#gozu district

[aperture8]

Mass Effect - Legendary Edition

[hyeahgaku]

SAKAMOTO DAYS 2nd Character Popularity Poll - Characters & Profile Descriptions

Sakamoto, Tarō: "The story's protagonist. Former legendary assassin."

Asakura, Shin: "Former assassin & a clairvoyant. Respects & admires Sakamoto."

Shaotang, Lū: "Former triad. Currently working at Sakamoto's Store."

Mashimo, Heisuke: "The legendary sniper Dragoon of the JCC."

Piisuke: "Heisuke's partner. Sky courier for Sakamoto's Store."

Sakamoto, Aoi: "Sakamoto's wife. Good with magic tricks."

Sakamoto, Hana: "Sakamoto's daughter. Kind & gentle."

Nagumo: "ORDER member. Master of disguise."

Osaragi: "ORDER member. Likes good luck charms."

Shishiba: "ORDER member. Hates onions."

Hyō: "ORDER member. Possesses overwhelming physical strength."

Takamura: "ORDER member. Master swordsman."

Kanaguri: "Movie director. Currently shooting a movie, starring Akira."

Kamihate: "ORDER member. A hot-tempered sniper."

Oki: "Current leader of the ORDER. He was on an assignment overseas."

Torres: "ORDER member. He owes the JAA 60.2 billion yen."

Tanabata: "ORDER member. Professional musician."

Yotsumura, Satoru: "Right-hand man of the former JAA Chairman. Founding member of the ORDER."

Kindaka: "Founding member & was the leader of the ORDER."

Asaki, Sei: "Current chairman of the JAA."

Slur / Uzuki, Kei: "Wants to wipe out the JAA and create a new Order."

Gaku: "Slur's ally. Goes at his own pace."

Kashima: "Slur's ally. He's a cyborg."

Uda: "Slur's ally who helped infiltrate the JAA."

Carolina Reaper: "Slur's ally. Able to manipulate fire."

Club Jam: "Slur's ally. He enjoys physical pain."

Kumanomi: "Slur's ally. Magnetism manipulation."

Haruma: "Slur's ally. An assassin that fights using the rules of sports."

Tenkyū: "Slur's ally from Al-Kamar."

Gozu: "Slur's ally from Al-Kamar."

Akao, Rion: "Classmate of Sakamoto's & Nagumo's at the JCC. Died after fighting Uzuki."

Akao, Akira: "Rion's niece. She's a JCC transfer student."

Seba, Natsuki: "A genius who won the Yotsumura Prize for his invention of the invisibility suit."

Seba, Mafuyu: "JCC transfer student. He's Natsuki's younger brother. A clean freak!"

Amane: "JCC student. Yotsumura's son."

Kaji: "JCC transfer student. Has exceptional hearing."

Toramaru: "JCC transfer student. She's a returning Sakamoto fan."

Shinaya: "Special recommendation applicant in the transfer exams. Has a flexible body."

Yanaya Tsu (Viz: Jay Erk): "JCC transfer student. Also known as Kill Baby."

Satōda-sensei: "JCC teacher. Aikido master."

Byōdō: "JCC faculty staff. Also known as Databank (Viz: Database)"

Wūtang: "Consigliere of the Lū family with an extreme crush on Shaotang."

Boyle/Boiled: "Dondenkai assassin. He's a hard-boiled dude."

Obiguro: "Dondenkai assassin. Loves strong people."

Tatsu: "Dondenkai assassin. Poison user."

'Gran Miya: "A highly skilled holistic healer known as 'God Hands'."

Atari: "A fortune-teller with 100% accuracy rate."

Kase, Jō (Viz: Jo Shackles): "Chief warden of floor B1 in the JAA prison."

Bachō: "Assassin hired by the Danshōkai. Compared to Son Hee, he's the better artist."

Son Hee: "Assassin hired by the Danshōkai. Fights using the Mābō (mapo tofu, lol) fighting style."

Iriya: "Communications coordinator for the ORDER."

Tanaka: "Works at the Lab. Good friends with Seba (Natsuki)."

Saw: "Death row convict. Played an important role in the story."

Dump: "Death row convict. A spiky person."

Minimalist: "Death row convict. Has super strong grip."

Apart: "Death row convict. Wants to know what's inside someone's heart."

Young boy from chapter 1: "Regularly hangs out at Sakamoto's Store."

(Hitman) Boss: "Shin's former boss."

Bus hijacker: "Couldn't accept that his favourite manga got axed."

Officer Nakase: "Protects the Ikoraizaka Shopping District."

Police Grandpa: "Protects the Ikoraizaka Shopping District."

Kanehira, Riki: "Leader of the Zuttomo Motorcycle gang."

Wang: "Chairman of the Danshōkai. He's after the Lū Family's treasure."

Pizza Nakajima: "Now you're like pepperoni on the chopping board!"

Kurii Ningu: "An assassin who also works as a janitor at the amusement park."

Sugar-chan: "Sugar Park's mascot."

House of Terror staff: "The guide in the House of Terror."

Video Rental informant: "Disguises himself as a video store owner, but in reality he provides inside info."

Toy knife: "The knife that Nagumo bought from the Toy section."

Kazuko (70) & Sachiko (68): "Kazuko is a barber, whereas Sachiko is a clothing store owner. They're really strong."

Asakura: "Director of the Lab. He gave Shin his powers."

Mad Horiguchi: "Kashima's subordinate. He can scramble the opponent's brain signals by using electricity."

Yutaro: "An amateur assassin who runs a public bathhouse."

Seco Zuru: "Big brother. A cheater who plays dirty."

Mochi: "The bravest Shiba Inu at the Home Improvement Center!"

Floaters: "JCC part-timers. They're the JAA's post-incident clean-up unit."

Harimogura/Echidna: "Osaragi's first impression of Dump."

Sakamoto's Slippers: "Costs 200 yen, excluding tax."

Takebe: "One of the staff at JAA Tokyo Bureau."

Inoda: "One of the staff at JAA Tokyo Bureau."

