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

[redsoil]

I care nothing for platitudes and reassurance, I prefer hard truths.

[ In the last world he'd been in, he'd dug down into the depths of despair and anguish just to have all the information. To allow others to make the best choice, even if that choice was beyond painful. Sweet dreams and soft illusions are not his cup of tea, so neither is the idea that LILITH left some waking body of his ( impossible!! ) in that world. ]

That is not how it is for me. I am the only me, and all "variants" are me. The sum of my experiences is contained within my soul, whether I think of them at this time, or another.

[ His confidence is quiet and even, contrasting the boastful tone. The stern brow softened, his shoulders held not as firmly — there's no posturing or demanding that such a belief be mirrored in anyone else. Set knows what the truth of his existence is, and simultaneously accepts that others might have alternates and regressions. ]

Why are you bothered by thoughts of your home, then? If LILITH is correct, you are still there in some capacity.

[kubricks]

No, the rest of my day is pretty free.

[There's nothing really taking up her time today that she can think of. No mission on the horizon and her current day job has pretty flexible hours.]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou is ruminating over this idea in his head, how one person can so confidently say something as they know they're the only one of them out there. He has some ideas, and he's curious, but he won't pry about it. Yet. Still, he's not questioning the idea. Knowing how big the universe is, Raidou knows how his total knowledge of how it works ultimately stacks up to almost nothing.

Curiosity turns cold at that question, though. He takes a moment to debate saying it, as it's something he's ashamed of, in a way.]

Because. Chances are good that I did not survive for very long after, from the point when LILITH brought me here.

[Flat. Matter-of-fact. It's just how things happened. But he's here, now; he has a home and a life and a job where people need his help again. That's something he's not ashamed of.

Obviously the idea still bothers him, though, or he wouldn't have answered Set's initial question in such a way. He's regretting saying it now.]

... Knowing that others will have to suffer due to my failure can be... [Stressful. Depressing. Heartbreaking.] Difficult.

[likemybooks]

Just because I built Doty doesn't mean I didn't study alchemy. [When he shrugs, he draws a circle in the air with the metal clamp he's holding.] When you have a lot of free time like I do, you decide to start learning new types of sciences.

Plus, it helps me fight monsters when I don't have weapons.

[eyescar]

No. I don't think I do.

[ Because Gojo-sensei is -

and because Yuji isn't -

his expression gets darker, for a moment. ]

I'm going to kill him. Sukuna.

[curingidiocy]

[ Of course they both know, and that is why Ratio elects not to contradict him. Instead, he banters back—or he would, if that outfit wasn't such an awful distraction. The flush of his face could easily be attributed to the heat wave visiting the city presently. ]

Is that so? To think a Stoneheart could be brought low by a child.

[ His gaze could be interpreted as his usual intense but disinterested scrutiny, but both of them know that's not the case. ]

[wheft]

[ ain't no way people are still reading this 😭

but oh. there's an implication there, and the thought alone makes her blush. they may not prioritize looks in their relationship, but she is still touched at the fact that wriothesley changed into a yukata for her anyway. he always looks good in black but something about the gold makes her a tad nostalgic. ]

You'll get your chance soon enough. [ hehe ] But I was really asking if you're enjoying the festival in general. Because I am, but it's getting a little overwhelming for me the longer I stay here...

[ a rather flimsy excuse, but it's hard to tell with that seemingly innocent smile of hers and the way she squeezes his hand. ]

Escort me back to the base? You can come back here right after.

[gundemn]

You're another one of those. That explains a lot! You people treat fighting kaiju like it's a normal everyday thing.

[ Same goes for brewing giant vats of acid. Outsiders live the most fantastical lives, but all this monster business wasn't part of Elan's life before, nor does he want it to be now. ]

And I kinda doubt that, or I'd be a genius.

[ He grins. In other words, he's done nothing productive with his free time. ]

lmao we were ships passing in the night.

[heir_conditioned]

Attracting attention isn't what Shoto wants either, but he still thinks Bakugo would've done a better job. It's something he hopes they get the peace to do one day. It wasn't unenjoyable and Shoto will take any kind of break before the fall of whatever comes next to trample on what little everyone has.

