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

[siffriend]

Because of your hair?

[ Please. No, not because of her hair. ]

[bemist]

No, I'm not that...

[ Vain? Haaaa. ]

Mimicry is largely red and because I received that weapon, I was able to figure out what I really wanted to do back then. So I guess red is just a meaningful color for me.

[ Not even including all the Color Fixer stuff.

(Carmen's hairtie had been red, too.) ]

[siffriend]

[ Siffrin turns back to the carnations, reaching out to touch one and remembering the instructions not to. Something about tampering, or disturbing them. His hand falls back to his knee.

Something meaningful...

Was the darkest dark meaningful? It reminds them of everything no one remembers, it makes them feel lonely. But that's the only shade they can think of, that has any meaning to them.

(Even if it's because you're alone.) ]

... Do you remember what I said on the islands? About the beach you took me to.

[ That started her explanation of colors. ]

[bemist]

[ Gebura is quiet for a few seconds, if just because she's thinking back.

It's not hard to remember. She'd asked them their preference, after having seen two beaches. ]

You said you liked lightless things more. Because it reminded you of what everyone else didn't remember.

[siffriend]

[ A little nod. ]

... They don't remember the stars, or what's beyond the sky. When they look up, they know something's there -- but they don't know what, can't remember what, so they don't think about it. That darkness is meaningful to me, because I remember. Because I'm the only one that does.

[ (Well.

There's probably others out there, that do. But so far and few are they that it doesn't matter. You'll always be alone.





You kind of wish you hadn't said anything, now.) ]

[bemist]

...

You can't really see the stars from the City itself. "Stars" are usually used to refer to something else entirely. Like a classification of a threat. But...

[ But. ]

In the Outskirts, you can see them. Not too many people go out there--it's a place the City doesn't welcome. But I've seen the stars.

It's not exactly the same; we're not from the same place. But at least I think I know what you're talking about, when you mention it.

... It's not the best feeling, being the last one. [ Who stands, until you don't. Who remembers. ] But that doesn't change the fact that it's meaningful, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[siffriend]

[ (Is it meaningful?

When you're the last one, when it dies with you? When no one will remember, can remember, no matter how many times you write it, say it, try to explain it--

does it exist? did it ever, if no one can or ever will remember it? in the future, when no one can read what you can when no one says the words the way you do when no one understands what shaped your entire life until this very moment and you can't even remember half of the time anyway yourself





So much will die with you.) ]

... Did you like looking at them?

[bemist]

[ Gebura's gaze flicks up at the greenhouse roof, as though this will reveal anything (it doesn't, of course), and she closes her eyes briefly. ]

They were beautiful, but I had to wonder if they made the people discarded out there feel even lonelier. Or if it was the only solace they had.

[ But the Sweepers didn't make the nights feel any better. Not for the Backstreets people, and not for those in the Outskirts. ]

[siffriend]

[ Something unknown until asked.

Siffrin tugs the blanket around himself more, then stands and carefully steps back over to the tissue dolls they made, the hot cocoa lukewarm, away from the barest brush of distance from someone who at least remembers stars. ]

Discarded?

[bemist]

[ Gebura moves, but not back to the dolls--it's closer to a patch of prickly plants, cacti and the like. Nothing floral and graceful. This feels more comfortable. ]

Every District in the City has Nests and Backstreets. Nests are safer and fancier, for the rich. Those born in the Backstreets are poor; sometimes they're used in games for the entertainment for the wealthy. Or they're ingredients for some fine dining.

The Outskirts are past the City borders and that's where things are abandoned: things considered "impure", children, other people. They're left to fend for themselves and more often than not, entering the City doesn't end well.

... That's where I am now. After everything.

[siffriend]

[ It sounds terrible. More terrible than almost anything they've ever heard, other than maybe being trapped in time and being aware of every passing second of it. People used as food? Children abandoned? Children aren't supposed to be alone. They're supposed to be protected, and hugged, and safe and not in danger. ]

... How? Even... the King didn't hurt the people he froze, really, they're just... frozen.

