On the 13th of October, the network flickers online and several messages pop up. Outsiders will probably recognize the usernames attached to them.
@ KIJYO
castle in the fog skulls watching us sacrifice help us
@ GOLDILOCKS
wolf kaiju Promises protection Found broken radio
@ BANKERBOY
🦸=❌ 🐺💀🔨=less fog 👹=🦇🐺 🧑🌾=💩! 🏰=☠️! go toget
@ ONESTEPFORWARD
We're okay for now. Careful of purple flowers. -🦆
Some Outsiders might notice these usernames to be Lucy/Kaede, Taryon, Nanami and Malkuth respectively. The messages end there and there will be no way to contact the senders or anyone who has gone missing. While Outsiders in the town will be able to use the network to speak to each other, the reception will be spotty and the messages might be delayed. It might be more efficient to simply meet up in person.
▶ AFTERWORD.
The messages from the kidnapped characters are out! Thank you everyone for participating! Non-kidnapped characters may use this log to have discussions (or do whatever else might be relevant). As previously mentioned, after the 7th, they will not be able to contact any kidnapped characters, and their messages to each other will be spotty or delayed (which can make for funny shenanigans if you prefer). It is probably much easier to organise an in-person meeting, but we will leave it to you to do what you like. The townsfolk convene at the church for their daily prayers and worship at about 12 noon every day. Outsiders may use this time away from the townsfolk to have more private discussions.
We have put this up early to allow people more time to thread in it, but ICly it is going up on the 13th and will lead up to the Kaiju log on the 15th. These messages are also delayed. Whether or not the captives actually are 'okay' is up in the air ...
All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.
It leaves me feeling far better than witnessing you put the well being of potential enemies of more import than that of our allies. Whilst you insult said allies. You whine like a spoiled hatching, I grow tired of it.
[ He indulges in a gesture of pure disgust that he can't in his real body. He spits onto the ground before taking his own stance. It's a wide forward facing things, arms up and to the side, legs shoulders length apart. His expression... oddly calm?
He controls his anger, not the other way around. He'll kick Shinn's ass but he's not going to get feral here. ]
I protect my Kin, my Friends, my allies, and the planet. I am aware of where my loyalty belongs. I shall teach you the missed steak in throwing yours in with our enemy's servants.
"Enemy's servants," "enemy's servants"... they're human! Talking about them like they're just in the way, not giving a damn whether they live or die -- maybe kaiju are monsters, but you're just as bad!
[ Screw this, he's giving the reverse-talk! Not the one about sex, the one about "once you have power you become the one who makes people cry." Intentionally defiant of personal safety (and also the fact that he is 5'6), he goes chest to chest with Godzilla, almost vibrating with indignation. ]
You're a a "king," you're a "protector," you're a giant lizard -- have you ever had a war drop on top of you? Have you ever been powerless with a battle going on around you? Have you ever thought about those powerless people when they lose their friends and their families? How the hell is it spoiled to know what that feels like -- ?
[ Oh wait it became the "my family is dead so fuck you your highness" talk. ]
[ At 6'1 they're more chest to face but clear Shinn is doing something right. Godzilla starts chuckling of all things, a deep rumbling sound that breaks way into laughter. Booming, amused laughter! He even brings his hands down on Shinn's shoulders like a comrade would. Mostly to hold the young pilot up.
Because Godzilla proceeds to haul off and headbutt Shinn. Skull cracks against skull and while it fucking hurts the big guy it's also extremely satisfying. ]
Yes, whelp, lecture me on war. Your kind are so very good at it, after all. I would know nothing of it.
[ With a growl he slams his head into Shinn's again, then brings his knee up into Shinn's ribs. ]
What would I know of war started by your kind that drags others into it? What would I know of seeing an entire species die for the sake of a human war?!
[ And then he stomps on Shinn's foot. That's a bit far. He's grinning like a maniac the entire time too. ]
No more. I will not see those I call friend or kin end for the sake of humans whom I do not know! Let the denizens tend to themselves, if they hinder us they die. If you hinder us then you die. By inches. I am not keen on cruelty, yet I shall make exceptions in this instance.
