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sinfucks2024-06-30 09:10 am
synfluxmods) wrote in sinfucks2024-06-30 09:10 am
Entry tags:
TDM #5
TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #5
ā¶ 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 thereās 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.
ā ā ā LOADING COMPLETE ā¦ BEGIN ORIENTATION ā¦
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 thereās no guarantee they will provide them with a straight answer ā¦
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 doesnāt 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:
"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 thereās 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.
ā ā ā LOADING COMPLETE ā¦ BEGIN ORIENTATION ā¦
Name:
Username:
Civilian Identity:
Age:
Species:
Origin:
What is your darkest fear?
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 thereās no guarantee they will provide them with a straight answer ā¦
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 doesnāt 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."
ā¶ 002. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
Existing Outsiders will receive a call to report to the data portal within Las Vegas. Theyāve done their parts helping to take down the worm kaiju and assisting with the clean up of the city. LILITHās army of cleaner drones can take the rest from here. Itās been a physically and emotionally draining mission for everyone, and itās time to head home. The beaming back to Neo Tokyo will go rather smoothly for the most part (and yes, holding someoneās 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 itās terrible ration bars). Give them a massage, or cheer them up because theyāve had such a difficult mission! Itās a great way to build bonds and get to know your teammates. Ask them what happened in Vegas! Theyāll be more than happy to tell you.
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 itās terrible ration bars). Give them a massage, or cheer them up because theyāve had such a difficult mission! Itās a great way to build bonds and get to know your teammates. Ask them what happened in Vegas! Theyāll be more than happy to tell you.
ā¶ 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 doesnāt seem to be any better. With summer approaching, the city has been hit with a heatwave, and it doesnāt help that the heat is interfering with the cityās power generators. This means that not only is it hot, but notices are popping up within everyoneās 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, itās cut off.
This is having a devastating impact on the people of Neo Tokyo. The fact that itās hot and there isnāt 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 itās been keeping the people from starving, but their subpar taste doesnāt seem to help the morale one bit.
While LILITH knows that older Outsiders have just had a difficult mission, thereās no choice but to activate them once again. A mission brief will pop up in everyoneās implants:
While things arenāt looking too great, the Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency is promising that temperatures will go down when the rainy season comes along. There hasnāt been much rain recently, however ā¦
This is having a devastating impact on the people of Neo Tokyo. The fact that itās hot and there isnāt 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 itās been keeping the people from starving, but their subpar taste doesnāt seem to help the morale one bit.
While LILITH knows that older Outsiders have just had a difficult mission, thereās no choice but to activate them once again. A mission brief will pop up in everyoneās implants:
ā ā ā MISSION OBJECTIVE:
āContain heat-wave related fires and conduct rescue operations
āAssist hospitals to care for the influx of patients while they may not have the power to use their medical equipment
āDistribute water and food rations to citizens in need
āAssist restaurants and supermarkets to salvage their food supplies as far as possible
While things arenāt looking too great, the Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency is promising that temperatures will go down when the rainy season comes along. There hasnāt been much rain recently, however ā¦
ā¶ 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:
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 āsuppliesā.
On July 5th, there is a message from Captain Yamakawa:
āMy Angels of LILITH. You may be at ease now. Our dedicated staff will take over from here. Itās 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 āsuppliesā.
ā ā ā 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.
ā ā ā MISSION OBJECTIVE:
ā Hunt and capture coconut crabs. Alive is preferable for the best quality meat.
ā Harvest fresh fruit
ā ā ā ATTACHED PHOTO:
ā¶ 005. THIS IS A VACATION WE PROMISE.
āAre they seriously making you guys work on your vacation?! This is why we canāt leave everything up to that stiff-ass commander. This should be our beach episode! Donāt worry, your daddy Seok Dangās got you. Take a crab, take whatever you want, have a damn barbeque! Lie on the beach until your tan comes in. Get nude! Letās get this party started!ā
(LILITH would highly discourage anyone from actually taking off their clothes.) Following Seok Dangās 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 (playerās choice) using LILITHās Style Upgrade technology.
