KAIJU FIGHT #1

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: thalassophobia, natural disaster, drowning, body horror, violence, blood & gore.

▶ 001. SEAS THE DAY.

On the morning of the 1st, sirens will blare, forcing every Outsider and Neo Tokyo civilian awake. While it hasn't been activated for a while, every citizen within the city knows this alarm all too well - it wails through the city whenever a Kaiju has been detected, ordering everyone to return to their homes immediately and stay there until they receive further information. Outsiders gazing at Neo Tokyo will see the armored city in its full technological splendour for the first time today. Once the civilians have returned to their homes, machinery within the buildings will work like clockwork, sinking each and every LILITH-augmented building beneath the ground. Just in time, too, because the waves are starting to roar again, crashing beyond the shore and flooding the city once more. Observant Outsiders may note that not every building has been modified. The older ones remain standing, vulnerable to the impending flood. Does anyone live in those buildings? The answer is yes, but that's not a priority at the moment.

Every Outsider will receive a summon, ordering them to prepare for battle. The Kaiju has been identified and located. It's show time.

"Angels of LILITH. We have located the Kaiju coming from beyond the sea. A full mission brief including the information we have gathered will be sent to you immediately. For now, make your way to the bay where your transport will be waiting. Be prepared for anything, but mostly, be prepared to swim."

Waiting for the Outsiders at the bay appear to be ... expensive-looking, personal yachts? This has to be a mistake, right? It's no mistake. Through intel LILITH has exchanged with international companies, it appears that this particular Kaiju has a fondness for overturning civilian yachts, and there's no better way to attract it than to leave it its favourite bait. The goal is to attract these Kaiju towards the boats and then attacking.

The ships may look like they're outfitted for a fancy yacht party. In fact, some exploring down below deck in the lounging room, one may find caviar on fancy ritz, oyster tower, little finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off and bougie smelly cheese that nobody in LILITH's pay grade can identify. On another table, there is fancy ramen spoons filled with microgreens, crystal jelly vinegarette, and a thin slice of parmesan cheese. Some further looking may find some fine aged wine, but you're not here to drink and party, you're here to fight a Kaiju! Right? Right.

Despite the fact everything about these yachts just look like... fancy yachts... they are actual warships that are mounted with naval artillery such as swivel guns, missiles and torpedos. Spears, harpoon guns and fishing nets can also be found and used if an Outsider is more comfortable getting extremely close to the monsters. There's no time for a proper seafaring course, so Outsiders will be given a quick run down on how the controls work, and be sent on their way. They will also be given a special jewel-like implant that attaches to the skin, right along the forehead, and told to wear it if they need to go into the water. "Don't worry about it," the LILITH crew says. "But it'll be one hell of a ride if you use it."

Alongside the crew, Seok Dang seems to be also assisting (?) though he's gotten a hold of the reception food down below. Did he smell like fine wine? Possibly. But that's definitely a fancy, half eaten cracker in his hand. He's also got on a bright, neon life preserver. Maybe someone doesn't know how to swim.

"WHOOO HELLA YEAH, MOTHERFUCKERS. Don't know how to swim? Don't'cha worry. Daddy Dang has got you covered. I know CPR! I give the best CPR! 💖 I'll rescue ya. TONIGHT, WE BALL!"

Nobody uses that phrase anymore, but you know what? You do you, SD.

▶ 002. WHALE WATCHING.

Minutes into their ship's course, the boats will rock violently, as if those already violent waves have somehow come alive. There is something in the water! The mission brief would have been shared with them sometime during their trip, but maybe Outsiders want to pull up on their implant the image and debrief shared once again now that there is some action. The orca-like Kaiju trying to reach the shores of Neo Tokyo is called Shachimon, and she's been the cause of the violent waves and flooding we've seen for the past few weeks. Alongside of her and are her children orca who love to mimic everything their mother does. The biggest one, the matriarch of the pod, is over 60 meters in length - large enough to swallow a boat whole. The younger ones are smaller but just as ferocious, spanning from the size of a car to the size of a bus. The youngsters are a size small enough that they can leap out of the water, sometimes crashing down onto people and ships. Beware!

