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Shira	This is the place on the invitation: Château des Saveurs. Located on a corner between two main streets in the heart of a seemingly ordinary contemporary modern Paris, the straightforward elegance of the exterior feels almost more like a hotel than a restaurant; perhaps it was repurposed from such, based on the baroque-style foyer, sweeping staircases, and focus on private dining spaces.     Upon notifying staff that you are here to meet Doctor Shimazawa, a waiter guides you through the building. The hotel-to-restaurant retrofit is even more clear during this brief tour, passing lavish suites converted into equally lavish dining rooms, waiters and waitresses wheeling delicious and delicate meals to various parties in private, almost intimate spaces.     He leads guests to one of the few dining suites that still has its door, a solid wooden thing finely carved and lacquered, and gives it a firm knock. The archaic eye slot flips open, only showing a pair of bright yellow slit-pupiled eyes.     "Yes. Good." A woman's voice, gruff, on the deeper end, and a little tense. Her focus darts between each guest, then settles on the waiter himself, "Go." She doesn't wait for compliance, the eye slot closes before he's even finished bowing. The chunk of a heavy bolt slides and the door opens. By virtue of timing, the young man has already made several paces back towards the elevator. The staff respect privacy in such an establishment as this.
Shira	This must be the other kaijusapien the Doctor's spokeswoman mentioned, Voltarion, who pulls the door inward and gestures in with clawed cloth-wrapped hands covered in black scales. Iridescent, like crow feathers, casting hints of rainbow sheen in just the right light. In the doorway's dim light, the golden glow of her eyes is extremely obvious, outlined by a seven-foot frame, one forward-pointed horn on her forehead, two back-swept horns starting around her temples.     She waits patiently for the group to file in before closing the door and working the lock, then brings up the rear, trailing a mostly-smooth tail that sports simple upright metallic silver spikes and a pinecone-like cluster on the end. In better lighting, Voltarion's facial and forearm scales are easier to pick out, though the rest of her body is hidden under a pale brown coat. Trios of more, smaller metallic spikes on her shoulders and upper arms have burst through. Voltarion makes a point of pulling out chairs politely to help others seat and only seats herself last, turning her own chair around completely to sit in it backwards.     In the more brightly lit part of the dining suite, decorated as it is in the ornate baroque style, there's two more people waiting. At the head of a table covered in fine dinnerware is a small Japanese woman, perfectly ordinary in every way. Black hair in a fine braided bun, held in place by hairpins resembling peacock feathers, quick brown eyes behind square rimless glasses. The preferred style for Doctor Atsuko Shimazawa seems to be elegance through simplicity. Her makeup is tasteful, her earrings are straightforward gold starburst shapes set with glittering stones, matching the necklace at her collarbone. Her dress is white, ornamented with simple ruffles and deep red accents, sleeveless. White silk gloves have already been removed, folded neatly to her left.     To her left must be Incinera. A red-eyed blonde with a bright red streak in her hair, framing her face on the left side. Breaking up the shock of yellow hair is a pair of upward-curved black horns rooted just above where her ears must be; with the same iridescent sheen. She's seated in a chair sideways on account of the tail, resembling a crocodile's with similar topside scutes rather than Shira's huge overlapping spines. She also lacks the dramatic back-spikes or any significant tail-tip ornamentation of the Prototype or even the other monster in the room. Incinera wears a black crop-top and similarly cropped leather jacket, her midriff visible and thus also the broad black scales that hug her flanks and lower back. Capris pants hide everything above mid-calf but her legs are similarly shaped to her sisters, digitigrade, three-toed, though the innermost rests in a raised position and sports a *significantly* larger curved sickle claw than the two walking toes.
Shira	Once everyone including Voltarion is seated, Incinera stands up, both hands resting just fingertips on the tabletop, Her voice is quick, excitable, and rises in pitch with emphasis, "Welcome one and all; let us begin with introductions." Lifting her right, she places it just above her breastbone, eyes closed, "This vision of beauty and perfection is Incinera. While it isn't an official title, please think of my position to be that of Speaker." Her posture shifts just a touch as she holds that same hand out across the table, palm-up.     "Voltarion." The taller woman answers without rising. Rather, she's already picked up the menu tablet to start her order, "I do what I'm asked to." Incinera puffs out a cheek in a little pout when her companion doesn't match her reverent energy. She quickly gets over it and shifts her gesture.     "And this would be our wonderful Architect."     "Doctor Atsuko Shimazawa," The woman folds her hands primly against the table's edge, "I trust you all have come with a variety of questions and I will be happy to answer them to the best of my ability. However, I would ask some of my own in turn." A straightforward, earnest smile, "That seems like a fair exchange to me."     Incinera sits back down, collecting the ordering tablet from Voltarion. She's quick with it, then passes it along to the next person to speak.     "And so I shall ask of each of you; what brings you to our little world of machines and monsters?" The doctor touches a fingertip to the rim of her empty wine glass, "Beyond our little meeting today, there must be something, even if it is simply curiosity. I'd like to know."     Voltarion takes the wordless command, gently filling the Doctor's glass with a rich red wine until she motions to stop.     "And please, order whatever you like. This is my invitation and my treat. I'm told the beef dishes are especially good here."
Team Timekeeper	The accompaniment for Vertin today is either the most appropriate or most worrying choice she could make. In addition to Regulus, the Team Timekeeper triad is completed by Laplace's X, the grey-haired scientist with one magically damaged eye. For the meeting, X is wearing shorts in a kind of white boy formal way, with loafers and long socks, and a trench coat that serves the purpose of a lab coat, complete with shamelessly unhidden gizmos crammed into its pockets.     Vertin, being normal, is in her Timekeeper uniform instead. It's passable at a restaurant, and also, this is work, not a social call. She's only meeting Shimazawa today as the Timekeeper. "I have to say, I'm *very* excited to meet our mysterious Architect!" "According to Incinera, the organization's plans don't involve kaiju-based destruction or harm to humanity." "I'd hope not! Gosh, what kind of person do you take me for?" "A particularly carefree one." "Ah, well..."     Vertin's perfectly polite when led up to the room by the waiter. The treatment, and the particular insistence on barred-door privacy with the suspicion and hostility that entails, makes her a little bit wary, but her attitude remains neutral. "This vision of beauty and perfection is Incinera."     "Hello, Incinera. It's good to put a face to your voice." The introduction makes a faint, dry expression flicker across Vertin's face. "Would that be 'for the project' or 'of the dead'?"     X's elbows are planted on the table, chin in his palms, while his eyes roam eagerly towards each stranger. When it's his turn, he waggles his fingers in a wave without lifting up his chin.     "X! Hii, I'm here tagging along with the Timekeeper, this is our first time talking! I'm a fellow scientist, so I'm really hopeful that we can get along."     "Vertin. A pleasure, Voltarion, Doctor." Vertin hasn't touched her menu yet, and she doesn't feel like she can until the introductions are through. It's not as though she's certain she can or should stay for the course of an entire meal yet. "And so I shall ask of each of you; what brings you to our little world of machines and monsters?"     "I'm a friend of Shira's, and RPM--" Oh god she's still keeping that up?? With a straight face? "Brought the matter to my attention from working with her. My hope is that meeting with you today will ease the worries I have about Shira's well-being, as well as clarify your ideology."     X was not as patient as Vertin, and already decided on a glass of soda and an entree of some octopus dish. "I, on the other hand, want to know where you're headed with all of this! See, I heard about Galaxydra, and there was a bit of a back and forth surrounding faith, and evolution, and so on, but how's Galaxydra lead to where we're at now?"
Riku Asakura	Riku arrives, actually dressed appropriately.  He got a suit a while ago for a mission in the City, and while he doesn't use it much, he keeps it clean and ready for when he does.  It also has cufflinks on each cuff, in the design of what some might call a Kamen Rider, but it's actually Don Shine... who is kind of like a Kamen Rider.  He has also made sure to keep his various devices on him.   Arriving at the place, he's not so sure about it now because who would turn a hotel into a restaurant like this?  Sure, it provides privacy, but it must be a NIGHTMARE to service.  Well, anyway... he follows the waiter to the door and waits to be let in.  Inside, he politely bows because, of course, you do when you greet people.   He looks at each person, the two kaijusapiens and the doctor, and then back again when they start introducing themselves.  It's almost obvious why Incinera is the voice for the group because Voltarion is... well, not as outgoing.  He notices this annoys Incinera, but laughs it off to try to keep the peace. "I'm Riku Asakura, nice to meet you all," Riku says politely. When the doctor introduces himself, he pays attention.  He wonders what kind of woman she is, and why she's going this far to... well, basically start a cult.  However, she wants to ask a question first... "Well... to answer your question, though I think Incinera has already told you, I am an Ultraman... or rather, the giant of light that engaged Horizon.  I did so to protect the city," and to give Shira and Regulus time to search the bunker, but he doesn't say that, "And help the lady who was also fighting her." "Kaiju and Ultramen have a mixed bag of history.  In my world, they are usually either being exploited by Ultraman Belial to attack the world I live in, or are searching for 'Little Stars' to increase their own power.  I figured much of the same was happening here," and he's not wrong, just not entirely right either. "Also, I share Vertin's concerns.  I am a friend of Shira, and want to know your goals and beliefs... I know you said the incident with Horizon wasn't intentional."
