DOWNTIME MINGLE #7

[synfluxmods]

DOWNTIME MINGLE #7

CONTENT WARNINGS: suggestive topics

▶ 001. WINNER'S CIRCLE.

Although the base has been destroyed, not all hope is lost. Many still view the defeat of the recent kaiju as a significant win, especially knowing how much more powerful it became. Considering the ominous timing of the rift as well, it seems like LILITH predicts everyone is a bit on edge, and as a result, when they come into the main hall that day they will see that it is actually decorated quite nicely. While it’s not a professional venue by any means, it certainly does have its own charms. It’s a step up from the usual pizza party, at least.


There will be plenty of fresh food prepared for everyone, and not a single questionable meat in sight. It’s either they’ve upped their lab meat game, or they’ve managed some success in their endeavors on duplicating some of the food processes from Transylvania. The one thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the bulletin board in which they’ve posted—

GOOD JOB:
MACARONS (K.O.)
GOJIRA (K.O.)
RUBBER DUCKY & QUEENOFKUR (600)
POKER & BAD DADDY (678)

While no one can say where these trends and rumors begin, maybe it’s only natural that people’s eyes are drawn to those they consider strong. Or is it that everyone else is YOWAI weak in comparison? Whatever the catchphrases are, it seems the new thing on the streets of Neo Tokyo is the emerging trend of people either wearing sunglasses or blindfolds.

It seems to be some sort of fashion statement, but it may be doing more harm than good. The blindfolds are often tech visors that citizens wear to amplify the screens they see directly from their retinas, but it doesn’t mean that’s always the case. Some people even consider it a personal form of training for them to live and breathe with blindfolds on. Unsurprisingly, hoverboard accidents have increased by 24% and the city is looking for ways to address this new craze.

There’s a yearly event that’s rolled back into town and somehow they have their new mascot, MISTER ZILLA. It’s in the form of a certified cute and extra cuddly looking kaiju that is strikingly similar to one that people may see on base day-to-day. But that has to be a coincidence, right? Maybe it’s just one more thing that’s been released by a particularly loose-lipped researcher who's been pulling one too many all-nighters.

Maybe people in attendance will end up seeing him a lot more. He’s also given out in the form of a keychain to all attendees. Perhaps he will give GIBUBU a run for their money?

Speaking of kaiju and research, a very popular brand called CHALK-MATE has hit the shelves. Supposedly it’s a food shaped like a stick of chalk that once eaten increases one's overall ability to concentrate; it even claims to make people read a little faster. … Is that a myth? There’s only one way to find out what this little treat actually does.

The only thing is that it definitely tastes a bit like chalk, too. Oddly enough, the flavors come in just “DOCTOR” and “PHD.”

CHALK-MATE, however, seems like it’s especially popular amongst avid readers. Particularly of the romance genre, also known as NOVELTOK. The fans on these platforms have been especially into a new series based on a Goddess of Death who is in constant search of love, only to be met with horrible romanceable options that leaves every reader both salivating and scratching their head. Supposedly, it’s not a book appropriate for children…

A new alcoholic drink, GLITTER, has gotten popular in Neo Tokyo’s nightlife scene. The drink’s iridescent shades of purple, blue, and green have made it a hit despite its high price tag and the condition that needs to be met in order to request one: customers must first play a game of dice with the bartender. Should the customer roll a higher number than the bartender, they will take the order and make the drink; if they roll less than the bartender, they must forfeit the cost of the drink and pay the next seven rounds of drinks, even for people who aren’t in their party. High risks begets high rewards, as they say.

▶ 002. BASE-LESS EXPECTATIONS.

Fortunately, with the success of the last battle with the Imugi and Gigakame, many companies have come forth in support of a few rebuild projects. They state they are very interested in providing funding, granted, it’s not without placing their names down as part of the construction efforts. They’re especially interested in getting some sway down in Kyoto, as that would be a new place for them to not only pitch their businesses and potentially attract those pockets of civilization out there that they haven’t been able to connect with, but it’s a good cause as any in theory, right? We don’t talk about all that free real estate, either.

As such, Outsiders are being encouraged to submit their proposals on how to build up on the city of Kyoto and what attractions would lure the citizens to take on the city. While safety protocols are naturally being put into place, as with any new build, they are also open to any additional ideas to secure the perimeter, as well as to make this a more colorful and unique place amongst the wreckage that sweeps the abandoned areas outside the immediate cities.

