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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.
no subject
You're sad.
[Despite the fondness in the smile, the other emotion remains. There are many reasons Bakugo can guess as to why, but... he winds up silently asking if Raidou wants to explain why instead.
Doing what he can encompasses a lot of directions and Bakugo isn't sure he feels like they're done talking about the major question that sits between them. What to do going forward. He doesn't like to end on an open note if there's an action they can, or perhaps even should, take...]
no subject
How long can you be evasive with someone before they stop bothering to care?
As usual, he hesitates, having to think about his words before he speaks them. It's so much to explain, and he wants to keep it simple.]
You know, I... I've been through a lot of strange things as a summoner. Things I don't know how to even describe. It comes with the territory. You're well trained in being able to handle just about anything, because when it comes to the supernatural, anything can happen. You will see things, meet beings, and go to places most people couldn't even dream of.
[Where is he going with this? He shakes his head.]
All that is to say... Despite that, very little of it has prepared me for life here.
no subject
Hn. I think all of us are feeling that one way or another.
[Not to trivialize Raidou's feelings, but to offer solidarity in the similar struggles. Some wear it better than others. Some people would be more prepared than others in such a world, thanks to similar time period, technology, or even jobs. Some are left spinning in a realm they have no clue how to operate in. Why can't I just go home? isn't an alien question either.]
But you haven't stopped fighting either. Your world prepared you not to give up. [To keep moving, to adapt, to continue.] It should be proud of how strong you are.
no subject
He chews his lip, looking uncertain despite what he says next.]
If I gave up... What would I have left?
[Rhetorical, of course. But he can't quit. He's already been suffering enough of loss of identity and purpose. This is all he has left to define himself.]
no subject
He told Raidou similar. About not knowing, and not knowing makes it even easier to keep that belie strong. It should at least... Stubbornness can be a positive thing.]
Here or back home? [Different answers. If Raidou gave up here, guess he'd just sit in his room or while away in a kitchen somewhere. Be a good cook and occasionally fight monsters that manage to get past the Outsiders?
If he gave up back home... then he really would have lost that battle. And whether he died or not wouldn't fucking matter.]
no subject
If there is even a fraction of a chance I could still be alive, and can fix what went wrong, I will take it. But the punishment for a summoner of my standing is revocation of my title and duties at best, execution at worst.
[It depends on how badly things had gone once Seimei took Raidou out of the picture. Even if he lived, there's a chance he would still have to face the judgement of the Kuzunohas.]
Things are different here. I don't know what LILITH has in store for anyone who would turn against their duties. I don't plan to do that. Just... change what it is I do. Help in other ways. What I've been trying to figure out for awhile now.
[So why does it feel like giving up instead?]
no subject
Failure isn't the same thing as crime, even if that's how your superiors see it. [Fucked up view, but being Japanese himself, knowing the history of feudal times, Bakugo knows that's how it was done in the past.] Being willing and able to fix your mistakes is what matters. There's no going backwards. Only forwards.
[Can he argue a world's policies if he doesn't return there with Raidou? No. Duh. But that won't stop him from saying so. That Raidou says he'll take the chance and correct his mistakes is a far better resolve than accepting his only-possible death.]
Tch. Those bastards are going to have all of us turn on them if it turns out they tricked us. [He'll be the first to rip into them. Trusting LILITH has only been on a tolerance level for him. While Raidou says he plans to change the role of his duties, Bakugo believes him. Only he doubts that will make the other boy feel satisfied.]
Yeah? And you're gonna kick yourself each time you sit in the back row to watch in the supporting role?
no subject
I... don't know, Bakugo. Maybe I won't know until the time comes.
[Until the next mission gets here. But obviously he hates that he doesn't have an answer. He always has a plan, a cool head, a logical answer. Maybe it's because this time, these are plans made from feelings, something logic can't be applied to. It's an obvious struggle for him.
He's quiet, thinking, stuck on the idea of maybe just coming out with all of it. Bakugo knows so much already. But this isn't the time and place, was it? Here, in the middle of a mission, where they could be interrupted at any moment.]
We... should go, shouldn't we?
no subject
But not having an answer bothers him as well. Bakugo isn't alien to having to decide on something. He doesn't like leaving things in the air either, stubbornly sticking it out until he's worked through to an answer or course of action. Sometimes that takes a lot longer than others. Relationships really make things complex...
Waiting for the next kaiju attack, however, doesn't sound like a good idea. Even if it would force the issue. It sounds like it'd either affirm his current thoughts or leave him in pain regretting he didn't choose differently before. Likely causing more pain to his friends as well. Ugh... fucking pain in the ass.
If there's more for Raidou to say, it's up to him to out with it. Bakugo turns back to the scenery around them.]
Let's go to the palace. I wanna see it before we have to leave.
no subject
He mulls this over, but gives Bakugo a nod.]
I hope there's enough of it still standing to see.
