KAIJU FIGHT #5

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #5

CONTENT WARNINGS: cult-like symbols and implications, brainwashing.

▶ 001. LORD OF THE FOREST.

Throughout the days leading up until October 15th, the captives will be forced down to the dungeons for their “punishments” to be doled out. All of the punishments seem to be completed methodically, almost as if the followers of the Lord of the Forest had centuries of experience. While no explanation is given, it becomes clear that the sacrificial ritual has begun. While the Outsiders may not be privy to what this entails, there is one rule that will be have made clear to them: once the ritual begins, it can no longer be stopped. However, there is still a sliver of hope. On the morning of the 15th, a small message will have been pushed out by LILITH. While they haven't completely reestablished their connection to the network, they are able to get something out.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME:
HEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
CLASS: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.
ABILITIES: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃Y REǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃S, GK̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̆̃
EXTRA NOTES:

It is an incredibly sparse message. It seems to be working with any information the ocular implants were able to detect in that second, and the information gets fed back in the form of a distorted debrief sheet. However, it does act as a sign that LILITH is still actively working on gaining access to their communication lines once more, and are tirelessly working to send help. With this sudden jolt of a message, they will feel an extremely heavy disturbance composed entirely of rift energy—it appears that whatever kaiju is dwelling here is able to effectively work with the rift in order to negate abilities. But perhaps the clues all strung together have already painted a similar picture as to what is to come, and to what to continue to expect.

Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.

All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.

Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.

(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)

▶ 002. FIND THE CAPTIVES.

Due to their brief communication and joint efforts following the network post, it becomes clear that all signs point to Bran Castle as the place where the captives are being held. This becomes ever more apparent as the fog gradually begins to lift, and the outline of the castle can finally be seen from the distance of the forest’s perimeter.

If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.

In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.

Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!

▶ 003. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.

Following the pathways of the castle to the dungeons below will not be easy. All the attendants present seem to have been waiting for them behind every nook and cranny of the castle. Outsiders will be met with their fervent attempts to stop them. It is a matter of life or death for the attendants and like the villagers, they seem to have no issue with throwing their own necks out in order to preserve the sanctity of their ritual.

Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.

For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.

The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.

To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.

▶ 004. THE FINAL RESCUE.

While the battle has already started within the village and the castle, suddenly the familiar ping of their oculars will alert them to the following message from Yamakawa—

"Angels of LILITH, we have connection. Rescue your team mates no matter the cost!"

With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.

After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.

As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.

…


…

…

… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: PRICOLICI
HEIGHT: VARIES
WEIGHT: VARIES
CLASS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA
ABILITIES: SHAPESHIFTING, IMMORTALITY, NIGHT VISION, SUPER STRENGTH
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLY RELICS, GARLIC, WOLFSBANE
EXTRA NOTES: This kaiju has a malicious intent to all humans besides those who praise it. It's said it will bless all of its followers abundantly on this Earth and grant them immortal life.

The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.

▶ 005. AFTERMATH.

The remaining villagers do their utmost in attempting to ground the LILITH medical cruiser, using cannons and other primitive weapons against it. Fortunately, they do not succeed. With the LILITH medical crew all present, they begin their work promptly. Outsiders can not only use the medical cruiser as a temporary base and resting point, but those with severe injuries are ushered in for emergency surgeries and other necessary procedures. Those who can heal are encouraged to take care of the ones with less major injuries in order to lighten the load on LILITH’s medical robots... and Dr. Spim, of course.

When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.

Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.

Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.

Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.

(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to fifth kaiju log!

Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!

For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!

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

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. LORD OF THE FOREST: On the days leading up to the 15th, kidnapped characters are brought to the dungeons to receive their punishments. The punishments are administered in a way that suggests that the followers have many years of experience, and that they are all part of a sacrificial ritual to summon the Lord of the Forest; once the ritual begins, it can't be stopped. On the morning of the 15th, LILITH is able to send out a distorted monster debrief sheet that the captives will be able to briefly see before experiencing a heavy disturbance of rift energy. Captives in the dungeons will also be able to see the Lord of the Forest, but it will disperse back into the rift after being summoned.

2. FIND THE CAPTIVES: The Outsiders figure out that the captives are held in Bran Castle; the fog gradually lifts and the outline of the castle will be visible. The villagers will do everything they can to prevent the Outsiders from reaching the castle, from using the children to persuade them to stay to more violent means. Outsiders who have a poison dagger from LILITH are able to use it on the villagers without prior clearance due to the spotty connection. Vampires are among the villagers attacking the Outsiders; if they are bitten, their bodies will feel feverish. Once Outsiders reach the castle gates, they will have to break through the castle attendants to reach the dungeons.

3. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN: Outsiders must fight through more attendants inside the castle as they make their way down to the dungeons. The layout of the dungeons is much bigger than it may seem on the surface—with over hundreds of cells, some of which still contain the remains and personal effects of previous villagers who have been sacrificed. Bats, minions of the Lord of the Forest, will attack the Outsiders and those who are bitten may begin to lose control of themselves with a thirst for blood. Bitten Outsiders may attack their teammates as a result, and may also be more susceptible to psychic brainwashing.

4. THE FINAL RESCUE: LILITH confirms the main mission objective of rescuing all the captives and gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission, which includes any Outsiders who may have been temporarily brainwashed. The bodies of any fallen Outsiders must be brought back as LILITH may be able to restore them. Going deeper into the dungeons will cause side effects of rift poisoning to manifest. The Lord of the Forest appears to engage the Outsiders; its ability to weaken abilities is diminished slightly due to the phases of the moon. Five to ten minutes into the battle, LILITH seals off the rift below the dungeons, allowing Outsiders an opportunity to go all in on attacking the Lord of the Forest.

5. AFTERMATH: LILITH's medical crew arrives to begin treating injured Outsiders. Those who are able to heal or have medical experience are encouraged to treat Outsiders with minor injuries to lighten the load on LILITH's medical staff. Once the battle winds down, Outsiders are given several options on what to do next: kill the followers and the villagers, but sparing the children (who will be brought to Neo Tokyo); continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders to safety; taking any goods from the village that will benefit LILITH, including food sources. Once completed, Outsiders will leave Transylvania to embark on the journey back to Neo Tokyo.

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Comments

A.

[blastedass]

[They put down a village. They put down a cult. They put down maybe? a god. They were ready to tear down a castle. All for these people in front of them. Is this the kind of group someone thinks is a good idea to divide and steal from? They are loyal to themselves above everything. They should be. Not LILITH. Not this world or these people. To themselves.

