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

[uncourteous]

[ damn...

what happened to peace on earth. jk, neither of them probably come from a life that would indicate any real peace. as if contrast, he watches the end of his own sparkler for a moment. the intensity of the sparks drawing his eyes towards it. ]

That's a shame. We could have gotten some action tonight. [ except, a kaiju attack at this timing would have been devastating, huh? his own words aside, he does seem to ponder on her statement. "but i kind of like these."

after a moment of watching his sparkler, almost as if waiting for it to fizzle out— ] Hearing such affectionate words from you, [ as in using the word "like." ] perhaps they will grow on me yet.

[bemist]

I don't enjoy fighting monsters. There's no real thrill to it and when civilians are getting caught up in it, it's even more of a pain.

[ She'd rather not have to deal with it. Has she dealt with it before? Far too many times, but it doesn't mean she welcomes it now, even if it's an off-hand comment of his.

"Affectionate", though? Really?

Gebura stares up at him flatly and it still rankles, the way he says things. ]

If you like them, it doesn't have to be because I do. That's just stupid.

[uncourteous]

Saying that only makes me wonder what or who do you desire on beating to a bloody pulp? I had no idea you had such a propensity for violence. [ lol, except considering how she made such quick work of the crabs, it did make sense that fighting may have felt commonplace and no more exciting than taking a walk in the royal gardens. his specific example aside...

her comment on civilians does get a slight raise of his brow?

was she actually the altruistic type? these were considerations for later. perhaps, as he is tossing and turning at night while debating sending her another mind letter. ] Is it? I heard that as people grow closer, their interests tend to coincide?

[bemist]

[ Please don't send her another mind letter. It might just make her murderous again. ]

I don't think we're growing closer. And to me, that's just a sign of being incapable of liking things on your own. [ Okay, that's just rude. And-- ]

Fighting's just what I've been doing for years. If you thought I was into the calmer, tamer things, that's your own fault for assuming anything about me. [ Then again, assuming she was battle-crazed and bloodthirsty wasn't quite accurate, either. Which she won't say, of course. ]

[uncourteous]

[ it is definitely harsh, but...

oddly enough, it not have been a lie. ] Well, forgive me when my only hobby was slitting the throats of assassins who came for my life. [ actually if he had to think of anything else he genuinely liked...

he shakes it off. ] It looks like we have that in common. [ see? but, he supposed it was less a common interests than a sad reality. ] Rather than an assumption, you could have labeled it a hope, my lady.

[bemist]

[ But why would she-- ]

Can you really call that a hobby? Isn't that just self-preservation? Letting them live after that just means they would have tried again and been more prepared next time.

[ Normal assassination talk. ]

[uncourteous]

[ despite her (most likely) not intending for it to come off this way....

he's a bit surprised to hear someone share the same thoughts. while it was constantly his life on the line, he was far more accustomed to others pointing fingers and casting blame; his every single action sparking rumors of his savagery. hence, he actually seems to give the smallest hint of a genuine smile. not nearly as sardonic or jaded as it normally had appeared. ] Not everyone thinks like you.

Though, it really does make me wonder what type of life you led. [ she did mention not having always been the way she had, hadn't she? it makes him a bit frustrated to think of her living an awful life, somehow. ]

[bemist]

It's probably a good thing that not everyone thinks like me. It means they didn't have to go through life having to fend off threats that often, or at all.

[ Which, it seems, he had. But he's royalty; it's not too surprising to hear that. ]

If you're that curious, you can ask. It's not like I have anything I'd keep a secret about it. [ It happened. It happened a lot. A lot happened. ]

[uncourteous]

[ that’s not exactly incorrect, and yet— ] I am impressed you can still think that way. [ maybe she was far more resilient than he could have ever been. or so he briefly considers, before… she grips his attention in another way.

to be honest, he did have the impression she wasn’t all fond of him, and yet… she would still open herself up to his questions? she really was an odd woman (says callisto). ] Then, what did you do back home?

