synflux | TRAVEL LOG #1

TRAVEL LOG #1

TRAVEL LOG #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: potential mentions of drugs, suspected mind-control, alcohol, and gambling, gore.

▶ 001. A RUDE AWAKENING.

On the morning of the 15th, the Outsiders will hear an alarm sound in the early hours. No matter what you’re doing, the alarm will not stop sounding, and it’s because they’re playing directly into your oculars. If one is sleeping, they may even be roused by the spark of colors on their oculars dictating an emergency. After a few minutes of this, the following message will appear:

PLEASE REPORT TO THE DATAPORTAL AT THE TOKYO BRANCH AND BE PREPARED FOR DEPARTURE.

"Captain Yamakawa speaking. You’ve done a great job in testing the data portals. Now that we are able to travel, we were sent a call for help in another city due to lack of personnel and resources abroad. You will be looking for evidence of a new kaiju around the rendezvous point. It may be a difficult journey, so prepare yourself. SYNTHIA will still be online to help you make it to the city. Report to the POD CHAMBER where we have installed an international dataportal and prepare for transportation."

Following the success of the dataportal testing, the engineering department was able to fine tune its abilities and widen the reach of the portals. The portals can connect even abroad now!

Despite their best efforts, however, they cannot guarantee that the same symptoms won’t appear, and ask all Outsiders who are utilizing them to practice caution. Additionally, through all their testing, they found that people who hold hands or make contact with others as they pass through will be hit with less issues.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS.

When one passes through the data portal, they will see the refuge city of Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Similar to Neo Tokyo, it is also rich in life and known as the city that never sleeps. Incidentally, it is also famously noted as a place of endless vice. The city is built up around a strip of land of roughly 4.2 miles. A vast majority of the city was built up over the wreckage of the old, and some fixtures were simply made new with whatever was left preexisting. The Mojave Desert has expanded towards surrounding cities, though it will take a vehicle to get there in a timely manner.

The city has no shortage of hotels and with each hotel, a casino. While Outsiders here are on a mission, there’s no stating they couldn’t participate in the fun of Vegas while LILITH crew begin their investigation. While some hotels will be clearly abandoned or less traversed, there is no end to all card tables and slot machines, all asking for your KRYPTOS.

The hotel the Outsiders are slotted to stay over the course of the next few days is one where they built directly over the hotels of the old. While it offers a decent place to sleep, it’s not without a refurbished pirate themed bed, or the columns of what appears to have been from Caesars Palace. Is that a giant clown face staring at you in the room? Don’t worry about it. The hotel offers that this is the best place to depart into the desert from. For this mission, Outsiders may bunk up with whoever they would like, and each hotel provides two queen sized beds.

Excited to venture out into the city? Even under the threat of kaiju, the city doesn’t sleep. Outsiders may venture through the Las Vegas Strip and treat themselves to a fun night of drinking, gambling, shopping, partying and circle-style performances. The Grand Canal Shoppes, a Venetian-inspired high end mall, boasts a man-made canal with gondola rides for a fee, along with many retail outlets and restaurants. There are also numerous spas and carnival-style rides to enjoy. Las Vegas was once known as the ‘Marriage Capital of the World’, and in a world besieged by kaiju, the people don’t seem to think they have anything to lose. Outsiders may spot a few bride and grooms-to-be partying in the street.

(LILITH does not have a stance on whether or not Outsiders are permitted to get hitched as long as it does not affect their performance. )

▶ 003. TROUBLE BREWING.

It’s normal for fights to break out with so much alcohol being passed around, but something … isn’t quite right with some of the locals here. Outsiders who keep an eye open might notice people acting erratically, and not just from being intoxicated. There are people ready to pick a fight from just being looked at, people falling into despondent sadness and lethargy, people wandering mindlessly and people becoming distressed from seeing things that aren’t there. Ask the locals and they will tell you these cases seem to be popping up more often the past week.

The most concerning of all are the stories of people disappearing completely. One little girl will tell you she cried as she saw her mother mindlessly walk into the desert, as if called by a voice no one else can hear. There are many other accounts of this happening. In fact, all the people acting erratically seem to disappear within a few days …

Outsiders may interact with civilians who are acting erratic and aggressive, but asking questions they may receive answers that do not make sense, are perverse and inappropriate or may trigger aggression. Any Outsider to gets into a fight and is severely injured may report to a local hospital here and will find they are pretty packed with other civilians acting strange, hurting each other and themselves. Certainly, this was the main cause for concern that got LILITH's attention anyway.