Smoke and dust peel away from his bloodied face and body, drifting off the sharp spines of his mask, as Bakugo emerges from clouds of wreckage and battle. They're here. They're all here. Those who move, those who can move, those who can't move... and those who won't ever move again. Gall snarls his stomach into a ball, copper blooms bitter and acrid in his throat t the sight before him. Why? Why the fuck would people do this kind of thing?! They're people! Just like them!

Bitterness and rage flickers through him anew, momentarily igniting Bakugo's "regret" over his lack of fatal injuries behind him on all the cultists he blew through. He pushes it aside, knowing that wasn't the important part to focus on right now. This was. There's no search for the keys, no blasting of the cell door off its hinges. But rather his hands burn with such intense charge of his explosions, Bakugo literally melts through the metal like an arc welder overcharged.

He shoves his disgust and sorrow away, ratchets up his determination, and braces himself against the scent of gore. As the Outsiders spill into other cells, Bakugo crouches down in front of the dragon, eyes taking in the garish damage done to his body. Relief floods his chest when he notices the other man's chest rise and fall, even so shallowly.]

Dan Heng. [That head comes up, a faint gasp, slitter eyes narrow, and even the dragon's incoherent words are a twisted comfort. They mean he's alive. Alive means hope.] Oy. Oy, it's okay, it's okay. [He has no clue if such words have been said before, only to prove a lie when something else was broken. Bakugo's normally gruff voice quiets to a decibel almost on one has ever heard before. He reaches out, resting one hand beside Dan Heng's cheek.] Dan Heng. It's me. I'm here. [Stop pulling on the chains.] You're going to be okay. We're all here.

Hey glad you're ok!! Also sorry about this-

[lunarchivist]

[It's- really hard to see. Everything- hurts. It's been like this long enough that his body gave up on telling him it hurt. It's too cold to tell anymore, anyway...

But...something's burning. Melting...metal...? Is he seeing that right...? Smells like...

Well doesn't that bring up certain memories in his already jumbled mess of a mind....of forges and fires and the hammer of a blacksmith, the face of one who would burn an incredibly bright and fast life......is that his own fondness or...someone else's...

Too bad he can't...quite make out the face before him now. But...Dan Heng knows them. He knows he should not be here.] S'dangerous....you shouldn't...y'need to get out...shouldn't be...here... [The sedition of Imbibitor Lunae is his to bear. Why is he here?? Why...

But then there's warmth on his face. A hand on his cheek. He'd probably sob with relief if he weren't already so dehydrated. Instead he leans into the touch, desperate for that warmth-- he's freezing-- to not be alone here...all the while still trying to give warnings- he doesn't deserve this. He'd already failed this person. He can't...his arms tug on the chains again, trying to push away or pull the hand closer, even he doesn't know. Nagging pain makes him stop.] Th'Borisin...was a trap....Hoolay he...he escaped...go...he'll kill you. I...I know you want y'r revenge on them, but...h...he'll kill you... [His eyes open-when did they close??- bleary, unfocused, confused.] Yingxing. You need...to run...

Came back at a good time, hoho

[blastedass]

[He's delusional. Bakugo narrows his eyes at the flow of warnings and names tumbling out of the dragon's mouth. With no recognition or assistance, they mean little more than jargon, but he doesn't bother correcting the man's words. Trying to snap him out of it right now in the midst of battle, gore, chaos, and smoke might send him into a worse mental break. A low hum answers the protests trying to usher him off to safety. Even like this, Dan Heng was helping others.]

I'm not leaving without you, idiot.

[Whether he understands him or not, Bakugo throws down the proverbial gauntlet and gets to work. He leaves his hand on Dan Heng's head, letting the dragon lean into it for comfort or curiosity. Tch, he can't break the cuffs off his arms and legs without potentially burning his already-damaged body. Bakugo could blow up the fasteners to the wall, but that would require leaving Dan Heng for a few moments, something he doesn't want to do when he's already been in contact with him. Letting him think for a moment he's being abandoned is a crime he isn't willing to commit.

Instead, Bakugo reaches up three links past the dragon's wrist. He clenches his hand around the chain and small explosions begin to pop and burst around his hand as his palm collects heat and energy. Charging up the explosions without letting them release isn't the most comfortable result, but the power generated swiftly melts the chain and snaps it clean off. He catches the links and lets them dangle for a bit to cool off, as well as preventing the cuff from dragging Dan Heng's arm to the floor, potentially injuring him more. The way his bones are broken and set incorrectly is...]

I'm not running. You'll be okay soon.

Truly...we really need a hero (and a friend) over here

[lunarchivist]

[The awful thing is Dan Heng has information on him. A little journal, stored away somewhere in his tattered, once-white tunic...not that it would have much more than what LILITH already shared over the implants, but...he'd been taking many notes to help upon their eventual escape. And now his mind is too addled with rift poisoning and pain and bloodloss to remember...

Not leaving...without...Dan Heng's breath shudders.] Whh...y...s'my punishment to...to bear...the Sedition was....'t hurt you too....[Yingxing would call him an idiot for this. But he...Dan Heng doesn't want to be another reason for the man to hate the world...his life is too short as is...it was...

The tension on his bad arm loosens, something happening above his head. Burning, melting metal. How is he doing that...? Dan Heng's arm is lowered slowly, which hurts but is then better-

It turned the man into a monster. Weren't the eyes watching him now red? Of five, three must pay the price. Yingxing's eyes were never red...that was...

You...are one of them.

Tears drip unbidden down Dan Heng's face. He didn't think he had any left. And yet...] I...cannot...give you th' death...you seek....I'm...m' sorry... [The man who broke Yingxing and turned him into a monster was gone, leaving his next self to take the weight. He can't make it right. He can't...his fault his fault his fault- it's why Dan Heng deserves to stay here-

And yet he leans into the hand on his head, pressing toward the warmth offered like a particularly lonely cat. That completely betrays what he's trying to say, what he should be doing- he can't. Fix this. All he can do is apologize...] Y'need to run....m'sorry.....

Fairy Godmother from Shrek - "I need a hero!"

[blastedass]

[The information and journal can wait; Dan Heng is more important. This guy is going to end up reminding Bakugo of Midoriya very quickly if he's the kind to always be writing shit down in a notebook on him. That's... both a good and a bad thing. Later. Escaping isn't going to be a problem. With the kaiju dealt with and the cult in ruins, halls and stairs are the only obstacles left to handle on the way out. And the bloody, mangled mess that is their allies...

More babble.] You're not going to hurt anyone. [None of this is directed at him. Dan Heng's rambling words speak to someone in his mind only he can see. Lamenting, questioning, stumbling through his pain from both torment and poisoning. He has to get the dragon out of here as soon as possible, but moving him in this state is going to hurt him further. After the hell Dan Heng went through down here, adding more is a fucking fool's quest.]

