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.

code

Comments

monsoon a

[frostfist]

[ Imagine getting real books made out of paper instead of digitized copies of everything under the sun sent straight to your eyeballs. He's rather curious about it all, actually, and doesn't hestitate in ambling over when Hiyori arrives with her armful of books all ready to be shelved.

This is where he would play the role of gentleman and offer to take them from her, except his eye is caught by the title of the book at the top of the pile. He frowns. ]

'How to Stop Being Toxic'...? [ Hello, who ordered these. ] I didn't realize we had such a problem around there.

[wwtd]

[ oh, tsuru needs that book.

hiyori glances down at the title as she slides the stack onto a nearby table. just as curious, she picks it up off the top. ] Is it? But everyone I've met has been nice....?

[ beneath it, Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe








these really are all self-help books. wait, are y'all ok??? ]

W-well, hopefully, someone finds a use for it. And holding a physical book in your hand is still more enjoyable than using the implant. It reminds me of home.

[ just gonna

tuck it away somewhere on the shelf there it goes ]

[frostfist]

[ no one here is okay

Even the ones that pretend to be, like this guy in front of her, diverting his gaze to stare at the second book underneath with unabashed interest. Wow, they really were not holding back when they ordered these. Whoever 'they' are. (Maybe Seok Dang? This kind of thing seems up his alley.) ]

You've got a point there. After having everything sent straight to my eyes [ with a little tap at the side of his head just above his ear ] it's nice to have something physical to hold onto again.

[ Which is obviously why he's swiping that second book and flipping it open to browse through the pages? Yeah, that's a reasonable explanation. Hopefully whatever's written in here is satire... ]

What do you usually read in your spare time?

[wwtd]

[ time for a harmony circle

there's convenience in everything being high-tech, no denying that, but hiyori is so used to surrounding herself with physical books with all her studying throughout the years that she finds herself drawn to the library when she has a free moment. she absently rubs at her temple with a small smile with that tap.

it's satire-ISH? and a real book. with a punchline: This is not your grandmother's self-help book. Unless you have one badass grandmother.

she huffs an amused sound at the question (what's spare time?) as she picks up the next book. ] Back home I would bury my nose in medical textbooks. Human body diagrams, from muscle groups to organs. Principles and diagnosis. Here? [ though she bites her lip, hiyori browses the shelves for a moment and then pulls a book out. it's far less dusty than the rest.

Wrestle Galaxy. ]

I, um. I like this one.

losing it at that book

[frostfist]

[ .....What a fascinating book. Fortunately (unfortunately??) he only makes it through a skim of a few pages before he decides her answer is much more worthwhile. He looks up, interest clear in his eyes, letting the two covers of the book fall shut again. ]

Really? Studying to be a doctor?

[ That's incredibly impressive, actually. The only things he knows about medicine are the odds and ends he's picked up from Sigewinne, but even from that he understands that the study itself is incredibly challenging. ]

It sounds like I should be coming to you if I need something patched up. [ He's joking. Mostly. ]

it's in my amazon history now but worth it lmao

[wwtd]

That's the plan.

[ Wrestle Galaxy is moved so she can hold it to her chest. her small smile is directed at the ground. it becomes a little wider, more genuine at the idea of someone already considering coming to her for aid. this is what she studied for and spent years of her life practicing. ]

Ideally, you won't need to be patched up at all. Right? [ but yes. doctor iki in da house. come to her for all your booboo kissing needs i mean first aid. since they're at the base too, ]

My patients call me Doctor Iki, but Hiyori is fine. [ picking another self help book up, 69,420 Things to Be Happy About, she looks for a slot to put it in. ] Who do you normally go to for patching?

[frostfist]

[ Cue a swift glance of his eyes away from hers, and a low drawled out: ]

Right.

[ Maybe he shouldn't say that getting hurt is his bread and butter, for all sorts of reasons. Though perhaps the old scars that litter his arms, bared by the t-shirt he's opted to wear in this overbearing summer heat, speaks enough about his past misadventures.

Shelving the current book in his hands, he turns to grab another off her pile so she's not left to handle the work all alone. That wouldn't be very gentlemanly of him, now would it? ]

There's a medical wing here on the base, though they seem to be perpetually short-staffed. Couldn't imagine why.

