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sinfucks2024-04-26 03:31 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2024-04-26 03:31 pm
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▶ 004. TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #4
TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #4
▶ 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 …
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 creamy crab onigiri & ginger salad, all packed neatly in a food ration tray.
That familiar, robotic voice is heard again:
"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:
What is your fantasy?
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 creamy crab onigiri & ginger salad, all packed neatly in a food ration tray.
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."
▶ 002. CLEAN UP THE LAND OF DREAMS.
After nearly a month of investigation and monitoring everyone’s health, Tokyo Disney is finally cleared. Outsiders will be sent back to Tokyo Disneyland to resume their work. LILITH will order them to go collect the rotting remains of the Yamadenki and any bodies that were left behind from the battle.
When they return, they will find the park is still left in ruin from the battle and the air smells horrible. They will have to sift through the rubble for the remains of Yamadenki, rift mutated corpses, hybrids, and fallen scientists and mercenaries. It’s dirty work but someone has to do it. Luckily, LILITH has provided a sanitation suit that some Outsiders may remember. There are only a few in various colors, and those who reject the sanitation suit will be provided with gloves and encouraged to activate their plugsuit instead. After they’ve removed the bodies, they will be told to help clean up the park. The park has always been a popular place for teenagers to sneak off to and while they can keep the area closed off for the safety of the majority, there’s no way to keep out the most dedicated troublemakers. Some of the rides have some residual charge in their engines and can be ridden.. maybe test drive them for a spin? Nobody has to know you're doing it, right?
Furthermore, LILITH is interested in what remains of the secret labs. Most of the computer hardware and records have already been confiscated but considering how they’ve had almost a whole month to rest, they should be fit and ready to do some heavy lifting, surely. Most notably, LILITH will task the Outsiders with moving and transporting heavy machinery such as the electric generators, refrigerators, freezers, incubators, water distillers, and all sorts of fancy equipment. They will have to find a way to drag all of this out of the tunnels, up to the surface, and to the transport vehicles waiting to take them back to LILITH. If they look around, they may find a few golf carts in the tunnels but whether or not they have keys or even work is to be determined.
Observant Outsiders will spot some men in suits appraising the park and nodding their heads. Could there be plans for a revival of Tokyo Disneyland?
When they return, they will find the park is still left in ruin from the battle and the air smells horrible. They will have to sift through the rubble for the remains of Yamadenki, rift mutated corpses, hybrids, and fallen scientists and mercenaries. It’s dirty work but someone has to do it. Luckily, LILITH has provided a sanitation suit that some Outsiders may remember. There are only a few in various colors, and those who reject the sanitation suit will be provided with gloves and encouraged to activate their plugsuit instead. After they’ve removed the bodies, they will be told to help clean up the park. The park has always been a popular place for teenagers to sneak off to and while they can keep the area closed off for the safety of the majority, there’s no way to keep out the most dedicated troublemakers. Some of the rides have some residual charge in their engines and can be ridden.. maybe test drive them for a spin? Nobody has to know you're doing it, right?
Furthermore, LILITH is interested in what remains of the secret labs. Most of the computer hardware and records have already been confiscated but considering how they’ve had almost a whole month to rest, they should be fit and ready to do some heavy lifting, surely. Most notably, LILITH will task the Outsiders with moving and transporting heavy machinery such as the electric generators, refrigerators, freezers, incubators, water distillers, and all sorts of fancy equipment. They will have to find a way to drag all of this out of the tunnels, up to the surface, and to the transport vehicles waiting to take them back to LILITH. If they look around, they may find a few golf carts in the tunnels but whether or not they have keys or even work is to be determined.
Observant Outsiders will spot some men in suits appraising the park and nodding their heads. Could there be plans for a revival of Tokyo Disneyland?
▶ 003. DATAPORTAL TESTING.
Following the clean up efforts at Disney, things begin to happen at LILITH. The engineering department gets to work and it isn’t long until they announce they’ve finally managed to get some of the dataportals running. It seems the Yamadenki remains had some special properties that they could use to stabilize and power the right technology. This is excellent news or LILITH and the administrators get to work communicating with other organizations around the world.
In the meantime, these dataportals need to be tested and Outsiders will be asked to volunteer. Should they agree, the engineers and technicians will explain that they’re going to try a short-distance test first. They still have access to their old base in Kyoto. It was abandoned years ago after a particularly devastating kaiju attack. While they were able to secure most items of importance in their evacuation, it wouldn’t hurt to go back and do another sweep for things that may have been left behind like medical supplies, tools, technology, and food/drink supplies.
Characters will be able to travel back and forth between Kyoto and Tokyo while they test the portals. There are some known effects of portal jumping but whether they start to take effect on the first jump or after a certain amount depends on the person. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and a loss of spatial awareness so they may get into people’s spaces, bump into things, miss targets, or get lost easily.