[ he’s watching as his own sparkler begins fizzling out, as he looks over to hers. ]

[bemist]

[ Her own is also sputtering to a slow, sparkly death. Also, yeah. She is very not fond of him. But she'll always be straightforward. ]

I've worked a few jobs. If you want the first, I was a Fixer--something like a mercenary. And if you want the most recent, I'm a Librarian.

[ Just a librarian! ]

[uncourteous]

[ just as hers is dying out, he slips her another. holding it out between his fingers as he watches its dwindle out completely. ]

A mercenary, is it? I can see how you have become so fierce with the sword in that case. [ ... and how she could have generally lost her faith in people. in humanity. it was hard to see the worst of it and not be affected in some manner. or at least that is where his assumptions presently stood. naturally, that's all it ends up amounting to. but the latter one... ]

You... didn't exactly strike me as an avid reader.

[bemist]

I wasn't. I didn't even have an education, growing up.

It was just kind of another role I was shoved into, in the end. Shelve books, receive guests.

[ "Receive." Her expression grows a little taut as she accepts another sparkler. ]

[uncourteous]

A role you were shoved into? For some reason, I have difficulties imagine you staying if you truly despised the work. [ but, he obviously doesn't know her circumstances. he supposed even if people hated things, there were some duties they fulfilled, regardless. he supposes even how own desire to be emperor was like that... not out of genuine affection for the position as much as... he simply had to.

at her expression, he raises a slight brow. for now, he just focuses in on lighting up the tip just as he had the first one. then on his own. ]

[bemist]

There was something I had to see through. A compromise I had to make. And so I agreed to it, but it doesn't mean I was happy about it.

[ Far from it. ]

Disagreeing would have just meant staying dead and unresolved. Nothing would have changed.

[uncourteous]

So there is something you desired enough to go through with this occupation? [ except, wait...

... ] Did you say "staying dead and unresolved"? [ are fireworks really the true display here? definitely not for callisto he seems far more focused on gebura. especially, now. was this meant to be a metaphor...? he supposed the lady did strike him as someone who could make such a morbid joke.

(this is entirely his own perception of her, clearly). ]

[bemist]

Yeah.

[ Calmly, gazing down at the sparkler despite his eyes on her. Yeah, she supposes that might be shocking for someone to hear that for the first time. Gebura's had plenty of time to come to terms with it. ]

I died. I wouldn't really technically call myself alive now, either. [ Given everything. ]

[uncourteous]

[ ...


...


it isn't that he believed her a liar. no, if anything he's felt like she's been far too honest with him from the moment they've met. her chagrin and displeasure, especially. when he recalls her expressions every single time he presumes a little too much... it almost makes him laugh. still, it's a difficult concept to believe in.

for a lot of obvious reasons. but, perhaps the biggest one is that he hates how the first idea that crosses his mind is that he may also have been dead. succumbed to poison. killed in his sleep. ... and perhaps, this is all his own elaborate version of hell. is this a normal thought? probably not, but it's one that grips him anyway.

brushing it off, he continues cautiously, this time, his eyes finally trailing back to the sparklers in their hands. his eyes fixated on their glow and the shadows they cast in their wake. ] Is that quite normal where you're from, Lady Gebura? Suddenly rising from the dead?

[bemist]

No.

[ There's a lot in that single word, the single syllable. She's tired. She's resigned. She's resolute. She's been through hell and it's changed her and twisted her until she had to be painstakingly untwisted to be able to take another step forward. ]

It's a long story and I didn't have a say in a lot of it. But at this point, it is what it is. All I can do now is continue as I have been.

[uncourteous]

[ so it was just her? that seemed like a fairly awful fate all things considered. even if the idea of rising from the dead in vengeance could be something he would consider in mere passing, actually living such a life seemed—

nevertheless, he supposed he wasn't there to cast judgment.

he doesn't seem to doubt her as much as he seems deep in thought. ]

I admit, I never envisioned speaking to someone who claims to be have been dead. [ ... ] You mentioned you had no opinion on the matter, but if that is the case, then who does...? [ did someone just arbitrarily bring her back?

it seemed like a ridiculous notion. though, maybe in ancient texts, similar instances could have been possible. ]

[bemist]

Someone I'd died protecting. In order to fulfill the goal of someone who had passed before I had, before the rest of us had, we were brought back in different forms without our memories.

