TDM #5

[synfluxmods]

TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #5

CONTENT WARNINGS: forced scenarios, partial nudity, alcohol use

▶ 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 darkest fear?

<raw code><table width="80%"><br><div align="center"><img src="IMAGE_URL" style="width: 200px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"> <!-- CARD --> <div style="width:230px;padding:20px 0 0;border:1px solid #f2f2f2;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:right;gap:5px;background:#fff;"> <!-- CHAR INFO: start --> <div style="width:150px;font-family:courier;font-weight:bold;font-size: clamp(14px, 1vw, 10px);letter-spacing:1px;line-height:1;color:#000;"></lj-raw><font color="#00686E">NAME</font> <lj-raw></div> <!-- CHAR INFO: end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE START --> <div style="width:230px;background:#eee;"><details><summary style="cursor:pointer;text-align:center;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;background:#ccc;color:#000;">+</summary> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content --> <div style="width:190px;margin:0 auto;padding:7px 0;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;color:#000;"> </lj-raw><b>Username:</b> !!ANSWER HERE!! <br> <b>Civilian Identity:</b> !!ANSWER HERE OR SAY UNDECIDED!! <br> <b>Age:</b> !!AGE HERE!! <br> <b>Species:</b> !!SPECIES HERE!! <br> <b>Origin:</b> !!ORIGIN HERE!! <br></br> <b>What is your darkest fear?</b></br> </br>!! ANSWER HERE !!<lj-raw> </div></details></div> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE END --> </div></div> <!-- CARD name: END --> <!-- CREDIT --> <div style="width:100%;margin-top:-15px;font-size:10px;color:#ddd; text-align:center;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#ddd;">credit</a></div></center></table></raw code>

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.

While there would normally be a meal available for them in the cafeteria, this doesn’t seem to be the case this time. Robots working within the cafeteria will instead be handing out food ration bars to each Outsider. They are dense with calories and nutrition, but taste a bit like sawdust.

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. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Existing Outsiders will receive a call to report to the data portal within Las Vegas. They’ve done their parts helping to take down the worm kaiju and assisting with the clean up of the city. LILITH’s army of cleaner drones can take the rest from here. It’s been a physically and emotionally draining mission for everyone, and it’s time to head home. The beaming back to Neo Tokyo will go rather smoothly for the most part (and yes, holding someone’s hand through it still helps), but upon arrival, Outsiders might be struck with a splitting headache, nausea and vertigo. They might need an hour or so to recuperate, which they can do in their rooms or the sick bay.

New and fresh Outsiders will be given the task to take care of their seniors as they recuperate. Make sure they have water and food (even if it’s terrible ration bars). Give them a massage, or cheer them up because they’ve had such a difficult mission! It’s a great way to build bonds and get to know your teammates. Ask them what happened in Vegas! They’ll be more than happy to tell you.

▶ 003. TOO HOT TO HANDLE.

One thing Outsiders will notice immediately upon stepping foot in the Neo Tokyo base is that it is hot. Did someone forget to turn on the air conditioning? The rest of Neo Tokyo doesn’t seem to be any better. With summer approaching, the city has been hit with a heatwave, and it doesn’t help that the heat is interfering with the city’s power generators. This means that not only is it hot, but notices are popping up within everyone’s implants to be mindful of how much electricity they are using. Blackouts appear to be happening all over the base and the city. Electricity is being rationed, and when residents exceed it, it’s cut off.

This is having a devastating impact on the people of Neo Tokyo. The fact that it’s hot and there isn’t much air conditioning is one thing. Hospitals are also struggling from an influx of patients being admitted due to heat stroke, dehydration and severe sunburns. Fires are breaking out more often in the heat and this is only making things worse.

On top of it all, restaurants and stores have been greatly impacted by the electricity rations. Refrigerators and freezers are not working, so food storage is a problem and fresh ingredients are going bad. Restaurants are desperate to sell off what remains of their stock before it spoils. LILITH has been giving out food ration bars and non-perishable meals (such as canned food) and it’s been keeping the people from starving, but their subpar taste doesn’t seem to help the morale one bit.