Head Test Admin, Usami: "The head test administrator of the JCC transfer exams."

Test Admin, Mizuno: "An examiner for the JCC transfer exams."

Maiko: "Wishes for a red kimono."

Jumbo Tanishi: "First-year student in the JCC Assassination Department."

Weapons Manufacturing Department senpai: "Always gets fooled by Natsuki Seba."

JCC Bowl: "The famous JCC bowl from the JCC cafeteria. Tastes horrible."

Fukumitsu: "Chief of JAA Western Japan Headquarters."

Shino: "Yotsumura's wife."

Russo Rullet: "An assassin that sells amazake."

Yamada-sensei: "JCC teacher."

Kondo: "JAA staff. Considering a career switch."

Amo, Ai: "Wife of the former JAA Chairman."

Amo, Konomi: "Daughter of the former JAA Chairman."

Higuchi-kun: "Accumulates virtue points by doing good deeds. Has 50,000 virtue points in total."

Kobayashi: "Poison user. Also known as Koba."

Amo, Soichi: "Former JAA Chairman."

Mutō, Erio: "JAA Executive."

Remi-chan: "Oh wow! Awesome!"

Samejima: "Leader of the JAA Special Detachment Unit."

Ninnin Man: "Ninja assassin."

Watarai: "Asaki's aide. He bought the Tate Britain."

Seba (father): "Father of Natsuki & Mafuyu. He's a third-rate assassin."

Store cashier at the Museum: "Sold matching outfits to Sakamoto & Toramaru."

Okutabi New National Museum staff (woman): "Very confident about the security system of the museum."

Okutabi New National Museum staff (man): "He deemed Sakamoto's Colt Government a fake."

Thief: "Kumanomi used him as a decoy. A dumbass that dies quickly on the battlefield."

Super Antlion Hell Brothers: "Brothers who dwell in floor B2 of the JAA prison."

Yūto Suzuki-sensei: "The author of SAKAMOTO DAYS."

Others: "Free entry."

[dukeofmercury]

Mass Effect 2 - Afterlife - flyer mock-up

[madara-fate]

I heard that in Itachi Shinden is revelead that Fugaku, Inabi, Yashiro and Tekka were the leaders of the coup. And their demands were threefold: The participation of the Uchiha clan in the innermost circle of the village. Demolition of the district and freedom of residence. And the succession of Uchiha Fugaku as the fifth Hokage. Is this information correct? Why did Hiruzen not accept these conditions? They are very reasonable...

The following passage is the relevant scene in question from Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night:

Just as Gozu had noted, one of the key elements of the plan put together by his father and the others was the abduction of the third Hokage. The Military Police Force would strike a blow against the village ninjas by kidnapping their leader. Those ninjas would attack them, and they would fight back, buying time and forcing the village to accept the demands of the clan. That was the overall concept of the coup.

Their demands were four: Uchiha participation in the center of the village, dismantling of the compound, the freedom to choose where they lived, and Uchiha Fugaku named as the fifth Hokage.

Itachi couldn't believe the village would accept such impossible demands, but the members of the radical faction seriously intended to push them.

Honestly, I don't think those demands were very reasonable as a whole, especially abducting Hiruzen and forcefully establishing Fugaku as the Fifth Hokage. In any case, Hiruzen wanted further negotiations but Danzo acted without his consent.

Although, it does need to be noted that Itachi silently resented Hiruzen for only displaying this level of determination to mend things with the Uchiha once their plans for a coup were revealed, despite having over a year's worth of time to think of a suitable plan thanks to Shisui's efforts, who ultimately gave his life for this purpose.

[berryshiara]

PwB/ Prompts 001

"We're ordering out."

"Why? I thought you were cooking dinner?"

"I burned it. Does sushi sound okay?"

This was the challenge^^^

This is what the challenge brought vvv

Jessa Pell is Human

Foínix Éleos, Asari - Ardat Yakshi

Pallikári Teíchos, Asari - Beefcake XD

From my Interview with an Ardat-Yakshi story.

Location: Omega, Gozu district --------

Fen wasn't sure what had possessed Pallikári to set up her grav weights and workout equipment in the apartment today. Nor was she aware of what her actions were doing to Foínix, who up until that moment had been trying to put together a meal for their dinner. While the initial preparation went well, the complex instructions and need for intense concentration was leaving her flailing.

Between the soft grunts of exertion from her exercising companion and the over complicated recipe instructions she was having a hard time.

Fen tore her gaze away as the sound of bubbling sauce infiltrated her rampant hormonal brain.

“Tevura’s sweet scented tits…” she breathed.

The sauce was pulled hastily from the fire and subjected to a dangerously intense stirring. The scent of caramelized ingredients bordering burnt had Fen deeply frowning, and even then she found herself turning to catch a glimpse of her giant from the corner of her eye.

Her heart beat faster as Kari dropped down to the floor, gloved hands flat against it, arms pumping, body rigid, straight. Soft breaths of effort escaping her as she controlled her breathing… between pushes. It felt as if her own breath was choked, her heart pulsing loudly, breath pushing angrily against the cage of her ribs.

Kari popped up, stretched, twisted, dropped down into a half dozen sit ups, counting under her breath before rolling over onto toes and hands again. Sweat collected at the nape of of her neck, glistening under the golden lights.

Fen licked her lips, furious mixing actions slowing, until she stood there transfixed, caramelized sauce dripping from spoon to pan, to floor… as Pallikári popped up again she caught sight of Jessa leaning against the hallway watching her, a playful smile poised on soft lips.

All the heat that had been radiating off her body decided to write itself upon her face.

“Enjoying the show?” her voice soft and lilting, playful.

Fen turned, her foot finding the sticky mess of the caramelized sauce that had dribbled out of the pan. What embarrassment she had felt multiplied when she realized just how much her attention had lapsed.

“Cooking…” Fen muttered. Setting the pan on the stove and picking up a washcloth to clean up the mess, and the goo that had squished up between blue toes.

“Hmm.” Jessa murmured, smiling as she turned her eyes back to their still oblivious Pallikári. “Shall we help her?”

