synflux | TRAVEL LOG #2

TRAVEL LOG #2

TRAVEL LOG #2

CONTENT WARNINGS: natural disaster, acid rain, vehicle crash.

▶ 001. WINGING IT.

In the early morning hours of the 1st, Outsiders will receive a rude awakening blaring through their implants. No matter what they do, the alarm will not stop sounding until they are forced to get up. A message will flash through their vision:

ALL OUTSIDERS ARE TO REPORT TO THE HANGAR IMMEDIATELY FOR DEPARTURE

Get up, get dressed in your plugsuit, and it’s time to go! Once they report at the hangar, they will be met with a huge spacecraft, large enough to fit at least 80 people. This will be their mode of transport to their next location.

"My Angels of Lilith. You are needed once again. We have received distress signals from the neighbouring country of South Korea. Unfortunately, since we have not established data portals in that country, we require you to embark via air. Your aircraft is ready for you and your seats have been assigned. I bid you a safe journey."

True enough, there are more than enough seats on the LILITH SKY CRUISER to accommodate every Outsider, and to get everyone organized quickly for departure, all Outsiders will receive a seat number. Like any plane, seats are rather cramped and there isn’t much leg room. Once the seatbelt sign is off, Outsiders are free to stand up and move around the cruiser, but they might have to climb over other people or make the whole row stand up to give them room. The aircraft is serviced by robotic stewards serving light snacks of nuts and crackers, and coconut crab kimbap and seaweed soup at meal time. Any characters who use a cloaking device will be instructed to use it during the flight to accommodate the aircraft. Also, any characters who rely on a weapon or anything else (such as a Gundam), it will be loaded onto the cargo of the aircraft.

The flight will take about 2-3 hours. Outsiders may take a nap, chat or try the inflight entertainment available. This inflight entertainment is delivered through a virtual reality headset. Outsiders may pick a selection of AI movies of questionable quality, along with several virtual reality games. There are single player or multiplayer options available for every game.

Available games include:

The Sims 30: One player gets to become the ‘god’ of a world and build houses or dictate the lives of other players and NPCs within the game as they see fit.
Farm Crossing: A farming simulator game where players get to build and manage their own farms. Harvest your crops and tend to your animals! Impress the friendly villagers in the town with your beautiful ranch!
Tales of Heroes: A fantasy game where players are reborn into a world of monsters and magic and have to level up by fighting monsters and slaying demons.
And many more … (Feel free to design your own VR games.)

Eventually, the sky cruiser will touch down on Incheon Airport. There’s no need to be stuck waiting in line at immigration... it appears as if the Incheon Airport has not been used in decades and seems completely abandoned with the exception of the Outsiders. The old scanning machines and luggage belts are simply collecting dust. Outsiders will be ushered immediately to the nearest train station, where they will continue their journey by train.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO SEOUL.

Once descended from the train ride, they will have arrived in the city of Seoul, South Korea. Similar to Neo Tokyo, a lot of the people on the outskirts moved to this area in order to receive shelter and the benefits of being amongst civilization, rather than fending for themselves. As such, there is a certain hustle and bustle, but considering the state of their dilapidated airports and most of the other cities falling to ruin, there definitely is a more somber vibe to the city. Despite that, the residents carry on and there is no shortage of shopping, food stalls (mostly with foods that are not easy to perish), cafes, pojangmacha to have a late night food or drink at, and many more smaller businesses. The people are resilient and have every single desire to continue making a living. As such the prices here are competitive and Outsiders will find if they look hard enough, there are some fairly good deals to be made. Currency exchange is no issue, as KRYPTOS is the universal currency.

Since a lot of efforts were made to keep Seoul intact, there are still some important sights that were kept up and can be visited if desired. While LILITH urges people to keep their eyes peeled out for any clues to the next kaiju’s whereabouts, Seok Dang may or may not have sent each Outsider a map of the best sightseeing amongst many other not-so-innocent suggestions. He calls it the difference of experiences and “doesn’t want anyone missing out!” If people check back on the message a day later, they will find it was almost as if it didn’t exist at all. On the list, however, includes sights like the Gyeongbokgung Palace, COEX mall and aquarium, Seoul Sky, and many others. However, some of them may or may not exist anymore. How long was he out of the country for? For an extra “freebie” he throws in, Outsiders will find an odd message on their style upgrade saying there is a new outfit available, when opened, it will download a hanbok that they can wear at any time.

"Well, well. Unfortunately, whatever fun could have been planned will need to be halted just a mere two and a half days to get settled. Once again, a message will be produced on everyone’s oculars suggesting an emergency is on the horizon. Guess we better get to that instead of showing you my home country!"

And Seok Dang wonders why he is the Commander's least favorite.

