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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] sinfucks2024-05-06 10:41 am
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▶ TDM #4 OVERFLOW

TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #4


CONTENT WARNINGS: forced partial nudity, dead bodies

▶ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA.

It happens in the blink of an eye -- a dash of time. You're taken from where you were. What you were doing.. it isn't important anymore, and slowly, you give up to desire your normal life. When you awake, figures are looking down on you from a surgical table.

"Yeah, this one will do; let's take them to the rest," That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.

"Your questions will be answered soon enough as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.

Just then, your pod opens in a dim corridor with many others. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.


The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakens each Outsider. When Outsiders emerge from their pod in only their undergarments which have been supplied to them and head to a locker room in the medical bay, to find a towel to dry off with, a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in organizing the Outsider to their rightful teams. If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here. It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like there’s a foreign body lodged on the inside of their head. This pain will subside quickly as their body adapts to the changes, but there will always be a sensation of something being not quite right. That their bodies have been changed forever. They would be correct in thinking that. In the pod, all Outsiders have been surgically fitted with ocular and brain implants that will enable them to communicate with LILITH and the rest of the crew, and feed them the information they require. Almost like a computer screen has been loaded into their brains, they will see a loading screen as the implant completes its download. A questionnaire will then pop up, waiting for their answer. A voice, robotic and feminine, will also read along in their brain for them.

█ █ █ LOADING COMPLETE … BEGIN ORIENTATION …


Name:
Username:
Civilian Identity:
Age:
Species:
Origin:

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?


▶ 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.


▶ 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:


▶ 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.

“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.


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.


eirs: (pic#17155136)

@transmit

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-08 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
( linky. )

does the menu not change?

( that'd kinda blow.

anyway, she's already getting ready before he even gave a time, eager enough to get the lay of the land. unlike her old city, she has no idea where the underbelly lies and it'd be good to know where that might be for the future.
)

yeah. that's fine. hurry up.

( by the time he gets there... she's probably debating if she should order and start without him, staring at the menu in deep thought as she ruminates the choices. )
transmit: (pic#17157422)

1/2

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-11 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sure it does change, but I'm not quite down to find out to what at the moment!

[ Especially when there's a guaranteed better option in front of him? Hello? Well, perhaps not guaranteed in that quality may or may not be suspect, but at least they know what they're ingesting…

Probably.
]

And the twenty was more for your benefit than mine, Miss Tao.
So if you're telling me to hurry, then I suppose your wish is only my command.
transmit: (pic#17157430)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-11 09:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ True to his word, whether she'd gotten there in five, ten, fifteen, or anywhere between those—Elysium is ducking his head into the same store less than a minute later, demeanour as chipper as he presents himself over text. He'll match her picture with the patrons already inside, then slide into the seat next to her with a laugh. ]

Were you holding your appetite in this entire time? I didn't think you'd be so quick.
eirs: (pic#17155219)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-12 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
( he sure is chipper, isn't he? well. it's fine. it's not like she hasn't lived with that sort of energy for the last few years.

she's already put in a modest order of appetizers to pick at, popping one of the edamame in her mouth thoughtfully when he slides into the seat next to her.
)

Didn't really have anything better to do.

( not until she figures out a second job, anyway. )

Was feeling cooped up anyway, and I wanted more time to figure out what other options we got for picking up other jobs around here.
transmit: (Default)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-13 10:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ Most would probably show some modesty when meeting someone for the first time. Elysium is not most, so the fact that they've already agreed to be food buddies together means he has absolutely no shame in reaching over and swiping the occasional edamame pod as he pours over the menu—if she'll allow him to continue to, that is. ]

Ah, right. We have to pick up a part-time job of sorts, don't we? What're your options so far?
eirs: (pic#17155114)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-13 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
( the first time he reaches for some - fine. she lets it slide, it's nice to share or whatever, but she's clearly eyeing him about it even as he skims through the menu. )

The thing they assigned me was video games related or something but I dunno what that's about.

( does she look like she knows what a video game is? absolutely not.

... the fifth or six pod gets him a swat. sharp.
)

Get your own.

( ok now she can move on. )

What about you? Prospects? Sticking with what they gave you?
transmit: (pic#17157430)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-17 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
You don't look terribly interested. [ A laugh. ] In fact, you already look ready for a career change, so I'm the one who wants to ask you that.