Lilian Rook	Lilian is now meeting at a restaurant in Paris for . . . the second time in the same week? That thought puts her into a little bit of a daze once she gets the location update (probably from Vertin) while at the Dragon's Garden, and eventually invites the idea 'Is this a sign that it's someone else's turn to be in Paris? Should I really be going just because Vertin explained the situation in a way that made me feel as if I was hallucinating?'.     But of course not. It is always Lilian's turn for everything. The thought alone compels her into contrarianism.     Also, last time had technically been a café, where she hadn't even eaten anything (but drank cognac at brunch to cope), and this is basically a B&B? Where she is actually pretty hungry, so, good enough. It's not so upscale that Lilian really needs to fuss about dressing up, but being a bit above the curve (from what she can tell when she picks the right version of Earth internet) means she can't just walk out of the manorhouse in her October sweater and wool skirt, so . . .     Well she could actually, but Lilian always has to overdress a little. With the vague idea of this meeting being with some kind of scientist supervillain with self-styled visions of globe-trotting grandeur, Lilian aimed to meet in the middle by putting on the cross-halter black dress with the slutty collarbone and back windows and lace overwaist, plus the lapis earrings and pearl-gold lattice necklace. She takes off her coat as soon as she's inside, idly checking out the high-effort celtic-knot-braided updo that serves as one of her three Formal(tm) hairstyles in a pocket mirror, and tapps her three-inch heels on the crowning to test for fit while waiting for the others. A simple change to thicker, dark-blue lipstick would put her in the realm of 'worrying', but glossy-translucent green is still borderline.     In a short while, she feels pretty stupid, but only in a way that miffs her for being given an 'inaccurate' idea. Serves her right.     'Go.'     Lilian disliked that. -5 reputation.     Once she's over the disappointment of even two of the women in the room wearing a longcoat and a crop top, taking her seat as is her god-given right now that the monstergirls are mentally demoted to The Help, Lilian has her bag strap diagonally across the back of her chair, the menu open in front of her first, and musings on her mind of whether steak tartare is really all that and a bag of chips like Matilda seems to think, she finally speaks up once introductions are called for.     But not before a steady trickle of glittery 'iron sand' curls from the gaps in the lace and coalesces into newly formed planets in orbit; the sharp, triangular, irregularly broken-up kind, with utterly minute inclusions of washed-out gold starlapse. It's been nearly a month (so nearly three months), and something about the air in the room makes her want to put herself in a personal place with all these spikes and horns going around.     'And this would be our wonderful Architect.'     "Dame Commander Lilian Rook. Chevalier, PhD, Association Director." she says, crisp just north of curt. "I'll admit that I'm a bit curious, but I'll be answering only the questions I like."
Regulus	Regulus, or rather Mysterious Hacker RPM (RPM is a code name) ((the more Flamel protests the more codename it becomes)) (((in Regulus's head))) reached back out to Infern... Inciner... God, she was doing a bit before but it's been long enough that she has just genuinely forgotten how to say the name properly again. But she got this meeting set up so she really ought to actually drop by even if it means she's eating at a fancy restaurant in Paris that she can't afford. And again, she brought cash just in case, but she's way more happy to leave Doctor Shimazawa with the bill than she is with Matilda so she's not even going to ask this time if she's paying. She's so ready to just bounce while making the Doctor pay a shitload of francs for the meal. She's wearing a pageboy cap with a star clip fitting into the hatband, a red and white polkadotted scarf instead of her usual blue, a green jacket with numerous patches sewn in including one of a ship outsailing cartoony thunderbolts, a multicolored heart, and a another vibrant star. She's wearing a denim miniskirt, and a belt buckle tantop. She's feeling STYLISH today. And she has to look stylish, because she's a MYSTERIOUS HACKER so she's gotta exude that kind of energy. ... well, she isn't wearing a facemask or using a voice changer or anything so she really a Regulus specific mysterious hacker energy. "Feels like I'm in Paris a lot lately." She murmurs. ''Volatarion'' Regulus does not rush in and instead gets a good loook at Voltarion. Okay, she does sort of seem like someone who might be hard to read, yup. "Thank you kindly, love." Regulus says before sliding on in. ''Doctor Atsuko Shimazawa'' For some reason, Regulus imagined she would like be part kaijusapien herself or something already, but she looks basically normal. But in a way that is more disquieting isn't it? That she's willing to do this to a whole bunch of people, none of whom can even remember if they really asked for it or not? And even if they had, does that really mean she should get kaijusapien servants? She thinks of Phony. She seemed to show a certain care to her own maybe morally dubious doctor lady, but it seemed to be a matter of gentleness rather than devotion. Incinera looks about as like how Regulus would expect, honestly, with maybe less overt fire effects but she CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE that she seems PERFECTLY ABLE to wear fuckin' pants thoguh. "Mysterious Hacker RPM." Regulus says. She has brought her bag full of vinyls as usual and her portable record player, but she wasn't exactly going to bring the database with her here. ''This is my invitation and my treat. I'm told the beef dishes are especially good here.'' "Oh whatever we want? You're so generous!" Regulus says before ordering the most expensive beef on the menu, the la foret au chocolat, and a coffee. ''What brings you to our little world of machines and monsters?'' She then thinks it over and orders a second la foret au chocolat to foist it upon X. If they don't stay for the meal, Regulus can steal the plates. "Shira's a buddy of mine, I'm helping her out because I'm such a benevolent mysterious hacker." Regulus tells the Doctor, which seems to be her reason for engaging with the world too. She leans in to X as he orders to see what he's looking at. "Oooh, octopus, good choice."
Foundation Scions	"'Palace of flavors'. Well. I'd expect as much, from a restaurant." That's such a strange thing for Mesmer to say, standing outside, because she's saying it to absolutely no-one, and she's saying it in a condescending tone, but it is a reading of a name, and a neutral statement! Huh!     Mesmer Jr. is not, by any means, scientifically interested in the premises of this meeting. Nor is she interested in high cuisine. She declines every aspect of the tour, aside from being shown directly to where she's to go, and declines, as well, any explanation of the menu. She's here for two reasons- the first, is that she's behind on an interdepartmental initiative to report on multiversal science, and expected this would be an easy way for her to phone in a report; the second is that she's critically low on a nutrient she gathers by being in a room full of people she can be contemptful towards, and not have to see the next workshift.     Once, she used to even like attending scientific expositions. That crosses her mind as she enters the dining room, and she pushes it out of her mind equally suddenly.     For the purposes of flagging that, obviously, Mesmer Jr. is an expert scientist herself- she's chosen to dress mad. A strange bodysuit that she's worn around Elites all of, potentially, twice, with ominous zippers up the sleeves towards shoulder-windows, that at least she's tactfully hidden with a long white labcoat, with its edges lined in black vinyl as per Laplace's stylings, contrastinc chrome vinyl at the shoulders, lapels, and the back vent. She's even wearing her full dangly Laplace employee badge-clip, which she never wears on the job. With a small briefcase, it's purely because of the occasion- one might even imagine this is how she dresses to meet with Mesmer Group affiliates, but one would be wrong.     Ominously, she's wearing gloves. . . . 'I'm told the beef dishes are especially good here.'     "Of course that'd be your expectation. You've ordered a red." Mesmer sits on hardly the first two inches of the dining room chair, which is a feat of willpower, because she'd rather be standing. The plate and silverware in front of her are untouched, and will remain so. From the briefcase at her side, she brings out completely normal bottled water, instead of bother with what the wait-staff have provided. She doesn't do restaurants.     Each of the monster-people present, of course, get stares, and tense avoidance from Mesmer, but it's Dr. Shimazawa who gets Mesmer's glares.     Mesmer seats herself as close as she can to Vertin, however, before saying to them, "I'm surprised you're present." 'And so I shall ask of each of you; what brings you to our little world of machines and monsters?'     "That's a good question." Mesmer drums gloved fingers on the tablecloth, stiff, anxious, or something else. From a pocket, she pulls a note-slip she's prepared beforehand, in her own strangely neat-cute all-capitals handwriting, "Doctor- 'Shimazawa'? Excuse me- before I continue referring to you that way, what institution did you study under? Shimazawa, you're quite obviously seeking answers to that question because of either the impulse of ego, or an attempt to tailor your arguments to sell us on your work. I'll decline an answer until you inform me as to which it is."     Oh, she's in a mood. Scientist vs. scientist warfare.     She clears her throat, while staring at X, rather than Doctor Shimazawa, who she's talking to, "I've read briefly about you, and I'd like to ask why you're assembling monstrosities that should never have been born. Do you consider yourself their mother?"
Lilian Rook	'And so I shall ask of each of you; what brings you to our little world of machines and monsters?'     "Passive awareness of your . . . runaway?" Lilian says, suddenly uncertain of Shira's actual status, leading to a thoughtful pause with the menu. "But my interest is more or less the Timekeeper of the Saint Pavlov Foundation's interest. As a coworker and security consultant." The last term is heavily euphemistic in tone.     'And please, order whatever you like. This is my invitation and my treat. I'm told the beef dishes are especially good here.'     "Oh fantastic." Lilian says, suddenly in a better mood. It's not like money matters at all, but the invitation makes it all very normal for her to immediately switch to passable French to belt out her two appetizers, entrée, and experimental foray into tartare, because this is a small plate kind of place and she's been running around and swinging swords in secret magical rural Japan all day so far.     'Would that be 'for the project' or 'of the dead'?'     "Hm? Like the book?" Lilian says, just after deciding she will relitigate the cognac memory in addition to offering "Pick a bottle and I'll split it with you." to Vertin (as she expects Vertin probably drinks very little.).     'and there was a bit of a back and forth surrounding faith, and evolution, and so on, but how's Galaxydra lead to where we're at now?'     "Oh please don't let this be a Foid situation." Lilian murmurs, before the Neo Dark Enlightenment of Ash('s familiarity with the internet) catches up with her, and she hastily clarifies "Doctor Foid."