Beep! An alert pops up on the Outsiders' ocular devices. According to the information LILITH just received, there is not just one large kaiju occupying this region, but two. In order to chase both of these leads, Outsiders are split into two groups in order to chase these two kaiju. They have described these kaiju as being very agile and fast, but resembling a serpent from the few sightings that have been spotted. As for the rift that it originated from, there is no sign of a rift in South Korea. Did it migrate here from somewhere else? More details will pour into the Outsider's devices as soon as possible, but for now, Outsiders are called to pursue the hunt.

▶ 003. TEAM SEOUL.
_EVERLIGHT_&_REDEMPTION

Within the next hour, rain will begin to fall upon the city, but this is far from the average summer shower. The precipitation doesn’t seem weather-related as much as it does seem to be a proponent of the kaiju’s abilities. They find this when studying the rain itself, which is acidic to the touch. While the buildings and other structures will remain sound, the people will need to evacuate quickly in order to avoid any lingering effects to the skin. Skin contact with the acid rain will cause both minor and severe burning, depending on how quickly it is rinsed off with normal water. At the first discovery of the acid rain's danger, Outsiders will be commanded to press a button on their plugsuit on the left shoulder, activating an invisible helmet to keep their heads and faces safe.

The Outsiders’ plug suits prevent them from receiving any damages from the rain, but that’s certainly not the case for everyone else. The first team, made up of the members of Everlight and Redemption are to prioritize the initial evacuation of the people, especially those who live slightly outside of the city limits of Seoul. They are the most vulnerable during crises like these and will need to be pulled from their homes, and those who live in the basement shelters will need to be pulled to one higher ground in case of potential flooding with the acid rain. Individuals who have skills in healing will also be called forth in order to tend to the injuries of those who are saved.

Between evacuation, there will also be tidbits of information provided to those on the team that remains in Seoul to check out specific locations in order to figure out more about this kaiju. The first location listed is Gyeongbokgung Palace. Outsiders that remain in Seoul will be utilizing that as their base. They are set to look at any remains the kaiju may have left behind. Any findings are commanded to be surrendered to LILITH. Emergency response of South Korea will use this palace as a safe haven, providing cots for sleeping overnight and other emergency supplies.

▶ 004. TEAM BUSAN.
_BRIMSTONE_&_REVELATION

The second team will depart via train on a journey to the city of Busan. The journey is expected to take 2 hours, and while there are comfortable seats available on the train, any luxuries beyond that are minimal. At least LILITH has brought along a few VR headsets for whoever wants to kill time with games or bad movies? Anyone can sit where they'd like for this ride.

An hour into the trip, a loud crash is suddenly heard, with the entire train rocking and falling to its side. This causes a complete blackout throughout the train and it stops functioning completely, leaving Outsiders stranded within the pitch black tunnel. The train system is completely inoperable in this condition. Outsiders will need to make their own journey to the city, following the rails by foot and helping any Outsiders who happened to be injured in the crash. It’ll be dark within the tunnel, but light will soon emerge once they exit it, and they will find themselves at the foot of Mount Geumjeong.

From then on, they’ll need to put their trekking skills to the test and cross the mountainous, forested region, where they will encounter various local fauna such as snakes, deer and black bears. They will also spot many destroyed villages and temples on their way to Busan. However, evidence of the Kaiju can be found in both the subway tunnel and throughout the mountain trek, suggesting that the kaiju has moved through here. This encourages LILITH to keep Outsiders in this area. The Outsiders will need to make a campsite in one of the destroyed villages, though emergency response will also pay them a visit several days later with sleeping cots and emergency supplies. In the meantime, hopefully they brought enough food with them or know how to forage and hunt for food in the wilderness. Some of those berries out there are poisonous....

The team here will be encouraged to explore the area to find further traces of the kaiju and help any villagers who are still alive.

▶ 005. STATUS REPORT.

Promptly, at the same time, all Outsiders will receive a text message and be put in an encrypted chat-room: OPERATION: RED/BLUE
CODENAME:
LOCATION:
STATUS:
FINDINGS:
Outsiders are instructed to fill out this information and send it into the chat to communicate with one another.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our second travel log!

Characters do have ASSIGNED SEATS for the duration of their flight to Incheon airport, though there are just enough empty seats that some characters can move around if they really don't like their seat buddies. Teams BRIMSTONE and REVELATION will be traveling to Busan, while teams EVERLIGHT and REDEMPTION will be staying in Seoul.