What the hell did they do to you... [Muttered under his breath. Tendrils of unnerving sensations crawl through the sadness and determination chilling his body. Leaving Dan Heng so brutalized he's left hallucinating and miring in his own demons. Slowly he lowers the dragon's arm, paying attention to the tension in bone and muscle. If he feels like something's going to snap or break, he stops, then slowly tries to work around the blockage. It takes time, effort, but finally he's one limb down. Bakugo can move to the next one with the same detailed concern in both burning through the metal and lowering Dan Heng's arm.

The entire time, he keeps his hand on the dragon's head, sometimes on a tear-stained face, sometimes on his head among the dark swirls, but never separating from him.] No one's running, Bakaryu. We came all this way for you guys.

YES YES exactly, you get it, fresh from the fight and everything lmaoooo (sorry, long reply is long)

[lunarchivist]

[Fair...especially since this is apparently after the Kaiju's been dealt with. And ha, Dan Heng keeps doing that, huh. Smaller, green-coded, nerds. Tend to try and help others before themselves. And now excessive note taking...at least in Dan Heng's case, it was out of more necessity than a hobby. To gather the information everyone found to facilitate their escape.

Not like it really helped in the end...

Dan Heng blinks slowly, confused, more tears falling. Not...hurting anyone? Isn't that why he's here, though? So he wouldn't hurt anyone ever again? But then...Yingxing what was once that man is here...but he's the one saying Dan Heng won't hurt anyone. Why? Why? That doesn't add up. His thoughts swim in confusing circles, memories from many different times mixing into a jumbled mess.

He's being asked what was done...to him? ...why everything hurts so much...he does have information on that.] Blood. Th'needed...blood. Pelt, claw, fang...omag...? Aconite. Still...don't know.... [Bakugo, in your dealings with the village's apothecary, this flower may have come up. It's Wolfsbane. ] Things....they need to....revive....? Free...? Hoolay...or- hh- [He cringes when his fractured arm is moved around, some pain but as to be expected in such a state. Bakugo does no more harm with how carefully he lowers the limb. And the other arm seems to be merely cut along, not broken.

Dan Heng mentioned "they" needed blood. That is likely the reason for all the cuts. And the mention of "pelt"...well. Bakugo may notice whenever he puts his hand on the dragon's head that there is a large patch of hair that's been messily cut out the side.

Bakugo...probably didn't want an answer, but he could probably put one together. The Kaiju shapeshifted, but its fur sometimes did likely match Dan Heng's hair color. Perhaps that of other Outsiders' too. The wolf probably bled some dragon blood.

And Dan Heng is starting to put something together himself, anchored by physical contact enough to hear, listen. Bakaryu...that's....

Yingxing's never called him that. Neither had the monster named Blade. That's someone...else...Dan Heng inhales, as if starting to wake up from a horrible dream.] B...aku...go...?

oh but we like girthy and lengthy

[blastedass]

[Rescuing injured people in the middle of a battle with a massive immortal shapeshifting wolf kaiju is a stupid decision, especially since the cells the Outsiders are in are, ironically, relatively "safe" from the war raging on. So yeah, this is after the battle, as Bakugo already talked a few of their number out of trying to rescue the other Outsiders mid-fight. That's not even mentioning having to slog it all the way back up to the castle's ground floor, past sprung traps, lingering cultists, and whatever mess was left behind. Final proof is LILITH being on their way with the medics.

Bakugo can talk about how Dan Heng reminds him of Deku later, once he's gotten him out of here and the dragon's recovered to a better degree. Even if his notes didn't lead to escape, there's bound to be something of interest in them to discover later.

With both the dragon's arms now free, Bakugo moves his attention to his legs, gripping one chain beside his ankle. Sparks and heat fly once more, searing the metal like an arc welder. He has to leave Dan Heng to his hallucinations right now, letting him think whatever he's thinking while the process goes on. Playing into those delusions or countering them? That's a question he'd rather not answer. Either one could be the 'wrong' choice for Dan Heng's injured mental state.]

They used you guys to revive or summon that shitty dog, huh. [And it took elements of the sacrifices the cultists used for their ritual. That explains some of the weirdly-familiar abilities. Fucking sick... Whether or not the Outsiders were able to kill the kaiju or simply banish back to the rift it came from is an unknown right now. It's immortal after all. But they got rid of it. He makes a mental list of what Dan Heng listed out.] It's gonna be okay. They're not going to hurt anyone anymore.

[Not with how some of the Outsiders are going to take hateful revenge on the cultists and village in the near future. Bakugo won't be among them, but he can't stop them either. This will be a difficult but necessary moment to avert his gaze. He can't say these people aren't responsible for their fate...]

Aa. It's me. [The chain snaps and he looks into Dan Heng's eyes, hand still on his head with gentle touches. Time for the last chain.] I'm right here. We all are.

That's one way to say it! In my notes I've dubbed this: Bakurescue. Not as good as inboxugo but

[lunarchivist]

[You know what, fair, have a nice day. Which is difficult to do when trying to break someone out of the cult torture dungeons. But ah well. At least the kaiju isn’t running around (and my time blind self can make better sense of the timeline.)
If the notes are of any use it’ll be a great relief…

The blurred figure is working on the chains below. The searing heat flares up nearby, and Dan Heng instinctively goes to pull one leg away, then hisses at the burst of pain that causes. Now now, enough of that-
It’s because he tried to get away that this was done to his legs in the first place…
and Bakugo probably has the right idea about how to handle the hallucinations. Over time, being freed, he’s starting to come out of it a bit on his own.]

Mm. An…aeon. Old…god? Provided…told them they were…safe…once the ritual ss….starts, can’t…stop…we need to make them….stop… [Dan Heng’s brow furrows as he parses the response. Not going to hurt anyone anymore…] They…stopped…? Good. Good…[So the Borisin are leaving. Hoolay is back in his cell. It’s okay. He doesn’t know how, but he trusts this voice. It’s blunt but kind, instead of the fake, fanatic sweetness of the cultists…Borisin…? Cultists…? Ugh. His head hurts.

Still, Dan Heng meets the red eyes before him, his own vision blurry and wavering with tears. Red. Steady, focused. Not red mixed with the gold of mara madness. Not Yingxing. Not the monster he became. Bakugo. He’s…really here.

It’s shaky, but Dan Heng reaches up with his good hand to grip the hero’s wrist. It’s a weak grip, but it further solidifies that this is no hallucination. They can leave? Bakugo’s been pulling the chains apart with his own hands this whole time. It’s real. It’s real. Dan Heng bites down a sob.]