Regulus	''I'm surprised you're present.'' "Vertin and I set up the meeting Mesmer," Regulus says. ''either the impulse of ego, or an attempt to tailor your arguments to sell us on your work.'' "Yooo, getting torn down by Mesmer..." Regulus says, cheering Mesmer on in this rap battle because from everything she's seen, this Doc has a lot of work to convince her that she's not ... well she doesn't know Dr. Foid, but from that bit of context yeah--it sure sounds like a Dr. Foid situation, whomever that is! "She's cutting through the smoke and mirrors, folks, and getting right into it..." She raises an arm and and wiggles her hand up and down like she's djing for Mesmer's disstrack. But she does drop down to add to that question in a way that's less pointed but more or less agreeing with the general thrust. "Yeah, why are you turning people into kaijusapiens? They don't even remember their past lives, even if they are comin' in from a rough place, ain't you just taking advantage of them? They're treating you like a boss." Though she does lean in to Lilian to ask, "So who's Doc Foid?"
Foundation Scions	'I'm a fellow scientist, so I'm really hopeful that we can get along.'     "I'm an associate of the same collective as him. He..." A sigh, "Plays with toys."     "Mesmer," should cover the entirety of her own introductions. So she leaves it at that. 'I'll admit that I'm a bit curious, but I'll be answering only the questions I like.'     Entirely unrelated to Lilian's statement (to which Mesmer agrees in principle,) Mesmer whispers, and points to her own ears- "I hadn't taken blue for one of your colors."     This also draws attention to the fact that Mesmer's own earrings look like she just stuck organic chemistry molecule-modelling toys through her piercings. It's slightly funny contrast that she's still wearing them, here. They're a little childish. 'Oh please don't let this be a Foid situation.'     "You should spend less time on the forums." She then proceeds to assume that 'Doctor Foid' is an insulting term for Doctor Shimazawa.
Riku Asakura	'Vertin and I set up the meeting Mesmer,' "I did too," Riku points out to Regulus.   'I've read briefly about you, and I'd like to ask why you're assembling monstrosities that should never have been born.' Riku just stares at Mesmer, really wanting to ask, 'Why the fuck are you here?' but is too nice to actually ask that. Though to even think that someone might be rubbing off on him, at least a little. Also, during all of this, he orders a Pot-au-feu with a lobster bisque as a starter.
Lilian Rook	'I know you said the incident with Horizon wasn't intentional.'     "Ah, yes. That." Lilian, who wasn't there and has almost no information about it and even less reason to care, frowns. The little fragments happily floating in her personal bubble gather together in steady, vaguely displeased rotation, point-down shallow-angled overhead. "I'll be filing rights for Cure Horizon, I think. No matter if anyone even knows what that means."     'I'm surprised you're present.'     Lilian expected that to be aimed at her, but frankly, Vertin is more unusual in a very general sense. Paying attention to Mesmer at all results in her staring at her outfit, which results in her realizing that she is and looking away hastily, which results in the irresistible urge to double back her glance, like something is on her mind. Besides the shoulder windows, which she is staring directly at, as if she could see through the labcoat.     Lilian covers her mouth for politeness' sake when Mesmer asks about Shimazawa's accreditation though.     'I'd like to ask why you're assembling monstrosities that should never have been born. Do you consider yourself their mother?'     "Christ almighty." she murmurs, shoulders rising and falling with a single subvocalized 'hah'. "At least open your water before you start with the nuclear strikes."     'So who's Doc Foid?'     "An individual obsessed with artificial evolution of humans to meet global climate needs." Lilian says, excessively diplomatic. "Outside of being utterly fixated on Rita Ma, he has notably poor taste."     'I hadn't taken blue for one of your colors.'     First the ribbon, then the hair colour, now the earrings. Even discounting the arm, three data points is starting to make a pattern, and Lilian isn't sure how she feels about that. "From time to time. Blue, green, and yellow are a contiguous scheme." That would require blue-green, not lapis lazuli, but for some reason Lilian just thinks black blue and gold look so nifty.     Unfortunately, being roused to higher attention (read: alert) by Mesmer's outfit scrutiny and its possible implications elicits a wire-thin streak of a moving drop from the 'reverse crown', out of her field of view. She's got to work on that. It's ominous and a little embarrassing.     'You should spend less time on the forums.'     Lilian sighs.
Shira	Several guests mention Shira and each time, Incinera's expression gets just a touch more sour. By the time Regulus is speaking, the blonde has folded her arms, "Did our little lost prototype cause you trouble?" She already made clear the other day what her beef is, something about wasting the gift she was given. Or was Regulus right about it being jealousy? > "Would that be 'for the project' or 'of the dead'?"     The gathering clouds of a foul mood disperse, "Mm? For the Architect, of course. If she is not present to speak for herself, I relay her wishes in her stead." > "Of course that'd be your expectation. You've ordered a red."     "Guilty as charged," The Doctor admits with a little chuckle. > "In my world, they are usually either being exploited by Ultraman Belial to attack the world I live in, or are searching for 'Little Stars' to increase their own power."     "Mmm..." Atsuko runs her finger around the rim of her glass, "Belial is an unfamiliar name to me. As far as I am aware, no kaiju in this world is under anyone's control. The majority are animals. Ascended by the spine of Galaxydra, they pursue instincts while possessing far more power than they are accustomed to. This unfortunately does lead to some troubles." Her eyes close for a moment, "Those ones, the ferals, certainly do keep the AKF busy." > "Excuse me- before I continue referring to you that way, what institution did you study under?"     "The Tokyo Institute of Emergent Technologies," Atsuko admits without pause, "My specialties are in Biotech engineering and G-TECH development." Eyes closed, she gestures, "After achieving my PhD, I spent two years in the Anti-Kaiju Force developing weapons to defend humankind from feral kaiju. G-FLUID is my invention and I oversaw the Ascension project that concluded with Metariza's creation." > "I'll admit that I'm a bit curious, but I'll be answering only the questions I like."     "That's all I can ask for."
Shira	> "I've read briefly about you, and I'd like to ask why you're assembling monstrosities that should never have been born. Do you consider yourself their mother?"     The scientist hums thoughtfully. When Mesmer Jr asks that barbed question, Incinera straightens her posture with an eyes-closed huff, "If only we'd have been so lucky." Her head tilts slightly, eyes opening in half-lidded disdain for Mesmer, "Also, 'monstrosities'? I don't want to hear that from someone wearing toys for earrings."     "Whatever my relationship is to Voltarion or Incinera," Shimazawa calms the blonde down with a little gesture, then glances towards the taller of the two, "Their fusion with the spines makes them children of Galaxydra, not of me." She lifts her shoulders a touch, "I only facilitated the wish, it was their fervent desires that made it and the Behemoth's gift that granted it." > "See, I heard about Galaxydra, and there was a bit of a back and forth surrounding faith, and evolution, and so on, but how's Galaxydra lead to where we're at now?"     Incinera speaks up, "The remains of the Cosmic Behemoth are what creates the feral kaiju. They're collected and studied. Refined and replicated into G-TECH of all kinds." She raises a hand to examine her nails; black, curved claws painted in bright pink enamel. The one on her ring finger has a glitter-covered heart embedded in the polish, "And that led to us."     "The fusion of human and behemoth is an exploratory process," Shimazawa adds on, "Entirely voluntary. The AKF disapproves of my work, they would rather more Metariza, less Incinera. Human-shaped organic machines incapable of independence."     "Horizon was..." She pauses, searching her words, "...Unfortunate. That isn't an excuse, I can only be responsible for the result. I'd like to help her, once I find her." > "They don't even remember their past lives..."     "Did I give you that impression?" Incinera seems genuinely confused at Regulus, "Of course I remember who I was before I ascended. I just don't like it."     "Was a soldier," Voltarion speaks up, "Mercenary. Got sick of it."
Riku Asakura	'As far as I am aware, no kaiju in this world is under anyone's control.' "I'm not surprised to hear that; he seems to be a problem mostly in my world."  Also, the kaiju here are under different circumstances than in his world.  Though hearing that most are just wild animals that had been hit by a spine of Galaxydra does fill in some details about their origin.   'I only facilitated the wish, it was their fervent desires that made it and the Behemoth's gift that granted it.' "This seems more religious or spiritual than what I expected out of a doctor," Riku says, pointing out the interesting views that the doctor seems to have.  It also does beg the question of when she started to feel about this a certain way.  Was it when she was creating the G-TECH?  When she helped create Metariza?  Sometime after that? 'I'd like to help her, once I find her.' "How do you want to help her?" He asks, actually curious.   When the two kaijusapiens revealed they 'hated' their past lives and viewed this as a new start, it made him... well, a little sad.  To have lived a life so awful that you'd want to become a brand new person seems awful.  He sucks in a breath at that, trying to put his thoughts in order... "So... what is your goal with all of this?"