▶ 004. FOUR FOR THE ROAD.

Within a day or two, the Outsiders will once again be called to action by a blaring notice in their implant.

YOUR VEHICLES ARE PREPARED. ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE CITY IMMEDIATELY.

When they gather at the location provided to them, they will find a fleet of armored campervans waiting for them. Each campervan comes equipped with beds, a kitchenette, and bathroom facilities, and will fit about 4 people. Within the campervans, they will find desert-appropriate attire designed to protect them from the scorching sun. These campervans also come with some basic artillery such as a mounted machine gun. There are also supplies in the form of water bottles and MRE ration packs.

Those who have driven large vehicles in the past are encouraged to take the driver’s seat. If the group does not have any driving experience, they will be given a crash course on driving recorded by the man himself, Seok Dang. (He probably shouldn’t be doing this with the stunts he’s pulled, but the Commander does not have any time to be teaching anyone driving, and Seok Dang volunteered so eagerly…)

"Listen. If you’ve ever handled a ▄▄ before, the joystick is exactly like that. You gotta tug it, but not too hard. Gently, yeah, like that, that’s the path to ecstasy … "

If it eases anyone’s worries, the campervans are armored and highly shock resistant, so they should withstand a crash or two.

(Those who finish his course and successfully drive 100km while supervised will receive an international driving license.)

▶ 005. THE HUNT IS ON.

With everyone settled into their campervan, the large scale road trip begins. LILITH has a general idea of where the biggest energy signal is located for the rift and they will feed the coordinates to the Outsiders. The journey will take about a few days into (and around as LILITH is searching for both people & the source of the rift energy) the Mojave Desert, and Outsiders will be permitted occasional rest stops to give drivers a break and to investigate the terrain. The terrain itself is a harsh desert, with cacti and small local fauna abundant. (Those not wanting to eat ration packs can take this time to hunt the local fauna such as birds, lizards and desert foxes.) While there is nothing else around, observant Outsiders may notice signs of human life - footprints in the sand, a shoe or torn piece of clothing being left behind, and even the odd human carcass being torn apart by vultures.

The logical conclusion would be that those missing humans have been here, and the only thing left to do is find them … but Outsiders and civilians aren't all that lurk here, and time will tell what lies beneath the desert surface ...

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our very first travel log! Each campervan will accommodate anywhere between 3-5 people, with 4 being the ideal and 5 being a squeeze. Players are encouraged to connect with each other to fill up a van but the mods will not be enforcing it. If you need help finding roommates, there is a FIND A ROOMMATE header below that you can make use of.

If you'd like to test your gambling luck, we also have an IC SLOTS HEADER for you to comment to for you to see how well your character does at the slot machines. This is entirely for fun, and of course you are always welcome to have your characters winning or losing at the slot machines as much as you want in your prompts so long as they aren't winning jackpots.

Following this log, all characters who have purchased style upgrades will receive an update to their chip enabling them access to desert attire and popular styles within Las Vegas.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ unfortunately for bakugo, the outsider he places a hand on, is no other than yuwon. he doesn't necessarily brush off the contact, but he does turn to look him over his shoulder, giving him the same impassive look as always. he clearly seems like he's devoid of any real opinion on this, and yet. ]

Don't you think you should at least give someone an option before telling them to shut up?

[when the hell does yuwon's impassive face, clearly showing he has no opinion on something, EVER INDICATE HE'S NOT GONNA COMMENT ON HIS NON!OPINION?! cause he's always got a damn opinion and he's proving it now! lucky for him, bakugo's not crushing his shoulder like some killer gripper going for a socket wrench.]

WHAT'D I JUST SAY, HEISOKU?!

[look, it's yuwon. a preemptive shut up is completely warranted.]

[ there's a moment where he briefly feigns consideration. even if it's entirely clear about everything in his stance, that he doesn't actually have a horse in this race. ] I don't know, you're so loud right now, I can't remember.

[ is that possible?

maybe. it's like when someone is loud enough where you can't even hear yourself thinking. but, either way, it's not true. it's a convenient excuse, though. ]

You want amnesia, I'll give you amnesia! Die!

