▶ 003. TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #3

[synfluxmods]

TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: forced scenarios, partial nudity, full nudity, alcohol & drug use, violence & action scenarios, simulation mindfucking, bees/hornets, parasites.

▶ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA.

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 to desire your normal life. When you awake, 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.

The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakens each Outsider. When 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, a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in organizing the Outsider 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 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 pod, 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, and feed 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:

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?

<raw code><table width="80%"><br><div align="center"><img src="IMAGE_URL" style="width: 200px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"> <!-- CARD --> <div style="width:230px;padding:20px 0 0;border:1px solid #f2f2f2;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:right;gap:5px;background:#fff;"> <!-- CHAR INFO: start --> <div style="width:150px;font-family:courier;font-weight:bold;font-size: clamp(14px, 1vw, 10px);letter-spacing:1px;line-height:1;color:#000;"></lj-raw><font color="#00686E">NAME</font> <lj-raw></div> <!-- CHAR INFO: end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE START --> <div style="width:230px;background:#eee;"><details><summary style="cursor:pointer;text-align:center;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;background:#ccc;color:#000;">+</summary> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content --> <div style="width:190px;margin:0 auto;padding:7px 0;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;color:#000;"> </lj-raw><b>Username:</b> !!ANSWER HERE!! <br> <b>Civilian Identity:</b> !!ANSWER HERE OR SAY UNDECIDED!! <br> <b>Age:</b> !!AGE HERE!! <br> <b>Species:</b> !!SPECIES HERE!! <br> <b>Origin:</b> !!ORIGIN HERE!! <br></br> <b>If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?</b></br> </br>!! ANSWER HERE !!<lj-raw> </div></details></div> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE END --> </div></div> <!-- CARD name: END --> <!-- CREDIT --> <div style="width:100%;margin-top:-15px;font-size:10px;color:#ddd; text-align:center;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#ddd;">credit</a></div></center></table></raw code>

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!

Outsiders will receive a quick brief about their situation: They will be told that the year is 2278, 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 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 10,000 KRYPTOS (about USD 66), 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.

Once they leave the medical bay, they’ll be able to grab a quick meal in the cafeteria and mingle with the other Outsiders just waking up. Today’s menu is oniku sashimi, miso soup, and ginger salad, all packed neatly in a food ration tray. Oniku is whale tail meat. Huh. There's been a whale theme going around here lately. Must be a coincidence... right?

That familiar, robotic voice is heard again:

"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. Please enjoy your complimentary meal which LILITH has carefully procured for you all. You may then head to your quarters are explore our BASE using the map provided. This meal is a delicacy in some parts, so feel free to express your undying gratitude."

▶ 002. SUBJECT NOT FOUND.

Early in the morning on March 2nd, the power suddenly goes out. Outsiders may wake up to find that wake-up alarms never went off, the coffee machines don't work, and breakfast isn't ready in the cafeteria because of the sudden outage. Early risers may find themselves trapped in their team wings when automatic doors refuse to budge and those who are particularly unlucky may find themselves stuck in an elevator.

Within the hour, the power boots back up again and life on base returns mostly to normal. The only inconvenience seems to be a haphazardly thrown-together breakfast consisting of whatever could be made without power quickly. As the day goes on, observant characters may notice something amiss. They can catch some LILITH workers whispering to each other and there seem to be more agents in fancy suits roaming around.

If they find themselves in the right place, Outsiders may find that one of the many research labs on base is locked down and they won't be allowed to enter. If they ask one of the guards keeping watch, they will simply be told to move along. Asking some of the researchers or other workers in the area will reveal "something" happened during the power outage in the morning.

By evening, everyone's ocular implants will flash a quick notice:

|| MISSING PERSON

Name: Dr. Tanaka Junichiro
Role: LILITH Researcher.
Specialty: Genetic Research (Native Species and Kaiju)
Details: Latest available security footage depicts Dr. Tanaka stationed in their lab at LILITH Research Base. At 0735hrs on the morning of 2 March, a power disturbance struck all LILITH networks, resulting in all security monitoring systems within the area going offline briefly. After this disturbance was resolved, Dr. Tanaka was reported missing from their designated station under mysterious circumstances. Other resources missing from the base include: Research files and various live and deceased specimens.

