Update

[synfluxmods]

▷ DECISION UPDATE

▶ OUTCOME: BURNING BRIDGES

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 Korea’s 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 didn’t track down an injured and resting Imugi—they tracked down the Imugi’s 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. LILITH’s 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.

▶ 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.

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Raidou Kuzunoha XIV | Devil Summoner | Everlight

[the_fourteenth]

[On the trip back, Raidou doesn't say a word. He doesn't say a word once they return to the base.

He retreats to his room, and sends texts to everyone cancelling training until further notice. He will not respond to any messages back. He is not seen in his usual places like the training room, the library, the kitchen.

If you come to his room for the first few days, knocks will be unanswered - unless you happen to be Yuji Itadori. After a few days, he might finally answer. Maybe.]

[OOC: feel free to come to his door after a few days, or wildcard it. If you want to try and catch him somewhere on the scant few times he floats quickly from his room to the kitchen/bathroom and back.]

wildcardo

[gimu]

[ how many days is it now? doesn’t matter. at around 9am on the dot, a knock comes once again, heavy-handed but polite as only something like choso can manage.

knock knock, summoner.

today, he decides to change it up a bit by dragging his nails down the door, inspired in no small part by the cats around Neo Tokyo. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[It takes a few moments for there to be any noise stirring inside his room, but if Choso is patient, the door is eventually answered.

The door opens slightly, and the you summoner gives him a flat, lifeless look from the few inches the door is opened.

It'd be foolish, even childish to play it off as if nothing was wrong. But at the same time, he really doesn't want to talk.]

Yes?

[gimu]

[ alarming that choso's face should be Right There when the door is finally opened, but at least he has the good grace to step back so as not to crowd the doorway. ]

You disappeared, Summoner. Are you, too, taken with illness?

[the_fourteenth]

[He shakes his head lightly. No, not sick.]

No. Just tired. After the mission.

[He definitely looks like he hasn't been sleeping.]

[nutkick]

[ okay, they're back in the base where it was a lot easier to pinpoint which one of their teammates is struggling the most, and raidou is on the list. it's close to a week now and denji is unsure if that boy left his room to even eat or bathe. ah, it's that bad? denji knows those signs too well. fucking hell.

it's dinner time, well— in 'denji hours' which is close to midnight. he knocks on the door and waits. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[It takes a few moments for him to decide whether or not he wants to answer. Raidou knows he can't outrun everyone forever, though. Raidou is prone to late nights himself, but he's not exactly been sleeping regularly this week anyway.

After long enough that Denji might turn to leave, the door is finally opened a few inches, Raidou peering out, his expression and voice flatter than ever.]

Hi. Sorry. What's up?

[nutkick]

[ right. no need for small talk or the stupid 'are you okay?' question when the answer is very clear. denji opts to hold the plastic bag up, the one he brought along, and starts naming raidou's options. ]

We have some chocolate bars, orange soda, and some lollipops with different flavors. Oh, and I got this ... store-bought carrot cake? I don't know how good it is, but the lady who works there promised me it's super amazing.

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou blinks a little as Denji rattles off the list of snacks. Right, someone with a sweet tooth to rival his own.]

Ah...

[He rubs the back of his head. He's still not much feeling like talking, but it would be rude to turn away this thoughtful approach. After a moment of consideration, he opens the door all the way.]

Thanks. Um. Come on in.

[Raidou's room is normally tidy... and still mostly is, though there is definitely some signs of him hiding out for several days in a row. There are open textbooks and notebooks on his desk, an attempt to some studying trying to happen. A few coffee mugs and empty cups of that instant ramen he revised a few missions back for a job well done are also lined along the side.

There are two cozy chairs in Raidou's room with a small end table between them, the place where he usually invites newbies to sit and talk about life on the base. He motions to one of them to Denji.]

Have a seat.