Regulus	''Did our little lost prototype cause you trouble?'' "Not yet." Regulus says. "But what's a little trouble between friends?" ''If only we'd have been so lucky.'' "Oh are you jealous of Shira being a daughter and you're not?" Regulus asks bluntly before looking to the doctor. "C'mon, show Incinera a little more affection, she's so loyal and wants it so bad." ''Did I give you that impression?'' "Uh, yeah? You were all like 'it doesn't matter' when I asked about it. Though I mean, Shira gave it first. She said she doesn't remember anything before being a kaijusapien." She frowns. "I mean, you know that too, right?" She crosses one leg over another. If these two do remember their past that does shift her attitude about it a little. "You said you liked to dance right, you got any fab moves or do you just let the flow of the music guide you? Any formal training? Play any instruments?" She then looks to the Doctor, "Why do you want that database anyway?"
Lilian Rook	'Did our little lost prototype cause you trouble?'     "Mild annoyance." Lilian says, thinking the same thing that Regulus was.     'Ascended by the spine of Galaxydra'     Lilian gestures lightly with her glass, which alose causes a finger of iron to wiggle like a dinner-knife-gesticulation. "There's a question. Explain, if you would please."     'G-TECH development.'     "That too, s'il vous plaît."     'G-FLUID'     Lilian glances vaguely up and to her left. Thigkin 'bout weird fluid.     'Also, 'monstrosities'? I don't want to hear that from someone wearing toys for earrings.'     Lilian catches the urge to acerbically defend Mesmer Junior right after she's already opened her mnouth and taken an incredibly obvious sharp-deep breath. She has to let it go in a red-handed slow huff. "Might we avoid flinging insults back and forth? It'll spoil my appetite."     'it was their fervent desires that made it'     With a question she meant to ask already answered, Lilian says "Why? Was it their fervent desire, I mean?"     'The remains of the Cosmic Behemoth are what creates the feral kaiju.'     "And they haven't buried them, blown them up, or launched them into space?" Lilian says, half-rhetorical.     'Of course I remember who I was before I ascended. I just don't like it.'     Oh! "Oh!" Lilians' eyes widen. "Then why-- this?" She indicates eyes-up-and-down, which causes a little bob up and down from her iron thorns. "It's a hell of a retirement, isn't it?"
Team Timekeeper	Four members of Team Timekeeper, actually! Plus Mesmer, who's also here. Vertin's not planning on insisting that anyone on their side of the table moderate their tone towards Shimazawa, despite their own politeness, but they do surreptitiously motion to dissuade Regulus from hyping up Mesmer's insults. "Hm? Like the book?"     Lilian does end up chipping through Vertin's hesitance in ordering anything, which they weren't obsessively firm on before. Unless Lilian particularly wants the brandy-- which Vertin wouldn't recoil from-- they'll instead settle on red wine, smiling a little bit at Lilian's mood.     "It is, after all, a creature from space whose death and progeny appear to be uninteresting to the wider public," Vertin explains aside to Lilian. "Speaking on Galaxydra's behalf would be quite a different situation to speaking for the scientist." "Mm? For the Architect, of course."     Well! Question answered! That's very simple to deal with, at least. "I'm surprised you're present."     Despite her tone, Vertin seems kind of happy to see Mesmer out and about. They sit up a little bit straighter and adjust the cuffs of their sleeves, a little bit restless. "I was interested in taking up Doctor Shimazawa's invitation when Incinera passed it along. Are you hoping to learn anything in particular?" "I'll be filing rights for Cure Horizon, I think."     Lilian just said that no one would know what it means, but Vertin impassively tramples past that dismissal and asks, "Cure Horizon? Is that an incantation?" "Those ones, the ferals, certainly do keep the AKF busy."     "When you say feral, are you suggesting that your technology could pacify them, or even turn them into kaijusapiens like Shira?" Using Shira as the example is a tiny bit passive aggressive, but Vertin has to make her stance clear. "I spent two years in the Anti-Kaiju Force developing weapons to defend humankind from feral kaiju."     "I see. And is there a reason you're no longer with them? Is your current work not sanctioned?" Surely not, given that this is a cult, but Vertin wants to coax more information about that transition out of her. "I haven't heard of Metariza. Is that the name of another kaijusapien?" "Also, 'monstrosities'? I don't want to hear that from someone wearing toys for earrings."     Vertin blinks slowly, and when the bottle of wine arrives, the glass hardly leaves her hand afterwards. "I don't think any of us have a need to insult each other." "I only facilitated the wish, it was their fervent desires that made it and the Behemoth's gift that granted it."     "What would you say your relationship with Galaxydra is, Doctor?" "My specialties are in Biotech engineering and G-TECH development."     X, meanwhile, pops in to say, "G-TECH, huh? Those interface with your darling kaiju nieces' powers, I've heard, but not any details on how! And, well, biotech's got all sorts of applications, but g-tech, I'm not sure what it's for besides for-kaiju and anti-kaiju weaponry." "The remains of the Cosmic Behemoth are what creates the feral kaiju."     "So! From a mysterious creature from space, to an all-out war for humanity's survival, to its very remains crawling up from the dead to continue to wreak havoc by supercharging animals... but we've missed something, haven't we? Why did Galaxydra arrive at Earth in the first place?" "Horizon was... ...Unfortunate."     "Would you mind elaborating on what happened with Horizon?"
Foundation Scions	'At least open your water before you start with the nuclear strikes.'     "Yes. My apologies." Picking it up in gloved hands, and demonstrating the bottle to Lilian, and then to Doctor Shimizawa, Mesmer snaps open the normal plastic bottlecap of the normal plastic water bottle, takes one sip, and then fully re-caps it to place it on the table. It's such a mechanical, meticulous motion, but literally what part of that can be an attack, like the way how she's carrying herself implies. 'Also, 'monstrosities'? I don't want to hear that from someone wearing toys for earrings.' 'Their fusion with the spines makes them children of Galaxydra, not of me.'     "I see. In that case, Doctor Shimizawa, please mind your pets. They're unruly." 'When you say feral, are you suggesting that your technology could pacify them, or even turn them into kaijusapiens like Shira?'     "Ferals," Mesmer mutters, like she's vindicated in 'pets' by that. "Well. Taming and civilizing would certainly be preferable for the allowing of them to run wild." Come on. 'I don't think any of us have a need to insult each other.'     Mesmer stiffens up at that, but not really Lilian saying the same thing. With a tone something between guilty-apologetic, frustrated, or just cautious, "I'll reorient."     She does a bad job at that, though! 'Human-shaped organic machines incapable of independence.'     "Yes. I'm sure that's preferable to the alternative, mush as I'm sure 'Human shaped inorganic machines' would be more preferable, just as I'm sure 'machines' would be preferable. I must say- I disagree on principle, that you've taken, strange, novel, and horrifying, new technologies, in such a regressive pathway. It's mankind's nature to derive, and apply, science towards the overcoming of natural limitations to well-being and industriousness."     "It would be absurd, for instance, for Nobel to have attempted to make a living, thinking homonculus along the chemical discoveries of nitroglycerin. I think it more apt for you to answer as to why you've sought to do that? Could you defend your choices for a moment?"     "Ah. I should have used Teller, and the Hydrogen Bomb. That would have been slightly more humorous."     Nevermind that this may be somewhat of a consensual procedure, starting from people that are people! 'Why did Galaxydra arrive at Earth in the first place?'     "As a practical joke on me, I'd posit," Mesmer says, because X ruffles her feathers so bad it makes her look petty- no, she's just petty.
Shira	> "This seems more religious or spiritual than what I expected out of a doctor"     Shimazawa hums, "Is it that unusual? Many scientists are religious in some way or another." Her eyes tilt up though her face doesn't, "Mine is simply the only 'god' that has appeared here on Earth." > "How do you want to help her?"     "Firstly, I need to uncover what happened to her when the code went cold," She exhales, a bit distressed by it, "I was worried that she had actually died; that she's still alive is a small blessing, though it seems like she's suffering now in some way I don't yet understand. I couldn't promise more than that until I've had an opportunity to examine her." > "Are you jealous of Shira being a daughter and you're not?"     Incinera's face sours at Regulus' comment. The Doctor speaks up, cutting off the indignant shouting that's about to start; "I didn't create Shira. My predecessor did. I only refined his process. According to the notes I uncovered after his death, she wasn't more than five years old at the time, so I'm not surprised she can't remember being human." Her eyes close with a sigh, "I've given up on that laptop, though it did have all my diaries up to that point on it." > "You said you liked to dance, right?"     "I sure did, Incinera squints suspiciously at Regulus' change of demeanor, "The music sets the groove and I ride it where it goes." She leans back, permitting some smugness in her tone, "I play keyboard and I make my own EDM tracks with a mix console." Two people telling her not to sling insults, at nearly the same time, causes her to deflate a bit-- but she does stay quiet.
