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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([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.
coordination: (Do you like bacon? Wana strip?)

[personal profile] coordination 2024-07-23 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yzak shoots Dearka a threatening glare just as quickly as his partner grins in his direction, as if saying don't you dare you god damned bastard. ]

I decided to follow the backstory LILITH gave to me to see if it was worth the work and the money it paid. So at least if I decide that it isn't, it won't look odd if I take my leave.

But even despite that, I'm still a soldier and a pilot first and foremost!

[ ... ]

[ . . . ]

The amount of free tea I've gotten has been a definite perk, though.
zauneyete: (And so then I just)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2024-07-23 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
Please, there are better places to be than this, taken and used by people who cannot help themselves?

[ Silco really should keep his mouth shut, and there's a dirty look from someone walking by. His lips twitch in annoyance.

Ah yes, the people can't even know that they are being helped. Complete ignorance to the masses is like trying to put a wet blanket onto an inferno, in his opinion. His lips turn down to a deeper frown.
]

Death is what it is. Better to die in the pursuit of something, than end up here.
bemist: (And I swear you're just like a pill)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-23 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
... Oh, because of the damn worm? Yeah, I can't say it was the best experience fighting something I've ever had.

[ Though admittedly, it also wasn't the worst? She's had so much worse?? Which maybe isn't that great of a realization. ]
uncourteous: (pic#15946906)

[personal profile] uncourteous 2024-07-23 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
So there is something you desired enough to go through with this occupation? [ except, wait...

...
] Did you say "staying dead and unresolved"? [ are fireworks really the true display here? definitely not for callisto he seems far more focused on gebura. especially, now. was this meant to be a metaphor...? he supposed the lady did strike him as someone who could make such a morbid joke.

(this is entirely his own perception of her, clearly).
]
gundemn: (pic#17304804)

[personal profile] gundemn 2024-07-23 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
It didn't kill me but it took a couple years off my life.

[ He mutters recalling how he'd almost been done in. He's starting to think Outsiders can be scarier than kaiju - but he's exaggerating, manning a booth certainly won't kill him.

At the stall, Elan looks over the masks without comment. These are, uhhh. He doesn't know much about Earthian pop culture, so there's not even the nostalgia factor. ]


They look like they're for kids.
bemist: (No attorneys to plead my case)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-23 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[ Calmly, gazing down at the sparkler despite his eyes on her. Yeah, she supposes that might be shocking for someone to hear that for the first time. Gebura's had plenty of time to come to terms with it. ]

I died. I wouldn't really technically call myself alive now, either. [ Given everything. ]
bemist: (You think you're right)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-23 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sometimes you pay attention to how people word things. Especially as the Patron Librarian of the Floor of Language. ]

... Well, you wouldn't be the first non-human teammate here. [ Given how Yesod and Netzach were in machine bodies and there was at least one talking hedgehog... ]

So what are you normally?
30storieshigh: (camo; very normal display of friendlines)

[personal profile] 30storieshigh 2024-07-23 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Atta boy! And atta teacher! Godzilla's a natural at this clearly. He's positively beaming as he gives Yuji a patronly slap on the back. ]

You have captured off swiftly. [ did he mean "caught on quick?" ] Now, which challenge do you intend to conquer first?
30storieshigh: (camo; certainly normal human doubt)

[personal profile] 30storieshigh 2024-07-23 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
This explains why the others do not mistake me for the enemy, it is good to know.

[ As for what he is he doesn't really know how to explain that. People have thrown around dragon-like, dinosaur-like, kaiju-like, but those all fail to capture his true glory.

So instead of explaining he spends a moment to concentrate, fiddle with the technology in his head, and simply send her the holographic representation of his usual lizardy self. Do the hologram's spines need to be pulsing for this answer? Probably not, but they are because he has a chronic need to be impressive to people. ]


This is my true self. It is a better form in every way of course, but lacks the subtlety LILITH requires of us.
hitokiller: id: wnut (pic#16920330)

[personal profile] hitokiller 2024-07-23 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
I didn't—

( okay... maybe he did, in a way. )

I mean puttin' them out of their misery, in the sense that... I'm best fit for it since I'm a manslayer. A genius at killing. I can cut into people cleaner than anyone else, so it might as well be me doing the work. Should be me doin' the work, on account of how good I am at it. Otherwise it'll just be a mess. Th... That make more sense?

( gesturing. has he ever had to explain this so plainly? no. )
gundemn: (ex99)

@taryon

[personal profile] gundemn 2024-07-23 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ So. Their plan to snoop on LILITH had ended in failure, and when his hummingbird was discovered Elan really thought he was cooked. What he never expected was for Taryon to step in and take the blame. The man wasn't a schemer and hardly a good liar. The real instigator was himself, and he'd clammed up and said nothing, not just because he was stunned, but because he feared bringing the consequences on himself, which in his mind could have been a hell lot worse.

Elan appears to carry on as normal in the aftermath, showing up to Taryon's place to assist with his research per their cover story and also because, well, he's feeling contrite. He's a real bastard, throwing someone else under the bus to save his own skin. He's always been a selfish bastard, chosing time and again to do what suits himself, but for once he's feeling none of his usual smugness about it.

