▶ DAMAGE REPORT⣿ Neo Tokyo Base

[synfluxmods]

[ On the 25th of February, SYNTHIA sends a message to all of the Outsiders: ]

Greetings, Angels of LILITH. I have received a GENERAL REPORT from COMMANDER SHIRO and CAPTAIN YAMAKAWA. Please read it carefully.

Please read it carefully.
Please read it carefu█ █ ly.

█ █ █ STATUS REPORT. . . . . LOADING. . ⣿ . .

THIRD FLOOR: MOSTLY INTACT, MINIMAL DAMAGE. AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF 3.8% DAMAGE DONE. This includes the DISPATCH AREA, RENOVATED LIBRARY, SPA AREA and GREENHOUSE. Interesting$#^ reactions between RIFT ENERGY and PLANTS in the GREENHOUSE have been observed, causing DECAY of certain artificial PLANTS, but the decay is minimal. The WATER in the GREENHOUSE is reported to be CONTAMINATED and is not safe for consumption or touch.

SECOND FLOOR: DAMAGED MODERATELY. AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF 29.3% OF DAMAGE DONE. This includes the RECREATIONAL AREA, POD CHAMBEr̵̳̣̠̺͛̄͊̋̈͝, MEDICAL BAY, CAFETERIA, HOUSING WINGS, LOCKER RooMS, PHOTO WALL. The RECREATIONAL AREA is deemed NONOPERATIONAL. The POD CHAMBER is deemed ⣿⣿NONOPERATIONA⣿⣿L. The MEDICAL BAY is deemed NONOPERATIONAL. The CAFETERIA is OPERATIONAL, but UNSAFE due to toxins found in various food and ingredients. Various living quarters have received damage, please read below:

[ Here, a list of damaged rooms from all four wings is placed. Please determine if you would like your living area damaged or not and add it to the header comment below. It is completely up to you if you would like your room damaged or items missing / irretrievable. If you would like your room completely fine, there is no need to add it to the list! ]

The PHOTO WALL is miraculously intact and OPERATIONAL with minor cosmetic wear.

FIRST FLOOR: SEVERELY DAMAGED. AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF 69.0% DAMAGE DONE. This includes the SIMULATION ARENA, STORAGE, RESEARCH LAB, ADMIN CƠ̴̊̋̌̚͠NTROL CENTE̶̔̔R̴͑̏̀̿̑̈́̌͝. The SIMULATION ARENA & RESEARCH LAB are deemed NONOPERATIONAL and as they were closest to the blast, receiving most of the destruction. Most important files and operations in the ADMIN CONTROL CENTER have received min█mal damage with certain machinery requiring repairs.

The count of LILITH CREW reported injured is 57. At this time, the death report is at 0 as most of the crew evacuated to safety before the blast.%

We are happy to announce that the ORPHANAGE on the outskirts of the base has only received minimal damage on the outside of the building. Nobody was injured.

The explosion was caused by the IMUGI breaching our A.T. FIELD barrier and using the rift energy harnessed in its offspring. This behavior has never been witnessed by LILITH's team before, and neither have we ever had a kaiju penetrate through the barrier and the base itself.

[ It looks like maybe SYNTHIA has experienced some damage herself. This is a damage report and is not available for any replies, but Outsiders may use this network post to discuss among themselves if they would like.

Any threads and comments in this network post are worth 1 Point towards February AC. ]

Comments

@rubber ducky

[curingidiocy]

It is truly fortunate that we have managed to avoid major casualties, though it is no consolation to any who have lost their animal companions. You have my condolences if that applies to you.

For any searching for possessions buried under the debris, I have a hummingbird drone installed with custom Home-Object Finding software. You may borrow it for a short period of time if you are having difficulty locating certain objects. Just message me if you need it.

@poker | inappropriate flirting

[stonehearts]

Hey Doc, can I borrow the hummingbird? It seems I've lost something very valuable....

My heart! Because I've given it to you--

[curingidiocy]

0 points. If your heart was given to me, it was never lost. I thought you were cleverer than that, gambler.

[stonehearts]

Ouch, I'm wounded!

[curingidiocy]

That has never stopped you from incessantly pestering me.

[stonehearts]

And it never will, when the payoff has been worth it

Private

[curingidiocy]

[ There's a bit of a delay as Ratio reads some of the other messages popping up on the network, and sees Aventurine chatting to Yato.

He reads those words, and reads them again. And then once more, for good measure. ]

Gambler, you...