[ Surely living in a world ravaged by giant monsters and various other natural disasters wouldn't take a toll on the local population or anything. ]

But outside of that, there are a few of us here that also have medical skills like you, so we're not completely at a loss.

[wwtd]

[ ......... you ain't slick. she doesn't do much other than wear a wry smile though.

fortunately, for him, hiyori's already realized that injuries and getting patched up MOST LIKELY come with their job. hence, ideally. what she doesn't know (right now), is that getting hurt is his penchant.

the short-staffed medical personnel, too, isn't too much of a surprise. ]

I was wondering. [ and HOPING, honestly, that she wouldn't be the only medic out there. she's willing to bust her ass, but she's still only one doctor. one human. ] I haven't talked to many people yet, but the renovation of the library is Dr. Ratio's effort, right? I should introduce myself if they're a doctor, too...

Oh! I didn't catch your name...

[frostfist]

[ Wriothesley tips his head to one side, a small crinkle forming between his brows as he mulls over their good friend (coworker) Dr. Ratio. He doesn't actually know much about the guy other than he's apparently a genius of some sort. Whether that genius includes a thorough understanding of medicine eludes him. ]

I'm not sure if he's studied medicine among all his other research but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[ Worse comes to worst, he won't know anything personally but she'll have gained another connection. As for himself...he slots one more book onto the shelf - this one titled Grow the F*ck Up - before sticking out one hand. ]

It's Wriothesley. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Hiyori. [ It'll be Dr. Iki once he hobbles his way over to her for a patch-up.... ]

[wwtd]

[ wrio's train of thought is about the same as hiyori's. it doesn't hurt to ask. not only that, but she should get to know her fellow outsiders if they've all been Chosen.

though hiyori questions why she of all people is here... with no special powers to call her own. she's a doctor but so are so many others. is it her ability to sense the supernatural?

broken out of her musing, she blinks and then smiles, taking his hand to give him a firm shake. ] Likewise, Mister Wriothesley. [ RYZELEE. ]

What about you? Do you like to read in your spare time?

[frostfist]

[ Rice Lee, at your service………….

He glances back at her copy of Wrestlers Galaxy before picking up another book to shelve. There really is nothing here but self-help books, huh... Seriously, who placed this order?? ]

When I have the time. [ Which hasn't been often up until now. ] It's been mostly legal documents up until now though. There were a few novels in the lending library in the Fortress but those never lasted long before they mysteriously vanished.

[ Maybe the same will happen here in their newly refurbished library. ]

[wwtd]

[ any relation to rock lee?

wrestlers galaxy will continue to tempt her-- ]

Legal documents? [ a lawyer? politician? hiyori grabs another self-help book and gives the title a cursory glance, Fck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems

too bad she didn't go into psychology. seems necessary around here. ]

That sounds... important.

[ don't jynx it :( ]

[frostfist]

[ Girl,,,,

Thankfully, Rice-Lee-No-Relation-To-Rock-Lee is doing decently in the mental health department, and beyond giving their latest title another dubious look, makes no comment regarding its contents. ]

Most of my job involves working with inmates. Someone, a long time ago, thought it would be a good idea to invest in several legal codices so as to better educate incoming prisoners on how best to abide by the law and what steps to consider if they might be facing legal ramifications in a case gone wrong. Unsurprisingly, the books ended up not being very popular.

[ Probably because they're all already....in prison.....and the books are also dry as hell. ]

[wwtd]

[ good mental health solidarity, rock-i-mean-rice-lee.

there is the subtlest widening of her eyes at "inmates". again, a bit wider, at such a "good idea". that sure is optimistic thinking. while she believes in second chances, the fact that the books ended up unpopular says it all.

sounds like those inmates needed the self-help books. ]

... I, er, don't think not knowing the law is the problem... with inmates. S-still, I like people who have positive attitudes. If they thought some books might help in the future - [ hiyori gives him a curious look. ] Wriothesley, how have you been handling... everything that's been going on?

[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?

[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. ]

[frostfist]

[ It's clear she's trying her best and for that he gives the question the weight it deserves, his own lips devoid of any sort of answering smile while he takes the time to mull over the question. Maybe he should have thought about it before but he hasn't, too concerned with first adapting and then surviving all the obstacles Neo-Tokyo had thrown at him one after another. ]

Truthfully? No, not at all. [ The words are accompanied by a shake of his head. ] I've never done anything like this back home.