[Would it be as sad as the rest of the city? There were many landmarks he would have loved to have seen, but things are hard to recognize now.]
Do you think LILITH just wants to scavenge, or do you think they want to make this place hospitable again?
no subject
Scavenge. Until we take out these fucking kaiju, any reparations outside a concentrated civilization is asking to get destroyed or abandoned again.
[They'd have to split the defenses, resources, and Outsiders of Neo Tokyo just to start working on Kyoto. This would leave Neo Tokyo weaker to attack, and for all they know, make Kyoto (now moving with humans again) a target for the kaiju once more. Bakugo doesn't think they're in any position to "fix" anything if the kaiju are still regular threads. It's not like Godzilla, who also fights against other monsters. Every one of these monsters is an enemy.
The pigs here excluded due to current circumstances.]
no subject
[Having to possibly deal with a large kaiju attack, and also the yama-kujira at the same time could be incredibly difficult. Perhaps they really should be taking care of a problem before it becomes one.
As they walk, it's obvious Raidou is lost in thought, even as he scans the area for any potential threats, or anything stray supplies they can mark for later pickup. Some animals scatter at their approach, but nothing dangerous has appeared. Yet.
The quiet of the city is giving him too much time to think. Or perhaps just enough. It's been eating him up for months now. If he can't tell Bakugo, who else could he tell?
Whenever Raidou ever manages to speak his feelings on anything, it tends to be right to the point, even if those words seem hard for him to put in the right order.]
I... I think if I am making the same mistake as I did back home, and that it will cause me to fail again. And that mistake had potentially cost me everything.
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[In that it's similar to what is found in Neo Tokyo. If this was indeed a Neo Kyoto. Raidou's right in pointing out the twin additions to their last mission, neither expected or prepared for. Hell, the rift didn't even seem to be within LILITH's expected parameters. Which raises more questions...
Left to his thoughts, Bakugo walks beside Raidou, keeping an eye and ear out for signs of threats or a place of interest. Stores are a little bothersome to go browsing into, some are completely swallowed by vegetation and others are likely homes to monsters he'd rather not bother while trying to ransack. Best to stick with the ruined base for the time being.
He glances to Raidou when the other boy finally speaks up.]
What mistake? Trusting someone or not being strong enough to do something?
[He wouldn't put the last one as a "mistake" unless you deliberately ignored warnings and opted not to get stronger. Caveat being methods of getting stronger being a double-edged sword, like the implants. Bakugo wouldn't suggest people make deals with devils just for strength. Proverbially.]
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Because... I trusted someone. I let... feelings get in the way, and blind me to what was happening right under my nose.
[He looks down, embarrassed, maybe ashamed. His voice is nearly a whisper against the silence of the city.]
That's what caused me to fail. Summoners... they're not to let feelings get in the way of things. To form relationships. It will cloud your judgement. It will cause you to have biases. They will be used against you.
[Something he's been told from a young age, drilled in to him. Ideals that have been eroding since he's come to Neo Tokyo. But perhaps, he thinks, he should stick more to his training.
First it was Seimei, now it was Yuji.
He continues to keep his eyes cast down.]
Am I letting the same thing happen here?
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Fight.
How many times had that been shown in stories? A good person getting close to the wrong person. A chink in the armor. Weakness grew exploitable. A dagger slipped in. Betrayal. Loss. It makes the answer easy.]
Yeah. You are. [Bakugo's voice is blunt with his usual gruff casual tone.] You're not a machine, Raidou. You're a human.
[Dirt and rock grit under his boots as he turns and walks to the other boy. There's no hesitation as the blonde reaches out and grips one of Raidou's hands. He reaches up, turns it, and presses it flat to Raidou's chest palm first, his own hand resting against the back of it. Fingers between fingers, warm and flush against his torso.]
Feel that? [Thud thud... thud thud... thud thud. Over and over. Not the ticking of a clockwork puppet. Not the hum of a robot. The beating of his own fleshy human heat.] It's full of strengths and weaknesses. Feelings and relationships add to both. Sometimes they'll make you do things you never thought you could. Other times they'll feel like a curse.
It's not wrong to trust someone or like someone. [His gauntlet clicks a bit as he reaches out, tucks his index finger under Raidou's chin, and lifts the summoner's head to meet his eyes.] But it's always a risk when you let someone in. [Feelings interfere with logic and judgement, for better or worse.] That's what it means to be human.
There's no right or wrong answer. Only your answer. [Bakugo curls his fingers slightly, pressing against Raidou's chest.] But I don't think you've failed anyone here.
[Otherwise they'd be digging a grave, not helping someone out of a hospital bed as they recovered.]
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Maybe it was okay to not be a summoner here after all.