While LILITH knows that older Outsiders have just had a difficult mission, there’s no choice but to activate them once again. A mission brief will pop up in everyone’s implants:

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:

✖Contain heat-wave related fires and conduct rescue operations
✖Assist hospitals to care for the influx of patients while they may not have the power to use their medical equipment
✖Distribute water and food rations to citizens in need
✖Assist restaurants and supermarkets to salvage their food supplies as far as possible

While things aren’t looking too great, the Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency is promising that temperatures will go down when the rainy season comes along. There hasn’t been much rain recently, however …

▶ 004. WELCOME TO OKINAWA.

After a few days of continued efforts to support the people of Neo Tokyo, things seem to have calmed down. LILITH has fired up some backup generators that are able to power the hospital and essential services, most of the fires have been contained, and the hospital has been able to get its patient load under control. LILITH has stepped in to further support the city, with their drones working hard to hand out supplies and provide medical aid. Restaurants continue to struggle, but nobody is starving, and LILITH is working hard to get the power back in operation.




On July 5th, there is a message from Captain Yamakawa:

“My Angels of LILITH. You may be at ease now. Our dedicated staff will take over from here. It’s been a difficult month for us all. To show appreciation for your efforts, we have organized a company trip to allow you the appropriate rest and relaxation. We do ask that you gather some supplies since food is short in Neo Tokyo, but that should be an easy task for our talented workforce. Please report to the data portals for departure at once."

Departure is set at 1100hrs, and Outsiders will be provided a water bottle and some sunscreen. Once they step through the data portal, they will be met with soft sand, the hot sun, and clear, beautiful waves - Welcome to Okinawa! Specifically, Outsiders will find themselves in Emerald Beach. While the water is pristine, the first thing Outsiders might notice is that there are unnaturally large coconut crabs all over the shoreline; with the majority of them the size of a large dog, and the largest of them about the size of a car.

Nearby to the beach, there are many abandoned fruit farms (such as watermelon, dragon fruits, mango and pineapples) that may have fresh produce for Outsiders to harvest. With how the rift changes the environment, some of these fruits have grown humongous in size. On top of that, the water appears to be cleaner than that found in Tokyo Bay. There are fish still swimming in it, and while some of these fish appear to have mutated, they do not appear inedible.

This is probably what Captain Yamakawa means by ‘supplies’.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Coconut Crab
SIZE: 24 inches (size of a large dog) to about 5 meters (size of a car)
CLASS: Mild threat
LOCATION: Shoreline, ocean, forests
ABILITIES: Razor-sharp pincers with formidable gripping force - once it grips on to something, it is difficult to break free. Very hard shell that would take effort to crack.
WEAKNESS: Poor eyesight and hearing. Helpless if you tie them up. Becomes stunned with a knock to the head.
EXTRA NOTES: Apparently very delicious.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Hunt and capture coconut crabs. Alive is preferable for the best quality meat.
✖ Harvest fresh fruit

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

▶ 005. THIS IS A VACATION WE PROMISE.

“Are they seriously making you guys work on your vacation?! This is why we can’t leave everything up to that stiff-ass commander. This should be our beach episode! Don’t worry, your daddy Seok Dang’s got you. Take a crab, take whatever you want, have a damn barbeque! Lie on the beach until your tan comes in. Get nude! Let’s get this party started!”

(LILITH would highly discourage anyone from actually taking off their clothes.)

Following Seok Dang’s message, outsiders will notice a pop-up appearing in their eyes, prompting them to accept an outfit upgrade. If accepted, they will find themselves in beach-appropriate attire (player’s choice) using LILITH’s Style Upgrade technology.

