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

[wheft]

Oh, there's lots of them. Especially the ones who see themselves as the strongest in their respective worlds.

[ a slight roll of her eyes. ]

[fursuit]

At least one other. Egypt’s god of war, Set, he just got here too. Buddy of mine.

[ He turns to face them both rather than inspect (/feel up) their gundams, since he doesn’t miss the challenge in Yzak’s tone. It gets his attention, so he focuses his gaze on him. Even behind his sunglasses, the gleam of his sharp attention is noticeable. ]

I’m Tezcatlipoca.

[ Normally, he leaves it at that, since he prefers to see if people recognize his name over anything else. His pantheon exists in an unusual state of fame, so that’s more “valuable” to know. But with Yzak’s challenging tone, well. He can’t resist. ]

Almighty god of those that came from Atzlan. God of the impalpable, the jaguars, and most importantly, all clashes of conflict.

[ That’s the showy introduction, but with a grin, he relaxes again. ]

But seeing’ as I squished myself down to a human body for convenience, you don’t have to worry about most of that. I’ve decided to place my bets with LILITH, so that’s what matters.

[gorb]

( A snort. )

Only if you don't share.

[bemist]

Everyone else probably has the same idea. [ They do. ]

But we can see what they have. I thought I heard someone mention limited amounts of shaved ice.

[bemist]

I can manage to share one. For the drink.

[ We believe in fairness in this household. ]

[bowtography]

[ March sits still for a minute longer, resting a hand on his head--and then she lifts it, shifting herself off of him to allow him room to stand. It truly is an unfortunate time when bringing one's boyfriend to one's room doesn't necessarily mean doing Things behind closed doors.

... But maybe next time, she tells herself. It wouldn't sit right with her to do anything more when her emotions were still in turmoil. ]

Thanks for hearing me out, Izou.

[ I mean. She dragged him here. But he'd listened. ]

[lifeprice]

They're the most irritating. They're likely not the strongest here, especially with LILITH's intervention.

[ It's almost a relief, actually... ]

[lifeprice]

Couldn't I at least be an older brother...

[ No, there are no victories here, and Aki is stuck in the loop of everyone he knows here deciding he's Denji's mother. At least Ish hasn't been given the notion to start calling it, because then his life would truly be over. At least Yuwon seems to be enjoying himself, even as Aki rolls his eyes.

He's surrounded by idiots and pains in the asses, all over again.

Nodding his head, he steps around the booth and sighs softly. ]

I'm going to get sake.

[likemybooks]

[Medieval worlds don't have anymore more advanced than thick fabric and face shields. Everyone lives dangerously (or has a cleric on hand).]

See, plugsuits would be nice to have anywhere else. But good call on the goggles. [He raises a finger triumphantly, as if he himself had thought up of this brilliant plan.] There's a few in the cabinet down the hall. Can you grab two while I set things up?

[frostfist]

[ He looks a little surprised at the question, blinking once as a small furrow forms between his brows. It's not a question that most people usually ask him and for a moment, he's not sure how to answer it. ]

In terms of the renovations, you mean? [ No, she probably doesn't mean that but he can't help but comment on it regardless. ] Or the situation we've found ourselves in here in Neo-Tokyo?

[gorb]

Well, you must have something they want.

( He's yet to come across anyone truly ill-fitting in LILITH's ranks. A few bleeding hearts, do-gooders that ruin his day, but mostly everyone has some sort of skillset that puts them beyond normality. Silco must, or they've made a mistake. He doesn't know the man well enough to guess. )

I'm sure you'll find entertainment. ( He hasn't, but he's been spending his time brooding. Being bored isn't exactly as high on his priorities as laying down in a dark room contemplating his mistakes has been. ) Besides, it could be worse. We could be nicotine free.

[gorb]

( Geto hasn't, this is practically a holiday for him. But at least the kaiju aren't as personally awful as the curses, that might be part of it. )

Interesting. We're all so similar but we each have different names and titles for it.

[gorb]

That's the higher ups for you.

( A lazy drawl, disdainful. )

Always executing somebody. Or at least ordering someone else to. They don't often like to get their hands dirty.

[frostfist]

You don't think asking me for my wish wasn't too easy either?

[ Sure, he'll never be known for being the most open and chatty person this side of Neo-Tokyo, but he's always done his best to try and be honest around Ishmael. Though it certainly helps that she's never tried too hard to reach into his personal matters. One of the things he likes about her, among many others....