"Mh. We'll see." Shoto doesn't really think they're going to get that opportunity. Not because it won't be safe, but because he doesn't think people are capable of not keeping their claws in something they want to hold on to and that is power over powerful people. His eyes track down the hand offering him a small box. There's a tiny smile that pulls at the corner of his lips. Bakugo thinks of everything, and if he thinks that Shoto doesn't know there was actual thought put into it... He's dead wrong. This isn't tactical. Mind you, he's never really seen them come in more than the lit variety.

He takes the box, looking it over and not willing to light them just yet. "Thank you." No, he lied. He's going to light just one when he gets back. "That was thoughtful, Bakugo." If he makes too big a deal about it, he knows where that will head, but he also doesn't want the man to think he didn't appreciate it.

[transmit]

[ Whether it was a cue for Elysium to pick up or not, he does so without pause, pivoting to the very stand. They're living their best lives or so help him…! ]

Don't forget about yourself. You have a strength not many would be able to compete against, and I don't mean it in a strictly physical sense, either. Pragmatism, kindness. It's incredibly hard for them to exist in harmony. You're just as good as taking care of others, albeit in a different way than Netzach might.

[ If Gebura doesn't intend to purchase any riceballs for herself, Elysium will go ahead and procure a full set of them: one of some indistinct fish with mayo, bonito flakes, pickled plum, and the roe of the same aforementioned fish. Who knows what exactly exists out here in 22xx, but Elysium will glance at her with a tip of his head as he holds it out for her to take. ]

But I just assume everyone is; it's easier that way. And even if they aren't, most have some kind of story that explains why or who they are.

[likemybooks]

Those? You mean people who've done this sort of stuff before? Well...yes, I am. It took weeks of practice, but I've gotten less...well, not scared, but I perform better under pressure

[Let's not talk about how Taryon hasn't personally done much in the first terrifying boss fights he was a part of, but he survived the kraken and Hell, and that's not something to scoff at.]

...I'm sure you had other hobbies to pass the time. My family had an extensive library and several tutors who could get me what I wanted.

[transmit]

[ This is starting to sound… personal? It even looks personal, from the way she seems to jitter with nervous energy.

He isn't interested in digging into others' wounds or making them uncomfortable solely for the sake of satiating his curiosity, and he wonders, briefly, if it'd do them better for him to change the topic—bring up something irreverent, make much to ado about nothing. But she seems to encourage it with her answers, and although it's possible that it's merely indulgence, he decides to continue prodding it along for the time being. ]

Rather popular, weren't you? [ to the mention of ayakashi. heh. ] Did you have a wish that you want granted?

[gundemn]

Damn, you must have been rich. Why didn't you just hire someone else to hunt the monsters for you if you're scared of them?

[ Being scared of monsters is normal. Elan is actually glad to hear someone else finds them terrifying, but he sure doesn't get why you'd leave a cozy life to go looking for them. ]

[gorb]

Why not? It's not like we've anywhere else to be.

( Any excuse for a smoke, really. )

[likemybooks]

I tried, at first. But no one likes a guy who hangs back for the entire fight and watches everyone else. Besides, the whole point of leaving home and becoming an adventurer is for me to be the hero of the day.

[gorb]

You will.

( There is a reason Satoru is so fond of the boy, Geto knows that. And while he's no stranger to the depths of hopelessness this life can bring he's sure there's something. What would it all be for, if not for Itadori's success. )

But you don't have to think about it right now. Even the strongest should have a day off.

[blastedass]

He runs his own pyrotechnic display. But try as he wants, getting all the colors and the sheer variety of normal fireworks isn't something Explosion can do. It takes a fair amount of concentration to get those sparkling explosions that mimic the bursts in the air, something he doesn't bother with outside of people he thinks are special enough to warrant the effort.

