KAIJU FIGHT #7

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #7

CONTENT WARNINGS: death, mummies, quicksand, organ harvesting, nightmares, gun violence, survival scenario

▶ 001. EGYPTIAN DINNER.

As the days go on, more and more evidence begins to show that the kaiju is, indeed, hiding out somewhere deep within the desert, approximately in the West area around the Qattara Depression. LILITH’s crew embarks first with all of their supplies to set up a temporary base in the ruined city of El Alamein, a small city at the edge of the desert. Outsiders are requested to wait there until further instructions, and this temporary base will be a safe haven if things get too treacherous. After all, even after all of their research, who knows what this monster is capable of doing?

Once the base is set up, Outsiders will move out, either on their camel or other means they may have to arrive at the base. The days continue to grow shorter, nighttime beginning to descend as early as 3 PM. Outsiders will also be highly recommended to consume the cyber caffeine once again as its effects from the plane ride are beginning to wear off. To their surprise, when the Outsiders arrive, a large buffet of Egyptian food will be waiting for them. Koshari, shawarma, falafel and Egyptian stew will be served. All fresh and natural ingredients! Everyone settle in and dine together… it could be the last meal you have.

LILITH suggests waiting until there is more sunlight before they hunt down the kaiju. Outsiders can rest, but do not sleep! Maybe wait for the sunrise together? Find other ways to kill some time? Maybe there are new Outsiders that would like to know about the previous kaijus? As the sun begins to rise, it paints the most beautiful sunrise that maybe Outsiders have ever seen. Were some of those new colors in the sky? How romantic.

▶ 002. QUICK AS SAND.

After the sun rises, Outsiders and LILITH prepare to leave the temporary base and head further towards the Qattara Depression. The trek starts out pretty easy, but the geography soon gets more and more dangerous, leading into what seems to be a large crevice in the Earth. Captain Yamakawa gives a report once the Outsiders have reached this area:

“Angels of LILITH, we have evidence that this area is filled with many sand crocodiles. We have supplied everyone with more shotguns and ammo, but use any other means to keep yourself safe. We have received evidence that the kaiju is in this general area. Keep alert! Who knows what sorts of powers it possesses that we may not know about!”

While it’s true that the area does contain many sand crocodiles popping out and spitting embers, there is no sight of any other kaiju. Yet, all evidence points to the fact that it is here. The rift energy is immense in this location, and those exposed may be hit with nightmares, bad memory sharing or a weakness to sunlight. As characters move along, following Yamakawa’s lead on her camel, those with keen hearing will detect it before anyone else: moaning, groaning. Sounds of agony, all coming from beneath them. It gets louder, causing Yamakawa to halt. But as soon as everyone stops, they will feel the ground start to sink beneath them.

It’s quicksand!

Yamakawa and any other Outsiders who may have been traveling close with her will soon be engulfed by the sand, first taking the camels by their legs. It’s never good to panic while in quicksand, and Yamakawa remains calm as ever, but if anyone tries to pull her and others out, she will say,

“This is it… This is how we get down below. The kaiju is under us! Angels of LILITH, hold your breath… Let the sand consume you if you wish to go further with me!”

As characters vanish beneath the sand, they will see that Captain Yamakawa is correct — the quicksand leads to a hidden, ruined city beneath the Qattara Depression: a perfect lair for a kaiju who is sensitive to sunlight. Outsiders slowly fall and hit the rocky ground not-so gently, heaps of sand flowing after. Rub it from your eyes and remove it from your ears to marvel at a city that time has forgotten.

In the middle of the ruins, there is a large temple. It’s time to find that kaiju!

▶ 003. TOMB RAIDER

The inside of the ruins are dark and mostly devoid of natural sunlight. However, there does occasionally seem to be flickers of light, as the sand above them runs fluidly across where the sky would be, almost like water. Due to the lack of visibility, Outsiders will need to utilize their LILITH-provided equipment or find other methods or sources for light. Everyone will have access to a flashlight, but there will also be abandoned torches nearby should anyone really want to impersonate Indiana Jones here. Once they arrive deeper in, they will see some of the torches spark to life, operated by a mysterious technology.