[ And, as proven again and again and again they do unfreeze, they are fine and no one is bleeding or hurt or have anything snapped off or

anything

like that

(but it's still cruel, it's still evil and bad and unforgiveable to trap people in a moment of time with or without their say-so for your own selfish desires).

So how could such a cruel world exist all on its own? ]

[bemist]

That's how the City is. That's how the Head is. Everything that goes against what they believe in is disposed of, in one way or another.

[ There's something in her voice then, some kind of pained anger. Even now, after everything, even after losing her life as Kali, she can still remember the Abnormalities ripping through everyone like the tissue paper she'd folded earlier. She can still hear the screams. Those hadn't faded when she'd become a machine, either. ]

That's the kind of place I'm from. The kind of place that values wealth and usefulness over all else. The kind of place where people will only help you if they can use you.

As someone who survived in the Backstreets, I've always hated it.

[siffriend]

[ They sink into the blanket, quiet. Not all people were like that. Gebura wasn't. Her colleagues, maybe, weren't, if she spoke at least a little well about them.

...

Then again, Vaugarde was the first place that welcomed people without question, without asking who or where they'd been, who didn't care not out of apathy but because who you are now, who you want to be, was more important than who they may have been before.

(You wonder if it mattered, back there.

Who you were, what you did. At least you know it wasn't... like that. Stars.) ]

... That sucks.

[ (Blind it all, you really can't think of anything else to say?) ]

[bemist]

[ It's a quiet but still somewhat harsh bark of a laugh. That really just sums it up perfectly. Nice and succinct. ]

Yeah. In the end, that's just what it boils down to.

[siffriend]

[ The lukewarm cocoa still tastes okay. Too bad Crafting can't heat things up.

(You would say it seems like a hopeless dream for it all to be changed one day, but.

Wouldn't someone say that about your situation, too? No matter what you do, what you try, it...

...

It will work out. It has to. There's so many things you haven't tried yet, after all. New things to look into. As long as you have one lead, then there's hope.)

Surely that's the same for the City. ]

I think you're lucky to meet colleagues that might share the same dream as you. It sounds like one that's hard to come by there.

[bemist]

It is. You could say the person who brought us all together was one-of-a-kind.

[ "Was." ]

If I've been dragged from death twice already, I might as well keep fighting as hard as I can in this life too. Those guys probably feel the same, in their own different ways. Making the most of what they have now.

[siffriend]

[ ("Was.") ]

And yours is just fighting? You really do need to see a play.

[ They're teasing, just teasing. ]

[bemist]

... Don't start.

[ It's fine, it's weary grumbling. ]

[siffriend]

[ Heheh. ]

Is there anything else you like? That you've found, here.

[bemist]

[ ... Great question. ]

Volleyball was interesting. I don't mind sports; it's a good way to stay active.

[siffriend]

[ Sports...

(Isa and Bonnie would like sports. Maybe.) ]

I've never played one. I think.

[bemist]

Elysium seemed to know a few. You could probably ask him, if you're interested.

[ That guy's an extrovert, surely Siffrin has run into him. But Gebura finally returns to finish her cocoa, settling down with a muted sigh. ]

[siffriend]

... He's a little much.

[ Huh. ]

[bemist]

... What did he do.

[ Like. She understands but now she has to wonder if Elysium tried to drag someone else into a bachelor party or what-- ]

[siffriend]

Um.

[ (This seems like it would be fine for most people, but

kind of like the dating show, maybe it is a you problem.) ]

... We met during speed dating, and he was really fussy about my answers. When he was the same way. And also apparently I'm going to an amusement park and something else that I can't remem-- a workshop. Of some kind. with him. That he decided.

[ (And you didn't exactly say no to, because you have a terrible time at saying no to people and stuff.

Because you're helpful. And there's no reason to say no, if you have nothing else you're busy with.) ]

So we're... a little full... on activities. I think.