In the meantime, these dataportals need to be tested and Outsiders will be asked to volunteer. Should they agree, the engineers and technicians will explain that they’re going to try a short-distance test first. They still have access to their old base in Kyoto. It was abandoned years ago after a particularly devastating kaiju attack. While they were able to secure most items of importance in their evacuation, it wouldn’t hurt to go back and do another sweep for things that may have been left behind like medical supplies, tools, technology, and food/drink supplies.
Characters will be able to travel back and forth between Kyoto and Tokyo while they test the portals. There are some known effects of portal jumping but whether they start to take effect on the first jump or after a certain amount depends on the person. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and a loss of spatial awareness so they may get into people’s spaces, bump into things, miss targets, or get lost easily.
▶ 004. KYOTO & KAIJU.
Outsiders will be transported to the Old Kyoto Base with a small team of operatives. In terms of structure, the Kyoto Base looks similar to that of Neo Tokyo, with the remnants of a training ground, research labs and dormitories free to explore. Once upon a time, this base was filled with LILITH personnel. What had happened to them, along with all the other residents of Kyoto, is anyone’s guess.
With some work, they’ll be able to kickstart the emergency generators which will be enough to provide the power needed to search parts of the base. Characters can also leave the base and explore what remains of Kyoto. The streets are empty and the city has been abandoned since the attack. The Imperial Palace is still standing, albeit in decrepit conditions from years of neglect, and the once picturesque, historical streets now sit in ruin. Keep searching, and you will see the scars left behind from the attack - monstrous claw marks against a building wall, and forgotten human remains.
With the lack of human interference, Kyoto has become overrun with wild animals such as macaques, deer, foxes and tanuki. A herd of boar-like Kaiju have also taken their place at the top of the ecosystem. This Kaiju, the Yama-Kujira, is of special interest to LILITH.
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Yama-Kujira
HEIGHT: 10 meters (adult), 2 meters (infant)
WEIGHT: 200 kg (adult), 60kg (infant)
CLASS: Piglets are harmless, Adults are a moderate threat
LOCATION: Kyoto, Japan
ABILITIES: The adult Yama-Kujira compensate for their terrible eyesight with a vicious attitude. They will charge at everything and everyone at the slightest disturbance, be it the sound of footsteps or even a bird flapping its wings. They have a keen sense of smell and hearing, and sharp tusks that they use to maul their prey. Fiercely territorial, especially near to their nests. Hates loud noises and the colour red. In groups, they have the ability to cause a minor earthquake by stomping into the ground. The Yama-Kujira piglets, on the other hand, are blind, harmless, docile and do not have tusks. May charge ineffectively to practice their skills and are strong enough to knock a person over. They enjoy fruit, nuts and milk.
WEAKNESS: They are virtually blind and rely on their smell/hearing, so taking those senses out will disorientate them. Otherwise weak to being flipped over and has a soft underbelly. Getting their tusks trapped in something will temporarily immobilize them as well.
EXTRA NOTES: Eats primarily vegetation and local wildlife but the adults will kill anything that moves.
█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Eliminate all adult Yama-Kujira within the area.
✖ Lure in and capture infants to surrender to LILITH.
✖ Bring back Yama-Kujira specimens, alive or dead.
✖ Scavenge for useful technology or supplies from around Kyoto and the Kyoto base.
█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:
With some work, they’ll be able to kickstart the emergency generators which will be enough to provide the power needed to search parts of the base. Characters can also leave the base and explore what remains of Kyoto. The streets are empty and the city has been abandoned since the attack. The Imperial Palace is still standing, albeit in decrepit conditions from years of neglect, and the once picturesque, historical streets now sit in ruin. Keep searching, and you will see the scars left behind from the attack - monstrous claw marks against a building wall, and forgotten human remains.
With the lack of human interference, Kyoto has become overrun with wild animals such as macaques, deer, foxes and tanuki. A herd of boar-like Kaiju have also taken their place at the top of the ecosystem. This Kaiju, the Yama-Kujira, is of special interest to LILITH.
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Yama-Kujira
HEIGHT: 10 meters (adult), 2 meters (infant)
WEIGHT: 200 kg (adult), 60kg (infant)
CLASS: Piglets are harmless, Adults are a moderate threat
LOCATION: Kyoto, Japan
ABILITIES: The adult Yama-Kujira compensate for their terrible eyesight with a vicious attitude. They will charge at everything and everyone at the slightest disturbance, be it the sound of footsteps or even a bird flapping its wings. They have a keen sense of smell and hearing, and sharp tusks that they use to maul their prey. Fiercely territorial, especially near to their nests. Hates loud noises and the colour red. In groups, they have the ability to cause a minor earthquake by stomping into the ground. The Yama-Kujira piglets, on the other hand, are blind, harmless, docile and do not have tusks. May charge ineffectively to practice their skills and are strong enough to knock a person over. They enjoy fruit, nuts and milk.
