synflux | TRAVEL LOG #1

TRAVEL LOG #1

TRAVEL LOG #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: potential mentions of drugs, suspected mind-control, alcohol, and gambling, gore.

▶ 001. A RUDE AWAKENING.

On the morning of the 15th, the Outsiders will hear an alarm sound in the early hours. No matter what you’re doing, the alarm will not stop sounding, and it’s because they’re playing directly into your oculars. If one is sleeping, they may even be roused by the spark of colors on their oculars dictating an emergency. After a few minutes of this, the following message will appear:

PLEASE REPORT TO THE DATAPORTAL AT THE TOKYO BRANCH AND BE PREPARED FOR DEPARTURE.

"Captain Yamakawa speaking. You’ve done a great job in testing the data portals. Now that we are able to travel, we were sent a call for help in another city due to lack of personnel and resources abroad. You will be looking for evidence of a new kaiju around the rendezvous point. It may be a difficult journey, so prepare yourself. SYNTHIA will still be online to help you make it to the city. Report to the POD CHAMBER where we have installed an international dataportal and prepare for transportation."

Following the success of the dataportal testing, the engineering department was able to fine tune its abilities and widen the reach of the portals. The portals can connect even abroad now!

Despite their best efforts, however, they cannot guarantee that the same symptoms won’t appear, and ask all Outsiders who are utilizing them to practice caution. Additionally, through all their testing, they found that people who hold hands or make contact with others as they pass through will be hit with less issues.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS.

When one passes through the data portal, they will see the refuge city of Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Similar to Neo Tokyo, it is also rich in life and known as the city that never sleeps. Incidentally, it is also famously noted as a place of endless vice. The city is built up around a strip of land of roughly 4.2 miles. A vast majority of the city was built up over the wreckage of the old, and some fixtures were simply made new with whatever was left preexisting. The Mojave Desert has expanded towards surrounding cities, though it will take a vehicle to get there in a timely manner.

The city has no shortage of hotels and with each hotel, a casino. While Outsiders here are on a mission, there’s no stating they couldn’t participate in the fun of Vegas while LILITH crew begin their investigation. While some hotels will be clearly abandoned or less traversed, there is no end to all card tables and slot machines, all asking for your KRYPTOS.

The hotel the Outsiders are slotted to stay over the course of the next few days is one where they built directly over the hotels of the old. While it offers a decent place to sleep, it’s not without a refurbished pirate themed bed, or the columns of what appears to have been from Caesars Palace. Is that a giant clown face staring at you in the room? Don’t worry about it. The hotel offers that this is the best place to depart into the desert from. For this mission, Outsiders may bunk up with whoever they would like, and each hotel provides two queen sized beds.

Excited to venture out into the city? Even under the threat of kaiju, the city doesn’t sleep. Outsiders may venture through the Las Vegas Strip and treat themselves to a fun night of drinking, gambling, shopping, partying and circle-style performances. The Grand Canal Shoppes, a Venetian-inspired high end mall, boasts a man-made canal with gondola rides for a fee, along with many retail outlets and restaurants. There are also numerous spas and carnival-style rides to enjoy. Las Vegas was once known as the ‘Marriage Capital of the World’, and in a world besieged by kaiju, the people don’t seem to think they have anything to lose. Outsiders may spot a few bride and grooms-to-be partying in the street.

(LILITH does not have a stance on whether or not Outsiders are permitted to get hitched as long as it does not affect their performance. )

▶ 003. TROUBLE BREWING.

It’s normal for fights to break out with so much alcohol being passed around, but something … isn’t quite right with some of the locals here. Outsiders who keep an eye open might notice people acting erratically, and not just from being intoxicated. There are people ready to pick a fight from just being looked at, people falling into despondent sadness and lethargy, people wandering mindlessly and people becoming distressed from seeing things that aren’t there. Ask the locals and they will tell you these cases seem to be popping up more often the past week.