[why the hell does this guy purposefully make himself so damn annoying!? and yet somehow, yuwon continues to remain alive. what a strange mystery that is. bakugo fumes at the guy's side as the portal starts to crackle and split open.

tempting as fuck to bail on yuwon mid transport... but bakugo's a responsible hero and wouldn't do something like that. instead, his hand tightens to make sure that stays right where it is.]

If you puke, face that way.

[ it's true that the portal has a way of bypassing any of the natural resistances he's built up from his stats. in the same way, it's also a simple fact that he got hit with the after effects hours after the first commute, and so despite his words, he does seem to return the gesture.

his hand comes up and he just sort of places it on top of bakugo's. ]

I'm not going to puke. [ it's said with confidence, but in reality...

who really knows. though, that does make him think— ] Did you?

[bakugo had not fared well after his first trip through the transporter either. felt like a really bad case of vertigo and flu. on the trip to kyoto, he'd managed to deal with that privately until he felt better. on the trip back, yuji ended up taking care of him when he did in fact... puke. just what he wanted his friend to see. great.

there's no bristling or attempt to take yuwon's hand off his own as the familiar feeling of being pulled slightly picks up when the teleportation field approaching. ugh, he really hates this part.]

Hell no! I don't get sick!

[uh-huh.]

You're not very convincing.

[ is a quick quip her offers in return. despite this, it's true that he felt relatively comfortable with whatever temporary set up this is as they pass through the threshold of the warp— the sensations are dizzying and reminds him a lot of riding on the flying nimbus under the unruly reins of son ohgong.

that said, he shakes it off easily enough, his expression mostly the same, minus the smallest grimace. ]

Take some supplements when you get through. [ they say vitamins and staying hydrated helped in most cases...

not yuwon being that meme of "but did you drink enough water?" ]

Piss off!

[what do you think he is, a liar!? no one's going to see him if he does get sick so it won't matter.]

I know that! [don't nag him! he brought some medicine and vitamins just in case! ]

[bakugo's been through two warp quirks in his life and this teleporter isn't like either of them. neither the black confines of warp gate nor the disgusting goop of warping. he doesn't like the prickling and pulling sensation of this thing either, feeling like he's being dragged by each molecule for a bit, then restructured once they arrive. it threatens his balance and vertigo, but not as bad as the first trip.

he did drink enough water though.]

[ no matter what bakugo says from this point forward, it's clear yuwon has zero intention of changing his mind. even his mind is made up ... over the most ridiculous topic matter.

when they've finally made it through and the destination literally sort of fizzles into view, as if the location was being crafted before them instead of it being independently existing. ] If you know that, then what's there to worry about?

[ now that they're through, he releases his hold over bakugo's hand.

he seems to flex his own hands and fingers for a moment, moving his legs slowly. ] But, well, I can't blame you. Warping was a lot easier in the tower. Not that it's useable in most situations.

[he's more stubborn than this guy. even if it's the last damn thing they ever say to each other before returning to their respective worlds, bakugo's going to hold to that comment! just try to make him budge!

fuck, he's glad to see the world return to normal around them. this room is a lot more cared for than the wreck they arrived out at in kyoto. it's not derelict, there are other people here, no plants or animals invading.]

I'm not worried about shit.

[he lets go of yuwon's shoulder and flexes his hand as well, then steps to the side. slowly. as if he's wary of something happening. you know, like someone who's done this before and gotten sick. slowly turning his head, then tilting it, checking his center of balance and stomach. luckily there's no nausea, though the pins and needles in his legs and arms is annoying.]

How'd that work? We have at least two methods of warping in our world.

[ not them both being judgmental and stuck in their perceptions... that said, it's true that this place seems halfway decent compared to the rubble and dilapidated buildings of kyoto. it's almost a bit jarring, not that he says this. instead, he mostly focuses in on his own physical condition.

maybe they were right when they said that sharing it over two individuals made it easier on both their bodies. he doesn't take the time to consider much else in it, before turning towards bakugo. ] Between floors, normally when you complete a trial, you can get warped up to the next floor. Aside from that, there are also other situations where it can happen, but you could say it's inconsistent for a means of travel.

