synflux | ▶ TEAM BUILDING EVENT #2

▶ TEAM BUILDING EVENT #2

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #2

CONTENT WARNINGS: forced scenarios, altered mood, illness, disaster aftermath, kidnapping, interrogation & torture, violence.

▶ 001. FLOWER VIEWING.

The Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency is very excited to report that cherry blossom season has begun, and the cherry blossom (and plum blossom) trees are blooming right on schedule once again. It’s a rare time where the concrete jungle of Neo Tokyo blossoms in beautiful shades of pink and white, and due to past conservation efforts to protect the natural cherry blossom trees, there are natural trees in season all over the city. It’s a sight to behold, and the people are very excited about it, setting up picnic mats and enjoying the beauty of nature with their friends and family. Even with all the distractions of technology, even with the looming knowledge that the next Kaiju could advance at any second, Hanami continues to be a popular custom, still being practiced centuries after the world was first at siege.

Outsiders are free to do as they like during this period. Some of the city still needs to be rebuilt from the recent floods, but stall owners have organized themselves splendidly to capitalize on the season. Traditional foods and snacks to enjoy with your loved ones at Hanami include dango, cherry blossom cookies, sakura mochi, onigiri, and hanami bento sets including sushi rolls, kamaboko and tamagoyaki. Prepare your own, or grab one at the many stalls offering them on their menu. Lots of places are selling sake at half off.

For Outsiders who want to do more than sit at the picnic, they can break up fights between the locals over the best picnic spots (they are very intense about this), or help track when the trees are blooming throughout the city and report directly to the Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency. They’re happy to pay. If Outsiders choose to report where trees are blooming, they will accept a small form on their ocular devices and encouraged to walk in a pair or group for accuracy when gathering information. The form will include date, location, the kinds of trees blooming and how well they are blooming. (Players are free to head canon any information about this.)

Those who stay too long amongst the flowers might find themselves coming down with an … interesting form of hay fever. Symptoms can include flu-like symptoms, or uncontrollable giggling and elation. Looks like the flood waters from before are affecting the trees in some way.

"Mrrow … The effects will wear off in a few days. I’m a busy cat. Drink water, get plenty of rest. Come back when there’s something to actually worry about. Now, Alex, where did you put my mousey – "

▶ 002. WHITE DAY.

Here in Neo Tokyo, LILITH wants all its Outsiders to be happy and bonded as a team. A team that cannot work together will crumble in the next Kaiju attack. While it’s a great sentiment, the organization is a little too fond of … coercive methods. Just as chocolate was provided last month for Valentine’s Day, Outsiders will be airdropped several boxes of chocolates on March 14th, also known as White Day. A brief is beamed to their implant:

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Return the chocolate previously handed out to you on Valentines’ Day.
✖ For new Outsiders and Outsiders with leftover boxes, hand them all out to other Outsiders by the end of the day.
✖ Failure to comply will be grounds for disciplinary action.

Just as before, a failure to comply with these requirements will result in Outsiders being saddled with cleaning duty of the cafeteria and communal showers for a week, or a house arrest of 24 hours in their rooms.

As a note, we are leaving it up to players to decide how many boxes they are saddled with and how much they need to do to avoid punishment.

▶ 003. BUDDY UP.

With new Outsiders arriving at the base, LILITH wants them to feel as welcome as possible. Older Outsiders will be tasked to take a newbie under their wing and buddy up with them for a number of days (to a few weeks). The newbie, meanwhile, will be ordered to shadow a more experienced Outsider throughout that whole time to learn as much as possible about life as a LILITH recruit. LILITH expects the oldbies to act as a true senpai, but will ultimately leave it up to them to decide how best to nurture the new arrivals. A Shutterstock image will appear in the implants along with suggestions. Some suggestions provided by the LILITH Outsider Management Committee include:

✖ Giving them a tour of the base and city.
✖ Training sessions in fighting, use of weaponry and use of technology.
✖ Welcome parties and dinners to make them feel included.
✖ Shadowing the older arrival throughout their daily routine.
✖ Heart to heart sharing sessions about their worries and anxieties.
✖ Physical and mental health check ins.
✖ Buddying up with them during upcoming missions, simulation training and even the Kaiju fight.

These team ups will be assigned by LILITH randomly, and one newbie can be buddied up with multiple older recruits (the system might glitch on occasion and pair older Outsiders together too). How long the pair ups last is up to player discretion. Non-compliance on the part of older or newer Outsiders will be punished with increased cleaning duties. LILITH hopes to foster a culture of mutual growth and support within its employees!

As for recruits who have not been getting along, old and new, LILITH has been hearing everything spoken between Outsiders. Some need exercises to get along. Outsiders will be asked one morning to meet in the Simulation Arena and line up in an orderly fashion. Captain Yamakawa will be going down the line, shuffling characters who need to get along together. She will place a small, metal device on their wrists.