RNG below to discover what your character will find in both Seoul and Busan respectively. For the STATUS REPORT Prompt, treat it as an open chat room for all Outsiders and respond to the HEADER COMMENT. Feel free to threadjack and discuss among yourselves. You may also include this as a text prompt in your top level if you would like for people just to reply to you instead of using the header comment.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards August AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. WINGING IT: Characters are told to head to the hangar for DISPATCH to SOUTH KOREA where reports of a kaiju have been seen. Characters sit in their assigned seats for a short air travel ride.

2. WELCOME TO SEOUL: We arrive in Seoul and are given orders to split into two teams: Everlight & Redemption in Seoul, Brimstone & Revelation in Busan. Seok Dang has tried to sneak in some sight seeing in between mission briefs, but it looks like there won't be much time for that, as two kaiju have been found in South Korea.

3. TEAM SEOUL: Everlight & Redemption deal with acid rain in Seoul, ushering civilians to refuge, tending to acidic burns and using Gyeongbokgung Palace as a makeshift base. Investigation hints at the kaiju being somewhere in this area as Outsiders find claws, teeth, droppings and other things that belong to a dragon-like creature.

4. TEAM BUSAN: Brimstone & Revelation board a train to Busan which has an outage, trapping them to travel along the tunnel in the dark. They arrive at the end of the tunnel at the foot of Mount Geumjeong and create a makeshift base in the village there. Investigation hints at the kaiju being somewhere in this area as Outsiders find claws, teeth, droppings and other things that belong to a dragon-like creature.

5. STATUS REPORT: Outsiders are encouraged to share their findings and speculations on the kaiju in an encrypted chat room.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ the work seems neverending, but hiyori is used to staying up until late into the night. operating on pure determination and the fierce desire to help others. there is no shortage of souls seeking sanctuary here in the palace.

like yato, hiyori gives up her own cot to whoever needs it. it's when her eyes burn and her limbs rebel against her moving anymore that she finds a body slumped against a wall. she first thinks it's another civilian and not another outsider when she bends down to put her hand on a shoulder. ]

You shouldn't sleep here. Come on, we'll find a cot for you or somewhere more comfortable to -- [ as he lifts his head and she meets blue eyes, some clarity returns to hers. ] ....... Yato?

[It's a habit they both share, although Hiyori's is more common than Yato's, hence his desire for a quick rest. Just a little nap is all he needs - a chance to rest his eyes...

Although that doesn't last long as a familiar, kind voice encourages him to find a better place to sleep, and for a moment he thinks he's dreaming. At least until he lifts his head to peer blearily at those equally gentle eyes he knows so well. To say his heart leaps into his throat wouldn't be an exaggeration. Just seeing her upright and well does wonders for his mood; he's been quietly fretting all day like a doofus.]

Hiyori-- You're back. [It's said with no small amount of relief; he's kept an eye out for her during his work, but it seems like they always were in different locations and all the while completely forgetting about their ocular implants because he's used to having a flip-phone, dammit!] Did you handle the rain okay? You're not hurt, are you?

[Immediately, he scrambles to his feet, hands going to her shoulders to lightly rub them. As if touching her might reveal any injuries.]

[ there are no obvious injuries, at least. though hiyori stands there, blinking a few times at him for how quickly he gets back onto his feet and seeing him after NOT seeing him for so long. he's been there, constant, at the back of her mind. like he used to be. yato's capable, though. if there's anybody she has complete faith in to handle himself, it's him.

still, any relief he feels is reflected in her. ocular who? ]

I'm... [ fine. it's there, at the tip of her tongue. to anybody else, she might've said as much. I'm fine, where else do we need hands? Do you need me to help you anywhere? What can I do? just like she's done so many times at the hospital.

beneath his hands, her shoulders sag and she just

plants her forehead on his shoulder. ]

Exhausted. But everyone is and there's more to do. There's no time to rest. I can't rest...

[T-That's true... He can't speak to her state of mind, or her emotional weariness, despite being a god. It makes him feel relatively powerless to know that he can't just... wave a magic wand or a staff or hell, even a sword to make her feel better. What he can do, however, is be here for her.

Which he is, wholeheartedly. For as she leans against him, his arms finish wrapping around her, helping to keep her upright while providing a sense of security, he hopes. Lightly, he leans his head against hers with a soft sigh. He can see where this is going if somebody doesn't step in. She's gonna work herself to the point of exhaustion, which could put her in danger should the kaiju make an appearance.

So he rubs the space between her shoulder blades, drifting left and right to work on them as well.]

You have to rest, Hiyori. You'll end up in a heap if you don't. You're a human, with human needs. C'mon, let's find you somewhere to lay down for a while. I doubt anybody will begrudge you a few hours of sleep.

And if they do, I'll punch 'em. [He says that last part jokingly as he leads her down the rows of cots, looking for one that doesn't seem to be in use.]

How'd your day go besides being exhausting?

