synflux | open and closed and clopen

( ooc. lmk if this doesn't work! also sorry abt how long this got, dear god.... i'll be more brief in the next tags 😭 )

[ Jinwoo leans against the neon-lit railing of an overpass bridge that overlooks the market district, the buzz of Neo Tokyo humming beneath him like a hive of electric activity. The glow of the city's advertisements paints his face in shifting colours — blues, greens, and magentas — as his ocular implant projects the mission brief directly into his vision. The faint shimmer of the text overlay blurs slightly against the vibrant backdrop.

Jinwoo flicks through the details with a subtle blink, his implant's interface responding seamlessly. Illegal subliminal messaging. Brands and stores using it to brainwash the masses. Compulsive spending, brand loyalty, even potential psychological enslavement. He frowns, the corner of his lip curling. He's heard about the same details in passing while checking out the detective job that had been assigned to him, but some of the pieces don't quite fit—

A ping in his peripheral vision indicates an update. He selects it— a note from his supervisor at work.

"Unusual behavioral patterns reported in Sector 7— residents maxing out their credits on luxury items. Witness described it as 'like they weren’t themselves.'"

Sector 7. Well, that's a good place to start as any. He's also meant to wait for a partner, something about how it's good to have back-up. He doesn't think he needs any, but he also doesn't care to find out what happens if he goes rogue (for the time being).

When someone comes his way, he's quick to recognize him as another Outsider. ]

Are you here about an investigation?

[ Vague enough to keep things under wraps just in case Hunter isn't. ]

[ his partner du jour is a scrappy-looking teenager that's a good head and then some shorter. the mission hasn't even started, and this kid already looks beaten down and exhausted. fortunately (?), this is just his natural state of being ]

[ hunter's wasted no time jumping back into the thick of things after reappearing under lilith's command. even if there's no official kaiju mission actually going on. he can't stand just sitting still, and he already feels so behind keeping track of any of the crime in neo tokyo. there's.... so much ]

[ when hunter first approaches and notices his partner from a distance, his face lights up briefly-- ]

Yuwon?

[ --before he realizes his error and his cheeks redden in embarrassment. he clears his throat and looks away. ahem ]

The... advertising thing? Yeah. [ hunter is likewise cautious (unnecessarily so, even, as it's pretty obvious at this point that jinwoo is an outside like him) after his slip up. just in case. ]

[ or maybe he's just an embarrassed loser and hoping to get the subject locked into the investigation asap ]

[ The look of confusion that flashes across his face is almost comical. Yuwon? Who the hell is that? Well, it doesn't really matter. What's more important is the task at hand, and if they have time later on, maybe he'll look into who Yuwon is and see just why he was mistaken for him.

So Hunter is lucky that Jinwoo is just as eager to get started with this rather than focus on the mistake. ]

I was just given a lead we can look into at Sector 7. Think it's a shop around here, or a specific area.

[ He's not sure, but hey. It's a chance for Hunter to make up for the slip-up (that Jinwoo is giving to him, if he wants). ]

You ever heard of it?

[ jinwoo truly is gracious, giving hunter the out like that. hunter does not hesitate to take it, though his cheeks and ears turn red with embarrassment due to the mix-up. ]

[ but if jinwoo is going to pretend it didn't happen, so is hunter! ]

.... I have heard of a toy store that's been increasingly popular. Like, selling out of everything popular. Squeezemalvas? I think it's called something like that.

[ sure enough, there's a massive crowd some ways away-- gathered at a particular spot. ]

[ His eyes gaze towards the shop that Hunter has pointed out. The huge crowd is concering, if only because many of them are acting like getting toys is a life or death situation. ]

Let's check that place out.

[ He makes his way over, long strides taking him to the front of the shop. There's a long line of people waiting to go inside at this point. Someone even tries to tell him not the cut in line, but he only gives that person a withering stare. ]

... I wonder if what they're selling is really all that, or if it's something else.

[ Because it has to be something else. The window display doesn't look anything out of the ordinary, but what does he know? He's not the target audience for this stuff. ]

[ is this brainwashing at play, or is this just normal customer behavior? a mystery. ]

[ a mystery they are about to dig into, as hunter looks similarly similarly disturbed as he follows behind jin woo. there's quite a height difference between the two, so hunter has to almost jog to keep up, but it seems like hunter is used to that ]

It has the be something else. No one cares this much about toys.