It's clear that these ruins were made for the sole purpose of housing the temple at its center, which appears to also be a type of tomb. There's a certain silent reverence to it, as it naturally demands respect. Or, it's the ominous presence of the sand crocodiles slithering about in the sands. The crocodiles can be lurking under any surface of sand, and so Outsiders will be cautioned and asked to be on the lookout, not only for themselves, but their fellow teammates.

If the crocodiles weren't alarming enough, as one enters the tomb itself, they will discover several booby traps awaiting them. If one steps carelessly, they'll find themselves at the other end of a vicious trap — some are triggered by stepping on the wrong stone, or grabbing a nearby torch. Some are even activated just by making eye contact with the wrong painting on the wall. If Outsiders feel any vibrations, they will get warnings on their oculars that a boulder may be swiftly approaching! Run and seek an alcove to hide in!

For those who are savvy with dismantling traps, they will find that some of them do have workarounds if you know the right methodology behind each one. As for if they will be given the time for it, that's another story, but maybe another Outsider can do the honors of triggering it while another suppresses it?

People should also do their best not to be drawn by some of the treasure or gems that are placed into several of the rooms with tombs. Picking up even one sliver of gold, or a gem will cause the mummies to reanimate. The mummies have an ability to produce sounds that can render people unconscious, or even cause their inner eardrums to bleed. While they are slow moving, they are also incredibly persistent, and as they're already technically dead, get on the wrong side of one and you may be stuck with it following you around. Fire seems to slow them down pretty effectively, as well. Should you be stuck with an aggressive one, however, it will do everything it can to try and harvest your organs. Completely dismembering them will un-alive them again.

Outsiders will get a notice when the rift energies increase in intensity as they traverse deeper within the tomb. Unexpectedly, it isn't the end of the tomb they're being led to, but the center of it.

▶ 004. HEART OF THE TOMB.

At the very center, the first thing everyone will notice is the rift. The rift effects will be strongest in this area. Thankfully, unlike the kaiju in Transylvania, everyone will still have full access to their abilities. One thing that can be noted, however, is that the rift energy may feel stronger than before, and Outsiders may feel an odd tingle that can be felt even through their suits. They may also find that if their attention strays for too long, they can feel their limbs go a little numb, so this battle will require all their focus.

While there are rift effects, hopefully that doesn't get in the way of anyone's performance. Especially as it doesn't take long for the kaiju to kick itself into gear.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Kabus
HEIGHT: 3 m
WEIGHT: 10 T
CLASS: Extremely Dangerous
LOCATION: Qattara, Egypt
ABILITIES: Shortens daylight, infiltrates a being's consciousness and body through their dreams to stop their heart.
WEAKNESSES: Ice, water, sunlight, any symbols that reflect "light" or "life".
EXTRA NOTES: This is a kaiju that has never been documented by LILITH before—not much information can be provided. Proceed with extreme caution.
RIFT EFFECTS: Bad memory share, weakness to sunlight, nightmares.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO: SEE ABOVE

This kaiju is capable of trapping people in nightmares and illusions, as well as sharing them. In addition, by looking its target in the eyes, it’s capable of causing them to feel intense fear to the point of paranoia. These effects can last even when no longer in the presence of the Kabus. The Kabus uses the disorientation caused by its abilities to render its victims incapable of fighting back, and uses its dark and inky black tendrils to trap its victims. The tendrils cannot be cut, and almost appear illusory as well.

The mummies also seem to be working in tandem with the Kabus and will gradually make their appearance in this deepest region of the tomb. However, they seem less aggressive and are far more interested in grabbing, or biting down on Outsiders to decrease their overall mobility, especially if they fall under the Kabus nightmares.

Unlike the permanent rift in Tokyo, LILITH will eventually send in help by blocking off some rift signals, enough to eventually get them shut down. Without the power of the rift, the Kabus’ power will also begin to dwindle, which hopefully all the Outsiders take full advantage of.