Fen gave a dismissive wave while forcing herself to focus on the recipe for a long hard minute, but if she were being honest it was more like she stared at it, the words gibberish to her addled and distracted mind. Whatever good it did her, she found herself drawn back to the workout within the living room. Jessa’s warm silky voice interrupting Kari… but to what end?

Biting her lip she tried once again to pick up where she left off on the recipe. They were never going to get to eat at this rate…

Her eyes rolled back out towards the duo in the living room as a soft “Oh.” Came from Jessa.

“What the hell…” She chastised, or maybe complained… "what are you doing?" A question for herself rather than the women in the other room. . . pressing her lips tightly she bit them, and licked them. Her body thrummed, crackling energy just under the skin. Hungry… not wanting food at all. “You don’t even have heat…” and still.

Savagely she bit her lips again, dumping in the rinsed quinoa and diced vegetables before pouring in the soup stock. Trying desperately to use the painful clarity her biting had brought her.

The stock was nearly poured into the pot when Kari called out to her.

“Fen! C’mere!”

“What!” Fen cried a little sharper than she meant to, annoyed she spilled the last of the stock onto herself, the stove, and the floor. The words on the tip of her tongue were caught before they slipped free of abused lips. Goddess why does she even try some days?

“Just a minute!” She said pulling the soggy apron from her bodice dropping it on the floor to sop up the stock, berating herself that she might somehow have dampened her giant ray of sexy goddess perfection with her harsh reply.

Sweet mother forgive me.” She thought with a resigned sigh, and final rub of her face.

Coming out of the disaster that was the kitchen she leaned against the arch to find Jessa straddling Kari’s broad shoulders. Any chastisement of her own desires was forgotten as they burned anew. ‘She doesn't even know…’ Fen mused, shaking her head with a growing smile.

Kari was doing a fast series of pushups with Jessa on her back as added weight. Her furious reps only paused after she reached the desired number. Then cast her innocent gaze back at the flustered Foínix with a toothy smile.

“Come on Fen, I can do you both at the same time!”

While Kari had no notion of the innuendo her words brought to them, the look on Jessa’s face was anything but innocent. Her silent smile beaming its lascivious nature, verdant eyes sparkling brilliantly as she dared Fen to turn their sweating muscular goddess down.

Fen sighed and summoned her biotics, around her, they were already there, near the surface, tight under her skin, coiled, and hungry like the fire that burned in her belly… summoning them was a relief really. They wrapped around her until she lifted herself up off the ground, and then slowly came to rest on Kari’s back.

Jessa’s gaze never wavered… never abated as she settled into her place there behind her. She felt her mind poised ready for her thoughts when she pulled her legs up and wrapped them around Jessa, so that they didn't impede the rapid succession of Kari’s workout.

‘It’s a good thing neither of us believe in your human hell…’

Jessa’s laugh was light and unabashed as Kari dropped into the next rotation of pushups.

------

Notes:

Asari Goddess Tevura: Maiden

Domains: sex, travel, law, love (ludus and eros)

Other names: The Horndog

Symbol:

Relationships: twin of Panaka

Thanks to my WB Discord group for gathering the information on the Asari Goddess. :)

@pip-n-flinx thanks so much for the prompt. Hope you enjoy it. :)

@maskydoo-main, @maskydoolovesmasseffect

[estelessar]

Taryn Shepard's turn has already begun, before even getting to Horizon. Looters on Omega in the quarantined Gozu District? Her "I've killed people for less" had those looters rethining their life decisions right quick.

Shepard romancing Kaidan in ME1, being rebuilt by Cerberus in ME2 to discover her world turned upside down... then, meeting Kaidan on Horizon (and absolutely not expecting that reception from him), only to sidle on over to Mr. Calibrations himself is 🫨 if you don't think that's how this playthrough is gonna go for Taryn Shepard, you're wrong.

[masseffectfancodex]

Mass Effect Fan Codex Entry Sapphire Thermae - Public Bathhouse - Omega

What is it? Public bath house with showers for washing, heated and cooled pools for soaking, private rooms for bathing and massages, large pool for general swimming & play, gym for working out, atrium and hanging gardens to meditate and general unwinding. Mud baths with clay collected from Asari, Human, & Salarian homeworlds. (Anything from the Krogan homeworld is not allowed as it is generally radiated and good for no one.) Several suites for resident Hetaira are on site, as well as the largest Den and collection of trained  Léaina in all of Omega.

Clothing is optional in any space within the thermae. Wounds and open sores are not allowed in public pools. There is a specific place for the injured with such wounds to relax and unwind separate from the public. There are smaller areas where the sexes are divided, but the largest areas are the mixed public rooms.

Opened: 2015 Headquarters Location: Omega, Gozu District Hours of Operation: Open all hours.

Owned by (species/person/parent company):  Erato K’Melpomene (The K’ is an abbreviation for  “Kori tou” meaning “daughter of”) believes its important to build a healthy confident body image in all guests. She is a keeper of secrets some of them her own.

Caters to (species): Anyone who obeys the rules.

Description: The Thermae is protected by a strict code of conduct. No fighting, no public lewdness or sex & no body shaming. The bathhouse is staffed with gregarious people who may be fully clothed or totally nude according to their wish. There is a color code for their clothing if they chose to wear it. Black and teal are their colors, if a worker is nude, they wear bands around their wrists marking them as workers of the Thermae of black and teal. If you break the rules once you get a warning any other infractions result in expulsion, depending on the rule broken you may get another chance tomorrow, or be permanently banned. It is a no fighting zone. Good behavior is often rewarded by the staff and returning customers are well cared for. While sexual favors are not banned, they are not permitted in public, and are not part of the Thermae’s offerings. That is a staff choice.

The Thermae is the largest entity on Omega, a small city in its own right that is not associated in any way to any crime syndicate. It is truly neutral ground. Sporting a veritable army of cleaners, repair workers, & hosts, all protected and watched over by enforcers who have the power to judge you unfit for the Thermae. Not even Erato will overrule their call.