Shachimon will be fighting to knock over boats, or climbing on boats with their amphibious legs. Once they get their hands on humans or Outsiders, they pull them into the water, tearing them limb from limb to feed. Their control over the waves are no joke, either. With a powerful swing of their tail, they can conjure up tsunamis capable of overturning ships. The matriarch, if left to her own devices, seems bent on submerging Neo Tokyo to make food of all its citizens.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Shachimon
HEIGHT: Younger whales are 4 - 18 metres. The matriarch is 60 meters in length.
WEIGHT: 1500kg - 5000kg
CLASS: Highly dangerous.
LOCATION: Large bodies of water
ABILITIES: Use of sonar to detect any water movement. Fast swimmer. Very sturdy body thanks to all that whale blubber. High intelligence - commonly works together as a pod to take down prey. Capable of creating tsunamis that overturn boats. The largest Shachimon can sink a city if not stopped.
WEAKNESS: Electricity (since it will be inside water), dissection, spearing its eyes or blowhole. Loud vibrations within the water can stun or confuse it.
EXTRA NOTES: Dislikes and will attempt to overturn civilian yachts. Carnivorous, eating marine life and human flesh. Sadistic personality, may play with their food prior to eating.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Lead the Shachimon away from the shore.
✖ Extermination of Shachimon in the water and if they reach the shore.
✖ Protection of nearby fishermen's boats and civilians within those boats.
✖ Teamwork to destroy the matriach Shachimon.
✖ Bring back specimens (live or deceased) for research purposes.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

As a note, Outsiders who wish to remain on land and help civilians there may do so. There are waves flooding the city, and some of the smaller, quicker Shachimon will have made it to shore. They will need to be taken care of before they can terrorise the city.

▶ 003. OCEAN GEMS.

Shachimon are most deadly in the water and their go-to strategy is to pull others into their turf, where they have the advantage. That's where those jewel-like implants come in. These implants, called OCEAN GEMS, when attached to the skin, temporarily modify the body. Once activated, nanobots will invade the bloodstream and alter the user's lungs, giving them a set of breathable gills. Their legs will also be altered, giving them fins and the tail of a fish. This is a recent invention by LILITH ever since the first Shachimon was spotted a few years ago, and the technology is still experimental. This means that the transformation process will be significantly uncomfortable, feeling a bit like being asphyxiated and having your legs sewn together at the same time. Deactivating the gem and turning back feels just as uncomfortable, and being experimental technology, it can take a while before the user can successfully revert back. Those who want to fight in the water and lack any weapons or abilities that can be used can request Seok Dang for a weapon. There's a limited supply, but they will be given a special trident. Directly driving the spear into one of the kaiju will electrocute it, giving a higher chance for higher damage. These tridents will be handed out to those who want to use their Ocean Gem and ask.

It's up to Outsiders whether they want to use this new technology or not. Being able to fight the monsters on their own terrain is certainly an advantage, so LILITH would highly encourage it.

▶ 004. MEDICAL BAY.

Healers and those with medical experience will be placed on the warship with a red flag on it. Dr. Spim & Alex will also be present on this ship to assist any major injuries to both LILITH and civilian fisherman alike. This ship is bigger than the others, and while stocked up with the same artillery, it is also stocked with beds and medical supplies. This will be the Outsider's naval medical bay during the siege on the Shachimon and all injured Outsiders or civilians will need to be transported there. This ship will also need to be protected heavily, because once the Shachimon catch on that all the injured, vulnerable prey are being transported to the larger ship, they will start to target that ship in particular. Characters that need immediate medical help should be transported to this ship via a dataportal. Each yacht has a dataportal that can teleport anyone instantly to the medical ship. The dataportals are also located down below deck to prevent them from getting damaged.

▶ 005. THE CALM AFTER THE STORM.