[ Shinn’s willingness to take a few punches without hitting back does not extend to actually getting beat to shit. Getting pinned, in particular, gets the fight portion of his fight-or-flight system revving because fuck crab robots. He manages to take the headbutt on the top of his head rather than getting his nose broken (with a shout, ow) and tanks the kick to the ribs (with a whomph of exhaled air, also ow). But when Godzilla’s foot comes down on Shinn’s, Shinn attempts two things simultaneously given the constraints of Godzilla's hands on his shoulders.
The first is that his other foot comes up in a sharp, brutal kick towards Godzilla’s balls — or where human balls ought to be, Shinn has no idea what happens to balls when a giant lizard gets cloaked as a human. With Godzilla’s hands on his shoulders, this leg has the most freedom of movement, and although it would be nice if he had lasers on his shins, he’ll make do with what he has and try to land this kick with as much force and accuracy as possible.
The second is that he attempts to jam his thumbs into Godzilla’s eyes. Compass’s style of non-lethal fighting is big on taking out sensors, and some things just translate decently from mobile suits to real life. Plus it's a good backup in case Godzilla does not, in fact, have balls.
He also yells while he's doing this. Yelling is a free action.
A beat later, he tries to slam a closed fist just under Godzilla’s ear. If either of the prior moves have made Godzilla let go of him, this will be a two-fisted hit with one hand over the other; if Godzilla still has a grip on him, it will be a single-handed hit.
It's nice that Godzilla has been practicing being a Normal Human, but Shinn is a quasi-metahuman trained up to be the berserker enforcer for a genetic dystopian shitfest. He's not as good at hand-to-hand as his flip-master girlfriend, but he hits hard enough to knock out other quasi-metahumans with one punch and tanks blows from drug-fueled super-soldiers. He's also not looking to do damage for the sake of causing pain — he’s looking for swift, efficient ways to get loose and incapacitate and knows how to pull it off. (Thanks for putting up with him in all those hand-to-hand sessions, Lunamaria, love ya.) ]
Not keen on cruelty —
[ And then he’ll try to skitter out of Godzilla’s longer reach and toward a door or window, breathing hard and favoring the non-stomped foot but still standing and now very much on his guard. There's a wheeze in his words and he’s glancing around the room for things to throw or hit with because wow he wants a giant robot, or even a knife? But honestly he'll just throw a bed if he has to. ]
[ Godzilla's species is always in the prime of their lives as far as he knows. Powerful, quick, intelligent, possessing fully working organs... that the human cloaking technology renders just as accurately as anything else. So Shinn manages to indeed hit Godzilla square in the nards.
That's right, G-man's got nards.
Growling in pain Godzilla staggers back from Shinn, letting go of the lad, stars forming behind his eyes. He can taste that pain in his mouth, he does not like it. Which means its two fists that connect into his head and send him down to the ground, momentarily stunned. TBI Count:63.
This is not happening. He is not getting matched by a human fledgling in hand to hand combat! Even confined to a normal body Godzilla should be more than a match for this ignorant little whelp! There's only one thing that could be causing this ridiculous situation. He's fighting too much like a human.
FUCK IT. Godzilla time. No fair fighting, no control, let the hate and anger flow freely. Instinct exists for a reason and this pilot isn't under the protection of a close Friend.
Before Shinn can fully skitter away Godzilla reaches out and grasps at his, well, shin, attempting to bodily yank the boy down. If that works out the big guy is going to attempt to climb on-top of him and turn this into a bad UFC match, if not he's going to scramble to his feet and grab the nearest potential weapon.
Which in this case is going to be a chair. A chair he will immediately fling at Shinn's head. ]
[ In Shinn’s experience, those fists to the side of the head should have knocked a Coordinator unconscious, so he’s surprised when Godzilla reaches out to grab him. He yells, indignantly! Still, he leverages Luna’s training and uses the momentum of going down to try and flip Godzilla and that chair out the kicked-down door and into the common areas. Shinn wants more space to maneuver, and also as far as he’s concerned if Godzilla wants to be a psycho then he can do it in front of all the other Outsiders housed at the inn.
And if all Outsiders are this particular brand of psycho, then, yeah, getting out of this room still means more space to maneuver and closer to getting out of the building entirely. ]
[ Godzilla isn't entirely sure what's more surprising. That Shinn manages to flip him and his improvised weapon right out that door or that Godzilla somehow manages to land perfectly on his feet. Not one to look into the teeth of a provided equine however Godzilla simply rolls with it. Sure the human can now escape the room, but Goji quickly positions himself by the stairs to prevent further running.
