The decision has been made. LILITH Japan orders the Outsiders to mobilize to pursue the Imugi.
Given that they are in a foreign country, they are largely dependent on LILITH Koreaβs resources. In response to the decision, the Korean branch provides some assistance: the Outsiders are given just enough vehicles to help transport them, essential supplies, and only a few operatives to help guide them. This is the most the Korean branch is able to give, as they must focus on relocating people and restoring peace following the attack.
LILITH announces that the Imugi is currently resting near Gangneung on the east coast and they must move quickly. The effects of Rift poisoning will grow stronger as they approach the source; a sign that they are close to a kaiju. Upon reaching the mountains just outside the city, LILITH informs them that they are right on top of its location.
However, there is no Imugi to be found. After searching the area, Outsiders will discover the source of the trace and the poisoning: eggs. They will find about twelve eggs. When they report their findings, Seokdang will curse. In their rush, they had followed the wrong trace. They didnβt track down an injured and resting Imugi—they tracked down the Imugiβs nest. So where is the Imugi?
Not long after, Outsiders will receive an update on their implants: the Imugi reappeared in Seoul. After seeing the corpse of its mate, it went berserk and attacked the city again. While many of the citizens were evacuated to nearby Incheon and remaining shelters, just as many perished, with the death toll at 168,000 and rising. LILITHβs Korean base is destroyed.
The Imugi was last seen flying north, but the Korean government prohibits the Outsiders from pursuing it again through their territory. By choosing to pursue the kaiju, the Outsiders have abandoned humanity and thus will receive no further support. They are ordered to leave the country immediately.
LILITH Japan will order them to collect as many eggs as possible and continue to the abandoned city of Gangneung, where they will arrange pick up and return to base in Tokyo.
βΆ AFTERWORD.
Thanks everyone for participating in our first major Event Decision! We hope you had fun discussing what to do both ICly and OOCly.
After failing to capture the second Imugi and also failing to save a large portion of Seoul's population, characters will be shipped back to Japan. The events of the TDM will springboard from there. Feel free to use this post to thread out any aftermath threads if you would like.
All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards August AC.
[Both of them into a prison of their own making, covering it up with their external lives. Explosions, chains, like a little ball of blood with sweat in the center. Katsuki's so seldom had someone reach out to him in his hardest moments. The last time someone did that, it created a gulf between them for ten years, his pride swarming into a seething loathing for his childhood friend who dared to offer his hand to help. Now, as Yuji reaches for him, he takes his hand, knowing the cost of what might happen if he refused it. Becoming again that prideful loner who didn't need anyone inside his glass tower.
There are others he has who could and will help. Denji, his partner. Raidou, his close friend. People like Yuwon and Yato whose relationships with him grow stronger each time. But Yuji's unique among them, someone who's seen pieces of Katsuki he hasn't shown anyone else. Who knows the struggle of fighting against something so heavy it threatens to break. Yuji doesn't look at him and see a hero who needs to be strong and perfect. He knows him enough that he can show the other boy his weakness and pain, knowing he won't be looked at with disappointment or seen as weak and losing. Someone who can support him. Incomparable.
Blunt edges run across his head, combing through the soft blonde spikes. A shuddering breath ghosts across Yuji's collar, heavy with the ache of his chest. Pieces of armor slowly begin to return, fitting back into place, while knowing there's no keeping the other boy out. He's already inside, propping up Katsuki from within. Resting on him, against him, slowly regaining the feel of his legs and the strength to stand once more. He needs to become strong again, so he can offer the same back to Yuji.]
Mugunghwa. [Whispered into Yuji's collar. Each passing minute continues to offer another gentle caress of calm over his body and soul, brought by his friend's presence and touch. Slowly but surely helping him come down from the distressing emotions. His frustrated tears have mostly stopped, though a few leak every now and then.] It's Korea's national flower.
[Hardy. Pretty. Something they would have loved to see. Something that will remember them. No, it won't be enough to make it up to them, but it is something. They won't be forgotten, they'll be with them when they go forward.] Aa. We won't forget.
[He rest his head in the crux of Yuji's neck. Those quiet words bring a fresh wave of pain to his chest. Don't leave me. How can he promise not to when Megumi and Nobara were whisked away, when Izuku was taken without a word? He can't control if and when it happens. The ache and anger come back as he wraps his arms around Yuji and holds on. Tight. Hard. Locking to him.]
I promise... I won't leave you, Yuji.