[ hope that isn't made in vain. yato has been a source of comfort since she can remember. and she remembers nearly everything now.

that sense of comfort makes it so easy to close her eyes, nearly passing out on her feet and leaning against him. he's right. she doesn't like it, but he's right. she's told herself the same. ami has told her as much. masaomi, when he found her in the break room still working.

she's human and he's a god. do gods need rest? they have to. yato slept for what seems like forever after being saved from yomi. she huffs, sulking but it quickly turns into one of amusement at the promise of punching someone. don't do that, doofus.

... ~~not without her, anyway.~~ ]

I don't know what I was expecting. [ she starts, heartbroken, more quiet and trying not to drag her feet over to the medical area where she might be helpful. ] But humanity really is in danger all over the world because of these kaiju. It reminds me of some of the worst ayakashi storms and how bad they got.

[At least he can bring some level of peace to someone, even if it's not the survivors. Being able to aid Hiyori means she'll be able to help many more people with her skills, so in that way his efforts can touch more than one person.

Though once he sees her starting to drift off, he's quick to slow down their pace to a more manageable one for someone so tired. Not that it's enough to free him of all concern, however. He keeps a keen eye on her feet, trying to judge her stability while glancing around for a bed. There must be one somewhere... Sure just one...?

If not, he has another idea, though it won't be anywhere near as comfortable as a cot raised off the floor. Which he has to admit is looking more and more appealing by the minute as Hiyori's weight seems to grow heavier the longer she's forced to stand on her own. He bites his lip a little, getting nervous that they won't find somewhere, when he spots what looks like an open spot a ways off and starts guiding them that way.]

Yeah... It's worse than I thought from what little info they gave up back at base. Which is all the more reason we need to take care of ourselves. Here-- [He leans down a little, getting an arm under her legs in order to scoop her up in both hands so he can carry her the rest of the way. There's no way she's going to last much longer at this rate.] The thing is, the kaiju are single-minded in their destruction from the sound of it. We need a plan in order to subdue them or fight back.

[Once alongside the empty cot, he kneels down and carefully lays Hiyori out, making sure to fluff the thin pillow a bit for her, before pulling up a blanket to tuck her in.]

[ what little info... so it didn't just bother her, but yato as well. they were hardly told a thing about such a huge problem they're fighting. problem isn't even the right word. it's war. they've been enlisted to fight in a war. they're soldiers.

hiyori doesn't, rather can't deny him deciding that carrying her the rest of the way is the right choice. though some life returns to her when he does so with her quiet gasp of surprise. her mouth opens, this time to tell him she's fine she can walk she can do at least that much-- but instead ]

Just like an ayakashi was single-minded. There was no reasoning with them. [ and there was no just getting rid of ayakashi either. they could thin the herd, but never eliminate them.

once she's put on a cot and yato, more or less, tucks her in she uses what's left of her strength to grab his arm. ]

You have to take care of yourself, too. Don't fall asleep against another wall...

[Hiyori isn't wrong to call it a war, really. They may not be fighting soldiers, but that doesn't mean the dangers are any less. Hell, they may be even greater with their opponents being giant monsters of unknown types.

Which makes it all the more important that their mortal members get enough rest and sleep. So Yato's grateful that Hiyori doesn't protect his assistance and instead consents to being carried the remainder of the distance. It's not far by any means, but when one is exhausted, even the simplest of tasks can become an ordeal.]

No kidding. From one overblown mess to another, huh? [He goes from being about ready to stand up to sliding into a seated position alongside Hiyori once she latches onto his arm. And despite the relative newness of their rekindled relationship, he brushes a hand lightly over her forehead, pushing her bangs out of the way.]

.....alright. I won't. I'll wait right here while you sleep. Once you're well-rested, we can trade places if there's enough time.

[He doesn't imagine there will be, not if she sleeps long and soundly.] Did anything else happen today?

[ hiyori's overblown mess was ten years ago, but for yato...

actually, what is the last thing he remembers? he went off to fight his father. left his shrine with her. yukine... she learned of yukine. his death. her heart aches all over again. yato was just a boy for some reason before he was there. while she was on a night jog.

immortal members should get enough rest and sleep, too. ereshkigal said she wanted to be treated as equals. they're all here to save humanity. yato does tend to push himself, too. complain about it, but push himself.

only when he agrees to not look for a wall to sleep against does she let go of his arm. something settles, something warm, in her chest having him near. something spins, does cartwheels in her stomach when he brushes her bangs away.

what else happened today...? ]

I, um. [ he's asking her about her day. like she said wanted. and yet she's drawing blanks so she says the first nonsensical thing she can think of. ] The plugsuits are too tight for my liking.

