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

[He does not know that. Bakugo usually makes sure he knows about his dorm mates skills in battle, but their personal lives, not so much unless it's involved with his own. Or they bring it up during interaction.

Safely behind a mask, Bakugo aims them to the side, looking to get out from under the sakura as soon as possible.]

Either you got some shit up your nose or it's something worse. [Which makes him suspicious of... well... the sakura trees? He'd like to say allergies, but Tsurumaru doesn't seem the type to be allergic.] What'd you eat today?

For breakfast, I had rice, salmon, miso soup, and some pickles.

(Very traditional. Very typical. A light, healthy breakfast for someone who isn't a very healthy eater. He's always been the type to enjoy smaller meals and snack in between.)

And for lunch, I had a riceball with sour plum and hanami dango.

(Again, very light and simple. It sounds like something someone would have if they just wanted to eat quickly while they were out which would make sense. Most people are appreciating the cherry blossoms and just snacking while they drink. In the end... there's nothing strange in his diet, though.)

Do you think something is wrong with the food, Bakkun?

(Yeah, that's a nickname.)

[While he would like to say there's something wrong with the food... he doubts it. The way Tsurumaru is sneezing and getting stuffed up seems way more likely to be from an airborne cold or allergies/reactions. Considering the last month's cold and fighting with the kaiju in the water, and this month's springtime blooming, it could be either of those. Hell, Tsurumaru could just have some pollen up his nose and it hasn't come out yet or irritated his sinuses before it left.]

No. It's something in the air. [He bristles at the nickname, but it's not insulting or anything (since it's no a 'kun' stuck on the end) so Tsurumaru gets a pass for now.] We'll find out in a while.

[Mostly if other Outsiders start coming down with it. He heads across the street to make for the little restaurant.]

(There's the cafe up ahead. It's easy to spot with its bright white sign with a scratchy and faded coffee cup on the front. When they enter, it's cozy and quiet and songs from a radio play in the background.)

Something in the air...

(He sneezes once, twice, three times now. Sorry. It's a good thing they're getting inside away from the pollen.)

It's only cherry blossoms.

[Someone needs a new sign... Bakugo pushes the door open and glances around when he enters. Immediately judges it as acceptable. Something loud and rowdy or overly cutesy would've seen him walk right out of the place. Never know with cafes... especially in a place like Japan.]

Sakura aren't the only plant that blooms in spring, Jiji!

[Anything could've triggered this. He waits for Tsusumaru to finish trying to blow his lungs out his mouth before heading to a table by the side.]

But I was fine until they bloomed.

(And he raises his hand to get a menu. The server brings them two small glasses of water and he begins to flip over the menu,)

--My treat.

(Of course, elders should spoil children. He'll let Bakugo choose from the menu for something.)

[Which only raises further suspicion that the sakura are the culprits for this. Not a thought that sits well with Bakugo. Everyone's out looking at the blooms, spelling trouble if they all end up getting ill before some damn disaster arises...

He picks up the glass and tugs his mask down to drink.]

I've got my own money, dammit.

[Not that it's an outright refusal... But he swipes a menu for himself.]

You should get something hot and liquid. It'll head off whatever you're dealing with.

So do I.

(He also has money so what is the point?)

Mhm. Tea sounds good. (Why does he sound so old when he says that...) But I want something to go with it, too.

[HE DOESN'T NEED THE CONCERN, THAT'S WHAT!! Though he's not saying it.]

Soup. Or chili if they have it.

[Yeah, he's telling the old man what to do.]

Something sweet.

(That's what he wants and no one is going to take that from him. He's leaning over to look at their single menu. Sure, he has to read upside down but he can see the pictures,)

I want this.

(And the picture he points to is... a pudding a la mode.)

[HE'S NOT LISTENING TO A WORD HE SAYS, IS HE!!]

You're getting sick and you want something sweet?!

[Can't he at least order... hot shiruko or something? Bakugo gives Tsurumaru another exasperated look.]

Fine, eat it and die. I don't care.

[The guy who was just complaining about being broken and not breathing is directly ignoring advice to help.

You ever just wanna beat someone over the head with the menu?]

I always feel better after eating something sweet!

(See, now they're beginning to get looks from the staff who are wondering why these two are making so much noise on their slow and quiet day. Tsurumaru holds up a hand in front of him in apology,)

Besides, (Quieter but as cheery as ever,) even during tea ceremony, you get a sweet treat to go with the tea.

It's only natural to enjoy tea with sweets.

Che! Do what you want.

[He's not going to argue with him. Though if Tsurumaru ends up worse, don't expect Bakugo to come help! He flips the menu back up to scan over the options again, ignoring the way the staff are giving them the strange looks. Bakugo's usually noisy when he's irritated.]

This isn't a tea ceremony, Jiji. This is you with a fucking cold or worse.

We're in a tea house.

(Kind of. It's more like a cafe but what is a cafe but a more modern and western version of a tea house...)

And there's tea and sweets.

(And hes' decided he'll treat Bakugo for his company so that takes care of the hospitality front.)