Shira	> "And they haven't buried them, blown them up, or launched them into space?"     "When it was alive, Doctor Rook, the Cosmic Behemoth was approximately the size of the country we are currently sitting in. Additionally, it was destroyed in a... truly cataclysmic explosion." She gestures with her hands, making a little explosion sound with her mouth, "The blast scattered billions of tons of debris across the entire world, to say little of what it did to the United States where the blast took place."     As she speaks, Atsuko brings up her wrist and taps at the face of her wristwatch. Once satisfied, she holds it out; the face projects a holographic image of a world map, zooming in on North America; the South looks like someone has taken a huge bite out of it; like an animal cracker. It's just ocean now in a graceful arc from Virginia to Mississippi, with a little intrusion from what's left of Appalachia.     A second screen flickers up, showing a large pancake-like monstrosity on countless trunk-like legs. It initially looks like it's covered in writhing hairs, though insets highlight that each one of these is actually a neck with a huge reptilian head on the end, or a tail covered in spikes and spines. The outline of it is taken, rotated, then placed down over 'ground zero' of the American crater; roughly the size of France, even destroyed some distance out to sea.     "It simply isn't possible to collect that much over that wide of an area, especially when prioritizing the disaster zone."
Shira	> "So... What is your goal with all of this?" > "When you say feral, are you suggesting that your technology could pacify them, or even turn them into kaijusapiens like Shira?"     "That is one avenue I am exploring. By studying the scripture that lives inside Galaxydra's cells, even as fragmented as it is, I learn more and more each day. It is possible that the feral variety may be pacified, or I may find a way to stop it from happening altogether." > "Is your current work not sanctioned?"     "No," Shimazawa rests her elbows on the table, lacing her fingers together and peering over them, "Once it became clear that I was studying Galaxydra's organic component and inherent scripture, my funding was cut. I crossed a line. So I left." Eyes closing, she sighs, "I'm sorry, it's still a bit of a sore spot for me."     "Metariza is... a kaijusapien, of a different sort. She is not infused with a spine. She was transfused with G-FLUID. Ultraman Geed saw for himself; it's her blood now. That silver liquid. She serves the AKF as a frontline weapon. I hope she can rediscover herself someday."
Shira	> "Doctor Shimizawa, please mind your pets. They're unruly."    > "G-TECH, huh?"     She frames it as a response to X's curiosity about G-TECH, but the way Incinera pulls out her bulky handgun and slams it on the table could only possibly be directed at Mesmer. She keeps her hand on it; oh, her claws are covered in bright pink nail polish. There's a glitter-covered heart embedded in the enamel of her ring finger, even.     When she releases the gun, she slides it across the table for X to inspect; the moment it leaves her hand, the crimson-colored accent lighting dims and fades, "It's mostly used for weapons, but the Doctor's display watch is G-TECH too. You can see it but don't take it apart." He can't even pull the trigger if he tried, it's simply locked; like it was reading Incinera's DNA or handprint.     "These beauties replicate and amplify my natural ability as a Kaijusapien, it doesn't even use ammunition!" She pulls out the second handgun, gives it a twirl through the trigger guard, then catches it perfectly pointed towards the ceiling; the lighting elements pulse to crimson life.
Shira	> "Why did Galaxydra arrive at Earth in the first place?"     "That, my dear Doctor X, is the million yen question, isn't it?" Shimazawa closes her eyes, head tilting as she recalls, "All that is known for certain is it was fist noticed by telescope as it passed through Saturn's orbit. Several years later, it landed and proceeded from there."     "The leading hypothesis among my peers is that it is an example of wandering spaceborne megafauna that our planet happened to intersect with." Her head tilts the other way, "I don't believe that to be the case. The Scripture is too intentional. Too legible. That is, however, the only evidence I have to lean on when I surmise Galaxydra was *sent* to us, to deliver the Scripture wrapped in the infinite evolutionary pluripotency of G-Cells."     "The Scripture however has been badly fractured by the Behemoth's destruction. So I must repair it, one shard at a time. I'm still quite far from seeing it in anything approaching a completed state."
Lilian Rook	'It is, after all, a creature from space whose death and progeny appear to be uninteresting to the wider public'     "You know what?" Lilian pauses for a little sippy. "That's a very good point. Full marks."     'Cure Horizon? Is that an incantation?'     Lilian enters Evasive Battlemode, then upon thinking 'it's Vertin and it's kind of a cute story', decides they can be trusted. "It's actually a bit of a silly title I got from a misunderstanding involving a pair of adorable 'magical girls'. Even if I'm obviously not of the same breed, I'm quite fond of the memory." She returns to eating,     'When you say feral, are you suggesting that your technology could pacify them,'     But not without a tiny exasperated noise at the increasingly-familiar wording.     'Yes. My apologies.'     Somehow, Lilian is utterly mesmerized (and Mesmerized) by the entire sequence of actions taken thereon. It's so bizarre, yet so inexplicably hostile, that it freezes her fork.     'I see. In that case, Doctor Shimizawa, please mind your pets. They're unruly.'     No, being on the same 'side' as Mesmer while she does this is the bizarre part. That attitude is usually pointed squarely at her.     'Well. Taming and civilizing would certainly be'     Lilian groan-whispers "Even worse than 'pacifying'."     "'Yes. I'm sure that's preferable to the alternative...'"     "Ah . . . She's got going now." Lilian sighs, twiddling her fork from side to side.
Riku Asakura	'Mine is simply the only 'god' that has appeared here on Earth.' That's a TROUBLING response... Riku thinks about this for a moment, wondering if he should press on it.  "Well, if it was a god... then it died by human hands, right?  I thought gods weren't supposed to be able to be killed." 'I couldn't promise more than that until I've had an opportunity to examine her.' The idea that Horizon could be 'studied' doesn't feel right to him... but on the other hand, she does need help.  The other group would just kill her because she's a kaijusapian, right?  It's a tough choice... and one he feels that Horizon should get the choice to make, honestly. 'According to the notes I uncovered after his death, she wasn't more than five years old at the time, so I'm not surprised she can't remember being human.' Well, that's something new and horrible to learn!  Shira hadn't even been given a choice, and worse, had been robbed of her humanity before she got a chance to learn what it means.  He looks at Incinera. "I think you should stop thinking of her as you do.  Regardless of her rivalry with your friend... and your opinion on her wasting her talents.  She never got the choice you did." 'The current map of the world.' Riku's eyes widen; that was a huge crater, and that means there could literally be small bits of the cosmic behemoth everywhere.  There could be some even in space, waiting to come down and fall on Earth again.  "This kind of feels like going over a baseball field with a toothpick." 'That is one avenue I am exploring.' "It is one avenue... but doesn't entirely answer my question, does it?" Riku says, noting that she didn't directly answer what he was asking... and this cult language is rubbing him the wrong way.   'Ultraman Geed saw for himself; it's her blood now.' "Uh, yeah.  We met during the fight with Horizon.  She seems very... mechanical.  I think the doctor is right on this one.  I don't know how much she knows about herself, but she really does seem more about taking orders and following them to the letter.  Though she wasn't hostile and accepted my help without any problems." He does also want her to be more of a person someday. 'I have to lean on when I surmise Galaxydra was *sent* to us, to deliver the Scripture wrapped in the infinite evolutionary pluripotency of G-Cells.' "Well, that's one way of thinking...but in my world there are aliens that use Kaiju and artificial Kaiju and warlike manners.  This could also be how it reproduces... There are a million different things it could be.  I'd be a little more careful about it." Especially when HUMAN SUBJECTS are being used!  Come on!  Then again, he's not a bioengineer.
Regulus	Regulus quiets down a little (on the hyping up Mesmer's insults) when gestured to do so. Clearly, she was kind of excited to get to be on the same side as Mesmer in being kind of hostile to the Doctor here. Shira was so miserable with these people and it's not easy for Regulus to let that go. She has some empathy for Incinera too, but it's a sort of spiky empathy. ''Why did Galaxydra arrive at Earth in the first place?'' "And did anybody try to like communicate with her despite all the trouble she was making, or was it just 'ahh she's making monsters let's blast her'?" It IS true that these two are just here having dinner with them all whereas Shira seems to be hiding from the law and all. Because of the circumstances of her escape? ''Though it seems like she's suffering now in some way I don't yet understand.'' "Do you think she might be suffering because people treat her kind of crummy around here? Your people included." ''She wasn't more than five years old at the time, so I'm not surprised she can't remember being human.'' "Hold on, five? ... How old does that make Shira now?" She looks at her fingers like she's counting them. It certainly explains why Shira struggles with some human niceties. "How old was Incinera?" She asks, thinking this through further. "The others are older then right?" "Then we should chat, I'm a professional dj, I'm gonna introduce you to a whole new god... And their name..." She leans in. "Is Dio." Oh Regulus found out about Dio! "What is the benefit of repairing this Scripture anyway?" Regulus asks.
