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𝚂𝚱𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 đ™Œđš˜đšđšœ ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2024-07-12 11:07 pm

DOWNTIME MINGLE #3

DOWNTIME MINGLE #3


CONTENT WARNINGS: natural disaster, forced scenarios.

▶ 001. A JOB WELL DONE.

As Outsiders head back from Okinawa (or, perhaps they are already back, characters were able to leave Okinawa through the dataportal whenever) with plenty of coconut crab and mutated fish, Outsiders can expect to have the cafeteria filled with crab and fish food for the next.. well, undetermined amount of time. The power outages have been restored on the LILITH base, and while Outsiders have been enjoying their change of pace in Okinawa, there has been some celebratory news across the Outsider's ocular implants. It looks like it is a message from the big guy himself! Whoever that is. Wasn't his name.. Eiji something? Elijah?


"I'm not going to waste my time with introductions, because we have more important matters to discuss. First of all, good work. Second, while we have been met with several successes, don't let it get to your head. Third, continue following the lead of Yamakawa. ... This is why I don't do celebratory speeches. CODENAMES MONEYBAGS, DUELWIELD, BUSTERMOVE, CHAINSAW MAN and CURSE... great work. You'll see the rewards of your hard work momentarily. Report to me for a payout."

The announcement won't leave an Outsider's implant until it has been read, but just as the voice said, Outsiders will find a Sampo themed pachinko machine installed by the cafeteria near the vending machines. It looks like it's ready to be played! Why not give it a go? Because who wouldn't want to see this charm willingly.

A lot of toy companies are also wanting their skin in this game and have introduced the set of several actions figures based off Yzak and Dearka's gundams, which can be seen distributed on base. The caveat, however, is that you will need to build them piece-by-piece. Alongside this, there will also be Denji-themed plushies, even if it looks like a cross between a dog and human.

Thanks to Choso, hair care on the base has also gotten a lot better. Due to sponsorships, Outsiders are readily able to access more shampoo and conditioner options. Though, maybe thanks to the pictures on the bottle— buns are now trending.

Maybe give the pachinko machine a spin? Or try Choso's brand of shampoo your team's wing communal shower?


▶ 002. TRADITIONAL TANABATA.

The sun is hot but summer is traditionally festival season in Neo Tokyo; these old traditions have managed to hold up in this gritty society in attempts to keep a positive morale, so some citizens and organizers try to keep the tradition going and lift spirits by celebrating local festivals. Many districts and neighborhoods have their own festivals as well. One day, you might stumble onto a shopping district’s wind chime festival and the next day, you might find flyers for a neighborhood’s morning glory festival.

The largest festival of the month is the Tanabata festival. Since the holiday falls in an odd weekday this year, the main celebration is held the next weekend. Civilians and Outsiders can find various shrines, shopping centers, and community buildings with bamboo branches on display with holographic slips of paper that alternate colors. Characters that pass by may submit their wishes on their implants; a new way to keep the old tradition.

On the weekend, some stalls have been set up for people to celebrate. Attendance is low because of the heat and due to a food shortage, the options are lacking. However, there are plenty of games such as a toy shooting range with laser guns and kaiju targets. There are also goldfish catching games where people can catch a cheap goldfish drone that can “swim” in the air and water and shoot bubbles. As a bonus, LILITH will provide Outsiders with an outfit upgrade to help lift spirits. The outfit consists of a traditional summer yukata or jinbei.

Fireworks have gone out of style due to attracting kaiju attention. However, at the festival’s end, there is a drone light show. Hundreds of customized hummingbird drones take to the sky and create elaborate illuminations and shapes in the sky while music plays.


▶ 003. DR. RATIO'S RENOVATIONS.

Festival season means LILITH also has to get in on the action, and while a certain Outsider named Dr. Ratio has raised concerns over the stated of the LILITH base Library, LILITH has actually listened to his desperate plea to renovate the library. What a perfect opportunity for LILITH to use the festival as a way of raising funds so they don't have to dip into their kaiju payout funds (and pizza party fund.) It's time for LILITH's annual SUMMER FESTA. Every year, LILITH comes together with local organizations like fire stations, police stations, clinics, and nonprofits to promote public safety and awareness. It's a one day festival where people can get information about what to do to stay safe not only during kaiju attacks but in their daily lives. The funds raised at the festival will go to training, supplies, research, and maintaining services.

