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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
[Like... He was gonna suggest they just try and see if they can find some different clothes elsewhere around the base, because he's pretty sure it's only affecting the plugsuits. But again, if Yzak wants to muscle through it, who is he to stop him?
With the air of someone who is fully expecting to witness some degree of comical disaster along the way, Dearka lazily strides after him, heels clacking as he walks with near perfect form. Also, he is actually keeping an eye out for signs that Yzak is like, at risk of injuring himself severely... Because he doesn't want that.
(Don't mind him if he gets a little hypnotized by the view.)]
no subject
[ Because he has not given up on the potential to commit a murder.
Yzak in turn keeps glancing over to watch Dearka walk in his ALLEGED perfect form. And ... damn, he is walking just as fine as he would normally. How rude of him. He does also stare at his legs... not because they might as well be fucking weapons because they are and Yzak is stupidly unaware of this fact, but because it's not asking for help or pointers if he simply observes himself and tries to apply the way he watches Dearka move to his own stride.
He ... isn't doing badly, all things considered. He's at least moving in the right direction and his own steps are getting less rigid. If there's one thing Yzak is, it's hard-working and determined (stubbornly so), and so long as that persists in him, he can figure something almost anything out.
(even if this could have been avoided entirely had he just asked Dearka for those pointers)
He looks back down with the intent to watch his own steps and ... frowns. Because it's a little hard to see under the long dress, which additionally serves as a reminder of his horrible maid outfit trauma. So he grumbles under his breath, ]
Why did it have to be maid dresses of all things...!?
no subject
He glances Yzak's way when he grumbles, a slight frown curving his lips in reply. No, he hasn't forgotten about that whole incident, nor has he overlooked the fact that it's probably contributing heavily to Yzak's foul reaction to this 'disciplinary measure'. He certainly hadn't wanted to bring it up himself, though.]
You really hate any outfit that's even remotely like that now, huh?
[He remembers. He wasn't there, not for the incident itself... But he remembers Yzak rushing over to his home and seeking refuge immediately after the fact. And he recalls the hearty bitch-fest that they'd then shared over drinks.]
no subject
[ Whether said outfit is on someone else or on him. Of course, it being on him just adds to humiliation in an entirely different way. And though Yzak's mother has slightly calmed down since back then ... ]
She's still got those things in the house, too. She didn't spend all of that time and money on them to use them once.
[ They still exist in the Jule residence, lurking in the electronic shadows and waiting for the next time Ezalia decides to hyperfocus on poor Yzak's personal life again.
And then, grumbled and exasperated: ]
It's almost a godsend in that regard that we've all been so busy lately... [ Her included. Doing ... whatever the hell she's doing. ]
no subject
Hah! Well... Seems like something you won't have to worry about for a while, at least.
[There's an obviously wry edge to his words, since he can't exactly say being kidnapped to fight a bunch of monsters is a good trade-off for not having to deal with Ezalia's meddling... He tries to soften the sentiment by at least saying something sincere:]
And if it makes you feel any better... I think you're actually kind of pulling that look off pretty well.
no subject
And then carried through the hallways is the idle chatter from others in the base. Others who are afflicted with this same embarrassing fate that they are. So he defuses just a little more as he adds: ] At least it's not just us, dealing with this nonsense... [ United in their suffering, because how much more awful would it be, if it was just him singled out?
Doesn't stop his face from remaining a pretty consistent shade of pink, though. Especially when he keeps becoming acutely aware of how he looks right now. (at least his dress is long and he doesn't have a titty window, though, like some people. That said awareness, however, partially moves to the other matter Dearka brings up. ]
I'd hardly call comparing being home and dealing with her and being here dealing with this some sort of win-lose situation. [ Because both things? Suck pretty badly! Even though this one is less absurd than a menacing mother programming maid holograms. ] But I do hope it's not too long a while. [ For many obvious reasons. Work ... life ... everything they were dealing with after the whole Foundation incident and the coup on PLANT... ]
no subject
Anyway, since Yzak's tone is now serious and not just, ludicrously outraged, Dearka grows more solemn to match. It is a real concern... PLANT was in quite the state, last they could both recall. He sighs, rubbing the back of his head.]
Yeah... Once we've managed to shake these outfits, let me see if I can put the charm on some of the higher-ups. They may be able to give us a better idea of how long... At the very least, maybe I can get us some more information...
[Let's be real: they can both negotiate real good, but of the two of them, he's the one more gifted at sweet-talking and greasing wheels... Which is probably what they need here. Especially since they're in a situation where neither of them have any authority or resources to leverage with.]
no subject
Considering the guy who put us in these is technically one of those higher ups, maybe keeping it on will add to the charm.
[ Was that a joke? (if it was it's the extent of what he will make light of about this Is he serious? (because it could be an actual perk if said higher ups seem fine with this sort of thing) Was the comment his own extremely roundabout way of returning that compliment of being able to pull the look off? Maybe a bit of all three. But the way Yzak says that is so dry that he by no means sounds like he encourages actually doing it. ]
More information would be nice, though. Even an estimated timeframe ... but that's going to be reliant on how much they actually know about these things and the rifts they're coming through. Which doesn't seem like much.
So that likely means more work for us on the frontline.
no subject
The rest... Is not so funny. He sighs, and does that anime-ass shit where stretches his arms and then folds his hands at the back of his head.]
Yeah... What a fucking drag. Still... I dunno. It's hard to be too mad at these guys, right? They seem pretty hard-up here.