▶ 005. AFTERMATH

It's an intense fight, and Kento Nanami along with Cagalli deliver the hardest blows with 600 HP each, the monster grows weaker. It somehow knows it is about to die, though, especially when Choso's toxic blood poisons it. It's spiteful, seeking revenge for the pain it is feeling, and when it is attacked again, it lashes out, temporarily blinding Power and releasing a deafening screech to disorient Rico. The final blow is delivered by Muramasa, and when it dies, it speaks to him, something inaudible but it sounds like it is speaking in Arabic. It dissipates into sand, and LILITH encourages Outsiders to round up the sand for further evaluation. From the looks of it, though, it appears to be nothing special.

When the Kabus is eventually defeated, Outsiders will have a pocket of time in which they must make their escape before the tomb is completely buried in sand. Perhaps, without the kaiju there, the structure is no longer stable. If Outsiders don’t want to be buried in sand, they will have to make their escape swiftly.

... But not without gathering samples: Outsiders will be prompted to collect as many samples as they can. Some of these samples will be given over to the research institute, but the researchers of LILITH also feel like they could find a use in the sand and bloody bandages that the lynx left behind.

The Outsiders and LILITH crew escape successfully, moments before the underground is filled with sand. They high trek it back to the Alexandria Institute, where they are greeted with something that Outsiders have probably been craving.. along with crowds cheering, some falling to their knees in gratitude, LILITH & the Outsiders are provided the following before flying back to Neo Tokyo:

Free lodging at the most comfortable hotels with the most comfortable beds. Finally, they can rest easily and as much as they want to without the threat of the kaiju around! It takes one full day cycle for daylight and night time to return to normal, and after a long, sleep.. LILITH encourages the Outsiders to sleep as much as they would like because they deserve it.

Right when they close their eyes, though, one more message flashes across their oculars. It's been awhile since Outsiders have heard from their robotic-tentacled Commander. After all of that, he has a few words. On voice, he speaks, but then he also sends a text message:

“... Good job. Most impressive."

...👍

- Medical staff will be on standby.

- Effects from the kaiju can last 24-48 hours to fully dissipate. (Note: This is up to players how they want to play this out. It could also come and go, so it does not affect their ability to play in any other aspect of the game in the meantime).

- As Outsiders were able to discuss and piece together some clues: they were able to rendezvous with the lynx in the desert and collect a hefty amount of samples (sand from the lynx, bloody bandages from the lynx, mummy parts.) Some of these samples will be used for medicine, while others for their suit. While Greece is still unresponsive, it may just be because of the rifts.

- LILITH will offer the energy drinks freely to those who want them. However, since it seems like some Outsiders get carried away, there will be a daily cap of two.

- The ESSENCE generator shows signs of working again, now with all aspects of the rift gone (the rift itself and the kaiju.)

- There will now be a simulation option once Neo Tokyo base reopens to mimic traps, so people can practice avoiding them. Even the ones with random screaming being used to lure people in. (They can’t believe this works).

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our seventh kaiju log!

Aftermath details were gathered from reading through the chat logs of the last post and from IC discoveries and explorations that took place in which unearthed the location of the Kabus.

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

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. EGYPTIAN DINNER: Investigative efforts and careful research has led to the Outsiders next location. They are moved out from the comfort of their temporary base and are now having their last supper before they head out to the hunt.

2. QUICK AS SAND: They encounter more foes in the desert in the form of sand crocodiles. Everyone is provided weapons and ammo to hold these creatures back and minimize initial damages to the team. However, it seems the one of their biggest mysteries get solved. It's quicksand! .... and it looks like there's a lot more to unearth beneath them.

3. TOMB RAIDER: Outsiders arrive at the entrance of the tomb. Once in it, they are prey not only to the sand crocodiles, but the various booby traps set out for them. They will also encounter mummies which seem to be reanimated or powered by the kaiju.

4. HEART OF THE TOMB: Outsiders will find the kaiju at the heart of the tomb. As the preliminary report states, the kaiju infiltrates a being's consciousness and body through their dreams to stop their heart. Outsiders will need to be wary of this fact while battling the kaiju.

5. AFTERMATH: Recap of the usual aid provided to Outsiders. As well as some thoughts and details moving forward as a result of investigative efforts and details noted from prior log.

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Comments

— CLOSED STARTERS

[zauneyete]

— CLOSED to Vergilius

[zauneyete]

[ He shot it. And it's hardly a very grand showing, but it did hit, and his eyes scour the battlefield after.

