▶ 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.

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Comments

Tsurumaru Kuninaga | Touken Ranbu | Current Player

[cranekin]

❀ SUBJECT NOT FOUND

(The power goes out and the elevator comes to a sudden stop. After a second, an emergency light flickers on, and Tsurumaru just…

Jumps.

Both feet hit the ground with all of his weight and the elevator rattles,)

Ah, what a surprise!

(He gasps and looks like he's just now realizing something,)

We're really stuck.

❀ GETTING READY

(News of their mission reaches the teams and they receive their Style Upgrades for the task. As someone who has always taken pride in his appearance, Tsurumaru is happy to go through his options to see which one he wants to commit to for the night. Others may reviewing their profiles or whatever information they have on the club to prepare but he has his own priorities.

Whether it's after receiving a briefing or the actual day of the assignment, Tsurumaru will try to catch your attention and cheerfully call out,)

What are you going to wear?

(Shot off your outfit. Or use this as an opportunity to get it together.

Alternatively, maybe he's looking at a hologram screen, swiping across different areas and actually revealing the information they need for the night. He stops on one screen, eyes flitting from one line of text to another.

Idly,)

I wonder how they come up with these…

(It may be difficult to see but judging from the placement of panels and the overall layout, you may realize he's looking at the information with his cover information. )

❀ SAPPHIRE ROOM

(As ever, Tsurumaru is dressed to impressed in a white suit, his coat hanging loosely across his shoulders. Compared to some of the flashier styles of this era, his own look skews more traditional but isn't there a reason why this sort of look never really goes out of style? It's a timeless sort of look and he carries himself so naturally and confidently, it would be easy to believe he had some sort of standing whether it be with money or by blood.

He keeps his partner close, whether it be on his arm or hanging on their side. When he walks, he does not attempt to move out of anyone's way. Where ever he and his partner go, they belong and if anyone has a problem with that… well, they can try to do something about it? He doesn't really care. It seems like the only thing he truly cares about is his partner.

... Oh, and there are probably more important things, too, right? Like a way to get behind the scenes and find out where they're keeping their hybrids for the auction tonight. He leans over to his date and smiles as if he's whispering some playful secret,)

Have you seen anything yet?

❀ WILDCARD

open to original prompts and down to set up custom starters. i'm down for everything! catch me on plurk [plurk.com profile] yosakoi, PM, or message me for my discord.

getting ready

[blindspotting]

I don't...know?

[ He'd heard the briefing, of course, but Shion had been leery about all of it enough that he hadn't even gotten to the point of clothing yet. He's well aware that his preferred style doesn't much match with the city they've found themselves in, but even that aside Shion does not present a particularly subtle image. The scars are a bit hard not to notice, after all.

But if he's going to do this he may as well do it properly, and Tsurumaru has seemed to fit in quite well from what Shion has noticed. There are probably worse places to look for aid. ]

What would you suggest?

[cranekin]

(Oooh, Shion is going to let him have fun and Tsurumaru sits up a little more. He's buzzing with excited energy... maybe a little too excited? His allies back home might get nervous. Nothing good comes when Tsurumaru Kuninaga looks forward to it,)

We're both old souls.

(They both prefer more traditional styles,)

But you don't want to be mistaken for a grandfather. We'll have to look... "hip."

[blindspotting]

[ Looking anything, let alone hip, is far beyond Shion's normal capabilities, so he responds to the pronouncement with an unconcerned shrug. Let Tsurumaru do as he likes, if he's this excited about the challenge. ]

I leave myself in your hands, then.

[ Should he be concerned that Tsurumaru is this pleased with the change to dress him up? Flattered? Shion will go with flattered. He doesn't often think much about his appearance, but he does not, in fact, want to look like a grandfather. Whatever that means. ]

Though perhaps nothing too...restricting. [ He's encountered some of the fashions of this age, at least. He's honestly not sure how anyone moves in some of them. ]

[cranekin]

Mhm, that is a problem with some of these looks.

(Tsurumaru is the same. His style depends heavily on being able to move as effortlessly as possible and some of these outfits are no good for that. Of course, he can separate leisure from combat but given the nature of their mission...)

A kimono, perhaps? (There aren't really many to choose from but he has some ideas.) It's old but with the right things to go with it...

(A mask, maybe some western style belts instead of a typical obi... hm.)

Appearances are important but if you don't feel right, you can't pretend to be someone else.

subject not found.

[inversal]

...

[ you know who plays great off a (literally) bouncing ancient spirit? an equally ancient, stoic set of armor, looming dark and menacing as tsurumaru plays about the small, metal container. those glowing, cyan eyes, though fixed on the door, seem to be watching the stranger.

when the elevator rattles, so does rider, plates of iron shifting and clattering. ]

Be still. I don't expect it will be long.