[ hunter you sweet summer child ]

You'd be surprised.

[ Not that Jinwoo is someone who gets this serious over toys, but he's from Korea. Sometimes, it is that serious. Not that they're here to dissect that since they'd just rather find out if this is all thanks to the weird ads.

First, he takes stock of what's sold out. Pretty figurines, a few infamous plushies. Things that aren't that too weird to be popular. However, as he keeps looking, he finds... stranger items. Toys that are just outright bizarre, like who in their mind would buy it kind of thing? Some have only the display picture left, while others still have a few boxes.

Take your pick. ]

Would you buy any of this?

Seriously?

[ poor naive hunter has never been to walmart during black friday. or any kind of store, really. it shows ]

[ hilariously, these weird toys look like something straight out of the boiling isles, so hunter doesn't pay them much mind. he walks over to this one. ]

... Humans made this? Huh. Well, they look normal to me.

[ he is a really bad judge of this ]

[ he stares at the shark, intrigued, then.... clears his throat. looks away too quickly, with the tips of his ears red ]

No! Of course not. I don't play with toys.

[ jinwoo surely meant it in the context of their little mission, if these toys are truly that endearing or whether something's more sinister at play.... but hunter is a loser teenage boy who is easily embarrassed. ]

[ (the answer is yes) ]

[ Unluckily for Hunter, Jinwoo has been observing his reactions all this time, so when he sees the way he's looking at the shark, he picks it up from the shelf. ]

Did you want this?

[ There's a man looking their way, eyes narrowed as if upset Jinwoo took the last shark. Too bad for him, but Jinwoo got it first, so by the unspoken rules of life, this is his now. Unless Hunter wants nothing to do with it. ]

Or should I give it to that guy?

[ He knows this isn't part of the mission, but still. ]

[ jinwoo is indeed wise to hunter's shenanigans. the tips of his ears get red, but he clears his throat ]

No, of course not. He can have it.

[ his body language does show a little bit of regret, but he's going to keep up this pretense. after all, he is a soldier!! soldiers don't need toys!! ]

Let's continue with the mission.

Something tells me that's not what you really want to happen. You sure?

[ Before they continue on with the mission, that is. Does Hunter really want to give this shark away? Jinwoo is dangling it in front of him. ]

[ a very long moment passes, and then, finally, almost too quiet for jinwoo to hear: ]

I want it.

[ he finally relented and admitted it.... ]

[ It would be easy to miss, but Jinwoo was waiting for it. ]

Alright. Let's go get it, then.

[ Now the toy is tucked under his arm while he surveys the rest of the place. Maybe there are other clues that might point them towards what they're looking for, but at least Hunter will get to have a souvenir later on. ]

I don't know if there's anything here. We should try another store.

[ Time to go pay for the shark. ]

[ jinwoo is so patient with hunter's tsun ass ]

[ it's true, hunter now has a new souvenir from this important mission. whatever the reason for the popularity of these bizarre toys, they seem to be popular of their own merit. which, for once, hunter actually understands, because that's the kind of toy horrors that exist in the boiling isles. ]

... Thanks.

[ also mumbled, as he is embarrassed. but as they head to the counter to pay, hunter nods ]

I know of another one on this block. They're competitors, so there might be something there.

[ Once the toy is paid for, Jinwoo deposits it in Hunter's arms before ruffling his hair. Sorry, he can't help it. ]

You might be onto something. If this store is doing well by its own merit, then I wouldn't be surprised if their competitors resorted to tricks so that they can keep up.

[ He gestures for Hunter to lead the way, following after him soon enough. They're on the lookout for any shoppers acting suspiciously, eager to spend all their money on the next nonsensical thing. ]

Are the downtime missions usually like this, by the way? Low stakes and all.

[ At least, he assumes this one is pretty low stakes. ]

[ hunter's back!! and he is wasting absolutely no time jumping back into the thick of things. that is to say, he has found a few of the feral, rift-poisoned cats! ]

[ or rather, they've found him. there's one currently clinging to his face like a cartoon, and the other one clawing at his pants, trying to get to his legs ]

Little... help?

[ he wheezes to raidou, his partner in c(at)crime ]

[Luckily Hunter has partnered with the Outsider's #1 cat fan. He's gotten quite used to dealing with them since he's arrived in Neo Tokyo, spending a lot of time hanging out with the ones near the onsen. This is a bit of a special case, though. You can't reason with a cat even on the best of days, and certainly not when they're all rift-addled.