Silco's near the back line, after all, mostly to stay out of danger — look at him — but also to keep back and watch over everyone else fighting. Sometimes, the creature levels its gaze on others, and they go stock still. He's already seen it lunge at one outsider or another, and he keeps back, mostly in shadow — but it's Silco, he still stands out in the shadows, even if he doesn't want to, doesn't he? That pinprick of black and bright that looks like a flame lingering in the dark.

His eyes go elsewhere first — the expected place, makes sure Jinx is still alive and well — before his eyes dart toward... Well. They aren't exactly far from each other, and maybe it's intentional, maybe it isn't. He lingers, close enough that the details can be made out, if he meets his eyes — that little spot of light in the dark, he'll get a sharp, overconfident smile from the shadows before he nudges his head toward the fight, as if Vergilius needs the reminder to focus on the beast. As if another monster needs to direct another. He does it anyway, becuase Silco has always felt at his most comfortable and confident directing others, instead of doing the bulk of the work himself. Even if it isn't necessary.

It's the moment of temporary distraction that does it, the Kabus howls with something low and bestial, drawing all attention back towards it, and it seems to shudder and shake, some sort of power thrumming from it like hypnotism, or maybe it's just the darkness, or even the exhaustion that surely even consummate insomniacs like Silco and Vergilius are starting to feel. It's easy, to feel drug into the darkness, the shadows, darkness closing in from the sides, hazy and misshapen. He knows it's doing something, but what he can't quite predict for.

Despite how much he wants to fight it, how much he tries, he is tugged under anyway. Into... ]

[immortalpoet]

[Maybe it isn't intentional. That's how Silco works, right? Always from the shadows. He half expects, more out of instinct than anything, that Silco might have a knife at the ready with Vergilius's name on it. But they agreed on it, didn't they? No more stabbing.]

[Besides, he has his gladius, burning hot, and that should be enough on his end for this foe. He shakes his head, not wanting to be distracted - the smile is sharp as ever, as sharp as that little glint that he's grown so accustomed to from his eye - but as he follows the man's gesture, he turns to the Kabus...]

[And the world shifts. He panics for a moment, his heart leaping into his chest, ready to try to swipe forward, cut it down, but its too late.]

[The world melts away.]

[And here, they both are in an alleyway. The snow is falling gently, dotting white on their shoulders. Vergilius has a fuzzy red hat, adorned with a white cotton ball, on his head. He bears a red sack on his shoulder, burgeoning with gifts.]

[His eyes are wide, his chest faltering with sudden cold breaths.]

[He realizes what this is.]

Christmas.

[zauneyete]

[ He doesn't recognize any of what's before them, and that's the first thing he thinks — that selfish rush of relief that this is not his memories — by now he very nearly expects it. After having his own ripped from him, and peering into others, the amount of times is harrowing, and uncomfortable. The amount he's seen of others, too, is... well. Silco would find it advantageous if it weren't so uncontrolled.

The cold sinks into his bones, the snow on his shoulders, and he feels a shiver roll down his spine. Maybe the creature was random, and maybe not, but he stands next to him, and wonders if perhaps it is less random than they think. There are few people among the Outsiders that he genuinely would care to see the memories of.

He tipped his head, curious. ]

That was a few months ago.

[ He points out. See? He understands these holidays! (He does not.) His eyes looked over the hat, the sack, and he wonders if maybe the holiday was more important to him — no, he decides; it is.

He always seeks him out, even from across the room, and seeks that gaze. He finds it now, even if he's next to him — is he, though, really — that gives it away.

There is a look in his eyes. He may not know what this is, but that look in his eyes. He knows the look in his eyes, in the — pain. Recognizes it. His tone turns serious, less of that teasing self-satisfaction, and more... ]

This is different, isn't it?

1/2

[immortalpoet]

...

[He doesn't answer Silco. Instead, a panic overtakes him, a familiar one. An irrational thing, because this has already happened. Even though Silco seeks his gaze, he's staring through him, not seeing him at all.]

[He turns towards the exit of the alleyway.]

No.