Why…? How? How did you all get into the Shackling Prisons…? A-Are the others....r'they alright...? [Something in the back of his mind knows that Bakugo can be trusted. That the dragon is worried about unreal information…and yet there’s a fear that still grips him, enhanced by pain and extreme exhaustion. Dan Heng is supposed to be here. Bakugo, everyone- shouldn’t-

It doesn't. Make sense.

But he wants to leave. So maybe...it's okay...]

Hey if it's ever roles reversed, it'll be a Rescugo thread.

[blastedass]

[There is no nice day. It's a sad day. An angry day. But a victorious day by the time they're done with it! Whether they killed the beast or only managed to banish it, it's gone and the Outsiders can focus on recovering their own.

Dammit, he was almost done without Dan Heng hurting himself! He can't spare his other arm to grab the dragon's leg, knowing the touch on his head is probably one of the few things keeping the Outsider from freaking out or falling into his memories. The spark of pain might jar, but he immediately relaxes his arm so the dragon doesn't pull a chain that won't come. Only after the spasm is past does he return to the work, firing through the metal until it snaps free in hot slag.]

Those bastards lied to you. [None of the Outsiders were safe even after the shitty ritual was over. These people would either sacrifice their victims' lives to finalize something, or simply kill them to protect the truth. If they didn't plan on feeding their victims to the kaiju itself. He pounds the side of his fist against the hot metal link, beating the heat out of it until it cooled down enough not to endanger Dan Heng's skin if it accidentally bumped him.]

Aa. They're stopped. They won't be hurting anyone anymore. [They're stopped and then some. Bakugo's aware several Outsiders won't be content with simply rescuing their companions. He can't stop them from going through with their revenge. But that's not something to burden Dan Heng with. Meeting the dragon's ice blue gaze hopefully continues to call him and reassure him throughout the entire process.]

The fog finally lifted. We fucking broke in. [As Dan Heng grips his wrist, he rests his hand on the man's cheek, thumb brushing at his cheekbone. He's here, he's real, they're all here and real, and they're getting their friends out. The last clatter of metal on stone sees the final shackle break, molten end beaten into warmth rather than heat.] Yeah, everyone's here. We found you all and we're taking you back home with us. You're gonna be alright.

Rip to the people trying to kidnap Bakugo. Rescugo... (wait MHA canon that happens alot oof)

[lunarchivist]

((ooc: I wished to reply sooner but work continues to be terrible....))

[The pain is….it's bearable, but it's a near thing. Darkness spots across Dan Heng’s vision, and if it weren't for Bakugo letting up on the chain, the dragon might have just fully passed out. Instead he just goes limp against the hand on his face for a moment, having to let the young hero hold him up for a moment. He's fine. It hurts, but it. It's fine. It'll be fine. Bakugo’s here.]

I…I know. I know it was…lies…it…Hoolay…no the…kai…ugh…[He groans, straightening out his thoughts proving too difficult right now. Still, something’s off. But he has to help…] Abominations…of abundance…it's like…there'ss a price…and th…..they took them all….I couldn't…s-stop them…Choso, Sampo, Y-Yzak, Taryon, Wrio-thesley, Mak-i– [His throat is too dry, his words too urgent; the list of names he’d been repeating himself in his mind petering off into a coughing fit.

It takes a bit to recover. It’s just as well Dan Heng’s too out of it to ask the details on “not hurting anyone anymore”.] G-Good. Good…[The dragon had been upset just finding Kaga killing servants in the castle. It’s…also probably a blessing Dan Heng won’t grasp the intensity of the other Outsiders’ vengeance until much later. He’s just…relieved. Bakugo’s here. Reinforcements. Friends. Very capable ones, who have succeeded in neutralizing the danger…]

Good…broke…wolf skulls…to…th’ fog… [Bakugo’s gaze holds steady, but Dan Heng’s own vision is blurring further. The fear and adrenaline seem to have drained away, leaving just…pain and bone-deep exhaustion. And relief. Aching, near hysterical relief. The dragon distantly registers he’s still crying, but can’t find it in himself to be embarrassed. Bakugo met all his fears and protests with steady, logical reassurances and comfort. The chains are broken.

He leans into the hand on his face, forward, until his forehead leans up against Bakugo’s shoulder. Solid. Real. Warm. Steady against his own trembling.] Th-Thank you….thank you… I….I h-hate ‘t herre…[His imprisonment in the Shackling Prisons was meant to be a life sentence. He’s…not sure this is…he’s not completely sure what’s going on. But he knows he wants to leave. Bakugo’s here to facilitate that. It’s…for the first time in days, he believes things really will be okay…]

Wow! It only happened twice! Rude! ... Two more than it should.

[blastedass]

[ooc: rl is more important. money makes the world go round.]

[Tch. Chafes his pride he had one limb out of four twitch against his help and hurt the dragon. He wanted a four out of four victory in getting his arms and legs free without causing more damage. No one's here to see that though and Dan Heng doesn't pass out completely. Bakugo's not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. Good because the pain's gone, bad because who knows what the cult did to his mind. Though he's heard it's impossible to dream when you're unconscious...]

Oy, don't get yourself worked up. [Bakugo tucks his hand more fully against Dan Heng's cheek, looking at his face, meeting his eyes if possible. Those rambling words try to help, but sink in sorrow at the same time.] It's okay. We took care of that shitty kaiju. It's gone. [Confirming again the monster's unnerving similarity to some of their allies in terms of ability. He doesn't want to think about that. It would lead to questions the dragon doesn't need to answer.

Bakugo reaches for the small rectangular cartridge strapped just above his knee and unlocks it. Carrying supplies like water and medicine hadn't been on his mind much he made his costume, but instinctively including the option to if he needed to was what created these two emergency cartridges. If Dan Heng's concerned about the Outsiders taken revenge on the villagers now, he should probably keep himself inside later. Even Bakugo will be focusing on the interior of the medical shuttle when he's there, not on what's happening outside. As much as he'll want to stop any Outsider wrecking vengeance...

It'll be a hard decision. He takes the small metal cylinder in his hand and pops the rubber stopper with his thumb.] Here. [Lifting the by-now-warm metal to Dan Heng's mouth, he offers it to him.] It's water. [Only enough for one good mouthful, but he has three more if needed. The other two are plant-based painkillers...] You all did well. We're getting you out of here.

[Capping the vial again once Dan Heng's done, he lets the man rest his head on his shoulder.] I know. You'll never have to see this place again. [Dammit. Is it wise to pick Dan Heng up right now? The damage to his arms and legs is intense, and he'll hurt him more to move him. But waiting for a stretcher is idiotic with the danger still around. LILITH said they're coming, but "soon" doesn't mean now. Bakugo cusses in his mind and goes for another vial. This one's the drugs.] We're going home.