Known Employees: Foínix Astynomía Éleos - Asari (Ardat-Yakshi in hiding) Enforcer “You can follow the rules and enjoy yourself, or you can be thrown out with the trash…” Fen is a no nonsense kind of person. She is very literal. She doesn’t take kindly to people who hurt others. She is part of the overnight staff at the Thermae. She is chaotic neutral. Using her A-Y as a way to wipe out the garbage in omega one kill at a time, fostering positive growth and change in her world. Fen is only 5’2” she wears clothes, shorts and a one piece under them with the black face and teal fringe. (Attached,)

Isla Thornton - Human female, Hostess. She is being trained under Liv. Wears a short black wrap with the teal border and bikini top with same coloring. She is gentle and kind and wears her heart on her sleeve. Being only 20 summers she is both the newest and youngest hostess they have. (Single)

Liviana Facolus - (Liv) Hostess. Sassy, prick of a female turian, knows she is beautiful, struts, and fans, loves to be noticed. Favorite color is a teal and violet pink often used to paint her frill and face. Nudist she wears company colors on her wrist as a bracelet. Liv is a tough lady, using her height both for leverage and intimidation. She knows how to put belligerent rule breakers in their place. She is an equal opportunity flirt, race and gender dont matter to her. But she isn’t a piece of meat. “A girl’s gotta have rules.” Liv is known to put offenders down faster than the enforcers. While she loves to be flirty and fawned over she is not okay with people touching her without permission. And despite public opinions she is not for sale, she may choose you for a fun night, but you cant buy her. (Single, Fiercely Independent)

Scrug - Krogan - Enforcer An older Krogan male who looks out for the Thermae in his dwindling years. While he may be older he is by no means inept as an Enforcer. What he lacks for in biotics he makes up for in mass & known violence. It is whispered that he tore a disgraced rule breaker’s arm off and hit him with it. This is unconfirmed, but no one stops the story from being circulated. Story goes: The man had gotten handsy with one of their Hostess and Scrug taught him what it was like to be manhandled without permission. 

Despite his rough exterior from a hard life, Scrug is a jovial soul. Often he says if he were prettier he would be a hostess rather than an enforcer, but he is happy to watch over the Thermae’s people, sharing nuggets of wisdom and snippets of bygone days with anyone who will listen. Scrug, wears company colors in the form of clothing, shorts and sandals. he carries a Krogan war hammer, and stomps around daring some fool to give him a reason to use it. He grumbles at the lack of fools these days… (His marital status is unknown)

By BerryShiara

[adarlingmess]

Fallout: Mass Effect AU/Crossover [2/?]

FO3 Companions reimagined as Mass Effect Squadmates + Bonus LW

Butch DeLoria - Vaal’Daris nar Vayyam | Dossier: Quarian Pilgrim. A young quarian delinquent who wants to start his Pilgrimage so he may escape his life on the Vayyam. He dreams of having his own ship and forming his own crew. Recruitment location: The Migrant Fleet.

Charon - Kharon | Dossier: Hired Muscle. A drell assassin trained under the Compact, who mysteriously ended up as a bodyguard for a batarian bartender and drug smuggler in Afterlife, where he acts as the bouncer too. Rumors are he’s discontent with this arrangement. Recruitment location: Omega.

Clover - Calinth | Dossier: The Servant. An asari prostitute who was captured by batarian slavers in her youth, brainwashed to follow whoever owns her. A competent biotic, she is currently serving a slave broker in Eternity. Recruit location: Illium

Star Paladin Cross - High Commander Crucis | Dossier: Veteran Turian. A turian high commander who chose to continue serving after the mandatory 15-year conscriptions turians go through. The years are getting to her, and she’s looking for one last mission before she retires. Recruit location: The Citadel.

Fawkes - Forryth Drox | Dossier: The Mutant. A Krogan warrior shunned by his kind because of his noble, pacifist ideals, an anomaly among Krogan males. He was betrayed by one of his own clanmates and ended up in Purgatory, locked up in maximum security. Recruit location: Purgatory.

Jericho - Ghorak | Dossier: Ex-Con. An old batarian working as security for the Blue Suns in the Gozu District. He is rumored to be an ex-convict from Purgatory who managed to rise to power in the mercenary group, but his fellow mercenaries think he’s too old for any real action now. Recruit location: Omega.

Dogmeat - Dax | Tuchanka: Forlorn Varren. A varren who just lost his krogan master in a clan war. Ferociously loyal, and can be tamed by a little love and pyjak meat. Recruitment location: Tuchanka

Sergeant RL-3 - RL3. | Migrant Fleet: VI for Sale. A VI, particularly a combat drone, can be acquired from a quarian in exchange for supplies. Recruitment location: Random

Bonus: My Lone Wanderer as a squadmate: Persephone “Percy” Zhou - Fera’Zael nar Vayyam | Dossier: Wandering Scientist. She is a young quarian scientist whose father was accused of treason and exiled by the Vayyam’s captain while she is on Pilgrimage. She wants to know what happened to him, but she’s stuck in Omega after incurring a debt in Afterlife. Recruitment location: Omega.

Author’s Notes: See below.

Oh boy this was fun to write and research!

Naming Butch was a little difficult, but him being a young Vault Dweller who wanted to explore the outside (who, according to Doc Mitchell, have weaker immune systems due to the sterile environment of the vaults) drew an almost perfect parallel to a young quarian who’s excited to leave the Flotilla for his Pilgrimage, so I endured the research. I can totally see quarian!Butch freaking the hell out the first time he experiences a suit rupture, complaining that places outside the Flotilla smells so bad that he has to replace his filters often. and accidentally consuming levo food.

Charon’s contract could easily be analogous to the Compact, and his name was easy to adapt into Drell (Feron, Kolyat, Rakhana). Plus, Thane’s last name Krios is from Greek mythology, and so is Kharon, the alternate spelling for Charon’s name, so it’s basically a no-brainer at this point. It also helps that there’s a bar in Omega called Afterlife, which can act as a parallel to Fallout’s Underworld/Ninth Circle. Additionally, Charon wears dark leather armor anyway. He’ll probably look good in drell clothing.