WEAKNESS: They are virtually blind and rely on their smell/hearing, so taking those senses out will disorientate them. Otherwise weak to being flipped over and has a soft underbelly. Getting their tusks trapped in something will temporarily immobilize them as well.
EXTRA NOTES: Eats primarily vegetation and local wildlife but the adults will kill anything that moves.
█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Eliminate all adult Yama-Kujira within the area.
✖ Lure in and capture infants to surrender to LILITH.
✖ Bring back Yama-Kujira specimens, alive or dead.
✖ Scavenge for useful technology or supplies from around Kyoto and the Kyoto base.
█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:
▶ 005. MAID DAY.
While Outsiders test out the portal technology and the engineers make adjustments to make traveling more stable, the administrators will announce they’ve touched base with other organizations around the world and have begun to process travel documents for everyone.
In the meantime, they will have to help do paperwork which includes repeatedly confirming details like their birthdays, hair color, age, blood types, and so on. They will have to fill out multiple forms again and again for administration, insurance, and passport reasons, as well as reasons that just don’t make sense. The paperwork is endless and it’s a lot to keep track of but everything is due on May 10th. To make matters worse, there is the longest line at the immigration office that does not seem to be moving at all. For some reason, paperwork submission needs to be done in person, even with all the advances in technology.
On the day of the deadline, something bizarre happens. Those with style upgrades should be familiar with LILITH’s state-of-the-art clothing-changing technology. On May 10th, nanobots will engulf some Outsiders and overwrite their clothing, forcing them into a maid outfit (or butler outfit, depending on player preference). Seok Dang’s back from his suspension (is that why he’s been so quiet and nobody has seen him around base?), and he was given the task to encourage all the Outsiders to finish their paperwork.
Outsiders will find themselves dressed in maid costumes until everyone has completed their paperwork, so LILITH is heavily encouraging you to persuade your friends! Once everyone has submitted their paperwork, they’ll be able to uninstall the maid upgrade… but they can keep it as a gift! Those who would like to opt-out can simply have their clothing not be effected, and this prank works with those who have a style upgrade or are in their LILITH given attire (plugsuit or loungewear.)
In the meantime, they will have to help do paperwork which includes repeatedly confirming details like their birthdays, hair color, age, blood types, and so on. They will have to fill out multiple forms again and again for administration, insurance, and passport reasons, as well as reasons that just don’t make sense. The paperwork is endless and it’s a lot to keep track of but everything is due on May 10th. To make matters worse, there is the longest line at the immigration office that does not seem to be moving at all. For some reason, paperwork submission needs to be done in person, even with all the advances in technology.
On the day of the deadline, something bizarre happens. Those with style upgrades should be familiar with LILITH’s state-of-the-art clothing-changing technology. On May 10th, nanobots will engulf some Outsiders and overwrite their clothing, forcing them into a maid outfit (or butler outfit, depending on player preference). Seok Dang’s back from his suspension (is that why he’s been so quiet and nobody has seen him around base?), and he was given the task to encourage all the Outsiders to finish their paperwork.
“I’m back, baby! Daddy’s hoooome!! Did you like the frills? Enjoying them? Everyone say ‘thank you Seokdang-oppaaaaa!’. The Captain says you gotta do your paperwork, and some lazy bastards haven’t turned theirs in yet. Unless you wanna be in that cute lacy skirt forever, let’s encourage everyone to do their homework, okay? Well, if you guys decide to just stay like this forever, I ain’t complaining. It’s pretty easy on the eyes. Next time, maybe I'll put you hot kittens in some tight leather. Who knows!”
Outsiders will find themselves dressed in maid costumes until everyone has completed their paperwork, so LILITH is heavily encouraging you to persuade your friends! Once everyone has submitted their paperwork, they’ll be able to uninstall the maid upgrade… but they can keep it as a gift! Those who would like to opt-out can simply have their clothing not be effected, and this prank works with those who have a style upgrade or are in their LILITH given attire (plugsuit or loungewear.)
▶ 006. AFTERWORD.
Welcome to our fourth 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 16 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 May AC.
There are currently 16 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 May AC.
TDM #4 BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. ARRIVAL PROMPT: Newcomers arrive with ocular and brain implants and told a breakdown of the premise with an icebreaker orientation to fill out. Their first cafeteria meal is crab onigiri & ginger salad. Newcomers are placed in gray loungewear while they are being sorted into teams.
