𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
synfluxmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sinfucks2024-04-26 03:31 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2024-04-26 03:31 pm
Entry tags:
▶ 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.
2/2 - action
He can probably feel her nerves from the other side of the door. Could he really blame her? ]
audio > action
No, what's much more important to address is the fact that every single inch of his room's walls is covered. Covered by what, you ask?
Plushies. Stuffed animals, stuffed cartoon characters, action figures in boxes, Disney characters, Nissin ramen containers, G*rfield (haven't confirmed that in in the FAQs yet)... It's like walking into the stockroom of an arcade and seeing all the prizes laid out. And for good reason, I suppose.
Luckily, outside of the walls being decorated out the ass (is that a spear in the back?), the rest of the room is modestly furnished. A table occupied by a number of potted plants, a counter for cooking, a bed (containing one singular black cat plush)...
Kaito reaches over to snatch one of the coffees. ]
Hi. Don't look so nervous.
I can assure you that the truth isn't going to be nearly that fascinating. Probably. Come in.
no subject
Well, at least if he decides to stab her like a creepy axe murderer in this plushie-padded room of his, she’ll die amongst some familiar faces. Because that isn’t morbid at all.
She smiles meekly when he tells her to relax, setting her coffee on the desk before emptying her pockets of precious cream and sugar. ]
Don’t hold that cup against me. I promise it’d taste way better if I brewed it myself.
[ A beat, her speech slowing a tick. ]
But I’m thinking you already knew that. Or you do now.
no subject
[ Glug, glug. ]
Have a seat. Bed, chair, floor, wherever there's space. I imagine you have a lot of questions.
no subject
...Wow, okay, you weren't kidding.
[ All she can do is laugh it off, because she knows she should be panicking right now. But as she plops down on the floor across from where he's seated, she's afire with curiosity.
Is this dangerous? Yes. But she's best friends with danger at this point, so a little more won't hurt. Pulling the tab on her coffee, she takes a sip. ]
So, where'd we meet? Start from the beginning. Are we even from the same version of Japan?
no subject
Kaito empties his can fairly quickly. He lobs it away, and a metallic rattle confirms two points earned. Settling on the floor, he leans against his bed and crosses his legs.
Eventually, a playful smile tugs at his lips. ]
Tokyo, 1922.
We're not from the same Earth. We came in from a relatively similar time, in the 21st century, but our worlds had fallen victim to an infinite time loop. The people who caused this loop called us to their Japan, and we were stuck there until the loops eventually ended.
But... I have a feeling that you're not her. Your auras are almost exactly the same, but there's something different I can't pin down.
[ Kaito pauses. Scoffs. Chuckles. ]
I guess it'd be difficult to compare, anyway. All that happened ten years ago for me, but you look almost exactly the same as the Hibiki I remember.
Convoluted, isn't it?
no subject
It's difficult to keep quiet and let him finish. 1922? Not 2022?! Time traveling, time loops, and a different version of herself? Even a couple months ago, she would never believe him in a million years. There is still a part that's a little skeptical, questioning if there's something he gains from leading her astray.
She should be skeptical, given everything she's been through. But Hibiki knows she isn't the type to give out much personal information; she has to believe this alternate version wouldn't either. ]
And you said this probably wouldn't be fascinating. Liar.
[ She says without a note of malice, draining her can and setting it aside. Outwardly, she's reasonably mellow. Inside? She's buzzing with curiosity. ]
So you're telling me two random souls got spirited away to Taisho-era Tokyo, then both show up in 23rd century Neo-Tokyo. Except one of them may or may not be the same one here in this room. How would that even work? Splitting souls? Twin souls? Can two souls of one person exist at the same time?
[ Don't mind her, she's just talking to herself. He'll get used to it. Anyway. ]
So I--she... [ ... ] I told you about Ginkgoya, huh? I'm not even sure how that would've come up. What else do you know about?
no subject
[ Ha! ...Ha.
Kaito throws his arms up in a shrug, but he can feel that curiosity of hers. Honestly, it's... Nostalgic in a way that only he can really appreciate. ]
Taisho-era Tokyo with lots of magic and steampunk vibes. And don't think too hard about it. Souls and worlds and universes work in ways that probably aren't meant to be logical to our human minds.
[ A beat. Kaito taps his chin. ]
Let's see. From what I remember... One, your grandfather's a dick. Fuck that guy.
[ Fuck you Shinzen we still hate you. ]
You were trying to investigate the true cause of your mother's death. That's actually how we bonded—we're the only ones who believe there was foul play in our mothers' deaths.
Mmm...
[ Another beat. Kaito casts a gold on her. ]
...She was a half-siren.
Are you?
no subject
She almost interrupts him when he insults her grandfather, but he doesn't give her the chance. Besides, there's so much she has to process here, places to interject--but there's only one point that feels appropriate. ]
Yours too... I'm so sorry--
[ Apparently, that's not the conversation they will be having right now, as amber eyes lock on stormy blues and he shifts the topic to her lineage. The blonde takes a deep breath, silent for a moment as she seriously considers backing out of this whole interaction. ]
...I am. From my father.
[ Please don't come back with a "I didn't know there were male sirens" like everyone else. It's only been a couple months and it's already gotten old. ]
no subject
[ Softer: ] ...I found her, by the way. Our story's come to a conclusion. With any luck, so will yours.
[ He's lucky. It wasn't even that much of an adventure to reunite with his mother. A part of him hopes that the Hibiki from Nippon fared equally well. ]
Mm. Another similarity. [ Good think Yukito's a Yuki-onna's son. There will be no stupid questions here. ]
That's... about everything I know.
