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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.
no subject
( 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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
( 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?
no subject
[ furube, yura yura. it'll take him a long time to reclaim that one. but he does pull out a rabbit from one of the shadows along the wall, simple and easy as pressing his hand to the darkened surface and grabbing the first furry thing that answers his call.
the datto is just as confused as anything, having been called all alone. megumi hands off the rabbit to geto-san without ceremony, just a quick please hold him before nodding to himself.
ulterior motives. hands occupied, if not the mind. a bit of trick learned under duress. somewhere in the recesses of his nightmares, the echo of mahoraga's turning wheel haunts him. ]
Do your cursesโ Do they feels yours again? Or do they still feel yours?
[ please read between the lines. ]
no subject
It's hard to say. Many of them were already exorcised. I lost a few that I possess now in a fight when I was a teenager.
( Thanks, Toji. )
LILITH has returned them to me. Some are smaller, some less powerful. But they act like they are mine alone, they still bend to my will. ( A land lifts to rub painted fingernails between long ears, almost without thinking. ) I don't know if the difference was a foggy memory or something they did. I don't understand the selection process either. But I take umbrage to what our overlords think is useful and what isn't, so if you want impartial advice I'm not the one for that.
( Megumi's just got here. Geto can't start the anti-LILITH discourse yet. )
no subject
[ but there is a point to playing the game set before them, and megumi is new. if yuji's here, and gojo-sensei, and nanami-san and okkotsu-senpai โ megumi doesn't want to make things difficult for them if there's no reason to do so.
for want of something to occupy his hands, megumi pulls out another rabbit, this time from the floor. this one is handed over to geto-san as well. ]
So you'll know, right? If someone tried to steal any of them from you? If they tried to claim them from you in some way. They wouldโ In theory, you'd recognise if they've been changed somehow, without your knowing.
no subject
All I'll say now is be careful, mm? We're useful tools, but I think that's all we are. Others feel a sense of kinship with some of LILITH's staff, but I can't imagine it goes both ways.
( Obediently, the second gets held too, Geto doing some readjusting of his stance to hold this one as carefully as the first. )
Oh, yes. The differences were obvious straight away. Like I said, LILITH likes us useful, but she does not want us too powerful we can't be cowed. I could sense the shift in my most powerful. But they haven't changed hands. Maybe they knew how little I'd help then.
no subject
[ megumi's visible relief at that should probably be worrying. even he frowns at himself when he realises the tension in his shoulders have eased up somewhat. there won't be a repeat of shibuya or shinjuku here. ]
Geto-san, if you won't mind it. May I ask something of you? When I get settled, and after I've talked to Gojo-sensei.
Please train with me.
[ he refuses to ask everyone else, especially the ones who have died. how could he? he's too emotionally compromised, especially with gojo satoru and itadori. if he'd been strong enough, then maybeโ but he wasn't, and he'd so easily collapsed under grief, allowed sukuna the opportunity to take control. everyone else would forgive him.
everyone else would understand, and he doesn't want that right now. on the other hand, geto suguru likely wouldn't have that same cache of mercy for megumi beyond civility as fellow sorcerers.
he also doesn't seem like he'd push for an explanation on why. ]
no subject
( It's maybe not the right word for it, but it's the one he settles on. Something less insulting. There's a frantic energy around Fushiguro Megumi that he thinks he can recognise, an electric kind of mania. Geto holds on to his bunnies and lets his gaze settle on the boy more solidly, assessing. )
All right, we can do that. But I have the same request of you that I make of Okkotsu Yuta. You tell someone. Preferably your Gojo-sensei. He might think I have nefarious intentions. ( A dramatic sniff, even though Gojo certainly won't. Geto's inability to leave all the teenagers alone does not stem from any villainy. ) And you meditate too.
( Once a fake monk, always a fake monk. )
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[ it's difficult to grow under gojo satoru's shadow without developing a strong sense of belligerence; give gojo satoru an inch and he'll press his advantage to miles, quicker than you can think to ask him to wait. survival against the strongest is survival against the rest of the sorcerers' society, in its own way, and megumi had a very prolific teacher. ]
I'll tell Itadori first. I'mโ Most likely I'll avoid Gojo-sensei for a while. He'll understand why.
Are you serious about meditation?
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( He's not actually all that annoyed, but he gives Megumi a look either way. ) In a place like this it's best to rely on the allies you already have. Some others might be quick to make friends, but it's not a guarantee. And you're used to Satoru, no? Don't discount that, no matter what else has happened back home. Besides, I think he'll be glad to have you.
( There's been a difference, the more his students had left. The impermanence weighing on him. It's subtle, but Geto has noticed. )
Oh, deadly.
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he opens his mouth to say something, but then thinks against it.
not yet. maybe gojo-sensei can tell geto-san himself. ]
You're a sorcerer too, aren't you? One of us, in the ways that matter. Please don't be a stranger yourself, Geto-san. As you say, no matter what else has happened back home, it's best to rely on the allies you already have.