[1/3 of the world's population left... Hard to not think of the extinction level crises that they've been dealing with in their own world. He's not sure if it being an outside force vs. it being the result of humans killing one another makes it better or worse, really.]
no subject
And we both know it's not a good idea to just assume the soldiers you expect to serve that cause will just accept everything you tell them and obey every command. Not without making sure they're understood, taken care of, and you're on the same page. [ All things he took perhaps too long to learn himself. Things he learned all too quickly when he gained command of his own team. One of the many reasons that he's glad Dearka is there by his side.
And by his side here, and now. ]
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No... You're right. We haven't been here very long, but I'm already seeing plenty of troubling signs. And if they want our help, they could sure stand to act a lot more grateful for it. I'm not saying they need to roll out the red carpet or anything, buuuuut...
[Demeaning everyone, punishing them by locking them in quarters for what sound like relatively minor infractions... Doesn't bode well!]
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Though if he doesn't approve ... well, he's very good at maneuvering through the rules so they warp and twist and bend so he doesn't break them. And any potential retribution for that still falls on him instead of his soldiers anyway. Which is preferable than forcing the entire team into something they could regret.
Serious thoughts and conversations in cute and sexy maid outfits. Who could have imagined this? ]
But they could at least show us the common courtesy to not do [ A handwave over his person. ] this to us!
[ A small outburst, but then it's right back to business. ]
... these rifts they're said to come through. That should be part of what we seek more information for. If they can drag us here somehow, why are they having a hard time curbing these things when they have such advanced technology?
Or ... magic. I guess. [ Said with some weight of disbelief; it's not easy for him to just accept that magic is a thing. Not when he's still this new, and not when it's something that only exists in fiction where they come from. ]
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He leans in a little as they both keep walking and nods along, listening to Yzak's assessment of the situation (and the suggested avenue of investigation which is the most likely to bear fruit) like a good second-in-command should. The comment about magic being involved gets him another skeptical eyebrow raise, though.]
Magic...? What are you talking about? I don't think I saw anything in the orientation materials about that.
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[ So he wouldn't be shocked if LILITH had any either. "Shocked" in that he still would be, because his head continues to wrap around more and more things that he's never experienced before. This organization's methods all seem accomplishable by science thus far ... but even that science is mindblowing for the sheer fact that they can reach through to other places in time and space.
And it's that last thing that hangs in Yzak's mind when he thinks and speaks of this. ]
That's where my real concern here lies. The mystery of those rifts and the ability LILITH possesses to reach into other worlds... who's to say these monsters won't somehow find their way home and attack our people like they're doing here?
Or, what if the people of this world can reverse engineer the way they pulled us in just to transfer these kaiju and make them someone else's problem? The situation here is bleak and desperation can easily become that powerful. I won't allow something like that to happen. [ Because when it comes to PLANT, he don't play.]
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Yeah... That thought occurred to me as well.
[He doesn't know how likely any of that actually is. But it is still something to keep in mind, and to look into while gathering information.]
Given all that, maybe it's not actually the worst thing that we wound up here. [Bold statements from the titty window man.] And... I know it's not ideal, but we should try and have faith in our comrades. They're more than capable of holding down the fort until we get back.
[The more subtle part of the message here being that they probably shouldn't be so arrogant as to assume that the entirety of PLANT will definitely collapse without the two of them there to support it.]
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Instead, his expression twists into one of frustration and concern. ]
Of course I have faith in them. I'd just rather be back there with them. [ Fighting alongside them, ensuring just that tiny bit more that they succeed. Sure, the feeling is deep in what he feels is his duty as a commander ... but mister 'gets lonely easily' also doesn't like that he's going to be isolated from his team, his friends for so long.
But as they're both aware, for the time being there seems to be nothing they can do about that. And Yzak hates it, because in the past he's so often been in that position, hasn't he?
The silence that falls upon them makes the clicking of their heels against the floor that much louder. Yzak is still walking with a bit of weirdness to his step, but he doesn't seem bothered by it (and hopefully won't regret it later). He looks down to Dearka's le— feet again. ]
What kind of training exercises did your dance teacher run you through? You said it was nothing weird, but I can't picture anything that isn't at least a little unorthodox.
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...And of course Yzak is coming back around to that subject. Dearka laughs awkwardly.]
Yeah, well... He was a bit eccentric in his methods, so you're not wrong. I think the idea was, if we could learn to adapt and keep up the steps while wearing all different kinds of footwear, it'd improve our balance and physical coordination or something. So. You know... There may have been some heels involved...
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(another wasted mental image ... it comes and it goes without the appreciation it deserves, and would receive were Yzak more in-tune with the freak hiding deep in his own heart) ]
Lucky you don't need the practice anymore. That'd be something to see. [ Dearka, doing one of his dances in heels? Yzak doesn't even say that to tease him, but because as odd as that does sound, he is easily drawn in by the curious. (also because it's nice to talk about something that isn't just work or war)
Saying that, and admitting defeat to himself over catching up to Seok Dang again meaning they're going to be in these getups for a while longer, Yzak adds (in that 'I GUESS!' sort of way), ]
I'll take a couple of tips, then!
🎀
For now, Dearka will just have to be content with winning Yzak's confidence in his ability to guide him through more comfortable heel walking methods. He breaks into a broad grin.]
Alright. First tip I remember being told was to keep my back straight, but that's obviously not a problem here. So what you're going to want to do is focus on how you're planting your steps. Heel to toe is the way to go...
[You'll be a master by the time he's done with you, bud.]