[He doesn't care if it's a promise that he might not have the power to keep. He'll make it. He'll fight as hard as possible to keep himself from being taken away. No matter what happens.]
[Like a ghost, Raidou slips around beside him, unobtrusive as ever. He sits down next to him silently.
His feelings mirror Katsuki's in every way. He chose to chase, they were wrong, and the cost was unfathomable. Failure in Seoul, failure in las Vegas, failure back in the Capital. Too much had been placed on Raidou's shoulders, and he finally buckled from the pressure. To be told they "abandoned humanity" was salt in the open wound.
Even on a good day, Raidou doesn't often have a lot of words. Especially not when it comes to his emotions. In time, he might be able to find them, even if it means writing something down. But for now, nothing comes. Nothing can be said to make any of this better.
But it's times like this where Raidou struggles the most with his stoic nature, wishing he could let something out. A scream, a tear, anything. It never comes. Nature or nurture, whatever the cause, this is the way he is.
Katsuki has been there for him, and he wants to do the same. After sitting down softly next to him, is lean against him, shoulder to shoulder, so Katsuki can do the same. It's all he can do right now, besides listen, if his friend ever wishes to talk.]
[ fast forward to the convenience store bc we don't got time for all dat... ishmael stares at the alcohol collection they have, lips pursed together in thought. ]
[Makima's thinking it over, she understands the logic there, but...]
We have some heavy hitters on our side and some have taken out comparable or more fearsome creatures on their own before. Where I would think there's a miracle is that we haven't had this level of destruction before.
[ they're in his room because that's the funniest option and i hope they're sitting on his bed like mean girls talking shit <3 ]
You know, [ with his injured leg so boldly draped over Silco's lap, Set lounges low in his bed; a slouched figure, with a book folded open and face-down upon his chest, enjoying the acrid scent of Silco's smoking even as he's forced to periodically fan the smoke rings apart before they reach any alarms in the room. ] Some might say that if you were not so bitter in your opinions, you could be a fantastic motivational speaker.
[ Not him, though! ]
I do not think they have much, by way of tactical strength or organization. "Hope and a prayer" is not an effective strategy for dealing with enemies stronger, faster, or more resourceful than oneself. And while I think they should mourn freely, those who are regretting the choice are the ones most disappointing me.
[Even now, his mind tries to prove why he wasn't wrong, why they weren't wrong. The data they had, the information, the risk, all of it pointed to the best choice being pursuit. Eliminate the threat before it came back. And it DID come back, just as they rationalized-- proving the entire reason why they went after it --only they weren't there because someone else gave them wrong data! Yet no matter how many times he thinks it over, it doesn't change the weight on his shoulders or the drop in his gut.
They failed. They won the battle, but failed to win the war in Seoul. They failed the battle in Vegas, but won the war. Though in the gloom of the current moment, Katsuki remembers the destruction that battle wrought on the city, once again tearing into him over the severity of not taking the worm out before. When it was away from people. How the hell are they not supposed to buckle from these losses? Part of him remains bitter, spitefully wanting to show them exactly what "abandonment" really means. But his heart refuses to betray what it means to be a hero. Even if the path is painful and hard right now.
Katsuki knows Raidou's not good with expressing his emotions, and both of them know it's not easy for Katsuki either. Minus his usual aggressive personality. Showing someone he's hurting, revealing his vulnerability... Raidou's silence is better right now. It leaves Katsuki free to wrestle with his mind, but not alone and lost in his own misery.
A shoulder bumps against his own and Katsuki feels himself give slightly. Heat bubbles under his lower lid, burning his eyes as they scrunch in desperate attempt to keep everything inside. Before closing them completely, tight and hot as the tears come. Frustration, sorrow, anger, hurt, homesick, worry, Leaning against Raidou, those gates break open in the silent comfort of his friend. He's not alone, he's not lost.
Someone like Raidou would understand more than most just what kind of feelings course through right now. Given a responsibility to keep others safe, knowing their lives are in your hands if you don't. They were trusted to be heroes.
[ A chuckle, now. Almost amused, but not quite, like all the humor had been sucked out of him long ago. ]
I am them. Do you think I speak this lightly? With no experience?
[ His hand gestured in the vague direction of the city. ] It is insulting. For us and them, to simply wipe this clean with no death or sacrifice on their part. It is insulting to simply wipe the danger from this world β at no little cost to ourselves β because we "pity" them. If LILITH would give me this nanotechnology, then why not them? Because they're more valuable? Because they wish to throw us into the grinder instead of them?