[ Then, perhaps the worst possible response to her swatting: ]

But I'm hungry now. [ He huffs and shamelessly tries to reach for the fifth again. ] Just take however much I did from my order! You aren't going to finish all of yours right away, anyway.

[ To his credit, he does decide on his order rather quickly: a rice bowl, gyoza, and a lager. And, another order of edamame, as promised. ]

And haha, get this. They want me to be a bartender, with absolutely no experience. Not that I don't plan on giving it a shot, but it's good to know how much they think my face will carry the job.
eirs: (pic#17155136)

i'm slowly finding all my buried threads. hi. i'm so sorry.

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-18 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
( he's ballsy for going again, she'll give him that. he's saved only by the fact that she's taking one of his gyoza as recompense when it arrives. )

A bartender isn't too bad of a gig.

( but without experience - she could see why that could be a problem. she doesn't really imbibe, but she's seen the cocktail possibilities and that just seems like a pain.

her beef bowl and tea arrives, and she's picking at that thoughtfully as she mulls over the usual possibilities.
)

Though I guess it depends on if they expect you to deal with drunkards, too.
transmit: (pic#17157462)

nothing to be sorry for!! you got back to it faster than i did, hello

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-18 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly, she could even take the whole plate and down it in one go and he'd still be able to laugh it off. It be like that. ]

If they want me to do anything out of the job description? That's a no-go.

[ He might be making a terrible first impression here, but… dwbi… ]

And I would hope that you'd apply that to your side-gig, too. Not that you look the sort that'd let yourself be taken advantage of by anything or anyone, just that shitty bosses can be a dime a dozen.
eirs: (pic#17155100)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-18 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
( and she might. the gyoza was pretty good, so she's taking another one like the hypocrite that she is. )

So make drinks and that's it?

( that would be much simpler. and he'd be in quite the position to listen in on things depending on the patronage his bar gets. )

Hah, you could say that again. My last one wouldn't even let me quit.

( it's fleeting, easily missed, but she does glance down at her gloved hand before turning her attention then back at him. )

Clients are a little easier to work with, even if they do try to fleece me now and then.
transmit: (Default)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-19 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Like many of the other nefarious plans he has cooking up now and in the future, he'll wear down those walls of her yet until him stealing half her edamame won't be anyone's business—but it's fine, because they'll share. ]

Make drinks and that's it! And look pretty, but that's a given.

[ hehe. ]

The operative word is 'try,' I'm sure. [ His eyes flash with interest, cheek against his knuckles as he listens keenly. ] So? How would you normally settle the score? Eye-for-an-eye? Retribution twice over?

I imagine it isn't as simple to sick it to your boss. Boo.
eirs: (pic#17155097)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-19 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
( she's not gonna say anything in response to that; the ego is inflated enough as is. )

Mhm.

( but my, isn't he just a little too interested in the details of how a delinquent like her might deal with a cheat and a liar?

truth be told, it depends on her mood, but she's not going to elaborate on the intricacies of her whims in front of what she's still assuming (insisting) to be polite company.
)

A reminder that they need me is usually enough.

( she is, after all, their troubleshooter. to fuck with the agency assisting with the cleanup of very specific messes is asking to be ruined. )

But if you piss me off enough, you might just find out for yourself.

( but not right now. she has food to put away. )
transmit: (pic#17157422)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-20 09:44 am (UTC)(link)
Hey now, I've already said it before that I have no intentions on getting on your bad side. You can put away the vibes, a guy's only curious! But if I stepped on something sensitive—sorry about that.

[ His food arrives but a moment later, and for a questionable favour he'll move the conversation away from incessantly poking into Tao's life. ]

As for me… well, life's too short to hang onto grudges. No matter how much of an opportunity there is for revenge.
eirs: (pic#17155185)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-20 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
( fine by her! because now she's got the time to hail their server for a second round of food. hot tea, yakisoba.. and more gyoza. apparently a good choice. )

It's more to make sure their sort don't take advantage of me too much. The seedier sorts will try every time if I let them.

( the same thing with bosses under capitalistic rule, only she can break her clients arm if she has to. )

Do you ever actually get angry?