2. TOKYO DISNEYLAND CLEAN UP: Outsiders are sent back to Tokyo Disney to gather resources from the Yamadenki attack. Outsiders may wear a sanitation suit or use gloves. Some rides have residual energy should anyone want to try and take them for a spin.
3. DATAPORTAL TESTING: Resources gained from the Yamadenki creature have supplied LILITH with enough energy to use the dataportal to teleport outsiders to a former base location in Kyoto. Using the dataportal may give Outsiders limited side effects.
4. KYOTO & KAIJU: In lieu of a Simulation in Seok Dang's absence, Outsiders who teleport to Kyoto will be given the task to fight and clear out the Yama-Kujira, a boar like creature.
5. MAID DAY: Outsiders must fill out repetitive paperwork, which foreshadows travel in the future, and threatening not to will result in a forced maid outfit, courtesy of Seok Dang and his return.
▶ 002. DATAPORTAL TESTING.
Weightless, ears popping, jaw aching, feels loopy, head rush, stomach twisting, floating, falling, not moving, pure jelly, gonna vomit-!
And then all of that goes into reverse double time. Before his feet find solid ground once more and his body feels like it's being put back together one piece at a time. Nerves fire off, his center of balance isn't there yet, and one arm feels heavier than the other. A hand settles on his shoulder- what the hell is that made of, lead?! Before a familiar voice talks to him.
Yuji sounds like he's underwater for a brief second and Katsuki forces the helmet of his plugsuit off with a quick yank.]
... bfftpH!
[And throws up a little in his hand. Ugh.]
no subject
Yuji winces a little, gazing at Bakugo before he takes a step back and looks around. It seems as though the scientists here were at least a little bit aware of the side effects, because there are some bottles of water and towels around. Hopping away from his friend for a moment, he grabs a couple of the bottles and one of the towels before he leans back over Bakugo, trying to guide him away from the view of other people and the pull of the portal.
It's definitely a good thing he decided not to go through one, right? The idea of that - this - mixing with the already strange feelings thanks to his new upgrades makes him feel a little queasy himself. Slowly, carefully, he urges Bakugo to take a seat, uncapping one of the bottles and putting it beside his leg before he hands the towel over, mostly to, uh. Clean his hand and mouth and stuff. ]
Take it easy, okay?
no subject
Katsuki ends up following Yuji's encouraging lead, keeping his hand hovering just a bit from his mouth so he's not dripping gross all over the floor. Sinking into the chair, he catches the towel with his other hand and yeah... Just don't look for a second as he wipes it up. Thanks for the water. Splashing it onto a clean area of the towel, he goes for his face, scrubbing at his mouth with some vigor and even biting the towel and wiping his tongue to try and clear that off. Only after that's all finished and he's folded the towel up does he bother going for a drink.]
Don't do that yet.
[Katsuki's words are sulky, though there's a seriousness in it. Normally he wouldn't try to dissuade Yuji from most things. One, he knows his friend's tough and can handle said things. Two, he knows the sorcerer's a stubborn dumbass and wouldn't listen anyways. But considering Yuji's latest surgery, could you at least try to avoid scrambling your own brain for once moment, Gari Head? You can die here you know. You're not immortal. Sheesh.
Take the "yet" as acknowledgement for future goes.]
It was even worse coming back.
no subject
[ Which is true: Yuji was using his brain for once, and realising that throwing himself into another kind of teleportation when he'd just got his own was probably not the best idea on the world. The fact that Bakugo, with no upgrades to speak of as far as Yuji knows, is having this kind of reaction is enough of a warning for him, isn't it? He'll leave it for a few days, and if they still need help then...
Carefully, he rubs Bakugo's back. ]
It'll probably mess me up more than it's doing to you, so I'll avoid it for now. I don't want to feel like that again any time soon.
[ The strange hot then cold, pain then numb of his surgery was enough for now, thank you very much. Uncapping the other bottle, he holds it ready. ]
no subject
Guess he's going to be the weird one in this circle of friends who doesn't have an upgrade outside of the basics. His only two are external, in his motorcycle and car. But that healing one will always be a guilt-ridden frustration whenever he comes across his friends injured and can't do shit about it right there.
Thoughts that niggle around his brain as Yuji rubs his back like he's some kind of small child. Ugh. Just gonna lean forward and rest his elbows on his knees until his body decides whether it's done.]
Good. [Katsuki really should say "thanks" for Yuji looking out for himself. Later. When his head works.] The other base is a wreck. There's no one there, just plants and animals and abandoned tech.