[He never did fill her in on everything that's happened to him recently, has he? Only bits and pieces, scraps of information like he so often does. Not giving up more than he has to at any given moment. He may have grown somewhat, but it seems his secretive nature remains the same as ever, even with Hiyori. Whether it just doesn't occur to him to share these details or he does so deliberately is a mystery.

At least when focused on the here and now he's fully open and present, happily discussing whatever's been going on with enthusiasm. Though that might change if Hiyori decides to insist on him getting sleep. He can't rest until she's done the same. Because humans are so much more delicate than gods, hence his soft touches while they talk.

He's glad she allows them, not balking at his outward displays of affection and care. He may not be able to sleep as easily sitting up, but being granted the chance to just touch her helps him relax enough to rest more easily, shoulders gradually slouching into a loose position.

Her response is hardly what he expects, as is evident from the look of surprise that crosses his face brief before melting into a fond grin.]

Heh, you and me both! I kept having to pull mine out of my ass every few minutes it seemed like. [Then, he colors slightly, hand hovering over her cheek.] ...I'd like to see you in yours, though.

[Because. Hot. Sexy. Skintight. Hnnnngh...]

[ pieces of what he remembers and what went on in songerein both. it's frustrating, honestly, not to have a better picture. as much as she might want to push, she keeps her mouth shut. is it important that she knows? no, but...

but she still wants to ughhhh. WHY THE SECRETS.

and while humans are delicate, hiyori has always been made of tougher stuff. yato should know that. maybe that's why she's been brought here. or to keep yato on his toes. he keeps her on hers, that's for sure.

yato, read the subject line. NASTY. ]

This is so not the time for your perversions. [ try as she might to sound annoyed, she laughs a bit before noticing the droop of his shoulders and new bend to his spine. he's exhausted, too. she should sleep, if to do nothing but put yato's mind at ease. ] I'm sure you'll get your chance at some point...

[ hiyori grumbles, barely loud enough for him to hear. a bit self-conscious, too aware of her plug suit now hidden beneath the blanket. the color in her cheeks doesn't fade away quickly. ]

But it saved me from being burned by the rain. I wish it could've saved others, too.

[It's the kind of information that might not be need to know, but just like he doesn't have to have all the information about her day, it is good to hear about what's been going on, her thoughts and feelings on it all. It's how they'll grow closer and strengthen the bond they already have.

Maybe Hiyori needs to take a page out of Yato's playbook and just speak her mind when she feels the urge. That's always been her style, anyway. And if it's something he really doesn't want to share, at least it'll be out in the open.

There won't be any denials on his part about her being a tough cookie. She's always impressed him with her strength both of body and spirit. And with her medical skills, she's now one hell of a useful force to be reckoned with.]

Do I need to make an appointment? [He teases lightly, leaning in closer to her in order to be heard as he drops his voice a few notches.] Hopefully before we end up fighting... Otherwise I might get distracted.

[Folding his arms on the edge of the cot, he sinks down enough to rest his head on them, still smiling but definitely looking more weary than before. Though his face takes on a contemplative look as she mentions saving others.] It does make you wonder why they couldn't have given us umbrellas or tarps made of the same material. That would've come in handy a hell of a lot.

[ ... maybe she does. nobody can read minds.

nobody she knows, anyhow. with yato, it's definitely true that she's been one to speak her mind. it took a lesson from yukine, but she learned to call people out just as quickly.

there could be something that's keeping her from asking. it's not the heat growing in her face. s i r ??? dropped tones are not good for anybody's heart, yatogami sir — least of all hiyori's. ] D... don't get distracted. No appointment is necessary. For... you...

[ DGLKDKSLGJ so she needs to learn how to flirt!!! that's not news. at least she can pick up when she IS BEING FLIRTED WITH. progress. ]

A, anyway. [ with his head laid closer, she reaches to toy with some pieces of hair idly. ] ... That does make me wonder, too. About a lot of things. [ the organization they work for and don't know much about. hiyori wants to believe it's for a good cause, just as they say. save humanity. that their espionage and secret identities are more for their protection and more like superheroes than anything nefarious. ]

I still feel so... like I don't know anything. [ soldiers are expected to fight and nothing else and she will but- ]

[It's a trait that Yato relies on; Hiyori may not be his guidepost - not here, anyway - but she helps act as his moral compass just as much as Yukine. It's one reason he's so grateful to have her here alongside him. He's learned by now that he needs the guidance of a human, be they alive or shinki. So far he's been lucky to have them both in his life.

It's something he wants her to know, yet he can't quite bring himself to spit out. So really, they aren't to different in that department.

Though he seems completely oblivious to the way his softer voice affects her... or perhaps not with that hint of a twinkle in his eye. ...yeah, he's definitely playing up the charm. When she's supposed to be resting, too!] Hehe... Maybe when we get back you can make a house call to check on me...