As usual, LILITH is raising money for disaster relief supplies and renovation projects across Neo Tokyo. Per request, LILITH has agreed to set aside some funds to help renovate the facilities on base, including the library. However, they will task the Outsiders with raising the money.

It's a festival so how they raise the money is both up up to them or they may take the suggestions according to their team placement below. Either way, Outsiders are required to work with other people on their same team but they're encouraged to make it fun. Set up game stalls, sell food, do performances, and ask for donations to raise as much money as possible for their projects. The team that raises the most money is promised a prize while the losers will be punished. Here are the team suggestions below and some of them may have some new, modern twists:

Everlight: Kingyo-sukui, which is goldfish catching with a paper scoop. Managing the takoyaki stands.
Revelation: Yoyo-tsuri, fishing for water-filled balloons with a “fishing pole” with a paper string. Managing the mask stands.
Brimstone: Shateki, shooting at targets for prizes. Managing the sparklers stands.. sparklers shouldn't catch kaiju attention, right?
Redemption: Wanage, ring toss. Managing the onigiri stands.

Outsiders will be given a week to prepare for the festival and they only have a single day to raise funds. In the evening, the winning team is announced: Revelation. All team members will receive can badges and a pizza party. A special donation will also be made to the library on their behalf: A stack full of self help books, yes, REAL books and not holograms or digital books, such as "Overcoming Your Depression for Dummies" and "How to Make Friends 101." Thank you for your effort, Team Revelation!

As for the losers, they will be given options: Sign up or the final fundraising event of the night or help clean up at the end of the festival. The final fundraiser is a punishment game where volunteers from each organization are dunked in tubs of water or pied in the face. It seems like a certain person (Seok Dang) was supposed to be LILITH’s tribute but he is nowhere to be found
 maybe one of the other losers will step up and take his place to be dunked in water or pied in the face? Characters may also sign up a loser character without their consent. Come on, be a good sport!

▶ 004. MONSOON SEASON.

Despite the celebrations and attempts to raise morale, the heatwave persists in Neo Tokyo and with it, the problems from the beginning of the month. Food continues to go bad quickly and while fundraising attempts have provided some relief, the city is huge and shelf stable supplies begin to run low again. The energy crisis improves slightly with blackouts occurring less frequently as emergency personnel attempt to intervene. Though the weather is dreary, the renovations must press on! Fortunately, most of the things to do around the Library consist of staying inside. Dr. Ratio has given the following orders which Outsiders may help with in the Library:
- Install better lighting.
- Organize and add more books.
- Set up and secure tables and chairs.
- Add couches to once section of the library to convert it into a lounging area.

Characters may work together to help, or maybe they prefer to laze around and give the newly renovated Library a test run!

After a few days, finally, the rain meteorologists have promised arrives. The skies darken and heavy rain falls on the city which brings much cooler temperatures. People stay inside more often as it becomes too inconvenient to go out when the rain and wind are so strong. The rainstorms grow stronger and eventually become fully fledged storms. The ground shakes from thunder and lightning strikes light up the sky.

Everyone’s ocular implants will frequently give warnings about the weather. LILITH will task Outsiders with assisting across the city. Help evacuate citizens to higher ground during flash floods. After the storms subside, help clear the streets of debris and trees. Some neighborhoods will lose power because of lightning strikes and need their generators restored. However, every time they finish their tasks, a new storm will occur a few days later and they’ll have to repeat.

At first, it seems like the typical summer storm season but meteorologists become concerned when more storms begin to happen without following clear weather patterns and even the locals remark the season seems very active this year
 could it be another kaiju? The last time Neo Tokyo had floods, it was sea water, but this is caused by heavy rain. Like clockwork, LILITH's investigating team is on the lookout for energy from a rift or any leads to what could be causing all of the heavy rain. Outsiders are instructed to keep an eye out for any emergency messages.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third downtime mingle! While we would typically have a texting prompt, we instead have player plots for this event! Thank you Abbel and Eski for the Tanabata and festival player prompt and Sky for the Library renovations plot! We appreciate Eski for spending 500 bonus points to provide everyone with something to wear for Tanabata. For the character-run stalls as part of the renovation prompt, players are not limited to the suggestions given by the mods and are free to come up with their own stall ideas. Additionally, for characters signing up other characters for the dunk tank, please make sure you get OOC permission from their players first.