Where are you?

Re: Private

[stonehearts]

Hm? The baths at our temporary home, why?

> Action

[curingidiocy]

[ He doesn't reply, opting to head to the bathhouse directly. It doesn't take him long, as he'd been intending to go soon.

When he arrives, he spots Aventurine lounging in the bath, but he doesn't join yet. Not until after he cleans himself first, which, while he makes great effort to seem unbothered, anyone who observes closely might note his movements to be somewhat rushed.

Only once he's free of filth does he join Aventurine in the warm waters. ]

Early for once, gambler. Is there some special occasion I haven't been informed of?

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine grins, moving to press a kiss to the corner of Ratio's mouth before the other man can stop him before sinking back into the waters. Ratio really might have had a point with this "bathe obsessively" thing -- the heat seeps the aches and pains right out of him. Well, the physical ones anyway. )

Thought I'd surprise you this evening, that's all. You looked like you were in a rush, Doc.

[curingidiocy]

[ He welcomes the soft press of lips against his—it's a small pleasure he has come to anticipate every time he sees the other. A greeting exchanged by romantic partners (spouses, he thinks, in light of what he saw on the network earlier.) ]

Nonsense. This is a routine event. What reason would I have to rush?

[ Only the desire to confess his feelings to the other, to make plain how badly he wants to tie himself to Aventurine. Except now that they're together, he finds his courage faltering, and does his best to appear unaffected. ]

[stonehearts]

I dunno, Doc, that's why I'm asking.

( He props his chin up on a hand, grinning at Ratio. Sorry, Veritas, you're not getting out of this so easily. )

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio stays silent, gazing into the steamy water as he gathers his thoughts. There is much he wants to say to Aventurine. Thoughts he never thought he'd share so soon, when they've only just entwined themselves in a relationship.

Is he perhaps being too hasty? ]

You must be mistaken.

[stonehearts]

Now now, Ratio. You and I both know I'm very good at reading people.

( He leans in again, this time to flick the center of Ratio's forehead in a fond tease. )

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio leans back, covering his assaulted forehead with a frown and a furrow that is tempered by the fondness in his eyes. ]

I... [ He hesitates again. ] ...I read your conversation with Yato.

[stonehearts]

Yeah? He seems like a good kid. Surely you're not flustered over the idea of me helping him with his wedding in exchange for having someone in our court.

( Does Aventurine realize the meaning of what he said? No. No he does not. )

[curingidiocy]

[ Does Aventurine have no idea what he actually said in that convo? Ratio looks at him incredulously before settling back into the water, carefully gauging his reaction. ]

It's unlike you to be so careless with your words. 'Good practice for the future', you say.

[ His tone is carefully neutral, but light. If Aventurine hadn't meant what he thought, then he need not reveal his true thoughts about the matter. ]

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine blinks, thinks back on the conversation, and then flushes. He had said that, hadn't he? Not that he and Ratio have really talked about anything like that --- just wanting to stay together as long as they could. And Aventurine means that, he truly does; getting married is a part of that when he imagines what his future with Ratio might look like. If he allows himself to be selfish and wanting and entertain the idea that just once he gets everything he wants.

That includes a place together, a ring on his finger, being able to kiss Ratio whenever and wherever he wants. )

Ah. I suppose I did say that. I-- you know, it's something that I just kept coming back to.

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio's lips curl up as he watches Aventurine's reaction, now more confident than before. He leans forward and reaches out to cup a hand against Aventurine's cheek. ]

If that is what you truly want, I am not opposed to it.

[stonehearts]

( Is it what he truly wants? Aventurine hates being honest -- with himself, with other people -- it allows him to be vulnerable, to open himself up to being used or taken advantage of; things Ratio already knows. But by the same turn, Aventurine knows and trusts Ratio enough that that isn't an option with the other man. Ratio will demand he be better, he will grump and needle and be as brusque as he ever is, but in their years of partnership he has never left Aventurine to fend for himself.

Aventurine loves him. That much is true. And he's terrified of losing Ratio -- if not because Ratio suddenly gets wise and leaves him, then because his luck has decided to take its toll. But even with that... would he rather not have Ratio at all? He doesn't deserve the other man's love and kindness, but he wants it. He selfishly wants all of it with a desperation that leaves him breathless.