The only thing is… bureaucracy strikes again. The forms must be filled out in a specific fashion, and Outsiders will be expected to go through a similar trial like when gaining clearance to travel. They will be required to sign documents, and even rushed to the temporary “city hall” in order to drop it off on the dot. They may even expect some people to warp back to Tokyo just to submit a page or two of a signed waiver.

With city plans still emerging, there are positions open for Outsiders to apply and run as local government. While the government of Neo Tokyo have already designated a mayor for the city, there are positions open for people to be in charge of other areas such as healthcare, food, energy, culture, justice, treasury, and infrastructure. LILITH is placing no restrictions on Outsiders who want to contribute their time and expertise to the new city as long as they continue to carry out their missions to defeat the kaiju. Those who wish to apply are free to do so at city hall, but they will need to rally votes and support from civilians and other Outsiders alike to be elected.

Speaking of trouble and real estate, while a lot of vacant land is available, Outsiders have been summoned to confirm all the plots of lands are free of kaiju before any real scoping can be done. Outsiders will be tasked to go out and survey the areas and stave off any large or mutated creatures that may exist in the expanse of wilderness that borders the area around Kyoto. For anyone interested in assisting with the scoping efforts, they will be encouraged to travel in pairs. The permanent rift that’s opened in Tokyo has been making many strange waves all across the country. Kaiju have been acting far more erratically, almost as if they can feel the pulses from this rift, regardless of the distance. Or perhaps, it’s all connected somehow? LILITH researchers think it’s better to remain on-guard because of this, especially when traveling through uncharted territory.

Outsiders are also welcome to explore the region. They will find several old temples that may appear dilapidated, but very much recognizable all the same. Such as the Todai-ji Daibutsuden in the neighboring Nara, or even closer sights like the string of tori that line the Fushimi Inari Shrine. There is even a setting in the oculars in which a general tour guide audio can be heard. However, Synthia is still on the fritz and there is no telling what she says is completely accurate. She also can’t control her language functions, volumes, or the fact that she may also be linking random people’s calls and text messages to one another.

There’s no way that negatively impacts any travel plans, right?

(Note: Please fill out the thread below and submit ideas for buildings and businesses in Kyoto! If players wish to have their characters take a role in managing the city, you are free to coordinate this with other players with the same goals for their characters (or handwave it if your character will be taking a smaller role). Mods will not be choosing any characters officially. )

▶ 003. KAIJUCON.

This is the yearly event everyone has been looking forward to— KAIJUCON is here. This event not only acts as a large research symposium for those who work in kaiju-related research fields, it’s also a place where the most enthusiastic members of the kaiju community come together to share their mutual fascination with the creatures. The event makes it clear that this is in no way meant in any support of the kaiju or the devastation that’s hit humanity, but of coming to be a better understanding of them. Or that was its original purpose.

Now it’s become a larger, more commercialized event where vendors from all over come to pitch their safety gear, offer classes in case of a city-wide emergency, and even have several large and popular exhibitions for kaiju. As much as people may fear kaiju, it seems that kaiju themselves as a concept have been popular for decades before even the first rift opened.

As a result, there are sections of KAIJUCON for the most… zealous kaiju researchers in which they can enter virtual reality scapes and pretend to be kaiju. This form of live action roleplaying has become wildly popular in the city, and has become a hobby to relieve stress for some.

On the flip side, it seems this also has opened up a whole group of people who come up with their own KAIJUSONAS and who attend the event dressed up as their idealized version of kaiju. Fortunately, as LILITH does have its fair share of research and information to trade, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab additional funds to fix up the areas of the base … and of course, how could they not ask the Outsiders to join in?

Instead of the usual team building exercises, they will be expected to help at various booths at KAIJUCON. Whether these are panels in which they teach and share all the intimate details of kaiju anatomy, or where they join in the highly coveted title of BEST KAIJUSONA.

As Outsiders within LILITH, all characters will be approached to speak at panels. Characters previously deemed as HEAVY HITTERS or characters who have dealt a K.O. to a kaiju will be particularly popular at the convention, with fans flocking to them with requests for pictures and autographs. While at panels, a Q&A session will often be held, and Outsiders may have to deal with questions ranging from sensible to ... uncomfortable.