It's a bloody, soggy and gruesome battle and the seas' waves begin to calm down, the sea filled with kaiju carcasses. LILITH's clean up crew is working hastily to collect these corpses, but with the Outsiders' occupied and recovering from their fresh battle, help is limited. Search and rescue scavenges the sea to find any civilians who didn't make it or may need medical help. Meanwhile, the valiant teamwork and effort has paid off. After many hits from many different weapons, artillery, natural abilities, etc. the matriarch kaiju has been downed and sank to the bottom of the ocean floor. LILITH's team will work to retrieve the massive carcass, though it will take awhile. Those who put in notable effort will receive praise and a little extra payout. Outsiders will see an instant transfer of funds to their account: 340,000,000 KRYPTOS. This is roughly about 2500 USD.

The intense battle will have lasted several days and Outsiders are free to go from land to sea as little or as often as they like. It is all over, though, and Outsiders will be called to return to the MAIN BASE for rest and recovery. LILITH will also be searching for the rift where the kaiju came from while Outsiders recover. A message from an unknown voice will pop up an hour or so after all Outsiders have returned to the MAIN BASE. Outsiders may use this time to socialize in a commons area, wash up in the showers, get a meal in the cafeteria or rest.

"Good work."

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our first Kaiju log! All prompts are highly encouraged but OOCly optional. ICly, characters can choose to fight in the ocean, on the ships or stay behind on land and protect the city. At the end of the siege, characters who accepted an Ocean Gem will be asked to return it. It's experimental technology, so LILITH will need to do more tweaking before they can properly release it. Outsiders who use the gem may have whatever fish tail they like, as long as it is a sea creature.

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the smaller kaijus. The main fight with the Shachimon matriarch will be determined via a HP-based system (See below).

Please note that all tags in this log count for 2 reward points each. Ask any further questions below!

Below is also the month at a glance. We understand the CALENDAR has been a little inconsistent, but the mod team is sorting all of this out. Expect a FEEDBACK POST this month as well so we can check in with the playerbase and make any adjustments to the game. This log, even if the time stamp says JANUARY, will count for FEBRUARY AC.

FEB 1st: Kaiju Fight Log in LOG COMMUNITY
FEB 15th: Text Post in NETWORK COMMUNITY
FEB 25th: Mod posted MEME COMMUNITY; FEEDBACK POST is live.

Thank you all for being a wonderful and understanding playerbase!

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Comments

[stresspoint]

[ It's hard to watch all sides and harder yet to defend them. Nanami has been doing well enough, relying on quick dodging and careful blows to exploit weaknesses in the kaiju and at least disable them when he can't kill them quickly, but the numbers are getting harder to continue cutting through on his own. When Blade shows up, the situation is starting to look desperate, and Nanami is looking for any escape from being cornered when he feels the sharp movement behind him.

Just a sliver away from being bitten in half, Nanami turns back to find Blade rescuing him, turning out to help cover his back. ]

I owe you.

[ And, yes, it's clear Blade himself has already sustained some injuries of his own, but now at least there's two of them to face the remaining shachimon. Unfortunately it's two against at least a half dozen in the water, threatening to climb up. For the moment, Nanami focuses on the ones charging them. ]

More coming!

[ That's all he gets out before the rest of the monsters reach them and he has to block one of the kaiju's massive heads with his knife, holding the jaws back enough to kick it away. With the other monsters coming in on them right after, there's no room to pause or pull away without exposing himself and Blade to them. ]

[stresspoint]

[ The pain and cold alone are enough to knock the air out of him, and if it weren't for the timely appearance of another Outsider, Nanami would have been an easy meal for the shachimon. Luckily, he does still have enough life in him to keep his body going, and when his body does get over the initial shock after being dragged onto relatively warm sand, he starts choking up saltwater, opening his eyes to a mass of writhing orange and jerking to the side in order to cough up the rest of the sudden unwanted drink, only to eventually recover enough to look back and double take at Ishmael's appearance. He didn't get that much of a look before losing consciousness. ]

You're one of us?