Please note also we have added new rewards: the Poison Dagger, Cat Ear Visor, and the Elemental Swords now come in the models Ice and Lightning. Please see the REWARDS page for more information.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.


EVENT BREAKDOWN (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. A JOB WELL DONE: The kaiju heavy hitters get recognition with.. a pachinko machine and shampoo sponsorship? Outsiders can react to their fellow colleagues about this development, or maybe even talk to the winners themselves around the base.

2. TRADITIONAL TANABATA: It's Tanabata season, even in a post-apocalyptic world! Put on some old, traditional attire with your friends and enjoy a drone show.

3. DR. RATIO'S RENOVATIONS: LILITH has teamed up with the local safety personnel to get in on the festival season. Characters are encouraged to fundraise for renovations at the LILITH base Library. Teams may also visit other teams events and stands to donate, partake in, and.. maybe deliver some competitive harassment.

4. MONSOON SEASON: With the weather being hot and renovations needing done, LILITH works together to improve the Library. A few days later, the weather gets suspiciously intense and Outsiders are instructed to help civilians with power outages, flash flooding, debris from heavy wind and rain.
wheft: (pic#16844200)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-18 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ yessss we ecats now

there's a pause as ishmael considers this, and then: ]


Can I come with?

[ taking an earlier break than usual wouldn't hurt. ]
wheft: (pic#16844200)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-18 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, yeah. It's a lot of information to process between "trips".

[ complete with airquotes. ]

It's never easy around here. Can't really complain though, so long as there's a chance to see 'em again.
bemist: (I disturb my town)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-18 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Smoking"? Really went for the literal meaning, huh?

[ eyebrow raised, tapping the cigarette comfortably smug between her lips. It's rarer to see her without it, honestly.

She could go into further detail with the librarian thing, but you know. Sometimes it's best not to go into detail with the librarian thing. It's never really what people assume, first off. ]


What about the mirror part?
wheft: (pic#17088658)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-18 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it is strange, isn't it? how people here still persevere and find things to look forward to, unlike the city where most of its citizens keep their head ducked low as they continue working their deathly 9-to-5's. something something about the indominable human spirit, or so tezcatlipoca says. ]

I guess. But you can't deny that fireworks are prettier to watch.

[ she takes out a lighter to light up their respective sparklers. ta-da. still the same old, same old. ]

...So, how was this festival treating you?
bemist: (I'm lyin' here on the floor)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-18 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah. She doesn't look all that impressed, but that's because it's Gebura and nothing has impressed her in a very long time. Especially not anyone bragging about how much money they have, given her own origins. ]

So you're saying you could be the one treating anyone who hasn't been here as long as you have?

[ Wow. How nice of you, Izou. What a bro. ]
bowtography: (While high on bath salt zombie drugs)

[personal profile] bowtography 2024-07-18 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I mean, that you're new!

[ She talks too much to people; she can tell when someone hasn't been around. ]

Rover... nice to meet you! Did you just just get here? Like I haven't missed out for a month or anything, right? I know there were a bunch of new faces when we got back from Vegas...
hitokiller: id: 69907082 (pic#16857752)

[personal profile] hitokiller 2024-07-18 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Long as you're willin' to risk punishment alongside me.

( further punishment that is, neither of them aware that they're on the losing team.

this is where he glances back briefly. )


Didn't expect you to want to...

( ditch, but he literally just said he's going on a walk, so the word dies in his throat. )
bemist: (You better run and hide)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-18 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not too crowded, which has been nice. I'm not really a believer in wishes, but I guess there's some kind of deeper story to it, about star-crossed lovers and a river.

[ Thanks for the education, Maki. Gebura gazes down at the sparkler, watching the sparks dance about the end. ]

If anything, I'd take this sort of thing over our time in Vegas any day.
frostfist: (pic#16873257)

[personal profile] frostfist 2024-07-18 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm.

