. ) Don't throw those at me, all right? I've just bought this outfit. ( A sniff. ) My name is Geto. Geto Suguru.
( A sharp little smile, all teeth. )
You'll have heard of me, no?
no subject
dead people walking. if not for the past few months, megumi would have thought they'd stepped into a heretic's wet dream. but megumi can still feel the remnants of sukuna's binding touch lingering in the corners of his inner domain, and there's the matter of puppeteered bodies in that final fight.
the stitches aren't present on the man's forehead. could be they're just hidden, but there's an odd... cleanness to the energy butting up against megumi's own. ]
Can I put down my tray, at least?
[ respect for respect; he won't throw his food, but he'll have his hands free. just in case. ]
It's an honor to meet you in person, Geto-san. [ honor carries with it some mild distaste. how quickly will he pass out if he tries to summon mahoraga? or has ryomen sukuna taken that from him, too? ] You look... healthy.
no subject
None of that, we both know you don't actually mean it. I'm not here to fight anyway, there are too many people who would not like it, and most importantly I don't want to. I'll give you the run down instead, mm? You're not the first other sorcerer here. There's Satoru, and Nanami, and Okkotsu-san. You'll most likely only really care about Yuji-kun though, I can call him, if you'd like.
( Yuji-kun, a careful fondness. )
He'll vouch for me if you need someone's opinion to trust. I'm not the pretender, if that concerns you. I'm myself. I have been since I arrived. LILITH doesn't care about pesky things like death or timelines. ( Healthy is funny though. He still feels like trash. ) Either way we have to work together, so if you want to fight at least let's take it to the simulation rooms, mm? I don't need another brawl in the corridors.
i'm truly sorry for this ๐ญ
okkotsu-senpai is here. nanami-san, somehow, is here.
gojo satoru is here. does it matter if it's true? megumi can't keep the rush of emotions off his expression, can't keep the rush of feeling from shaking his hands, the tray wobbling and nearly slipping from his grip. fear. guilt. panic. unbridled grief. ]
If you're lying to me, I won't regret flattening this whole room with you in it. I don't care about the rest of what you have to say, where is he?
Not Itadori, where is he?
nooooo baby boy.
I'm not lying.
( The posturing has evaporated, he knows this kind of grief. ) I'm sure he'll be here any moment, he'll have felt you coming. But the transport is temperamental sometimes, I'm sure he's just held up. Probably fighting kaiju. I can tell you where his room is. Or take you myself. Whichever you want.
( Actually, Geto should have considered this more carefully. He didn't think. )
this went zero to sixty super fast I'M SORRY
[ the funny thing,the ugly thing about sharing his body with a curse like ryomen sukuna is the sublimation of memories. fingers steeped in cursed energy, rifling through megumi's past like a picture book, picking through bits and pieces to figure out what will break him the most.
his sister. his guardian. his friends.
sukuna bit into the heart of megumi's soul and laughed as he bled into his mouth, and when the curse crushed tsumiki alive under the bansho's weight, he made sure megumi was watching. when he cut the world in half to take gojo satoru down with it, he made sure megumi it in his hands.
reckless is he, the dam giving out so quickly. megumi grasps at geto's arm with a vise grip, the threads straining in his grasp. ]
Does he know? If you know who I am and if you know about the impostor, then you know more than you should. What else has he told you?
at least they bypassed the fighting???
I know who you are because you were here before. That's not your fault, LILITH does that. I don't know if they've given you the spiel, I didn't exactly listen when it was me, but we can find someone else to tell us about it if that's what you need. And I know about the imposter because when I arrived here everyone thought I was him. Your little friend tried to beat me into the ground. Several of them, in fact.
( He knows about Kenjaku through memories, and through the fights he's had with the people he hurt. He does not think that is what has Megumi so upset. He can guess though, he remembers the icing on a cake loudly declaring Gojo had died for all to see. He remembers walking away, because he knew only the violence it ignited in him. )
I know it's a lot to process, Fushiguro-san. How about we get out of the view of prying eyes, mm? I can try to help, or I can find someone you'll trust more. But I don't like being here in the first place, so if you want to do this then we'll leave.