[To help any potential urge Yuji might feel about not helping potential someone's on the other side. He tilts his body over to the bottle, not taking it and just sucking the water out the top. Tilting his head back to drink seems like a bad fucking idea right now... Yuji can squeeze the bottle to get more up. Resist the temptation to do the water bottle prank.]
no subject
The side effect of Yuji gently patting Bakugo is, of course, his healing upgrade, and it's not even at the point of him being sneaky about it now - he's openly patting his back, taking care of him, because that's what friends do. It's not like it's going to do him any harm to sit here with someone he cares about and chat idly about the new technology being revealed to them.
He does lean back a little, though, sighing softly. ]
I wonder if they'll have us giving it a real clean later. It seems like the sort of thing they'd make us do for 'team building'.
[ Yuji does reach out to help him gently, and does not prank him, even if the thought does cross his mind... Next time, perhaps. ]
That's still kind of lame, though.
no subject
Thanks for the healing, like normal. Katsuki's pride is needled from realizing Yuji's almost always healing him or making him feel better. When the fuck's he ever done the same for the other boy? He hates being a burden on other people... Then again, it's Yuji. Yuji gets to do that without getting growled at. If it means the sorcerer's not winging himself into the portal, Katsuki'll sit here and puke a few more times.]
There's no point. It was a scavenging assignment. We brought back tech, supplies, food, all we're doing is stripping that base of whatever it has left. Trying to fix it up would be stupid until the kaiju are gone.
[YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SPLASHING HIM, AREN'T YOU! Well Katsuki did dunk Yuji in the onsen a few times, so...]
Aa. We got the power running, but who knows how long that'll last once we're gone.
no subject
It's far too easy to lean into Bakugo's space and just take care of him, as natural as breathing. It doesn't cross Yuji's mind to think about the give and take, as if it's some kind of transactional relationship, because that's not how his mind works. To him, it's helping a friend who made his heart feel lighter, who made him feel as if he was going to be able to keep fighting even when the darkest of emotions overtook him. Being able to take care of him even a little bit... It feels like a fair compromise, especially since he's already been through the surgery.
He's tentatively dancing around talking about the newest one, though. He saw Choso after his surgery was done, and he heard enough to know that Bakugo is going to beat the shit out of him for it, either physically or verbally, and he's not entirely sure which one of them would be worse to deal with. ]
There are some boars or something, right? I heard people talking about that as they came back.
[ Yuji thinks he could be useful, going and fighting the boars, but he also stops himself from getting too ahead in his thinking. If he can't teleport properly, there's no way he's going to be able to fight the boars at a level that would be helpful. He doesn't want to be a burden either... ]
Well, hopefully it'll have been worth it.
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A hero doesn't help on condition. He'll stop to aid Yuji any time he's needed. But the two are similar in many ways, even when it comes to the idea of being a weight on someone else. Kind of like how the sorcerer wanted to not cry around him "all the time" despite not even doing so that many times. Too hard on themselves when it comes to getting aid from other people. Katsuki's pride may bristle, but Yuji's not getting shooed off, a pure testament to the trust and concern the young hero has in him. And it's no lie to say he doesn't feel better when Yuji's with him; he admitted as such to his face a week ago.
He doesn't know how much Choso told Yuji about that... mess. Granted, Katsuki tried his best to focus on Choso rather than Yuji, since it wasn't the pink-haired boy spewing blood all over the bathroom. And in all honesty, the explosive hero is more pissed off at the hospital and medical staff than his friend. That doesn't mean Yuji's going to escape the shit beating.]
Yeah, ten meters. Big tusks. Fucking stupid too. They just charge on sound or scent alone. Any idiot fast enough can dodge them. [Really, they weren't much a threat. Though Katsuki saying so might be biased.] LILITH wanted us to bring back some of the young, but it sounded like a lot of the Outsiders refused.
[Yuji can probably figure out why. He's a kind boy.]
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Either way, he's learned his lesson.
Slowly letting his arm rest across Bakugo's shoulder, not rubbing any longer, Yuji nods. It makes sense, that people here don't want to capture animals and bring them back for whatever kinds of testing LILITH might want to do. That's the kind of thing that he wouldn't be able to do himself, so he finds himself respecting the idea of saying no, this time. Other missions are easier to manage.
Sighing softly, he tilts his head. ]
I wouldn't want to do that, either. It was hard enough, dealing with the animals from before, when the scientists have them. Let all the weirdos here deal with that.
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And while he'd LIKE to think "brain surgery without anesthesia" would have been a red flag clause for Yuji...
There's probably a reason the guy did it on the sly. Half his friends would've jumped him to hold him down in prevention. Wait'll Yuji learns Katsuki called Megumi to yell at him during the surgery...