Shoto's right in distrusting people to hand over power once given to them. Even if they manage to rid the world of the kaiju, who knows if fear will prevent LILITH from letting them go, on account of "wha if's" in the future. Then again, people have already gone home... Deku's no longer here with them. Bakugo knows others who have gone home, some who blipped into existence for a short while when newcomers arrive, then vanish, as if in a testing ground. He doesn't know what criteria has people stay or go. It's not up to them, unfortunately. At the end of all this, he damn well determines it's going to be.

At least Shoto likes the sparklers. Most people wouldn't notice that faint hint of a smile, but Bakugo sees it. The little things mean a lot to the other man. "Uh-huh." In that very 'shuddup' kind of way as he rests his arms on his knees again, mouth hidden against the interlocked ridges of his fingers. Shoto can fire them off whenever he wants.

[eyescar]

Yeah.

[ Yuji grits his teeth for a moment, looking around at the festival. It wasn't looking optimistic before, but... He's not going to give it up. ]

I've had a lot of days of, Geto-san, don't worry.

[bemist]

Fine with me.

[ She'll shake a cigarette out into her palm, passing it to him without fanfare. ]

[gundemn]

[ Elan reluctantly moves along when he's nudged, but he's not done talking. Yuwon will have to be more articulate than that before he gets the memo... ]

You're the pragmatic type. I can respect that! Better to have goals than hopeless dreams. But I don't get your wish. Are you saying there's nothing you lack? Or do you not want to rely on anyone to accomplish it?

[ At this point he's just throwing darts blindly and seeing what might stick. Why is this guy so hard to suss out... ]

[gundemn]

[ He's cute when he's embarrassed. ]

But I never see you having fun... You're always so grouchy.

[ There are maybe like 2-3 Outsiders Elan's met that actually knows how to have fun, in his opinion. ]

[stonehearts]

So you think it makes people go soft.

( His tone isn't judgmental, purely curious. It's not an uncommon belief, and Aventurine doesn't prescribe to it in the way that this man might. Topaz is a soft woman, though ambitious. Happiness, for the Stonehearts, is not something they would ever be content have -- though Aventurine cannot deny the recent bouts of it have made an impression. )

Some people would say that the desire to protect that which makes them happy drives them forward, or to have more of this happiness. I can't say I've experienced enough of the emotion to weigh in on either side.

( Nor will he know it beyond the bonds he's forged of his own hands until Oswaldo Schneider is dead and his people avenged, but. Details. )

[zauneyete]

[ A soft sound, that's somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. ]

Oh, I guarantee you, I know a few things about vices.

[ He dropped his cigar onto the ground, and let his heel crush what was left under it. ]

Perhaps this is a part of the game, keep us just complacent enough that we will be pliant. It is what I would do, though I'm used to... [ A twitch of his lips. ] Things are different, where I am from. The indulgences are as well.

Hm, though, perhaps I'll keep that in mind. You never know when a good riot is necessary.

[wheft]

Huh. Some sort of CEO, I take it?

[ plenty of people with businesses, upstart or otherwise, would know how to use weapons -- even if they claim that they aren't good at it like silco here. though why LILITH chose him to come here, that's beyond her. she kinda has the impression that they just pick out some of the most random people through some cosmic lottery or something.

as for his question, she's going to need a bit to mull over it. ]

Nnnnot sure. Haven't really thought about it. I still have a world to get back to eventually, but with how time is frozen over there while our consciousness is too busy being here, I've learned not to sweat too much on that.

[ she's taking it quite well, but she's all too used to being jerked around by shady companies at this point. she's just some guy at the end of the day, too. ]

If you're not used to being told what to do, then... [ a small smirk. ] There's always a first time for everything. But trust me when I say that outside of future missions, they usually let us have free reign of our lives here in this City so long as we don't stray out of line.

[emancipating]

A little. [ he shrugs a little helplessly. ] But I think that's part of the charm.

[ like the easy way yuji smiles at him and calls them friends; as if this is simply all it takes. and maybe it really is that simple. but more importantly.... wow, his first official friend that he didn't strong-arm... ]

There's not much of a list, but I suppose we all have to start somewhere.