[ since it's not like you can simply choose to warp. ]

Two methods? [ he also begins walking out, gradual steps, as if getting accustomed to the feel of the ground beneath his feet again. ... and it really is successful so far. at least, he figures they can walk and talk. ]

[bakugo swallows down any sign of dizziness, refusing to show a weakness to yuwon after all that was said. without the urge to puke, it's a lot easier to handle, though the memory of throwing his guts up the first time he returned from the teleport is enough to make him wary of it. he forces himself to walk around for a bit, until he feels most of the effects wearing off.

bakugo rolls his head to look over his shoulder at the other man. between floors, trial completions, next floor. definitely sounds like a video game world.] Sounds consistent if it's at the end of each trial.

So you don't have a spell or ability that lets you teleport from one place to another.

[too bad. it's not like such an ability was common in his world.]

Aa. Warp Gate opens a portal like that thing. [and indicates the teleporter behind them.] Warping made you puke out black sludge that warped you away. It was fucking gross.

[ despite always being the first to point any hint of a contradiction— for once, he permits bakugo the privacy of getting acclimated to the environment on the other side of the portal without a single word. instead, he also seems entirely focused on his own condition, which was surprisingly stable. he does let a small exhale of relief. maybe also for bakugo who seems well enough to respond, at least. ]

But, it's not like we complete trials just to travel.

[ he says this as if correcting bakugo, because he hasn't annoyed him enough, obviously. jk, but he does seem to move pass it easily enough. ]

Black sludge...? I've never heard of anything like that, even for similar skills. [ now he's imagining people puking black sludge while utilizing flash steps... ]

[once he's sure he's not going to wobble or puke, bakugo seems more inclined to return to the area and talk. this place looks far different from the derelict reception awaiting them at kyoto. people are here, there are obvious signs of work in progress, though there seems to be a distinct lack of... well... whatever the hell the tokyo branch has that enables them to retrieve more people from their world, aka: outsiders. does only tokyo have that function?]

Haa? What else do you complete them for? Skills and items?

[his tone piques on irritation that yuwon says it like he should already know that fucking fact. he's not a mind reader, dammit! if he as, yuwon would be in a casket four months ago!]

Che. Not surprising. Warping Quirks are very rare in my world. I only know those two. [yeah it's not a pleasant picture, nor a pleasant memory.]

[ he can't exactly speak for others, but what bakugo suggests isn't entirely wrong for him. ] Most simply want to get to the top and become a Ranker. Outside of skills or items, a lot of players are also in it for points. It's a form of currency in the tower. It's a popular saying amongst rankers that with enough points, you can even become God. [ though, as far as he knows that's simply a statement.

though, he does have a few ideas for the distant future. he isn't thinking of that right now though. if bakugo is annoyed as he usually is, yuwon seems to take it in stride... just as he normally does. could some consider this routine...? [

That sounds pretty horrible. Warping isn't a bad skill, but I'm not sure if I'd want it as my only skill. Could you ever imagine having a different Quirk than the one you were born with? [ hypothetically, of course. kind of like how he misses some of the skills he possessed in his previous timeline, he wonders if bakugo was the type who would ever have wanted a different power? is this just curiosity, or something else? ]

A Ranker? [yeah buddy, you're life is a dungeon crawler, with point collections, level ups, rewards, and all that come with it. bakugo wasn't huge into video games when he was growing up, a kid who liked the play outside and a adolescent who focused on school, heroics, skills, but he wasn't ignorant or unable to play them either. especially racers and fighters, competitive games.] What are you in it for?

[does he expect yuwon to give him a straight answer? nope! the guy's dodgy and cagey as fuck when it comes to talking about himself, sometimes, and bakugo thinks he does it on purpose just to piss him off. which is usually what happens. bastard. one day, he's gonna sucker punch him for it.]

When I was a kid, I used to imagine what Quirk I'd get. But once I got mine- [he clenches his fist around another explosion.] -one Quirk is all I need. My Explosion will do anything I need it to. [it's not a lie to say he was gifted with an incredible versatile and powerful quirk, thus making that statement a lot easier, but having come face to face with people with multiple quirks, including one who could take and give quirks... the temptation, or at least the thought, had been put to his face.

and summarily rejected without hesitation.]