Lilian Rook	'Mine is simply the only 'god' that has appeared here on Earth.' Lilian doesn't say it, but she thinks it very hard.     'Firstly, I need to uncover what happened to her when the code went cold'     Lilian clinks her fork against her knife on purpose. "Jargon, please."     'I thought gods weren't supposed to be able to be killed.'     "Clearly you've never read Norse mythology." Lilian says, exclusively because of Ash. "Or Hindu, in fact." Also Ash.     'According to the notes I uncovered after his death, she wasn't more than five years old at the time'     Lilian's expression contorts in disgust. "That's appalling." she says, unreservedly. "How long has it been since he did it?"     'When it was alive, Doctor Rook, the Cosmic Behemoth was approximately the size of the country we are currently sitting in.'     She is, like, ninety nine percent sure that has to be nonsense. She's going to ask a scientist later. No matter how she squints at the crater, she can't imagine the monster isn't wildly exaggerated in size, and that the explosion wouldn't have had catastrophic effects on the entire globe. Is that why this place is in Paris? Is it all butterfly effect? Why is she even doubting this? It's monster-girls and giant space gleeps. She didn't question Ultraman at all.     'It simply isn't possible to collect that much over that wide of an area'     "Well apparently it wasn't impossible to blow it up."     'By studying the scripture that lives inside Galaxydra's cells'     "Okay--" Lilian puts up a hand. "No. Hang on. Stop. You're assuming I've read your laptop; I haven't. What is this about scripture inside cells? You'e lost me and I'd prefer to think it's unfamiliar terminology and not that you're a l-- aughing stock."     'She was transfused with G-FLUID.'     "Excuse me? Hello? G-Fluid? I asked before, didn't I?"     'These beauties replicate and amplify my natural ability as a Kaijusapien, it doesn't even use ammunition!'     "Oh cute." Lilian murmurs, staring at the nail polish first, and then the gun second. "Yes, yes, we've all got guns." follows with less enthusiasm. She's wearing hers, Mesmer-- she assumes-- has hers, X probably has one in his waistband? Maybe? Uh. Hm. Maybe it's just her and Mesmer actually.     'I surmise Galaxydra was *sent* to us, to deliver the Scripture wrapped in the infinite evolutionary pluripotency of G-Cells.'     Okay well now Lilian can figure out what G-Fluid is by context, but she's miffed about it now, so she intentionally says, "Ah. I see. Girl-Fluid. The fluid you inject into kaiju to make them girls."     'I'm still quite far from seeing it in anything approaching a completed state.'     "And then what?" Lilian says. Her fork pauses again.
Team Timekeeper	"I didn't create Shira. My predecessor did."     "I believe this is the first I've heard of a predecessor. I'm sorry, but I'm still struggling to place from your explanation why Shira felt the need to flee rather than to stay with you. Was your research on her unwelcome?" "The blast scattered billions of tons of debris across the entire world, to say little of what it did to the United States where the blast took place."     Well that's horrible. X whistles and leans in to look at the map. "Awful stuff, wow! I gotta say, it seems like Galaxydra brought untold suffering to mankind just by showing up. Hundreds of millions dead at least, by the looks of it. But I suppose that could only be the act of a 'god', huh?" > pancake-like monstrosity on countless trunk-like legs.     Vertin frowns. She glances over at Regulus, then over at Lilian.     "Are there efforts to minimize the aftereffects of the catastrophe, then? In terms of international cleanups or technological advancements? The AKF is a protective measure, but not a preventative one, as far as I'm aware." "It is possible that the feral variety may be pacified, or I may find a way to stop it from happening altogether."     "I'm glad to hear that's your end goal." Oh god are they ever. The crater carved out of America makes Vertin feel a little sick, though the only tell for it is an imperceptible stiffness in her movement. "Once it became clear that I was studying Galaxydra's organic component and inherent scripture, my funding was cut."     "It's hard, huh! The forefront of science is always done by those who just don't quite fit into the norm. Laplace is always getting my goat for that too! But, see, I'm a machinist and enchanter, and though I'm seeing your dabbling in weapons manufacturing...."     X's fingers splay out towards Incinera's gun, with the octopus-laden fork still balanced between them. "That G-TECH, I'm just not sure how it ties into everything. So, what, are you doing gene engineering? Got a secret lab somewhere? What is a kaiju's 'ability' and how does G-TECH harness it-- and! And, what's a *doctorate* in G-TECH do besides make weapons for kaijus, if it's a whole field of study! Doc, I'm curious; I wanna know; gimme a crumb of something, will ya?" "The leading hypothesis among my peers is that it is an example of wandering spaceborne megafauna that our planet happened to intersect with."     "Oh, it'd be just dreadful if all this happened for no reason at all," He amiably agrees. "'Was sent' though... not 'sent itself'? I guess there's better platforms for preaching that don't result in chunks and craters, ha; so Galaxydra would reasonably be an 'example' of the teachings someone else derived. Interesting!"
Team Timekeeper	"It's actually a bit of a silly title I got from a misunderstanding involving a pair of adorable 'magical girls'."     "I see." Vertin doesn't perfectly understand, but only because 'cure' 'horizon' isn't a pair of words that communicates much intuitively on their own. The important thing comes across fine, and with Lilian's apparently strong attachment to the word, they fondly remark, "That's cute." "Metariza is... a kaijusapien, of a different sort. She is not infused with a spine. She was transfused with G-FLUID."     Shimazawa's explanation provides very little concrete context for Vertin to build off of, but thankfully Riku was there to have a perspective that they can understand. Unfortunately, 'girl-fluid' solidly lodges itself in Vertin's mind as the full name, despite knowing it probably stands for, like, 'giant', or something.     "So the disagreement between yourself and the AKF is twofold, if I understand it. They dislike that you put religious significance on Galaxydra and have a... somewhat accelerationist view, if I understand you right, of Galaxydra's lasting impact on the fauna and civilization of Earth. They, rather than seeing Galaxydra's remnants as a spiritual and religious uplifting when merged with humanity, utilize it as weapons-production, with human sacrifices as an acceptable cost to combat the kaiju threat."     "Then there's one more important question, and Lilian's already asked it." Vertin leans back in her chair, and takes a sip from her wine glass. "Then what? What is your vision of the future?"
Foundation Scions	'Mine is simply the only 'god' that has appeared here on Earth.'     "Oh. You're that sort. I should have assumed." Weirdly, she does actually pinch the bridge of her nose, and lean forward a little, like this is actually a stressful disappointment. Oh well. 'That silver liquid.'     "I'm sure it's just grey, actually."     Weirdly, "I'd like a sample." HUH? "You'll provide it to me sometime. I'll send a reception address." WHY???? >Incinera pulls out her bulky handgun and slams it on the table     Mesmer quite obviously jumps where she's seated, at the noise and the weapon! Obviously, it's a threat to her! Stiff, and hissed, "Put that away." 'The Scripture is too intentional. Too legible.'     Still rattled, still staring at the twirling guns, and not at all fond of the fact that X now has one, Mesmer sighs, crosses her arms in front of herself, and actually sits further back in her chair. She's a little quieter when she says, "I'm not overly paranoid, but that sounds as if you're playing into a trap laid out for- 'your' types. It's safer to be a skeptic about such things." 'I'd prefer to think it's unfamiliar terminology and not that you're a l-- aughing stock.'     "It might be her personal, peculiar phrasing for genetic encoding. Or," Less rattled now, she just gestures at 'laughing stock' by leaving the word unsaid. 'Ah. I see. Girl-Fluid. The fluid you inject into kaiju to make them girls.'     "What?" She looks just, horrified, for a little while, staring between Lilian and the kaijusapiens.     "No, obviously, something that's titled 'girl fluid' is either collected, or expended, by a girl. It doesn't imply a functionality in the naming as it is, so I'm sure it's a product or a resource." 'I'm glad to hear that's your end goal.'     Weirdly relieved, "Oh. Yes. That's better than alternatives." 'It's hard, huh! The forefront of science is always done by those who just don't quite fit into the norm.'     "I don't know if that's true. It's also done by common citizenry, in participatory ways, and it's done by productive funding, and it's done by the sensible and highly educated." Mesmer sighs.     "I'll admit, I'm also curious as to the... non-military applications, of the technology- the non-military ones that don't include the mutation of people, to be clear."
Lilian Rook	'Do you think she might be suffering because people treat her kind of crummy around here? Your people included.'     "If she's at the bottom of the ocean then I'd imagine some sort of pressure imbalance." Lilian says, apathetically. "Internally, I mean."     'Is Dio.'     "What?" Lilian turns her head. "Oh."     'I believe this is the first I've heard of a predecessor. I'm sorry, but I'm still struggling to place from your explanation why Shira felt the need to flee'     "Thank god it's not just me." Lilian grumbles. "In as much as anyone needs a reason to run away from scientists."     She's actually not sure why Vertin is glancing at her, though. So she just keeps a poker face.     'That G-TECH, I'm just not sure how it ties into everything. So, what, are you doing gene engineering? Got a secret lab somewhere? What is a kaiju's 'ability' and how does G-TECH harness it-- and! And, what's a *doctorate* in G-TECH do'     "You know what X? I'm glad you're here. I appreciate you." Lilian says.     'Oh, it'd be just dreadful if all this happened for no reason at all'     "But I'm afraid most things do."     'That's cute.'     Oh come on. Don't turn pink now Lilian. That's so embarrassing. Hiding it in your wine is worse!     'I'm sure it's just grey, actually.'     Lilian tries not to cough, despite swallowing wrong, exclusively not to be asked the predictable fussy question. "Already putting that 'exotic fluids' lab to work, then." she croaks.     'It might be her personal, peculiar phrasing for genetic encoding. Or,'     Fuuuuuck. Caught red-handed by Mesmer.     'No, obviously, something that's titled 'girl fluid' is either collected, or expended, by a girl.'     Yeah, that's it. That's the limit. Lilian curls up in on herself and coughs into her napkin until there are tears in her eyes.