Once that arm goes around his shoulder, Katsuki leans into the embrace with a soft growl. Might sound or feel like a purr, but it's totally a growl. Don't you dare mistake it for anything but that! After the hybrid issues, the black market, and the freaks under Disney, the idea of giving LILITH more animals is taking a bad aura in Katsuki's mind. He's never trusted those assholes too much, and this doesn't make him want to further.]
They're not attacking this city. [If they were, then that's another story. Arguably, the Outsiders invaded the boars' territory, which the boars invaded when it was people territory... which was previously natural territory before people. Kick the blame can down the road more.] What the fuck keeps bringing them here? It's not like Godzill-
[Hang on! Gonna hurl! Gonna hurl... or maybe not... no... okay, that passed. Ugh.]
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Slowly, but surely, Yuji Itadori is healing.
He did, at least, try to tell people, but the problem with having a hummingbird drone that hates you is that messages don't get delivered.
Lifting his hand, Yuji lets his fingers stroke absently through Bakugo's hair, trying to offer some kind of soothing motion even as he huffs a sigh. He doesn't feel as bad as he did a few days ago, but he can still feel the lingering after-effects of his little surgery. ]
It sounds like they were just doing what animals do. That's a little sad.
[ Ah, there Bakugo goes again, and Yuji is reaching to rub his back and get at the towel immediately. ]
Maybe we should go and lie down!
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He just can't demand the guy adopt Katsuki's thoughts and lifestyle. Tch, friendships are fucking complicated. Is there a wonder Katsuki's tough guy attitude makes it so hard for those to develop? Might even be a defense mechanism atop that pride.
That'd be a dead hummingbird in Katsuki's life...
The fact Yuji's not going through the portal does help his belief the sorcerer's trying to be better. Even if it's one of the first inklings. Guess he can take some of the explosions meant for the other boy and add them to the absolute tirade he's going to lay into the hospital staff.]
I'm fine! [Instinctive bark because he didn't puke. Just felt like it. But he doesn't knock Yuji's arms away, mouth hovering over the towel just in case. Ugh...] I'll weather it. [A little gentler this time.] You're helping.
[His touch, his presence, his words.]
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[ If there's one upgrade Yuji thinks no one can scold him too much for, it's this one. It's been so completely worthwhile that he can't even begin to recognise the downsides as much any more. Sure, there was pain, but that was so long in the past that he can barely remember it in comparison to all the other hurts and wounds he's had in his life. It was like pricking his finger on a needle.
Making sure he stays as close to Bakugo as he can get, he sighs, looking around. Maybe there'll be a chance to grab some more water in a moment, unless that would upset his stomach too much... They can't exactly go and get something for his stomach, maybe something with ginger in it? That would be cute and ironic, wouldn't it...?
Smiling, Yuji leans into Bakugo, holding him gently. If anyone sees them right now, it would probably look too cute to handle. ]
Whenever you feel like moving we can go. Don't worry, I'm right here.
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Name one time it doesn't.
[Grumble grumble. Yeah, it's hard to scold Yuji or the healing implant, even if Katsuki had been wary when a few people getting closer to him all got it in a close succession. It still nags at him that he could be doing more as a hero, strengthening himself and gaining more abilities, but at the cost of losing pieces of himself to people he didn't know. It feels like making a deal with All for One, and he can't accept that. His pride, caution, and loyalty slam the brakes on it.
The only time those brakes skid a bit are times like these, when his shortcomings are pushed into his face, even innocently. Certainly when he finds his friends suffering and can't do anything about it.
Yeah, put some ginger in his stomach. That'll help. Actually it would. But Katsuki's not sure about anything save for water at the moment. If he can keep that down for 30 minutes, he'll consider moving to something else.
If someone does see them right now, and says shit, Katsuki's not too weak to slam an explosion forward. He'll miss Yuji easily. Protective boom boom bitch, that's what he is.]
Heh, my hero.
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[ That might have been more because he was electrocuted than because of a failure in the implant, but that seems like unimportant details to Yuji, who is content to admit to his failings most of the time. He's painfully aware of them at all times, so sprinkling them in comes naturally.
For Yuji, the surgeries seem like the easiest way to do things. Eating Sukuna's finger, doing training with Gojo-sensei, eating more fingers, losing that and then eating his brothers, swapping bodies with people to learn their powers... Isn't getting a little bit of surgery the easiest way to get strong enough to protect more people? It seems logical that this be done so that only he has to suffer (though, now that he's aware of how much it hurt Choso he's going to be a million times more cautious).
He just doesn't think. Full stop. He'll have to try harder now.
Continuing to pat Bakugo gently, he hums a little before he smiles. ]
You're the hero, aren't you? I'm just Yuji.
[ Pat pat, petting his back before he gazes out at the world in front of them. ]
I'll even carry you.