Despite Seok Dangās 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 itās 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 heās also unleashed a robot that is insistent on challenging Outsiders to a watermelon slicing competition. It looks like heās serious about this beach episode ā¦
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.
ā¶ 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.
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.
001 (newbies. obvs) š
[ He says. Sourly. With acerbic tone and curled lip, honestly Tezca is probably one of the few people that would either recognize the dour, angry little man. His arms are loosely crossed across his chest, and one eye seems to drink in every detail of the room with his unblinking eye rounding back, and forth, and all around, the other following, but he doesn't have to appraise Tezca to know who he is. The voice is enough.
Odd, of course, that there is someone here that he recognizes right off the bat, and since... he's been dumped the whole load of the same information everyone else has, he has questions about that, but he certainly doesn't jump to ask them. That's because Tezca asked the most important question of all.
Where the hell is he going to find a smoke? ]
There has to be something if there's that few people left. Vices always follow destruction.
[ And he would know that one better than most, wouldn't he? ]
Think they will let us leave? [ A beat, and he spread his hands as if he's being magnanimous. ] If we ask nicely?
no subject
Well, if it aināt my favorite god killer!
[ He laughs, then steps in close enough to throw an arm over Silcoās shoulder. This is Silcoās curse, apparently. Overly familiar gods. ]
One way to find out. Letās get goinā and find some smokes.
[ And indeed, he'll start to head towards the door, where they're likely to get an exasperated fine but also get loaded down with waters and ration bars to distribute. Tezcatlipoca seemingly ignores all this. Silco is much more fun. ]
Outta one pan and into another, huh? Wouldn't call this one a fire, though, 'cept that it's kinda toasty here.
no subject
No, this feels more like a slow burn than an inferno, doesn't it?
[ He does take some of the ration bars and water, though his deft fingers start easily packing them away into the pockets of the frankly too-big loungewear. It all gets swallowed into the mess of his clothing. One hand (or lack thereof) remains in his pocket, careful to conceal that everything he'd once had is missing. Go figure. ]
Think they'll expect us back anytime soon? Or could we simply abscond for a time?
[ He asks, even as they're nearing another door, and given how things looked inside, he's somewhat bracing himself to see what's going on outside. He hasn't realized yet that refusing isn't exactly going to go well for him, but he'll learn soon enough. ]
no subject
However, thatās all quickly set aside in favor of Silcoās question. His expression turns mischievous instead. ]
Probably. But who cares? Whatāre they gonna do, arrest us?
[ Itās a comical notion for both of them, albeit for very different reasonsā¦ But with that, Tezcatlipoca removes his arm from Silcoās shoulder so that he can instead start to lead the way out. ]
Letās abscond and see what happens.
no subject
I can't imagine the authorities would be inclined. After all, they would want us amenable to their fight, yes?
[ This may not be where they were last, they may not be well-regarded like they had been in Kenos, but that doesn't mean that Silco thinks they would run after them for the crime of... looking for smokes and exploring.
Perhaps a slap on the wrist, at best, then. The authorities weren't exactly scary to people like them. ]
You read my mind. I'd much prefer to tackle this after finding something to smoke.
[ He follows Tezca, letting the god take point, since this was a new location, and Silco felt no shame at being guarded. Especially since he could feel how...diminished he was at this moment. Without... anything that he had so relentlessly pursued prior. What good had it done, in the end? ]
Given everything in this building, I suspect what lies outside is going to be rather different than where we were before.
[ Silco has no concept of technology at this scale. Hell, the burn of an implant still makes his skin crawl to think about, because the idea of something foreign in him make him want to rip it out for fear it will be used to leash him.
Then again, it already has. ]
no subject
Yeah, no shit. Theyāre lucky that Iām real chill, so far as gods go. Addinā something to me is practically desecration, right?