[And there's a solid crack in the air as he dashes forward with speed like a bullet, the sack and hat left behind.]

[Silco would be left behind. Given that this is a dream, however, his locations shift so that he will be in the same area that Vergilius lands.]

2/2 cw for child death, body horror, gore from here on out

[immortalpoet]

[Where he lands is like a warzone.]

[There are pieces of a building scattered, as if exploded into pieces. Blood cakes some of them, and as vision adjusts, one can see bodies, some only parts, scattered among the wreckage.]

[Most of the bodies are very small.]

[And in the air, hazy and heavy with smoke and blood, cries out something inhuman, like a bunch of humans babbling, screaming, shouting, moaning all at once.]

[There is a monster on top of what is left of the building. It's a twisted, macabre thing, a misshapen abdomination of flesh and sinew, with two human heads peering through its visage like tumor growths. The head's eyes are constantly crying. A tattered pink apron is fastened poorly around its bulk, with poorly stitched words that read LOVE TOWN.]

[Vergilius is paralyzed, eyes blazing, but he's panting as he stares up at the monster. His voice sounds distant.]

How...h-how....

[zauneyete]

[ He's seen him move, but he's never seen him move this fast, like a bullet in human form — and he actually does think that this is going to be the extent of whatever he sees, until his gaze shifts — and they're elsewhere.

The smell is what's most familiar. He knows what smoke and blood and bodies smells like, after all. It's something that lingers in his own memories too, but this is different. It's so different. His feet move on concrete, and his foot stopped as he very nearly missed the small shape in his path. Too busy looking everywhere else, taking it all in. He doesn't step on it, he steps around it, his head tipped to look down at it for a half-second, his lips formed into something...indiscernible.

He'd been told enough, he can... guess where they are. They aren't his, but he...understands. In his own way. What it is, to walk onto a scene like this. His jaw tightened, and he stepped more carefully, to not step in these pools of blood.

The sound is what draws him away, and he lurks behind him, like a small shadow, his eyes drawing up, up, and up. To the thing there. A monster. Was it... natural? Made? It felt like something his doctor would have dreamed up, but worse.

He's seen plenty of people give into their shimmer addictions, have seen bodies get warped into tumors, the rush of shimmer makes people grow too. That he's used to, but something about the shape of it, the two heads, the extra mouths and eyes — the apron — he's never felt disgust looking at a monster, but he thinks it might be close.

He doesn't say anything now, he doesn't even think Vergilius knows he's here. He lurks behind him, quiet. Watching. ]

[immortalpoet]

[Everything is as it was. Everything here is repeating itself. And everything here is not preventable. The children will die. The monster will rise. Again, and again, this is what he relives in his own brain.]

[The monster roars, lifting something up - the body of a young woman, limp in its powerful grip. It raises its other arm to grab at her legs, moving to pull like she's nothing but a toy to break-]

[Until there's a sharp burst of wind, practically quick enough to be in the space between seconds, and the monster's arm is flying in the air. Vergilius has made his move, gladius held aloft as he lands with the woman in his arms. The monster bellows, sounding like the pained cries of many souls.]

[Vergilius puts the woman down, looks at her. She's gone, already. It was useless.]

[But this isn't over. He stands, his red eyes scouring the horizon. No, he's not looking for that monster. He's looking for a different one. His upper lip pulls back, a growl in his voice.]

What...now. Just what is your business. Was this your job...who, then, gave you the order...?

[And he lifts his gladius just in time, for an older woman in violet suddenly smashes into him with her own sword from seemingly nowhere, the sound of blade on blade ringing in one's ears. Vergilius tries to move, strike further, but she easily leaps back onto a pile of rubble.]

[She smiles, with vivid snake-like eyes, as Vergilius faces her, names the one behind it all.]

Iori.

[And remembering Silco, he spares a glance to him, hissing under his breath.]

Don't. Move.

[I will handle her.]

[zauneyete]

[ Its so very gruesome. He knew the City was a construction that was just as cruel, or maybe crueler than Zaun, but seeing it is something altogether different. Were he a younger man, a weaker man, the man he'd been once, he thinks he would have been sick seeing all of this. The small bodies, the monster before them, Everything.