[He pops the top and moves it to Dan Heng's mouth.] Drink it.

jkhsdkf "if you had a nickel for ever time Bakugo got kidnapped, you'd have two-" etc. etc.

[lunarchivist]

[((OOC: it is, but work is so much less fun…got some days off now tho so yippee! Tosses one (1) reply before bedd))]

[It’s kind of funny and sweet that Bakugo made this a competition with himself to spare Dan Heng more pain. Just by being here, the hero has done so much to improve the situation, truly. Perhaps it really would have been better for the dragon to pass out though, considering he’s going to have to be moved soon…]

R-Right…sorry…sorryy… [Dan Heng presses his face into Bakugo’s hand, focusing on that, on his own breathing, trying to slow it down against the sobs and coughing. He focuses on the young hero’s words and face. Not angry. Not really. Worried…? Anger from worry. No wonder he mistook Bakugo for Yingxing… Thankfully they're very different as well. ] O-kay. Okay. I-I believe you…Hoo…no. Right. R-Right. Kai…ju…
Sso it really was just….a kaiju… [Maybe after all this, Dan Heng can study its origins and how it matches and differs from aeons and such. But not now. Definitely not now, when he can barely keep track of where and when he is…

His thoughts stutter to a halt when something’s held to his lips. …? Oh. Water. As a dragon with such an affinity for water, having even just a little is an aeonsend. Dan Heng drinks it greedily, then sags against Bakugo’s shoulder.] Th-Thank you. [He’s being told they did well….but…] Can’t…my…power….cloudhymn can’t….I can’t hear it….in thiss place…[He blinks slowly. Bakugo turned the chains to slag in his hands.] Your….power w-works though….good…

[Maybe if he weren’t so dead tired he would try to use cloudhymn magic…or maybe there are lingering effects dampening it. Hard to tell. ] Good…th-thank you. ’f I ssee anoth’r dungeon it’s….too soon. [There’s the barest hint of amusement appearing here. That weak smile warms at the later comment. Home…sounds really nice. He’d like to go home. To not have to be exiled to escape this place…not this time.

Dan Heng’s eyes had fallen shut at some point, and they blink open when something else gets held up to his mouth, with an order to drink it. More water…?

He drinks it, but it tastes…different. Strange. Dan Heng’s breath hitches a little, and he raises his good hand to grab at Bakugo’s arm. ] Wh…What was that….? What… [Their captors used drugs to change his companions. To drag them down here.] Wh-What did you just…I… [ Her good intentions led her to perform certain “healing arts” on Dan Heng. He shakes his head. No. No...he wouldn't...
That Dan Heng trusts Bakugo is the only reason he’s not fully panicking, even as his thoughts get more muddled. ((Are the painkillers meant to knock him out or just numb pain?)) But his hand shakes, bleary eyes going wide with confusion and creeping fear.] B…akugo…?

three more times and you can get a gumball from the machine!

[blastedass]

[ooc: yeah it's a necessary evil. but yay for days off!]

[He's already pissed off they had any of their company captured in the first place. With no damn idea how it happened! But they're here now. They have to get the Outsiders back to safety so they can start healing and recovering. Luckily the castle isn't threatening to crumble around their heads, but the surviving cultists are a danger in their rage. Soon to be smears across the wall if they get in his way.]

Don't apologize. [Bakugo doesn't want to hear any apology from the dragon right now. It's a waste of breath and energy. One canister of water down, then the liquefied medicine from before. As much as he wants to wait for medical professionals, or even another Outsider with better powers to move Dan Heng without pain, there's no time for that. Who knows when any of them could bleed out from their injuries? They have to move them and get them out of this place. Dank air, cultist elements, any number of things could invade their already-damaged and weakened bodies.]

Aa. Another shitty kaiju. [It's unlikely they'll be doing much with the kaiju. Even if they had managed to slay it, being at the bottom of a winding castle dungeon surrounded by used-to-be-impenetrable mist near a village of murderous cultists amid a vast forest... He doubts even LILITH will want to return and investigate whatever was left over. Take what they can and leave forever. Good. Dan Heng's drinking it.] The rift interfered with all our abilities. They'll come back once we're gone.

[He can explain more in detail, but doesn't want the dragon to waste his energy trying to converse too much. A brief scoff answers that weak attempt at making a joke.] We're never coming here again. [There'll likely be nothing left of value by the time they're away. Suddenly realizing the faux pass he committed, Bakugo quickly digs out another vial of water and uncaps it. Dammit, should've told him what it was before he put it to his mouth.]

It's okay. It's okay, Dan Heng. [He looks into the dragon's eyes, red gaze holding solid and firm.] It's to numb your pain. I have to carry you out of here. [Bakugo rests his hand on his cheek again, thumb soothing across his cheekbone.] I don't want to hurt you any further. LILITH is sending a medical shuttle. I'll get you up there and you won't hurt anymore. [Trying to talk him down from the sudden surge of panic and fear.] I've got more water when you need it. It'll be okay.

-which isn't alot but it's weird it happened twice. But also hey you almost got gum!

[lunarchivist]

[OOC: indeed! And I will get to the other threads tomorrow I prommy]

[Wow yeah someone should really ask about that huh- Gotta know how the kidnapping happened so it doesn’t happen again! …also it really could be worse, huh? At least the castle is intact enough, so it won’t fall on them all, and may even deter anyone else looking to summon a wolf kaiju for some insane reason…heaven help anyone in the way of Bakugo on a warpath.

Don’t apologize…the dragon almost apologizes for apologizing in response. It's hard not to in a place that reminds him so so much of a time when his very existence was a hardship on others, so much so he had to be locked away... He...forces his attention on water, on staying conscious. He can do that much…

Dan Heng blinks.] Another…kaiju? Did th’ bat show up…too…? [They never did quite figure that one out. He has a theory that the wolf absorbed the bat like what happens in his world with aeons, but he can’t even begin to explain all that. It doesn’t matter anyway…it’s gone…thank the stars and his friends, it’s gone.] M’kay. Glad it’s…tempor’ry…hated it….Ch’so will….feel b’tter… [Random topics that make sense to him, but only barely. Dan Heng headbutts Bakugo’s shoulder weakly at the assurance they won’t return, a wordless thanks. Music to his ears, really. Relief…

Of course until old fears rear their ugly heads and mix into the new ones. It’s not Bakugo’s fault. He didn’t know. He’s helping. It’s fine. It’s fine it’s fine it’s fine fine finefinefine-]

I-I…they used…they...drugged…the others….I-[There’s a quiet whimper as frantic eyes look around, shaking fingers gripping at the hero's clothing tightly. He can’t….feel…he can’t feel the fabric…Bakugo’s talking, so he looks up, meeting red eyes. A hero. A friend. There’s no guile in that gaze, no condemnation or deception. Only focus, truth, concern…? Doesn’t want to hurt him further…]

I-I believe…you…jus’... [It’s hard to explain the panic, especially when the numbness sets in, settling over him like a heavy blanket, making the dragon a little dizzy with relief and fatigue. It’s a strange feeling, but not…not horrible. And he can still feel a hand on his face, a calloused thumb running rhythmically over his cheek. The pattern is soothing…after a moment, Dan Heng’s breathing and heartbeat slow down again to more normal rates.]