He should really, really stop this. He knows that. But the human fledgling struck him in the reproductives. That didn't just hurt like the offspring of a female canid, it was insulting. He wants at least one good hit in himself before he can back down. ]
Vexing Pilot! Ready yourself to intercept an object.
[ Catch? He probably meant to banterly say catch. Context clues are important in these things and the big context clue Shinn gets is Godzilla hurling the god(zilla) damned chair at Shinn's head. ]
[ Lacus and Shinn have not been apart for long since the conflict started - this is in part because Shinn is functionally her bodyguard, loathe as she is to need one, and in part because honestly? It makes her anxious to not know where her friends are when Yzak is still missing and they do not know how he was abducted.
But this once, she'd stepped away to speak to a villager she'd built a decent rapport with, in the very feeble hope to get any new information-- and as soon as that conversation (as sprawling as it was useless) was over, she'd found that the network had exploded in the meantime.
There is only so many ways to take Shinn giving out his room number. So Lacus is-- well, she does not run, but she's speedwalking back to their apartment and--
Well, there's a yelp from down the stairs, because Lacus just heard that chair crashing. ]
Enough of this madness!
[ Contrary to the undignified noise of surprise a second ago, Lacus sounds composed and authoritative when she raises her voice. Godzilla is going to have to deal with a tiny woman bodily forcing herself through his stair blockage so she can try and get between the two of them. ]
Are you enjoying yourselves, taking out your frustrations on those equally bereaved as you are? Is this going to bring you peace?
[ Oh fug, the boss is here. Shinn snaps upright at her voice like a puppet on strings (which leaves him open for a brutal sucker punch if anyone is feeling particularly vile). ]
-- he started it!
[ Well, started the physical fighting, anyway. Shinn started talking shit about the Imugi. But ughhhh, president, he was so good and Compass-like he stuck to incapacitating.... ]
[ Lacus is a person who Godzilla actually likes to a degree which is a good thing because it means his only response to her pushing past him is to growl as he steps aside rather than further escalate the situation.
Deciding to be the bigger lizard Godzilla does not, in fact, attempt an easy strike on Shinn, however he remains postured for battle as he glares over Lacus at the boy. Something pink blocking him from beating the sense into something cowardly, this really needs to stop happening. ]
Ah. Insulting and dishonest, a pinnacle of your kind are you not?
[ He spares Lacus a glance for half a moment before returning to glaring at Shinn. If looks could kill Shinn would be splattered a few counties over by now. ]
I will not allow disingenuous assertions against my packmates to be spouted by some unblooded whelp! Not even the cowardly little Green Fur was as reprehensible as to lay blame at the Outsiders' feet. This one requires lessons to be taught. Harshly.
[ Lacus is glad to be forming a physical barrier between them - she knows she's not the kind of person people beat up. Being a dainty little woman has a lot of advantages, including being seen as a pretty object too fragile to handle roughly even in times of adversity. With herself firmly placed between the contestants, she feels reasonably sure that the violent part of the fight is over. (Maybe one day her reliance on gendered expectations will come back to bite her and it will be a great shock, then.)
The verbal part of the fight meanwhile is well continuing, with Shinn too childish and Godzilla too grandiose... Lacus feels the headache she's been nursing all week pulsing in her head.
Okay. How to deescalate this? ]
And what will come of those harsh lessons? Will he gain understanding? Or will it be just like the 'harsh lessons' taught by LILITH through grueling punishment in the simulations, slowly spreading discontent and defiance through everyone's already regretful hearts?
[ Lacus also takes offense to Shinn being called unblooded, but that's not something that is her place to contest. So instead she turns to Shinn and continues with... let's call it aggressive deescalation? ]
And will drawing everyone's ire bring the others back to us safe and sound? What is done is done, Shinn. I don't know whether or not mistakes were made before we came here, but even if they were - are we in a place where we can dismiss somebody's input based on past misjudgements? Should we not think through every idea on its own merits instead?