Allowing himself that... the idea of a future with Ratio by his side, of coming home and finding him there or of greeting the other man when he comes home after a long day -- he wants that. He wants people to know that this beautiful, impossible, brilliant man has picked him, of all people, to spend the rest of his life with.

So, really -- yes, he does truly want it. But-- )

Are you sure, Veritas? You, of all people, know what you're getting into with me. I won't blame you if this is a step too far, you know.

[curingidiocy]

[ Aventurine's query into Ratio's certainty is borne of not the man's doubts about the scholar, but of his doubts about himself. ]

When have I ever done anything I did not desire? If I was not certain, I would not have brought the topic up.

[ He allows his hand to drop into the water, searching for Aventurine's hand, and once he has it, he grasps it firmly and reassuringly. ]

I am well aware that there is something you must do as Aventurine of Stratagems, and that it comes before all other considerations. I would like to support you in any way possible, whether it be as your business partner, or someone to lean upon when you grow weary of carrying your burdens alone.

But once you have accomplished your goals, I wish to be beside you as you embark upon a new journey for the future. As a companion, and partner in the truest sense. I wish to experience the ups and downs of life with you, to support you in times of need, and to have your support in turn. Your presence brings joy to my life, and your sorrows are mine to bear as well.

[ There's a quick pause as Ratio subtly glances around to make sure no one is within earshot, because this next part is important, but no one can overhear. Once he's confirmed their solitude, he takes a deep breath and speaks quietly, but with conviction. ]

Kakavasha, would you do me the honour of giving me your hand in marriage?

[stonehearts]

( Ratio grabs his left, and likely can feel how hard it is clenched, the shake which Aventurine tries so hard to hide. But Ratio's always been like that, hasn't he? Finding all the parts of Aventurine that he wants to hide and accepting them anyway. He can feel the corners of his eyes prickle, and by the time that Ratio uses his name, his real name, there are tears streaming down his cheeks.

Goddess, does he love this stubborn, impossible man. And maybe the words are hard to form, stuck in his throat even still, but Ratio knows. He knows, without Aventurine ever having to say, and that is a kindness he does not deserve, too.

So he throws his arms around Ratio's neck, burying his face into the crook of it to hide his tears. He can't just try and look his normal, charming self when his face is red and blotchy from emotion! And really, that's just as embarrassing as anything else. )

That's the most roundabout way of asking if I'll marry you, Veritas. But yes. I would. For as long as you'll have me, and probably even after. You're in too deep now, Doc.

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio embraces Aventurine warmly, pressing a hand into his hair to encourage the man to cry into his shoulder if need be. There is a warmth fizzling in his chest, and a broad smile on his face. He'd never expected that they would progress this quickly in their relationship, but perhaps being whisked away to this remote planet had done them both some good.

He turns his head to press a soft kiss into his hair, and murmurs quietly as he responds. ]

I will have you for as long as you'll have me, my dearest gambler. Even if you should drown me in the depths of your ardor, I will stay by your side if that is what you desire.

[ He pulls back when Aventurine allows him to, and leans in for a deep kiss, hoping to express the emotion threatening to overflow from his heart. ]

[stonehearts]

( The feeling of unworthiness returns, stronger and more compelling than before. But still Ratio doesn't budge, doesn't falter. He loves Aventurine, as impossible as that is. He doesn't deserve it, there is nothing about his miserable, pathetic, loser self that deserves Ratio's overwhelming kindness and gentle acceptance.

It's easier than it has been to push those thoughts to the side when Ratio kisses him, however. Deep and aching and full of the tenderness and love; Aventurine returns it tenfold and with the same fervor until he can no longer breathe. He doesn't part very far from Ratio, resting his forehead against the other man's. )

Yeah. ( A small, wet laugh. ) My luck strikes again, you know. Getting the greatest man in the known universe to fall in love with me. And, well. It won't be official or anything, given that Kakavasha isn't officially my name anymore, but I think I like the sound of Kakavasha Ratio. If you're willing.

[curingidiocy]

I am hardly the greatest man in the known universe. I only wish to be an ordinary one, no greater or lesser than you.

[ Because they're equals. Because regardless of what Ratio has accomplished, all he has ever truly wanted was somewhere to belong—to be accepted as a peer, a friend, a partner. He wants someone who will look at him and think he is someone who tries, fails, makes mistakes, and everything else a regular person does. He is no god, nor Genius... he's just

a single man, with a simple wish. ]

And I would be honoured to give you my surname. It is yours now, for as long as you want to keep it, my dearest.