[ Obviously, but he's also starting to shake and still getting his awareness back--which he hasn't completely recovered, since he has yet to realize they are mostly on solid ground. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou makes a move towards Nanami but stops almost immediately, retracting his hand.]

Are you sure I can't help somehow?

[Not that there was really any medicine to go around, but if he won't let him use his healing factor... He'd respect it, even if it was something of a matter of pride, but he hates not being able to help when he's so obviously hurting.]

[stresspoint]

[He hears the question, but Nanami hesitates before answering. While he is injured, the injuries he has from the fight aren't fatal and the actual pain is something else entirely--which he's just not sure Raidou can fix. And admitting to how much the thought of the healing factor turns his stomach is another matter entirely... but that is something he doesn't know if he can really explain.

When he does manage to open his eyes again under his wrist, he looks at Raidou under the shade of his hand.]

Maybe. Don't you need to rest?

[yuwon]

[ there are definitely more than a few times where he tries to swat the medical assistant's hand from him, as if to silently state he was fine. but, the more he struggles to perpetuate this, the more he's swiftly realizing his stubbornness is just prolonging the inevitable. after a while, he just sits there.

he watches her hands carefully. honestly, now that he's stopped resisting, it's clear to him now his head is feeling a bit better; as if the pressure in his head was clearing up a bit. he doesn't know if it's his constitution that's finally kicking in to start healing him, or if it's just the fact that he's finally settled down.

maybe the reason his tension is so high is because... he really wasn't used to people being around at times like these. his brows furrow, before he turns to her. ] ... don't say words you don't mean. [ but, it's true, he didn't recognize her at first, but now it's becoming less hazy... sort of.

... and yet, he still doesn't want to give in, nor does he seem to want to address it. instead: ] You are special.

[ ... ] Because everyone else was content minding their own business. [ but, he also doesn't seem to hate it... ]

[stresspoint]

[ Nanami is focused more on the battle they are dealing with than his injuries, which are not great but in the moment have to be ignored. They don't really have time to worry about how bad injuries are if they can keep fighting, and currently they can both keep fighting. Nanami scans the area, counting how many approaching kaiju he can readily see in the water nearest them, and when Yuji hops down onto the floating remains of one boat, Nanami stands on the edge of the yacht he left, looking down from above him. ]

If there's too many, you come back up here. Otherwise, let's get rid of as many as we can. As long as they keep coming.

[ He at least can watch Yuji's floating platform and rescue him if he needs to. But Nanami is sure that Yuji can handle the kaiju of this size without too much trouble. They just have to make sure not to get overwhelmed. ]

Give them your best.

[ He braces himself for the first wave of orca creatures to hit, raising his knife as they reach the yachts. With the right timing, they can probably do it in two strikes. ]

Now!

[hitokiller]

( the hell's so funny that she's smiling like that for?

ishmael may not be thinking much of it, which is completely fair to her, but to izou who took the opportunity to be vulnerable for a moment, he bristles lightly at a tone of voice that sounds anything but respectful. it's not as if she owes him that respect either, even after going through hell with a certain octopus, but the human heart is fragile, and the pain that had wracked his body from interfering with an implant mid-transformation has left him weak.

whatever. if she wants to fuck with him, he'll just fuck with her right back. the see-saw that is their relationship right now. )

You must've gone through some real shit back home if ya think any of this is funny.

( not to speak of his own experiences in life... anyway, izou shoots out his arm in the water for one of those slimy appendages in an attempt to grip it with one hand, only hesitating slightly as his fingers get closer to touching one. maybe if he squeezes one real tight that'll teach her a lesson. )

[frostfist]

[ Awake is good. Awake is great. Less great is the situation they're both in, still half-submerged in water with the Shachimon still prowling around them, but at least he won't need to lug both himself and an unconscious body back to safety.

He glances around them real quick, then asks: ]

Can you [ no, why was he automatically about to ask swim even after watching the guy topple into the water ] run back to the boat if I clear you a path?

