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

002;

[assassinsgreed]

<sub>[ Wow, long time no see. It’s been a minute since he’s seen Izou. In fact, some of those memories from Las Vegas still remain fresh in his mind. The way the sounded, tasted.. the benefit of heightened senses is Toji could commit so much more to memory. It was fine for him to think about that every now and then because he wasn’t a taken man back then, but he knows there might be a weird shift in their friendship because of all of that— and what developed between them and their partners after the fact.

Toji is a little curious to know where they stand, but instead of just asking like a normal person, he scoffs as he sees Izou relaxing on the couch. ]</sub>

Get up.

_{[ as if Toji hasn’t been doing basically the same thing. ]}

[hitokiller]

( there sure as HELL is gonna be a weird shift, because here is izou trying to maintain his cool, chin raised as he attempts to stop the color threatening to rush up the back of his neck.

it really has been a long time since they interacted, and so much has changed since then. so much. all izou knows at the moment, is that he's being contested somehow, and that he better stand his ground. or stand his couch. he's the one using it. )

Oh, yeah? And what're you gonna do if I don't?

( can they just say hi or something... christ!!! these two. )

[assassinsgreed]

_{[ For Toji, it doesn’t bode well seeing Izou is here being the slacker when Toji knows he is the ultimate slacker when it means doing anything useful for no extra pay. He snorts, then turns around and sits his ass down also on the couch. If Izou is taking up the whole couch, well, he’s gonna be sitting on his legs. If there’s room for Toji to sit, he will sit on the opposite side and stretch his legs over on Izou. ]}

If you’re gonna be doing nothing, I am gonna be doing nothing too.

_{[ look at these guys.. like lazy cats.. ]}

[hitokiller]

( let's say there's just enough room for toji to stretch out and get situated, thanks to izou here being a high-strung creature that feels tense when it comes to sharing space with someone who's seen a little too much of him. that doesn't stop izou from making an irritated clicking noise with his tongue as he leans back against an armrest of the couch and pulls in his body to make more room, arms folded across his chest as he sits up.

two assassins, one couch. )

Are you just tryin' to mess with me, or is there... there something you wanna say? I'm not gonna sit here forever.

( it's a pretty pointed question, and he... he's glowering at the man, but it's without the usual teeth.

it's not as if izou's been consciously avoiding him, but he was wary. always wary as he used a temper to shield himself, not really the sort to understand how people felt about him in general until they put it into words. )

[assassinsgreed]

<sub>[ Perfect. It fits two slackers conveniently. Toji even yawns and sinks into the couch a little. This was better than helping with anything else even if his insane strength could be useful.

At the question, Toji makes a small “ah?” noise, and settles his attention on Izou. ]</sub>

No. Should I have something to say?

_{[ but before Izou can respond: ]}

Nice to still see you around on the base.

_{[ Glad you didn’t get worm eaten, or transported back home, or whatever the fuck happens. ]}

[hitokiller]

( that's...

like tossing a tiny dog a treat, izou's prickliness begins to wane ever so slightly. )

... Likewise.

( his restless eye flits away to stare at something else, embarrassed. )

Not that I haven't had my fair share of troubles.

[assassinsgreed]

Oh? Is life not being fair to you, Izou?

_{[ There's that stupid little half grin that Toji makes when he's around Izou, and he looks over at him again. It sounds like this guy wants to talk. ]}

The therapist is in.

_{[ A pause. ]}

But it will cost you.

_{[ He is kidding, but its hard to tell with him because this is totally something Toji would say when he's not kidding. ]}

assassin gossip returns????

[hitokiller]

I'm not payin' you to listen to me. If anything, you got more than enough money.

( in other words, he hasn't forgotten he lost that bet... and those kryptos. they also just got paid for all the hassle in the desert. TCH!!! )

But, no. It's more...

( something itches between his ribs, and maybe it's that forthright honesty he's looking for from the other man. that always opens him up by the ribs and rips something out )

Protectin' people is easy. Doing right by them... is harder. I said I wasn't keen on gettin' close to my "coworkers", and maybe I shoulda stuck to that... before I hurt anybody.

[assassinsgreed]

<sub>[ He expected that kind of response, and then immediately for Izou to try and start talking. The thing is.. Toji doesn't mind it. He doesn't mind listening to this guy yap about all of his issues. He couldn't explain it other than the fact he just enjoys spending time with Izou, and it's such a foreign feeling considering he's not really had any friends at all growing up other than Shiu.

Toji is pretty certain his advice is shit, but it's interesting to hear what's going on in Izou's life. There's not a lick of sympathy on his face, but he continues to ask because he feels like that's what Izou wants him to do: ]</sub>

Did you upset someone?