O-Okay….I made that…difficul’, sor- n. No I… [Not hurting anymore sounds nice. Whatever he’d been given has taken the edge off. That’s good….even if it’s harder than ever to think clearly. He remembers Bakugo told him to stop apologizing….] Mm. Sounds…good. Water. Th...Then c'n we go? Please...

he's an attractive target for some reason? more like life likes to humble him.

[blastedass]

[OOC: As you're able!]

[It could always be worse; doesn't hold a fucking candle to what happened now. Bakugo might have some faith in the castle's structural integrity, but with the damage done in the storming and the kaiju battle, including the holds the damn gundam punched through the wall, he isn't keen on keeping anyone down here longer than necessary. They have to get the injured Outsiders out of the castle and to the medics, unless doing so would kill them.

Heaven can collect their ashes and scattered parts. He says, but obviously didn't kill.

Dan Heng saved himself from another shout. Bakugo's had someone apologize for apologizing and it pissed him off then as well as now! Apologizing for your own pain and existence... what the fuck? He lets the dragon handle the water and medicine as he needs, red eyes scanning around the cell for something he could use to splint, bind, or otherwise support.]

The kaiju could shapeshift. It was the bat. [What fucking bat?! ... Bakugo's not asking. Wracking Dan Heng's hurting brain and making him relive something traumatic is a fucked-up way of helping. Accept his delusions or questions and let him get on without conflict.] Yeah, you'll all feel better soon. Lets get you out of here.

[Tight-fitting fabric offers little cushion when the dragon headbutts his shoulder, though the strong muscle underneath that fabric might offer its own comfort. He might be young, but Bakugo doesn't skip workouts. Handling the momentary flare of panic and fear feels akin to yanking the wheel of a car or hauling back on the reins of a horse.]

You're all probably gonna have more medicine when you get to the hospital. [Treatment for their pain, cloths to handle blood, efforts to save their lives and repair the damage done. Scars in their future, therapy, struggles, all of it worth the price of keeping the Outsiders alive. Bakugo has a feeling he'll be sticking with Dan Heng for a bit to reassure him when they get up to the medical shuttle. Meeting the dragon's eyes, the young hero holds them until the anxiety fades somewhat.]

Here. [No time to be stingy. Bakugo brings a second container of water and uncaps it as well. First one mouthful of water, letting Dan Heng either guzzle it down or hold it in his mouth for a bit. The second one afterwards. He'll keep the final one in reserve with the last vial of painkiller. As much as it'd be nice to give that to Dan Heng, he has a feeling someone else will need it. Unable to find anything to help, Bakugo has to make the difficult decision of setting his companion's limbs. Encouraging his legs to gently stretch out below him, then his arms to rest over his chest, unless it's too damaged and needs to dangle straight. That's the best he can do before cupping one arm around the dragon's shoulders and the other under his knees. Muscles flex and he pushes with his legs to lift the man as attentively as possible, keeping everything between his joints from jostling or jerking. Guh, that's not going to feel good in the morning...] Try to stay awake. Talk to me.

[With a grind of his boots on the cell floor, Bakugo turns and exits, bringing Dan Heng with him out of his captivity.]

A reactive target can be funny, to mess with and to humble :) (poor guy)

[lunarchivist]

[(HELP….not the Gundam….good job Dearka….) THANKFULLY leaving the castle will not, in fact, kill the Outsiders that weren’t already dead. oof.

Hey, one defaults to unhealthy habits in an unhealthy state. And this place is so far from healthy…for Dan Heng’s physical and mental wellbeing. The same could be said for everyone, though. Water and medicine are very appreciated, despite the initial panic.

Hm…..splint with a cell bar? No, too heavy. Unfortunately there do not seem to be left over branches or anything in here. Just a very bloody large rock in the corner there…

Dan Heng blinks.] Shapeshifting…? Oh…tha’s not good. [He squints a little, trying to remember….something even though he really should give thinking a rest. Why does his head hurt so much…(gee I wonder)] It did look…like a person…sometimes. Didn’ know…kaiiju coul’ do that…

[Muscle can be comforting! It’s solid, real, warm. Indicates strength, assurance in an otherwise uncontrollable situation. Grounding, which is very helpful for putting a stop on a panic spiral.] Th…thank you. I’d like that…

[Dan Heng grimaces a little at the mention of more medicine. Needles…? His breathing stutters a bit at the thought, something that normally only barely gives him pause, but given recent events... Keeping eye contact and being held steady by Bakugo helps him not drown in more panic. It…it helps to know. ] I-I s’ppose if it’s…necessary… [Not experimental. Or meant to harm or…change one’s loyalties. Not while Bakugo’s here. He can…he can handle that.

The water also helps, and Dan Heng takes it slower this time. It clears the taste out, if nothing else. Thank the stars it does. It’s more than enough. The dragon mutters more thanks as he’s moved around, wincing but groggily not feeling the full extent of the pain this would cause, repositioning broken limbs. The arm can go over his own chest; it’s the forearm part that’s fractured.

And now- the world is- moving–] Aa-cck–

[The dragon clamps his teeth down over a cry, hissing at the initial lift, his temple pressing against Bakugo’s collarbone (dragon horns may get him in the jaw. Sorry) as he rides out the wave of pain. It dulls quickly to a muted ache, even when they turn and leave. If it weren’t for the medication he likely would have gone unconscious.

They’re leaving….fresh tears spill over for a moment. Not nearly as much as before, just…a tired expression of relief.

Dan Heng opens his eyes –when did they close…?-- when the young voice rumbles next to his ear. Talk…? About what…? It’s hard to think…he’s tired. But…he digs through, pawing through scattered memories and thoughts.] I…think I…mayy have…bitten…? S’me captors… [There’s for once no apology in that admission. And it also may be a good thing that the blood around his mouth is not from internal injuries.] Not ‘xactly what…y’taught in sparrin’...but worked pre’y well. [His face scrunches up as if he’d eaten something sour.] ‘Till they got th’ muzzle. Tha’.........ugh.