Fawkes reminded me of Wrex in his own way, being an exile among their kind (though Wrex evolves past that and leads clan Urdnot). Add Fawkes’ nigh-indestructible nature and bloodlust, plus the Super Mutant’s sterility that could parallel the krogans’ sterility from the genophage, and being a badass krogan would be a good fit with him.

I don’t have much to say on the other humanoid companions because I’m not as invested in them emotionally as those three, but I did my best to make sure their counterparts stayed true to the essence of their characters! (I lost all creativity on RL-3 though. Sigh.) The easiest ones to do are probably Charon’s and Butch’s counterparts.

I think I’ll draw them after I finish my current comic project or in-between inking pages. Who knows? Maybe these counterparts might evolve into characters of their own one day! I hope you guys enjoyed this!

[persephinae]

Gozu District - Omega

[aperture8]

Mass Effect - Legendary Edition

[demifiendrsa]

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster screenshots – Reasons, characters, and city districts

Reasons

Various ideals (“Reasons”) are born in the Vortex World

Tokyo has collapsed due to the Tokyo Conception, and transformed into the demon infested Vortex World. There, the surviving humans and demons fight for the creation of a new world. Eventually, as the conflict intensifies, it centers around the people advocating Reasons, ideas to form the New World.

Before the protagonist are his former friends, who have transformed into non-humans with their own Reasons. What kind of world will the protagonist finally choose in the end, after encountering all kinds of Reasons?

The Ideal of Ultimate Individualism: Musubi

The Reason bought about by Isamu Nitta. He was overwhelmed by the absolute difference in power between humans and demons while wandering the demon-infested Vortex World. A Reason where you should rely only on yourself, and believe only in yourself. We should cut off our relationships with others and live in a world where only the supreme self exists. That is Musubi.

“In the end, I am the only one who can be the centre of my world, right?”

The Ideal of the Survival of the Fittest: Yosuga

Yosuga is the belief that the strong will eliminate those who are weak and unnecessary. It is the Reason that Chiaki Hayasaka believes in. She believes that power is everything and that a world with only strong people in it would be beautiful. She believes in a world where the weak are categorised as worthless beings who disrupt the order and mislead, and should be weeded out.

“I will create a paradise with only the strongest and the best.”

The Ideal of Silence and Order: Shijima

The Reason of Hikawa, the leader of the Ginza based demon army, the Assembly of Nihilo. In order to establish a strong order in the chaotic world, he seeks to create a world devoid of individual desires and emotions. Where the individual is a single cog in the wheel that guides the world.

“The prophecy here is fulfilled. The world will cleanse the filth of desire, and be in silence.”

Other Residents of the Vortex World

Gozu-Tennoh (Voiced by Naomi Kusumi)

The leader of the Mantra Army, a group of demons who seek to resolve conflict through violence. Having the opposite beliefs to the Assembly of Nihilo, led by Hikawa, he plans to destroy Nihilo and attempts to create a massive conflict.

Gozu-Tennoh Priestess

A Manikin who serves Gozu-Tennoh as a shrine maiden. She has a spiritual gift, and advises Gozu-Tennoh and the Mantra Army.

Manikins

A non-human entity that appears in the Vortex World. They speak human language and have a human like appearance, but their emotions and beliefs are weak, and they spend their days being terrorised by the demons.

Futomimi (Voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya)

The leader of the Manikins, with a strong will and prophetic powers. He works hard to revive Asakusa to create a world where Manikins can live happily.

Sakahagi (Voiced by Kōji Yusa)

A heretical entity that has emerged from the Manikins. He attacks other Manikins and takes their skins. He is trying to grow his strength, and plans to eventually overcome the demons.

Locations

The city of Tokyo has changed in appearance due to the Tokyo Conception.

Many buildings have turned to desert or collapsed, but in some towns and facilities that have retained some semblance of their original appearance, demons and Manikins have gathered to live. Some cities are ruled over by certain Reasons.

Ikebukuro

Tall buildings as well as commercial buildings have survived. This town is where the main headquarters of the Mantra Army, led by Gozu-Tennoh, is located. It is connected to other cities by tunnels and underpasses which were formerly subway lines.

Ginza

A bar and jewelry store remain in typical Ginza style, both run by outsiders. Nearby is the headquarters of the Assembly of Nihilo, led by Hikawa.

Asakusa

A town that has been divided and scattered into parts by waterways and steps. It was desolated by the Tokyo Conception, but Manikins are reviving it.

Shinjuku

In the vicinity is Yoyogi Park, a location where greenery still remains; a rare sight in the Vortex World. The Shinjuku Hygienic Hospital, where the main characters witnessed the Conception, is also located in the Shinjuku area.

Shibuya

The area in-front of Shibuya station and underground shopping mall retains remnants of Tokyo from before the Conception. Many demons gather and, as in the past, demons meet up at the statue in front of the station.

Amala Corridor

A mysterious corridor which exists outside of the Vortex World. Flowing with Magatsuhi, the source of the demons’ power, there are demons who enter to obtain it.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster will launch for PlayStation 4 and Switch on October 29, 2020 in Japan, and on spring 2021 in the west.

[athelari]

6½. drala’fa

Day 6?/7 of the Mass Effect Trilogy Week : alternate entry for the Alternate Universe theme *Inception music intensifies*. 1.4k words; gen; instead of just Archangel, the whole gang is a vigilante group on Omega; Shepard/Thane in the background; no content warnings.

Omega. Home and battleground to countless gangs and merc groups, constantly embroiled in the Sisyphean struggle for supremacy. A place inhabited only by the desperate and those who prey on them, where crime drips and permeates every layer of society like water from a leaky pipe.

At least, before they arrived.

She leans against the railing and watches the crowd ebb and flow, bathed in the flickering neon lights. Just another day in their lives, filled with jobs and errands and the mundane realities of daily existence. To the average onlooker, the Gozu District looks no different from the rest of the station: packed, unwashed, and poor as dirt. But there's one key difference, one thing the Gozu has that the rest of the station lacks: safety.