[ This has the mortifying feeling of being caught misbehaving and told off by an exasperated-but-too-patient parent, and he’s starting to feel awful that Lacus thought she had to walk into danger for him (ughhh Athrun telling him that Kira would go ballistic if anything upset Lacus will haunt him forever), so Shinn doesn’t even get to enjoy Lacus telling Godzilla off. He’s looking gloomy and slightly abashed when she starts speaking to him and then —
— are we in a place where we can dismiss somebody's input based on past misjudgements?
He looks up like he’s been slapped, going wide-eyed and open-mouthed, and for a moment he looks like he’s going to protest — but, this is it, the rebuke he kinda thought Dearka would dump on him. He can’t argue against the laundry list of dumb shit he’s done in the past. And at least she didn’t come out and say “Remember that time you almost superlasered an entire country, you moron.”
His mouth sets into a tight frown and he says, flat and unhappy: ]
… yes, ma’am.
[ And for a beat it seems like that might be the end of it but no, wait, he can’t take it it’s too unfair this is one of his core motivationnnnnns. ]
— but they aren’t bothering with any ideas about what to do with the villagers!
[ Any ideas beyond “tell them to scram,” and in Shinn’s book that’s not bothering. He’s back to having real passion and self-righteousness in his voice, with a faint but distinct note of pleading because surely she has to agree that this is shit? At least his tone stays within a proper range of respectfulness. Barely. ]
[ There's a lot of things Godzilla is. Happy to be lectured at by someone far, far younger than him isn't one of those. It's bad enough Dearka and Siffrin did so earlier, especially since they had a good point. Three lectures in one day though? That's too many.
He crosses his arms and lifts the corner of his mouth up in a snarl, stating Lacus down defiantly. ]
It is how Titans are made to learn and remember their place. More oft of late I am reminded that humans are not deserving of that treatment. My thanks for that.
[ Seeing them as equals when for every amazing thing they're capable of there's ten more instances of treachery, cruelity, self-righteous mewling, and short sighted greed? That was a mistake. Outsiders are going to have to earn his trust and respect now, it'll no longer be given out of claw.
Turning his attention to Shinn that snarl turns into a full on growl as he uncrosses his arms and takes a step forward. ]
If it is such concern then you may provide such ideas! A far better use of your time than distracting those of us who search for our packmates with your petulant whining whilst you cringe in a corner, waiting for others to solve all problems to your satisfaction. I have battled actual insects that had more spine than you, Pilot.
[ As soon as Godzilla takes a step forward, Shinn pushes in front of Lacus. He's been pretty blasé about taking hits himself, but at the slightest hint of a threat to her he's all business -- shifting with nearly super-human speed in a lovely trained defensive stance, ready to take a hit or throw it back. (In no particular order, Shinn's thought processes include: she has only used her words and therefore does not deserve violence; notice me taichou; she is ultimately his boss; nagging fear of Athrun kicking him into the moon so hard that his soul leaves his body.) ]
[ Having Shinn push in front of her is the absolute last thing Lacus wants here, but she knows she'd just hurt his feelings by dismissing the protective gesture through reversing their positions yet again - especially not when she can't actually be certain Godzilla wouldn't strike at her as well.
'Not deserving' and 'remember their place' huh... The phrasing reveals the difference between their mindsets clear as day. A place is not something that should be taught, it's something that should be found. 'Learning' through power and authority is nothing but conditioning, not personal growth.
This means that it's going to be difficult to reach Godzilla just through her words right now. Their understanding of the world is too different. Instead she bows her head. ]
I do apologize for the behaviour of my teammate on the network.
[ They're not teammates in LILITH terms but she does not want to call him a 'subordinate' either, so this is the closest approximation of their relationship at home that she wants to give. ]
He was coming from a place of empathy for the people of Seoul, but he went too far and made rash judgements on people who were working their hardest.
[ But then she'll raise her head, and her expression is firm. ]
However, I also know Shinn has been working tirelessly to try and find those of us who are missing. And I know that he will continue to do so, at my side. So I'd ask you to desist from incapacitating him any further. We need all our strength for those we are missing.
[ To his credit Godzilla's eyes stay on the object of his ire the entire time they shuffle positions. Shinn's who he wants to pound into the ground until he learns his place, to him Lacus is little more than a well meaning but entirely misguided bystander. ]
You fight elsewhere, Pilot. We have little need for one like yourself. I am through with you.