[ A noise of...indifference? Agreement? He thinks of black protrusions against pale skin and a smile that doesn't quite meet the eyes. ]

No, I don't think he is either. Though maybe I should wish for him to be less loud?

[ He's joking, though the timing of that phrase coinciding with him powering up his oculars to write his wish (because i keep forgetting everything is fucking digital help me) is maybe a little suspicious. ]
wheft: (pic#16844174)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-18 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ she heaves a sigh. ] Why am I not surprised that this festival is supposed to be lovey-dovey...

[ she's SICK of it, ngl. though it's mostly due to being overexposed from it for the last couple of weeks since coming back from vegas (thanks, dating games!!!). and speaking of, ]

It's just as hot over here, but at least there's more water to go around. The kaiju attacks are like any other threat you'd find in the City though, but I'm sure you're used to worse situations.
hitokiller: id: 3588289 (pic#16913124)

[personal profile] hitokiller 2024-07-18 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
'Cause I'm a cold-blooded killer, that's why. It only makes sense I'd have the sorta aura they'd shy away from.

( couch-to-couch, huh. izou says it matter-of-factly, like it just ought to be.

"you weren't born one," a certain someone had said, but something so deeply ingrained didn't root out easily. )
wheft: (pic#17088658)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-18 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I won't let us stray too far, though. Don't get me wrong.

[ so... yeah. it's still a break, and she will strongarm izou back to their stall if she has to. but for now, she's going to hang up a sign indicating that they're on break before meeting up with izou again. ]

Didn't expect me to what, hang out with you? [ this is why you finish your sentences first, y'all. ] Why wouldn't I? Also, it's been a while since we last talked, so.
coordination: (a poem for my bae "why bae")

I'm CRYING THANK YOU,,,

[personal profile] coordination 2024-07-19 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Any normal person who doesn't get weirdly and unnecessarily mad about the stupidest shit would either shrug or laugh that comment off.

Yzak Jule is not a normal person, he's a fucking weirdo who gets cranky easily and offended at aforementioned stupidest shit. Blame it on growing up with high expectations and an easily bruised ego. So at that comment, he visibly bristles up like an offended cat. ]


W-what the hell do you mean cool one-!? [ Said with clear incredulousness, because truly, how dare?

And then he adds, ]


Why do you have them both, then?
kubricks: (Eyes Wide Shut)

[personal profile] kubricks 2024-07-19 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
I think so, though I'm not sure what to put.

[She'll regard the holograms a little longer before looking over at Geto, a little bit of a smile on her face in return.]

I think the last time I made a wish, it was for our continued success here, something like that. Though I think that might be a little bit of a waste these days.

[They're not hurting for successes after all. More importantly she feels like she should wish for something better? Though what that is, she's not sure...

...okay, there's one thing she does really want, but putting that on the slip seems a little silly to her.]


bemist: (I'm trouble)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-19 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Better than being stuck on an island with some questionable idiots.

[ Wow sorry Callisto that's so mean of her ]

... And yeah, I am. This is more or less just what would happen if Abnormalities breached more than just a facility.

[ Which. Not the fondest memories, actually. It's not great these things just show up around the city and other places, but she's so used to suppression at this point that it's not anything she thinks she can't handle. ]

There's fighting everywhere you go. I'm not too surprised.
emancipating: © alciedoodles (cvii.)

[personal profile] emancipating 2024-07-19 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
That's quite romantic... if rather tragic.

[ but that's par for the course when it comes to an epic romance, or so orpheus would say. ]

I suppose so long as people are wishing for them to be reunited, they may as well add some of their own.
emancipating: © roker_flower (lv.)

[personal profile] emancipating 2024-07-19 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... oh. unfortunately, he can't quite tell if wriothesley is joking or not, so he takes it at face value. ]

Is it?

[ well, it does make sense. wishes would be between the person and whichever god they're beseeching, wouldn't it? ]

Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude.

[ hate that he has to search for wrio's wish later. ]
fursuit: (① yamanca.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2024-07-19 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ It shouldn’t be a surprise that she’s interested, considering what she’d just said about her work, but he still finds himself quietly pleased. He’s still waiting on that damn fish, but
 This conversation isn’t a bad one, and it helps soothe his frustration. ]

Heh, sort of. My penchant for nicotine came later. Or maybe it’s just natural?

