( closed ) let's get 'em

[leveling]

WHO: jinwoo & others
WHAT: catch-all log
WHERE: everywhere
WHEN: march 2024 onwards
WARNINGS: n/a

Comments

MARCH

[leveling]

» lapis

[leveling]

[ After finishing his daily workout, Jinwoo decides to leave the main base and spend the day outside after fighting a losing battle with LILITH's system—the fact that he can't edit his file. Honestly, he hopes for the best (maybe no one checks the profiles) and prepares for the worst (what if one of these robots will throw confetti into his face in front of other people?). While Jinwoo doesn't feel strongly about his birthday, it's impossible not to think of how for the past few years he celebrated only with his little sister.

Well, he doesn't want the attention either. Even if no one notices, he'd rather be safe than sorry. Besides, checking out the area is something he should do as soon as possible. If they're supposed to be fighting real monsters and not ones that belong in a simulation, it's better to have as much intel as possible.

Can he really sneak out completely unnoticed, though... ]

[crisantemo]

[ (Un)fortunately for Jinwoo, there is someone who does check the profiles - it's always been drilled in to Lapis to get as much information as possible, so it's best to learn about who exactly she's working with. Of course her attention mainly goes to those she has already spoken to, so when she notices a particular date on Jinwoo's...

Birthdays are something Lapis never really cared for; her sister made the attempt to celebrate hers, and Lapis did her best in return, but that was it. But... being brought here all of a sudden, and being alone...

Another (un)fortunate thing for Jinwoo is that his presence is one she's becoming used to picking out, amongst all the other strange auras of the base. Probably because she's spent a bit more time with him than others... Either way, when he's trying to leave, a voice calls out behind him; ]

Wait a moment, Jinwoo! [ And she's wearing some simple civilian wear, but that's not going to last for long - ]

[leveling]

[ Perhaps he should have known that when he sensed a familiar aura, it wasn't just a figment of his imagination. Jinwoo doesn't have to turn around to know who is calling out to him. Well, if Lapis needs him for something, they can take care of that quick and he'll be on his way before long. ]

Hey, what's up?

[ He turns around and greets her with a wave. ]

[crisantemo]

[ There's a small wave in return, before Lapis comes to a stop. ]

I was just... taking a look at some things, and I noticed the date on your profile. [ Wow that sure makes her sound weirder than usual, but she's committing to this so let's keep going. ]

So I just wanted to - [ Her words trail off when some sort of... error? Flashes across her implants.

...

If she didn't know any better, she could've sworn the jumble of letters said something like 'happy birthday :)' but surely -

- Or maybe her hunch was right, considering her outfit has changed. Once again, a uniform of some kind, different from before. Lapis freezes, before tugging at the bottom of her new vest. ]

... Ah. This again.

[ ... She remembers the last time this happened. Time to squint at Jinwoo to see if he's going to stare intensely into a wall again. ]

[leveling]

[ Before he gets to say anything, LILITH comes after his life using Lapis. His eyes dart to the birthday message but Jinwoo can't focus on them for too long, not when her outfit has changed into a school uniform.

Lapis might be pleased to see that he physically can't look away from her now, his mouth agape with incredulity. His cheeks feel warm, so he's almost sure that a blush has spread across his face in response to this sight. ]

T-Thanks. For the wishes.

[ Wait, Lapis didn't wish him anything yet, that was the hologram... not that Jinwoo realizes his mistake anyway. ]

[crisantemo]

[ Well. On one hand, Jinwoo is actually looking at her now.

On the other, this is a bit... embarrassing? But she quickly clears her throat, trying very hard to ignore what she's wearing. ]

I-I didn't... [ Okay she's maybe actually a little mad the hologram beat her to it. So she's going to very stubbornly ignore what she's wearing as she keeps speaking. ] I didn't say that, so let me actually say it.

Happy birthday, Jinwoo. [ This still feels a little embarrassing, but she once again forces herself through it. ]

I wanted to... see if I could treat you to something today as well - [ Wait. Saying that combined with what she's wearing... That does not sound right, and she immediately straightens up. ]

- That's not this! This wasn't part of my idea!

» lapis

[leveling]

[ Maybe if Jinwoo contacted Lapis instead of rushing back to the base after buying a bouquet of white flowers from Tsuru, he wouldn't be leaning against the wall in the Redemption block's hallway just next to the doors leading to her room. To be fair, Jinwoo could contact her even now, but he doesn't mind waiting—it's not like he has anything else planned for today.

Hopefully, she'll be back soon. If not, he'll have Iron fetch a vase filled with water in the meantime. ]

[crisantemo]

[ Unfortunately for Jinwoo, Lapis does take a bit of a detour - mainly on a quest to feed Tsuru in return for her own bouquet, a small bundle of pink flowers. So when she comes back to the base and senses Jinwoo outside her block, she's a little stunned.

But she does hurry over when she picks up on him, perking up when she spots him just... waiting. The bouquet in his arms immediately catches her attention too, but for now it's time to figure out why he's just standing there. ]

Jinwoo? [ There's a small wave in greeting as she approaches, brows furrowed just slightly. ]

What are you doing here, are you waiting for someone?

[ No, it does not register he's been waiting for her. Surely he would have messaged her if he was, right... ]

[leveling]

Yeah.

[ Pretty sure that it's obvious that he's been waiting for her, Jinwoo's eyes dart to the bundle of pink flowers. He's holding the flowers he got in a vase because he ended up asking Iron to bring him a vessel filled with water.