[That’s one way to put it….]

he brought it on himself with his attitude. character development.

[blastedass]

[He doesn't have the time to properly melt the bars through to make the splint, to say nothing of what to use for lashing it on outside of abandoning Dan Heng to strip some cultist of their clothes. No, he'll have to endure it and trust the medication to numb the dragon enough to handle the trip. Bakugo's attentive nature is enough to make sure there are no further damages along the way. Hopefully there won't be some asshole lying in wait to challenge that...]

It's dead and gone. Don't worry about shit. [No more dwelling on the creature or the monstrous people who put Dan Heng down here. He wants to tell the dragon to stop thinking, but also needs him to stay conscious. Stay with me. Don't fall into the darkness. Don't go into the light. As Dan Heng settles in his arms on against his chest and shoulder, Bakugo crosses the battlefield littered with chunked flooring and walls from the fight. There's no sign of the kaiju. Apparently it turned into a man-like figure and then vanished into ashes upon its defeat. "Dead" is questionable. "Gone" is not.

Bakugo continues to glance down to Dan Heng, giving him eye contact for his own support and the blonde's assurance. Telling him about the doctors early should help to avoid any panic when they get up there and Bakugo has to pass him off to people he won't know. Hell, he's not giving Dan Heng over; he'll put him on the medical bed himself and stand beside him until they're ready to put him under or Dan Heng is comforted enough not to need his presence anymore.]

I'll be with you the whole time. [As much as possible. So the dragon knows it's not some shitty trick. He should apologize for lifting him, for hurting him, but there's no other way. Leaving him there isn't happening. Bakugo tries to take his steps carefully, avoiding jostling Dan Heng or bumping him into anything. Sometimes he has to tug his head up and down to make sure those damn horns stop poking him in the jugular. One time he's gonna bite them if they piss him off too much. Getting them against his cheek helps to push the problem aside for now. Until he has to move his head to look again.]

Heh, hope you bit them in a real good area. [Any vengeful pleasure over Dan Heng's resistance darkens at the mention of the muzzle. Okay, getting off that fucking topic. The goal's to avoid talking about that shit. As he starts up the stairs, Bakugo leans his back slightly to avoid rocking Dan Heng with his steps.] Tell me your favorite color or food.

[Something benign, happy (hopefully) to push the memories aside and still keep the dragon wakeful.]

Lessons in humility, the process of refining a truly great hero indeed~

[lunarchivist]

[There sure are ideas, but it’s…probably for the best Bakugo just stays with Dan Heng. The dragon would likely hurt himself more in the distress of believing himself left alone again. The medicine works well enough. It’s enough. And yeah hopefully the bats and cultists are cleared out…]

…okay. [Another sign of trust. Or maybe exhaustion. Likely both. But Dan Heng’s eyelids flutter a little as he lets go of worrying about the kaiju. It’s gone. He doesn’t know how it is, but he believes Bakugo. Aeons can be sealed away, pushed back, lost…it’s okay. He relaxes a little in the hero’s arms, the medicine numbing his hurts enough to let go of alot of that stress in his shoulders. The muted pain leaves a bone deep exhaustion that’s hard to fight…but he’s fought this long. Besides…he wants…he wants to be awake to see outside this place. Freedom…he wants to...confirm it with his own eyes.

And Bakugo keeps looking at him. Checking…if he’s still with him? He’s awake. Pretty out of it, yes, but he’s awake. Bleary blue eyes meet determined red ones every time. It’s reassuring, which is…ironic, in the back of his mind. Eye contact had always been a bit difficult for Dan Heng to maintain, but here it’s grounding, helping to keep his thoughts in the present. Even if that present is rather miserable in a physical sense, it’s better, it’s safe. ]

Thank you… [Normally, Dan Heng might feel a bit guilty for keeping the hero with him. There are others who need help too. He can’t imagine his punishments were the worst…but Bakugo is. He’s safe. Dan Heng doesn’t know the doctors…there’s the creeping fear in the pit of his stomach that it’ll just be the alchemy commission, wanting to test more “healing arts” on him, or this is all a dream he’ll wake up from, cold and dark and-

He feels Bakugo shift his head around, not for the first time. Ah….his horns.] S…Sorry… [Trying to move them ends up jabbing Bakugo in the chin instead. Oops. Ok, so he’s just going to hold still then…

The dragon chuckles softly, baring pointed teeth for a second.] I think I did. Scared ssome off…a’ least… [It’s honestly not too hard to redirect Dan Heng’s thoughts. He’s more likely to dwell on the negatives, but he’s so tired that his thoughts are muddled and flowing together like the currents of the sea. The prompts redirect him to a thoughtful pause, blinking slowly.]

Th…ramen we had. W’s nice. Char Siu…? [The dinner Bakugo dragged him out to, when they met. He’d told the young man that he rarely had preferences at all back then. Perhaps it’s the experience itself that created more of a fondness for the dish, even if he really did like it for the taste too.

Bakugo’s doing his best, but Dan Heng does wince a little as they move up. He tries not to look at the dungeon, the blood and the bodies around them as he answers this next one.] C’lor…red. S’my favor’te. The…Express. Red is…that’s its…its color. [The conductor’s garb, the furniture, Himeko’s hair and the Nameless’s passion for the trailblaze, the ticket given to him…his first real home. Red may have associations with blood and death as well, but its association to home always wins out for Dan Heng.

He smiles weakly, a tad sheepish. The medicine sure is working for him to feel like smiling at all right now.] Prob’ly exp’cted green, huh…?

Sometimes you need to be taken down a few pegs to learn how to better yourself.

[blastedass]

[He intends to stay with the dragon until Dan Heng's asleep or something more urgent calls him away from the guy's bedside. Leaving him to his mind while awake is a shit idea. If any of those damn cultists try to interfere with him right now, Bakugo will be sorely tempted about his no-kill policy. Some of those cultists are no longer human anyways...

As Dan Heng relaxes in his arm, Bakugo takes the stairs one at a time, carefully balanced and determined forward. He won't drop him, won't jar him, won't leave him. There's no time to sash him up and tie him to his body for a quicker explosion-powered escape. Slow and steady is never Bakugo's method, but he's forced into it right now. As cruel as telling Dan Heng to stay awake might be, accidentally injuring himself in nightmare thrashing is even worse.

Yes, he keeps checking in on him. Looking at his eyes, his face, checking whether he's attentive enough to be conscious or delirious, if his skin's running too pale from blood loss. Not that he can do much with the latter; Bakugo's not equipped for a blood transfusion, even if he knows how to do it. Dan Heng's quiet gratitude earns a gruff sound from the blonde as the hero steps through another room and crosses from one hall to the next.]

