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

Gebura | Library of Ruina | Everlight

[bemist]

I. TANABATA

[ A festival that isn't crammed with people sounds doable, and Gebura isn't actually one to stay inside and sit and do nothing except when she is actively trying to avoid literally everyone else, so she can in fact be found at the festival of her own free will and clad in a crimson jinbei, doing one of a few things:

a.) Staring in utter confusion at the wish tags fluttering nearby and muttering under her breath something like "Is this some kind of new request method?"

b.) Getting herself settled at the shooting range and maybe she's giving the laser guns an Odd Look for Some Reason, but oh well. It's some form of activity, so she'll lift an eyebrow to give you a challenging look.

c.) Literally anything else, you wanna just bonk into her and watch the drones or have the strap of your sandal break so she has to pick you up and carry you, you delicate individual, feel free-- ]

II. FESTIVAL THE SEQUEL

a.) [ As she's on the Everlight team (don't ask her why), Gebura can be found manning the goldfish game. For some kind of value of "manning"; she appears to be mildly judging your technique if you're someone coming to test your skill, lifting an eyebrow at you. ]

So, is your wrist always that limp or are you not ready yet?

[ If you're a teammate, of course, she's a little more merciful, leaving every so often to go on food runs and silently tapping you with a bottle of water or ramune or shoving a little paper tray of takoyaki in your face. Don't mention it. Really, don't mention it. ]

b.) [ And when all is said and done and the non-Revelation saps have to deal with the consequences of a contest she doesn't remember agreeing to in the first place? Well, then. Gebura makes her choice and it sure isn't cleaning.

Which is why she can be found staring you down, a future pie victim, face rather impassive and radiating far too much of an intimidating aura for someone you're about to whap with a pie/shitton of whipped cream. ]

Go ahead. [ Her expression doesn't budge. ] Cream me.

[ Alternatively, catch her afterwards. I mean, you may not recognize her, not the figure with a face absolutely buried in whipped cream, sitting down on a bench and trying to pat around and find where the nearby towel has gone while trying to wipe off what she can with a hand. What an absolute legend. ]

III. MONSOONER OR LATER

[ I'm obligated to give her like one cool prompt and that is when the storms really start kicking into gear, so too does Gebura. You'll probably have to drag her inside if you realize she's been at it for hours with each and every storm, but why would you do that? She's putting in work, and most of it involves--

... Well, you'll likely see her, evacuating civilians, and that means there's usually some elderly person clinging on her back like a koala, a few people tucked under her arms like footballs... it's fine. She's moving fine. She's just also drenched. ]

The closest shelter--where is it?

IV. WILDCARD

(Anything else! Feel free to PM me if you'd like a custom starter!)

monsoonish

[siffriend]

[ So what if one of the people she's ending up having to save is a certain scrawny fella. Because Siffrin sure is hanging out on a tree, wind whipping leaves back and forth... sort of looking like a cat that's gotten stuck.

Because he has. Gotten stuck. The kite they'd been trying to retrieve for a crying child has been freed, clutched in one hand, but how are they going to find that child and return it? They didn't think this through. They're going to die her. They're--




(Oh!

You wave your kite-bound hand in hopes of catching Gebura's attention and end up lifting a little off the branch. aaaaaaaaaaa) ]

[bemist]

[ It's hard to say what catches her notice. Maybe because the sky is a concerning shade of Dark and in the midst of that, the lightning sizzling overhead and the thunder rolling, a white-haired figure further up is Just Different Enough to stand out.

The waving also helps, her gaze snapping up, and for a few seconds, she looks legitimately startled--before something like Slight Concern gets into a momentary war with Exasperation and the latter wins.

All right, she's bracing herself against the wind and pushing through it, striding towards the tree. Thankfully, in this situation, she is not already carrying three people. ]

[siffriend]

[ (You've been noticed!

You put your hand back down, clutching to the branch again, watching the now-familiar shade make its way through. Wow. She's really sturdy.

You realize she's going to have to grab you. That's fine. You understand this, so you can make sure you don't jump or startle or anything embarrassing whatsoever.)

Siffrin tightens the string around their hand and wiggles a little off the branch. Just a bit, because apparently he's-- he's going to jump? Just jump? Just let go and let the wind take them, again? Apparently?