Raidou walks up quietly, hands up and ready to grab the cat attached to Hunter's face. In one hand, he's holding out a piece of dried fish. As he gets closer, he dangles it above the cat so maybe it stops paying attention to the person it's attached to in favor of the tasty treat.]

Here we are.... easy now...

[ indeed, there is no reasoning with cats. especially if they are rift-poisoned. the one at hunter's legs cants its head towards raidou curiously.... but the one attached to hunter's face like a redead from zelda does not budge. looks like raidou's going to have to do this... the hard way.... ]

This is why birds are bett--

[ gets extra clawed for that comment ]

[Well at least one is interested. Raidou wiggles the treat at the cat on his leg, and then tosses it a few feet away. Hopefully it will decide food is more important than torment.

As for the one on his face, Raidou grimaces as he inches ever closer.]

Hunter. Just know that after this is over, I can heal you.

[For whatever comfort that might be worth. At times like this, he wishes he knew how to knock a cat out. That's so much easier with humans.

Hands raised, Raidou's going to try and extricate the cat in one swift motion. He's strong, and surprisingly fast, hoping to pull it away before it even realizes what happened.]

[ it's possible that hunter also smells delicious. who knows ]

[ that being said, it does work -- the one on hunter's leg abandons him to go chasing after the treat. that will buy them a few seconds, probably. meanwhile, pained and squeaked out: ]

I-It's fine... It doesn't hurt at all...

[ as the cat on hunter's face continues clinging, growling in protest as raidou pulls at it. all very cartoonishly ]

Edited 2025-01-28 14:50 (UTC)

Somehow I doubt that.

[He can see those claws digging into Hunter's skin! Don't think you can fool him.

In one swift and painful motion, the cat is pulled away. Raidou holds it out at arm's length as it at first spends a moment confused to as what happened, only to flip out and wiggle like mad trying to remove itself from his grip. It's not going anywhere.]

... Success. Are you alright? Let me just-- I need a carrier for this one.

[ wow raidou.... trust in his toughness (???) ]

[ hunter breaths a sigh of relief as his face is finally freed (full of tiny scratches, naturally -- but otherwise not looking particularly mauled), and as the cat flails dangerously in raidou's grasp ]

I'm fine. Just-- get it into the carrier.

[ if there's one nearby, hunter's going to scramble for it ]

[There are carriers around, though a lot are getting filled up at this point, and some cats are going to have to buddy up in theirs. This cat, however, probably deserves its own space for a bit.]

Thanks. Hold it open, and I'll--

[Once Hunter brings it over and swings the door open, in another smooth swift motion, Raidou shoves the cat into the box and swings the cage door shut. He then breathes a sigh of relief. He also looks Hunter over to make sure he's not bleeding badly.]

Oh... You got off pretty easy. Could have been much worse.

[ the cats complain immediately and paw at the grate, wailing. woe is them! they are trapped forever! everyone must know their plight! they're yeowling loudly, making any conversation between raidou and hunter kind of awkward and hard to hear. ]

[ every other sentence is punctuated with a loud mrAOOOOOOWWWW ]

Right. Like I said, doesn't hurt at all. I'm fine.

[ with a pained smile that indicates that they do in fact sting ]

... Thanks for the hand.

Of course. [RRRRRRRRRRRRWWWWAAAAOOORRR] I'll-- let me get this one to the team-- [MRRRRRRRRRAAAAWWW]

[Raidou grabs the cage, which the cat tries to swat at him through, but it's no use. He's wise to these cats at this point. Before he goes to drop this piteous creature at the collection van, he turns to Hunter.]

Come find me when we're done, okay? I don't mind healing you up. It's nothing.

[ mEOOOOOOWWWRRRAAAAAA ]

[ hunter trusts raidou, so he.... nods ]

It's not serious, but.... I will.

[ angry cat noises in the background as hunter grabs a few carriers. he not as wise to these feline villains as raidou, so he does get a few more swipes ]

open and closed and clopen

january sidequest missions

subliminal advertising!

it's perfect! also i apologize i had to make this joke

HELP?? i'm crying

in my defense they're the same height and i assume the same general amount of ripped

they are, but i'm still laughing. he'll tell yuwon about this once they meet.

I'm so glad

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