[ With a growl of contempt Godzilla proceeds to do what he should've done in the first place. Ignore Shinn. Instead he looks past the boy to give his attention to Lacus, arms crossing, his foot tapping impatiently. All in all he likes the pink furred girl, she's polite, kind, and sensible. But he's getting really tired of pinkettes defending faker pilots who he wants to plant in the dirt. If he had a nickel, two nickels, weird that it's happened twice, etc. etc. ]
Empathy for those that named us "traitors to humanity" over his own pack. Rash is the least of words that can be used for this. Your kind have others applicable, "fool", "childish", "asshole."
[ He has to pause to flick his tongue in and out to rid the taste of that last word. Doesn't matter how many times he's tried now, cursing just tastes wrong to him. ]
I will cease my lesson if he gives apology to those he has insulted, that is my requirement. If he refuses then I shall continue. We will be capable to make do with one less human in our ranks, I am certain. There are plenty others whom hold the worth of two of this whelp.
Edited (hi sorry cat sent the tag early o7) 2024-10-14 03:11 (UTC)
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synflux2024-10-06 11:02 am
no subject
[ He indulges in a gesture of pure disgust that he can't in his real body. He spits onto the ground before taking his own stance. It's a wide forward facing things, arms up and to the side, legs shoulders length apart. His expression... oddly calm?
He controls his anger, not the other way around. He'll kick Shinn's ass but he's not going to get feral here. ]
I protect my Kin, my Friends, my allies, and the planet. I am aware of where my loyalty belongs. I shall teach you the missed steak in throwing yours in with our enemy's servants.
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[ Screw this, he's giving the reverse-talk! Not the one about sex, the one about "once you have power you become the one who makes people cry." Intentionally defiant of personal safety (and also the fact that he is 5'6), he goes chest to chest with Godzilla, almost vibrating with indignation. ]
You're a a "king," you're a "protector," you're a giant lizard -- have you ever had a war drop on top of you? Have you ever been powerless with a battle going on around you? Have you ever thought about those powerless people when they lose their friends and their families? How the hell is it spoiled to know what that feels like -- ?
[ Oh wait it became the "my family is dead so fuck you your highness" talk. ]
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Because Godzilla proceeds to haul off and headbutt Shinn. Skull cracks against skull and while it fucking hurts the big guy it's also extremely satisfying. ]
Yes, whelp, lecture me on war. Your kind are so very good at it, after all. I would know nothing of it.
[ With a growl he slams his head into Shinn's again, then brings his knee up into Shinn's ribs. ]
What would I know of war started by your kind that drags others into it? What would I know of seeing an entire species die for the sake of a human war?!
[ And then he stomps on Shinn's foot. That's a bit far. He's grinning like a maniac the entire time too. ]
No more. I will not see those I call friend or kin end for the sake of humans whom I do not know! Let the denizens tend to themselves, if they hinder us they die. If you hinder us then you die. By inches. I am not keen on cruelty, yet I shall make exceptions in this instance.
no subject
The first is that his other foot comes up in a sharp, brutal kick towards Godzilla’s balls — or where human balls ought to be, Shinn has no idea what happens to balls when a giant lizard gets cloaked as a human. With Godzilla’s hands on his shoulders, this leg has the most freedom of movement, and although it would be nice if he had lasers on his shins, he’ll make do with what he has and try to land this kick with as much force and accuracy as possible.
The second is that he attempts to jam his thumbs into Godzilla’s eyes. Compass’s style of non-lethal fighting is big on taking out sensors, and some things just translate decently from mobile suits to real life. Plus it's a good backup in case Godzilla does not, in fact, have balls.
He also yells while he's doing this. Yelling is a free action.
A beat later, he tries to slam a closed fist just under Godzilla’s ear. If either of the prior moves have made Godzilla let go of him, this will be a two-fisted hit with one hand over the other; if Godzilla still has a grip on him, it will be a single-handed hit.