[Is... that an invitation?? It probably is, knowing Mr. Dirty Mind. Or it could be a defense mechanism to reassure himself that they'll both make it back safe and sound.]

Right? There's still so much we're in the dark about. [With her playing with his hair, he starts allowing his eyes to drift closed, a faint smile on his face.] Well, we are kinda being chucked in the deep end without much in the way of instruction or information.

[Cracking open his eyes again, he reaches up to take one of her hands, holding it close to his lips.] When we get back, let's look into whatever information we can find, okay? Between the two of us we should be able to get caught up to speed relatively quickly.

[ that might be the problem then. what she wants to know doesn't belong anywhere morally right or wrong. she's just curious. meddling. if he were to tell her he relies on her as a moral compass, though...

she wouldn't know what to say. nor does she know what to say to that gleam in his blue eyes. she knew he COULD be charming. totally possible. 1/10 chance. but SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE RESTING. not having a bpm jumping beyond 100. if she counted right. it sputters in her chest when there's mention of a personal house call.

incorrigible!! she mumbles, pouting and sulking at her susceptibility to his DUMB CHARM. ] I-it'll be late. After hours.

[ she needs the mechanism, too. that they'll both make it back. yato, most of all. he's going to put himself on the frontlines and she's going to be in the medic tent and it's going to be infuriating but that's where she's useful, no matter how much she wants to knock out a kaiju personally.

seeing him calm down and smile is all the convincing she needs to continue with the absentminded combing. her mind is elsewhere, everywhere, when he takes a hand and she feels his breath on her knuckles. ]

Okay. Sure. That would make me feel better. [ she pauses and remembers something. ] By the way, is this... your cot?

[So many things left unsaid that should be spoken, even if in hushed tones. A couple of idiots, them. Smitten goober idiots.

Meanwhile for him, exhaustion seems to have turned off his inhibitions, letting out his more playful side. Or maybe he's just hit that point where he thinks he's dreaming and is behaving how he would in a fantasy version of his life. Who can tell with Yato? For being so easy to read usually he does have his moments of caginess.

Her mumbling earns a quiet laugh as his lips brush over her knuckles. So damn cute.] You can tuck me in, then. Or you could always join me~

[Hopefully they won't be reunited in the medic tent before the kaiju is taken care of. It'll be his first time facing one, and while he did get a sword from a kind fellow Outsider, he hasn't had ample time to practice with it yet. It's going to be strange fighting without Sekki and having his borderlines to rely on.

Humming softly at her further attention, he turns her hand over to kiss her palm gently. Eyes never leaving her despite being half-lidded. Like he doesn't want to let her out of his sight.]

It is. I left it open for other people, but I guess everyone's managed to find a place to settle down for the night. Are you comfy? Warm enough? I could see about finding another blanket or pillow if you need more...

[ playful or flirty or whatever it is, it's keeping hiyori's mind off darker thoughts. she's grateful for yato. once again. god of fortune, indeed.

god of something. god of pushing her buttons. they're a little different now. she looks at him closely, trying to figure out if he's still teasing or if he's being serious. because what if she says yes? and it turns out he was joking. she would cringe into herself. okay, that's dramatic but it'd be humiliating.

whatever she saw there, she forgets promptly following him kissing her palm. and him looking at her like that. please.... mercy...... those eyes. throw her a floatie, she is drowning.

all of a sudden, she sits up and the blanket falls to her lap. ]

No, I couldn't - I'm okay, this is fine. I've slept at my desk plenty of times. More than I can count... that doesn't matter. Yato, did you have any plans to sleep?

[Maybe he instinctively knows that this is a trying time for them both and is just acting like his goofball self as a protective measure. Or maybe he is just a lovesick fool who's taking every opportunity to lay on the charm.

God of Being Insufferable, surely, whichever goal he's aiming for. Under her scrutiny though, he fidgets a bit out of nervousness and glances away, finally faltering. It's a dangerous game they're playing, and he's not sure where to draw the line, yet he feels like he's toeing it to a dangerous degree.

It doesn't last long, however. Despite his misgivings, he's simply unable to keep his eyes away from her. Moth to a flame and all that. One who'd willing burn up in order to stay close to his precious light.

His brows raise a hair as she gives up on lying down but thankfully he doesn't try to make her lay back down. Just yet, anyway.]

Just because you've done it a lot doesn't mean it's good for you, y'know. [He almost sounds scolding, but her question catches him off guard, leaving him stammering moments later.] O-Of course I did! Don't be silly. [Lying. Through. His. Teeth.]