There are no words from him as Bakugo talks, but he might feel a shuddered breath under their hands on Raidou's chest. When Bakugo lifts his chin, the look on Raidou's face is almost a heartbroken one, a little stronger of an emotion than is usually breaking through that cold exterior. His hand tightens around Bakugo's fingers. To think how averse to touch he was before he got to Neo Tokyo, before there were so many welcoming hands reaching out to him.]
I don't want to. I don't want to do it again. The Capital may be lost because of what I did. I want to keep everyone here as safe as I can. In whatever way I can.
[He cares. He cares so much for the other Outsiders, his friends, the city, the residents who aren't able to fight for themselves.]
I-I just don't... want to make the same mistake again. And I don't want anyone else making it because of me.
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And yet... heroes are humans. No matter how angry that makes people, no matter the disappointment or pain. Heroes are people, heroes make mistakes. What matters is how hard they try not to, how hard they try to do their damn best.
Bakugo refuses to not be a hero even in Neo Tokyo. He holds himself to those same high standards. But even now grapples with the idea of mistakes, whether he's made one or not. It's impossible to avoid.
He feels Raidou's chest tighten with his words, knows he's at least landing something in that confused maelstrom inside. The expression on the other boy's face is hard to watch and his lips press together, not sure if he's making this better or worse for him. Bakugo can't make the choice for Raidou. To continue being human and making relationships at the risk of mistakes, or to shut off once more and retreat to being a machine... which can still make mistakes. But this much emotion on the other's face... He's no damn machine. Never should've been brought up and trained to be one in the first fucking place.]
Urusei. You can't keep holding onto a fucking "may be" when you don't know. [Yes, he may be dead. Yes, he may have damned the Capital. Or he could survive and live. Could survive, chase after his betrayer, kick his fucking ass, and save the entire damn city. Bakugou knows it's hard to imagine a "what if" when Raidou's last memory is probably his own life flashing before his eyes, but...]
Tch. People are gonna trust or feel how they want. [If that's what Raidou means by the "mistake" he might make.] But if you don't trust yourself, you're never going to be able to move forward.
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His head hangs again, but he nods ever so slightly.]
You're right.
[Raidou had every reason in the world to believe and trust in Seimei. There was no way he or the other summoners could have seen his turn coming. Raidou so wants to believe that the other Outsiders here would never have any reason to do something similar, but that experience makes it so much harder to believe.
After all, Seimei said such similar things to him too. Even he reached a hand out to him...
Raidou looks up again, his jaw set firmly, a little more conviction in his eyes. Maybe he can trust the others here, maybe he can't. But he'd rather risk trusting them than not, rather than stay mired in these horrible feelings of mistrust and anxiety.]
I don't know, I can never know. I am just... going to have to risk it.
[Risk being hurt, risk having feelings he doesn't understand and doesn't like. Risk being human.]
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Then lost to the boy he hated the most on his first class test. The one he always thought was so far beneath him. And to top it all off, the smart girl in class ripped his performance to shreds in front of everyone.
But despite the humiliation and angry tears, Bakugo got over it quickly and used the painful frustration to spur himself on. Vowing never to lose again.]
Look up. Your not gonna see shit down there but where you are.
[And while it's good to know that, focusing on it won't get you moving forward except by blind shambling. Bakugo likewise has little reason to think the Outsiders here would be treacherous, though unless one of them deliberately sabotages the way home once the kaiju are gone, it'd be hard to call any action "treacherous" like that.
When Raidou looks up, Bakugo watches his eyes and face, noting the look in his gaze and the way his jaw sets. Damn bastard's annoyingly handsome when he gets firm like that... He lowers his hand once Raidou announces his decision. Fuck yeah.]
Good. You'd be risking an ass kicking if you kept wallowing. [Totally would've. POW!! Right in the butt.]
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Raidou gives Bakugo's hand a supportive squeeze before he lets it go. A thank you. What would he do without him?
It's very faint, but he manages a smile.]
I know. I'd have earned it, too.
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Even if it wears his arm numb in the process to hold him up. His fingers trail off Raidou's as their hands separate and he falls silent, accepting the small smile and agreement.
But eventually he offers a final comment.]
I'm gonna try to find our own anesthetics. I don't know how or where, but if I can increase LILITH's supply, it won't be such a shit experience to get those upgrades and tech.
If you'll give me two weeks to try and do that, I'll pay for whatever upgrade you want myself.
[Despite his misgivings about LILITH, he can't condemn Raidou to the sidelines. He can't bring himself to for someone with a heroic heart to stand down.
... not again.]
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He could argue about the payment, but... he'll accept this gesture from his friend. Raidou nods.]
Alright. Two weeks. And if there is any way I can help with that, let me know.
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As for the attempt at getting better medical supplies, well Bakugo had enough of seeing his friends staggering, wincing, bleeding, crying, whimpering, and whatever else came from those fucking surgeries.
Raidou doesn't resist the offer, so there's no fight on Bakugo's end.]
Aa. I will. I'll bring it up on the network later.