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[Yeah, he's gonna call him out on that already. The implant was as fried as the rest of their group. Katsuki had his own issues with the electrical attacks, from his gear malfunctioning (including almost blowing up on his own arm) and then getting paralyzed before swallowed. Great experience. He'll take the watery ice orcas over the lightning lizards.
Katsuki is someone who would rather train than take a shortcut. All for One could take and give Quirks, offering plenty of people the chance to get stronger Quirks for their weaker ones, or even chancing the risk of adding Quirks to someone who could handle them. The idea of letting someone surgically modify him or otherwise "cheat" strength into his body crashes face-first into Katsuki's pride. He won't pass judgement on Yuji for the things he did or had to do in his world to gain strength. After all, Izuku did something similar to be able to wield One for All.
So... It's more the "I must suffer so no one else has to" mindset that bothers him in regards to his friend. The idea that if he gets stronger, no one else has to fight. For a hero who lived his life to grow stronger and fight, that kind of protective mindset is also a slap in the face that says "you're too weak, i'll handle it" instead. Izuku found that out the hard way when he told his classmates they couldn't keep up with him as his reason for wanting to handle All for One and the war all on his own.
Yuji's not the same, but there are similar elements... and Katsuki doesn't want to see his friend go down that lonely, painful path, giving so much of himself that there's nothing left to give at the end.]
What'd you fucking say?
[Okay now that pisses him off. I'm just Yuji hits at such a gut punching level, Katsuki reaches up and fists the other boy by the collar. Then pulls him down, glaring right into his face.]
You're a hero, dammit. Even if it's not a vocation in your world, anyone who wants to save someone else is a hero. That's what heroes do. Protect. Save. Help. [Teeth bared, eyes flashing, protective and angry. He said he'd protect Yuji, even from Yuji himself.] Don't ever short-sell yourself like that again.
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[ Yuji doesn't fight too much, letting Bakugo pull him down, eyes widening. He didn't think it would be taken as such a serious comment, and his eyes flicker a moment before he holds up both of his hands, immediately giving in. He wasn't thinking about it in the way that feels as if it was a real challenge to who he is as a person, he just meant it quite literally: he's not a literal hero in the way that Bakugo is, going to school and learning how to do it properly. He's just a kid who's been put in this situation through some kind of fate.
Reaching out, he pats Bakugo again, looking sheepish. ]
I didn't mean it like that! I wasn't trying to make you mad or anything like that. I just meant it's not my job in the same way that it is for you...
[ Maybe it was a little self-deprecating, but...
Well. He can't help that.
He is just Yuji, after all, especially now Sukuna is gone. He's not even a Vessel. Laughing softly, he lifts his hands to ruffle Bakugo's hair gently. ]
Don't be so grumpy when you're feeling sick.
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Saying he's not a hero like saying Katsuki's not a sorcerer is obviously true. Just... Not everyone can be a sorcerer. But anyone can be a hero to someone else. Vocation or not.
He loosens his grip on Yuji's shirt when the other boy pats him again. Minor irritation at letting his emotions fly like that. Guess he's a little testy cause he's still sitting on other emotions towards Yuji. Though in Yuji's defense, most people don't TRY to make Katsuki mad. He has a very short fuse.]
Tch. I know...
[Yuji is Yuji, but Katsuki is also just Katsuki. A boy. A student. A hero in training. A hero. He pouts, face heating up some when Yuji ruffles his hair. Grrr... that's embarrassing, but he can't reject it feels nice.]
I think you're a hero. No matter what you think.
[Yuji the Unwavering Fist.]
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It's hard, when all his brain can focus on is the bad things that he's done.
The reaction is still intense, though, and it makes Yuji a little curious. There are people that care about him a lot here - people like Megumi, and Kugisaki, and Raidou, and Choso - so he recognises the concern for him as something like that. To him, it reads as Bakugo caring about a friend that deeply, which warms his heart - because he feels the same way. His fondness for the boy beside him is impossible to hide, and he nods his head as he ruffles his hair again, just because he can. ]
I know you do. I appreciate it.
[ He even came up with his own name, just for Bakugo. ]
It's a nice thought to have.
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Yet he's seen each and every one of them be great heroes. Without costumes, without rankings, without Quirks. Even heroes who have done bad things, heroes who've killed, who've lied, who've abused... It's the heart inside.
He hates that Yuji can't see his own goodness. Too drowned in the guilt and pain of his experiences, despite so many outside of him is telling him he's a good person. There's nothing wrong to look at the bad you've done, the mistakes you've made, the hurt you've caused. Even Katsuki has scars and issues there he'll never get over. But to focus on them so much, it prevents him from seeing the big picture? It stops him from feeling good about himself for all he has done even better? Fuck that. Grow from pain. Don't wallow in it. He can't say Yuji's doing a ton of wallowing, but...