I think it's close enough.

(

he looks away to sneeze again.)

We're in a cafe.

[There's a big difference in Bakugo's opinion. He's sat through one tea ceremony in his life and he fucking hated it. Boring, long, overblown, the results were marginally different than just making it at home in a pot, and definitely not improved by his impatience.]

You can get tea and sweets in most restaurants in this place!

[It's not close to a ceremonial tea house at a-

-another sneeze. Least he looked away.]

Here. So you don't break your neck. [Bakugo hands him the menu. He saw Tsurumaru trying to read it upside down.]

(He doesn't get it... a cafe is just another tea house to him!!!

Looking over the menu, he raises a hand for the server to come and orders for himself: Regular hot tea and he chats with the server for just a moment to request,)

With the pot and honey on the side. (Which is apparently allowed.) And a "pudding a la mode."

(Looking over at Bakugo from behind the menu, prompting him to order too...)

[Fine. Call it a fucking tea house if you want. Doesn't change the fact it's NOT a tea house.

Bakugo scowls at the guy for being a chatterbox, but he already knew that was coming down the pipe. Once Tsurumaru's done ordering, he puts in an order for hot miso soup and a spicy bento. At least the guy's getting hot tea...]

You're gonna be asking for relief later tonight.

(The server leaves to prepare their orders and Tsurumaru only laughs,)

Then I'll ask.

(He doesn't seem too bothered and he sniffs,)

But I already feel better.

(Being inside definitely seems to be helping.)

[Bakugo tugs the menu back to scan it over again, then sets it off to the side.]

Huh. [He seems both interested and vindicated in that little comment. If Tsurumaru already feels a little better... maybe it really is the trees outside. Pollen in general or the sakura themselves, who knows.]

People should start wearing masks for the blooming week if it's gonna affect them.

(He's still sniffling and there will definitely still be the occassional sneeze but he isn't nearly the hopeless mess he was outside a moment ago, )

Do you think it's the trees? I've never had a problem before...

(And he can kind of... make his own cherry blossoms at certain times so it seems strange.)

Then again, the air in this world is different than how it used to be.

(You now, back in the past? And not even that far back because he's been around far awhile...)

[As long as he doesn't get gross about it.]

You remember those toxic plants we had to deal with in the sewer?

[Bakugo hates the idea that the sakura could have been poisoned or corrupted, but these things have been growing on water that was also responsible for those mutated plants. It's not completely inconceivable.]

From your world?

[No shit; it's different from the air in everyone's world, even if they're all breathing it.]

(He makes a face because guess who didn't want anything to do with the sewers... this guy. )

Mhm. (He nods,) The air here feels...

(He taps the table with his finger, thinking, trying to find the right word...)

Stuffy. (Yeah, that's the word he's going to choose,) And it feels busy but if you listen closely, it feels empty, like something is missing...

(That feeling of "life" he gets from being around other kami.)

A lot of old things are missing in this world.

[You wuss. You didn't get called here to be picky choosy with your missions! But alas, that's in the past, so Bakugo can't drag Tsurumaru into the sewers out of pure spite on principle.]

It's only stuffy cause you've got a bunch of crap in your sinuses right now. [At least that's what Bakugo thinks. They can find out once Tsurumaru gets something HOT in his damn system. Or medicine once they're back at the base. Tomorrow'll bring better clarify on what's going on.

That said... what he mentions about busy but empty makes sense. Enough Bakugo frowns in contemplation.]

A lot of this world's been destroyed. If it once was like ours, those things might've existed before the kaiju showed up.

(He's a spoiled spirit and he isn't ashamed to admit it.

He lets out a laugh, though. He knows he can be vague and how this can lead to misunderstandings. He sees what happened here. The server comes with their drinks first. She sets down a small tea pot for Tsurumaru and tells him to wait a few minutes for the tea to brew. Then, she tells them their food will be out later and she leaves.

He watches her leave and then he speaks quietly,)

I was told much of the land was also destroyed back in my time, too .

(He readjusts the teapot and his cup so he can pour later,)

I thought maybe our histories could be connected at first but it would seem... there are far fewer spirits in this world than mine. And there's a lot more "technology" in this world.

(The first hints about Tsurumaru for Bakugo.)

[He remembers seeing Tsurumaru for a flash during the kaiju fight, but not enough to really get a grasp on the guy's tolerance for freezing water splashing him and occasional orca-monster guts getting on him.

The laugh piques a brow to narrow on one half his face, the other one rising upwards at the idea this guy's laughing at him. It' a great way to get yourself murdered.]

How far back in time are you?

[Bakugo takes a sip of his drink, then leans back in his chair to impatiently wait for the food. Tsurumaru mentions histories and spirits and it leaves him wondering.]

Just because this place is also Earth doesn't mean it follows any of our Earth's histories.

▶ 001. FLOWER VIEWING.

▶ 002. WHITE DAY.

▶ 003. BUDDY UP.

▶ 004. AID & REBUILD.

▶ 005. LEVEL 000.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

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