Half his expression is inert, staring as always, but the other narrows, watching all of it. The monster that reminds him so much of something the doctor would dream up, but Vergilius is so fast, and so powerful that he moves like lightning, he has the body the creature was pulling apart, but it's too late. Another body for the pyre, another death. He almost starts at the body crashing into Vergilius, he takes several steps back, as if he could be affected by all of this.

He can't, can he? Despite the fact that he can breathe the smell of burning bodies and the burn of smoke. His unblinking eye takes in the details, the woman. Like a snake, a sharp viper that he knows, and he wonders — who she is. He has pieces of Vergilius's history, he can guess who this is, but there is no certainty. The man has as many secrets and mysteries as he does, doesn't he?

His breath hisses out, his eyes catch Vergilius's, when he looks at him. He's staring at him, more than the woman, even now. (How damning.)

He tells him not to move, though the temptation remains to skitter back, but he doesn't. He offers him only the barest of nods, half in acknowledgement, and half something else — as if to say: 'well? Kill her already.' ]

— CLOSED to RATIO

[zauneyete]

[ Eyes open, blinking away smoke and riot gas. The barricades are up, and established to make sure nobody gets any further. On the other side, are the gas-masked, authorities staring straight ahead, rifles at the ready. On either side are brothers and sisters in arms — without weapons — yelling, shouting, protesting.

It's a wide variety of people, familiar — even if you don't recognize them at all — before they start surging forward. More shouts. Things that should be a given; working wages, good meals, public works. 'My kid got the gray because of them!' or 'They can't even play in the river!' or any number of complaints.

Breaths kick up, faster. Look left, look right, everyone is holding the line. No breaking, no —

Someone in the front line gets into an argument with one of them. He's a fairly stocky guy (left) and he's yelling at one of them, before the cuffs come out. It's escalating. It was always meant to escalate, isn't it? Trying to make the point, show them that it isn't going to work?

Breathing harder, there's a bottle in hand. Maybe it was always going to end up this way. Why else would you have brought it. The flick of a lighter, before it's lit, a Molotov Cocktail in hand, before it's thrown right at the enforcers.

It hits the ground, spreading with fire that turns the sky and the riot gas red, smoke kicks up, and all hell breaks loose. A surge of bodies start pushing forward, the authorities jump the barricades, and both sides start fighting.. It's war. It's violent. The guns are used, bullets go flying.

The sound of a bullet impacts the body, a cry to the left, behind, and it sounds familiar. There's a lurch, somewhere in the pit of the stomach, something nauseating. And still, the fight goes on. They're coming, they're coming — The butt of a rifle lashes out, and impacts in the left eye, forcing everything to go temporarily black, and things swim back into focus.

Ratio might be greeted with the tight grimace of a man with an unblinking eye, who's arms are crossed and leaning against one of the temple walls while he tries to half-blink away... something. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ It's always disorienting, to be dropped into someone else's memory. Even moreso when the memory is violent and frantic, like this one appears to be. Ratio can hear the people's yells, murmurs of discontent, and a growing tension in the air. They bustle around him, suffocating in their presence. He's never liked crowds.

The air is smoky—unhealthy, carcinogenic—and it irritates Ratio's throat and eyes. He tries to blink away the tears forming in his eyes and comes to the conclusion that some sort of lachrymatory agent must be in use. And then—things explode. Literally and figuratively.

A molotov is thrown, and like a signal for war, a riot breaks out. Fists are thrown, bullets go flying, and bodies hit the ground. Ratio, completely clueless to the situation other than what context clues he can gather, is shoved left and right by people, but manages to wade through the crowd until he makes it to the wall nearby. Here, he's greeted by a familiar face. ]

Silco.

[zauneyete]

[ The face is far younger, but it's still easy to pick him out. He looks scrappier, but heartier. Still slim, and lean, but his hair is long, and flying free at this point. He'd already had it pulled free in an altercation, and it's hanging free, and wild. A lot different from the normally carefully put together man that Ratio's met. There are the signs though. The chipped teeth, the nose, the too-big ears, and the height. His eyes are wide — two blue — but there's a fairly significant injury over the left eye. It's already starting to swell, skin broken where the rifle had made contact with the skin just under it.