Yuji's not Katsuki and Katsuki's not Yuji.]
It's not gonna be just a thought forever.
[If Yuji can't see he's a hero, then Katsuki's just gonna fucking tell him each time. Until it sinks into his thick head. That thick head which is still ruffling his hair like a little kid. He growls at him, then sucks out some more water once he gets the bottle back in his mouth. Yuji's gonna have to almost crush the plastic to get the rest up, but hey, crushing with that suction gets it all out. Better than what was in his mouth.
Oy, Katsuki didn't prompt that hero name; Yuji picked it out all by himself. No escaping that.]
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He's strong, so help people. Be good. Save as many people as he can, even if it's just one, and die surrounded with people. Don't die alone.
How much of that had become a curse for him?
Slowly feeding Bakugo the water, he just keeps idly petting. It's a habit he's picking up more and more now, ruffling hair and idly holding his friends, thanks to Raidou and Megumi, unconscious as it is. He's never had a chance to be so cuddly in the past, but now... He's allowing that tender side of him to stretch its leg and get comfortable. The affectionate, warm side of Yuji that he had swallowed in the wake of his grief.
Shaking his head, he laughs. ]
I know, I know. We've said it before, right? Don't worry. I know.
[ Does he need to get another bottle of water? Hm... ]
Take it easy, dandelion.
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Katsuki's done that plenty of times, biting the hand of his opponent because that was the only thing left he could move and damn if he wasn't going to use anything possible to try and win. Standing up a bloody mess, his arm mangled, his face half torn open, stitched up by Jeanist with his muscles shredded, and still aiming to take on Shigaraki despite his mentor pleading with him not to move. Heroes don't lose. Heroes always win. They fight to win, they fight to save. Reckless or not. Sanity or not.
If that's the case... why the hell does it hurt him so badly to see Yuji do all the same heroic things that Katsuki and others do in his world all the time? Tch, well, there's an obvious reason he's forbidden himself from admitting aloud. But perhaps most damning is that Yuji's let his mindset become a curse, and doesn't see himself as a hero... Taking the hit to save someone because you don't want them to die is one thing. Taking the hit to save someone because you think you deserve the pain... The fact that thought's even part of Yuji's heroic mindset is wretched.
But it's not his job to "fix" Yuji. He can't. All he can do is remind the guy he's good, he's a hero, and he's loved. Then bitch at him for being stupidly reckless. Like a good friend. Who's getting petted like a cat. Ugh. The things Yuji gets away with. Once he's done with the water, Katsuki lifts his head again, finally testing that tolerance. It swims a bit, but stays steady.]
Okay. It's mostly passed. [Tempted to take another bottle, but then he'd be pissing in an hour.] I'm not gonna puke.
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It's like Mahito said, too. He's just like him - killing curses because that's his role, his mindset, what he was meant to do, something he doesn't even think about. Just like Mahito with humans, on the opposite side. They're words that have stuck with him so completely that it's hard to shake the mindset away, impossible to deny nor ignore when it bites at him so completely.
Slowly, Yuji lets his hand fall away from his friend's hair and he smiles a little, clearly glad to see that Bakugo is a little more settled now, a little more comfortable. Hopefully, his stomach is well rested too... ]
Good. I'd help you clean it up, but I'd be mad about the chore.
[ Still offering his arm and his embrace, though. ]
Do you think you're ready to move? We can head somewhere quieter for now.
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It was only until later, this past year, that the arrogant little brat began to realize that being a hero meant things beyond himself. Yeah, he knew heroes saved people, heroes had to carry the image of strength... but fighting for someone else, being willing to die for someone else... nope. Not when he walked into U.A. like the grumpy all that Katsuki thought he was.
Now, it's different. He'll never be the same as Izuku or Yuji when it comes to sacrificing so instinctively. But he knows what it means to fight for someone else. To sacrifice part of yourself simply because you don't want someone you care for to hurt. And no other reason. Yuji's one of those people. He'll never accept the idea that Yuji's just some cog. He's just some role. He's a human who plays a role in society, they all do, but he's still fucking human, and comes before that role in Katsuki's mind.
When Yuji's hand falls away, Katsuki catches it in his own, unwilling to let them break connection for a little bit longer. It's almost instinctive, thumb running over his red-skinned knuckles. If he does puke, it'll mostly be water now.]
I'm not gonna make you clean up after me. [How dare, Gari Head. The offered arm and embrace get a grumpy look on instinct, but Katsuki pushes himself up and into the assistance, legs wobbling for a second until he leans against Yuji. Better...] If I ever got drunk, it'd probably feel like this.
[It's hard to even walk straight so Yuji's gonna be his support.]
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