Despite Seok Dang’s bid for a party, Outsiders will have to make their own fun in this abandoned beach. They are free to do as they like, whether it’s having a swim, lying in the sand, playing a game of volleyball with an old ball that happens to be lying around, or cracking open a watermelon to share. He does try to encourage things along by sending a few gifts. Through the data portal, several drones will emerge and drop off portable grills, boomboxes, and alcohol from his private stash. For some reason he’s also unleashed a robot that is insistent on challenging Outsiders to a watermelon slicing competition. It looks like he’s serious about this beach episode …

Outsiders may travel between Okinawa and Neo Tokyo throughout the few days using the data portals. There are no resorts in operation in Okinawa, but should they choose to stay near the beach, they may set up a camp or sleep in an abandoned house or hotel.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our fifth 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 13 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! (Note that Las Vegas is currently being rebuilt and will be made available to visit sometime next month.)

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.

For oldbies: for a job well done after the last kaiju mission, 250,000,000 KRYPTOS (~1700 USD) will be deposited into everyone's account. And to our kaiju MVPs: we haven't forgotten you! Those characters will get their due recognition next event. :)

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each and will count towards July AC.

TDM #5 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 food ration bars. Newcomers are placed in gray loungewear while they are being sorted into teams.

2. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Senior Outsiders return from Las Vegas via the data portal and will experience side effects such as dizziness, nausea and headaches. Newer Outsiders are tasked with taking care of their senpai.

3. TOO HOT TO HANDLE: There is a heatwave and that's messed up the power grid, leading to a city-wide electricity ration. Hospitals are struggling, fires are breaking out and black outs are happening all over the city. Restaurants are struggling to store their food so there there is a shortage of fresh food. Outsiders are tasked with assisting the hospitals, containing any fires, distributing rations to citizens and assisting restaurants to salvage their supplies.

4. WELCOME TO OKINAWA: With the chaos in the city now under control, LILITH has sent all Outsiders on a vacation to a beach in Okinawa. The caveat is that they will need to gather food supplies. These supplies come in the form of a coconut crab kaiju, fresh fruit and fish.

5. THIS IS A VACATION WE PROMISE: Seok Dang is eager to get this beach party starter. He's updated the implants, allowing all Outsiders to swap into beach-appropriate attire using LILITH's Style Upgrade technology. He's airdropped portable grills, music players and alcohol for Outsiders to enjoy. There is also a robot challenging people to watermelon slicing competitions. Outsiders can do whatever they want to relax at the beach.

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Comments

Yzak Jule | Gundam SEED | Current Character

[coordination]

#001: WELCOME, NOOBS

[ Yzak was a new soldier, once, and when he became a commander he got plenty of newly graduated soldiers assigned to his team. That's why he can't help but to seek out anybody he notes as a new face (since by now he knows who's here already) to introduce himself and see how they're adjusting to things. Old habits to take care of his team die hard. Whether it's in the cafeteria or elsewhere in the base, your character is approached and given a quick, sharp salute. (another habit) ]

Lieutenant Colonel Yzak Jule. If you have any questions you want answers to that aren't coming from these implants, maybe I can help.

[ He wasn't immediately trusting of the answers he got through the system when he first got here, after all. He's still always lowkey Mad that he got these ocular and brain implants forced on him in the first place. ]

---

#002: MROWWW

[ At some point after the power issue gets stabilized in Neo Tokyo, Yzak considers job aspects. The assigned job for "Andreas Vesalius" by LILITH was working in a cat cafe. Something Yzak did not want to do. However, upon returning to the base, he realizes that he does need to make a few extra bucks if he wants to do more than just scrape by here. Unfortunately, Yzak is also a man who feels bound to duty, so he wants to abide by that fake backstory to ensure that he doesn't raise any suspicion. For now, anyway. If he gives this a try, he figures, he can at least quit and give the image of A Guy Who Wants To Look For A Different Job Because The Cat Thing Just Didn't Work Out.

So here he is. At the very cat cafe YOUR character has the urge to come to. Who doesn't want some tea and snacks while playing with and petting cats? And as fate would have it, it's Yzak who approaches your table in a striped uniform with a cat-shaped apron tied around his torso. A bunch of the cats are following him around, chirping affectionately, almost as if they can tell that he is cat-coded and thus, One Of Them. (and really a little softie nerd inside)

He keeps his posture and his general vibe as he always does, like that of a soldier. Straight, serious, focused. But it's part of his uniform that gives away what's going on beneath the surface, as the headpiece he has to wear with it is a small techy device that sprouts two holographic cat ears on the top of his head that twitch and move in tandem with his feelings. They're mood ears.