It's nice that Godzilla has been practicing being a Normal Human, but Shinn is a quasi-metahuman trained up to be the berserker enforcer for a genetic dystopian shitfest. He's not as good at hand-to-hand as his flip-master girlfriend, but he hits hard enough to knock out other quasi-metahumans with one punch and tanks blows from drug-fueled super-soldiers. He's also not looking to do damage for the sake of causing pain — he’s looking for swift, efficient ways to get loose and incapacitate and knows how to pull it off. (Thanks for putting up with him in all those hand-to-hand sessions, Lunamaria, love ya.) ]
Not keen on cruelty —
[ And then he’ll try to skitter out of Godzilla’s longer reach and toward a door or window, breathing hard and favoring the non-stomped foot but still standing and now very much on his guard. There's a wheeze in his words and he’s glancing around the room for things to throw or hit with because wow he wants a giant robot, or even a knife? But honestly he'll just throw a bed if he has to. ]
— my ass!
no subject
That's right, G-man's got nards.
Growling in pain Godzilla staggers back from Shinn, letting go of the lad, stars forming behind his eyes. He can taste that pain in his mouth, he does not like it. Which means its two fists that connect into his head and send him down to the ground, momentarily stunned.
TBI Count:63.This is not happening. He is not getting matched by a human fledgling in hand to hand combat! Even confined to a normal body Godzilla should be more than a match for this ignorant little whelp! There's only one thing that could be causing this ridiculous situation. He's fighting too much like a human.
FUCK IT. Godzilla time. No fair fighting, no control, let the hate and anger flow freely. Instinct exists for a reason and this pilot isn't under the protection of a close Friend.
Before Shinn can fully skitter away Godzilla reaches out and grasps at his, well, shin, attempting to bodily yank the boy down. If that works out the big guy is going to attempt to climb on-top of him and turn this into a bad UFC match, if not he's going to scramble to his feet and grab the nearest potential weapon.
Which in this case is going to be a chair. A chair he will immediately fling at Shinn's head. ]
no subject
And if all Outsiders are this particular brand of psycho, then, yeah, getting out of this room still means more space to maneuver and closer to getting out of the building entirely. ]
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He should really, really stop this. He knows that. But the human fledgling struck him in the reproductives. That didn't just hurt like the offspring of a female canid, it was insulting. He wants at least one good hit in himself before he can back down. ]
Vexing Pilot! Ready yourself to intercept an object.
[ Catch? He probably meant to banterly say catch. Context clues are important in these things and the big context clue Shinn gets is Godzilla hurling the god(zilla) damned chair at Shinn's head. ]
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But this once, she'd stepped away to speak to a villager she'd built a decent rapport with, in the very feeble hope to get any new information-- and as soon as that conversation (as sprawling as it was useless) was over, she'd found that the network had exploded in the meantime.
There is only so many ways to take Shinn giving out his room number. So Lacus is-- well, she does not run, but she's speedwalking back to their apartment and--
Well, there's a yelp from down the stairs, because Lacus just heard that chair crashing. ]
Enough of this madness!
[ Contrary to the undignified noise of surprise a second ago, Lacus sounds composed and authoritative when she raises her voice. Godzilla is going to have to deal with a tiny woman bodily forcing herself through his stair blockage so she can try and get between the two of them. ]
Are you enjoying yourselves, taking out your frustrations on those equally bereaved as you are? Is this going to bring you peace?
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-- he started it!
[ Well, started the physical fighting, anyway. Shinn started talking shit about the Imugi. But ughhhh, president, he was so good and Compass-like he stuck to incapacitating.... ]
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Deciding to be the bigger lizard Godzilla does not, in fact, attempt an easy strike on Shinn, however he remains postured for battle as he glares over Lacus at the boy. Something pink blocking him from beating the sense into something cowardly, this really needs to stop happening. ]
Ah. Insulting and dishonest, a pinnacle of your kind are you not?
[ He spares Lacus a glance for half a moment before returning to glaring at Shinn. If looks could kill Shinn would be splattered a few counties over by now. ]
I will not allow disingenuous assertions against my packmates to be spouted by some unblooded whelp! Not even the cowardly little Green Fur was as reprehensible as to lay blame at the Outsiders' feet. This one requires lessons to be taught. Harshly.
no subject
The verbal part of the fight meanwhile is well continuing, with Shinn too childish and Godzilla too grandiose... Lacus feels the headache she's been nursing all week pulsing in her head.
Okay. How to deescalate this? ]
And what will come of those harsh lessons? Will he gain understanding? Or will it be just like the 'harsh lessons' taught by LILITH through grueling punishment in the simulations, slowly spreading discontent and defiance through everyone's already regretful hearts?