[ Heās joking, mostly. He really is quite laid back about that portion of things, since he doesnāt have real attachment to this body in the first place. It was something to fulfill a practical need, and once his job was done? Itād be gone, and heād return to his true abode. But thatās not something heād get into with Silco anyways. The guy just wasnāt a theology sort, so. No need. ]
But, hey, Iāll take the upgrade. This place looks like it has real firearms. [ yay š ] Like somethinā out of a sci-fi movie. I dig it.
no subject
Hm. Suppose it does.
[ Silco has never been much of a firearms expert, but given his sudden... lack of skills, he's a touch more keen on it than he had been before. Especially given that they were supposedly going to be fighting something. Great. Bring him here, and cut off from everything that he had amassed all in one. Stupendous. ]
Everything else looks like it is far beyond anything I've ever seen before. [ A twitch of his lips. ] It's all a bit... cold, don't you think? No personality.
[ To be fair, his city's tech runs off of his drugs so. ]
no subject
[ He laughs, since now that their worlds are definitively fine (backā¦?), it feels slightly more relevant to bring this up. ]
Did I mention that I can see the future? Not here, of course, and only got some peeks in Kenos when I decided to go fishinā with Matt, but thatās part of why Iām almighty. So, yeah. This is the aesthetic that pops up in some of āem. They like the clean look. Lots of psychoanalysis you could do on that, Iām sure.
[ He sweeps quickly by a group of NPCs that look like they might stop them on their way, since heās just looking for an exit at this point. The quicker they can get outside, the better. Heās definitely interested in seeing how that looks especially. ]
Anyways, welcome, I guess. Do lots of learninā while you can and take things back. I guess thatās the idea.
no subject
Hm, I wonder if LILITH doesn't want the competition in her augury. [ An insidious part of him ā it's clear in his voice, that there is a hint of an edge to it ā makes him think that there is a dark part to that. A deception. Silco had never really quite believed in anything beyond... well. Zenith had been the closest but had Jinx materialized for good, and begged him otherwise, there was not a force in the world that would have been able to stop him from shifting immediately. ] Anything I had was removed, though I suppose for you it cuts a little more personally, hm?
[ They finally turn to hit a door, and there's a small sign with letters above it. He gestures to Tezca with a flick of his wrist. ] At least we'll have an opportunity to engage in said learning.
no subject
[ He waves a hand dismissively and with a toothy grin that says that he wouldnāt mind that, but thatās not actually true. Heās more careful than most gods with such a consideration, since for all his chaotic, destructive ways, heās extremely mindful of how his presence alone changes the balance of the universe. Once, in the Age of Gods, he could descend as all he was, and it was a thing worth celebrating and fearing in equal parts. Toxcatl was the celebration where he did exactly that.
ā¦But those days were long gone now, not simply for the decline of the empire, but just for the progress of humanity. Even if the Aztecs still ruled in 2017, he wouldnāt have descended for their Toxcatl. The world simply didnāt need gods anymore. Save for the world ending events that Chaldea was involved in, but. That also wasnāt his business, strictly speaking.
Itās not anything he dwells on long, since as soon as they find the door, Tezcatlipoca is the first one to it. He turns and bumps the bar with his back to lead the way, but his attention is actually more on Silco than where theyāre heading. ]
But removed, huh? Yeah, noticed that, but thatās no big for me. For you?
[ He has no fear in pointing it out, and he hums thoughtfully before turning on the bar to take his first look out into the city. Itās not quite the exit theyād been hoping for, since itās a balcony a few stories up, but itās still impressive. Tezcatlipoca whistles, briefly distracted, but he heads over to the side without hesitation. ]
Well, sucks for you, Iām guessinā. You have anything before you get to Kenos, bossman?
no subject
And thus, the... easy acceptance of a fate that Silco had (yet again) shiked.
Tezca often felt... alien (hah) in a way that he couldn't describe well. So different and unknowable, and when Tezca said stuff like "I could cause a cataclysm", it really didn't do much to change that.
Unfortunately, it always served to stroke his ego, when Tezca called him bossman, on top of that. ]
Hm. Quite a bit better if we avoid that, or you may be the Kaiju that we all have to fight.
[ It's said in jest, but there's the implied "unless...?" that's unmistakable in his voice.