[ So. Silco may be psychotic, and obnoxious, but at the very least, he does not lack for conviction. ]
It is an insult to both sides to coddle them and treat them as if they are incapable.
[ His face draws into a sneer, and it turns his face uglier. Angrier. It draws in, and there's something like fury in his eyes. ]
That is where you are so, incredibly wrong. Even an idiot like Quetzalcoatl understood that. It isn't that I've been denied it. It is that I have seen what happens when you have it.
[ She is right, of course. Except for one small detail. One thing that Silco would never dare to share. Hell, even those whom had been in Kenos, and been granted the brief, fleeting presence of the only person Silco held dear β would have never been able to tell that one secret he kept close. His fingers twitched, instinctively, reaching for a pocket that didn't exist on his person. As if there was something that he was used to having that he did not anymore β that perfect crystallization of a soul so precious and worth caring for that he would have burned down every universe along the way, just to see it thrive.
The worst part was, neither he nor the bearer of the effort would have blinked twice at the sacrifice. ]
I do not expect you to understand. You have never been where they are at. If something is worth having, it is worth fighting for. Not calling a variety of people with powers and prominence to do the work for you. It makes them lazy, and distant. They do not know the weight of such sacrifice, if they are not in it themselves.
You continue to insult them, if you want to pretend that we are to be their secret saviors with no cost to them. Good for them, they have been able to find us, but if you think that is all their efforts should land them, then you are delusional.
[ Silco, of course, has no powers either. To him, this is simple logic. Why are they not getting these "upgrades" or weapons? Why are they pulled from their homes and asked to sacrifice, when the people here are not? It makes him sick to think of them so unwilling to have a hand in their uprising.
Then again, he would much rather be home, ready to wage war on a people that had put an end to his daughter's life, too. ]
[He wants to remain as a rock, steadfast and unmoved, but it's nearly impossible in the face of his friend breaking apart. Raidou's breath simply quickens, breathing from his nose as he keeps it together. But, he gently reaches behind them with an arm to guide Katsuki's head to his shoulder, softly resting his own head against his.]
Go ahead. It's okay.
[It's okay to let it out, here in the safety of his room. With Raidou, a vault who will keep those feeling secure. His own eyes are squeezed shut, his other hand a tight fist on his lap. The only way his emotions ever leak out is with anger, often in the fury of battle when the heat of things carry him away. He doesn't want that to be the only thing he can ever express to those he cares about. For now, he will settle for doing the best he can, which is be a shoulder to lean on when things are their worst.]
[ Mystifying. Godzilla's been informed there's others around that aren't even remotely human looking so that's all well and good, it's the things Sonic says that keep making the gears in his dinosaur brain hitch. ]
Dino... dude...? [ Not really sure he likes that, actually! But hey he'll be the bigger lizard and let it slide this one time. ]
Your concern is unnecessary, I am more than fine. One must be able to keep the truck in the lane, as they say. [ Um.. keep on trucking maybe? Regardless he's avoiding it, he's far from okay. There's a lot on his mind right now. ] What of yourself, Blue Fur?
( he slurs, knowing he's got to reek of alcohol, all those other times not having been as embarrassing. not like this time, when a heavy boulder of shame was weighing them all down. true... they might not have listened, but it could've made him feel better.
he can hear oryou now, if she were here, that damn snake. "better learn how to shape up around your girlfriend, you stupid slug." whatever. whatever... heβ )
Y'know I... βit's good. You can, come with... I just. ( he runs a hand rather forcefully through his bangs, ruffling them. ) Didn't need this to be the first time I take ya... towards my room.
( which is, ... this way, yeah? the way he was headed. the water bottle is cool against his face, at least, his free hand reaching for march's shoulder to try and spin her around and drive her the right way with a light little push, a movement so nonchalant when his brain won't even pause to consider if it were too impolite in the moment. )
Then they should learn to deal with the consequences of group actions β or learn to defy the powers that be and do what they want.
[ He says, blithely. He doesn't really care either way. To be fair, is Silco really the person that interested in fighting Kaiju? No, obviously. Hell, he hadn't even been really easy to find around the fight as it was. Sure, beforehand, and when they were dodging around traps and into the woods, but without weapon or powers, well.
Silco knew better than to put himself in that much danger. ]
Well, I suppose if they feel so bad, perhaps menial labor will make them feel better. At least, that's always been the common rhetoric amongst the miners when tragedy strikes. Seems to work well enough.