[ Lacus also takes offense to Shinn being called unblooded, but that's not something that is her place to contest. So instead she turns to Shinn and continues with... let's call it aggressive deescalation? ]
And will drawing everyone's ire bring the others back to us safe and sound? What is done is done, Shinn. I don't know whether or not mistakes were made before we came here, but even if they were - are we in a place where we can dismiss somebody's input based on past misjudgements? Should we not think through every idea on its own merits instead?
no subject
— are we in a place where we can dismiss somebody's input based on past misjudgements?
He looks up like he’s been slapped, going wide-eyed and open-mouthed, and for a moment he looks like he’s going to protest — but, this is it, the rebuke he kinda thought Dearka would dump on him. He can’t argue against the laundry list of dumb shit he’s done in the past. And at least she didn’t come out and say “Remember that time you almost superlasered an entire country, you moron.”
His mouth sets into a tight frown and he says, flat and unhappy: ]
… yes, ma’am.
[ And for a beat it seems like that might be the end of it but no, wait, he can’t take it it’s too unfair this is one of his core motivationnnnnns. ]
— but they aren’t bothering with any ideas about what to do with the villagers!
[ Any ideas beyond “tell them to scram,” and in Shinn’s book that’s not bothering. He’s back to having real passion and self-righteousness in his voice, with a faint but distinct note of pleading because surely she has to agree that this is shit? At least his tone stays within a proper range of respectfulness. Barely. ]
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He crosses his arms and lifts the corner of his mouth up in a snarl, stating Lacus down defiantly. ]
It is how Titans are made to learn and remember their place. More oft of late I am reminded that humans are not deserving of that treatment. My thanks for that.
[ Seeing them as equals when for every amazing thing they're capable of there's ten more instances of treachery, cruelity, self-righteous mewling, and short sighted greed? That was a mistake. Outsiders are going to have to earn his trust and respect now, it'll no longer be given out of claw.
Turning his attention to Shinn that snarl turns into a full on growl as he uncrosses his arms and takes a step forward. ]
If it is such concern then you may provide such ideas! A far better use of your time than distracting those of us who search for our packmates with your petulant whining whilst you cringe in a corner, waiting for others to solve all problems to your satisfaction. I have battled actual insects that had more spine than you, Pilot.
no subject
Then go fight somewhere else!
no subject
'Not deserving' and 'remember their place' huh... The phrasing reveals the difference between their mindsets clear as day. A place is not something that should be taught, it's something that should be found. 'Learning' through power and authority is nothing but conditioning, not personal growth.
This means that it's going to be difficult to reach Godzilla just through her words right now. Their understanding of the world is too different. Instead she bows her head. ]
I do apologize for the behaviour of my teammate on the network.
[ They're not teammates in LILITH terms but she does not want to call him a 'subordinate' either, so this is the closest approximation of their relationship at home that she wants to give. ]
He was coming from a place of empathy for the people of Seoul, but he went too far and made rash judgements on people who were working their hardest.
[ But then she'll raise her head, and her expression is firm. ]
However, I also know Shinn has been working tirelessly to try and find those of us who are missing. And I know that he will continue to do so, at my side. So I'd ask you to desist from incapacitating him any further. We need all our strength for those we are missing.
no subject
You fight elsewhere, Pilot. We have little need for one like yourself. I am through with you.
[ With a growl of contempt Godzilla proceeds to do what he should've done in the first place. Ignore Shinn. Instead he looks past the boy to give his attention to Lacus, arms crossing, his foot tapping impatiently. All in all he likes the pink furred girl, she's polite, kind, and sensible. But he's getting really tired of pinkettes defending faker pilots who he wants to plant in the dirt. If he had a nickel, two nickels, weird that it's happened twice, etc. etc. ]
Empathy for those that named us "traitors to humanity" over his own pack. Rash is the least of words that can be used for this. Your kind have others applicable, "fool", "childish", "asshole."
[ He has to pause to flick his tongue in and out to rid the taste of that last word. Doesn't matter how many times he's tried now, cursing just tastes wrong to him. ]
I will cease my lesson if he gives apology to those he has insulted, that is my requirement. If he refuses then I shall continue. We will be capable to make do with one less human in our ranks, I am certain. There are plenty others whom hold the worth of two of this whelp.