“Shepard. Kasumi's here.”

She turns to see Kolyat, leaning against the doorway to the balcony. “Already?” Then, nodding at the datapad in his hand: “What’ve we got?”

He falls into step with her, long strides matching her brisk, militaristic pace. “Blue Suns harassing the clinic again. They haven't made any big moves, just loitering and showing off their guns, trying to look intimidating.” He sniffs, indignant. “As if Mordin would bat an eye.”

“Tell Garrus to escort the next shipment. Ten credits they'll turn tail the moment they see Archangel in the area.”

He hums a wordless acknowledgement. They round the corner, turning into a narrow corridor, footsteps echoing hollowly against metal walls. “Tali's finished cracking the new grid. We should be able to get in and out with no problem now. Word on the street says the warehouse is somewhere in the Fumi District.”

“Word on the street?” she echoes, raising an eyebrow. “Not Ish?”

“No. The quarian with the junk shop, and one of the dancers in Afterlife.”

“Kenn? He's reliable. Send someone discreet to give a quick look around. Better yet, reach out to the Talons. It's their territory Eclipse is breaching. If Kandros takes the bait, tell her they can have the loot as long as all the red sand is destroyed. I don’t wanna see a single crate make it to the market.”

The door swishes open, and they step into a small, square room. Like the rest of the base, it is sparsely decorated and serves a specific purpose; unlike most of its ilk, it contains a low table by the far wall, an old-fashioned calligraphic scroll in the old Rakhana style, and no other furniture.

As soon as they enter, Kasumi Goto whirls round to face them, a slight smirk on her painted lips. “Hey, Shep.” Her eyes flicker towards Kolyat, and her smile breaks into a grin. “Bō. Good to see you again.”

“Likewise,” Kolyat inclines his head towards her, and then turns to Shepard. “Dad's supposed be back any time now. I should go and see if his shuttle's arrived.”

She nods, and he makes his exit. Only after the doors shut behind him does Kasumi stir, head tilted at a jaunty angle and one hand on her hip. “Did he just say ‘I should go’? My, my. Sounds like you're infectious.” She gestures towards a box lying on the floor. “Here you go, everything as we agreed. Call it proof of my sincere loyalty.”

A large white case, emblazoned with the Cerberus logo, its lock forced open and jury-rigged shut again afterwards. Shepard eyes it over, noting the unscathed finish and clean, glossy paint. “I take it the mission was a success?”

Kasumi makes a dismissive noise. She kneels by the case and pops it open before adding, over her shoulder: “Don't get me wrong, the lock was triple-encrypted and the base security key changes every week. But even Cerberus' best and brightest is no match for the best thief in the galaxy.”

“Obviously,” Shepard agrees. She steps forward to peer into the case, before emitting a low whistle. “Is that what I think it is?”

“If you're thinking ‘one-of-a-kind custom sword with monomolecular blade’, then yeah.” Kasumi lifts it from the case, and lights dance on the ceiling where it reflects off the blade. “Snatched this baby from right under their noses. It was supposed to be for some wetworks guy, Ken or Kay or… something.”

She passes it to Shepard, who accepts it quickly, turning it in her hands and examining it with meticulous attention. “No curvature, no distinct marks… crossguard's ugly as they come. Does everything have to be black, white, and yellow?” She runs her thumb along the hilt until she finds the sensor. “Hah. Electrified. Did you hack the user key?”

“Not yet, but I'm sure our quarian friend will have no problem with it.” Kasumi pauses, waiting for a reply. When none seems forthcoming, she adds: “Or I can do it now if you want.”

“That won't be necessary.” Shepard lowers the sword again, placing it on the table. “And the rest?”

“Mostly Talons, Hornets, a few Eviscerators under the cloaking devices. I left them with Zaeed in the hangar.” Kasumi’s eyes sparkle with a professional’s pride in a job well done. “Told you I can do it.”

Shepard nods. “All right. You’ve proved your point. Just tell me one more thing.”

“Shoot.” Beat. “Not literally, I hope.”

“Why us?”

Their gazes meet. Shepard keeps her expression neutral, but she knows there’s no ambiguity in her silence. It says: you’re going to tell me exactly what I want to know, and you’re not going to lie, because we both know that won't be good for your health.

Kasumi shrugs. “At first? Just curiosity. Everyone knows the Drala'fa keep tight control over Gozu. I didn't think much of it at first. Sounded just like another protection racket to me. When Liara hired me to do the New Dawn heist, I was just in it for the score. Then you funnelled the entire shipment to the local clinic, pro bono. That’s when I knew you weren't just any gang.

“So, I started digging deeper. Turns out there’s more to you guys than robbing pharmaceutical corporations and monopolising the district. Aria may be the queen of Omega, but you’re the closest thing this place’s got to oversight. You don’t just keep the area under watch, you actually care about the people who live in it. Do you know how many escaped batarian slaves live in your district?”

“About two hundred and twenty,” Shepard answers readily. “At least half of them in Nictus’ apartment complex.”

“See? That’s what I mean. You’re not some big boss type. You’re…” Kasumi waves a hand in the air vaguely, “a shepherd. People don’t follow you because they’re scared of you. They follow you because they know you care.”

Shepard snorts. “Nice speech.”

“Thanks. I practiced in my bathroom this morning.”

“You really came prepared. I'm impressed.”

There's a bottle of elasa on the table, along with a single cup. Shepard uncorks the former, pours it into the latter, and takes a long sip. The alcohol buzzes in her mouth, bitter and fragrant, before burning its way down her throat to leave a sweet aftertaste.

Then she proffers the rest to Kasumi, a silent offering. There's a moment of perfect, breathless stillness.

(Does she know what accepting it would mean? She does. The faint glimmer of recognition in her dark eyes says so. She still remembers the old traditions, then. Good. Someone has to.)