(You think this is a great idea that cannot go wrong! Gebura's coming, after all!) ]

tanabata a

[transmit]

[ Gebura's height and hair do wonders in picking her out from a crowd. What's better than one person staring in apparent confusion? Two! But, Elysium's doesn't last for long——sometimes you're a nerd and read up on these things… ]

I don't think there's any harm in writing something down. Why not get into the spirit?

[ seeing as she's already participating in the festival without any of her coworkers in sight, why not go all the way? yeah! ]

[bemist]

[ Ah, there he is. The effervescent ocean bird.

Of course he'd immediately be into this. Gebura greets him with the usual side-glance, gaze steady but eyebrow quirked. ]

I'm not really the wishing type.

[transmit]

[ A similar sort of expression leveled back at her. ]

But you're the festival type?

[ Mildly. As she tends to deliver. ]

2a

[fursuit]

[ Honestly? Maybe not phrased that way, but it’s a fair question. Because after doing his time manning one of the shooting booths (naturally), he’s decided to go explore and see what else is on offer. He’s never been to a Japanese-style festival, so he’s pretty curious! And as such, he’s fully leaned into the atmosphere, having donned a black yukata with gold accents and drawn his hair up into a neat ponytail.

However. His style is not helping him here.

This is not his first attempt at scooping the goldfish. It might not even be the second. But those paper nets are not his friend at all. ]

Gh—

[ He winces when she calls it out, and it’s only because he is focused on not tearing it this time that he doesn’t respond more extremely. ]

What, have you tried this? It ain’t as easy as it fuckin’ looks. I could grab one with my hands way easier than this.

[bemist]

You probably could, but it's not meant to be "can you grab it in a chokehold", it's "can you grab it with and despite the shitty equipment you've been provided", so you probably wouldn't feel any more satisfied with it.

[ Not that she knows anything about his pride. ]

Want a hint?

[fursuit]

[ The way she phrases it certainly strikes a chord, but it’s a very personal chord. Like, that’s the kind of shit he would say to someone, were their roles reversed here. However, that doesn’t make it better. Working with subpar equipment is one thing. Working with his own damn luck is another… ]

…Y’know. Sure.

[ He would probably give it another try on his own, but he’s feeling a little called out, so. He’ll take the hint. Still, gently, he starts to chase after a languid fish. ]

festival the sequel B and that's B for blease forgive the misogny

[hitokiller]

( what, does she think that's intimidating?

... maybe it is, just a little, but he's not about to let the aura of a giant woman rattle him none. he gets enough of that back "home", in the form of a giant ass dragon.

anyway, better her than him. )

Gladly.

( don't flinch... and throw that gotdamn pie as hard as you CAN!!! )

[bemist]

[ He is a brave strong boy throwing a pie in the face of a woman who just kind of. Takes it. Without a sound. Not a single noise of dismay.

Is this satisfying??? We have no idea. But she sits there for a few seconds before the pie falls off on its own and she lifts a hand to clear some of it away from her eyes. And mouth. ]

I was starting to wonder if people had terrible aim. [ Finally someone who can throw it properly. ]

[hitokiller]

( that's right... he IS a brave strong boy. man. )

What. You're not even gonna tell me off for that?

( there's some confusion on his end between the praise and the dissatisfactory reaction to what should be a humiliating situation. )

Ia

[grade4]

Never been to a Tanabata Festival, Gebura?

[ Asks Maki as she approaches the crimson woman, wearing a green floral yukata. It's comparatively casual the way she typically dresses like she's ready for a fight at any moment. ]

[bemist]

[ All the cool ladies can still throw down in a yukata, Gebura just doesn't like the feeling of her legs being restricted. She'd hate a kimono even more.

But she turns her head, recognition stealing into her eyes, before she releases a sigh. ]

Nope. I've never even heard of it, but that's probably not that surprising, considering.

[grade4]

Guess not.

[ The sort of world Gebura described coming from doesn't seem one for festivities. Even if it is, Tanabata is very regional to Japan. ]

It's a festival to celebrate star crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi. They're stars in the sky separated except for one time a year. People make wishes and write them down to hang from bamboo stalks. That's the point in a nutshell.

wildcard.

[uncourteous]

[ as gebura's favorite individual in neo tokyo (no), it only makes sense that he makes an appearance here. while he's diligently completed his duties thus far, it isn't to state that he wouldn't take a break where it was appropriate. finding just the perfect time to leave his stall, he brings a few items of every booth. half out of curiosity, and the other half, perhaps... doing his best to take in this experience while he could.

it's not every day the crown prince could partake in a festival, after all.

it is in the process of him browsing and making rounds through the festival, that he catches onto the familiar sight of her from the distance. so he does what anyone would do in such a position and stands right in front of her, temporarily blocking her path. ] From inferno all the way to here, it appears our paths cross often.