[ Sure, there's a good chunk of people relying on him back in the Fortress, but all things considered that good chunk to him is nothing more than a drop in the bucket compared to the remainder of the world population. If he were to suddenly vanish one day, someone else would just come along and take his place. No one would be in danger of losing their life or their home, not in the same way they would here.

Now it's his turn to smile, a small upwards tilt of his lips. ]

But I've never liked sitting around just twiddling my thumbs. Even if I'm not used to it, I'll do what I can to help. The people here deserve no less. [ .... ] What about you?

1/2

[wwtd]

[ hiyori's face flashes with surprise. not to have the question turned on her (though she expected it as much as wriothesley did), but to hear her thoughts come from someone else's mouth. that their form of adapting parallels the other.

if these are the types of people LILITH chooses, maybe she's not... a complete outsider. more outside-y than normal. since she has no special abilities to speak of besides maybe being able to sense gods and spirits because of her grandmother's side of the family. heirs of darkness or whatever masaomi said. she can defend herself well enough but sword skills? magical abilities? she's studying to become a doctor. she's getting used to the idea of ONE person relying on her for their health - much less a world.

but he's right. people deserve to live good lives. not to simply survive on the cusp of extinction. she's not sure, exactly, what she can do but she'll do what she can, too.

like or not, after admitting as much to each other, he's made a friend in hiyori. he's Good in her book. ]

You took the words right out of my mouth. [ with it comes the relief you only get from being around someone like-minded and she's a bit lighter. ]

[wwtd]

[ SPEAKING OF LIKE-MINDED ]

Oh. [ one of the stray books is picked up. ] Did you want to try reading Wrestle Galaxy, by the way? I recommend it. I think I want to try some of the moves mentioned in here.

[frostfist]

[ Wrestle Galaxy...what a far cry from F*ck Your Feelings. But considering that it actually sounds like entertainment and not a well-meaning but probably ultimately useless lecture on how to improve himself, he'll give it a go. ]

Sure, why not. [ Said with a nod and an outstretched hand. Give it over, Hiyori. ] Though I'm more of a boxer myself.

[ Still, can't hurt to read up on other styles, even if just for fun. ]

[wwtd]

[ sometimes venting your feelings out in punches and kicks works. anyway GIVING IT OVER!!! pleas enjoy

a BOXER. close enough to MMA fighting, honestly. that's what she's really into. ]

A pastime of yours?

[frostfist]

[ I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS REAL I'm crying and immediately finding a way to read it. Stay tuned for an IC review coming to an inbox soon. It's a good thing their mission isn't for a few weeks yet, giving him plenty of time to sit down with this fascinating-looking book. ]

Something like that. [ What a vague answer. ] At one point I [ needed ] wanted to learn self-defense and that was the easiest thing to pick up at the time.

[ With a shrug. No big deal. Very normal to learn boxing for self-defense?? Don't worry about it. ]

[wwtd]

[ LKLSJGLKDJG i'm so looking forward to it fr

it's vague, sure, but she can relate. the original reason she picked up and got interested in MMA fighting was because IT WAS BADASS!!! then it turned into something she got serious about for self-defense, too.

in any case, not worrying. totally normal both of them yes. ]

I don't suppose being surrounded by inmates pushed you to get into it, huh?

[frostfist]

[ His smile grows a little bigger, an appreciative laugh slipping out at her very educated guess. ]

That had a lot to do with it, actually. [ Though maybe she doesn't need to know he used to number amongst their ranks. ] Not that every prisoner in jail adheres to the same stereotypes - many of them are quite well-spoken and refined, as a matter of fact - but lawbreaking does often attract those of a certain type.

[wwtd]

[ unable to help herself, she grins at being right on the money (or close enough to it) and his laughter.

with something new to chew on, the inner workings of a prison even, hiyori crosses her arms and puts her weight on a hip. ]

... Yeah, now that you mention it - [ fujisaki was clever. he knew where to hit you where it really, REALLY hurt. there are the goons but there are also the kingpins. ]

Were you in a high-security prison?