synfluxmods: (Default)
𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2024-03-13 07:11 pm

▶ TEAM BUILDING EVENT #2

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #2


CONTENT WARNINGS: forced scenarios, altered mood, illness, disaster aftermath, kidnapping, interrogation & torture, violence.

▶ 001. FLOWER VIEWING.

The Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency is very excited to report that cherry blossom season has begun, and the cherry blossom (and plum blossom) trees are blooming right on schedule once again. It’s a rare time where the concrete jungle of Neo Tokyo blossoms in beautiful shades of pink and white, and due to past conservation efforts to protect the natural cherry blossom trees, there are natural trees in season all over the city. It’s a sight to behold, and the people are very excited about it, setting up picnic mats and enjoying the beauty of nature with their friends and family. Even with all the distractions of technology, even with the looming knowledge that the next Kaiju could advance at any second, Hanami continues to be a popular custom, still being practiced centuries after the world was first at siege.

Outsiders are free to do as they like during this period. Some of the city still needs to be rebuilt from the recent floods, but stall owners have organized themselves splendidly to capitalize on the season. Traditional foods and snacks to enjoy with your loved ones at Hanami include dango, cherry blossom cookies, sakura mochi, onigiri, and hanami bento sets including sushi rolls, kamaboko and tamagoyaki. Prepare your own, or grab one at the many stalls offering them on their menu. Lots of places are selling sake at half off.

For Outsiders who want to do more than sit at the picnic, they can break up fights between the locals over the best picnic spots (they are very intense about this), or help track when the trees are blooming throughout the city and report directly to the Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency. They’re happy to pay. If Outsiders choose to report where trees are blooming, they will accept a small form on their ocular devices and encouraged to walk in a pair or group for accuracy when gathering information. The form will include date, location, the kinds of trees blooming and how well they are blooming. (Players are free to head canon any information about this.)

Those who stay too long amongst the flowers might find themselves coming down with an … interesting form of hay fever. Symptoms can include flu-like symptoms, or uncontrollable giggling and elation. Looks like the flood waters from before are affecting the trees in some way.

"Mrrow … The effects will wear off in a few days. I’m a busy cat. Drink water, get plenty of rest. Come back when there’s something to actually worry about. Now, Alex, where did you put my mousey – "



▶ 002. WHITE DAY.

Here in Neo Tokyo, LILITH wants all its Outsiders to be happy and bonded as a team. A team that cannot work together will crumble in the next Kaiju attack. While it’s a great sentiment, the organization is a little too fond of … coercive methods. Just as chocolate was provided last month for Valentine’s Day, Outsiders will be airdropped several boxes of chocolates on March 14th, also known as White Day. A brief is beamed to their implant:

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Return the chocolate previously handed out to you on Valentines’ Day.
✖ For new Outsiders and Outsiders with leftover boxes, hand them all out to other Outsiders by the end of the day.
✖ Failure to comply will be grounds for disciplinary action.


Just as before, a failure to comply with these requirements will result in Outsiders being saddled with cleaning duty of the cafeteria and communal showers for a week, or a house arrest of 24 hours in their rooms.

As a note, we are leaving it up to players to decide how many boxes they are saddled with and how much they need to do to avoid punishment.


▶ 003. BUDDY UP.

With new Outsiders arriving at the base, LILITH wants them to feel as welcome as possible. Older Outsiders will be tasked to take a newbie under their wing and buddy up with them for a number of days (to a few weeks). The newbie, meanwhile, will be ordered to shadow a more experienced Outsider throughout that whole time to learn as much as possible about life as a LILITH recruit. LILITH expects the oldbies to act as a true senpai, but will ultimately leave it up to them to decide how best to nurture the new arrivals. A Shutterstock image will appear in the implants along with suggestions. Some suggestions provided by the LILITH Outsider Management Committee include:

✖ Giving them a tour of the base and city.
✖ Training sessions in fighting, use of weaponry and use of technology.
✖ Welcome parties and dinners to make them feel included.
✖ Shadowing the older arrival throughout their daily routine.
✖ Heart to heart sharing sessions about their worries and anxieties.
✖ Physical and mental health check ins.
✖ Buddying up with them during upcoming missions, simulation training and even the Kaiju fight.