Once their shift is over, they’re more than welcome to take a look around!

(Note: You are all free to presume everything you’d expect at a convention to be there! Including, but not limited to, merchandise, snack carts, panels, and more! Outsiders with inhuman forms do not need to wear their cloaking devices. As a note, Outsiders are public figures known by their alter egos/usernames. However, the fact that they are from a different dimension remains classified information to the public. )

▶ 004. CROSSED WIRES.

While rebuilding of both the Tokyo Base and Kyoto are coming along, certain other departments seem to be struggling. SYNTHIA in particular is still broken, and try as the LILITH engineers might, repairs are slow going.

While SYNTHIA is down, there are all sorts of communication errors:

- Messages being sent to the wrong recipient, or to the base at large
- Thoughts transcribing themselves as texts and being sent without approval
- Text messages glitching during the sending process and sending as illegible symbols and strings of letters
- Text messages never sending, or sending dozens of times repeatedly
- SYNTHIA generating inaccurate information about Outsiders and sending them during the numerous reboot processes (think Google AI summaries)
- Blocked users suddenly becoming unblocked, and best of friends suddenly blocking each other

If asked, researchers will apologize for the errors and suggest that Outsiders meet in person to discuss any important topics. There's no better way to grow relationships than to spend time in person after all, right? Towards the end of the month, the errors will slow until they are finally fixed.

(Note: Feel free to use this as a general text glitch event in either your top levels for this event or in inboxes and individual player logs! We've listed out some suggestions of what characters might experience but feel free to come up with your own fun ideas as long as they aren't gamebreaking.)

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our fourth downtime mingle!

As stated in the prompt itself, players are welcome to suggest buildings and business to be found in Kyoto by replying to the header below. Please submit all suggestions by March 31.

The texting glitches will last to the end of the month, at which point SYNTHIA will be repaired and all systems will go back to normal.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. WINNER'S CIRCLE: The heavy hitters/KO winners of the last kaiju fight receive their sponsorships, including cute plushies, stylish sunglasses and blindfolds, and edible chalk enhancements among other things.

2. BASE-LESS ACCUSATIONS: ICly, Outsiders are tasked with assisting in rebuilding projects across Kyoto, which include scoping out land, suggesting what new businesses and buildings to construct, and general exploration. OOCly, players are welcome to suggest new businesses and buildings to add to the Kyoto area.

3. KAIJUCON: The annual convention centered around kaiju-related research and inventions. Outsiders can find all sorts of kaiju-related merchandise and gear for sale, as well dress up and meet other kaiju enthusiasts.

4. CROSSED WIRES: With SYNTHIA still broken, communications within LILITH are breaking down. Outsiders will experience a string of troubles when trying to message others. This will be fixed by the end of the month.

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Comments

okkotsu yuta | jujutsu kaisen | revelation

[copy]

01 ▸ PATROL PALS

[ There isn't much that Yuta feels he can provide in terms of governmental planning to help out (he's too young, too new here, it's not his field of expertise) but helping clear the areas of ill-intentioned creatures? That he can do and it's a great way to get a lay of the land and a feel for the types of kaiju he might encounter. It's work not too dissimilar from back home and he throws himself into it readily, prepared to help in the one way he most assuredly can.

Although technically he could already be considered paired up — he certainly looks like it, standing there talking quietly to a monstrous figure half-sticking out of an inky rift near him — going with another Outsider who might have more experience and knows the area better makes more sense to him. So he patiently waits for his assigned partner to arrive, turning away from Rika the moment someone else draws near to politely greet them and ask: ]

Are you our partner for the day?

[ Please don't mind the Bad Vibes he and Rika exude. At least he seems friendly?? ]

02 ▸ FIRST AID (KAIJUCON)

[ Being an unknown newbie comes with the perk of still having some anonymity, but since there's an expectation to help out, Yuta does so by simultaneously getting his feet wet with his supposed civilian job: he's part of the first aid station. At least having a job to do keeps him focused and from getting too overwhelmed when he's never had to deal with a convention crowd before. It's all small mercies for him compared to what fellow Outsiders have to deal with, thankfully.