[ it's not exactly an unfounded question. no, it may have been perfectly logical. hence, he seems to ponder on how to go about answering this question. ] It's a term for those who reach the highest heights of the tower. [ the name deriving itself from the fact that normally only those who have climbed high enough get "ranked" from the administration office. not that any of that really mattered to yuwon...

still, that question was still a lot easier than the second. granted, he supposed he didn't necessarily have reveal the entire contents of his plans in order to adequately respond to it. besides, he's shared enough with bakugo not to consider him the type who was particularly loose-lipped. but, is yuwon dodgy in his own way? ... he pleads the fifth. ] But, my goal is to reach even higher than that. Enough to change the entire order of the tower. [ or rather, the future of it...

bakugo's answer truly is everything he expected from him. it's a confident statement, one that didn't leave room for hesitation of superfluous thoughts. hence, he doesn't mince his words. ] That's fitting. Especially, since you're the only one I know who uses the word "hero" so much.

[ while it sounds like it's ... not exactly a compliment, he does genuinely respect his conviction and drive. it's difficult to find those who had this much desire for good. it's a contrast to his own perception of "heroes" like hercules. not that bakugo didn't have heroic qualities, but that they just differed in demeanor and vibe. ]

The top of the tower, huh. [that raises a few more questions, but he opts not to pile them onto yuwon right now. they just got out of the portal and have vegas' base to wander around. is that the best time to start hounding the guy with questions about his world? because bakugo's sorely curious about what kind of place yuwon's world is. but damn if he's going to admit that to the guy on a sense of pride. he'd probably taunt him for being such a kid about it, or something annoying.

bakugo's not a blabbermouth, and he's able to realize when something should be kept hush even if the revealer doesn't explicitly say it's private. talking about other people to other people is a shit decision in the first place. it's their choice to reveal whatever to him and not his to reveal that to someone else. yuwon's words are like that. something he'll keep to himself and let the man tell anyone else if he wants. okay, well, he might say yuwon's from a dungeon crawler-type world if it comes up in conversation, but usually won't say "whose" world he's referring to if it happened. and zilch beyond that.]

Higher than that? [someone else looking to reshape their entire world's order. is that a common theme running around here? what the fuck? it's not a bad one, just surprising to see similarity.] The order of the floors or how things are done entirely in your world?

[that is a lofty goal and he's impressed that someone like yuwon wants to do something like that. he's mildly surprised, not having thought the guy would have such ambitions, but if he means to change his world for the better, then bakugo's going to have another couple of respect points given to the other man.]

Heroes are a vocation in my world as much as the ideal most people know. [probably a distinction he should have made to yuwon earlier; at least he's reminding him now. almost every world has some idea about what a "hero" is, and probably uses the word as such. but bakugo's world, "hero" is literally something you'd hear about every day due to the society being built around them. maybe as common as yuwon hears "floors" or "level" or "player" or whatever vocabulary is common in his world.]

[ not bakugo thinking about all the potential directions yuwon could possibly take his interest. ... though, it's not exactly wrong, either.

despite the words coming from his own mouth, he can't deny how foreign they feel, if just because that's how rarely he voiced these desires since coming here (just telling someone vaguely he has an objective was substantially different than actually opening up, after all). while it may have sounded dramatic, or altruistic— yuwon would have chalked it up to simple survival. he didn't consider himself a "hero" in any meaning of the word, and he never thought of himself as a man who acts with a greater cause, if just because the idea itself made him cringe internally. outside of that, there was a much simpler reason he couldn't think of himself that way.

he wasn't afraid of leaving corpses at his wake, or whatever other consequences he had to bare. a true hero probably would think up a solution with the least amount of death, but yuwon only cared about efficacy. it's why hearing about "heroes" always made yuwon a bit more self-reflective than he'd like.

in the same vein, it's why he can respect those who have the power to be able to commit to the path they wanted, no matter how idealistic it may have seemed. he says this despite also taunting them and finding ways to criticize them, but listen... there is one hero he admires out there...

but, bakugo's commentary does stick to him. a vocation. a convention in his world. something commonplace to him, and yet yuwon also still takes it as being a "special" role. in all the quirks that existed, surely, there were some who were simply born to work up to being a "hero," right? it somehow only gives more food for thought, but maybe it does make bakugo feel a bit more relatable in some way he can't describe. but what sets them apart? ]

What's a hero to you? Do you think of it as more of a vocation, or an ideal? [ isn't that the more important question here?