With a push of a button, two characters will be linked together by the wrist by a pair of invisible handcuffs. They are asked to spend between 24 - 48 hours together and go about their day, encouraged to talk about their vulnerabilities or things they have in common. This is to encourage them to get along.

✖ Spend a day or two with someone you hate and find a common ground. Good luck!

▶ 004. AID & REBUILD.

LILITH is dedicated to protecting and flourishing the city of Neo Tokyo. That’s why it’s pulled in Outsiders with such a wide array of skill sets. Every Kaiju attack devastates the citizens in some way - whether it’s through physical hurt and pain, emotional grief and stress, or losing a home or livelihood. It doesn’t help that there was panic around animal hybrids being let loose in the city shortly after. That’s why Outsiders will receive a similar objective each time: Rebuild the city of Neo Tokyo. This general objective is broken down into many small missions that Outsiders will receive throughout the month.

█ █ █ ASSORTED MISSIONS:
✖ REBUILD THE CITY. Following the repeated flooding, many apartments and businesses have been destroyed. Outsiders are tasked with helping to rebuild homes and support the local businesses to recover. This can include aiding the construction work (particularly along the beach and near to the coast) and helping out at local shops. Many shops selling specialty Hanami treats are looking for help making their goods. Never made sakura mochi before? Today, you will learn. Outsiders are free to assume that their workplaces were affected and call out for help.
✖ AID THE PEOPLE. Outsiders with skill sets in healthcare or healing (or whoever wishes to help) will be tasked to support the clinics and hospitals manage their patient load. This can include cooking for hospital kitchens, changing linen and caring for the sick and wounded.
✖ CLEAN UP. Exactly as it says on the tin. Clean up any marine waste that’s been washed onto the shore or rubble that’s fallen in the wrong place. Hazmat suits in outrageous colours are provided on request.
✖ CAPTURE REMAINING HYBRIDS. Though most of LILITH’s specimens have been contained, Dr. Spim (who’s been saddled with inventory work) reports that there are some still missing - and this includes their most valuable specimen of all. Outsiders are tasked to go hunting for these hybrids and bringing them back to the base. They may need to scour the streets or look through social media to find them. They may also need to steal a beloved pet, if said pet looks more like a winged rabbit than a regular rabbit. (Outsiders who have smuggled hybrids for themselves should take care not to be found ❤)

▶ 005. LEVEL 000.

Later during the month, some Outsiders will be tasked with a very specific mission. Remember those auctioneers who were captured at The Sapphire Room? They’re currently in the custody of LILITH, and with most of LILITH’s staff focused on organizing and containing the hybrid specimens that have been captured as well, they are far too bogged down to conduct their usual interrogation processes. This is where the Outsiders come in. Some Outsiders will receive a special mission to interrogate the captives and retrieve information by any means necessary. It works out splendidly too, because it shows the organization just what their imported workforce is … morally capable of. Outsiders will be paired up and brought to LEVEL 000, a basement level within the main base that is restricted access only. Did we always have a basement level? Best not to think about it.

A guiding drone will lead them to the cell room and instruct them to keep their eyes forward. There’s no need to look at the other cells around you. There is no one of interest there. Within the cell is one of the captives from the raid, who’s bound to a chair by metal shackles.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Extort information from the captive by any means necessary. LILITH requires information about the whereabouts of Dr. Tanaka Junichiro, the organization behind the kidnapping, how they managed to trip up LILITH’s systems, and information about the whereabouts of the remaining hybrids (including their most valuable specimen).
✖ Outsiders are permitted to use any method they see fit, including physical and psychological torture. Weapons of torture such as blades, pliers, tasers, whips and torches are available for use. Outsiders may not take any weapon with them when they leave the cell.

Following the interrogation, they will be escorted out of LEVEL 000 by the guiding drone, and they will not be able to access it again without special clearance. Successful extortion of information will be rewarded with 50,000 KRYPTO debited to their accounts.

NOTE: This mission will be shared with only certain Outsiders, so it is essentially opt-in. Players who want to receive interrogation clues about the Starlight X mini-plot can comment below and receive an RNG clue. We will leave it up to players to NPC their own captives. Most of them are small-time gang members looking to make an extra buck or mercenaries hired to guard the auction. For extra moral panic, there are one or two regular people down on their luck who ran into the wrong crowd. Please note that due to the limited number of captives and the information they may know, players may receive duplicate clues.

UPDATE 3/16: Players will have until the end of March to submit for interrogation clues.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our second CR Building event! All prompts are highly encouraged but OOCly optional. Feel free to ask any event-related questions below!

As always, you are free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts!

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each. Have fun! The next log will feature the kaiju fight and will be posted on APRIL 1st in lieu of a TDM.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's White Day!