(REFERENCE PHOTO FOR THIS PROMPT!!) ]

Good afternoon. [ A good start, until Yzak continues. ] My name is Andreas, and I'll be your—

Your—

Nyarista, today. [ Those holo-ears twitch and swivel back, not quite hitting airplane ears, but for sure getting there. He exhales a little heavier than intended, so it almost sounds like a defeated sigh. ]

We have specials on all of our catpuccinos this afternoon, and our lunch special right now is the ... Live, Laugh, Loaf Lunch, that comes with a drink and your choice of two items from our bakery.

Please remember that your being here helps us keep our resident cats safe until they find their f— their furever homes. [ He hates this.] And if you have an interest in taking one home with you, please don't hesitate to request an application to fill out.

[ He says all of this with the resolved tone he always takes, his expression sharp and firm. But it doesn't take much to look at him and see in his eyes how much he's suffering. His ears are flat against his head, now. He wants to die inside.

This is worse than war. ]

---

#003: BEACH EPISODE

[ Yzak isn't so easily swayed to go to Okinawa and take a break. It probably takes some convincing from others around him to get him to go, and even then he brings along a couple of books, intent on at least doing something of substance while he relaxes on the beach. Please ensure he does not just sit there and read the whole time, please help this man.

He's at least got THE VIBES going while he's here, his hair pulled back and sunglasses on top of his head (but you know it's actually THIS shirt he has on since canon has blessed us with Okinawa official art wow it's like fate).

Yzak will for sure take a dip in the water because the heat on Earth is still something he's not very used to. Humidity? Who invented that? Give him a nice weather-regulated space colony, thank you. But he doesn't really do much in the water aside from take a brief swim. Whether it's doing something in the water or tapping into his extremely easy-to-trigger competitive side by challenging him to a game of volley ball, drag his ass into something fun and wholesome. Hell, grill something slightly wrong so he can come over and tell you no, you've got to chop that thinner, don't grill that for very long or it'll get too tough!

Or just sit with him and have a drink and chat. He won't mind that, either.

(but also make him have fun he needs to Chill so much) ]

---

#WILDCARD & ETC

(( Want to do something else? I am literally open to everything so send me a surprise if an idea sparks joy. Contact for ideas/plotting/questions/etc is gaignun, urtv on Discord, or DM this account! ))

[istandwithmycancelledwife]

[ Strictly speaking, can Kalim afford to be here? No. That's okay, though: he doesn't understand budgeting, and he wants to hang out with some cats.

The server, though... ]

Wow, you sound really embarrassed about this. Don't you like cats?

GOD,

[coordination]

I-I'm not embarrassed!!

[ He squawks out in response, face going pink because Kalim is correct, actually. He is extremely out of his element here, but stubbornly determined to not feel like he "loses" to it. Somehow it's possible for those holo ears to get even flatter, because they do. ]

And I like cats just fine!

[ As if on cue, one of the cats following him around rubs up very affectionately against his leg. ]

[istandwithmycancelledwife]

[ Hmmm! Kalim looks unconvinced.

With total sincerity:]

You don't need to be embarrassed! I think this is a really cool job and the names they have for everything are fun. Aw, and the cats like you, too!

2

[yuwon]

[ why did yuwon walk into this establishment, absolutely no one knows, including himself. however, while it's true that he wasn't especially drawn to anything outside of the realm of his objectives and his hobbies in his downtime mostly encompassed increasing the proficiency of his skills— it's true that he did take it easy at times and hit the city. he probably walked in not realizing what kind of place it is, especially as he's just sat down and is now looking around.

when yzak ends up turning up and going over his ... work spiel, yuwon just kind of stares. it's difficult to discern if he finds the situation funny, or just awkward. he stares for a long while before: ] I'm surprised you could say all of that with a straight face. [ he says as if yzak was completely unaware of this. not yuwon being one of those jackasses who can't play along. who is really being cringey here.... it's always yuwon. ]

You look familiar.