[cranekin]

(If they were back home, he would have thought he'd gotten on an elevator with a member of the Retrograding Army. This one doesn't have the same rotten, twisted feeling as those spirits, though. Still, he's curious about their newest recruit. He'd never seen them before so he can only assume they're new. Maybe that's what brought them together to this situation in the first place.)

Oh? Are you experienced in this sort of thing? How many boxes have you been stuck in before?

[inversal]

[ were tsurumaru to peer just a layer deeper, perhaps he'd sense just a smidge of rot, a hint of a corrupted soul — the feeling of something demonic lying just beneath the surface. sometimes, the ominous hunk of black armor is as sinister as it appears to be.

for now, though, she contends with this curious spirit. ]

None. I only judged that a facility with the technology capable of bringing our consciousness from various worlds has the means to correct the problem quickly.

[ but maybe he's seen some things. ]

[cranekin]

(They're just two curious spirits trapped in the same box at the moment. He doesn't seem bothered with his companion for the morning but he does try to figure out exactly what he's present with,)

Do you think so?

(He hums and raises a knuckle to tap at one of the walls,)

I was ready to spend the rest of my years here with you!

getting ready

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis is snapped out from her Intense Fashion Musings when Tsurumaru calls out to her, head tilting in his direction as she seems to... process his question for a moment. Really, she's just trying to think if she has found something yet. There's a good selection, but... ]

I'm not sure yet... I'm still thinking about it.

[ If it's a disguise, she should deviate from her norm. But also she doesn't want to. She knows what she likes, and she likes to stick with it.

Her arms fold over her chest, brows furrowing as she clearly starts to overthink this, before she gives him a question back. ]

What about you?

[cranekin]

Well, the typical fashion in this world is quite flashy.

(And he uses his cybernetics to share his display. It manifests as another hologram screen between them. He flips through some of the fashion catalogs they have to choose from and shows off some of the more popular styles.

Neon colors, synthetic materials, bold shapes, and even pieces that light up or are designed to highlight certain cyber prosthetics.)

They're not really my style.

(And he stops scrolling. If Lapis were to look at Tsurumaru, too, she would notice that he does seem to lean more traditional and he has a more classic look to him compared to the modern, vibrant, and flashy looks most locals have. )

[crisantemo]

[ There's a moment where Lapis just... leans back a little, as the display is shared. She's still very not used to this, but she does lean back in to take a better look as he flips through the catalogs.

The fashion of this place sure is... bright. Very bright and loud. And judging by the faint furrow of her brow and the tilt of her head, she's not much of a fan of it. ]

They aren't my style either. I like more... pastel colours, or white.

[ So a little similar to him, in that regard. Though on that note, her attention flickers over to Tsurumaru; silently looking him over for a moment or two, head canting here and there. ]

Hmm... No, you really suit something more classier. Are there other catalogs we can look from?

[ Oh, wait, she should be able to access them herself, right? This technology is still so much... Though this was meant to be about her finding an outfit, but now she's suddenly more invested in his - ]

[cranekin]

(Ah, it's like hearing something good twice. He already lights up when she shares her preferred aesthetics. Then, he smiles when she reads his own style.)

I like white, too.

(It's one of his favorite colors. Though, unlike her, he prefers to accent it with something bold... a nice, bright red or a deep, dark blue, for example. But he's more than happy to switch to another catalog.

She might notice the prices have gone up considerably. Designer dresses, fitted suits, all in an older and more traditional but timeless style. Fashions may change but some looks never really go out of style.)

Something like this is better, don't you think?

getting ready

[lifeprice]

I don't know.

[ This assignment is not one that is in Aki's wheelhouse. He's good at investigation, sure, but that's usually when they're on the tail of a Devil, and he has the authority of his position behind him, not necessarily going undercover. The idea of dressing up to go to some club doesn't sit right with him, and it's clear from the aggravated twitching that he's doing that he is not the least bit happy.

At least Tsurumaru seems to be enjoying himself; someone ought to.

Without a style chip to help him out, he's left utterly lost and dependent on his partner to help him. The only thing he can really manage to do is lift his hand up to tug his hair out of the ponytail; it's much longer than it used to be, curling around his shoulders and making him frown. ]

I need to cut this...

[cranekin]

(Oh, someone is grumpy and he can't help but... well, feel a little bit of joy. Aki is fun to tease and surprise but he doesn't always give Tsurumaru the reactions he wants. Having his partner a little uncomfortable and out of his element means it'll be easier this time.)

Eh? (He watches Aki let his hair down and his eyes go wide with surprise.) Are you the same person?

(He puts away the screens for now and comes over to get a better look. His vision really isn't the best. Maybe he should invest in some glasses or something later. Once he's mor ethan close enough, he reaches out to fluff Aki's hair some,)

You look different like this. Much less boring.