He had given Raidou a present on Valentine's Day, but it hadn't been special; it had been a friend style chocolate, like the ones he might have had from the girls in middle school. It didn't have that same meaning, and now a month later... Yuji wants to give him something a little bit different. Something that has some meaning to it, some message, especially since White Day is meant to be for the boys.

It's special, and it makes him want to put the effort in.

Hours after making the decision, Yuji had been forced to contend with the fact that he might not be that good at buying gifts for someone he really cares about, and had ended up attempting to make some homemade chocolates, despite his lack of experience later. A burned finger and a few disasters later, and he's wandering around trying to find Raidou, a little band aid on one finger and a small box in his hand.

When he spots the other boy, it's like the sun itself has exploded inside of him as he brightens, waving. ]

Hey! Johei!

[Even if its in his usual understated way, Raidou similarly brightens on seeing Yuji, going from his normal deadpan look as he hands out these chocolates, to a warm smile.]

Oh, there you are.

[He has something, too, but all he seems to be carrying are the LILITH-issued boxes of chocolates, which he sets down on a nearby hallway windowsill.]

Ah, I asked around about this holiday, and... [He looks away, rubbing the back of his neck, trailing off. Nanami said not to take the holiday too seriously, but he wanted to do a little something. He reaches into a pocket and takes out an omamori pouch, a blue one with a braided keychain attachment and little bell, embroidered with the characters for happiness on it. Maybe his fellow shrine workers tried to convince him into a romance one, but he was far too embarrassed for that - besides, he felt like this one was more appropriate.]

Here. You can keep this on you until next year, yeah?

[Besides, he's saving the chocolate for the party this weekend.]

You were looking for me too?

[ That makes something bubble inside of him, a blossoming warmth. He also catches the softness of Raidou's smile, the sort of thing that he's keeping for himself, reaching out and holding the memory into his mind; something to give him happiness in those darker moments. Stepping closer, he nods his head.

When the gift is handed over, his fingers wrap around the omamori pouch and stroking his thumb against the embroidery. It might not seem like much to anyone else, but... It means a lot to him.

It's a gift from Raidou. ]

Am I allowed to keep it for longer than that?

[ It's not as if he's wanting to give it back, since it's such a nice gift... Lifting his head, he looks at Raidou shyly. ]

Edited 2024-03-14 18:24 (UTC)

[He grins a little at that.]

Well, you know you should burn it after a year, and I could get you a new one. But I won't tell the gods you still have it if you don't.

[Superstitions are just that. Of course he can keep it. Hopefully Raidou won't bring him any bad luck.

Arms folded shyly, Raidou fiddles with the sleeves of his shirt.]

I know it's not much, but... happy White Day, Yuji.

[ Yuji rubs the back of his head absently and breathes out, looking sheepish. ]

Yeah, but it's... Really cute, that's all.

[ He steps closer, leaning up to kiss his cheek gently. ]

It's perfect, because it's a gift from you.

[ No fiddling allowed... Reaching out, Yuji takes his hand. ]

Thank you. I mean it.

Of course.

[His face is burning red after that kiss, and he laces his fingers with Yuji's. Hmm? What's that?

He holds both their hands up together, looking at the band-aid on Yuji's finger. The idea that Yuji might get hurt by something small enough to require one is actually a little amusing when you think about it.]

What happened?

[ Yuji blinks, staring down at his hand before he laughs, shaking his head. Oh, that... ]

I burned myself making your present. I almost forgot.

[ He reaches into his pocket and tugs out the little box, wrapped in black and blue ribbons. Inside are some clearly handmade chocolates - they're shakily designed, but they're cute little cats. Each one looks like the ones they saw on their onsen adventure. ]

Happy White Day, Johei.

[Raidou blinks at it, wondering if he's ever gotten such a thoughtful gift before.]

You made these.

[A rhetorical statement, him confirming that idea. His surprise melts back into that warm expression quickly.]

They're so... [They're just so dang cute. His smile turns a little teasing.] I almost hate to eat them. But I can't let you go getting injured for no reason, can I.

Yeah? That's what people do, sometimes, in my world.

[ They're not exactly nice looking, a little lumpy and oddly shaped, but Yuji put his heart into it, so...

He hopes that Raidou enjoys them even if they don't look the best, since they're made of normal, good chocolates.

Nudging the boy beside him gently, he glances away, suddenly shy. ]

It's not as if it won't heal quickly... But thanks.

And thank you. [Yuji gets nudged back, Raidou's hand still entwined with his.

He does look at his pile of chocolate boxes left and sighs a little though.]

Did you get assigned so many this time?

Not that many? I did a lot on Valentine's Day though, so maybe it carries over from that.