[ from the start, it was never a game for her. inviting her to join him in bed is... certainly dangerous, though. she changes her mind about something in the moment he glances away nervously after her careful consideration.

as if she could invite him to share the cot.

although if she doesn't bodily drag him into it to take her place after that bad and blatant lie. TO HER FACE. ]

I know it isn't good for me, just like I know that not planning to sleep is just as bad for you. [ for his lie, he gets hiyori tossing off the blanket so it's at the foot of the cot and moving to get out of it. pro: plug suit. con: annoyed, stubborn hiyori. ]

If you're not sleeping, I'm not. There's gotta be some high-grade coffee energy drink thing I can get.

[ because that'll work. she's out of options. and brainpower. there's a point or something to be made though. somewhere. ]

[Always foiling himself, that's Yato, it seems. He'd like nothing better than to crawl right into bed with her, like they used to back at Songerein. To feel her warm, soft skin again, have her sweet breath lulling him into a sense of security like nothing else can...

But he won't do that to her. It's too soon for starters, and for another thing the cot is so small that she probably wouldn't be able to sleep well like that. So it's a no-go.

And yet if it ends up being the only way to get her to rest, he'll damned sight do it. For as she starts climbing out of bed, his eyes go wide before narrowing dangerously. Snatching up the blanket, he tucks it in around her legs and starts trying to tug them back onto the cot.]

Oh no, we're not having any of that. It'd be bad enough that one of us doesn't get good rest, I'm not having us both exhausted. You're human, Hiyori. And a doctor! You know what sleep deprivation does to a body. Now get your ass back into bed and lay down.

[Once he's got her feet squared away, he turns his attention to the rest of her, gently shoving her down by the shoulders. This might end up as a fight if she protests too much...]

[ considering how well she slept on his back when he carried her, maaaaybe she would.

something is irritating about yato calling her human. so???? even though, you know, she is. less so about him calling her a doctor. she breathes sharply out of her nose. yes, she knows what happens to sleep-deprived people. there's a multitude of things. irritatibily not the least of which. difficult concentrating. managing problems. regulating emotions. reduced strength and balance. slower reaction time. bad coordination. mood swings. the list goes on. all terrible to have when going up against a monster. when fighting a war. ]

But I'm not going to fight on the front lines like I know you are if something happens...! [ she hisses at him, eyes fierce as he shoves her down. as the staring contest goes on, a trickle of the fight bleeds out of her and she huffs but it softens her eyes. he's worried.

so is she. ]

Could you put yourself in my position? Yato, if our roles were switched. I know you get tired, too. I know you are tired and you're not going to sleep? If something happened to you because I didn't fight you on this, I'd... [ she doesn't want to imagine it. she's already had to when he left a tiny shrine with her. ]

You're a god and I'm a human, fine, but I'm just as worried as you are. I'm - [ the stone resolve in her eyes quivers. ] I'm afraid.

[Maybe because she's taking it to mean somehow lesser or weaker than a deity, which is not his intention at all. Merely to highlight the fact she's made of flesh and blood like all mortal creatures, and thus has their limitations. Same as he isn't impervious to exhaustion and its side effects, either. Which is probably why despite their initial glaring contest, it ends up softening into something more akin to concern. Though his voice still comes out harsher and louder than he means to in the darkness, causing him to wince and look around in case they've disturbed anyone.]

That may be true, but--! [Finally, his resolve melts away with a long sigh. He doesn't want to argue or fight against her, not for anything even if it is important. They'll just end up wearing themselves out by taking forever to decide who gets to sleep first and best. Plus she has a point. If he was in her position, he'd want her to get the most rest. He won't try to deny that.]

Hiyori...

[Giving up on forcing her to lay down, he instead places a hand on her cheek, expression softening until he's just about smiling. Seems there's only one course of action that'll satisfy them both. So he undoes his boots and snatches up the blanket before placing a knee on the cot and sliding onto it in such a way that she ends up resting on top of him. Once that's done, he drapes their shared blanket over her back, tucking it around her shoulders.]

There. Will this satisfy you for now? Here, though-- You can have the pillow. [He tugs it out from beneath his head, nestling it on his shoulder so she'll have somewhere comfy to rest her head. Then he brushes the hair back from her face.] Nothing to be afraid of... I'll be fine.

[ is he not made of flesh and blood? divine flesh and blood but nuance.

she doesn't know what to make of him uttering her name or putting his palm on her face, but his soft look all but completely breaks her determination to pieces. she DEFINITELY doesn't know what to make of him taking off his boots and getting into the cot with her other than sputtering a bit as the length of her body (in plug suit) lays against his (in a plug suit). ]

W-wait...!