โจdon't be so sure just yet!โจ
[ teenaged petulance, or just the continuing reel of megumi's abandonment issues. he's trying to be mature about this, to not lean into old habits and lash out, but it's hard when he's facing the possibility ofโ what, exactly?
meeting a dead man? after all that his hands have done, all that he's witnessed and suffered?
he's learned to care about people, and to be selfish. everything that gojo satoru had been trying to teach him, only megumi learned it all the hard way, at the expense of the very people he'd been fighting so hard to be worthy of. ]
I don't want to fight you. Even if you were him, it's not my place. Not if he's really here. [ this has gone sideways so quickly. he might as well surrender for now. ] Lead the way, Geto-san.
wow too feisty ( i am now phone tagging so we must ignore all mistakes )
( He is also, unfortunately, father coded. So he turns promptly on his heel but at least waits until Megumi is moving to start his to forward trek. He keeps his pace calm, even steps, leading them out of the cafeteria. )
Yuji will be glad you're here. I'm sure he's missed you. His brother is also part of our company. ( Tour guide, the Geto Suguru experience. He'll take Megumi to the Brimstone corridor, that seems reasonable. ) Is there anything you'd like to know before we find any of them?
all good! i have great respect for phone taggers
[ gojo satoru, nanami kento, choso. the man leading him is himself someone else's ghost. what a strange place this is, megumi repeats to himself. is this what the afterlife is like? ]
Itadori must be happy about that.
[ it does explain why geto-san mentioned being attacked by cohort. if itadori is here, and choso is here, then the complex familial connections must have risen to the forefront of everyone's minds. with the way everything had ended โ well, megumi supposes he would have reacted similarly, in their place.
for now, megumi allows himself to bore a hole into the back of geto-san's head with his staring. ]
Gojo-sensei, Nanami-san, Okkotsu-senpai, Itadori, Choso-san, and then you. You said I'd been here, but I don't remember anything about this place. Who else is here? And was here?
immediately lost half a tag wow
It happens. Something about copies. I don't know the actual fine print. I wasn't listening, like I said. As to is, that's all. The was? ( Moments from death, forced here. He'd been busy spiralling. ) Kugisaki Nobara, Zenin Maki, Sukuna. ( A singular glance. ) Fushiguro Toji. There's no rhyme or reason to it. We come and we go. I've been here over a year, you and I didn't converse much.
( It took him too long to try and shrug off his villainy. Megumi looked like his father, and Geto badly wanted to kill the actual man, so. )
did i jinx it ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
just stops walking, stuck in place, playing catch-up with the names listed and sticking to the last two. sukuna. and that other nameโ ]
Fushiguro... Toji? That man is a Fushiguro?
[ naobito zenin had mentioned the name when they were trapped in that special grade's domain. something about a ghost from the past, right before the man waled on the curse, exorcised it, then did his best to crush megumi's whole existence. every single move that man had done brought megumi so close to death, he's sure the only reason he survived was because that man killed himself instead of finishing the fight. ]
Tall, heavily muscled, scar on his lip? Absolutely no cursed energy at all?
[ no, it can't be. ]
He's terrifying. He threw a truck at me like it was nothing. He's on your side, wasn't he?
maybe i'll keep trying to copy them first aha
On my side? Tch. No. The only side that man is on is his own. But that's him. You can ask Satoru about it.
( If Megumi doesn't know then it's for a reason. He's sure the last one did though. ) Or Yuji-kun. Someone else. He and I were not friends.
hehehe
[ it should connect. but it's just a name, one that doesn't ring any bells, and anyway his father's dead. gojo-sensei said so in his letter. if he'd been dead since that fateful day in front of his and tsumiki's apartment, then it had to have been someone else in shibuya. a body puppeteer, maybe. he's heard of curse users like that, people who take control of other people's bodies to trick their victims.
puzzles upon puzzles, even here. geto-san's contempt is clear, though; he must have suffered under the man's deranged fighting abilities, too. ]
And Sukuna? Itadori wouldn't have stood for him being around, moving freely.
You can ask me too, you know. If there's anything you want to ask.
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I'm sure it depends entirely on who has the most money. Here it was LILITH. I didn't know him very well. ( On account of the avoidance. Geto was still angry then. ) I also never spoke to Yuji about his feelings on Sukuna being here. He warned people off, but there was little we could do about it. LILITH has protocols for trying to murder each other, you see. So I'd say keep your head.
( He tips his own. )
Anyone I'd need to ask about you wouldn't know, but thank you, Fushiguro-san.
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[ he mutters it to himself, not expecting a reply. the part about safeguards being in place to keep them from attacking one another isn't as much of a surprise too; it makes sense, given the list of names geto-san had rattled off. enemies, friends, a few complex connections โ it wouldn't be smart to have such an array of personalities and not put limitations to how they might interact.
keep your head, he says. if megumi had lost it a little earlier, maybe so much of the pain that followed him around would've been avoided. ]
I have one last question, I think. How much did you know about me? When I'm from, that is. Time moves differently here, right? It's possible that I don't have the same memories.
I guess what I'm asking is, what was I like?
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( Well, Gojo speaks like Gojo speaks. )
I didn't know enough of what happened after my death then to place you in a timeline, so I'm afraid I can't tell you a lot. ( Another corridor, Geto's strides easier. ) The others might know.