[eyescar]

[ Yuji spends enough time in his own room, mourning and grieving his choice, that he feels as if he has let Raidou down; his partner had been there for him in his grief, and he hasn't done the same in return. He knows just how much this is going to have hurt the other boy, and he drags himself out of bed and makes his way down the hall to the other room, hovering outside the door.

What right does he have, to come and offer comfort? He's not sure, but... He has to try all the same. He has to do something.

Leaning his head on the door, he knocks quietly. ]

Johei?

[the_fourteenth]

[The door is answered a lot faster at the sound of Yuji's voice than with anyone else. It takes a few moments to pull himself together before he opens it.

He feels bad for not checking on with Yuji, but more than ever, his words are hard to find. Raidou's supposed to be the one to be there for him. But right now, he doesn't know what to say to anyone, not even to Yuji.

The door opens, and Yuji is greeted by a sullen, exhausted Raidou. He tries to say something, but nothing comes, even if he is relieved to see Yuji. This is probably the longest they've gone without seeing each other in months.

It brings up a well of emotions that, as much as he'd like to tamp down, manages to leak through just a bit in his exhausted state. It comes in the form of the quiet, wavering voice he answers with.]

Hi. Good to see you.

[eyescar]

[ They're meant to be there for one another, and that's what's hard - because this time they're both struggling so much, and finding a way to be strong for each other is going to be even harder.

Shaking his head, he steps into the room and slowly wraps his arms around Raidou, drawing him close and tucking the other boy's head into him, if he's allowed. This time, Yuji can be strong for him. He has to be; this isn't his first time, after all.

He'd caused mass murder before, hadn't he? ]

Don't.

[ Don't try to be strong for him. He doesn't need that. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[For a split second, Raidou almost resists. He needs to be the strong, solitary summoner he was raised to be. But he's so tired, tired in every way, and Yuji's presence is like a chink in his armor. One simple touch, one single word, and Raidou is leaning into him, hands clutching tight on Yuji's shirt.

He doesn't speak. He can't, he has no words left. What could anyone say at a time like this? He only clutches onto his boyfriend, head down on his shoulder, his breathing occasionally hitching as he tries to keep himself under control.]

@shiro

[cranekin]

(When Raidou messages him to cancel training, Tsurumaru replies some time later,)

Denied.
Come to practice, Raidou-kun.

[the_fourteenth]

[His usual politeness is put aside for now.]

No. I am taking time off.

[cranekin]

I didn't think you were a slacker.

[the_fourteenth]

You won't goad me into it that way.

[blastedass]

[Many of them retreat. Who the hell wants to wander around and talk about this shit right now? Pretend nothing happened, smile and waive off the results of their decision. Even if they have to accept it, the cost slides down his throat like an iron maul. Impossible not to feel guilt over his part in the decision.

Raidou's text cancelling training only gets a glance in the dark room and it's gone. No message back. Only closed eyes and return to his rest and thoughts. Katsuki's never been one to wallow in his mistakes, losses, or failures, but only because they've been so few in his life up to the last year. When everything changed.

Perhaps it's no different here. Up until now, they've managed victories, some coming at more cost than others. But this one...

There are people he wants to see, and those same people he does not want to see. It's only after several days that he pauses in the hallways, looking down the row of doors to one in particular. There are few people he trusts well enough to see right now. Standing outside Raidou's door is hard. Everything tells him to leave. Everything can fuck off.

He knocks.]

[the_fourteenth]

[As it's been a few days, Raidou is now answering his door. Being unable to face his fellow Outsiders feels cowardly. They're in this together, even if he has no idea what to say or do for anyone. In the best of times, he has a hard time with words and expressions of emotion. The best he can manage are reserved for those he's closest with.

Thankfully, one of those people is currently knocking in his door.

It takes a few moments before it's answered, a crack at first to see who is there. Once he sees who it is, Raidou opens the door more, relieved to see his friend.

He still doesn't know what to say.]

... Hey.