The most concerning of all are the stories of people disappearing completely. One little girl will tell you she cried as she saw her mother mindlessly walk into the desert, as if called by a voice no one else can hear. There are many other accounts of this happening. In fact, all the people acting erratically seem to disappear within a few days …

Outsiders may interact with civilians who are acting erratic and aggressive, but asking questions they may receive answers that do not make sense, are perverse and inappropriate or may trigger aggression. Any Outsider to gets into a fight and is severely injured may report to a local hospital here and will find they are pretty packed with other civilians acting strange, hurting each other and themselves. Certainly, this was the main cause for concern that got LILITH's attention anyway.

▶ 004. FOUR FOR THE ROAD.

Within a day or two, the Outsiders will once again be called to action by a blaring notice in their implant.

YOUR VEHICLES ARE PREPARED. ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE CITY IMMEDIATELY.

When they gather at the location provided to them, they will find a fleet of armored campervans waiting for them. Each campervan comes equipped with beds, a kitchenette, and bathroom facilities, and will fit about 4 people. Within the campervans, they will find desert-appropriate attire designed to protect them from the scorching sun. These campervans also come with some basic artillery such as a mounted machine gun. There are also supplies in the form of water bottles and MRE ration packs.

Those who have driven large vehicles in the past are encouraged to take the driver’s seat. If the group does not have any driving experience, they will be given a crash course on driving recorded by the man himself, Seok Dang. (He probably shouldn’t be doing this with the stunts he’s pulled, but the Commander does not have any time to be teaching anyone driving, and Seok Dang volunteered so eagerly…)

"Listen. If you’ve ever handled a ▄▄ before, the joystick is exactly like that. You gotta tug it, but not too hard. Gently, yeah, like that, that’s the path to ecstasy … "

If it eases anyone’s worries, the campervans are armored and highly shock resistant, so they should withstand a crash or two.

(Those who finish his course and successfully drive 100km while supervised will receive an international driving license.)

▶ 005. THE HUNT IS ON.

With everyone settled into their campervan, the large scale road trip begins. LILITH has a general idea of where the biggest energy signal is located for the rift and they will feed the coordinates to the Outsiders. The journey will take about a few days into (and around as LILITH is searching for both people & the source of the rift energy) the Mojave Desert, and Outsiders will be permitted occasional rest stops to give drivers a break and to investigate the terrain. The terrain itself is a harsh desert, with cacti and small local fauna abundant. (Those not wanting to eat ration packs can take this time to hunt the local fauna such as birds, lizards and desert foxes.) While there is nothing else around, observant Outsiders may notice signs of human life - footprints in the sand, a shoe or torn piece of clothing being left behind, and even the odd human carcass being torn apart by vultures.

The logical conclusion would be that those missing humans have been here, and the only thing left to do is find them … but Outsiders and civilians aren't all that lurk here, and time will tell what lies beneath the desert surface ...

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our very first travel log! Each campervan will accommodate anywhere between 3-5 people, with 4 being the ideal and 5 being a squeeze. Players are encouraged to connect with each other to fill up a van but the mods will not be enforcing it. If you need help finding roommates, there is a FIND A ROOMMATE header below that you can make use of.

If you'd like to test your gambling luck, we also have an IC SLOTS HEADER for you to comment to for you to see how well your character does at the slot machines. This is entirely for fun, and of course you are always welcome to have your characters winning or losing at the slot machines as much as you want in your prompts so long as they aren't winning jackpots.

Following this log, all characters who have purchased style upgrades will receive an update to their chip enabling them access to desert attire and popular styles within Las Vegas.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Bakugo will have to come by the shrine sometime and catch him in his clothes there. It's also the only time you're ever going to spot him in lighter colors, too.]

Oh-- [Alright, guess we're going in. Raidou let's himself be dragged along. It's a big store, and most of it is definitely above Raidou's budget, but with his style chip he's able to approximate most popular fashions.]

A lot of the clothes seem simple enough. [It's all light, airy pieces meant to keep you cool but covered up from the harsh sun. A good idea for this kid, who's as pale as anything.] I guess I just don't know what colors to go with...