Any clues on Dr. Tanaka's whereabouts are to be surrendered to LILITH immediately. Dr. Tanaka's primary research involved DNA splicing and induced evolution. Any information or clues regarding them or their work is highly valued. It is our top objective to ensure the safe return of our valuable staff members. ||

▶ 003. CLAWS FOR CONCERN.

Shortly after the disappearance of Dr. Tanaka, Outsiders who wander the back alleys and keep an ear open will hear whispers of exotic animals and chimera being traded for meat, entertainment and pet ownership. Most of this talk will be heard near the biggest black market in Shinjuku, "Starlight X". It's a novelty within Neo Tokyo and word gets out quick, even if the residents are hush-hush about where they got their sources from. Photos of these hybrids show up on social media to the astonishment and skepticism of the citizens. To find Starlight X, Outsiders will have to travel underground, taking the term underground market quite literally. There is an entrance way in a nearby alley without too much security; with the lack of policemen, now, people might as well sell their illegal substances on the surface.

Once there, Outsiders will be able to discover a plethora of suspicious things for purchase: such as recreational drugs, performance-enhancing nanobots, assorted weapons (some legal and some not), unlabeled meats, the … services of suspicious people, and a whole lot of junk. While visiting Starlight X, some of these creature hybrids even get loose and need to be captured before they draw too much attention. LILITH advises Outsiders to turn in any such specimens, live or dead, or put in a report immediately upon seeing them. Withholding such information or keeping a specimen for yourself may result in unwanted consequences if LILITH comes to find out.

These hybrids are generally small and mostly harmless, no doubt being traded for companionship and novelty. Cats that look like small lions or tigers, canaries with peacock feathers, frogs with wings, and so on (players may use their imagination).

Any further questions regarding Starlight X can be asked below.

▶ 004. THE SAPPHIRE ROOM.

It becomes such a problem that LILITH can no longer ignore it. It's clear that someone - or a group of someones - have gotten their hands on LILITH's priceless specimens and data, and are testing the waters on what they can get away with. Allowing the public to get their hands on the smaller hybrids is one thing. According to word around the street, there's going to be an auction on the night of the 5th, and that's where the larger, more dangerous hybrids will be sold. Some even say you'll be able to find man-made monsters.

Closer to that date, LILITH decides to strike back to avoid further humiliation. With the help of their skilled informants, they've managed to secure the location, but ordering the Outsiders to storm the place like a military strike team just isn't an option. Said location is in a popular, bustling part of town, where the locals wine and dine. That would only cause panic and distrust amongst the people. The approach that's needed today ... is something more clandestine.

|| MISSION: Infiltration of The Sapphire Room
LOCATION: The Sapphire Room, in Roppongi. A popular and exclusive nightclub serving a lavish experience to those who can afford it.
DETAILS: Sources reveal that The Sapphire Room, while a fully functioning club, has also been playing host to suspicious activities and trading in their exclusive underground rooms. An illegal auction is currently being held at the end of this week, which happens to be their Couples' Night. To gain access into this auction, Outsiders are to pair up and maintain appropriate cover. Information about your disguises have been downloaded into your chips.

OBJECTIVE:
✖ Infiltrate the secret auction occurring in The Sapphire Room as a pair.
✖ Disrupt the auction using any means possible.
✖ Capture hybrid specimens and surrender them to LILITH.
✖ Capture the perpetrators for questioning.
✖ Obtain any research data available and surrender it to LILITH. ||

Outsiders will be briefed on the disguise and cover identity provided to them by LILITH, and temporarily granted a Style Upgrade to their chip to enable them to dress the part. (Players may make up their own cover identity for this mission. )

Hybrids within the auction include larger, more dangerous chimeras such as lion snapping-turtles, alligator-hippos, and snapping bears (among others). Smaller chimeras such as winged rabbits and seven-headed-snakes can also be found.

At the center of it all … the main event: An actual Kaiju hybrid. At the center of the stage is a miniature version of the Shachimon whales that had sewn chaos across the sea just a month before. She’s much smaller than her full sized counterparts, only about as large as a dog. It’s likely she’s been bred down with native marine life to make her more tameable and less able to completely topple a boat with her strength.

This is what the auction-goers had come to see and hopefully purchase today. What they want a half-Kaiju for remains to be seen, but LILITH is not about to let just anyone get their hands on their specimens.