So, got hurt? Too overstimulated and now suffering from the worst headache ever? Just desperately need a quieter place to hide from the adoring fans for a moment? Yuta's there to gently usher you into the small, private room behind the first aid station and take care of you as needed.

Alternatively he's also walking the floors and attending to anyone injured or unwell there. Should he come across someone looking particularly miserable and waterless, he'll be shaking a water bottle at them for them to take. Stay hydrated! ]

03 ▸ TEXT THOUGHTS

It's already the middle of March...
Wait, does that mean I'm 18 now?
Does a birthday even count if it's a few months early?
It was only December back home.
... Well, whatever. It doesn't really matter.



How cute! I should buy that for Panda in case he shows up here... or maybe I can bring it back with me? Would they let me?



I wonder if I can get Royco anywhere... I want to eat Kenyan food again.
Ah, I sure hope Africa is still in one piece here. I should check.



Would feeding Rika a piece of a kaiju do anything?



Can't sleep again. I really miss my friends.... [ accompanying it is the photo he's staring at ]

04 ▸ WILDCARD

( come at me with anything or hmu via pm or gusts if you want a custom starter or to plot anything specific! )

@/shiro

[cranekin]

Happy Birthday.
Have you made any plans?

[copy]

[ !!! ]

sorry, that wasn't supposed to be send as a text.

[ How mortifying... ]

thank you for the birthday wishes.
it was actually last week, but i didn't notice at the time so no plans haha...

[cranekin]

I figured.

(He doesn't even know this guy but he doesn't mind.)

Really? What a shame.
You only have one birthday a year so you should celebrate it.
I know. Do you like sweets?

[copy]

haha maybe, but it just feels too early?
it wasn't supposed to be my birthday for another 3 months before i got here.
so it's a little weird. (；´∀｀)

[ He was also really hoping to celebrate it with his friends this time... but if he thinks too much about that he'll only get depressed so welp, dismissal it is. ]

i do. why?

First aid (kaijucon)

[byoukyu]

Sorry, Kubo-san...

(A voice lets Yuta know that someone is coming. Whoever is speaking sounds pretty sorry and when they finally make their way over to the first aid station, they're practically dragging a tired looking man over while a young woman in a suit comes over to help explain things to Yuta.

They explain that they're from city hall and they had their young colleague dressed up as one of the mascot charaters to help spread awareness. Their colleague ended up overheating, getting dizzy, and collapsing. They quickly uninstalled the clothing upgrade and brought him over to receive treatment.

Meanwhile, the other worker gets the sick one to sit down on one of the cots,)

We didn't know you were being serious...

(The sick coworker, Harumasa, groans and coughs,)

It's fine. Don't worry about, Maeda-san.

Just rest. Take it easy for the rest of the day and go home later. Don't worry about the convention, okay?

(And they leave Harumasa and Yuta alone. As soon as they're gone, Harumasa leans back and sighs,)

Finally...!

(He sounds relieved. He sounds... fine?)

[copy]

[ The little entourage sure grabs Yuta's attention immediately and he's up on his feet to greet them and lend an attentive ear in an instant. Dealing with injuries is really more his forte — especially given he can just heal them with reverse cursed technique — but fortunately, by the sound of it the young man they've brought him is simply suffering from some heat exhaustion and that should be easy enough to deal with. He hears out the full story, thanks them for looking out for their colleague and so helpfully bringing him over, and reassures them he's in good hands and not to worry.

He's already moving to grab a chilled water bottle when the kind coworkers leave and he's left alone with his new patient who... suddenly does not sound as feeble as he did only mere moments ago? How very curious.

Still, bottle in hand to be offered, a polite friendly smile fixed in place, Yuta is there by Harumasa's side promptly. ]

How are you feeling?

[byoukyu]

(He lets out a breathy laugh and fans himself. He might sound better but maybe there's a little grain of truth in all of this,)

Much better now that I'm out of that costume. Seriously, it was really hot in there.

(He'll reach out to take the bottle and press it to his cheek,)

I didn't know those characters had it so rough out there... I really have a whole new lever of respect for them now.

[copy]

[ HMMM well, Yuta's not one to judge. He'll do his job either way. The fact the young man collapsed according to his colleagues is concerning enough, but he seems coherent and largely alright now from what he can observe for the moment. ]

I can imagine, those costumes have always looked stifling to me.