Including the way she presses up against him as she leans forward, the sound of her voice so close to his ear sending a small shiver of goosebumps down his spine. ]

If that was too easy, maybe I should make you work for this one.

[ not me stretching this out so i don't have to embarrass myself 🧍‍♂️ ]

[eyescar]

Yeah... They were gonna get Gojo-sensei to do it to me.

[ He sighs softly. ]

At least, that's what he promised me. That once I had all the fingers, he'd kill me himself.

[kubricks]

Right, quite a few of us have more in common than it might seem. It makes working together easier, once we get past the terminology.

[yuwon]

[ he just looks at aki, and then looks away at the question. not every inquiry dignifies a response, or so his gesture seems to say. still, he also puts up a sign for the change in shifts, and also steps around and back onto the rear pathway. ]

Don't drink too much, or else Denji will have to carry you back.

[ he doesn't actually think aki is this bad of a drunk, but comparatively— it seemed like an entirely fair remark. (it isn't). ]

[uncourteous]

[ it's sound advice coming from someone who clearly has a distaste for him. who would have known? but, perhaps that's exactly what made it so valuable. unlike the words he was so accustomed to— words steeped in half-truths or trickery, her words were straightforward, direct, and real. while he knows his wellbeing held no bearing to her, he still thinks her words come from a place where even he can't exactly see or understand. ]

That isn't terrible advice. [ he eventually says, a bit more casually than how he typically speaks; as if shedding that layer temporarily. he doesn't mean it in mockery, but just in quiet acceptance, especially as their sparklers have now died and they are left in this dark. ]

Here, I was so sure you would be the first to cheer if I were to cut myself...

[bemist]

I'm not a sadist.

[ Yes, she knows how she comes across. But no. She almost sounds offended by the idea. Just because she isn't exactly enjoying Callisto's company ever doesn't mean she actively wants to see him crash and burn. ]

[wwtd]

[ why? because it's lonely at the top, no matter how strong you are. hiyori knows this because she met the strongest war god in the Japanese pantheon. she hid her emotions, smiled through the pain, for the sake of her shinki but

how lonely, hiyori thought. not to have anybody to confide in. to be surrounded by people you care about but have them also pretend everything is okay for your sake when it wasn't. she slants a smile at ishmael. ]

If that were the case, I might've belonged there too. [ when the right buttons are pressed, anyway. there's a pause and hiyori moves to fan so she's speaking behind it. ]

... I know it's sort of against the rules, but if you ever want to come to Redemption to hang out you're personally more than welcome to knock on my door. Honestly, I think the rule is kinda silly.

YESSSSSS PROOF OF FRIENDSHIP

[wwtd]

[ well, how can she argue that? spoilers: she can't ]

Makes sense. [ hiyori echoes with another laugh and deigns to watch vash get max points again, one after the other. she claps where appropriate again, of course, and laughs a bit harder at how he shows off.

she thinks... she understands who everlight is made of. with the tripping, especially. hiyori puts her hands out to catch him if he needs, but she's grinning and amused through the whole thing. ]

Another perfect score!! Fantastic! [ knowing which plush he was aiming for, she plucks the pink one off the line and grabs both to set them next to each other. look, see, best friends. ]

Hehe, you really didn't have to but thank you. I'll have to think of a name, too. [ using her ocular, she checks the time. ] My break is soon if you want to try that onigiri. Or maybe we can find something with donuts or close to it. Have you had a funnel cake?

[wwtd]

[ not the renovationslksjdgdslkgj

there's a moment where she's exasperated and looks it (there are a lot of self-help books, sure, it's concerning!!), briefly. he gets it. ]

Unless you're used to being humanity's last hope...? [ she tries to smile, to lighten the mood again. ]

[wheft]

[ we already know where this thread is going anyway, help

she narrows her eyes at him again, lips turned up in another pout. he'd already abused his boyfriend privileges before but what about hers? it shouldn't be this hard to get him talking without coming off as prying, so let's see here... ]

What part of "non-negotiable" did you not get?

[ huffs through her nose ]

At least tell me if you've enjoyed yourself so far.

1/2

[vorous]

_{[ buffering ... ]}

2/2

[vorous]

Wait, so.. you're a god? And you grant wishes?