- but shoving those thoughts aside, he arrives, stepping over a roomba shuttling around the floor to make his way over. Putting on a casual air. ]


What are you working on?
wheft: (pic#16878724)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-23 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ damn............ well, she shouldn't be too surprised. he has military experience, so it'd make sense that he knows how to fire a gun. it's like outis with her gunblade. though ishmael would rather deal with outis's military brattiness than this walking, talking red flag...

and he's staring at her like that one dunmeshi meme going around twitter right now. she's not going to call him a good boy just because he won a rigged game? be for real, now. ]


Well, the prize I have in mind is a snack from one of the stalls here. My treat. Since you're new here, I assume that you don't have much money on you.
emancipating: © carnevire (xxix.)

slides in here a week late.... 001

[personal profile] emancipating 2024-07-23 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ so zagreus has not been exposed to the joys of shampoo; the cool thing about being part god and bound to the underworld is that he never has to worry about things like cleanliness and personal hygiene. occasionally, he'll be lucky enough to run into a fountain chamber on his trips to the surface and that usually does the trick. or he'll just, you know, shake the river styx off him much like a dog would after getting caught in the rain and he'd be fine.

in any case, he offered to help take yuji's picture with the polaroid camera (it was a little touch and go at first in that he didn't know what the contraption was), waving the polaroid square a little as instructed to let the film develop before giving it back to yuji.
]

What's an aniki?
wheft: (pic#16871380)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-23 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ wtf that's her hanpen :/ oh well. the way im craving oden so bad rn. ]

Maybe you should land the hardest hit on the next kaiju. Have them make action figures of your likeness if you're into that.

[ manifesting izou scale figures and nendo in post-apoc au japan... they could even add in doggy features like with denji's! there really are a lot of them at the base, huh. ]

It's not like I was eager to help out, either. It's just something I've never really done before. And I guess there's something fulfilling about it at the end of the day.
bemist: (I tried to call the nurse again)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-23 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. That is a very large reptile. An incredibly large reptile and why LILITH decided this very large reptile would be great for protecting humanity is beyond her, because this is more in line with an Abnormality than anything, but he clearly doesn't mean any harm.

How weird.

Gebura only blinks once to evince surprise, of course. ]


Yeah, I gotta say, the subtlety wouldn't work out for you like that.
bemist: (You better run and hide)

[personal profile] bemist 2024-07-23 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She snorts, lightly. ]

She released them herself after a change of heart and then the Head decided to pay us a visit and relocated us after I helped hold them off.
wheft: (pic#16844172)

[personal profile] wheft 2024-07-23 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ a change of heart... ]

Did someone convince her?
frostfist: (pic#16873236)

[personal profile] frostfist 2024-07-23 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Over half a year now.

[ In the grand scheme of things, seven months isn't such a long time. He'd spend longer out in the streets, behind bars, and as the unofficial king of a tiny settlement. But it feels like a long time to be stuck here, without a single clue as to how long his contract might last.

He gives Siffrin a small smile. ]


But who knows, if you stick around long enough you might be able to come to my anniversary party.
frostfist: (pic#16780259)

[personal profile] frostfist 2024-07-23 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Damn, prosthetic arms really are advanced these days. ]

I suppose it's not so bad then. Are you used to it by now?
lifeprice: (pic#16920221)

[personal profile] lifeprice 2024-07-23 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not pouting.

[ Aki is absolutely pouting, just enough that he has to school his expression into something more set and stern than it had been before. It's difficult to forget the fact that Yuwon had seen him drunk before and knows just what it's like when he's being petulant and a little sour.

Shifting his weight a little, he tries not to give into the urge to look as sour as he feels.

Glancing back over at Yuwon, he shakes his head. ]


Denji? He was... Complicated. Simple, in some ways, and complicated in others. I feel like he's settled in here.
lifeprice: (pic#17068479)

[personal profile] lifeprice 2024-07-23 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
And if there's no one to guide me on how to be... Family?

[ Look, his entire family died when he was like nine, help him out here. ]
lifeprice: (pic#16920277)

[personal profile] lifeprice 2024-07-23 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I am. It's been months, so it's like having a regular arm.

[ Just, you know, metal and stuff. ]
eyescar: (pic#17110342)

[personal profile] eyescar 2024-07-23 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that bad?

[ Do you hate his hair, aniki...? ]
eyescar: (pic#16987562)

[personal profile] eyescar 2024-07-23 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yuji's a little confused, but he's taking in his stride as much as he can, and he looks at the games with a tilt of his head. ]

Sure... Maybe I'll start with the shooting one?
eyescar: (Default)

[personal profile] eyescar 2024-07-23 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yuji is happily posing, moving forward to take the picture of himself from Zag as soon as it's offered, obviously excited about the prospect of having a photo of himself with the dumb bottle of shampoo. Putting it aside for a moment, tucking the shampoo away, his eyes are dragged back to his new friend. ]

Aniki is 'big brother'!

[ Pointing at the bottles, the strange hairstyle on it, Yuji beams. ]

Choso's my brother, and he's the guy on the shampoo.