[ A sympathetic smile and then he's nodding at the bottle. ]

Please take a few slow sips of that and I'll get you something else to help you cool down.

[ He'll dart away for a quick moment and the something else he returns with is a cool, wet towel to be draped over Harumasa's head. ]

Are you still feeling dizzy?

@ soba

[gorb]

If her feelings affect you then I'd advise against it.

( Indigestion.

Also, he's so helpful. )

[copy]

[ UGH feeling so betrayed by this futuristic technology. Of all the people to transcribe that particular thought to.... ]

they don't, but i wouldn't want her to get an upset stomach.

[gorb]

( At least it's Yuta this time. Geto's thoughts about murdering the barista were there for all to see once. )

I've heard the kaiju happen through rift poisoning, therefore I've avoided letting mine eat any of the parts. Obviously a little cross-contamination is unavoidable, but until we know more I wouldn't advise it.

[copy]

[ Oh, that's? Actually helpful??? Color Yuta pleasantly surprised. ]

i see.
thank you for telling me.

[ There goes his faint hope of potentially copying kaiju abilities. RIP that line of pondering, but now he's found a new one to be nosy about. ]

are you affected by what your curses consume then?

01. its peepaw time.

[misclassed]

[ Oh the vibes are BAD. He felt them even before he made it to the rendezvous point, and now, standing in front of the taller young man and his... companion(?), Muramasa feels them more acutely than ever.

Slowly, his gaze flicks to Rika for a long moment before jumping back to Yuta and his sword. No reaction, just a thoughtful examination. The combination of this boy's, earnest, weary karma and the battering of the curse's spiritual energy against his own is making an interesting picture to look at. Thankfully his Magic Resistance is helping to subdue the feeling of wrongness he feels from the spirit — not that something as minor as bad vibes alone would stop Muramasa from finishing a job once he's taken it on.

He'll just have to work around it. ]

Yep. You sure you need me?

hell yeah peepaw!!

[copy]

[ Yuta is somewhat braced for any averse reactions that Rika's appearance might elicit, but he's banking on both the fact that they're still technically on base grounds and the casual manner with which she's floating by his side to be enough to mitigate any immediate alarm and clock her as something of an ally. It's a huge part of the reason why he has her out and about already when normally he reserves her presence for battle. It would be very unfortunate if she was mistaken for an enemy while out fighting kaiju, so letting other Outsiders get familiar with her (and she with their newfound allies) feels prudent.

The other apparent teen that joins him doesn't bat an eye at her beyond a hard stare though and that's— promising? Maybe? It gives Yuta some tentative hope and he doesn't let his smile falter when the gaze is redirected to him. The eventual question gets a prompt nod. ]

My name is Okkotsu Yuta and this is Rika-chan.

[ A motion to the cursed spirit before he politely bows in introduction. Rika simply remains in place, impassive, yet for all her lack of defining facial features she might be giving the distinct impression she's doing some seizing up of her own. ]

Rika's more like an extension of my abilities, so I figured going with another Outsider would be better.

[ He also just... doesn't like being on his own if he can help it. Rika isn't exactly a great conversationalist, she doesn't speak much. ]

[misclassed]

[ It's no wonder Rika is sizing Muramasa up; normal Servants are already overpowered spiritual familiars, jammed full of humanity's beliefs and myths. A High Servant? Nearly indescribable. With his amalgamated core of two other spirits, and divine ones at that, Muramasa's presence is bordering on terrible to behold for those with the awareness. The overall effect is fully at odds with the unassuming appearance of the youthful body that he occupies, but he exudes no hostility, no malice. He just nods at the introduction (once to Yuta and once to Rika herself), and finishes trotting over to join them, his own blade in hand. ]

Well, it's not like they said anything against a group of three—and you can stop glaring at me, missy, I ain't gonna bite your boy.

[ So behave, kids! ]

The name's Muramasa. If you're ready, let's start and see if we can't make it down to the river and back before the sun gets too low.