How long am I supposed to meditate?
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He was told via birthday cake. Ask him how traumatised that left him. Do it, Megumi. )
Forty-five minutes. ( For the meditation. ) And daily. The body is only as healthy as the mind, if one goes the other does too. You're supposed to hone them like they're something to dual-wield.
( They're just beyond the doors to their dorms, so Geto nods to them, still somehow holding rabbits. ) Satoru is that one, but if he were in he'd sense us coming. I'm next door. You can find me if you can't find him.
a fucking BIRTHDAY CAKE?!?????
in megumi's mind, gojo satoru is forever nineteen, grimacing down to him with disbelief.
just like that day, he can't move his feet forward. ]
[ I don't think I'm ready to see him just yet. this time, he turns and looks up to meet geto-san's gaze. the rabbits sniffle and squeak, burrowing against the warmth of the man's shirt, echoing what megumi so intensely yearns for from him own teacher. ]
You know, don't you? What happens to him back home?
YES he's THE WORST
( Another brief pause, the careful wiping away of any expression. )
I do. He told me so himself.
( In the worst way possible, playfully cruel like he did all things. Geto still feels the spark of helpless grief it inspired, so if he distracts himself with the bunny rabbits then that's nobody's business but his. And maybe Megumi's. ) It would not have been hard to put together though, considering how each of his students have reacted since. There's a recognisable weight.
CRIMINAL!!!
Then you understand why I can't see him yet. Even if he says he's okay, that it's fine, I don't know if it should be. He lost, and then he died.
He was gone.
[ the rabbits make little chirping sounds, rolling in geto-san's hold and clinging on. ]
Could we try meditation now, Geto-san? If you're not tired of my presence yet. I... It might help.
see how geto suffers!!!
All right.
( He jiggles the bunnies thoughtfully, offers one back to Megumi carefully. ) Hold your rabbit for me, Fushiguro-san. I need to grab some water from my room first. ( He hides everything he needs. Trust no one, ) Actually, take this one too. We'll use one of the training rooms.
( He opens his room quite quickly after, leaves it wide open. It will look like all the others, really. There's a dragon plush on the bed - stolen from Gojo in a fit of pique - but beyond that it's clean, tidy. He pauses to tie his hair up, grabs two bottles from somewhere, turns on his heel. Out of habit he knocks his elbow into the adjoining room, petty, and then closes it up behind him again. )
Shall we? It's nearby. I use it with Yuji-kun.
im really sorry for a specific part of this tag
You speak with Itadori?
[ it's so noticeable how megumi's whole demeanor changes at the mention of itadori that it's like someone flipped a switch on his attitude. megumi's whole stance seemingly brightens, back straightening and eyes widening to look his age. sixteen, child-like. eager at the mention of a dear friend.
megumi easily accepts the rabbits, the fluffballs eagerly nuzzling up to their master and climbing up to the top of his head. one of them even attempts to gnaw on his hair as megumi follows geto-san's lead.
rabbits. dragons. tigers. maybe he'll assign specific animals to each person he knows. gojo-sensei can be a cat butt, specifically. the kind with annoyingly large balls and shoves them in people's faces. ]
He'sโ I hope he's been doing well. He deserves to have some peace, after everything. [ that reminds himโ ] What about you, Geto-san? How are you?
it's ... so terribly accurate
( Kenjaku using his body like a meat puppet aside, even Geto's old violence had been enough to drive a wedge at first. But he's being ... domesticated. All Yuji's doing. Like a feral dog. He notes that shift in demeanour though, immediately understands who Megumi is. )
He's been through some rough times recently, but I'm sure having a friend around will make things better. Especially if the two of your are close.
( As to him, he hums. )
I'm fine, thank you for asking. Were you this polite before Satoru took you under his wing? He was never much for pleasantries, it's hard to think you've learnt it from him.
( And Toji is a bitch, so. )
hehehehehe ๐
[ oh. oh no. this hurts, all of a sudden. ]
He couldn't be around all the time, but he did what he could. And with Tsumiki being a normal human without any sense of cursed energy, we couldn't stay with him either. The clans would've complained; I'm still Zen'in, and they still cared about things like that.
As for Itadori โ he's my first real friend. He means a lot to me. I'm glad to know he has friends here too.
You really think I'm polite?
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( It's a fond recollection, even if it had irritated him when they were younger. Looking back, he's not so sure the feeling had been because of Gojo, or simply just the girls dividing their attention. Geto had been sweet to them when he had to be, but mostly it was just the two of them being gross little gremlins together.
At least when Megumi mentions his human sister, Geto has had enough growth to not balk at it. ) I'm sure you all tried your best. It's hard, navigating the politics of our world. I'm glad I managed to keep my girls out of it.
( As for the last question -. )
Mm. I wonder where you get it from.
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๐ closing us out!