[ Well, technically the smoke he’s associated with isn’t from tobacco at all, but copal isn’t exactly something you puff away at. In a crowd where it could be noticed, it’d be no good to summon it either. So, a linguistics lesson instead. ]

Nahuatl is big on double meanings in its poetry. So, tezcatl ipoca is the literal—it’s a piece of obsidian, the dark, smoked mirror. But it’s a metaphor too. It’s the concept of everything you can’t see, but still touches the world. The wind, a reflection, the gaze of gods
 It’s all of that, stated poetically.
frostfist: (pic#16873256)

[personal profile] frostfist 2024-07-19 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ imagine i just end the thread here after two tags, i'm crying

Good thing Zag is so effortlessly earnest and charming that no one (including Wriothesley) could possibly keep teasing him for long. Wriothesley's smile grows, and he lets out a small laugh as he waves off the apology. ]


I'm kidding. If I really wanted to keep my wish a secret, I wouldn't have written it out for everyone to see.

[ Even with so many heartfelt wishes strung up to obscure his, it's not like his wouldn't be found if somenoe truly wanted to go searching. ]

It's nothing particularly special though. I'm sure plenty of others have wished for it already.

[ just spit it out already ]
emancipating: © kfov_851 (lxix.)

b

[personal profile] emancipating 2024-07-19 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ zagreus, unfortunately, can't pass up a challenge even if it's to his own detriment. so yes, he is ready to potentially die from wasabi. also he can't pass up the chance for free food. ]

Hello! Yes! I am here for the challenge.

[ he's excited... but the onigiri do look v good. ]
Edited 2024-07-19 01:56 (UTC)
siffriend: (046)

[personal profile] siffriend 2024-07-19 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...

He doesn't really have the aura of one, though. Or maybe... Siffrin simply doesn't feel threatened easily. They're a pretty laidback kind of guy, even able to relax the day before the final battle. They give off the energy too, yawning a bit.

(It isn't as if you flinched at the King's might anymore, and he froze all of Vaugarde.

You're just lucky that you're used to holding back the strength you gained after losing count of the loops you've lived through.) ]


I guess it's because of how we met that I'm not scared.
emancipating: © alciedoodles (cix.)

[personal profile] emancipating 2024-07-19 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ is it gonna be their running inside joke now... hate this for us.

zagreus likely stands out, not for his red and black yukata, but likely for his messy hair and mismatched eyes; his fiery feet that leave scorched imprints on the ground wherever he steps. unwilling to potentially damage the geta LILITH provided, he'd opted to go barefoot; he doesn't want to give them the chance of coming after him for damaging their property.

anyway, he's holding a little paper carton of takoyaki when callisto finds him.
]

A thousand apologies, Your Majesty. [ he still doesn't sound apologetic at all, but offers the carton for callisto to check out. ] You see, I was in line attempting to secure this for you. It's a popular staple at these festivals.
wheft: (pic#17035700)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-19 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ oh dw, ishmael's hair has been done up in hairbun because that's apparently the in thing lately. she's quiet again as she ruminates hiyori's words, brows knit at how... different this world is compared to the City she's from. ]

I suppose that's how it is in other worlds.

[ partying despite great duress. it's surreal in ishmael's perspective. ]

We don't really celebrate festivals where I'm from, so all of this has been new to me. It's not necessarily a bad thing, though.
wheft: (pic#16844200)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-19 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ a shrug. ] I didn't set this up, for the record. You'll just have to play along.

[ and play along he does. he shoots down the first prize rather easily while the other player scrambles to reload their popgun with corks, and when he turns to look at ishmael expectantly, the redhead just... blinks. bro do you want a treat or something...? ]

What're you looking at? Keep your eyes on the prize, now.

[ because the longer callisto gets distracted, the further the gap grows between him and the opponent. at this rate, he might just lose because he's being a heterosexual :/ ]
wheft: (pic#16878721)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-19 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
I guess...

[ she still sounds unsure, however. ]

But they only meet once a year. Is it ever worth it?