[ The brief introduction is all he needs, in his opinion, and he won't take questions on the matter. Unless they're really good questions. He doesn't wait for Yuta to agree, just gestures for the young man (and his charming lady friend) to follow, and starts making his way towards the base exit. ]

[copy]

[ Where Yuta's senses to detect cursed energy and the like have been rather dulled by Rika's constant presence, Rika herself does not share that problem in spite of Yuta's own leaking immense cursed energy. It makes her more alert and on edge — more so than she already normally is in her zealous protectiveness — and Yuta's oblivious to it until their new companion addresses her directly. Puzzled, it draws his gaze to her and she finally stops her leery scrutinizing to look away with all the huffy grace of a caught, put-upon child.

He can feel better now, with Muramasa closer, what might be bothering her, but well... he's not exactly in any position to judge there. Questioning it would probably be rude, too. So instead he murmurs a "let's all get along, Rika" to her in both a gentle chide and a plea before his focus snaps back to Muramasa. ]

Ah, right! I look forward to working with you!

[ Said to finish up the short introduction, ever mindful of his manners as he is, and then he's moving to follow without fuss, Rika drifting along in his wake. Clearly he's just going to let himself get bossed around and not even question it. ]

Have you been here long, Muramasa-san?

[ Usually a boy seeming around his own age would get a 'kun', but somehow 'san' feels more appropriate. Maybe it's the sense of seniority that the easy confidence to direct him brings? Whatever the case, Yuta's on his best behavior around a new acquaintance. It might make up for Rika's inherent distrustfulness. ]

patrol pals!

[thefinalpower]

No.

[ The answer is as blunt as a rock, but Power doesn't really care about being polite. She's more curious about the human's partner. She ducks around Yuta entirely to stare at Rika and the void, sniffing the air once or twice, before finally leveling a suspicious squint at the human. ]

She doesn't smell like a devil. Have you some sort of contract?

[copy]

... Oh.

[ Well, that takes the wind out of his sails a little. How awkward. But at least the horned(?) girl that's joined them doesn't seem put off by Rika's presence in the slightest. If anything, it's the opposite and Yuta's taken by surprise when she just darts around him to get closer to Rika instead; Rika who is definitely taking note as is evident by the tilt of her head, full attention on the newcomer that's... sniffing about, apparently.

Yuta's further puzzled when he is the one who ends up being regarded with suspicion, but both statement and question at least provide some clarity in a way. Must be some trans-dimensional misunderstanding going on here so he's quick to clarify. ]

No, we don't have anything like that. Rika's a cursed spirit.

[thefinalpower]

[ Power does not know what a 'cursed spirit' is, but she's also the sort of person who will never admit to not knowing something. She crosses her arms, and gives a sagely, wise nod. ]

Aaah, I thought so, I thought so.

[ She gives Rika a nod, and waves a hand in front of... what is probably her face. ]

Does she talk? [ And to Rika: ] Do you talk?

[copy]

[ ... Yeah, Yuta isn't entirely convinced that she did think so or even knows what a cursed spirit is when so many people here don't seem to, but it's not as if he knows her so he's just watching on in bemusement. Before he can reply to the question, Rika's already beating him to the punch. ]

W̶̟͗Ḧ̶̤́Á̷̭T̵͕̕?̶͕͌

[ Short and abrupt, layered in an unsettling otherworldly echo; it's very much said in a 'what do you want?' kind of tone. Clearly Rika isn't keen on the added company. ]

Be nice, Rika-chan.

[ Yuta's quick to throw out the gentle scolding, laughing a little sheepishly when he turns his attention back to Power, the very picture of apologetic wryness. ]

Sorry, she isn't big on conversation. [ And other girls being in his general vicinity. ]

un: ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀ.

[cosmarchy]

Is kaiju meat really that good?

[ This is the second person who's thought about that... That he's encountered. ]

[copy]

[ Oh no, what a horrible first impression to make. ]

no no!
i mean, i don't know. i haven't had any.
but it isn't like that.

[ ... Wait. ]

people are actually eating them??

[cosmarchy]

You haven't had any, but you were gonna let someone else try?

[ ... Hm. ]

I think someone else mentioned it on the network, yeah. They liked to cook it or something?

[copy]

sorry, i should explain.
rika is a cursed spirit i can summon. feeding her certain things can potentially boost our abilities.

[ Oh the struggle of feeling an inherent need to be vague so as not to reveal too much about his techniques vs wanting to be understood... ]

ehh really?
that seems rather unsafe...