These team ups will be assigned by LILITH randomly, and one newbie can be buddied up with multiple older recruits (the system might glitch on occasion and pair older Outsiders together too). How long the pair ups last is up to player discretion. Non-compliance on the part of older or newer Outsiders will be punished with increased cleaning duties. LILITH hopes to foster a culture of mutual growth and support within its employees!

As for recruits who have not been getting along, old and new, LILITH has been hearing everything spoken between Outsiders. Some need exercises to get along. Outsiders will be asked one morning to meet in the Simulation Arena and line up in an orderly fashion. Captain Yamakawa will be going down the line, shuffling characters who need to get along together. She will place a small, metal device on their wrists.

With a push of a button, two characters will be linked together by the wrist by a pair of invisible handcuffs. They are asked to spend between 24 - 48 hours together and go about their day, encouraged to talk about their vulnerabilities or things they have in common. This is to encourage them to get along.

✖ Spend a day or two with someone you hate and find a common ground. Good luck!


▶ 004. AID & REBUILD.

LILITH is dedicated to protecting and flourishing the city of Neo Tokyo. That’s why it’s pulled in Outsiders with such a wide array of skill sets. Every Kaiju attack devastates the citizens in some way - whether it’s through physical hurt and pain, emotional grief and stress, or losing a home or livelihood. It doesn’t help that there was panic around animal hybrids being let loose in the city shortly after. That’s why Outsiders will receive a similar objective each time: Rebuild the city of Neo Tokyo. This general objective is broken down into many small missions that Outsiders will receive throughout the month.

█ █ █ ASSORTED MISSIONS:
REBUILD THE CITY. Following the repeated flooding, many apartments and businesses have been destroyed. Outsiders are tasked with helping to rebuild homes and support the local businesses to recover. This can include aiding the construction work (particularly along the beach and near to the coast) and helping out at local shops. Many shops selling specialty Hanami treats are looking for help making their goods. Never made sakura mochi before? Today, you will learn. Outsiders are free to assume that their workplaces were affected and call out for help.
AID THE PEOPLE. Outsiders with skill sets in healthcare or healing (or whoever wishes to help) will be tasked to support the clinics and hospitals manage their patient load. This can include cooking for hospital kitchens, changing linen and caring for the sick and wounded.
CLEAN UP. Exactly as it says on the tin. Clean up any marine waste that’s been washed onto the shore or rubble that’s fallen in the wrong place. Hazmat suits in outrageous colours are provided on request.
CAPTURE REMAINING HYBRIDS. Though most of LILITH’s specimens have been contained, Dr. Spim (who’s been saddled with inventory work) reports that there are some still missing - and this includes their most valuable specimen of all. Outsiders are tasked to go hunting for these hybrids and bringing them back to the base. They may need to scour the streets or look through social media to find them. They may also need to steal a beloved pet, if said pet looks more like a winged rabbit than a regular rabbit. (Outsiders who have smuggled hybrids for themselves should take care not to be found ❤)



▶ 005. LEVEL 000.

Later during the month, some Outsiders will be tasked with a very specific mission. Remember those auctioneers who were captured at The Sapphire Room? They’re currently in the custody of LILITH, and with most of LILITH’s staff focused on organizing and containing the hybrid specimens that have been captured as well, they are far too bogged down to conduct their usual interrogation processes. This is where the Outsiders come in. Some Outsiders will receive a special mission to interrogate the captives and retrieve information by any means necessary. It works out splendidly too, because it shows the organization just what their imported workforce is … morally capable of. Outsiders will be paired up and brought to LEVEL 000, a basement level within the main base that is restricted access only. Did we always have a basement level? Best not to think about it.

A guiding drone will lead them to the cell room and instruct them to keep their eyes forward. There’s no need to look at the other cells around you. There is no one of interest there. Within the cell is one of the captives from the raid, who’s bound to a chair by metal shackles.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Extort information from the captive by any means necessary. LILITH requires information about the whereabouts of Dr. Tanaka Junichiro, the organization behind the kidnapping, how they managed to trip up LILITH’s systems, and information about the whereabouts of the remaining hybrids (including their most valuable specimen).
✖ Outsiders are permitted to use any method they see fit, including physical and psychological torture. Weapons of torture such as blades, pliers, tasers, whips and torches are available for use. Outsiders may not take any weapon with them when they leave the cell.