He's wheezing, breathing too hard. Staring, in shock, at some of the bodies. Ratio says his name, and he jumps, nearly out of his skin.

There's a roar somewhere in the fight. A beast of a man reaches out for one of the enforcers, and slugs him straight in the jaw, sending him down.

Silco doesn't even look. his eyes slide from Ratio to a pile of bodies. ]

What's — [ No, he knows what's happening. He's not so young that his voice is different. Just rawer. From the screaming. ] You picked a bad day to try to cross the bridge, friend.

[ It's filled with wry, dark humor.

He's angry. He's barely holding it together. ] Should have crossed for whatever... [ He waved a hand at him. He was clearly too fancy to be one of them. ] you wanted out of us yesterday. Now you're probably stuck for good.

[ His hands shake. The fighting continues. The enforcers aren't moving further back than the barricade. They're going to have to pull back, because when reinforcements come... They'll all need to evacuate. He should.

He should do that. He needs to do that.

His hands still shake.

His eyes look at the dead eyes nearby. She's laying back, the bullet went right through her. He hoped she hadn't felt it. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ Sometimes, it's a toss up whether the individual whose memory he's in remembers the present or not. This time, it seems, Silco does not remember him.

Acting isn't his forte, but playing along is the best way to learn more before the spell is broken. ]

I clearly don't belong here. They'll let me through once everything has settled.

[ He only looks somewhat perturbed, as if the riot around them has absolutely no bearing on him. It's not quite acting, because he's certain he should appear more afraid, but he knows how the rich and powerful like to behave sometimes. He isn't out of line yet. ]

[zauneyete]

[ A bitter little scoff escaped his lips. His eyebrows wound down, and he tipped his head toward the other end of the bridge. ]

Well, how pleasant for you, I'm sure.

[ Some of that bite the older version of him will have.

He reaches up to start tying back his hair again. So much longer than the man in the future, he puts it into a messy manbun. ]

Just wait. They'll be on lockdown for days. Nobody in or out. Not after this.

[ The biggest man roars something loud, metal-clad fists punching the lights out of one of the enforcers. His eyes flick towards him, a twitch of his lips. ]

Especially if enough of them pay.

May as well make sure you have a place to stay. [ A tip of his head, and that smile is a little sharper. ] Just in case.

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio watches the fighting for a moment, trying to discern the flow of battle, who's winning and who's losing—but there's a lot going on, and this isn't his forte. ]

Are you offering to show me a place?

[ It's Silco's memory, after all. He doesn't gain anything from walking away from the man. ]

[zauneyete]

A topsider?

[ He asks, with a sneer. Silco may be younger, but there's the makings of the man here. He's easier, more comfortable, but he isn't kind. His fingers lift up to tap gently a the skin around his left eye, where the butt of a rifle cut at it. He winced. It's going to hurt, and take forever to properly heal.

He has no clue yet, that it never will. That it'll be the injury he's known for soon enough. ]

No offense, but you're lucky we aren't just tossing you over the side, given how they are going at us right now.

[ A jerk of his head. The fire is escalating. The big man punches one of them several times knocking them out. He looks over his shoulder to Silco, and the man nods. Silco's eyes stay on his, they don't drift to the bodies.

He can't think about that right now. He doesn't try to share it. Not until the Enforcers retreat. ]

I'm sure you'll have plenty of coin to find something to your... taste.

[curingidiocy]

[ Topsider. A term that says a lot, yet doesn't tell him much. Given what has already been said, and the present Silco's attitude and opinions about society as a whole, he can easily surmise that this is some sort of clash between the socioeconomic strata of the city. Of course, given Ratio's appearance, he would be perceived as the enemy.

How much longer will this memory run, he wonders. There may be no benefits to continuing his charade, especially since it seems like Silco's group is preparing to retreat soon. There's no guarantee the dream will follow them after. ]

Perhaps. But have you considered why I am here, speaking to you at this moment, in this chaos?

[ Whether this prompts a continuation of the dream or gets Silco to realize the reality of the situation is a toss up, but either outcome is acceptable to Ratio. ]

[zauneyete]

Why what — ?