[ before she can turn away (not him mentally preparing for this possibility), he then holds out the sparklers in his hand. ]

Have you had the opportunity to try this yet, Lady Gebura?

[bemist]

[ Yeah, as soon as he cuts her off and starts talking, it's the equivalent of a cat whose ears have gone all the way back. She is definitely getting ready to turn and head off in another direction, but even Gebura won't just ditch (because technically you shouldn't ever show your back to someone you don't trust). He's won, for now. ]

...

[ Why does this keep happening ]

I've seen them, but no, I haven't gone around waving one.

[uncourteous]

[ he gives a wry smile at her words, as if imagining gebura waving them around with the same expression she wears every time she sees him. it was a bit a comical, but that aside, he holds his arm out towards her, almost instinctively, as if accustomed to the idea of escorting...

except, as soon as he does it, he realizes she is the least likely individual to take to it, and yet he holds it out expectantly, anyway. ] Then shall we? Since you appear to have more experience with them, I am sure you don't mind sharing your knowledge with me.

[ it's just sparklers, my dude. ]

1a ( tho i was tempted by the sandal breaking and her carrying him 😂 )

[gorb]

Not quite.

( Though he's sure if things were that simple there would be far more wishes attached. ) I haven't seen them with holograms before, it's certainly modern. But these are simply wishes. Things people hope for but might not get.

( A pause, Geto folding his hands into the sleeves of his yukata. Gebura gets a mild smile. They've run into each other often enough by now. ) Have you never seen something like this before? It's fairly common where I'm from, but I know that's not for everyone.

consider this could still happen--

[bemist]

[ Geto gets a nod in return; she's not sure what to think about him, but it's not like he's been trying to drag her into exciting socialization attempts or treated her like she was inexplicably into him, so it's already going well. ]

This isn't really a thing where I'm from. Probably because most people in the City don't have wishes in this kind of sense. Even if they did, I don't think they'd have them on display like this. [ That's just a sign of vulnerability, isn't it? ]

unfortunately he'd rather step on glass 😔

[gorb]

That makes sense. A lot of people do prefer to keep their wishes anonymous.

( He certainly keeps his own close to his chest. A lot of them would be cruel, he thinks, or more likely just plain sad. There's absolutely no point in revealing that part of himself even if they're all supposed to be showing comradery. )

A lot of people think this is a form of manifestation. That by putting it out there into the wide world will make it more likely to happen. I don't necessarily attest to that myself. A wish will happen or it won't. If you're not willing to put in the work to see it through yourself what good is a scrap of paper?

2 B aftermath) but slides in here late...

[30storieshigh]

[ Very much one to let his pride get in the way Godzilla quickly volunteered for clean-up duty rather than subject himself to the more demeaning punishments. Besides, he only just got these new clothes, sure it's just a gray jinbei but it's comfortable and it'd be a shame to get it dirty so soon. That aside he doesn't look down on his fellow Everlighters for taking the other options, he respects it, sacrificing their dignity for the moral of the masses is important enough in its own way.

He is more than happy to lend a hand when he spots Gebura fumbling on a bench in her whipped state. Helpfully he retrieves her towel from where it got pushed near to the edge of the bench, sliding it forward so her groping hand can grab it. ]

I do not understand the reasoning behind wasting food on that display, but you did well. Your sticky situation is just as notable as returning scarred by battle.

[ No he's not even remotely trying to be funny he's just like this. ]

never too late!

[bemist]

[ There's something ironic about it, considering how many scars she actually sports, including the few on her face that are revealed as soon as she grasps the conveniently moved towel to begin wiping it off.

Not the most fun she's ever had, for sure. ]

Thanks, I think. Someone had to do it, but you're right that it feels like a waste of food.

[ Even if it's largely just. Cream. Soooooo much cream. ]

[30storieshigh]

[ Oh okay facial scars, that's even more respect getting put down. Anyone who's come out of a few fights alive is aces in his book, not that he knows what that phrase means. ]

I suppose these "cream pies" are numerus and simple enough to make to be used for recreation.

[ Zero awareness of the double entendre, just moving right along. Well aware that he's kind of looming Godzilla takes a seat on the bench to join Gebura.]

There is some in your hair.

[ Zero idea. He's just... so helpful. ]