Outsiders undertaking this mission may wrangle and capture the hybrid creatures (most of which will be aggressive) and fight off or capture the auction staff. Most of the staff will be armed with guns and cybernetic enhancements (e.g. bionic arms with lasers attached). They can be questioned but not all of them are happy to answer. Unfortunately, the ringleaders will slip away in the chaos before anyone can capture them. A message from Captain Yamakawa projects into the implant late into the night (and if you were sleeping by this hour of 2 a.m, you're about to be woken up.)

"This is unacceptable. Angels of LILITH, please be on the lookout for the organizers of this crime. This kind of theft is unforgivable. We are investigating their identities, but any further information regarding those that got away is appreciated."

▶ 005. SIMULATION.

While Outsider are given some time to rest and recover from their battle in February, it doesn't take long for their training to kick back up again. Outsiders will be summoned to the simulation room and instructed to put on their LILITH-issued plugsuits. They will be paired or put into groups for another battle simulation. After being ushed into the training grounds, the room will turn pitch black and a briefing sheet will be projected from their eye implant.

They will be able to access the briefing sheet at any time during the simulation by simply asking to see it. After each Outsider has read the mission brief, the simulation will begin, and they will find themselves in Singapore. The city is lively and all seems well and ordinary with civilians going about their daily lives. The weather is warm and sunny and it's a beautiful day.

Suddenly, screams break out from a nearby Hawker centre. A small group of civilians go on a rampage and begin chasing after the crowds. They move quickly but awkwardly as if they aren't in total control of their bodies. They try to attack other people in any way possible and cannot listen to reason. Rendering the disturbed civilians dead or unconscious will result in a large hornet emerging from a melted hole somewhere on the victim's body. The hornets must be destroyed before they possess another host. It isn't just the humans that can be taken over: Some of the suzume-bachi will infect the local animal life as well.

If you look around, there are still many people running around and curious onlookers trying to catch a peek inside. With so many hosts milling around, the suzume-bachi could be anywhere among us.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET:
NAME: SUZUME-BACHI
HEIGHT: 7.6-12 in.
WEIGHT: 2 kg
CLASS: UNKNOWN, CANNOT BE CLASSED.
THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE-SEVERE
LOCATION: Tropical climates with high humidity
ABILITIES: Parasitic and will enter a “host body” and try to gain control. Capable of entering other wildlife.
WEAKNESS: Ice (they cannot operate in cold climate), physical attacks.
EXTRA NOTES: Once they gain control over a lifeform, only rendering the host body unconscious will allow them to expose themselves. It is advised to kill them prior to have the entering ones body. The process of them latching on to take control is extremely invasive as they melt through skin to gain access to a body. Possessed bodies will behave aggressively and will try to lure others into areas of nesting for the SUZUME-BACHI. Highly protective of their hive and their “QUEEN”— please approach hives with caution and do not approach alone.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Identify humans and creatures being controlled by the SUZUME-BACHI.
✖ Rescue civilians and clear all wildlife of being possessed by the SUZUME-BACHI.
✖ Help move civilians to underground safety bunker.
✖ Protect safe zones from SUZUME-BACHI.
EXTRA NOTES: Every SUZUME-BACHI killed equals 1 KILL point, freeing those who are under its control is 1 ASSIST point, and getting civilians to the shelter will give 1 RESCUE point.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third TDM! All TDM threads are game canon; characters who don't app will be glitched out of this world. As TDM will act as the event, existing characters are heavily encouraged to participate. We encourage this format for top levels: CHARACTER | CANON | CURRENT / NEW CHARACTER. '

There are currently 23 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for when APPLICATIONS open.

None of the prompts suit your fancy? Feel free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts!

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.

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

code

Comments

Ereshkigal || Fate/Grand Order || New

[queenofkur]

I/ Network

ERESHKIGAL

+

Username: goddessofdeath
Civilian Identity: Ninkigal
Age: error:overflow
Species: Divine Spirit
Origin: The Underworld

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?

[FORCIBLY EXTRACTED] I would be more like my sister and less like myself

credit

[ She... She should have answered the question truthfully. Now everyone on that "network" will think she got some kind of inferiority complex. Why didn't she say she'd change something simple, like her hairstyle maybe.

And what's with that "error" on her age? She had answered that question truthfully...! The situation is bad enough already, but now everyone's going to judge her harshly for both of these things. That sucks. She better prepares answers to dismiss any potential attack on her character. ]

II/ Arrival

[ She... Should have answered the question truthfully. Now ]

[ There are so many people in the cafeteria... All wearing the same tasteless grey clothes their kidnappers have provided them with. It's a bit overwhelming, really. She'd never seen that many living people at once before. Normally, it would be a simple task to fake confidence and present herself to them all in an over-the-top fashion. But with everything that's happened, she's already drained.