Get through this and thank me then. [Convincing Dan Heng the doctors showing up aren't going to hurt him will be a chore. His thoughts on doing that break at the apology. What the hell is he-? Oh, his horns.] Don't move your head, dammit! I'll get out of their way.

[Do it himself. He starts the next set of stairs, the faintest pricks of outside air coming through the scent of copper, metal, and rock. Likely from the hole on of the gundam made. Bakugo would've said more to the dragon taking a chomp out of his captors, but wanting to leave that topic holds his tongue. Food or color, a far better subject to tongue.]

Oh yeah? I'll take you back there once you're up for it. [Promising him something to look forward to. He enjoys those "cook at your table" experiences, as they're active, entertaining, and avoid the awkward silence in doldrums waiting for your food. Dan Heng did well with his cooking there.] Red? You're covered in white and blue all the time.

[The guy looked like a verdant icy lake when Bakugo first saw him. Red would not have been his first thought as Dan Heng's favorite color.] Hmph, green, blue, aqua, teal, turquoise. One of those.

Tis true. This mission is yet another humbling experience for the books boys-

[lunarchivist]

[Dan Heng’s grateful. Maybe less so for the possible killing, but it’s not like he’s noticing much beyond the two of them. He’s too worn out, and kind of sedated but not. He’ll have to ask about the medicine later. It doesn’t scare him anymore, at least. Now the dragon is just a bit clingy, really. Not unexpected considering the everything.

It’s far from ideal for many reasons, but still an improvement from before…he’ll stay awake. Muddled as the dragon is, he’s actually in control of himself while semi-conscious. Bakugo does well traversing the castle with such care. The blood loss…well. The cuts on his arms and neck and- everywhere. They harvested his blood. But the wounds have dried, so he’s not bleeding more at least. He’ll be able to hang in there for a blood transfusion later. It’s probably less obvious, but Bakugo’s natural warmth goes a long way in battling the effects, fighting back the chill that’s so prevalent in this place. And his handling with care keeps the wounds from reopening.

Dan Heng’s eyes slip closed for a moment. Just a small rest. "Get through this and thank me then." Right. Right. He forces his eyes back open, tilting his head away to hopefully get the horns away- oh, nope. Mundane issues you don’t think about in grand rescue stories, huh…] M’kay. [He goes still. Maybe it’s the closeness, or the blood loss, but Dan Heng finds himself smiling faintly.] Wasn’ on purpose. Don’ wanna take ou’ your eye… [He’s heard of such accidents amongst young vidyadhara. Even in overly enthusiastic greetings, since it usually involved bowing with fists to each other’s foreheads…

His eyes had closed again without meaning to. They open with the faint smell of fresh autumn air. Odd…all the windows in this place were bolted he thought…Dan Heng blinks dazedly at the entire hole in the wall.] ….we were…kept up here ‘while before bein’ brought down…that. That’s new. [Eh, if it works it works.

Dan Heng smiles for real this time. Tired and worn, but real.] ‘d like that. Gonna…hol’ you to that… [It’d be nice to do the cooking himself again. The attendants insisted on doing everything around here which irritated him to no end. Even making tea himself was difficult with how overbearing they all were…

The dragon snorts quietly, then bites down on a wince.] W-ell. Red…stands out. Wearin’ it on th’ run woulda…been stupid. [Did Dan Heng mention he was exiled...? That doesn't occur to him right now. He raises his good hand to trace under his eye. Without all of this going on, he does tend to wear some red eye liner some days, and the color accents his clothing picked out in this world. Nothing too crazy.] I like those…colors too. Vidy…adhara are water ‘tuned. But red…[His hand raises, as if reaching for the stars beyond the castle walls for a moment before flopping back down to his chest.] Th’Express. Uses it alot. Trailblaze…home. S’good. [Red…and gold. Warm colors, a safe place to land when he had none. A promise for a brighter tomorrow.]

Humble missions are the best/worst. All the pain and recovery.

[blastedass]

[As long as Dan Heng's clinging to him and not letting go, he'll let it happen. Proof the guy's awake, conscious, alive. On step at a time, taking the stairs up in a winding spiral towards open ground above them. If he wasn't so wrecked, Bakugo could take Dan Heng out the hole in the wall and blast them back to the approaching ship. Unfortunately, that's not an option.

If he noticed any bleeding on the other Outsider, he'd have bandaged it, even cauterizing if serious enough. Luckily there's no need, leaving them free to ascend one stair to the next, crossing hallways strewn with broken traps, discarded weapons, unconscious cultists... some not so unconscious, meaning Bakugo ends up snapping a harsh kick out into a man's head, knocking him right back into slumber. He pivots with the impact, preventing Dan Heng from jerking around via his actions. And keeps right on walking. Stay down, bastard. Someone else'll be along later to beat him up even better.

Dammit, if Dan Heng doesn't stop trying to tilt his head away, Bakugo's gonna bite one of those damn horns and hold him still! He'll handle the head motions. It's more important the dragon rests. A brief scoff puffs between his teeth as the turns the corner and heads up the next set of stairs. Fuck, how many flights were there on the way down? Probably wasn't paying attention thanks to the battling, rampaging, shouting, and more.] You're not gonna take out my damn eye.

One of the Gundam did it. [Referencing the hole in the wall. Despite his desire to get Dan Heng to the medics as fast as possible, Bakugo pauses by the hole, letting the dragon take in the fresh breeze across his body. Reality check. He's getting out of here. A quiet murmur warns him they're moving again and walls take over the brief sight of forest trees. He grunts in acknowledgement of his promise. Dan Heng can hold him to it. He'll be able to make his own food, cook it there in front of himself, even brew his own tea if he feels the need for it. Leave all this shit behind.]

Hmph. All that, huh. [He wants to bark at Dan Heng for moving his arm, but holds back, preferring the guy to act even a little. Stay awake, stay with me, stay alert, keep blood flowing. He has a good reason for liking red when it shows up in all those areas. From personal to cultural to his vocation. Finally the ground floor crunches underfoot and Bakugo leans forward a bit to power walk across the massive hall. Already the noise of a vehicular engine fills the air, LILITH's plane waiting outside in the courtyard. There's going to be people out there...] When the doctors come, I'll be right next to you. No one's gonna fucking touch you until I say so.

[Meaning whoever touches Dan Heng is someone Bakugo permitted to do so. Someone he trusts to help the dragon rather than hurt him. Even now, he'll keep himself between anyone and Dan Heng if it means keeping him safe. Of course he knows LILITH is trying to help, but given what the dragon went through, he might not see it that way on instinct. This is to prepare for that.]