[ He asks, his head tipped. Silco was once a somewhat handsome man, though the thin and lean features, chipped teeth, and overbite certainly left a lot to be desired. There's a split second. A roaring of the crowd, the enforcers are starting to retreat for the moment, behind the barricades. The fire starts to rise, before they start trying to put it out with water. It works well enough, but the smoke seems to fill the bridge.

It's red. The sky is red. The ground is red. There's so much smoke, and ash drifts in the air. The crowd dips quickly into sobs. The largest of them lets out a scream of anguish, standing over bodies, a scream, before he turns and jumps for one of the escaping enforcers, and Silco —

That stare is longer on his face. So much longer. Like now that the fight is fading, realization is starting to dawn. Of the dream? Of what's happening? It's not clear. He blinks, the swollen eye doesn't. It won't really ever again, will it? The smoke fills their lungs, makes the air too thick, and in the time it takes for him to try and step away —

It's no longer there. No smoke. Just the heat, and the sand, and the cavern they're in.

His hand tries to grip into the side of the cavern, gnashing skin against the cave walls. His eyes wind, a half-unblinking, blackened stare, over the rest of the cave. Ratio, he looks for him, and his stare is...

Angry. At him? The Kaiju? It's unclear. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio watches from his peripheral view as the fight becomes more frantic. As everything bursts into flames and people start to run, and how Silco is trying to process everything around him, all while the veil of the memory lifts from his eyes and he starts to see clearly.

And then they're both back where they belong. Back under the sands, hunting kaiju, and not in the middle of a socioeconomic uprising.

Anger. He isn't surprised to see that written all over Silco's face. The memory isn't one he would think the other would ever voluntarily share if asked. ]

How are you feeling?

[zauneyete]

[ There's more anger than just for Ratio. There's old anger here. Pain. This isn't just people being lost. This isn't just the sting of losing friends and loved ones, of brothers and sisters in arms falling; this is more. This was everything. Only one person has been given this full tale, even his daughter doesn't know it, not all of it. Some of it is so soaked in trauma and betrayal that even now, Silco's chest heaves and his hands clench to his side.

He looks like a wounded, caged animal.

This was just the first part of the whole sorry tale, after all. This is what started it. Everything from the injury around his eye, to losing everything, to becoming a new, reborn man. It all came back to the bridge. It was all at the bottom of the river Pilt. ]

Fine.

[ He says, tersely. He doesn't ask for him to keep it to himself, he should make it seem as unimportant as possible, as his expression cools in real time before him. As he runs a hand through his hair, and it's like all of that anger and trauma and history is tucked back into place where it belongs.

In the past. ]

What you saw was clearly a long time ago.

[ Well, Silco had been much younger. Lean, and handsome, but still rough around the edges. The kind of kid that probably could have fleeced you for every dollar you were worth, and then some. Easy, underneath all that anger. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ Fine, he says, even though it's clear that he's not. But Ratio, for as curious a man as he is, isn't the type to pry when it's unwanted and unwarranted. There is no reason for him to dig any deeper into Silco's past, even if he desires to know what makes the man tick. ]

Yet it doesn't seem like you've gotten past it.

[ It's just a quip, rather than a true attempt to get Silco to open up. Because it's clear to anyone that Silco bears a deep grudge, and that his unfriendly personality was formed due to the traumas of his past. ]

[zauneyete]

[ 'You marinate in it like an old steak,' comes to mind, Vergilius had only recently pointed out to him. He isn't the one to view this memory, but he understands the implication of what had happened here better than Ratio would. Ratio picks up on it just as well, or maybe he understands something about what he saw. Silco is older, of course, sharper, but that man he'd seen had been just as sharp, just in different ways.

His lip curled, and his head tipped. ]

Past a lifetime of enforcer brutality and poverty? Being beaten down for standing up for what should be ours?

[ A soft scoff. ]

Imagine. That was only one moment that you saw. [ The moment. The conception of the man he was now from the man he had been. That moment had started it. She was dead, she was dead, and... so was the man he was. He hadn't died then, but that moment had signed his death warrant.

He was not that man anymore. ] It was not shocking. Only larger in scope than what it usually was.