[He's ironically seen Raidou cooking at the little bar more than he's seen him at the shrine. And by "more" he means twice. But yeah, he does need to go by the shrine and catch his friend there, see what that's all about, what he does. Maybe tie a wish on a tree or whatever it is they do.]

You're already sticky. [He feels that on the part of his arm against Raidou's nape. Meaning he's going to park the guy right under one of the AC vents, letting it blow down on him to start cooling (and drying) him off. Yeah, Bakugo's not intending to buy anything, or have Raidou buy it. But they can definitely pick up some styles here.]

White keeps you the coolest, but it's see through when you get wet. [He wipes at Raidou's neck once or twice.] Light gray, green, blue, or tan would work. [In his opinion, giving some of the pops of color on Raidou's usual uniform.]

[Wow, he really is working up a sweat. His usual clothes definitely aren't going to work. He's always been partial to black and dark colors, purple being his favorite.

He looks over the racks and the mannequins, feeling a little defeated. Neo Tokyo fashion was much more eclectic, not that he participated in it though. Here it's a lot of the same, practical clothes for the desert climate, just in different colors schemes and patterns.

The style chip can't emulate everything, but these are basic enough. He opts for a linen button down shirt, shorts, and swaps his uniform hat for a baseball hat. It's all in varying shades of blue. Definitely too much of one color.]

I, um. What color go good with each other, though?

[Join the club. At least he's not quite as bad as Tokoyami. The guy seems to only wear black. All the time. Then again, the Goth bird is a morbid Goth bird, so why the hell would anything other than black, purple, and blood crimson be eligible? Bakugo's sometimes reminded of his classmate while around Raidou; he thinks the two might get along well enough.

Rather than shove clothes into the summoner's face, Bakugo lets him scan the area, focusing more on keeping Raidou in the path of the AC to cool and dry off. If he spent more time out there, he'd be getting wet paper towels from the bathroom to pat on his neck and forehead. Soon enough, the chip activates and Raidou's clothes trade out or a new outfit.]

Try a light slate over lilac.

[Would Raidou believe it if someone told him Bakugo's parents work in the fashion industry? The blonde looks around, then indicates another button-down shirt, the same linen fabric, in the color he wants, before pointing to a light t-shirt in the color he's looking for. The gentle grey color and pastel purple would still fit Raidou's usual black and violet theme, but several shades lighter for the heated weather. Now to find some shorts in the same color and design... The baseball cap looks nice.]

... I've never seen your legs outside the bath.

[Shut up! It's a stupid comment, but look, this is his first time even knowing Raidou could even fathom wearing shorts!]

[He nods, and changes the colors to the suggested ones. It's a good combo, even if Raidou looks at little inside at first. Other than the white and blue of his shrine clothes, it was unusual to see on him.

He stops in the middle of adjusting his hat at that comment.]

...Ah. Well, in my time, pants like these are for children, generally. But, when in Rome, I suppose.

[It's so hot out there, man.]

[Bakugo reaches out to see if he can actually handle the clothes, trying to give the collar a bit of a flick to spread it open more around Raidou's neck. The t-shirt's close on the neck... Grey seems to suit him well too. Possibly brow and tan. Buddy, you go around with a royal purple cloak/cape interior. Lilac's fine.]

You wanna find pants with vents on the side?

[There's even the option to find some buttoned tearaways and leave them mostly open for breezes through the side.]

Try a tank top.

[Indicating his own, in case Raidou wants to judge the feeling of having one under his overshirt rather than a t-shirt.]

[Vented shorts??] Those exist? These should be fine, I think.

[He'll swap to the tank top, and while it's not a huge change, it feels much lighter. He gives it an approving nod.]

I think this should work. Right? ...Do I look too much like a tourist now? Or less?

[So since "vented" took me to the adult section... mesh! They have shirts with mesh sides, mesh-sided shorts, and quick dry mesh-sided pants. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.]

They're usually used for athletics or outdoor work.

[The tanktop looks interesting, mostly because Bakugo's also never seen Raidou in short sleeves, to say nothing of no sleeves, even though it's covered by the button-down shirt.]

You wanna look like a tourist?