Following the interrogation, they will be escorted out of LEVEL 000 by the guiding drone, and they will not be able to access it again without special clearance. Successful extortion of information will be rewarded with 50,000 KRYPTO debited to their accounts.

NOTE: This mission will be shared with only certain Outsiders, so it is essentially opt-in. Players who want to receive interrogation clues about the Starlight X mini-plot can comment below and receive an RNG clue. We will leave it up to players to NPC their own captives. Most of them are small-time gang members looking to make an extra buck or mercenaries hired to guard the auction. For extra moral panic, there are one or two regular people down on their luck who ran into the wrong crowd. Please note that due to the limited number of captives and the information they may know, players may receive duplicate clues.

UPDATE 3/16: Players will have until the end of March to submit for interrogation clues.


▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our second CR Building event! All prompts are highly encouraged but OOCly optional. Feel free to ask any event-related questions below!

As always, you are free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts!

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each. Have fun! The next log will feature the kaiju fight and will be posted on APRIL 1st in lieu of a TDM.


astarion: (12)

[personal profile] astarion 2024-04-10 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, that laugh. This is a man who's been through a lot, hasn't he? Astarion feels that kind of wry weariness in his own undead, non-beating heart, even if he isn't the sort of letting it show right at the start.]

The Five Fingers which are... what? Bodyguards?
immortalpoet: (Default)

[personal profile] immortalpoet 2024-04-10 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
They all have their own abilities and skills and whatnot, but they're akin to large criminal organizations. Though they're not exactly indebted to the Head, so to speak, and will act on their own wills for the most part. Think of them as like rabid dogs who get to the scene before the master of the house does. Some of them even go into war with one another.

[MASSIVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, GOTTA LOVE IT]
nutkick: (3 - XpthuFq)

[personal profile] nutkick 2024-04-10 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ fine, if bakugou wants to pretend he's not the one holding a big sign that reads 'slow the fuck down' then so be it, denji had already decided on how he will approach this new, fresh attraction and it is by acknowledging that sign. the taunt is a tad adorable, even when it made him a bit confused as well. however, the ease in denji's features said it all; he'd rather be a coward over a predator. when the time is right and bakugou is ready, it will happen. it should happen, right? he honestly didn't know the etiquette of getting someone to bed without blatantly asking them 'can we do it now?', but he's willing to learn the art of courtship.

blissfully unaware he was aggravating his date by checking out the other outsiders, denji proceeded by guiding them both to the locker rooms. ]


I get covered in blood after each mission or a big job. It's not easy to wash it off your hair, ya' know. I run out of products fast.

[ bakugou had seen how bad it gets; not only did he need to cleanse himself from the dry blood, but also small pieces of flesh and skin. it's a tedious process that requires a lot of time, effort, and products. luckily, he's not as dirty tonight and it was unlikely he would burden bakugou by finishing off his fancy shampoo in one go. once they reached the designated area, denji was quick to notice the space was clouded with steam, implying someone had recently used the place for a hot shower; whoever it may be, they were not around anymore and they walked into an empty space. he takes a moment to regard the other boy, quiet, before he heads out to his assigned locker which happens to be the one facing bakugou's. ]

Okay, I'll pick one. The more expensive one!

[ for now, he'd leave the other to undress and put his gear aside, that alone might take some time considering the many segments bakugou had in his suite. as for denji, all he had was casual wear that was easy to get rid of. he started by shrugging off the dirty jacket, followed by the shirt he had underneath. there's a section in his locker in which he can store the dirty clothes and he shoves it into that corner, deciding the boring task of laundry can be taken care of tomorrow. this wasn't their first time being here together, true, yet— staring down and watching himself unbutton his pants, knowing bakugou will join him in the shower soon after, made it a bit different this time ... and not in a bad way.

with his clothes tucked aside and his locker door shut, denji turned towards the other boy, just in time to watch those back muscles flex as he pulled his top over his head, exposing a few fresh scars bakugou had from their previous mission. then, quietly- ]


I'll go ahead ...