( it's getting a little hard to imagine. )
transmit: (pic#17157469)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-22 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ Here he is, finding marked amusement in her appetite. He'll be looking forward to many more of these to come, he thinks.

Will she be as wary if he tries to steal a noodle or two? In a silent exchange, he'll wordlessly plop a piece of katsu on her plate.
]

Of course I do. I'm only human——more or less. Whether someone acts on it or not makes all the difference, I'd say. [ Something of a knowing smile. ] You don't seem the sort to just get angry over any little thing, either. Do you?
eirs: (pic#17155179)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-22 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
( hmm.. she's thinking about the exchange for a minute, but she does let it go. this way she can try the katsu without ordering a whole plate on a limited budget. fine.

wordlessly, she's throwing the cut of meat into her mouth to chew on it some, falling thoughtful for a moment.
)

... More or less?

( odd thing to say about yourself, isn't it? not that she's entirely unfamiliar with the concept of those who are only partially human. it still gets a curious tilt of a head.

but as far as the next bit goes,
)

I like to think it's deserved when I do. ( doesn't everyone? ) But no. It's not worth it, usually.
transmit: (pic#17157441)

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-22 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ how to know you jive with someone 101 ]

If you're thinking it's deep, it's not. It just feels a bit disingenuous to say that I am, even when the ratio is somewhere in the 90s to 10s. I'm a Liberi, see? We share traits with birds.

[ He reaches a hand up to his feathers and gives them a gentle tug. They don't fall out. The colouration of his hair is somewhat unique, too—black in the back, white in the front, with a row of bright red trailing down the side. It could be a fresh dye job, but his roots hold true. ]

Besides that, my physiology in general's a bit different. It seems for most people… their worlds are mostly populated by humans? That's the impression I get. But yeah, it doesn't matter that much, does it? When we can still communicate and share ideologies all the same.
Edited 2024-05-22 08:45 (UTC)
eirs: (pic#17155249)

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-22 09:26 am (UTC)(link)
( ... huh. neat. )

I was wonderin' about that while we were headed here.

( a glance off to the side, just to gauge how many people are listening in - but she dips her voice just the same. quieter, to be safe. )

I heard they make certain people cloak themselves before headed out, and I haven't seen much beastmen an' the like around since exiting base.

( not that.. her world was any kinder towards them, really. for that same reason, she tends to take on quite a bit of them as clients as a troubleshooter due to the nature of their treatment and lives. she hums. )

I guess with the constant and undeniable threat of shit clearly beyond human, they might not take kindly to 'em.
transmit: (pic#17157434)

HELP i forgot we pretend the feathers aren't there. dead in the morning tagging, ty friend...

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-22 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ But the weird ass colouration stays, at least??

And in the loud hubbub of a restaurant with the sound of several woks going on at once in the background, they're probably fine. But still, Elysium will take her cue and lower his voice with her.
]

Is that what they're called for you? [ Speaking in vaguer terms, to boot. ] Can't say that sounds all too friendly, either.
eirs: (pic#17155226)

looks at the clock and it says 3am we are all truly in the trenches

[personal profile] eirs 2024-05-22 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
( she thinks to the mermaid and her sisters, and the little one with the beastial ears and tail that likely would've been fodder to the true threat of her world if her agency hadn't intervened. )

.. No, I guess not.

( but one picked her up when she was at her lowest, showed her a kindness no one else had previous. she wouldn't be here still without that mercy.

the real reason why she takes them on as clients without her usual fee, not that she'd admit as much.
)

Some keep them like they're some kinda product. ( but that's true about women as a whole, ) Some are warned not to talk to 'em at all.

But the district I'm from is lawless to begin with, and that tends to make people forget how to behave. They just get it far worse.
transmit: (Default)

bumps fists with you at 5am

[personal profile] transmit 2024-05-23 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Where he was picking at his food at a decent clip, their conversation causes him to come to a complete stop. By that, he appropriates his chopsticks as newly minted fidget devices, idly spinning them in his hand in thought. ]

… Humanity's the same wherever you go, huh? That happens where I'm from, too. Grisly stuff.

[ Ironic that they were just on the subject of getting mad. He doesn't, but his smile does drop that brief moment, before it's replaced with one that's more on the tired end. ]

But what a conversation to have over our first meal. … Still, I appreciate the knowledge exchange. It's always easier working with cooperative people.