DOWNTIME MINGLE #3

[synfluxmods]

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.

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Comments

[gimu]

No.

[ it's immediate, easy and unbarbed, and as he talks he does Geto Suguru the courtesy of looking at the model pieces instead, the array of colours and runners and scattered bits littering the table top.

it's a little like with the feral cats, he thinks. talk calm, don't stare, and let them come to you. talk calm, don't stare, let the words wash over like the tide over a stone. ]

To the rest of the world, parental figures are meant to be a revered thing. If I am surprised, it is because you speak like they are no longer there, and have not been for a long time.

[bowtography]

[ March is silent for a long moment, sitting still for all that she lets him guide her hand. It's hard to put a name to all of the emotions welling up within her right now, and she doesn't even want to try. She's been thinking too much this whole time, after all. Trying to understand. Trying to be patient. Pulling back but not wanting to pull back too much, because she knew that Izou was still trying to stabilize that trust in her. That she wouldn't leave him, like everyone else did.

But she'll be direct now and before she answers him, she leans in, catches his mouth in a kiss that isn't necessarily sweet and lingering. It's fierce, unyielding, frustrated.

And, as she leans back, fingers fluttering over his collarbone, eyebrows knitted-- ]

Neither one of those things is going to make me feel better, not right now. So I'm only going to touch you a little, because even if I'm not used to any of this, or at least--I can't remember if I am, that doesn't mean I don't want you.

But then I'm kicking you out so you can go take a shower and you can talk to me later because I really don't want to cry in front of you right now, and that's what I need to do after that. Okay?

[zauneyete]

Ah, of course.

[ It makes sense, right? The moneyed would be very annoyed if their interests were threatened by someone smart enough to take it from them. They always did lash out if someone less fortunate dared to step out of their place and try to aim higher.

Though, his tone says clearly, he doesn't have much sympathy for the unfortunate soul, who's blood seems to mostly be Izou's new dye job. ]

Well, perhaps he should have been better at liberating, if he wanted to be successful, hm? Though I can't help but be curious, what sort of organization would be interested in protecting their assets that much?

[ Silco shifts, to allow him through. It's still a bit from the showers, but he understands what it is to have blood on oneself, even the spatters. He might be a jerk, but he's not that much of a jerk. ]

[zauneyete]

[ No, see, Adventurine, that's what makes you strong. It's fine! It's just motivation for later!

Never listen to his kind of advice from Silco }

Oh yes, it's so useful. Something about healing, yes?

[ Not that he doesn't know what it is to compartmentalize Everything That He Went Through in his life, but that's not important! ]

Here is the thing these books always forget — what they try to dismiss and bury is what is necessary. Do they really think moving beyond it makes one better?

[ blah blah base violence necessary for change blah blah Silco really shouldn't be allowed outside. ]

[hitokiller]

( to say that being kissed first in this situation, with her weight balanced on top of him, was surprising, would be an understatement. the sort of kiss one does to catch attention rather than make someone whole, and izou feels it on his teeth as they draw apart. feels something scratch in his throat for how, in realization, he's just pushing her the wrong way again—making a stupid assumption while she's upset.

but what makes his brow furrow more than that, is hearing that she needs a moment to cry.

over him, of all people, and of course she would given everything, but. any tension that had built up in him from their current exchange flat-out melts away.

if his heart had tipped out of his chest before, had torn at the seams over her abundance of kindness and concern, now a piece of it chipped at the thought of her in this world that she'd made for herself, this wall of pictures and memories, crying alone. he'd never considered anyone ever being so upset over him that they'd cry. who had ever? who would ever? not his family, to his knowledge, even as he walked homeless on the streets and even as they tried to push his little brother to poison him. not takechi-sensei, who met izou's grin upon his first kill with a straight face. not even...

but here, there was march. someone still so wholly new to him, so bubbly and feisty and willing to share her insecurities with him. who'd pushed his boundaries from day one, and had been so inviting. and now, he... why does it feel like he's falling for her even more, his chest seizing over the barest gap between them on this bed?

izou takes a couple seconds to rapidly collect his thoughts when it comes to that, "okay", because all he wants to do now is... comfort her somehow. hold her, but a hand that rises up from the pink of her bed can only freeze in mid-air. his fingers curl inward, back to rest on the bed instead of at her back. )

I... I hear you. I'll do it, after that. Leave, I mean.