[ Sometimes it still feels weird to look down at herself and see flesh instead of machinery. ]

I don't know the exact process. I wasn't entirely the same person, after that. But I still have those memories.

[uncourteous]

That sounds rather miserable.

[ he says this without placing much thought behind it. as if it was an idea he simply blurted out without any actual thought. yet, it's not without its own consideration. he can't envision your life being over simply to be brought back in order to fulfill another person's goal. ]

What of yourself now? [ if she wasn't the same person, who was she? how was she different? he wonders if all individuals changed after their death. does it provide for new epiphanies? are they fueled by bitter memories of what could have been? ] ... you didn't consider revenge?

[ on those that brought her back, or even on those who created the moment of her death? ]

[bemist]

[ Gebura lets out a noise that could almost be the start of a laugh, but maybe it's more of a scoff. "Rather miserable" is an understatement, and the question... ]

I did. More than considered, I attempted it, once my memories returned. I went on a rampage, tried to tear down the whole facility so I could finally bury myself and my rage along with the monsters and the rubble.

[ It was the only thing she could think of to do. It was all she had left, that fury, with no one to answer to it. ]

It didn't exactly work out as planned and the second part's an even longer story. All that really matters is that I've learned, time and time again... revenge isn't as fulfilling as people think it is.

[uncourteous]

[ there's a prick of something inside of him at her words. is it a touch of excitement? the beginning stages of a slight spark of adrenaline at the concept that she may have entertained the same thoughts as he had a million times over? laying complete waste to everything is an intrinsic want he could have likely related to more than anything else she could have said. his fingers twitch slightly as he looks back up to her, as if studying any diminutive shift in her features. he takes a moment to swallow, letting the silence linger on his lips, before giving his own scoff. ]

Yet, time and time again, we try. [ it's a lesson he hasn't learned yet, that's for sure, but he still keeps her perspective in mind. maybe this is what he's always felt. her capability of violence, and yet despite that, he feels like there's more to it.

at the very least, she hasn't used it on him yet, and he can tell by the way she looks at him that... if she really wanted him dead, he probably would have been just that. but, even that idea makes his lips quirk up in a smile that looks nothing short of devious. ] If revenge no longer suits you, have you thought about what you wanted to do from here? [ here, they were...

technically free? even if he probably tries not to think of this fact. ]

[bemist]

"What I wanted to do from here"...

[ It isn't the first time she's been asked that. It won't be the last, probably. This is technically the most freedom she's had in a very long time, and definitely the most she's had since her first life.

She's aware he's studying her, but she's also aware her own expression won't change much from what it already is. She's not consumed by that wrath anymore. It doesn't mean she doesn't remember exactly how it felt, though. ]

I haven't figured that out yet. Apparently, I'll have time for that. And what's got you filled to the brim with vengeful thoughts? I don't think you can claim the same reasons.

[ He'd been too surprised to hear she was dead, after all. And that wasn't solidarity when he'd asked her about it. ]

[uncourteous]

[ it's a fair response. if just because he'd echo a similar sentiment. being deposited here, being told he had to serve an entirely different purpose for the time being— it was a lot to accept at once. even now, he doesn't think he's truly adapted in any real sense of the word. in comparison to that, gebura speaks freely of her time to consider her future. he wonders if allowed time, he might feel the same way. either way, he decides not to consider it for now. in the present, all he really can do is... ]

I had mentioned it before, but I also had a point where I may have lost faith in others. While you may find it difficult to believe, I was once a rather naive and innocent boy. One who once excitedly picked out presents for my younger brother having no clue that he and his mother had simply wanted me dead. [ he flicks his wrist absently, letting the sparks sort of just get flung into the darkness. ]

Maybe instead of revenge, it can be thought of as simply expressing my gratitude for them turning me into who I am today. [ he gives a slightly chuckle, though it doesn't seem to have as much humor to it as it normally does. ]