[ Things Wriothesley has not yet noticed in the midst of everything else he is being forced to notice: that Shion cannot in fact see. ]

[wheft]

[ she just shoots him a flat look for that stupid question. ]

Really? That's the first thing that popped into your head?

[ she just saved your life, man. what does it look like? either way, she looks back to the sea and watches the fight beginning to slow down. ]

Either way, you don't seem to have gotten any water in your lungs. [ she turns to look at him again once more. ] But I'd rather you go to the medbay anyway to get checked. There should be a nearby yacht with a dataportal here somewhere...

[ her eyes glow as she checks the map in her oculars. let's see here. ]

[frostfist]

[ How about no, actually?? He is not going to be sinking anywhere any time soon, thanks, not if he has anything to say about it.

Though it looks like Ishmael (that's gotta be Ishmael, right?) has plenty to say - or do - on her own, those bright flashes whipping his way enough to send him diving down into the waters, barely managing to avoid getting zapped. That would be even worse of a headache.

But, well, now what? Ishmael can't come to the phone and he's not looking to beat up a teammate any time soon, even if that's the most reasonable course of action here. Maybe he can encase her in a block of ice and call for help? (Will she hold still long enough for him to trap her, is the real question...) ]

"Look, I'll be happy to sink into a hot bath with you after this if that's what you really want" [ hello?? ] "but somehow I get the feeling letting yourself go here isn't it."

[ Please pay attention to the nonsense he's spouting while he flips up and over to try and cage her in ice. (Spoilers: it's not gonna work.) ]

[the_fourteenth]

[He definitely needs to.]

I wanted to make sure there wasn't anyone who didn't need healing first.

[There will be plenty of time for him to sleep and heal himself later.

Nanami seems like he isn't going to be one of those people, though. He takes the last sip of his coffee, placing it back on the table. Caffeine will have to make do for now.
He's concerned, but he won't push. Maybe it'd be different if Nanami wasn't older.]

Thank you for the coffee. If you change your mind... I won't be far. Just let me know.

[stresspoint]

Wait.

[ Raidou is stubborn, and if he's not trying to help Nanami, he'll probably be off helping other people. Which is all well and good, except it bothers him to think that this kid is also overworking himself. Sleeping off his problems was okay, but clearly he's not at his best either. So something has to be done. ]

Just... wait a few minutes.

[ Why is everyone always so eager to run off and burn themselves out? ]

Will you tell me something first? Why do you think you were brought here?

[ It's a forced fifteen second breather before Raidou goes off to save someone else, and also provides Nanami some relief too. ]

[blastedass]

[Conversely, Bakugo would definitely tell someone they couldn't keep up with him, though the words would either be to drive himself forward or would be backed up by the sheer gap in their skills. He doesn't make baseless statements. Like Yuji, there are plenty of times when Bakugo decides he can handle something on his own, leaving his teammates behind and then single-handedly taking out the other two teams faster than his teammates could've if they tried. Difference in skill, the result of his own ego, certainly not the self-sacrificing sort of ideas that Yuji and Izuku have when they want to take on the burdens of others.

What he doesn't like is how Yuji and Izuku want to protect people they care about so much, they end up proverbially stuffing those people away in little safe boxes, keeping them out of danger and trouble, smothering them and denying them the chance to protect the stupid self-sacrificing idiots they care about. In his mind, that's just as asinine as telling them "you can't do it" for whatever damn reason it was said. Too weak, too soft, too slow, too vulnerable.

The intent is as gold-hearted as you can get, but the execution is fucked up. No one wants their friends to be endangered, of course not. But just like Izuku's friends are also heroes, Yuji's friends are sorcerers. They trained to fight alongside him. Knowing the risk to their bodies, safety, health, and life. Depriving them of that, forcing them to watch someone they care about bleed, suffer, and die for them... How the hell does Yuji think that makes them feel? Or does that thought not even register...