[ a few feet in and they will find the line of stalls, another open space that will accommodate a group of 4 to 5 outsiders with minimum privacy; denji reaches out to switch the handle, and a strong stream of water bursts out and he begins to test the temperatures under his fingers. ]
ownself: (☾ 21.)

[personal profile] ownself 2024-04-10 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, the Goddess of Death.

[Of course!

... Wait.

Shousetsu blinks once, twice, then a third time with slow incredulousness.
]

The... Goddess of Death, Ereshkigal.

[UH, that information did not process right away. What a powerful Servant...! And how ironic it is that revealing one's True Name matters not now, when it meant all the world during their wish-granting ritual. Still, Shousetsu isn't sure if she should be bowing or making a more formal introduction. Instead she only nods, resisting the urge to apologize again for not noticing her presence right away.]

... Lady Ereshkigal, then.

[Hopefully she won't mind that title?]

You are correct. My Servant and I were both brought here shortly after...

[Ah, but Ushi Gozen is not truly her Servant anymore. Shousetsu mentally shakes away the gloomy thought of that.]

Please, allow me to offer you something as thanks. They are serving sakura mochi at the stall over here...

[She turns, glancing over her shoulder expectedly.]
likemybooks: Taryon enchanting an armor (Vex - enchant)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2024-04-10 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
It's all about preparing and planning for a fight. You can't go in with nothing and improvise everything, or you might end up dead. [He pulls out the roomba and clamps both hands on either flat side. There's a soft glowing beneath his fingers as magic is infused into the circuitry and etched runes on the metal casing, and when he finishes, Banazîr looks like any normal robot. If Yuwon can detect magic, he would notice that some of it has been stored inside the little friend.

Ban goes back into the bag.]
I can also cast a Sanctuary if you can't fight. It'll be harder for guards to get aggressive with you as long as you don't make a move against them. [There's a metaphor in there that Tary doesn't feel like investigating too much.] Ready? Let's get in.
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (💥 Rivals in the bathtub.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2024-04-10 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[he already held up his slow the fuck down sign! if he was gonna flash it again, he would. it's not like bakugou thinks denji is stalking him like a tiger ready to pound on a deer. they both know the blonde isn't going to do something he doesn't want to do. of course, his mind's still on the idea denji was aiming for a mouth-to-mouth rather than jumping straight into bed. but considering how he's heard the half-devil talk, maybe he shouldn't be surprised? ... then again, mr not gay wouldn't be aiming to bed a boy now would he. bakugou's not the only one giving random whiplash. is he interested in denji? ... hell yes. does he realize denji's got no clue how relationships word, for the most part? ... yep. rushing into things, making a mistake, regretting some aspect of this, all elements of getting closer to denji that bakugou wants to avoid.

if he really is the first person to give denji a positive relationship, bakugou wants it to be the best he can. even if he's going into this first time as well. (look, boom boom isn't irked at the guy looking at other outsiders. more irked denji's distracted when they're supposed to be doing something else.) move it.]


Tch. All right.

[can't argue that when he's seen the results first-hand. blood gumming up denji's hair, clinging to his skin, drying out in black crusty areas. gross. given the hot baths denji liked, odds are there were a number of times bakugou helped him during the winter. half because sitting in a steamy bathroom was better than freezing in his damn room. worked out for both of them. plus denji was more than tolerable company compared to many other people. he glances around the steam-filled bathroom, curious if someone else is here, but finds out they're alone. good enough. bakugou spins the combination for his lock and opens the metal door. the normal stuff in there, shower supplies, toiletries, an emergency change of clothes if needed.]

Uh-huh.

[he pulls out the bottle like you'd finger a book off the library shelf. setting it aside with his shower bag, bakugou works on removing his costume. gauntlets, mask, collar, belts, gloves, boots, pants, bodysuit. he can put a fair bit of it in the cleaners, but tends to clean his gear in person by hand. this brings a flashback of the first time he met denji. here in the locker room, when the guy decided for them both bakugou was his partner. as much as he denied it back then, the young hero's come to realize how true those words were. denji's become his partner in multiple ways, from battle to sparring to police work to cooking to whatever. even chores like grocery shopping.]