[hitokiller]

( probably, is what he almost blurts out without warning.

but the quiet from toji's corner is a reminder that maybe this sort of honesty isn't what he wants to hear, and that izou is an untrustworthy creature at heart. they may get along on the occasion, but he backs off when it comes to divulging his personal problems, not wanting to reveal a wound that can so easily be prodded at. so. instead of answering, he squints at the floor briefly. )

... Forget it. How're things with... ( quick. think fast. change of subject. ) Ishmael. You two still "seein'" each other?

[assassinsgreed]

Ishmael. Hm.

_{[ He’s thinking for a moment; how to phrase something like this tactfully. He idly drums two of his fingers on his chin. ]}

We decided not to anymore.

_{[ He does not need to drag Ishmael’s personal business into this conversation. She and Toji had a clear heart to heart about things and agreed on the same thing: pursuing romance with their respectful interests. And typically, Toji wouldn’t be verbal about being in a relationship, but he’s very smitten and proud of the girl he has, and Izou, unfortunately, is the person he feels comfortable talking to about this. ]}

I have a woman, now, and I devoted myself to her. Not sure what Ishmael is doing. Not my business.

[hitokiller]

D-... Devoted? You?

( okay. hold up.

izou's so out-of-the-loop that he can only freeze in shock and lean back into that arm of the couch, like. is this really the same guy? )

Who... Who's the lucky woman, then?

( feeling like the white woman math meme rn. )

[assassinsgreed]

Why are you acting so surprised? You don't think someone like me could date another person?

_{[ Did he ever tell Izou that he was married? Twice? ]}

You don't wanna try and take a guess? It is a woman here on base. I mentioned her at the onsen if you remember. Ring a bell?

[hitokiller]

( he knows nothing. like a babe that just opened its eyes. )

The onsen? Like I'm gonna remember shit from that long ago. But, hmm. Let's see. Is it... Rodya?

( another gal with long hair, and fairly well-sized... well, let's just say she's well-sized. )

[assassinsgreed]

Someone better than that.

_{[ Rodya, you're great, but he's just way too smitten to say anything otherwise. There's a smile on Toji's face, something genuine... as genuine as someone like him can be, but it looks like he's gotten away with something he should not have.. like a cat who has gotten into the cream. It is.. sincere, though, and of Izou wants to look a little closer, there is a certain kind of softness in his expression that was normally not there. ]}

Yor Briar is my girl.

[hitokiller]

( damn, throwing rodya under the bus like that. )

Not a name I've heard. What wing's she in?

( but he can tell from the look on toji's face that he's fond. he's never looked like that around izou before. never looked at him like that, either... not that he'd wanted him to.

just an observation, but an observation that makes toji feel... distant. )

1/2

[assassinsgreed]

How the hell do you not know who the hottest woman on this base is? Jesus.

2/3 actually

[assassinsgreed]

_{[ But then, that lovesick look washes over his face again. He's gone, man. ]}

She's the nice woman in Everlight. Long, dark hair.. she wears it up a lot. Bright red eyes. She's also an assassin, but.. I've never seen a more happier, more compassionate person like her.

_{[ He doesn't need to open up any further about how he feels in regards to Yor, but he really doesn't need to. It's written all over his face, even if it's for a moment. ]}

She likes me. I don't know why.

3/3

[assassinsgreed]

_{[ Now back to a more neutral expression, followed by a scoff. ]}

Maybe she'll live a long time. She seems hardy.

_{[ why are you talking about her like she's your new pet cat, Toji. ]}

[hitokiller]

( seems hardy... the hell? like, for... for holding? a woman who can handle his crazy-strong bear grip? or does he mean hardy in the sense that... well.

let's not go there on a public forum. )

Huh. That so. Well, good on you for findin' someone you care for that much. Does it really matter she's got thick-skin or not, though? All you've gotta do is protect her yourself.

( tapping on the edge of the couch... )

And... I haven't really been scoping out the women much. I've got... ( licking his lips as he chooses his words, ) —I told ya I wasn't keen on getting close to anybody, but. It all sorta escalated with this girl, and before I knew it, well... you could say I'm seein' someone myself.

[assassinsgreed]

_{[ Toji's nose curls. He doesn't like the way Izou talks about protecting a loved one like Toji is someone who doesn't try. Despite his efforts, the world took his first wife away from him, and that was the reason he was apprehensive to even give himself another shot at trying to be happy again. ]}

Don't be cocky. There's things in this cruel world that people cannot protect others against. I'm not going to have a repeat of what happened to me and my first wife again.

_{[ First wife? Did he ever mention to Izou that he was married? Maybe, but he never explained what happened to her. ]}

As for you...

_{[ Already, Toji can feel himself beginning to be more at ease. That's what a woman does to him. His shoulders relax, despite stiffening up there for a minute. ]}

Hold onto whatever makes you happy and enjoy it while you can.
I think you deserve it, Izou.

_{[ Oh. ]}