And it doesn't affect just him - it affects the whole team, and even leaguers just vaguely in their presence. Ryuuken now just radiates the same *cosmos* Juu did. Much weaker in comparison, sure, but the very fact of a pure machine achieving sufficient extent of obsession and true madness is, on its own, terrifying for anyone involved.

And now the idea of Ryuu dabbling into dark arts because of it nags on my brain, music I listen to right now be damned.

@hereticmetal Not just mind - the echo of Juu's presence resonates, *sings* throughout his very being, sending shivers to the very last bolt of his frame and erratic signals to every single pin of his processor, not a single one of which he can comprehend now, that Juu is a world away <3

And things don't just end on chasing - he is digging, breaking, building, tearing, learning, *changing* from within to get that sensation of *feeling*, ***existing*** again.

He WILL understand. He WILL comprehend. He WILL *FEEL* once more. He will make his heart *beat* the same way Juurouta made it *beat*.

...and I prolly should either get back to drawing or go to bed. The Thoughts™️ be overwhelming...

@hereticmetal Methinks by the time that happens Juu will leave enough eldritchness in him for Ryuu to be able to spread it on his own owo

If not, then divine madness shall commence, and Ryuu shall change from a hot-headed dumbass to a guy so terrifyingly obsessed with experiencing *the that* once more that he'll spite gods themselves just to achieve that, pre-programmed caps on abilities be damned.

@hereticmetal Yes indeed, you get a cookie m'dude >🍪

However, the creature in question is related to eldritch creatures in EP instead, while the ship-related theming comes from EP Juurouta being akin to an eldritch entity themself.

Love meself a clueless and soulless machine getting exposed to things from beyond the unknown and getting horny about suddenly being able to *feel* and gaining proper sentience.
(Also mabe some bodyhorror too.)