...Oh.
Do you have the ring your mother gave you?
no subject
Asking if she has her ring makes that delicately balanced scale tip to one side. Her gaze darts away as she buries the sudden shame she feels into the ground below her. Pressing her lips together, she hesitates before adjusting the collar of her shirt, pulling out a silver chain with a ring attached, letting it sit on her person out in the open. ]
They said they only had one item waiting for me.
[ She has her mother's ring, not the one her mother gave her. ]
no subject
Kaito has a mind to withdraw his inquiry, but Hibiki eventually decides to show off the ring. Strange. He remembers her wearing it at all times, but it's also been ten years—and most importantly, this isn't his Hibiki.
...
Well, neither was Nippon's. He has to wonder if there's another songbird out there trying to find the truth back home. ]
Mm. More for you than me. I had nothing with me when I arrived here. From what I recall, that ring is supposed to protect you in some manner. But I don't know the specifics.
no subject
She nods slowly before leaning back a little, propped up by her arms. ]
That's right. I didn't know about that until, mm... a little over two months ago. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but it effectively makes me invisible spiritually. But the drawback is that I have a hard time using any kind of magic--including perceiving anything or anyone around me.
[ Hence how she was able to live most of her life blissfully unaware of the truth of the world around her. A dangerous side effect. ]
Which also means I'm probably the world's worst siren ever, but I'm not too upset about that.
[ What was that about wanting to make it big in the music industry? Are you sure you're not a little upset, Hibiki? ]
no subject
[ Kaito tilts his head, shifting around a bit to get more comfortable. ]
I wonder why you need it. What do you need to hide from, specifically? [ ...Or does something else need to be hidden from outside view? He doesn't voice this particular thought. ]
...At the very least, now we know how to get you on the charts, right?
[ A playful jest, to try and lighten the mood. ]
no subject
[ Hibiki laughs silently to herself as he manages to pull the smallest smile out of hiding. ]
Yeah, and I don't have anything holding my Voice back anymore. Maybe I can build a following out here.
You can be my first fan out here if you want. [ But he hasn't heard her sing? ]
no subject
[ Her suggestion prompts a laugh and a wink. ]
Your first fan, huh? Sure thing, but you're gonna have to win me over the hard way. I'm fairly resistant to siren songs.
[ Sadly, spoken from experience. ]
no subject
[ Her feelings on that are complicated. On one hand, she wants to find the one who killed her, but there are clearly other things she's been actively pursuing. Maybe she can find a path forward, without the weight of her investigation looming large.
He winks and issues a challenge, and Hibiki answers with a grin. ]
Is that a challenge? That's dangerous, now I really do need to convert you.
[ Did Nippon Hibiki have a competitive side too? He's definitely triggered hers, and as she sits up straight, the half-siren begins to sing. Warmth spreads through voice, her aura shining like the sun on a beautiful spring morning, shimmering gold light (is that a hint of pink in there?) unencumbered by her seal flowing through his room.
Maybe it's a good thing that their powers are limited, or it might threaten to swallow him whole. ]
no subject
—And wowed he is. From the raw sound of her voice to the magic that flows and illuminates her aura... It's a beautiful sight. An alluring sight, too; and he does not miss the countless pokes and prods against his psyche, attempting to fill his mind with a different kind of enchanting noise.
Credit where credit's due. Old PSL Kaito would be at least partially entranced right now. This one, well, he feels much more relaxed once the blonde finishes. ]
...You'd tear up the indie scene in my world, y'know. Yokai all over would be flocking to your shows.
Maybe you should give it a shot here, if you don't think you can pursue the mystery shrouding your mother.
no subject
Heh, thank you! But I'd like more than just yokai as fans, you know. Like you, did I win you over?
[ Is he going to be her first fan here in the 23rd century? ]
But aren't we here to fight kaiju? Even if I had what it takes to make it big time--which I don't think I do, for the record. Fighting needs to be my primary objective.
no subject
Kaito taps his chest. ]
It's safe to say that you've successfully made your first fan in Neo Japan. Congratulations, you're a star.
[ His tongue pokes out, playful. ] We are here to fight off the kaiju, yes... But we aren't fighting every day. It's not even close. There's a reason LILITH is going to assign you a part time job once you're all settled in. We're all expected to make a living in between missions.
no subject
Man, this is a piece of cake without my ring! [ Yes, she's still upset about it, but she has to look at the silver lining, right?
Celebrations cut short, the moment he mentions part-time work, her smile thins, growing a little tense. ]
Sooo, hypothetical question here. There aren't any yokai or other entities that might, I don't know, launch a whole display full of merchandise while some people are just trying to work, are there?
[ What a weirdly specific question. ]
no subject
[ A bead of sweat rolls down Kaito's temple. We can go back to addressing how stupidly radiant that grin of hers was later. ]
Are you looking to get fan merch already? Is that what this is?
no subject
What? No! I mean, like... like konbini food getting thrown from the shelves for no reason! Something like that!
no subject
[ Double take time. ]
...What?
Do you mean, like... Haunted shit happening?
Because as far as I know, that doesn't really happen here unless a kaiju's involved—and even then, it's rare.
no subject
[ She's been fired so many times because weird shit followed her constantly. She's yet to have any weird phenomenon happen here. ]
Oh, thank goodness. I mean, that would be awful for anyone who had to deal with that, LILITH might have some trouble with job placement.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)