[ Yuji smiles a little, leaning in. He wants to kiss Raidou again - he owes him six, right? - but they're still hanging around in the base publicly, so... ]

The only person I wanted to give something to was you.

Ah, maybe... It all feels so disingenuous. [Raidou ended up leaving a lot of his Valentine's chocolates in the kitchen. Maybe this is his punishment for giving up.]

When Yuji says that, he turns to him again, head tilted with a light smile.]

Same.

It’s weird isn’t it? And we get in trouble if we don’t… [ Ah well. He’s given out his fair share of chocolates, so these are just for his… Close, good friend Raidou who he sometimes kisses a lot. Hm.

Lifting his hands, he can’t resist the urge to smoosh Raidou’s cheeks, if he’s permitted, his own smile going soft. ]

I really want to kiss you, but…

[ In public and all, and his Johei is a cute Victorian when it comes to this sort of thing. ]

[A question like that catches his breath a little, and he bits his lip in thought for a moment. The hall is empty for now, but it definitely won't stay that way for long in this busy base. Especially not on a day where everyone is scrambling to exchange meaningless chocolates.

He leans in to kiss Yuji, strong but quick, then leans to his ear to whisper.]

More later, once I'm done with these. You owe me five more now, remember?

[He gives his hand a quick squeeze before letting go, then picking up his remaining boxes with and heading off, a knowing smile given to Yuji before he walks off.]

[ Yuji’s brain struggles to catch up with what Raidou’s saying after the kiss, his mouth tingling a little - it feels easy, natural, to kiss him like that, and his eyes widen. For a moment, he looks like a gaping fish before his brain finally starts to get gears moving again.

He does owe five more! ]

Yeah! That’s okay, I can wait!

[ But - hold up - ]

Where should I wait?

[ He’d stand in the hallway like a puppy if told to. ]

[Raidou disappears around the corner without an answer, but fret not. He's just gathering up some courage, and responding via text.]

Wherever you like. Give me 30 minutes.

We do live in the same hall, after all.

[ Wow, Yuji is endeared by him… ]

i’ll be in my room! don’t forget me!

I could never.

[He will absolutely be there, too, not much longer later. Everyone here is in the same boat when it comes to these chocolates, so it's not too hard to get rid of them. He won't just drop the rest on a cafeteria table like he did last time, since he's pretty sure that's why he's been saddled with so many this time. Still better than getting grounded.

There's a soft knock on Yuji's door that can only be one person.]

[ Cute…

Yuji was lounging in bed, letting himself relax and idly scroll through the network as he waits. It’s mostly checking in on Choso, Megumi and Kugisaki - the usual. The knock at the door has him bolting up, though, rushing over and opening it with a wide smile.

Excited? Him? No way. ]

Hi, Johei. Come in.

Hi. [He does a little reflexive check of the hallway behind him this time before slipping inside. One snarky comment from Lucy was enough, thanks.

He holds up his hands to either side of them to indicate the lack of the pesky chocolates, smile on his face. Work's all done for the day.]

Another strange holiday is in the books, I suppose.

Do you think I should look ahead and warn you of other ones coming up?

[ The door shuts behind them, and Yuji is slipping closer, wrapping his arms around Raidou’s waist gently. He can’t resist it… ]

Then you’ll be prepared.

There can't possibly be another holiday like this in the year, can there?

[Isn't two enough?! What if LILITH starts making up holidays, what then.

He sighs in relief as Yuji puts his arms around him, his own going around the other boy's shoulders loosely.]

At least I knew this one was coming, this time.

Well, there's Children's Day... And Sports Day!

[ Yuji always liked the idea of that one, given his prowess at sport. His hands stroke absently against Raidou's back, humming softly. ]

I don't know how they could make team building out of those days, though.

But no more like these last two. Got it.

[So many new holidays... Honestly though he likes the idea of sports day too.]

Mm, I'm sure they would definitely come up with something for the latter. Team competitions. [Suddenly very glad he and Yuji are on the same team here.

Without Yuji, though, he wouldn't have even cared much about these two past holidays at all. How quickly things have changed.]

... I tried one of your chocolates. You did a good job, you know.

There could be more! Who knows what other kind of holidays they've made up in the time that's passed...

[ Are there going to be any more strange things, or will they just do more silly team building like the ones from before... Yuji doesn't mind too much, but he knows a few people who would.

Megumi would probably hate that kind of thing, and Kugisaki would complain, let alone the others...

Lifting his head, though, his eyes widen at the knowledge that his gift has been appreciated. ]

You liked them? [ His delight is obvious, leaning into Raidou's space without hesitation. ] I messed up so many times I thought I was never going to make something you'd enjoy.

▶ 001. FLOWER VIEWING.

▶ 002. WHITE DAY.

▶ 003. BUDDY UP.

▶ 004. AID & REBUILD.

▶ 005. LEVEL 000.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

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