Regulus	Regulus is skeptical because this lady is inviting so much skepticism. Maybe she was primed to be skeptical thanks to how miserable Shira seemed, frankly sometimes STILL seems. If these people really were oh-so-concerned for her, why is she so miserable? ''Vertin frowns. She glances over at Regulus'' Regulus is caught shoving food into her mouth. She quickly swallows it and gives Vertin a thumbs up. ''Girl-Fluid.'' "Ohh, so they were kaiju first then became girls. --- wait no they were definitely humans first." She's struggling to keep track of all the lore at this point, honestly, though she is quietly recording it so she cna review the conversation later. "If Shira's fine with it, I can send you the laptop logs if you want, Lilian." She adds, right in front of the Doctor! ''The Doctor's display watch is G-TECH too'' Regulus leans forward, over the gun, to examine the watch. "Girl Tech..." She mulls. "Oh it probably stans for Galxaxydra." ''If she's at the bottom of the ocean...'' "Oh I meant Shira, but yeah true." Regulus says, still staring at the watch. "Can I take it apart?" Regulus asks despite this already being rejected. "I bet I can put it back together again. But you can't really understand how anything works without taking it apart first."
Shira	> "I thought gods weren't supposed to be able to be killed."     The Doctor lifts her shoulders a touch, "It's clearly not an *actual* god, but still something great and unknowable. That makes me want to know it." > Lilian's questions about Spines and G-TECH and Scripture     "Right," She fiddles with her watch until it projects something new, a readout of a semi-organic spike. An inset highlights what initially looks like binary code, but is composed of six different sets of letters rather than numbers 1 and 0; "The Spines contain the scripture in the highest density, while having the highest chance of having survived the explosion of Galaxydra's death. So, a selection of spines-- such as those that coalesce into spine crawlers-- is ideal for studying the scripture itself."     "G-TECH refers to any device created using material and principles refined from Galaxydra's remains," She lifts her watch to show it off, while Incinera shows off her guns, "The organic component of a G-Cell culture is purged, leaving behind the silver-like material Galaxydra Fluid, or G-FLUID; the technical component of Galaxydra's tissue, which is further refined into energy components and adaptive metals. Equipment developed this way is especially well-suited to kaijusapiens, as Incinera demonstrates."     "As for the Scripture; it is through studying it that I have been able to achieve what I have. It contains formulae and theorums. It contains script that appears to be memories, or memoirs-- I haven't progressed enough to get more than... a few pixels of a 'full image', to use a simpler comparison. I am driven by the desire to Know. To understand it. And through this, I will understand Galaxydra more deeply." > "Then why-- this?"     "Because I wanted to," Incinera closes one eye at Lilian, "I don't need any other reason." She points with her ring finger towards Lilian's head, the others still wrapped around her pistol, "I mean, you got it going on too, don't act like it's weird."
Shira	> "How long has it been since he did it?"     "Twenty years, I believe? I only took over the project a year ago, shortly after his death. He did treat her more like an animal than a person; I had quite a lot of educating to catch her up on. She should be twenty-five or so, I think." > "I think you should stop thinking of her as you do."     "I'll *think* about it. She better act like less of a freakazoid, though." She slow-blinks at Regulus, confused, "I'm twenty and it's been less than a year."     "Twenty-six. Same." > "It is one avenue... but doesn't entirely answer my question, does it?"     "My mistake," The Doctor chuckles lightly at her own error, then gestures, "I do want to understand the Behemoth, what it is and where it came from, and make use of its gifts in any way I can; every way I can; to advance humankind in a way that is more than simply creating weapons for the Anti-Kaiju Force."     "I'd rather create a peaceful world than a world filled with weapons." > "Then we should chat, I'm a professional dj, I'm gonna introduce you to a whole new god... And their name... Is Dio."     Incinera blinks again, puffs up with a snrt, then starts laughing, "Why are you being so serious, that's too much!" She lets it fade with a sigh, eyes closed, "Good tunes are good tunes, sure, but I'm more of a techno gal." Lifting a hand, she twists it a few times like turning the crank that helps her think, "Isn't that more like, uh... grandpa rock?"     Not gonna win points with that one.
Shira	> "Are there efforts to minimize the aftereffects of the catastrophe, then?"     "Yes, of course. Reconstruction has been ongoing for some thirty years now. All but the most devastated areas have largely recovered by now. This is old history; I wasn't even born until after the Behemoth was destroyed. Since you asked the other two; I'm thirty." > "Can I take it apart?"     "No! Forbidden!" > "That G-TECH, I'm just not sure how it ties into everything."     "The doctorate is in using it to develop new components," She gestures, "My dissertation was on the production of G-FLUID itself. Prior to that innovation, synthesis skipped that stage and was far more time-consuming, specialist work. Now, rather than biosynthesis, it is more similar to programming." > "I'd like a sample."     "I don't have a problem with that. It's extremely dangerous though. Are you hoping to learn refinement yourself?" The doctor gestures. Without a word, Voltarion stands up and excuses herself. > "If she's at the bottom of the ocean..." > "Oh I meant Shira, but yeah true." "Mm. That's not a bad thought, though it's all conjecture until she can be looked at."     At this point, Voltarion returns. A glass ampoule is placed on the table near Shimazawa's elbow, half-filled with a viscous silvery liquid. It almost seems like mercury, or molten gallium, but somehow more rich-- iridescent, even, like the kaiju girls' scales. Without pausing, Atsuko plucks up the sealed ampoule and lifts it to eye-level, tilting it a bit to move the liquid around inside.     "It did cause Metariza to undergo ego death. It's likely to be the most dangerous chemical you will ever handle; are you sure you want this?"
Riku Asakura	'That makes me want to know it.' Well, in theory that's sound, but in practice?  He's sure every time someone's said that, they either went mad, tried to destroy the world, or both.  It makes Riku feel a little uneasy... thankfully, Shockwave hasn't gained an interest in this yet.   'It contains script that appears to be memories, or memoirs--' Riku looks at Lilian for a moment, and then turns his head back to the Doctor.  "Given what it does to other organisms... are you sure you are not yourself affected by it after... well, a very long time of studying it?" It's an interesting concern. 'Because I wanted to,' Again, Riku can't blame anyone else for wanting to be different or gain power... he just wonders what she's going to do with it.  Actually... "You say that Shira is wasting her gifts... so what are you doing with yours?"  Riku thinks it's a valid question. 'She better act like less of a freakazoid, though.' Riku just literally motions back to the doctor right after she got done explaining that she was EXPERIMENTED ON by a LITERALLY MAD SCIENTIST at the age of FIVE YEARS OLD.  "I'm not saying she doesn't need more influence..." Well, now at least, "But I mean... imagine if someone robbed you of your childhood like that." '...to advance humankind in a way that is more than simply creating weapons for the Anti-Kaiju Force.' "You want a peaceful world, so what does that mean for humanity?  Many would reject being changed into a kaijusapien." And never mind people being discriminatory towards the kaijusapiens because of fear about the kaiju and the Cosmic Behemoth.   'It's likely to be the most dangerous chemical you will ever handle; are you sure you want this?' "I honestly think messing with that chemical is a bad idea, especially with what happened to Metariza..."
Regulus	''I mean you got it going on too, don't act like it's weird.'' Regulus leans back in her chair. "She's probably, you know, a 'freakazoid' because she became a kaijusapien at age five, you know. She never got twenty years of human." ''Isn't that more like, uh... grandpa rock?'' "Music doesn't stop being good when it gets older," Regulus says. "I have no idea what techno is though, you gotta show me techno." ''Why are you being so serious, that's too much!'' "I take music seriously." Regulus says. "Wouldn't be much of a dj if I didn't take music seriously." ''No! Forbidden!'' "What about the watch?"
Foundation Scions	'Are you hoping to learn refinement yourself?'     "I haven't decided." Well, she probably doesn't want to, but she's curious enough to have a sample, and either hand it off to a coworker to buy a favor, or glean something out of the study of it herself. Maybe she'll ask Medicine Pocket to inject it into Petra.     Probably not that.     Mesmer does watch, as Voltarion leaves the room- one side of her lip pulls upward, in a sort of, upset-disgusted glance, for some unexplained reason, and Mesmer shivers. Even before she sees the ampoule, she reaches down to her briefcase, and pulls out a sealable plastic bag.     When Voltarion returns, the fact that it was quick, makes Mesmer more disgusted looking! At least Mesmer has gloves? She takes the sample vial inthe plastic baggie, and does not touch it before she seals it. "Thank you," is obligatory, but she sounds weirdly shaky when she says it! 'It did cause Metariza to undergo ego death.'     "I'm not planning to expose myself to it." She almost rolls her eyes. Shaking the baggie back and forth a little- "I can see how someone may call this silver, but, it's grey. I was correct." Come on Mesmer.