She was waiting to be summoned by Chaldea and then... Not quite. This day should have been a dream, but this is more like a nightmare. Summoned in a world so archaic, they can't even form proper contracts and had to put implants inside her instead. Belittled by that robotic voice calling her a "child" and treated like a nobody.

No matter. She takes a deep breath and tries blocking all emotions before stepping in. She goes to take a seat somewhat isolated from the rest, if she can avoid social interactions, all the better. She carefully looks at her food. A delicacy, huh...? She's never eaten human food before. She grabs the chopsticks and... ]

... Ah.

[ Her hand is trembling. Why? Is it all the stress, all the fears and disappointment she's trying to hide? She closes her eyes and takes another deep breath. She can't allow for anyone to see this. And so she starts eating with conviction!

... Enough "conviction" so her hand stops trembling, anyway. Hopefully nobody noticed such an embarrassing thing. ]

III/ The Sapphire Room

[ Black hat. Long black coat. Very big sunglasses covering half of her face. The person you've been paired with for this mission looks like she might come straight from a noir novel. Why, she might very well be the most suspicious person to have ever lived. But that's not her fault...! She was given this disguise and is just following the cover identity that was given to her.

Though she kinda likes it. With the collar up, she's like a turtle in her shell who can interact with the world with much needed social protection. It's not at all her fashion style, but she can tolerate it for that reason alone. ]

Mhm...

[ Sitting at a table while waiting for the auction to begin, Ereshkigal smiles at her partner. A confident and assured smile. Really! She's practiced it. ]

This mission is of the utmost importance. [That's what they've told her, anyway.] But you have the Goddess of Death with you, so you cannot fail. It is a rare occasion, you should be grateful.

[ ... T-They are grateful, right? ]

II

[likemybooks]

[Another man in drab, gray clothes finds an empty seat across from Ereshkigal. Despite the lack of nice outfits in his possession, he has taken good care of his hair, both on top of his head and on his face. He appears to be in a decent mood - likely someone who has been here for some time.

Taryon nods towards his newest neighbor when he sets his tray on the table.] Good evening. [He wondered what "oniku" meant, and he was curious to see what this fish-like slab tasted like. After the recent battle, he wondered what would become of the carcass, though he didn't consider that the meat would be readily used to feed humans.

As he lays out his dishes and unfolds the napkin, he glances at the woman who had not even touched her chopsticks. Taryon attempts to catch her eye and offer a sympathetic look, hoping to get a response to the unspoken question: Are you alright?]

1/3

[queenofkur]

[ Focused as she had been on her own feelings and the food, the man's presence had gone unnoticed by the goddess... Until he spoke, that is. Eyes widen as she looks up, Ereshkigal slowly coming to the terrible realization that someone has come to sit at the same table than her, and now they're trying to engage in socializing!! Oh no no no.

Much as she would like to pretend the man has been drawn in by the limitless charisma and divine aura exuding from her, she very much knows anxiety is the only thing that can be perceived in her direct vicinity. Sniff. Why couldn't he have gone to one of the countless tables around, why couldn't he have engaged in civil conversation with one of the many people in this room?

This is... This is...

... Come on, you can do it! It's just greeting the man, how hard could this be? Of course, she can't introduce herself as the Goddess of Death, can she...? Normally she would have a well-rehearsed and over-the-top introduction to give, but with those clothes and in that predicament... It would be a sad sight. ]

[queenofkur]

... G-Good evening.

[ Lock all emotions in. No panicking. No freaking out. She can handle her shock at what's happened to her for later, when she'll be alone. What matters for now is to project a facade of confidence and dignity. The image of a perfect and proper goddess, so that when she'll be dressed appropriately she'll be able to reveal herself in full and it'll come off as a surprising yet in hindsight expected plot twist! ]

3/3

[queenofkur]

[ Emotional containment is complete! Her features no longer show uncertainty, fear, or any of those pesky emotions unbefitting of a goddess. Now if she can get through this conversation like a normal person, it'll go well she's sure. ]

My apologies, I hadn't noticed your presence. [If he was hoping for an answer to his unspoken question, denial is all he gets.] I... I am new here and still processing all of this new information.

network

[kubricks]

error:overflow? That's a new one.