He asks these questions because he's asked them before about Izuku, simmering in anger in the dorm while that damn idiot gallivanted about the world trying to do every fucking thing on his own, while Bakugo and the rest of 1-A stayed behind in the dorm. Doing fuck all while THEIR WORLD TOO and THEIR FRIEND was put in danger. Putting himself in danger. Of course Bakugo was pissed!]

Tch. Glad you're smart enough to figure that out. [Bakugo closes his eyes as he rests.] You can't do everything at once.

[Just like they had to in their own world. One thing at a time. Plan for the villains' attack. But before they did that, they had to get Izuku back. But before that, they had to force the issue with the principal and the other Pro Heroes. And before that, train to become strong enough to bring their rouge classmate back. One thing at a time.]

You sure you know that? [No shit it's hypocritical. But there's a difference between knowing something, and knowing something. The latter one often begets action to change... Bakugo grunts slightly at the nudge. Bastard. The words irritate him because Yuji's making logical points, but this isn't as logical as the dumbass wants to make it.]

There's a difference between protecting people who can't fight and smothering capable people who want to fight beside you! [He unfolds his arms and reaches up towards Yuji, particularly his head.] Would you be happy if I knocked your ass out right now and left you safely in here while I fought?

[Not that he's going to, but...]

[stresspoint]

No. It wasn't.

[ It's the first thing that made it out though. He pushes himself upright, getting a better look at Ishmael. ]

Thank you. I expected to be fighting teeth.

[ He's definitely fortunate that she didn't let him drown or get caught in kaiju jaws, but the injuries on his body are still pretty ragged. Claws leave some bad tears, although not as deep as bites. Nanami looks out at the battle starting to quiet, and realizes he's still clinging to his knife. ]

Did it hit you?

[the_fourteenth]

[He stops from standing up, head tilted slightly, and settles back down. He certainly wasn't expecting that question. He turns a little pensive.]

Why do you ask...?

[Answering a question with a question feels a little rude.]

Um. To be this city's protector, much like back home. It's not the Capital, but I feel like my duties are similar. Instead now, I am a shield for the Outsiders and Neo Tokyo.

[His loss to Seimei before arriving here has shaken his confidence in his own skills. Being among the Outsiders and all of their incredible abilities and powers made him feel inadequately prepared, especially lacking his demons to help. So, he sticks to what else he does best. His individual will forever discarded in order to serve others.]

Whether that means covering them in battle, or healing them afterwards. I suppose LILITH would have brought me here to do whatever I can for everyone.

[wheft]

[ he'd be happy to bathe with her, huh......... 🤨

it has to be ishmael. she's never without the orange hair, no matter what form she takes. but luckily for wriothesley and everyone in LILITH, the sinners' corrosion forms don't typically last too long. she still tries to fight off the ice that's starting to build up around her, but her thrashing is noticeably weaker compared to her initial fit of rage earlier. ]

"Wriothesley...?"

[ she's paying attention, somewhat. her fishy form starts to melt into the water like an icecap until what's left of her is ordinary skin and bone, except for a couple of fluorescent lights still stuck on her back that's letting her breathe underwater. she blinks blearily at the other man, trying to reach out only for her hands to be iced up. wtf. ]

[wheft]

[ she turns off her oculars and sits back, letting nanami gather his bearings. she looks like her usual self, though her legs have been replaced by eight thick tentacles that match the color of her absurdly long orange hair. she's also wearing a long sailor dress with the help of her style upgrades just to cover herself up while she's in this form.

otherwise... she looks chill? possibly because the fight at sea is starting to come to an end. she's gotten some scars on her arms that she never bothers to hide, but they look faded than fresh. ]

I hit it before it got to me first. [ she shrugs. ] But I may or may not have gotten some nicks and scratches out there. Not as bad as yours, though.