Lilian Rook	'Right'     "Oh good." Excellent. Now she gets to look at . . .     Lilian squints. "That's DNA." is probably the least intelligent thing she's said all day, in an objective sense. "Beg pardon but is this a non-renewable resource you're discussing? Because it very much sounds like it. 'Size of France' or not."     'It contains formulae and theorums. It contains script that appears to be memories, or memoirs-- I haven't progressed enough to get more than... a few pixels of a 'full image', to use a simpler comparison.'     Unfortunately, this is interesting enough for Lilian to ask something completely unrelated instead of nothing at all. "Is 'the Scripture' the name you came up with for it?"     'Because I wanted to'     Lilian narrows her eyes, but chooses "Fair enough, I suppose." as an option, because Incinera is eating at a French restaurant and not chained up in a lab basement.     'I mean, you got it going on too, don't act like it's weird.'     "What?" Girl there is a sound effect when they clatter together in a two-hand-sized fan of broken blades and hunker down. And another drop sliding along an edge, like blood freshly drawn.     'Twenty years, I believe?'     "Oh my god. What was he doing?" Lilian frowns, starting to sound a little angry. "Did she grow up in the woods? What were do doing? She still behaves like--"     'She better act like less of a freakazoid, though.'     "That! A freakazoid! What were you teaching her all this time? Why is she like this?"     'My dissertation was on the production of G-FLUID itself.'     "Mine was on methods of long-term introduction of hormonal and metabolic regulators via traditional means into human and human-like physiology that permit the formation of new aetherial-biological conversion pathways in place of degrading those preexisting with natural cell division and resource reallocation that are foreign to the individual." Lilian grumbles on pointlessly.     'Given what it does to other organisms... are you sure you are not yourself affected by it after... well, a very long time of studying it?'     She sighs. "Don't enable the discourse." she says, half-hearted, Mesmer in the room. His followup question is a good one at least.     'It did cause Metariza to undergo ego death. It's likely to be the most dangerous chemical you will ever handle; are you sure you want this?'     No. She can't even think of what to say about that. Not even a dry barb. Lilian is fucking dumbstruck by the simple sequence of events that leads to Voltariaon coming back into the room with a little container of G(irl) Fluid right after being asked and just putting it on the table right there while Shimazawa hypes it up and just--     "Holy shit." Lilian says, still utterly transfixed, eyes wide and unblinking as Mesmer puts it into a little baggie!. When she realizes she's getting more droplets beading on iron edges from hyperfixation, she quickly shakes them free (by gesturally shaking off her own hands, as if wet from a sink, which causes the shards to cluster into hand-like configurations that mirror the motion) that spritz the floor with unfortunately heavy-sounding drops (gone within a second, as usual, thankfully).     'I haven't decided'     Lilian stares into Mesmer's eyes, presses her lips together, and subtly shakes her head.
Team Timekeeper	"No, obviously, something that's titled 'girl fluid' is either collected, or expended, by a girl."     Must this be the case? Is it so self-evident? Vertin feels like there's been a lot of declarations about terms and their usage today that could use a second mental pass before being said. "I'll admit, I'm also curious as to the... non-military applications, of the technology- the non-military ones that don't include the mutation of people, to be clear."     "Right. It does seem like most of the usage of the G-Fluid and the related technology seems to be... tautologically applicable to their own origin. Of course, we live in the world where Galaxydra did occur and the aftermath is something society must contend with, but it hardly seems like it applies to civilization outside of kaiju disasters." "You know what X? I'm glad you're here. I appreciate you."     "Why thank you!" X raises up his soda in a goofy toast. His plate's already cleared, and Vertin never ended up ordering anything. "I'm enjoying myself too!" "But I'm afraid most things do."     "I'd just love to talk about that with you sometime!" "Oh it probably stans for Galxaxydra."     "Ah." Vertin hadn't thought of that, somehow. "Right. Thank you, Regulus." "It contains script that appears to be memories, or memoirs-- I haven't progressed enough to get more than... a few pixels of a 'full image', to use a simpler comparison."     Vertin's eyes widen incrementally. "Really? I was underestimating what you'd meant by 'intentionality' in the Scripture. That's fascinating." "Twenty years, I believe? I only took over the project a year ago, shortly after his death. He did treat her more like an animal than a person; I had quite a lot of educating to catch her up on. She should be twenty-five or so, I think."     Unfortunately, this is way more important than theories about Galaxydra's girl goo. Vertin sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose.     "Did you and your predecessor often disagree on his treatment of Shira? I can't help but notice that Shira was experimented on twenty years ago and endured nearly two decades of abuse, and the well-adapted kaijusapiens that are loyal to you were all developed in the past year. In the interim time, what was your relationship with the project and your predecessor."     "And," She sighs again. "Perhaps more importantly, it seems like Shira experienced a life very different from Incinera and Voltarion's. It's only natural that her relationship with those 'gifts' would be colored by the abuse she received for them, and that she wasn't given the freedom to choose her transformation like you two did. You should really reconsider how you interpret her actions, and try to extend her considerably more patience than you do, or else your ideals of a healthy, happy kaijusapien project can only ever apply to those most convenient to yourself, rather than all of them."
Regulus	''I'm enjoying myself too!'' "Learning a lot?" Regulus asks X. ''Right. Thank you, Regulus.'' Regulus beams, mood improving some from all that downer talk earlier. ''It seems like Shira experienced a life very different from Incinera and Voltarion's.'' "Yeah!" Regulus slaps the table down with her hand. She has said about as much herself, but Vertin has a way of expressing this stuff real effectively and so it's natural that Regulus is going to hop onto her dissection of the kaijusapien program as it stands right now. "She's had it rougher, she's suffered a bunch, she's been unsafe and on the run, and she's not super selfish or nothing, she wants to be helpful even when she's the one who needs help!" She sinks back into her chair. "If you can't build a community where she feels comfortable, what does all this matter? Who cares about the Scripture or G Fluid or whatever, it's already doomed to fail. It's no different than making --uh Metariza, I think you said? You're just patting yourself on the back while offering an illusion of freedom and a 'haven', but it's failing to be a haven for the person who needs it most and you're here eating fancy!" She looks away, pouting a little as she turns her head. "She didn't run away for fifteen years, but somehow she ran from you, not the guy who experimented on her as a kid."
Shira	> "Many would reject being changed into a kaijusapien."     Dr. Shimazawa pauses, "The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. Not for the whole of humankind. You are right that there would be those who wouldn't consent to such a procedure. No, I operate only on volunteers who fully understand what they are subjecting themselves to." > Mesmer acts grossed out about a sealed glass ampoule.     "She did just explain what it is, you can stop being weird about it." Incinera takes her weapon back from X, sliding it back into its holster.     "It's not mine," is all Voltarion has to say.
Shira	> "That's DNA."     "Very close," Shimazawa shifts her hands and manipulates the image again, zooming in further on it, "Human DNA has four bases arranged in pairs on a double helix Very simple, very effective, easily replicated. But see here-- Galaxydra's cells contain a double-woven triple helix. Six bases, arranged in sextads around a neutral core iron ion. The outer strands of the helix includes alternating longitudinal bands of iron and copper ions as well."     She zooms in again, highlighting the relevant structures as she speaks.     "Fascinating, no? It is both an organic DNA strand *and* a simple molecular circuit. In certain samples I have even discovered silica ions in place of iron-- innate fiber-optics! The terminal ends each act as connectors, linking to other dedicated structures within the cell. Even bridge structures linking to the cell exterior which can link multiple cells together in chains and patterns; complex circuits in natural tissues!" She's getting passionate about this now, seemingly remembered that like half the people present are actually fellow scientists. > "What?"     Incinera watches Lilian for a few moments, through the entire process of shaking off triangle juice. Only after that does she simply say, "Nothing~." in an irritatingly peppy tone.
Shira	> "Really? I was underestimating what you'd meant by 'intentionality' in the Scripture. That's fascinating."     "I am, tragically, a scientist," Doctor Shimazawa admits, closing her eyes and lifting her hands with a shrug, "And not so much a science 'communicator'. Please forgive me if I struggle to put things into words that make sense. I've already stumbled a few times tonight, to everyone's collective confusion." She must mean the weird perverted discussion about G-Fluid. > "Did you and your predecessor often disagree on his treatment of Shira?"     "I never met the man, but looking through his notes, I can't say I would have stopped her from killing him." She lets out a defeated sigh, "I did my best to help her, teach her, but I ran out of time. She's very bright; she picked up so much in just a few months with me."     She glances aside, clearly ashamed, "But after an incident between her and Voltarion, I was forced by my new benefactors to either relocate my research or face cancelation. My work is too important to let it die in a ledger. So I had to move everything to a separate facility." > "She didn't run away for fifteen years, but somehow she ran from you, not the guy who experimented on her as a kid."     She's looking rightfully pulled over the coals, but she does center herself, "She ran away after I left her there. That's true and I can't undo what's already happened. I can only be glad she's doing well now."     "Fuji station sucked anyway. We *totally* can build something better than that dump."
Riku Asakura	'No, I operate only on volunteers who fully understand what they are subjecting themselves to.' Well, that's... comforting.  Though he has to wonder what would drive people to give up their humanity.  He looks at the other two kaijusapians before looking down at his food.  "Sorry if I'm missing something, but other than settling down the wild kaiju... how does it lead to world peace?" The research, he probably means. 'It's not mine,' "Wait, is that why everyone else was being weird about the fluid?" Riku asks, innocently.  He was arguing against it because it was /dangerous/.   'The outer strands of the helix includes alternating longitudinal bands of iron and copper ions as well.' Riku has no idea what this means, or what the benefits, drawbacks, or how exciting this is besides 'it's alien DNA'.  All of this really just flies over his head.   'My work is too important to let it die in a ledger.' Oh, she has 'corporate overlords'.  "So wait, who is funding this?" Actually, that's a good question.  He really hopes it's not Shocker or something adjacent to Shocker.
Shira	> "So wait, who is funding this?"     "Short-sighted corpos who smelled money," Incinera responds flippantly, "Call themselves the G Organization. They want to corner any G-TECH advancements that come out of it. I worked for 'em for a while before I ascended. They're all scum and they're all stupid but the money covers everything the Architect needs."     "Including our little meeting, here."     Oh, so this extremely fancy, niche restaurantel with the high class cuisine is a *business expense* and she's making a bunch of gormless suits pay for it actually.