[It's more an observation than anything else. There's definitely been some oddities on this, so it's not exactly uncommon for something weird to be on these. There's a couple of questionable things on this one actually, but that's where she'll start.]

[queenofkur]

[ Of course that'd be the first thing anyone picks up on... ]

I am at a loss as to what this may possibly mean.

I suppose it is a possibility the machines here did not account for an entity incarnating a concept as old as death.

[ Death is as old as life itself after all, and as the Goddess of Death, her age counts as that of death. But as a sentient being, she's totally super young! Like, no hr age can be counted in tens of thousands years. That's so young, right? R-Right? ]

iii

[ignoreher]

[ in contrast, malkuth's in striking white, feathers a plenty down her suit and pinning up her long, brown hair in wing-like waves. it's. okay. it's very eye-catching in a different way than ereshkigal's get-up, they're a pair. ]

It is pretty rare to meet someone who calls themselves that... I mean, religion isn't really that popular where I'm from anymore -- it's kinda niche now.

[ for better and worse. but malkuth does also recognize the lady as the one who had underworld as her homeplace, so she gives her a matching smile. ]

I might not be anyone special, but I'm sure between the two of us, we'll be able to carry this thing out! I mean, your confidence alone is reassuring. This sort of place isn't really my scene.

[queenofkur]

[ Wow, she's not even questioning her status as a goddess...! That makes her very happy, so many people would be like "you don't look like a goddess of death," which is very rude. You can rule over death and still look better than any old decrepit corpse! If only more people understood that... ]

It is true the declining prevalence of religion does affect our ability to materialize in the human world. [She smiles.] However, most deities do still exist on the reverse side of the world.

[ While what Ereshkigal just said might sound like weird nonsense, it's par for the course in the world she's coming from. It's better to just accept her words and not question it.

And lo: the goddess starts sparkling - quite literally - her partner calling her confident and reassuring made her even happier. She's not used to being called that, but she likes it a whole lot...! That's another thing that's best accepted and left unquestioned because there really isn't any way to explain it. Why, Ereshkigal herself is totally unaware of that strange phenomenon affecting her whenever she is really happy. ]

You need not worry. [Other people who have talked to her would think Ereshkigal is a totally different person right now. But that girl is so kind, and she absolutely deserves to be helped!] Humans may not be "anyone special," but they hold within them the endless possibilities that alter fate. So long as you hold the course, there is nothing you cannot accomplish.

ii.

[yuwon]

[ normally, yuwon just eats and leaves. he tries not to make a spectacle of it, and he was also fine with minimal conversation. hence, he doesn't think twice about sitting across from someone in the dining hall.

he doubts the food id a coincidence. but, whether it has to do with the kaiju themselves, or if this was meant to act as some sort of warning or threat— he guesses it didn't exactly matter. he's about to dig in himself, before he finally looks up and sees her clearly hesitating before eventually eating more... purposefully.

there's a brief pause, before he speaks. ] Your food was getting cold. [ obviously being empathetic wasn't exactly his strong suit. obviously, the sashimi was fine, but the soup was definitely better hot, right? ]

1/2

[queenofkur]

[ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Oh no.

Someone is trying to engage in socializing with her. Normally that would be really difficult to handle on its own, but she has to do it while wearing those incredibly dull and ugly clothes. Not that her usual attire is anything extravagant, but there are appearances to maintain! A perfect and proper goddess ought to look like she takes care of herself, even if her self-esteem is abysmal, even she's always all alone and nobody ever sees her.

But here and now... No makeup. No nail polish. No crown. No twintails. For her to be seen in such a state of disarray is nothing less than shameful! ]

2/2

[queenofkur]

W-Was it...?

[ Deep breath. Closing all emotions in. Eyes fixed on the food. If she focuses on the food, she can do it! Just focus on the food. It was getting cold...? Now that she thinks about it, food is described as being often quite hot in human books. ]

... I am used to my food being quite cold. I didn't realize it was meant to be warmer.

Network (Username: White Thread)

[homomculous]

Oh dear. If what I'm reading here is at all accurate, the denizens of this realm wield far greater power than I'd dreamed of.

[Mesopotamian lore isn't her forte, but no Magus would fail to study it at least somewhat, and when she sees this profile, she's immediately both surprised and, frankly, a little scared. Though less of Ereshkigal and more of what could pull a spirit like her away from her realm.]