Silco, though, is just as distracted by the sight of the city before them, even though they're on a balcony looking down, he can't help but feel... odd looking out a city like this. After spending so much of his time in Zaun, and then Kowloon... this is so different to him. It is not a dank pit, but even so...
Something about the city feels like desperation, or need. People here are hungry, they're desperate. Silco sniffed, half as if he could smell it, and half just to get a feel for the smell of this place. It wasn't as foul, but, the open air never was. He followed Tezca, a touch slower as his eyes wound around, drinking everything in. ]
I had a club.
[ His tone was dour, but his lips curled into slight smile. ] The one thing I had before that Kenos sought to grant me. [ You killed someone for it. ]
Imagine me desperate before, and you will understand that starting from nothing is a place I have been in before. Time, and time, and time again. It is almost as if the universe cannot stand the idea of me with something.
Or, perhaps, it fears me with it.
no subject
If he were here as a Divine Spirit in full, this problem would be trivial, if he chose to wield his power. With an incredibly small effort, he could eliminate the kaiju. It wouldnāt even be by fighting them, and thatās the part that mortals struggle to understand. No, Tezcatlipoca was providence itself, so he could simply pluck the future from where they were already defeated and make it the present. Tezcatlipoca—Tloque Nahuaque—heās almighty in a way that even other gods bow to.
It makes it all the more of a secret contrast that here he is, leaning against the railing looking out to a neon, yet still dim city. He feels that same thrum of discontent, though itās much more literal for him. He closes his eyes to soak it in, like he could still reach out with omniscience to feel the place as if it were part of him, but naturally, he canāt.
ā¦He doesnāt exactly miss it, though.
But as Silco starts to explain, Tezcatlipoca opens his eyes to look his way and listen. His expression starts off as a cool smile, but it doesnāt take long for it to turn a little sharper. ]
And thatās why I like you. Quetzalcoatl aside, even. You donāt half ass things.
[ It sounds like a compliment, but it isnāt. What does unsaid is that Silcoās point of view is actually hilarious. The universe doesnāt give a damn. It fears nothing. Heās just a guy with bad luck and a miserable personality. Quetzalcoatl may have wanted to soothe it, but Tezcatlipoca wants it to burn brighter. Silco is who he is, so why try and change it? ]
Well, third timeās the charm, and I wouldnāt say you got nothinā. Maybe less than Kenos, sure, but survivinā as long as you had isnāt anything to scoff at. Hell, itās why you have the favor of two gods. Not many people in all of history where we're from can say that.
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Tezca's tone made him laugh, all the same. A mean, snide little thing that's barely a laugh at all, but present all the same. ]
I'm glad you recognize it.
[ He says, and it's true. He too, turned his head to look down at the faded neon, the mix of light and crumbling desolation. This world is vibrant in its own way, yes, but it also is a world that is hurting. It reminds him, just a bit, of Zaun ā albeit one that saw sunlight ā and he wondered if the people here were like his own Zaunites. ]
I would have struggled with the very concept of this more, had I not experienced what I had before. [ He admitted. ] We have... Seen things, seen destruction and known it in a way that these people have not. They still balk at death, and find it detestable. They still see the destruction before them, and want to prevent as much as they can.
They have not had everything taken from them yet.
[ Silco, predictably, has not spoken to Lilith yet. Bets are out about how he will take That. ]
This is only another challenge, and I am sure they will be surprised when people like you, and I, meet it head on. [ A pause. ] Well, perhaps as not you, given your godly status. Though I look forward to seeing you fight these creatures. [ A half-beat, before he turned to look at him, his tone edging more toward amusement than that fervent tone he'd held before. ]
Did you know that they are gigantic? These Kaiju?
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[ Itās a single note of a laugh, because Silcoās words make an assumption Tezcatlipoca had mad clear. Silco is a lot of thingsāhe likes Silco. But Silco doesnāt understand gods. He doesnāt understand divinity.