I'll catch up.

[bakugou lets denji head off before him, but unbeknownst to the half-devil, those red eyes flick up to the small rectangular mirror attached to the inside of his locker door. where he can see denji's reflection within the silver frame. a strong back, broad shoulders, hard to imagine the guy a scrawny alley kid, and yet... his eyes wander lower despite himself and bakugou promptly shoves his locker door shut, eyes closed and a miffed expression on his face. bastards.

he kicks his bag off the ground and catches it out of the air before tossing his towel over his shoulder and following after denji. meeting him near the stream. he reaches out a hand to check the water temperature as his other arm slings the towel up onto a hook and his bag onto another one. he did say join him, so... not like he hasn't seen denji naked before. tub and hot spring previously. though... it's a little different this time.]


When you called me your partner here the first time... why'd you do that?
likemybooks: talking to someone to the side (thoughtful)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2024-04-10 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Well-

[Oh. He's safe. He doesn't have to go into panic mode, it's fine. Taryon looks at the shelves of girly manga, likely full of romance and possible allusions to a goddess of love.]

You know, I don't know how good these stories are. I never read them. But I have a really great adventure series in my room if you want to be safe. It's about a group of halflings that join an adventuring group to save the world. And there's some romance in it.
thundercrashes: (vwxyz dragon catapult cannon)

[personal profile] thundercrashes 2024-04-10 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[The time frame given gets Manjoume to slow his steps here, no longer marching along and dragging the other boy here. Now they can walk at an even pace again as Manjoume mulls it over.]

Right... it's only two days, at most. It can't be that hard, especially for people like us to be able to deal with, and then we can rub it in the stupid, smug faces of LILITH afterward.

[So it's fine! This is fine. It'll just be a rather long hang-out session and having to eat together and stuff. They're mature, they can handle something that simple, right?]
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 And I said I don't care!)

[personal profile] blastedass 2024-04-11 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[At least they're walking again. Bakugou shoves his hands into his pockets, one as best he can again, and scowls at anything living (or not) like it's the worst enemy in the world. As much as he's irked by LILITH kidnapping them, these forced social experiments are absolutely loathed.]

Tch. [But the lack of comment on that at least says he agrees with Manjoume's idea. Being able to middle finger back at them over this shit would be amazing. Even more so if nothing they wanted came from it. He an Manjoume can operate as they normally do together.

Meaning: Crash.]


You're sleeping on the floor.

[Right for the jugular. To say nothing of what happens when bathing.]
thundercrashes: (w wing catapult)

[personal profile] thundercrashes 2024-04-11 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Somehow, he can't even say that he's surprised somehow that Bakugou makes such a declaration in response to the proposal of them having to share a room for the next two days.

But, it works nonetheless in getting Manjoume to whip his head around and glare at the other boy.]


The hell I am. You can be the one who sleeps on the floor.
keihatsu: (pic#14527765)

[personal profile] keihatsu 2024-04-11 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
All you've ever known...

[ Muttered under her breath, Shizuka has used those words herself, whenever she's asked about how she can continue fighting for days, weeks, months without stopping. But today she learned a bit more about Ishmael, and the thought of it lifts her mood a little as it gave her a crumb for her curiosity to snack on. ]

Of course. I'm happy to have helped.

[ Perhaps someday she can tell Ishmael about space. Navigating it has always been likened to navigating the open sea, and like her own experience with the ocean, Shizuka's experience with outer space was also full of danger. Shizuka sees nothing much else to do here so she readies herself to leave, but before she did, Shizuka wanted to add: ]

You can call on me should you need any more assistance. From now on.
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Don't go spouting that shit at me.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2024-04-11 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Look, the rest of the shit is obvious in how they can operate together. Eating might be an issue unless it's simple fare. Soup or some shit like that. Going to the same place? Maybe just stay in the damn room and read. Showering and bathing wouldn't be that bad. (Uh, other aspects, however... would be fucking mortifying.) But when it comes to stuff like sleeping and dressing?

That glare gets a scowl right back.]


I'm not sleeping on the damn floor! It's my fucking room!
seaurchin: (92)

[personal profile] seaurchin 2024-04-11 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ Megumi is actually quite a tidy person and will be washing the bowls thoroughly. ]

Will you be ... giving the cake to someone for White Day then?