still, to finally answer his: ] You could say how everything is done. I don't exactly enjoy the way things are now. Or rather, it can't stay like this. [ it's as vague as always, but it's clear it's a grave situation, even if he doesn't explicitly say so. ]

[there's some part of him that has an inkling of yuwon talking about his objective being a rare event. the guy's not that forthcoming with his feelings or thoughts and he makes a damn habit out of pissing bakugo off. so he's taking this little offering and pocketing it away for future thoughts later, should it ever come up. if yuwon has an issue with heroes, he's going to find himself getting into more arguments with the explosive teen should those issues come up in the negative...

it's true heroes in bakugou's world try their hardest not to kill when they fight, complete a mission, or have any deaths occur when they act. he's not so naive to think death can't occur; one of classroom teachers died in the first war a little over a month ago from the time he was taken and bakugou still isn't "over" the reality. it's not a feeling he wants anyone to experience.

but people who have the strength to make a difference should try. unfortunately, that mindset goes both ways. that "difference" doesn't care whether it's a hero attempting to save a suicidal person's life or a villain wanting to change the course of human history based on a crazy idea of salvation. even "hero" isn't free of that, as a villain could also be someone's hero, depending on what they valued and wanted. irritating, but that's reality.]

Both. A hero is someone who wins, protects, and saves, even at the cost of themselves. [he started his first year of high school with a clear definition of a hero in his mind, but over the year, the experiences he had, that definition has matured along with him. the shining glory of standing at the top as the greatest hero with all the answers, victories, and power in his grip... what is a hero? that answer changed for him into what he voices now.

as to yuwon's comment...]

Why? My world's in the middle of a war for society, but nothing will ever go back to how it was no matter which side wins. [why would someone see their world and think everything has to change? does one person have the right to say "not like this" and decide that will be enforced on everyone?]

[ both. it's not exactly an unfounded statement, nor is it one that surprises him. bakugo seemed as much realistic as he was ambitious. he could see that he respects it as an occupation, but also seems to accept the risk and the symbolism behind such a title. considering he himself wasn't impervious to the sentiment of admiration, however rare it is, he could understand that growing up in such a world likely only increased this sense of respect for those who can act on such convictions.

naturally, he has no idea what other thoughts are on bakugo's mind. what sort of duality there may have been, or what sacrifices he's seen made. though, considering what bakugo mentioned prior about a "villain," he could only presume his world was just as tumultuous. ... and the mention of the word "war" only solidifies these ideas. ] There's a threat to the Tower. You could say, I have information that suggests that a larger enemy exists.

[ the "information" being him technically being from the future, but he's not touching on that here. it would be easier to simply chalk it up to something he's heard from a reliable source. still, he keeps it vague. ] For that reason... [ he needs to stick to his plan.

no matter the sacrifice, or so he leaves hanging in the air. instead, he shakes it off: ] What would you say is the ideal outcome for your world?

[in the year he's been at u.a., bakugo's had his idea of what it means to be a hero gutted and exposed. he'd crowed loud and proud in middle school about wanting to be rich and famous, standing over everyone as the world lauded his power and deeds, the number one hero of all time. but one thing after another revealed those shallow ambitions and vocal goals to be little more than his pompous attitude and selfish understanding of what it really meant to be a hero. he came to respect the title and symbol of it, even if bakugo's never going to be the prime example of pr marketability.

it's one of the driving factors behind wanting to know what yuwon meant when he expressed his own goals. bakugo's seen two very prominent examples of changing "everything" ... kicking over all established order and either stomping on what's left or standing over it with an iron fist ... or acknowledging change is needed and working to improve what was to form a better world as much as possible for everyone. he doesn't know enough about yuwon or his world to judge too much, but damn if he won't disagree with the ideas of a tyrant.

luckily, that's not the case, and bakugo eyes the other man curiously.] And you think the answer's changing how your world, the Tower, does things? [whether that's making sure everything is prepared for the incoming threat, or doing things to avoid said danger.] Instead of taking out that enemy?

[yuwon kept it vague, but this time, bakugo's stubbornly going to ask his own questions and pursue the topic. the other man trailed off after all. no shaking it off this time, especially if he's gonna keep asking about the hero's world.]

The heroes win, the villains don't die, the public gets over themselves, and we go forward to rebuild a better society together, doing our damnest to avoid making the same mistakes as before.