ā¦Which, of course, makes sense. He knows it through gods like Quetzalcoatl and Set, who may have power, sure. But they donāt present their divinity as he does. Quetzalcoatl, a deity of unparalleled strength, but whose downfall was loving humanity unconditionally. And Set, a deity who could certainly be moreā¦ But for now, he still struck of youth and all its flaws when it came to divine right.
He doesnāt hold it against Slico. Itās just funny, considering. ]
Yeah, I do. Iāve fought things like this before. Iāve created an entire world by slaying a monster so massive that its corpse made all the land in the world.
[ Sure, Quetzalcoatl helped, but that wasnāt the point at the moment. He shoots Silco a sharp, toothy grin. ]
So. Youāre my acolyte. What do you think about this new prospect?
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[ He muttered, a touch of amusement to it. This was the kind of thing he had heard from plenty in Kenos, people who had done great and grand things, and saw it as their right and their given. Tezca was like them, in that, but he understood the Struggle, too. The conflict.
What Silco called the base violence necessary for change, Tezca saw it as his domain. ]
I find the whole thing...curious. [ He admitted. ] Giant monsters, and they treat it like it is the greatest threat they have ever seen.
The people here do not know what it is to lose, I think. Not like we have. They see these as something to fight, and destroy, and it appears they are happy to merely prevent deaths.
I wonder if this world is even worth saving?
[ None of them were, to be frank, but he didn't share that. Tezca already knew that about him. ]
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[ His toothy smile shifts to cocky, but only for a moment before heās back to serious. After all, part of why Tezcatlipoca gets along better with Silco than his brother is that in many ways, he doesnāt present himself as a god. Heās used to interacting with people, soā¦ He doesnāt feel a need to drive in the fact that strange, impossible circumstances are practically ordinary for him.
Instead, his expression gets more cooly serious as Silco speaks, and he breathes out the kind of laugh that seems almost tired. ]
Good questions. Kind that makes me really want a damn smoke.
[ Silco has a talent for inspiring that feeling, heād argue. But he props his head in his hand as he looks out into the city. Even without his omniscience, he feels like he can still see some of its character. ]
I mean, it is the biggest threat theyāve seen. Nice one, too, since itās somethinā you can fight. So far as ends of the world go, itās ideal. Easy, even.
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[ The sound is noncommittal, but there's a pause, he turned his back on the city, instead of facing it, thin arms crossed over a thin body, leaning against the railing while he did so. He tipped his head up, looking at the too-bright sky. ]
I suppose compared to simply... not-existing as our worlds encountered, this is a far better apocalypse than we had.
[ He wondered, what it would be like, for their worlds to encounter something like this. Sure, it sounds like Tezca's was used to it, but he could imagine Piltover trying desperately to craft weapons against a war machine greater than even what Noxus had, desperately scrambling, before turning to the fodder to save the skins of their rich and wealthy. After all, they wouldn't put their high-born into such danger, and thus... who would they send?
Why not the filth? ]
I can think about how it would look, were something like this to happen to my own people. How the powers would work to defeat them. I wonder if they've already done what my world would have, and that is why they try to pull people like you, and me, here instead.
Though, given the size of these creatures, I hope they do not expect me to face it head on. A sneak attack is far more my style.
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I donāt disagree. Humanityās actually pretty self-sufficient. Theyāll try and solve problems themselves before asking for outside help. Whatever that āoutsideā means.
[ However, thatās normal for Tezcatlipoca. Being beseeched is what most people think of when they imagine a godās duties, and itās certainly part of it. He just also has the freedom to not answer. Two places in a row that take that decision away from him is annoying, but at least the reasons are dire rather than petty. ]
To be fair to ya, not many things that could face it head-on, even with beinā powerful. Just think of the ones you met in Kenos. Could probably count āem on one hand, yeah? Canāt imagine itās that different here. [ He shrugs ] For you, though. Well, bigger ask, obviously. Gonna have to step it up.
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At least around Tezca, he understood that the god was about harsh truths ā at least he guessed so ā and there was no kindness to be found in a harsh truth like this. ]
Good thing I have experience in... stepping it up, as you say. If I can't get back to where I was, I will simply have to adapt, hm?