[ Maybe in his cold and dead heart he's curious if there's someone Bakugo likes. ]
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (💥 PISSED!)

[personal profile] blastedass 2024-04-11 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's certainly better than some people Bakugo's seen in the kitchen. Meaning the guy gets trusted to finish up those while the blonde works on cleaning the counter top.]

Hell no! I'm gonna slice it and put it out in the common room for anyone!

[Which fulfills the requirement to "give away" the chocolates "to people" without having to fuck around with the awkward invasive bullshit that is giving a piece each to individual people.

Genius.

Gonna have to try way harder than that, Megumi, if you wanna get that kind of information out of Bakugo.]
queenofkur: (aaa 011)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2024-04-11 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah... Even though she didn't do her full introduction, somehow Shousetsu is impressed! That's so nice! Maybe that means she can stop with the theatrics? It's so tiresome sometimes. But she'll think about that later and listens to her.

Something... About her Servant saddens her? That's the impression she's gotten from that pause. Hm. She's curious, but it's best not to touch on the topic. She knows if it was her, she wouldn't want someone she just met to try and get into her business just like that. ]


I do not believe my actions to be worthy of such thanks, but...

[ She closes her eyes and smiles brightly. ]

That... That's very kind of you. I shall accept gladly.

[ Another kind Master! Maybe they're more common than she first thought? Or maybe this world only draws the good ones. She's not sure which it is, but she likes this turn of event regardless. ]
queenofkur: (kab 001)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2024-04-12 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
Mhm...

[ This doesn't sound like a bad story. But she doesn't want to read a romance as the side meal right now. She wants it to be the main meal! Still, perhaps she should be making more of an effort. Maybe they can make this an exchange! ]

And I do have a romance book about a goddess and a demon... Perhaps we could do an exchange?
rikugan: (pic#16726528)

[personal profile] rikugan 2024-04-12 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. You'll have fun.

[ he can guarantee it.

honestly, it's his own fun that he's more concerned about. please don't disappoint him, yuwonnie. he has high hopes.
]

I might even let you touch me a little, if you make it worth my while. [ he strokes his chin thoughtfully. ] Let's find somewhere desolate outside of base though. We can go all out that way.
plagiarists: (148)

sobbing as i write this tag bc of everything else that has transpired in the meantime

[personal profile] plagiarists 2024-04-12 08:49 am (UTC)(link)
Uh, yeah... it's the near-death rush that makes it fun, totally.

[ Time to make 345983458934 excuses beforehand why she can't go. ]

By the way, can you finish this hanami report for me? I forgot I had something important to do at the base.

[ Maybe +1 excuse to get out of here first, that's too much power of friendship for her to handle for one day. ]
seaurchin: (7)

[personal profile] seaurchin 2024-04-12 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
Oh ... I guess that should fulfil their requirements.

[ Probably. He's still curious, but he isn't the type to push for answers or gossip. ]
yuwon: (pic#17041715)

[personal profile] yuwon 2024-04-12 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ communication could readily be a great skill to have, especially if it transcended a difference in spoken or learned language. it's a contrast to abilities he's known or seen within the tower...

but, now that he's nabbed it, he does see the little wings.

do people really go crazy for this kind of thing? he cants his head, trying to get a better look at it, before he looks at winter. his expression could not be flatter.
]

... [ a heavy sigh. ] Really?
plagiarists: (116)

[personal profile] plagiarists 2024-04-12 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
It always feels weird whenever we find out that we have something in common.

[ Her usual mocking tone is not there—actually, her lips curl up into a small smile. ]

I would be a shitty sailor, though. I can only curse like one.

[ Even if unprompted, Sooyoung can't hold herself back from making that comment. ]

I haven't written in years, to be honest. [ She shakes her head. ] I don't write to survive. I just write for the Readers so they can survive.
likemybooks: looking up and thinking (gears are turning)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2024-04-12 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Taryon has to consider this. Some romances were excellent literature, but his standards were higher than that for stories filled with action and intrigue.]