[Bakugo doesn't think he looks like a tourist?]

Edited 2024-05-19 03:25 (UTC)

[Raidou has definitely been wearing long sleeve shirts and sweaters for the most part back in Neo Tokyo. That wouldn't last much longer with summer on the horizon. His school uniform did come with short sleeve shirts to replace those military style jackets for the summer, though.

The mesh stuff might be a good idea. A store like this does have some higher-end brand versions so he can get an idea of what it looks like, and swap out his own shorts for some.]

... Not really, but also, I guess it would be hard not to. Almost everyone here is a tourist.

[Unless he's brought those summer shirts or makes them with his style chip, then he'll have to contend with this such. Bakugo's never been with or seen Raidou go shopping though, so it's kind of interesting for that fact alone. Seeing him in the hot-weather wear is a new experience too.

He looks good. More than.

With Raidou at least dry enough now, Bakugo pulls him away from the vent and they can walk through the store itself, looking at the other versions and brands. He might be tempted to pick up a mesh thing himself... athletic wear works well with him.]

Baka. You look more like a tourist in your military uniform than this.

[Or worse. Raidou looked like some museum relic or cosplayer who got lost.]

[Raidou has definitely been enjoying the, shall we say, sights here in Vegas, with plenty of people in clothing much like Bakugo is wearing. Which he quietly and greatly appreciates.

He shakes his head with a bit of a grin.]

School uniform. Not military.

[Just very, very military and Taishou era-ish. He tucks the brim of his baseball hat down a bit.]

... I like my uniform hat.

[But it does get him a lot of comments and odd looks, even back in Neo Tokyo.]

[He would have suggested just a tanktop for Raidou, but wonders if the guy would actually be comfortable going out in something that, uh... "revealing" considering his usual attire. Well, with a light overshirt, he can always take it off.

Bakugo clicks his tongue in annoyance. Really? Gonna correct him on that?]

It looks fucking military. [He thinks it looks really smart on Raidou. Bakugo reaches to poke at the bill of the baseball cap.] Wear it then. You're not gonna sweat any less in that than this one.

[Besides, he's never going to see these Vegas people again. 99.9% chance of that.]

[If this porcelain-skinned lad goes out in the sun in a tank top, he may blind others or possibly catch on fire. He shakes his head at suggesting changing it.]

No. It's mostly wool and leather, it's far too hot. Everyone in my time wears hats, you know. It was a surprise seeing no one else doing it when I got to Neo Tokyo.

[Although they don't tend to wear them indoors. That's rude, Raidou.]

Was there anything you wanted to get here?

[Time to introduce Raidou to the little concoction known as sunscreen. Get some fucking sun, man. Can't go around looking like a vampire subway conductor all the time. Not that Bakugo's a walking bronzed god himself.]

If that chip lets you make whatever you can think of, try recreating your hat with a different fabric. [He searches around a bit, but eventually brings over a windbreaker style jacket, offering the sleeve to Raidou for a feel.] Hats are more stylistic rather than cause people think you have to cover your head now.

[Well considering what Raidou's hat covers... you know... he looks good in a hat. Even indoors.]

I might check out their athletic section.

[ooc: my initial response to the thread didn't have this information beforehand. now i know better going forward.]

Edited 2024-05-20 02:00 (UTC)

It's alright. I'll stick with this one. When it Rome, right?

[Not that there aren't probably people here wearing odder things than an old fashioned hat, but Raidou doesn't want the undue attention.]

Alright. Let's get you something, then we can go find something else to see, yeah? This city is... a lot. But it looks like there's much to do.

[It's even more overwhelming than Neo Tokyo was when he first arrived. Raidou would appreciate to have a navigator with him. Besides, this is the closest thing they'll probably get to a vacation for a long time.]

Hmph. Unless Rome's fucking stupid.

[He's not gonna blend in if the people around him are wearing shit. Rather stick out and be comfortable or cool. It's Vegas, people are gambling and/or drunk here, and Raidou's one of the least standout people walking around in what he's dressed in. Better not go out once the sun goes down... Wow.]