Slowly, with great care, Kasumi takes the cup and downs its contents in one shot. She doesn't return the empty cup, but keeps it in her lap, holding it with both hands.

“Welcome to the Drala'fa, Kasumi,” Shepard leans forward to offer her hand, which the other woman promptly shakes. “Remember why we're here. Remember who we are. Remember who we stand for.”

“I will.”

A protracted pause. The cool air whirs like static.

Finally, it’s Kasumi who breaks the silence. She clears her throat and begins, almost apologetically: “You know, if you wanted the real deal, I can probably find you a crate or two. Human drinks are getting pretty popular in Thessia lately.”

Shepard chuckles. “Tempting. But maybe later. Right now, I’ve got a couple other jobs open. Word is Eclipse has a red sand warehouse somewhere in the Fumi District. Feel like doing a little recon work? Just recon; locate the warehouse, count heads, gauge their strength, the usual.”

“Sure.” Kasumi grins, and they both rise to their feet. She tugs the edge of her hood, pulling it deeper over her head, before adding: “You’re the boss, Boss.”

[satoshi-mochida]

Atlus has released a new set of screenshots for Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster featuring Reasons, characters, and city districts.

Here are some details:

System

Reasons – Tokyo, which fell to the Conception, transformed into a Vortex World polluted with demons, where the human survivors and demons fought with each other and plotted the creation of a new world. The conflict soon intensified, with a concentration on the humans that advocate “Reasons,” the philosophies of the new world. Former friends transformed into non-humans that advocate Reasons will confront the protagonist. After experiencing these Reasons first-hand, what kind of world will the protagonist choose in the end?

Characters

Musubi – The Reason of Isamu Nitta.

Yosuga – The Reason of Chiaki Hayasaka.

Shijima – The Reason of Hikawa.

Gozu-Tennoh (voiced by Naomi Kusumi)

Manikin Priestess

Manikin

Futomimi (voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya)

Sakahagi (voiced by Kouji Yusa)

City Districts – The Conception changed the appearance of Tokyo. While the city became a desert and many buildings collapsed, demons and Manikins gather and live in the several facilities and districts that have retained something of their former selves. Some districts have been institutionalized and are ruled under a specific Reason.

Ikebukuro

Ginza

Asakusa

Shinjuku

Shibuya

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is due out for PlayStation 4 and Switch on October 29 in Japan, and in spring 2021 worldwide.

View the screenshots at the gallery.

[dgcatanisiri]

I’m frequently conflicted with what is the most in character response for my Shepards with the batarian plague victim we find as we enter the Gozu District.

Because yes, this IS. a person suffering and in pain, barely holding on to life, with good reason not to trust humans, so his antagonism towards Shepard is entirely understandable. At the same time, Shepard’s experiences with batarians are slavers and mercenaries, generally trying to take their head off. It’s racism, but it’s racism with a root cause - the amount of batarian slavery operations we read about, plus Balak in Bring Down the Sky, and various skirmishes with them paint a picture of brutal butchers and terrorists as a cultural rule.

THIS is why we needed a batarian companion, offer us more of a nuanced insight into the species. Instead, we can easily just dismiss them as evil bastards, and nothing in the game proper, nothing mandatory to interact with, shows us an alternative.

[inquartata30]

The Scenic Route: Chapter 6

For Fictober 2019

Prompt (s): 3. “Now? Now you listen to me?” 11. “It’s not always like this.” 13. “I never knew it could be this way.” 15. “That’s what I’m talking about!” 19. “Yes, I admit it, you were right.” 20. “You could talk about it, you know?” 21. “Change is annoyingly difficult.” 23. “You can’t give more than yourself.” 27. “Can you wait for me?”

Category: Fanfiction

Fandom: Mass Effect

Rating: M

Pairing: Lexi T’Perro/Thaia Kallistrate

Characters: Lexi T’Perro, Thaia Kallistrate, OCs Everywhere

Tags: Alternate Universe, No Reaper AU, Canon-Typical Violence, Prompt Fic, Romance, Friends to Lovers, Soulmates, Humor, There Was Only One Bed, Make Out To Look Casual, Shut Up Kiss, Fake Marriage, Idiots in Love, Mutual Pining, Everyone’s An Enabler, Interrupted Confession of Feelings, Everyone’s Alive, Oh My God They Were Roommates, Flimsy Premise, Use Your Words

Summary: Thaia and Lexi take an unplanned vacation to the Terminus Systems. What could possibly go wrong? A Fictober fic with All The Prompts and a great big handful of tropes for good measure.

Chapter 6: Backroad

Pack resting comfortably on her back, Thaia took note of the visible guards Soraya had deployed in the docking bay. There were two near the large set of doors that marked where the docking ring connected to the main street of the Gozu District. Two more stood at the edge of the shuttle’s assigned slip. If Thaia could see only four guards, it meant there were at least equally as many out of sight. There might even be more visible guards at the other end of the bay. Considering that the bay was basically empty compared to the day before, it was entirely possible that the simple presence of guards employed by Aria scared everyone off.

It also meant that this area of the docking bay was as safe as Omega could be and tension Thaia didn’t even realize was between her shoulders eased. 

It came back the instant she realized that Aria could be around since the place was essentially deserted.

Fuck.

Read the rest on AO3

[streetlites]

I walked slowly through the Gozu District, careful to stop and look into a stall or two on my way home – if I bolted straight there, eyes would see; people would know I had something valuable.  So I did my best to appear to drag my feet, even though every stop I made produced a nervous, prickling feeling in my spine.

I haggled a vendor for a lower price on a package of spicy ramyun (would a salvager with a good haul do that?! I don’t think so!) loudly enough that none of the other stall vendors would make eye contact with me for the rest of the torturous march home. They may not even for the next week – though my favorite food at a discount was worth it. Plus, no one would even think about meeting me back at my place to get the first look at what I picked up.

I breathed easier when I slid the bay door of the shop closed behind me, shutting away the clanking noise of the station outside. I pulled my helmet off and took in a deep breath and, even though the air of my living space smelt of oil and grease, it was sweet and cool compared to the recycled air that flowed through my suit. My head jerked up in surprise when I caught a shadow passing across the service window; I was so concerned with getting out of the protective armor that I hadn’t even considered curtaining the front of the shop, too.