[queenofkur]

It is not entirely accurate. It appears they made a mistake for the answer to their question.

[ It is absolutely an error. What else could it be? That's the excuse she's now decided to go with. That sounds probable enough, r-right? ]

Otherwise, you are correct. The threat the denizens of this realm pose is too great to be ignored. I can only pray the Underworld can survive my absence.

ii

[cranekin]

(It's not his favorite meal and Tsurumaru is happy to just help himself to a bowl of rice and some soup. It's simple and plain but he's happy for now.

Ah, she's lucky they're both eating because not even Tsurumaru Kuninaga would disrupt one's meal time with a surprise. Behaving for now, he leans over in an attempt to be friendly and smiles,)

Is it your first time using chopsticks?

(He'd seen the tremble of her hands. He won't pretend he didn't.)

[queenofkur]

[ Some would call his leaning in friendly. A nice gesture as he helps break the ice and sees if someone needs help. Others would call it invasive and disturbing. A terrible gesture that serves no purpose other than to invade someone's privacy.

Unfortunately, Ereshkigal is most definitely in the second category. She'd hoped the reason she'd picked the most secluded table was obvious... And here he is, invading her personal space! Well, it's nice talking to someone she guesses... But it would be nicer if she knew how to do it. Socializing is so hard. ]

I-It is my first time eating human food. [If only the chopsticks were the only problem...] I must confess to being taken aback by the sight of food that looks so colorful and smells so nice. It-It is not how I'd envision human food.

I

[keihatsu]

[ Shizuka would have just ignored this, but the oddity of the age answer and the reply to that odd question resonated with her. A faint sting tugged at her heart, making her miss her own sister who she too would like to be more of. But Shizuka will never admit that. ]

"Divine spirit", huh?

[ Yeah she's skeptical about that. Why would a god be dragged here? Unless of course... But that can wait. ]

Your sister must be wonderful.

[queenofkur]

[ W-Wow there! There is no worse way to start a conversation than by questioning her divinity and praising Ishtar. As far as she's concerned, that's rubbing salt in a gaping wound that has never healed. ]

She is not. She is a walking disaster who draws at least one world-ending calamity to her every year. She is shameless, irresponsible and lacking in dignity.

[ She's not even sure why the AI picked that answer! Sure, she would have liked to be a bit less dutiful and more selfish like her sister so she could have challenged her fate. She dreams of soaring the skies and being loved by all like Ishtar. Being less self-conscious and more carefree may be cool... And it would be really nice to be a social butterfly who can socialize without anxiety.

But that doesn't mean she wants to be more like her! Not even a little bit. ]

The machine evidently committed numerous errors while extracting the data to fill the profile.

@music2myears

[afoolshope]

Why don't you want to be yourself?

[queenofkur]

I do want to be myself. I love who I am and am very content with my life.

The machine must have committed some sort of mistake while extracting the answer.

I. @LambdasFriend

[cakeshapedfriend]

Divine... Spirit?
An Aeon, then, perhaps? Or are you something else entirely...?

[It's too curious for her not to ask.]

[queenofkur]

A goddess.

[ Thankfully, Ereshkigal is too caught up in giving a proper answer and doesn't realize it's a really sad and not cool at all introduction. ]

Divine spirit is the technical description humans started using following the end of our age.

network @greatvalue

[newphew]

Whatsa DivineSpirit,/?

[ how is he managing this terrible texting with the implant? who knows ]

[queenofkur]

It is the human nomenclature used to speak of Gods.

[ Are humans in this world really that clueless? It's the third time already she's had to answer this! ]

iii

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis, meanwhile, is a little more... subdued. A simple white dress with her hair partly-pinned up, so there's a bit of a discrepancy between the two. Which probably isn't helping.

At the very least, she doesn't seem to mind how Ereshkigal's get-up screams 'disguise' - if anything, what she refers to herself to catches her attention. 'Goddess of Death', huh... Considering her powerset, of course someone like her is of interest. Though there's no way to really verify that right now - so she'll roll with it anyway. ]

Mm, if you're that confident then we'll be okay. [ They got this! Lapis doesn't smile in return, mostly because expressing herself is Hard, but she does give her. A thumbs up. That's reassuring, yeah?

... Do couples give each other thumbs up. God she's so bad at this. ]

Though... You're not too warm in that, right?