( there's an unfamiliar timbre to his usual rasp, and that shocks him, too. )

... M'sorry. It prob'ly doesn't help to hear it, now, that I never wanted to... make you cry. Not when I keep telling you I won't let a soul hurt you. ( a grimace, as he finally breaks their mutual gaze to flick that one eye to the floor, and then back up. ) ... Maybe I should've told myself that. Will you let me... tell you a little else, before we're through? If you want me to just keep quiet, though, I can do that. I owe you that much... a hell of a lot more than that, even.

[yuwon]

[ even he thinks that's a bit ... much.

even his expression seems to say so. especially, at the wink, which he meets with the slightest bit of a sigh. ] You're not normally like this... [ not him calling him out for all the world to see, but he does seem to have the intention to go through with it. skipping through grabbing a drink at a nearby cafe, which the production is paying for, he also gets one for elan. when they walk off to start their beautiful adventure of doing nothing, he does add a small. ]

What about you? Do you like indoors?

[transmit]

[ Other than Oripathy and the circumstances surrounding it, there's really nothing for him to hide, his own issues so compartmentalised they're hardly, if ever, brought to the forefront of his mind. Still, Terra as a whole and its conflicts are much more impersonal: just about anyone who'd had access to books and E.E. Erikson's writings would be privy to the history and major conflicts of the continent.

So, Elysium offers it up freely—the subject of being an Infected… is a bit more complex when Elysium's personal experience of it doesn't scratch the surface of what he's seen. Much like the deeper struggles of his country, he'd managed to escape its extreme prejudices—managed to escape the scathing looks upon becoming infected, non-standard cases for both.

With that in mind, it didn't feel right to claim either of those pains. It doesn't feel right to judge others for theirs, either, Gebura's or anyone else's when he considers himself lucky. ]

It's one way to get back at a world for failing you——destroying it. But if you do that, then you really will be left with the hand you're given.

[ Gebura clicks her tongue, and Elysium shrugs his shoulders with a weak laugh. ]

Perhaps not the full reason, but I imagine backgrounds are a part of their recruitment criteria. For us, it might be that we know what things look like if people stop fighting. Have you ever thought about it, Miss Gebura?

[yuwon]

[ it's an equally vulnerable response in a sense, and he doesn't miss the irony of them sharing this moment, despite all their prior interactions. or perhaps, maybe that's precisely why they could speak so fluidly of this. there's a veil of ambiguity behind both of theirs words as neither knows what one another's pasts hold— one in which neither crosses, and yet they could still convene at this one singular point in their discussion.

the thing denji doesn't know is that for yuwon, he's had over a hundred years to settle these memories of his past. he had an objective that drowned out the sounds and feelings of anything else. a future so bleak that it overshadowed any inkling of a thought he had for his past. it was easy in that sense, especially as he was already fairly skilled at compartmentalizing when he had to. but, he's truthful even in his follow-up: ] I don't know.

A lot of time has passed and even I avoid talking about it.

[ he's avoiding it enough where he has companions who have barely heard a single word of the life he lived before the tower. or of his time on earth. ] But, you'll get there. [ he places a hand on denji's head. ] In the meantime, you can practice. [ saying it. pretend to carry on with his normal life.

this may be bad advice, but it's the only advice yuwon can give. he didn't consider himself adept when it came to emotions, or any type of spiritual healing. he couldn't offer that. the best he could give are words spoken with the culmination of his own experiences. ]

[gorb]

( Another chance to pretend. It would be easy. He could just lie. He is so good at that. Instead he fixes his gaze on the table top and wishes for a cigarette, a drink, the sweet relief of a death he has been denied. )

Oh, that's because I killed them.

( Still calm enough, though there's a sharp-toothed manic edge beginning to show itself. Geto can feel it behind his rib cage and he lifts his arms to cross them in front of it as though to guard against the feeling. It's funny, to be so infamous to someone and your true violence forgotten, funny that he keeps being reminded of them here, in this place. He does not think about them.

And yet. )

A point had to be made, you understand. If I was to go forward with my plan it had to be done properly.

[gorb]

( She at least gets a snort of amusement out of him. )

I'll bear that in mind. But do I at least get some points for the ramune? Do you like it?

[gorb]

Ah, you might be right there.

( He's also a terrible person, so they might be more free to run their mouths at him. )

Do you have people from your world here?

[bemist]

[ She has no idea what that means-- ]

Well, height isn't everything. Even though it's probably frustrating as hell to not be able to fully be yourself.