[ideal, perfect, those things only exist in imagination. but if he's to summarize his own goal, that would bit it. a better future, for everyone, as much as possible. justice isn't going to be ignored for any party involved, but hopefully, they'll have time in the future to address those things.]

[ while he's kept it vague, nothing of what he says is necessarily a lie. without the outer gods, it was a simple fact that he likely would be remained perfectly uninvolved. predominately alone, without any clear objectives outside of what was convenient for his wants and desires at the time. it's a brief consideration, and a reminder to the person who he used to be. but, also all the starker of a reminder that he may have only been who he was today because of his companions and the experiences he culminated in the latter half of his previous life.

hence, he looks a bit contemplative as he speaks. ] Basically. I think it starts from uprooting who holds influence, for example. [ he gives a shrug, almost as if to make the issue seem smaller than it actually was; as if trivializing it to purposely detach himself from it. ] Let's say a guild starts a war, and powerful high rankers end up killing each other. Instead of letting them die in vain when an even more powerful enemy exists, wouldn't you try and stop the war? [ one scenario out of many, but he speaks them as if they're hypotheticals. ]

... you want them to live? [ it's a quiet question. there's no hint of the usual judgment he projects in his words. it's a genuine question, as if trying to see what he was really thinking. he wonders what would be an adequate price of their crimes... ]

[despite the way the guy pisses him off, bakugo has come to trust yuwon. vague and recalcitrant, yes, but dishonest? no. it doesn't necessarily help answer the things the blonde's asking, but at least it's better than having to decide if he's lying on top of being frustrated about yuwon's deliberate lack of details. that said, bakugo's learned it's better to be stubborn as well and pursue the question instead of letting the other man get off with keeping his tongue.]

Duh. [civil unrest isn't going to help anyone. and in that generic, vague example, yeah, he totally agrees with yuwon.] But walking in there and stomping down both sides isn't going to quell the reason they started fighting. [which is NOT something bakugo would've even thought to say a year ago. "KILL THEM BOTH!" would've been his answer, though without actually following through on the fatal part of "kill" because he's still a hero.] Two villainous organizations had a big fucking war against each other in my world. It was over before the heroes could intervene, but...

[he guesses it's a similar issue with yuwon's example. certainly wasn't a common place thing, at least on that large of a scale. villains didn't always get along with each other and alliances were as quick to break down as they were to form up.

bakugo expects that question and he frowns in response.]

No. I want to kill some of them. [he says it without hesitation, but there's a surprisingly lack of anger in his voice. more akin to frustrated acceptance.] But... that won't help anyone. Some of the villains have a point, even if they're idiots not wanting to take responsibility for their own choices. Society, even heroes, could've helped them if we'd only looked or tried harder...

[ his persistence pays off, if just because this may have been the most upfront yuwon's been about the specifics of his circumstances, despite how vague his examples are. which, he's sure bakugo has already swiftly surmised. though, he doesn't necessarily disagree with his stance, either. it's a simple truth that yuwon has long forfeited the desire to comprehend the feelings behind the events, unless it was to better understand how to further his goals. minus, opening hercules' eyes to the truth. it was undeniable he had personal stock in the hero's success. but, naturally, that's neither here nor there. ]

Maybe not, but that's not my business. [ if he stops the war, that was good enough. as long as they survived until the outer gods breached the towers walls. ... as irresponsible as it sounded, he supposed he didn't owe anyone any further explanation than that. didn't owe the tower any more than that. ]

What was the aftermath of that? [ over before the heroes could intervene... there's a lot that runs though his head. he supposes that could be natural, and even in his past life, it's not like every single plan of theirs ended in success. ]

I see. [ he doesn't refute him. he gets the feeling when bakugo says them, it's a matter he's placed an ample amount of consideration in. a conclusion he's drawn after seeing and experience events for himself. "i want kill some of them. but... that won't help anyone." ] You're surprisingly mature.

[ not him being his usual self... ]

Edited 2024-06-12 07:39 (UTC)

TRAVEL LOG #1

▶ 001. A RUDE AWAKENING.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS.

▶ 003. TROUBLE BREWING.

▶ 004. FOUR FOR THE ROAD.

▶ 005. THE HUNT IS ON.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

001-2.

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