[ will this satisfy her...? no? yes??? she's going red when she doesn't need to be going red. a quick look around yields a few things. 1) it's dark enough they probably won't be noticed. 2) they aren't the only ones sharing a cot. body warmth is the best source of heat and after everything - being close to a loved one in grim circumstances - could be the comfort someone needs.

3) she.... likes.... having yato beneath her on a bed.

no. put that away. put that thought away RIGHT NOW. ]

I believe you, but- [ she adjusts her position a bit and is VERY CAREFUL about doing so until she's laid more against his hip and settles her head on the offered pillow at his shoulder. unable to resist, she nuzzles a bit into it with a sigh and drops her voice to murmurs. ] I'd rather be sure you're at least rested. I think I saw someone outside with a small campfire [ it's laios. ] so we can try for food, later.

[ hiyori, yato's personal medic now. his worry about her being uncomfortable was misplaced, though. quicker than you would expect, hiyori settles against him like she's done this a hundred times. comfort of a loved one. ]

[That's true. It's hardly fair to try pulling that card when he himself bleeds just the same.

Perhaps it's far too soon to be sharing a bed, even innocently enough like they are. Maybe he should've asked first in order to make sure Hiyori was okay with this in the first place, but it's a little late for that now. His face is changing to the same color as her eyes almost, heat flooding him all over, especially once she's tugged flush against his own suit-covered body.

It's... a weird sensation, having their plugsuits sliding against one another. Not bad, but definitely strange. In fact it's almost as good as having her nightgown-covered self beside him, not that he's going to dare say that. He's made a vow to himself to do his best not to compare Hiyori to her younger self. She's still the same person, the girl he loves. That will never change, he's sure of.

Which is why he only has a bad case of the nerves about progressing things too quickly; he doesn't want to spoil what they have, force their relationship in a direction they're not ready for. But if it gets them both to sleep soundly... it'd be worth it, right...?

He just hope his body doesn't betray him. That would be mortifying. And may lead to pain.]

We both need to be rested for tomorrow. Not one or the other, but both. [For a while he stares up at the ceiling, pointedly avoiding putting his face too close to hers. Though that leaves the question of where to place his hands... Eventually he settles for tucking them both in by his hips, accidentally drawing them closer.] Make sure you eat first, okay? You know I don't need it myself.

[He does indeed like this personal attention, especially coming from Hiyori of all people. It's extra nice once she settles down against him, making his heart flutter in such a way that he can't help worrying she'll feel it.]

[ it is very slippery, latex on latex feeling. she has the traitorous, unnecessary thought that skin would feel better and promptly shoves that wherever the I like Yato beneath me thought went. sleep deprivation MUST be affecting her because she is not, this isn't normal...

YATO IS THE PERVERT OK.

while yato stares at the ceiling and reminds her he's worried like she is and she can't argue lest become a hypocrite, hiyori keeps her attention on the blanket draped over their bodies. ] Both. [ the second he moves even a little bit though, she's warm. and this plug suit, again, is too tight. and is she breathing too loud? is she heavy...?

if she hears his fluttering heart, it's not over hers drumming in her ears. ]

You don't need it, but you like it and it makes you feel better. Or else you wouldn't drink so often or look so happy when I brought you melty cheesy buns, Yato. [ she pauses and lifts herself a little to look down at him. locking the door on her thought box. ]

Nobody is more important than the other. You're not going to convince me to choose myself over you.

▶ 001. WINGING IT.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO SEOUL.

▶ 003. TEAM SEOUL.EVERLIGHT & REDEMPTION

▶ 004. TEAM BUSAN.BRIMSTONE & REVELATION

▶ 005. STATUS REPORT.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

003b, LATE NIGHT

MIDNIGHT APPOINTMENT

DOCTOR IKI WILL SEE U NOW

BUSTS OUT OF HIS JERSEY OOOH MR YATO OOOH

KEEP THE SCARF ON

IT CATCHES THE SWEAT

WHAT ABOUT HIS SWEATY PALMS

HE'LL WIPE IT OFF ON HIS TRACKSUIT PANTS

DAS NAURSTY.....!!

DAS YATO!

NAURSTY BOI

BIG NAURSTY

LDKGJD BIG AND NAURSTY

HIS BIG, NAURSTY... SWORD

DONT U BADMOUTH YUKINE

OKAY OKAY SHEESH

LKALJLKDG holds him.........

hOLDS THEM BOTH...

CUPS THEM IN MY HANDS........

HOLDS EM LIKE BABY CHICKS....

they pEEPIN

PEEPIN PEOPLES 🐣🐥

covers their eyes,,,,,,,,

covers their ears......

covers their.... mooouthsssssss.......

▶ 003. TEAM SEOUL.
_EVERLIGHT_&_REDEMPTION

▶ 004. TEAM BUSAN.
_BRIMSTONE_&_REVELATION