[lifeprice]

[ It could be worse - he could be working with someone he doesn’t know at all - but he’s still a little frustrated. He’d rather just be fighting something, dealing with a kaiju or a curse, not… Dressed up. He looks sour as Tsurumaru looks him over, hand lifting to brush through his hair. ]

Of course I’m the same. I used to keep it long for Kon… I suppose I don’t need that now.

[ Hand dropping away, he looks over sourly. ]

Don’t call me boring. You can do this mission alone if that’s the case.

subject not found;

[ecad]

( he's not so worried about the power going out — fluctuations are kind of normal where he's from, after all — and he's about to turn to say something to his companion in the elevator when he just.

jumps.

as if to test whether or not the power is really out, or the elevator will drop with too much jostling about, or. he's honestly not entirely sure why the other does what he does, but considering how chaotic he'd been during the everlight sleepover … anything goes, doesn't it?

still, his face does a thing within the realm of giving over an expression akin to 'are you serious?' before he smooths it back into something more neutral. even if he does give over something of an exasperated sigh. )

Did you think we weren't?

[cranekin]

(Is he serious? It's hard to tell when he some how manages to look completely innocent and totally mischievous. The smile is just a little off... those eyes are a little too excited... )

Sometimes all you need is a little kick to start again...

(Give something a good hit... a good whack. It usually makes things work again. In fact, he's going to give one more jump!!! Even if he lands with all of his weight, it remains relatively stable. Maybe if he was a little heavier...?)

You try.

[ecad]

( yeah, that's. kind of what he'd been expecting, so maybe he isn't taking him too seriously, but vash is the kind of outwardly gullible that is going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they prove that he really, really shouldn't.

he makes a sound in the back of his throat that is … kind of contemplative? but kind of wary? cautious, there you go. ) I don't think that's how lifts work … but what do I know. ( waving his right hand dismissively!

this isn't an old tube television from the 80s or 90s, and no, you can't just blow into it like a video game cartridge, either! so don't even think about going that route.

not that he would know that, really, this is all for the sake of the amusement of narration. please continue.

you try. ) I really don't think it's gonna work … ( but … he shakes his head. ) What the heck. ( let's give it the good ol' college try. he'll bend a little bit at the knees, aaaand —

jump. the car jostles just a little bit, but nothing else happens. he huffs. ) See?

sapphire room

[gundemn]

[ To complement his partner, Elan's dressed in a dark three-piece suit and wearing studded diamond earrings that give off the illusion of wealth so long as no one looks closely enough to determine the stone fake. He doesn't particularly like the formal attire, it reminds him too much of a certain rich bastard, but with Tsuru carrying himself like a distinguished member of society, he's got to up his act.

Which... translates to sauntering around like he owns the place, complaining that the line is too long or the drinks not cold enough and they'd better bring his beloved a new cup and quickly because how dare their date night not be perfect. Anyone who has a problem with his partner being attached to him is in the wrong and had better move themselves out of the way. Elan has one arm slung around Tsuru possessively when he leans in to whisper back. ]

That guard over there has a card key. Bet it'll lead somewhere interesting.

[cranekin]

(It's hard to not get into their role when he's enjoying so much attention. As much as he enjoys making his partner look good, he loves being taken care of, too. Maybe it has something to do with his nature as a masterpiece sword that has always been praised and treated well.

He isn't expecting Elan to lean into the role so much either. Good, he thinks. It's more fun if they're both into it. It makes them both more believable when neither is nervous or fumbling through their moves.

Eyes flit over towards the guard ever so briefly and he turns his attention back to Elan,)

What do you want to do?

(If he has a plan, he's happy to play along otherwise... well, he loves surprises.)

[gundemn]

[ Even if he were nervous, he wouldn't have let it show. Bravado is something Elan can fake well, and his fake ass is rather enjoying fake dating as a result. Finally a mission that isn't fighting their way through with brute force. He would prefer the evening remain that way, which means they'll have to be sneaky about how they approach security. Luckily, he has no shortage of ideas when it comes to making trouble. ]

We need him distracted before we risk swiping his things. Should we spill a drink on him? Enact a dramatic break up?

subject not found

[supervulture]

Hey! [tokio jumps, a bit. but because he's startled, not because he's trying to join in with tsurumaru's antics.

there are a black few feathers suddenly drifting to the ground behind him.]

Can, um, can we call for help? [is there an emergency call button on the elevator panel?]

[cranekin]

(What a great idea. He doesn't even have to think about it because a millisecond later, he's SCREAMING,)

HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE THERE!?

(He's practically wailing in the elevator now...)

We're going to rot away in this tomb!

[supervulture]

Not like that! [ow his ears]

On the-- excuse me, let me look. [he's going to just scoot himself between the dramatic yelling and the elevator panel to punch the call button.

nothing happens.]