“Get it together,” I scolded myself as I jerked the heavy curtain over the barred window. I dragged the bag with all the pistols toward my work table and buried the weapons in drawers where I kept screws, nuts, and bolts to make them harder to find. I’d given the machine guns and most of the vials of red sand to the guys that ferried me to the debris fields; an extremely high payment, but it’d keep me in their good graces for those lean trips.

I paced through the shop; where should I put the sniper rifle? The stock and barrel were too big to hide in my supply bins unlike the pistols. I found myself staring at my bed – sighing, I put the heavy objects under the mattress. I’d have to reach out to my contact with the Blue Suns to sell the weapons off; preferably tonight because I didn’t enjoy sleeping on merchandise.

I stood and cracked my back, a hand wandering to my pocket and palming a small vial of red sand. I didn’t normally like to partake, but it would take the anxiety out of the call I needed to make; I was already on edge as it was. I decided on a small bump, just enough to clear my head and feel good.

Red sand wasn’t like cocaine, it didn’t numb anything. In fact, if it was pure, you’d feel a comfortable warmth spreading through your body – a result of the small amount of biotic power that your nervous system would generate on its own. I waved my fingers, smiling at the sparks and the pleasant drip down the back of my throat. There was no burn at all, a sign that it hadn’t been cut with anything; I’d get a good price on the vials I had kept.

“Well, well, Diamat, seems that our little tenant has finally made her way back home,” came a voice from behind me. I stiffened, I hadn’t heard them enter.

“So she has,” agreed a masculine voice. “I hope, for her sake, she didn’t spend her rent money on that red sand she’s carrying.”

I whirled around, I’d already paid this week, and stood dumbfounded for a second. The two in front of me weren’t from the G-Pack, the gang that had been running the protection racket for the last few years. No, these two didn’t have any sort of identifying clothing and they were more synth than human. The red sand boosted my spirits, I’d talk to them. Tell them about my deal with the G-Pack; they’d understand. “Whoa, whoa,” I protested. “I already paid rent this week to G-Pack –“

“Do we look like we work for those pyjaks?” The man hissed. Honestly, I couldn’t tell who they worked for – there weren’t a lot of groups that would hire so-called ‘transcendentalists’. It was outlawed in most places to merge with synthetics, especially to the degree that these two had, but Omega was a place built around the absence of laws.

“B-but I-“ I sputtered.

“It doesn’t matter who the hell you paid, Terra Libra has Gozu now. Rent is 1000 credits a week. Pay up.” The woman demanded. If she had ever been human at all, you could no longer tell; every part of her body appeared to be mechanical.

I swallowed uneasily, that was 500 more a week than I had been paying. I didn’t even think I could keep up with that amount and eat unless I stayed out in the field. I would need to move soon, as much as I hated the thought. “I don’t have 1000 credits on me right now. Unless you’d like this red sand? I have two full vials, they’re excellent quality! Easily worth-“

The woman laughed, a hollow sound, one that I’d imagine she perfected to show exactly how inhuman she’d become. “What good is red sand to either of us, meat sack?”

I grimaced, I could feel my high starting to drop. The warmth that had flowed so easily before they’d made themselves known now burned through me. “Okay. I guess it’s no good for either of you,” I agreed. “But I’ll have the money tomorrow, if you’ll come by then. All of it.”

“If you can pay it tomorrow, must mean there’s something worth it in here,” the man spoke, looking around my shop. “How about we look through your things, see if we can’t reach a deal that way.”

I couldn’t let them do that – the guns were worth closer to 5000, even with a discount. They’d take them, shoot me, and leave me to die. That’s what the rent amount was meant to do anyway. “No, you can’t. It’s not here and,” I stepped to the side to block the man’s path, “if you take everything, I won’t be able to pay next week either.”

He smiled wickedly at my defiance, cracking his knuckles. The fembot stood with what appeared with nonchalance, slowly sweeping her gaze across the garage. Was she scanning the area? What could she see? I could still feel the power behind my fingertips, a sick feeling creeping over me. This power, it felt like it could be more; as if there were a well and, if I opened myself to it, I could drown them. Both of them. Crushing like thin aluminum. Ripped apart with wires… I closed my eyes and whimpered as pain lanced through my body.

“Look, Delores, she’s about to cry,” the masculine voice mocked. “Little girl, we’re getting paid today. And, if I can speak candidly, I really like it when people cry when I make them pay.”

Reach for it, it called. Whatever ‘it’ was. I hoped it wasn’t just the high from the red sand talking or these two would have an easy time of ripping me apart instead. I grabbed for it wildly and gasped audibly. The power flooding through me couldn’t have come from that bump. It was a torrent – and everything in me screamed; CRUSHRIPDESTROYCRUSHRIPDESTROY.

I took a step forward, giddy. It wouldn’t be me that would disappear tonight. Not now. Not ever. The power told me I could crush these people, I could avenge my mother, I could avenge Boro. I just had to start here. It had to start with them. I raised my hands, let the energy arc dangerously – it wouldn’t hurt me. It is me.

The woman’s servos whined as she opened and shut her mouth in fear, but no screams came from her metal body. She knew what I knew; neither she or her partner would survive me. I released, uncaring if it destroyed the shop - I wouldn’t be able to stay here after tonight anyway – the ball of blue light shot out, large and terrific, grabbing their bodies into the air, twisting them into grotesque shapes, throwing them against the walls and ceiling; grabbing more and more debris into their death spiral.

I don’t know how I knew when they were dead. If it was the power, I’ll never know, but I knew enough to stretch my hand toward the light and reclaim the energy back into my body; the suspended detritus dropping to the floor with a deafening crash. I stared at it mournfully, the high gone from me completely and, with it, the power and confidence I had felt.

With a dawning horror, I realized that I was staring at the wreckage of my life and the only thing I could do now was run.