[coordination]

[ Surprised, huh.

He drops his voice slightly. ]

You and me both.

[ Because he's Suffering, but by now he's so determined not to fuck this up because he hates fucking up. And he doesn't want to leave something half-finished, even if it's something silly like this.

At Yuwon's observation, his voice drops even more as he leans in a little closer to the other man, since he knows this guy by face, too. ]

That's because I'm from the base.

[yuwon]

[ that makes sense. not ... all of this, but that he hasn't simply memorized his face entirely in vain. it only made sense they'd encounter one another in the halls or during missions. but, he supposes it makes sense that he'd try and adapt to his role here.

maybe he should be grateful at the job he was suggested to take (or perhaps, it was a mere coincidence and it's the one that conveniently fell onto his lap). that said, while yuwon is fairly stoic, it's clear he's pondering over something, before he continues. ] You didn't consider another field of work?

Well, I guess it works out. Tell me about the bread. [ lol. ]

1

[infinitejustice]

[Yzak isn't the only one with that habit -- as they're in a military setting, the new arrival ends up saluting in return through pure muscle memory. Once that's out of the way, though...well, let's just say that this particular newcomer should look very familiar.

For his part, Athrun recognizes the person addressing him as soon as he lowers his hand. They may both be older and more mature now, but there are some things that just never change.]

Yzak!?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[coordination]

[ One of those many, unchanging things is the way Yzak greets Athrun, regardless of time passed, planned meeting or not, even where they've been spirited away to another universe entirely.

As if roused from the automatic way he's going about to greet the new arrivals by Athrun's voice (and somehow that voice simultaneously sets off both the realization that MAYBE he's glad to hear it because PERHAPS he's missed it since he doesn't hear it as much in recent days, as well as the urge to FIGHT and YELL), Yzak stops, whirls right back around to face him with a brief look of utter shock. ]

Athrun—!?

[ Said shock quickly morphs into a scowl, as Yzak begins to step (stomp) toward him. HERE HE COMES. ]

Why the hell are YOU here!?

Had to pull him out when I saw a canonmate!

[infinitejustice]

[Aaaaaand there it is. Athrun expected this from the moment his mind processed who was speaking. It really is amazing how some things stay the same in a world full of change. Or worlds, plural, in this situation.

Athrun presses a forearm over his stomach to keep himself from laughing. Despite that, he can't stop his shoulders from shaking just slightly. Or one corner of his mouth turning upward. Given that everything else around them is so unfamiliar, seeing a familiar sight -- including Yzak and his standard greeting to him -- helps take some of the edge off of the sense of unease he's had since his arrival.]

You know, I was wondering the same thing. It's not every day I wake up in another version of Earth, after all.

[There's also a hint of amusement in his voice.]

3

[bowtography]

[ Worry not, March 7th is on the case!

By... Running over to him, in a bikini that... well, it's a bikini, and her hair pulled back into two fluffy lil pigtails, and while he's sitting there, she's reaching for his hand to tug impatiently. ]

Seriously, what are you doing? At least come in the water for a little bit with me! I'm on a mission!

[ A very serious mission, apparently. ]

[coordination]

Hey—!

[ Wow he was READING!! Yet he doesn't give her any resistance when she grabs and tugs at his hand when he really could. He so easily could. He could shut this down immediately if he really wanted to. ]

What do you mean mission...?

[ Pulled to his feet, his free hand grabs the sunglasses on his head and tosses them onto the chair he was just sitting in if she's going to bring him into the water. His question is tentative, because he's Yzak ... MISSIONS are very important to him and thus he's drawn to the idea. But the question here is what KIND of "mission" is this... ]

[bowtography]

I need you to help me find fifteen different seashells!!