[blastedass]

[What to say. What can they say? There's now division among them, those who wanted to stay having to go, those who wanted to go now bearing the brunt of responsibility for the disaster. Can they even trust each other's intuitions anymore? They're in this together, but never before have they been given a decision to make between themselves. Never before were lines drawn in their own company to this magnitude. What can they say to each other? Right. Wrong. Present. Past. Future.

Katsuki's never wanted people to see him at his low times. When he's hurting, when he's lost, when he's failed. Vulnerable means weakness, weakness can't win. Admitting that is painful every time. He deals with it on his own, resolves it himself, so others don't have to see him in a state that would make them doubt him.

... but there are some people he's grown to trust enough to see him. People he realizes he can't abandon, not just because they might need him... but because as he hangs onto the weight of this guilt and agony, he needs them. It's too much. It's too hard. The hero's eyes aren't what they usually are when Raidou opens the door. Half hidden under the heavy shadow of his bangs, barely keeping the hardened anger and pride he's so known for. No sparks, no glares, only narrowed and downcast. He wanted to appear as strong as ever in front of him. Never wanted Raidou to see him like this. But...]

Don't.

[Don't talk. Don't speak. Don't try to say something neither of them need to try and say. Seeing Raidou seems to pull a clog somewhere and Katsuki leans against the doorframe, throat visibly tightening under a swallow. Just... let him stay here for a while.]

[the_fourteenth]

[It's unusual, to see Katsuki in such a way. How many times has it been Raidou getting that pep talk, a shoulder to lean on? It's not words that are needed now, but that comfort his friend has provided to him so many times.

There's no pretending things are fine, and seeing Katsuki in such a state when he answers the door. It breaks something in him, too, jaw tightened up on seeing him struggle.

He won't just stand there. A gentle hand take him by the shoulder, grief still tugging at the corners of his attempt to keep a neutral expression.]

Come in. Sit down.

[Quiet, just above a whisper. As empathetic as Raidou is able to make his words.]

[busternaut]

[It's a few days before Dearka is even up to coming a-knocking at Raidou's door anyway. Prior to that, he's recovering, and then he's hung up on a very important question:

What the hell do you get to express your thanks to a guy who almost definitely saved your life?

Dearka has no goddamn clue. He's not exactly made of CRYPTOS right now, and the most he knows about Raidou's interests is that he's like... Into swords? And training? Not really a lot to work with there.

In the end, he shows up with a little bag in hand, which is full of all the best selections from the pool of snacks Yzak has brought him back from the cat cafe today. Can't go wrong with that, right? Who doesn't love food! Technically, he supposes, the origins make it a re-gift... But, hey, the dietary variety available on base is dire! That makes this stuff as good as gold.

He steps up and raps on the door twice.]

Hey, Raidou... It's Dearka. You in there?

[the_fourteenth]

[There's a few silent moments, maybe long enough that Dearka thinks he's not going to answer. The door slides open just enough for Raidou to peek out of.

He's met with tired eyes and a pale face, though in Raidou's defense, he's always pale.]

... Hey. How are you feeling?

[He's glad to see him all fixed up.]

[busternaut]

[He almost leaves, figuring maybe the guy's down for a nap or something... And honestly, considering how tired Raidou looks when he answers the door? Still doesn't seem entirely out of the question that Dearka may have interrupted some attempt at grabbing some shut-eye.

Anyway. That's sure a simple question with a very complicated answer! Dearka shrugs lightly, putting on an encouraging grin.]

Physically? Golden. And I did manage to retain enough of what happened to know that I have you to thank for that. So...

[He holds out the bag of snacks.]

...I wanted to give you a little token of my appreciation. Especially since I didn't get to thank you properly at the time... It's nothing fancy, but hopefully these're at least a start.

[the_fourteenth]

Ah... It was nothing, really. I got the healing upgrade for just such emergencies. I was more than glad to help.

[He looks at the bag, thinking, chewing his lip lightly as he does. Raidou isn't about to turn away someone simply trying to show their gratitude. He opens the door a little more, and takes the bag with a nod of thanks.]

Thank you. I do appreciate it. How is Yzak? Relieved, I hope.