Her hands are full right now, so maybe he should wait to give her the flowers...? ]

[crisantemo]

[ That answer tells her everything and nothing. And sadly for Jinwoo, it is still not clicking.

Lapis notices how his eyes dart to the flowers in her arms, but she doesn't think much beyond it. Mostly because she's trying to puzzle out this mystery. If he's waiting for someone with a vase of flowers, why stand out here... ]

Do you... want me to see if they're in their room or...?

[ There's no rules stopping other teams from going in the blocks, right? She's pretty sure there isn't. The lone gear in her head is turning rapidly, but is also going in the wrong direction. ]

[leveling]

[ Finding that question rather confusing, Jinwoo cocks his head to the side before smiling softly. ]

Yeah, I'm looking for the person living under 10.

[ Who could that be??? ]

1/???

[crisantemo]

10? That's -

[ Wait. ]

[crisantemo]

[ Wait a minute.

That's her room. ]

[crisantemo]

Oh.

Oh! [ The gear is finally turning in the right direction. ]

» march (mochi pounding)

[leveling]

[ From Jinwoo's one-day experience, the local businesses mostly needed help with deliveries or cleaning, but this doesn't seem to be the case for this confectionery shop. He's relieved to see a familiar face near the entrance—since the owner asked for two people specifically, Jinwoo assumed that he's going to get paired with another Outsider.

After greeting March, he slides the door open... and as soon as they're inside, March gets a long wooden mallet right off the bat. The explanation comes next, followed by a presentation on mochi pounding—the owner is the one turning the rice mass in the mortar while a robot is swinging the mallet, though it's a little slow. Actually, it's so slow that the owner just shows them a hologram to let them know what kind of speed he's expecting here. ]

Whoa... I had no idea this is how you make it.

[ He's already rolling up his sleeves. ]

[bowtography]

I'm not sure what mochi even is, but it looks fun?

[ Very stretchy. Super dough-y. Incredibly fascinating, and she adjusts her grip on the mallet. Should she be allowed to wield this? Maybe she should have done some kind of test to get her mallet-wielding license first?

Oh, well. ]

I just have to be careful not to hit your fingers, I guess!

[leveling]

You can go all out, I'll be fine. But I think we can ask for a sample, can't we?

[ The question is directed at the owner who offers them sakura mochi wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf after pondering it for a while. It sounds like a small price to pay for two eager workers, after all. ]

How about we dig in before we start? You need to try it.

[bowtography]

Oh, hold on--

[ She pauses to snap a quick photo of the sakura mochi before accepting it, trying to figure out the best way to eat it before just taking a bite.

And chewing.

And chewing some more.

It's probably more reminiscent of a gerbil at this point, but-- ]

It's a little sweet and salty!

[leveling]

[ When March takes a picture first, Jinwoo can't help but chuckle. ]

We might come from different worlds, but taking food pics goes beyond that.

[ Jinwoo helps himself to the other mochi and chews... and chews... and doesn't look that much different from March right now. ]

It's really good. Let's make more.

» lapis (handcuffs)

[leveling]

[ When Captain Yamakawa orders him to stand next to Lapis, Jinwoo isn't sure what kind of a task they're teaming up for. What he does know is that if she's his partner, it should go smoothly.

A few moments later, they end up being handcuffed to each other. Jinwoo opens his mouth to clear up that misunderstanding, but Yamakawa is already handcuffing another pair and doesn't even pay attention to him. The only explanation everyone gets is that they have to sort things out with their assigned partner during the next 24-48 hours. ]

She's gone already. [ Yamakawa storms off as soon as she announces that the Outsiders are dismissed, leaving them in this... Situation. ] LILITH sure has... interesting methods.

[ If he was stuck with someone he didn't like, Jinwoo isn't sure if he would change his mind in 24-48 hours. ]

[crisantemo]

[ When Jinwoo is ordered to stand next to her, Lapis peeks up at him with a brief, faint smile - whatever their task is, surely it will be something they can both handle.

Only to end up quietly stunned when they're handcuffed together, glancing between their cuffed hands and Yamakawa with a faint frown. While she does try to catch the woman's attention, it doesn't... look like they're going to get out of this. ]

They sure do... I wonder if that's actually effective. [ Since Lapis knows if she doesn't like someone, this will be more than enough to make sure she doesn't change her mind. ]

Sooo... Just to get it out of the way, how should sleeping arrangements work?

[leveling]

Your room?

[ His short stay at Brimstone might or might have not taught him about a few things. It hasn't sunken in that sleeping arrangements mean sleeping together at night yet, it seems. ]

The Brimstone block is... interesting. I guess we're eating together today too.

[crisantemo]

"Interesting..." [ She echoes, with a faint frown. Lapis will take his word for it; her brief passes by the block sure did show her a... colourful and noisy crowd. ]

Redemption doesn't have that many people and it's pretty quiet, so that works. I'll warn you now I'm a bit of an insomniac though.

[ Meanwhile, she's not overly fussed at the thought of sleeping together. Mostly because that's a problem for future Lapis and she's underestimating 'sharing a bed with someone vs that someone being Jinwoo.' ]

And I guess so. Maybe we can eat out, I have a bit of extra money now.

[leveling]

Sounds like a good idea, just...

[ Jinwoo raises his cuffed hand, only to realize that the handcuffs are invisible. He can still feel a ring hug his wrist, so there's no need to tug or test it. ]

Nevermind. If we don't have to explain why we're handcuffed, we're good to go. Do you want to check out the donburi place nearby?