[ Obviously. Very important. He truly doesn't understand how important this mission is. ]

And you seem like someone who's got good eyes! [ Is she just making things up now? Hard to say. ]

2

[saudadist]

[ Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare

Lucy has no words. She found the address of this cafe in her pocket and decided to stop in because hey, maybe Nyuu had it for a reason? But uh...she wasn't expecting anything like this. ]

Lost a bet, huh?

[ Her eyes flicker for a moment. Did she just take a picture?! ]

[coordination]

HUH? No! I don't lose!

[ Yes he does he's a huge loser, actually. ]

And I wouldn't take a ridiculous bet to do something like this in the first place!

[ This arguing is doing NOTHING for his image or situation, here.

He sees her eyes (Nyuu? Angry Woman Whose Name He Doesn't Know Who Threatened to Kill Him?) flicker. ]

DID YOU JUST TAKE A PHOTO?!

3

[eirs]

( listen, it's not like she's a masterchef at cooking monstercrab bits. how's she supposed to know what to do with this shit?? )

They're big.

( that's all she has to say about the fact that she's setting it on the grill for waaaaay too long. in fact, he gets to watch as she takes one out to take a bite out of it while it's piping hot with nothing but her hands. it is, indeed, chewy. it's like watching her eat jerky. it's unseasoned too, but you won't see her complaining.

she'll gesture at the rest. )

Want one?

( isn't she just so kind........ )

[coordination]

Yeah, they're big. But that just means you've got to do the right calculations in your head to adjust the time you've got to cook it for!

[ Yzak watches Tao bite into and chew that crab meat with a sickened horror that he does not bother to hide on his face. ]

Eugh...

I'll pass. Let me try cooking one of those so you can eat something actually edible!

3

[transmit]

[ They might've never met in person prior to this, but a picture is all Elysium needs to recognise a face when he sees one. He pops out of seemingly nowhere, really, giving Yzak a sidelong glance with a bit of a smile. One might expect Elysium to judge someone for bringing a book on a vacation… maybe he would if he's observed it for several days, but honestly?

He gets it. One of these days, they'll get to chess… ]

It's not so bad to read a book where the weather's fair. Best of both worlds, they'd say. [ At least, with the ocean breeze, the heat isn't nearly as suffocating. ] Is that what you picked up back in Vegas?

[coordination]

[ Yzak peeks up from under his bangs at Elysium, seeing him in his peripheral before he actually speaks. Thankfully the book isn't all he has with him so that implies reading isn't all that he's doing. He's got a drink next to him, and his hair is still damp enough to tell that he's gone into the water recently. But aside from that ... still pretty boring, honestly! ]

It is.

[ He slips the bookmark sitting on the armrest into the book and shuts it briefly so he can put his full attention on his teammate. ]

I didn't get the chance to see if I could get a couple of other books I wanted; studying I'd like to do while we're on downtime between missions.

002

[busternaut]

[You know... Dearka has been at Yzak's side through many an embarrassing moment. Hell, he helped precipitate several of them, horrible little enabling sidekick man that he is.

Let it be known, however, that he had nothing to do with this one. The suffering that Yzak is experiencing in this moment? All self-inflicted, the natural results of the man's own perfectionism.

So with all that said: the shared history between Yzak and Dearka, the two of them sticking together through thick and thin, through hell or high water? Probably just steepens the sense of betrayal that comes with seeing how much Dearka is absolutely living for this, and not even trying to make things easier on his buddy, at all. He sits through the whole spiel, grinning like a horrible little cheshire cat himself, and then at the end, his eyes flash as he takes a quick picture.]

I know you had your reservations about the uniform, Andreas, but I think the ears suit you.

[coordination]

[ The worst part of this betrayal is that Yzak understands it. He knows he looks ridiculous. He knows he sounds ridiculous. He knows every single thing about this whole situation is ridiculous. So said shared history and knowing Dearka best means that Yzak knows this is the perfect source of amusement for his best friend.

One of the three cats at his feet give his shin a hearty, affectionate headbutt while another meows up at him, as if they're agreeing with Dearka that his ears are very nice on him. A fourth cat has leapt up into the chair next to Dearka and gives him a curious sniff, but ultimately it, too, seems more interested in Yzak. It's like they know he is their brethren.