Sure. If the prose is fun, why not? [He moves his chained hand towards the door.] Let's go.
nutkick: (18 - NJVDYfC)

[personal profile] nutkick 2024-04-12 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ denji was already under the water when the other boy approached him; the temperature was warm, leaning on the hot side, which explains the quick build-up of steam around them. it's how he likes it and maybe bakugou, too. the unspoken rule any of them can toy with the handle and make the changes, so no pressure to get it right from the start. it took him some time to hear that question, frowning at first as if he was not sure what the hero was talking about, and then it hit him. ]

Oh, yeah. I did ...

[ he takes a step back, offering bakugou some room to join him under the water, very much cautious to keep his eyes on the other's face and nowhere else. let's see how long that will last. it was a good question, a good distraction, and he plans to take it to heart. the first day in this city was a hard one for denji, like the rest of the outsiders, even if he seemingly came off as apathetic. however, in reality, he was disassociating from the drastic changes in his life to the point it was debilitating, while others managed to regroup themselves, denji was stuck and vulnerable. as he recollects his mindset that day, he understood why he did it, even when at the time he didn't. he takes in a breath- ]

I was scared. This is not surprising, as a lot of us felt fucking spooked by the whole thing. But, I noticed a lot of people managed to pull themselves together and head out, but I stayed behind. Unsure what to do with myself ...

[ he hated it when that happened. denji wished he could stop it, but it's hard to fix something when you don't know what is the trigger. his lips curl up and he makes a face, almost ashamed of what he's about to admit. ]

I think I called you my partner for no reason other than fooling myself that I'm not really alone here. But, now that I think about it, I think I chose you because you didn't come up to me with a smile. I know that sounds weird, but everyone who fucked me over walked into my life with a beautiful smile on their face and a soft voice. I couldn't confront someone like this that day. You were the only one I could trust.

[ denji might be desperate and he will still fall for a pretty face and a gentle touch even whe he is still painfully aware of that liability. he is tired of people lying to him, pretending to like him when they didn't, and mostly— he is fucking sick of himself falling for it after everything he's been through. it's like an obsession; the physical solace. he's so ... starved for it. he couldn't resist it. and then we have bakugou who presented himself as he truly is, no fucks given if he will offend someone so long as he stays true to himself. someone who is the embodiment of truth, what you see is what you get, and what a breath of fresh air he is. since they met, the hero has never disappointed him. he never lied to denji's face and kept it real, he didn't coddle him yet he also took care of him with the principle of actions speak louder than words. he stayed by denji's side not out of some obligation but because he wants to and the half-devil fucking believes him.

he can't even express how much that means to him, to be seen as an equal in bakugou's eyes and not someone to be used and abused. ]


And I was right. We are partners.

[ denji kept a casual vibe, not trying to ruin the mood by being too sentimental all the while making an effort to give an honest confession. there's a lot more he can say, but chose not to. bakugou is smart. he should know that he earned endless loyalty from the half-devil by now because he feels like he's been saved. whatever pain denji has experienced before, the fear of it happening again, doesn't exist between them. he is important to him, too important to lose, which ultimately highlights that he'd taken a huge risk by desiring to have more from bakugou, more intimacy and acceptance; testing the limits in a dangerous gamble under 'curiosity' when it's actually greed. it could ruin a friendship he never had with anyone before yet he's willing to that risk for the sake of having more of him. it's not fair others can get to experience this level of closeness with bakugou, his savior, and he couldn't. it's not fair ...

he lowers his gaze, careful again, eyeing the cleaning products the other has brought along. he reached over for the shampoo bottle, opened the lid, and leaned in for a sniff. ]


Yup! That's the one.
Edited 2024-04-12 16:50 (UTC)
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Everyone else looks like shit...)

[personal profile] blastedass 2024-04-12 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
It worked for the damn Valentine's Day crap. It'll work for this one.