[ it's actually almost pathetic how the baby shachimon are compared to the horrors ishmael had seen at sea before. but that's neither here or there. ]

Can you get up? It's not too far of a walk, but you don't have to put on a brave face for the both of us. [ just saying. ]

[stresspoint]

[ The answer is very positive. It's that idealistic kind of answer that Nanami wanted to believe in when he was younger. Sorcerers fight to protect the innocent. The good people will be defended and the evil ones will be punished. A simple, hopeful outlook that he wanted to believe in--that he might have even carried with him, wanting to help those around him even after losing the one closest to him.

That hope is all but crushed now, but somehow hearing Raidou talk makes Nanami relax. The biting pain in his head starts to subside, and he lowers his arm, giving the younger man a better look. ]

Are we your shield too?

[ It's not like Raidou is the only one with a duty or a past after all. But, like Yuji, he seems to want to take on more than his share of the responsibilities. ]

Can't we cover you in battle as well?

[stresspoint]

[ The bright orange combination of her hair and tentacles blend together, and against the bleak background of blues and dark points, Ishmael stands out as someone almost comically peaceful. She's certainly a contrast to the screaming shachimon that were out for blood, especially when she seems that calm. Nanami isn't a stranger to hard battles with giant monsters, but he's still not fit for sea battles. ]

Mm. Faster swimmer.

[ He's assuming she was, anyway. He does try to push himself up, but between the gashes and the cold that seeps into them, Nanami stops with a grunt and sits back down. ]

What brave face? I almost drowned.

[ Well, he probably wouldn't have gotten the chance for that one. ]

I can probably manage in a minute. [ Maybe? ]

[the_fourteenth]

[He looks away, knowing Nanami is right. He's on a team now, a large one. He needs to respect that.]

"I am to discard my individual will to be a shield for others, to be the sharpest of blades to cut through evil." [A phrase he says with a practiced tone.] This is what it means to be a summoner. Though I may no longer be a summoner... [He shakes his head.]

I am trying.

[He really is. He let Bakugo save him in battle. He lets Yuji call him by his actual name. Little moves to divorce him from the job and title he no longer feels worthy holding. Fighting against those ingrained instincts is a challenge.]

[wheft]

Something like that. It's par for the course with my last job.

[ she watches him stagger onto his feet, and stands up to offer him a hand. she knows not a lick of first aid at all aside from cpr, sorry dude. so this is the least she can do. ]

Come on. Up. [ she'll sling his arm over her shoulder like last time, if he'll let her. ] You didn't take the Ocean Gems? Though, considering the weird tradeoff for being able to breathe underwater, I can see why.

[ her tentacles twitch and coil in response. yeah, she can't blame him. ]

[kubricks]

[Way to go Aki!]

It's no problem. There's always next time.

[Maybe somewhere with better coffee since it's unlikely to end up on the floor.]

[stresspoint]

Your last job?

[ He struggles back up, accepting her hand for support as he manages to keep his balance this time. Barely, but he's at least up. Nanami doesn't fight the help, leaning on Ishmael for support, although he does try to bear his own weight as much as possible. His legs just keep wanting to lock up. ]

I don't want to let them mess with my body.

[ Yes, it's too late for that anyway, but being exposed to even more changes isn't something Nanami is ready to experiment with yet. ]

I can still fight without swimming.

[ He did jump onto the kaiju just fine. It was getting away that was the problem... ]

[kubricks]

Oh, I'm definitely not complaining about that.

[Just joking around really. She'll smile a little about it. The bonus is nice, it really is.

But jokes aside...]

And I don't think that's a bad way to look at it, especially if you've done the work without reward before.

[stresspoint]

Do you want to be a shield?

[It's probably because he's already dead and feeling disconnected from his old life, but Nanami doesn't have the same unyielding drive as Raidou does. He's well past giving up on fighting for idealism, he had failed in fighting for obligation, and now that he's given one life up fighting for the good of others, he's... not sure. Where is the purpose he wanted? Maybe Raidou's answer will hold some deeper key for all of them. The tension behind Nanami's eyes fades as he finally manages to let go of that worry.]

Is that who you want to be here?