[ Not like her height hadn't changed at different points back home, for reasons-- ]

Still, you don't really strike me as a hindrance. And I'll see that soon enough for myself, anyway, with how often these attacks happen.

[siffriend]

[ ...

So, like boats, but made of land...? ]

Okay.

[ (You absolutely don't get it.

But that's fine.) ]

That sounds pretty cool. Your story's missing some key parts of a good adventure, though. Like where you lose all faith and then rise up again.

[bemist]

It's not bad. It's kind of refreshing, actually.

[ So yes. Geto can have his points. ]

[gorb]

Then good, I'm glad.

( See, even genocidal cult leaders can be nice sometimes! )

[bemist]

What it would be like here if people stop fighting or what their recruitment criteria is?

[ Gebura pauses on an inspection of an onigiri stall, head tilted lightly. ]

I think about a lot of things, I just don't really voice them if I don't see a need to. I'm not the eloquent type.

[ A true sign of someone not from the Nest, unlike her other coworkers (Tiphereth aside). ]

We know what it would look like. But also, skillset's probably important here. Malkuth is good at controlling a situation and taking charge, Yesod is good at information and details, Netzach's competent with caring for others. In your case, you've got those operator skills and your maps are useful, to say nothing of your coordination and support abilities.

A lot of people who were brought here are used to some form of conflict.

[bemist]

[ That sure was a sentence!! ]

Rather, now that I've had it, the idea of this sort of thing having terrible flavors really has an extra weight to it.

[gorb]

They didn't have octopus. I checked.

Not that I would have subjected you to it.

[busternaut]

[He remains unswayed, because he's a horrible little goblin at heart.]

C'mon. You really think a guy whose entire job is herding cows would get distracted from tending to his animals because he was too busy ogling the princess's intellect?

[eyescar]

[ It’s far, far too easy to sink down with Raidou, to settle his body on top of his partner’s and lean into the kisses, breathless and excited with how much he wants to keep kissing him. Yuji truly thinks he could do this for hours, could spend all those minutes worshipping Raidou’s mouth with his own, offering his heart in his shaky palms.

Maybe he’s getting a little carried away, with the isolation of the moment, the hand under his hoodie, the smell of rain in the air and the wind outside, but how is he meant not to when it feels so good? It feels so, so easy to cup Raidou’s cheeks with his hands, to kiss him harder, chasing the feeling.

This is what it is, liking someone, wanting to take care of them, to make them feel good, and Yuji burns with it, that want to please and show how much he cares. Their noses brush and he breathes out a soft sigh, leaving little kisses on Raidou’s mouth, tender and sweet, filled with want and affection. ]

Johei… My Johei, you’re wonderful.

[bemist]

Would you have subjected yourself to it again?

[kubricks]

Two currently. Hayakawa Aki and Denji. They're both former employees of mine.

[Since they don't really work for her here. Among other reasons.]

Denji is the one that I think could be described much the same as your teenagers. A bit rough around the edges, but he has a good heart.

[A smile there.]

If you haven't met him, you've still probably seen him. He modeled for those plush toys that have been all over the base.

[blastedass]

[You know, he was going to answer that. But-!]

Shut up, ya damn nerd!

[Coupled with bristling and everything. Jeeze! He wasn't asking for a damn essay about the model!]

Unless your mechs are mass produced, you'd have to use spare parts to fix something!

[Sure, show his own nerdy side...]

[blastedass]

[People like Dearka and Midoriya, those who can keep their smiles and good attitudes no matter what kind of shit blows up in their lives, are invaluable when it comes to reassuring victims and encouraging teammates. Bakugo obviously takes... another route when it comes to that action.

What the hell is that eyebrow doing up there? He didn't ask anything strange!]

Haa? [And tossing that hint right over his shoulder as he glances back at Dearka, expression piqued and wry.] It can't be that complicated if you're operating it.

[Let the dorm rivalry come out with some petty poking.]

[the_fourteenth]

[If Yuji is getting carried away, so is Raidou, but he doesn't think so for a second. This is perfect, this is what he wants. What they both want.

Back home, he could only ever dream of meeting someone like this. How did he ever get so lucky? Yuji isn't the only one who wonders about what he deserves. But having someone in your life who makes you feel like this, so warm and wanted - can it really be so wrong?

Raidou lets out a small, shaky breath at Yuji's declaration, another soft happy noise. A hand moves to cup his cheek fondly, the look on his own face somewhere between affection and desire.]

My Yuji... How am I not to kiss you all the time when you say such things?