[Wasn't confined to his room or punished for the action, so apparently the letter of the law applied.]
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (💥 Bared beneath it all.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2024-04-12 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[denji's right in figuring bakugou likes hotter showers the steam and warmth is relaxing and invigorating, making it a lot easier to rest and hang out under it. as the cloud of vapor fills up the room, bakugou gives the handle a small twist just to nudge it a safe-breaker's more towards the best temperature. cause there's only a micro millimeter between fantastically hot and fucking freezing. as for the question... it's something that occasionally returns to his mind, considering the number of things he does together with denji. even more so now with this new development. partner... huh.

bakugou stands beside the half-devil in the shower, eyes lingering on the wall before glancing to denji aside. the resolute way he's focusing his eyes on his face is pretty telling, half amusing, half annoying. this guy has such a weird gauntlet of expectations in himself. but he knows denji's working on the answer. not a flippant response of "don't know" or "because" but actually putting in the thought and musing it over. you have to admit, up and declaring someone their partner is fucking weird, especially between strangers. it's not like LILITH mentioned partnering off in the first round of outsiders. denji's decision was his own and bakugou listens quietly as he explains himself.

re-walking through the memories of their first days here isn't that easy. it returns to the frustrations, the alienation, the confusion, anger, fear, unknown... things he hates feeling. coupled with the disgust of being kidnapped once again, terrified over what he'd left behind in his world and the people there he knew were in trouble. a lot of those feelings have been allayed over time and learning how this place works, but bakugou will never forgive LILITH for their actions, nor abandon his intention of getting home... and making sure everyone else here is able to go home too.]


You're right. That sounds fucking weird. But coming from you, I can understand it.

[denji's experienced betrayals from kindness, an orphaned boy who's probably bounced from one "good experience" to the next, getting burned, hurt, or otherwise damaged along the way each time things fell through. it explains a lot of his actions and stances on things. he's long suspected the guy had experienced getting used and abused; this only proves it. no wonder he takes so hard to people who are nice to him, or why he relied on bakugou so often, or said things about the hero's life being put together and stuff. they're completely different in backgrounds, a talented golden spoon versus a struggling twisted fork.]

You drive me up the wall a lot. We clash on so many levels. But you've always been someone I can rely on too.

[strange to reveal that, yet if he looks back on everything they'd done together, there isn't a single time bakugou can say he's seriously regretted having denji has a partner. sure when he's pissed off at him, he can think those angry "why the fuck?!" thoughts, and he'd be an idiot to think he hasn't exasperated denji on some level(s) before. but despite the half-devil's issues and shortcomings, bakugou's seen his strength and his heart. damaged and emotional, denji's strong, he has a drive and isn't stuck in his own pain so much that moving forward is impossible. he's learning for himself, maturing and figuring out who he wants to be, even if there are massive stumbles and confusions along the way. life's not easy for denji, but the guy hasn't given up on it. that says a lot to someone like bakugou, who despises people that let their weakness serve as an excuse to stay pathetic.

denji is an amazing partner, someone bakugou's come to see as an equal to be trusted and counted upon. a friend and more.]


Aa. We are partners.

[no hesitation. just honest agreement. he doesn't ever want to be the source of denji's pain. high-tempered yelling and frustrated pounds on the head notwithstanding. chainsaw's partnered with a bomb after all. they don't have to say a lot for bakugou to understand much of what's running in the undercurrent below denji's words and feelings. the risk the guy took confessing those feelings to him, from wanting more emotions to wanting more intimacy to wanting something greedy or curious, is impressive and he respects that immensely. it's the main reason he's here right now. what comes of it is unknown, but there's something childish about denji wanting to experience more because others potentially might be as well, heedless of the fact he's basically experiencing much of the same his self-perceived "rivals" are (or just might in some case). childish and endearing, even if bakugou would be loathe to express the word.

the shampoo bottle leaves his hand so denji can take a test of whether it's "the one" - of course it is, dumbass. he's only got the two. right now. but bakugou catches the bottle back from him before the half-devil can get away from the experience just now. before he himself can lose the quiet heat in his chest that's pushing up (and down) from those words. and turning, shoulder knocking against denji's to "force" the other guy to turn as well. enough that they're more face to face with a twist of the hip and who cares if their legs follow. so long as he's facing denji for a moment. bastard's like 4" fucking inches taller than him... but he still reaches up and wraps his hand around the ripcord, not to pull it, but just to hold it, to keep denji looking at him.]


I wanna redraw that line.

[don't you dare make him explain himself, ripcord pec... so if you want it, do it.]