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[ here he stands before the rubicon, the great river, the dangling bridge.
geto suguru is a mystery to megumi not because of his notoriety as a promising sorcerer turned heinous curse user. he's a mystery because his name in itself felt like a curse when brought up in gojo satoru's presence, the scant handful of times megumi had heard it said around his guardian.
he has the bare facts: they were in the same year, geto and gojo and ieiri; they made it to their third year before geto had defected in the most horrific fashion; the order for geto's execution has remained, unspoken but near-universally acknowledged, gojo satoru's responsibility alone.
and it was.
megumi didn't understand the weight of such an undoing until now. ]
Even until the end, he was your friend, wasn't he? Gojo Satoru. Despite it all, he mattered to you.
I'm not trying to antagonise you by saying this, Geto-san. Would you consider him a friend now, as you both are, in this place?
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He's my best friend.
( Steady, and sure, and ever so slightly wistful. That he can't exactly help though. For all he keeps most of himself severely under wraps, his feelings are often too vast. Some of it seeps through the cracks. His nose wrinkles like he doesn't quite like to be sincere, uncomfortable with the feeling. Maybe he doesn't. He's often been a man of smoke and mirrors, and for all that this place is teaching him otherwise, old habits die hard.
The youth maybe deserve him not picking a fight just because he feels uneasy though, so Geto pulls in a breath. )
That hasn't changed, Fushiguro-san, and while it's not the same as it was, I think we're learning to be something new. You won't find me acting out against your sensei, if that's what you're worried about. ( Assuming that's what's got Megumi so intent, anyway. ) We've managed thus far.
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Then, please continue to be his friend, Geto-san. Gojo-sensei deserves to have someone who's on his side โ not as a cause, or as a figure, or as the strongest sorcerer.
He deserves someone who sees him as a person.
[ i can't do that for him anymore.
maybe megumi never has. it's hard to shake off the image that gojo satoru had brought with him when he came to take megumi and tsumiki out of their past-due rental. he's gone from a strange man with motives to a guardian with motives, then to a teacher with motives that megumi maybe could understand. but it's never been a balanced relationship, and megumi recognises it never will be.
that gojo satoru died by his hands just tips the scale. if geto suguru asks, maybe he'll explain himself, too. ]
Even if it's just for a while, Gojo Satoru shouldn't move through life all alone.
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But Megumi's words bring about an old kind of guilt, Geto can feel it lancing through him now, a sharp and bitter thing. It floods the back of his mouth, tastes a little like poison, tastes a lot like all that human shame he's had to swallow over the years. In another life, he wouldn't leave. In another life he'd have been there to make sure a boy didn't have to ask this of him. Still, he sighs, one hand coming to hover above Megumi's elbow like he might try to pull him upright but thinks better of it in the end. ) Enough of that, you don't have to - I'm not repeating my mistakes again, Fushiguro-san.
( Things are still difficult between them, the changing shape of their relationship itches sometimes. There's an intimacy now, but it is not that easy spring flush and sometimes that hurts. But they're working on it, he should be thankful for the chance at something. He certainly doesn't deserve any of it. )
Although I would point out that Gojo Satoru is his own person, and sometimes looking out for him is a fool's errand. I'm doing my best, and I'll keep an eye on him, but he makes his own choices.
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[ there's a difference between reckless and careless, a wide gap between reckless and foolish. gojo satoru is rarely these things, even if his recklessness knows no bounds. when the world curves around you, wouldn't you dare it right back? when infinity and limitless are in the palm of your hand, refusing to answer the call for blood is a more difficult endeavour.
difficult and isolating. having stood in its shadow, megumi would not want the burden of being the strongest, eager as he might've been to see death come crawling at his feet.
one hand, creeping. one grown on a face foreign. even so, their sentiments ring through clear with the same note, calling to a man they can never quit. ]
But you're right. He can decide for himself. But it's nice to have friends, isn't it? Who will listen and say what they think when you need to hear it.
...You use cursed spirit manipulation, don't you, Geto-san?
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( Stubborn, through and through. He hasn't particularly liked anything Gojo has had to say to him. At least not in his early days here, straining against the leash like a rabid dog. He does not know how to tell Megumi that he isn't sure their erstwhile ghost would listen either way, but the boy already seems strained under the weight of things and he's not going to push. Instead he blinks, tension leaving his shoulders. )
I do. Though largely limited here. And Rainbow dragon doesn't quite fit in the corridor. ( He'd been aware of Gojo and his students in the years before his death, their estrangement not enough to stop him from trying to gather information on his wards. Gojo had kept most things under cloak, but still. He has an idea of Megumi, and he'd seen him in battle with the kaiju, so he doesn't think it's overstepping when he hums. ) I've seen your shikigami in passing. Never up close. You probably haven't had the time to check if they've tampered with anything, have you?
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a fucking BIRTHDAY CAKE?!?????
YES he's THE WORST
CRIMINAL!!!
see how geto suffers!!!
im really sorry for a specific part of this tag
it's ... so terribly accurate
hehehehehe ๐
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