[ Bakugo manages to go and trigger Godzilla's fight instinct for half a second there. It's nothing personal, it's not even conscious, explosions just tend to be the precursor to a fight so he's going to react. His ocular finally turns off as his head snaps to Bakugo and he just stares, legs tensing, the rest of his body going dead still the way a stalking cat's does.
It takes a second for his brain to catch up, then he's right back to relaxing. His eye starts glowing as he goes back to his implant as if nothing happened. ]
I have been informed of the mind-manipulator. You have already touched on the important change, I was not here. I am now. Such enemies are of far less concern.
[ And there's that ego. Of course a mind manipulating enemy wouldn't be able to effect him, he's Godzilla. If that happens in the future he'll be able to wrangle up whatever Outsiders are effected and deal with the problem.
His over-confidence is going to get him killed one day.
After a beat the kaiju king lets out a huffing sigh, complete with a twitch of his tail. ]
However, you are correct. Nothing is fully proof against defeat. Each of us is diminished now in spirit as well as power. The circumstances are not ideal.
[ She's certainly an odd one. Right then and there he decides she has to be from the same world as Laios, there just seems to be something going on with those people. They've all seemed like good sorts though so he won't hold it against her.
He still ends up snorting, complete with smoke coming out of his nostrils in a way that's not helping any future discussions of how he is 100% not a dragon. ]
I stated I have eaten with him. It seems your ears are only sharp in appearance.
[... Wow. He doesn't even mean that as an insult, it's just a straight up observation. But still. Wow. ]
However I hold no ill-will. Many are still recovering from Seoul, such things can be forgiven. [ How nice of him. ]
[Sometimes punishment is a hassle and if she is skirting around the rules, she will avoid it unless she can't... She already signed herself to her fate after everything went to shit in Seoul. She'll accept punishment, but leave her alone and let her do things.]
Ugh, don't remind me. I know we are probably going to get the scolding of a lifetime or worse, but I am still trying not to think about our upcoming punishment.
[She leans back in her seat before taking a huge swig of her drink.]
I do agree with ya. Drinking is a great social activity and we should enjoy our slow moments before they tighten the leashes around us. [anyways!] Sooooo~ Any good gossip lately, Izou? Did you do anything fun back there before everything went to shit?
[ i've been alone, hiyori hears. i've had to bear anything and everything by myself. what i'm not used to is not being alone. i'm not used to not considering myself a burden because if i wasn't? surely, i wouldn't have been on my own for so long. someone would see me. notice me.
a silent cry. more heartwrenching than any wail or sob.
to spare ereshkigal seeing more tears building in her eyes, she hugs her again. more tightly, if possible. she keeps her voice low, but firm. riddled with resolve and emotion in equal measure. ]
Ereshkigal, this isn't the Underworld. [ though, right now, it comes close to the burning nightmare of hell. everything that makes up all that's ugly and all its carnage. ] You told me... you wanted to be treated like an equal. Like the rest of us.
You don't have to do anything by yourself. Not anymore. Least of all suffer silently on your own. [ gradually, her fingers curl against her back. not finding purchase but clutching all the same. she's known too many gods who quietly weather their pain in solitude. ]
If you're lonely, you can seek out company. If you're sad, I'll cry with you. If you're upset, we can beat something up in the METAVERSE. [ wriothesley showed it to her before it all went to shit. ] If you want to rest, you can use my shoulder.
Your apology is appreciated, however it is not necessary. I do not expect others to notice the finer distinctions, particularly with our current circumstances.
[ So hey there's that, she even manages to get a smile out of him as he moves to sit alongside her rather than squat all day. ]
I do not have a kind, there is only one Godzilla. [ Now anyway but let's not dwell on the fact that he's the last survivor of a dead species. ] In my world there are many other "kaiju" as well. I am to them what you gods seem to be to humans.
[ That's how he sees it at least. Stronger than the others, holding dominion over them, having places of respect and worship built for them. Same thing right? ]
That's the spirit! [She gives Yor a soft pat on the shoulder. A confident smile with uncertainty... That's a familiar smile that she wears herself sometimes.]
However, that also means don't overwork yourself. You gotta take care of yourself as much as you take care of others, Yor. Lots of resting, eat something delicious, enjoy your favorite activity- All of that so you can be recharged and ready for anything!
[Important wisdom from Rodya!! Take advantage of the slow moments while they are here!!!]
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