The comment about the ears turns his cheeks faintly pink, and somehow it's possible for those ears to get flatter because they do. Hell, he barely needs the ears as a mood indicator because he's bristling up just fine on his own as he spits, voice low, between gritted teeth. ]

You bastard, did you just take a photo of me!?

a very special prompt c: (4 dearka)

[coordination]

[ Yzak does not plan to spend his entire day here reading. He's down to take a dip and do some laps (gotta stay in shape!) and he will absolutely get clowned into a game of volleyball; all someone's gotta do there is challenge him and taunt him that he'll lose and he'll be right on his feet, puffing up and squawking that no the fuck he will not!

But before any of that, he's got to prepare and take the right precautions before he steps out into the sun for an extended period of time. Coordinators can deal so much better with heat, but that doesn't mean they can't burn out there when exposed for too long. Sunglasses on his head, hair pulled back, and shirt draped over the back of his chair, Yzak is in the process of applying sunscreen like a responsible pasty ass bitch.

Thankfully, he's very limber, so it's smooth sailing!

For the most part.

Limber as Yzak is, he can't reach every part of his back no matter how hard he tries. And he tries, because he's stubborn like that and he doesn't want to ask for help with this. But he's going to have to, he concedes to himself with a fussy groan.

As if fated to be, Dearka happens to be passing by - or let's be real, coming back, since the two of them probably came in and set up their lounge area together. Did Dearka see his plight before his gaze is caught, now locked (trapped) with Yzak's? Whether he did or whether he didn't, he's been Seen. And his partner's in need of some help. ]

Hey. [ Yzak waves the tube of lotion in his hand. ] Help me out with this.

[busternaut]

[He is, in fact, returning. Dearka had wandered off to snag a few slices of melon from the latest contest held against Seok Dang's overzealous robot, and now he's back with a few wedges in hand. One is already nibbled on and still halfway up to his mouth when Yzak tries to grab his attention.

...And thank god for the melon, TBH. It's enough of an excuse to cover for the moment of faltering confusion he experiences piecing together what Yzak is actually asking him to do. Dearka goes slightly slack-jawed for a second before diverting his attention to the pieces of melon; a not entirely inappropriate consideration, since his hands are a bit full and he can't just. Set the melon down?? On the sand???

He shrugs helplessly, waving the pieces of fruit in his hands very slightly.]

You just have to ask while I have juice all over my hands, huh?

Volleyball shenanigans...

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio doesn't indulge in sporty activities very often. Not because he's uninterested, but because it is a form of activity that requires more time than he is willing to invest. In terms of efficiency, it is better to workout to maintain his health. If time were not an issue, however, he thinks he'd be more inclined to play.

Thus, when he is invited to play a round of volleyball with other Outsiders, he has no reason to reject them. He would not consider himself the competitive type, but the nature of the game draws him in and he finds himself taking it more seriously than he should.

Should Yzak be wandering along the beach, he'll find Ratio in good spirits, standing to the side of the volleyball field, taking a well deserved drink of water after a round. When Ratio makes eye contact with him, he'll offer a nod in greeting. ]

[coordination]

[ Yzak's excuse for less sports is the same. Too much work, and that's not even including the possibility that part of his military could spring an attempted coup and force him onto the battlefield ... which is exactly what happened just prior to his coming here. And that itself was a mess he was in the middle of cleaning up before he got dragged into kaiju fighting.

Knife combat and firearms training half count; ultimately that's for work too, but back in the military academy Yzak saw those things as a challenge because he wanted to graduate at the top of his class and have the honor of wearing his military's red uniform.

Competitiveness, however, is exactly what draws Yzak in. All it takes is even the most lighthearted of challenging jokes from one of the current players to get him fired up and ready to prove himself. So here he comes, stomping through the sand with a look of determination on his face. ]

I'll be with you for the next round. [ Since the numbers were just one off from an even match-up. He eyes everyone else standing around and hydrating, catching their breath for the next game. ] How's the game gone so far?