It's all stuck out in the middle of a desert too. [How the hell is that even possible, and yet somehow this place managed to do so. Japan doesn't really have much in the way of deserts. A big sand dune is the closest they have.] Have you heard anything on how long we're staying?

[The trip to Kyoto would've been a vacation if the place wasn't a desolate wasteland overtaken by plants and wildlife.]

It's really something. I know it sounds obvious, but I've never seen anything like it.

[Bakugo knows he's a mountain kid by now, who'd only ever been to the Capital otherwise back home.]

Apparently you have to be 21 to go into the casinos, but there must be other things to do, right?

[As far as the question, he just shakes his head.]

No. I suppose we have until whenever LILITH gets confirmation of when and where the next rift might appear. Could be tomorrow, could be a week.

Duh. You're from the early 1900s.

[Plus Raidou living remotely and then working solely in the Capital. When the hell did Vegas even get established and did Japan care enough to look at it? Bakugo's only seen it in some documentaries and magazines about America, and only because All Might studied and worked there in his youth.]

I think you can go in if you're accompanied by an adult. [Bleh. No thanks.] They've got arcades and other games.

[Great. He hadn't heard anything about time either, so they were parked here until something else happened. Guess it'd be stupid to waste it, right?]

Have you ever bowled?

[Yeah, not really interested in palling around with adults while on vacation. Not that the adults among the Outsiders were exactly the babysitting types.

He shakes his head at the question.]

No. Is it fun? The kids at school talked about going sometimes.

[You and him both, Raidou. Bakugo doesn't need a damn chaperone. Glad they're on the same mindset, the blonde tilts his head in indication for the other boy to follow.]

You'll like it.

[It'll keep them in the AC too and it's not a hugely strenuous game.]

[That earns Bakugo a smile and a nod, and Raidou follows after.]

I'll trust you.

[Most likely Bakugo will turn it into a competition, but... well, that's Bakugo. Raidou will still have fun. He's gotten used to it by now.]

[If Raidou can name one game that isn't a competition...

A treck out into the heat again wasn't optimal, but since Raidou's got better clothes on this time, it shouldn't be as horrible. There are a few bowling alleys in Las Vegas and Bakugo's getting into the closest one.

The telltale sound of balls running down the lanes and hollow scattering shots of the pins blowing down are probably going to be rather unique to the summoner.]

You throw a ball down a lane and try to knock over pins.

[There's your basics.]

[As much of Las Vegas seems to be, there are a lot of lights and noise and bright colors. To him, it seems like they're really trying to jazz up what looks like an interesting but not particularly exciting game.

Raidou opts to watch Bakugo and some other nearby bowlers them give it there best go. It will probably take him several frames to get down all the small details; stance, adjusting to the weight of the ball, the best time to release it. He's a fast learner with impeccable aim, so he won't be throwing gutter balls for long.]

Did you do this a lot where you're from?

[Wait till he sees Vegas at night. That'll be even more razzle dazzle and noise. But he's not wrong in that it can look a bit gaudy for what's a simple game on the surface. And once they reach the floor, with all those repeating lanes, some of the glamor will probably wear off. Bakugo does not opt for bumpers at first, trusting Raidou's skill and pride. But he does mention them to him, and if he wants them, they'll pop up.

There's not a huge amount of training or instruction. Bakugo introduces him to the balls, lane, and pins. Where to put his fingers in the ball (watch out for your thumb getting caught, Shashou) and when/how to release it. Finally the basics of scoring and gutters. Then it'll be the fun attempt of trying to find a ball with the weight you like that'll fit your fingers.

Bakugo's actively not competing during the initial game, letting Raidou get used to the actions and using his own throws to model what to do. As expected, the summoner picks it up fairly quickly.]

No, but I know some people in middle school who did. There are leagues for it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TRAVEL LOG #1

▶ 001. A RUDE AWAKENING.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS.

▶ 003. TROUBLE BREWING.

▶ 004. FOUR FOR THE ROAD.

▶ 005. THE HUNT IS ON.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

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