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

[bemist]

[ It's nothing she wants to talk about, apparently, which is mostly everything that she isn't asked about directly. She may be straightforward, but that doesn't mean she isn't a fairly private person. So Elysium doesn't ask and Gebura doesn't answer, merely continues to turn the slip in her fingers. Her silence doesn't mean she isn't listening, or thinking. If anything, it probably means she is. ]

... I've got nothing against it. But you more or less defined the majority of the people living in the City. [ Most of them didn't have that kind of meaning. It wasn't really living. ]

If the people here have things that can keep them going, I'm not discounting it. If anything, that's a strength not everyone has.

[transmit]

Well, what do you know. I've described a fair number of people from my world, too. Not that I blame them.

[ Surviving by itself is difficult as is; the people who have the luxury to dream, the ability to dream, should. ]

Have you come up with anything yet?

[bemist]

[ A short pause; both eyes flicker blue. ]

... Good enough, I guess.

[ Something simple. Just like her. ]

[transmit]

There's a start for everything.

[ A little of a flashback to their time back in the RV park. Would the Gebura then have been as willing to go along? He wonders. ]

Let's hang it up over there.

[ An emptier spot, some distance away. He won't even ask what it is—that's less important than her having gone through with it. ]

[bemist]

[ She wouldn't tell him even if he did. Some parts of Gebura are still Incredibly Stubborn As Hell.

But she turns her gaze in that direction, striding over to attach her shimmering tag to an unoccupied branch. One that's not so easy to glimpse without circling. ]

... The Index used to go around handing papers similar to this to people, except that instead of wishes, they were orders they'd have to fulfill in exchange for protection.

[transmit]

[ … Meanwhile! Elysium is operating under don't ask, don't tell, granted the answer that he'd tell wouldn't be forthcoming either, a wish made for others rather than himself. It isn't so incriminating that he'd sweat were someone to associate it with him, but that's what his on the spot thinking is so good for—diversions and deflections before anyone could get too close to the crux of it, his paper tucked into a lower, inconspicuous corner. ]

That doesn't sound so fun. [ his nose wrinkles. ] Would this "Index" be considered the city's law enforcement or something else entirely?

[bemist]

Something else entirely. The Index is one of the five most powerful Syndicates in the City. Anyone who works under them or lives on their turf has to follow the will of the "Prescripts" they hand out. They're a pretty fanatical bunch who live their lives by those pieces of paper that they call the Will of the City.

[ And she isn't fond of them. ]

In my Fixer days, I took down a few of them once. Worth it.

[transmit]

[ not the capitalised words again……

But, 'fanatical.' That's really the key word here that turns his scrunching into a full-fledged grimace. ]

When you took them down, did another not show up to take their place?

[ cathartic. until it isn't. ]

[bemist]

It takes a little longer to replace their... higher-ups, I guess you could call them. There'll always be someone, but it doesn't mean I should have just sat there and watched them do whatever they wanted.

[ Especially not in the area she patrolled. ]

[transmit]

… You could say that I'm dealing with something of a similar problem. With roots so deep, it's hard to know where to start—and when you do manage to cut off a piece of it, it grows back when you aren't looking. Still, it doesn't change that every bit slows it down—

[ He runs a hand through his bangs a little tiredly, before he's back to offering her a smaller smile. ]

—and that it's no association to be made here. Was there anything else that caught your eye?

[bemist]

[ It's rare for his expression to alter to something a little more... she'd hesitate to call it vulnerable, because it really isn't, but subdued, perhaps. Gebura takes a few seconds to acknowledge that, before shrugging. ]

The food, I guess. I haven't had a lot of it before. And you... can tell me about this "similar problem" of yours on the way.

[ Regardless of what he says, that's way too vague and if he wants to get to know her so badly, it's only fair, as far as she's concerned, to ask questions of her own. ]

[transmit]

[ Subdued is right——there are topics that even Elysium struggles to keep his nonchalance with, his discomfort perceptible so long as you're able to catch it before he reins it in. That said, once the reminder has sunk in, he does return to a level of composure. ]

Sure. There's plenty that I don't mind sharing, as long as it doesn't break any agreements I've made with my company. Fortunately for us! This isn't one of them.

[ A little flair. Because he's Elysium. ]

… Anyway, I was born in a theocratic country so you can probably already see where I'm going with this. Boring, depressing to no end. Packed with buildings and people but the streets were always empty and quiet. Totally totalitarian. It's going through something of a power struggle, you could say, where if you don't live like that you'd be mistaken for the opposition.

There's a reason for both sides, as there always is; people want change, and they have every reason to want it… but when that 'change' includes something that will endanger the entire world as a whole, that's when it gets hard to justify. If you want to be a part of them, they get their people to do all sorts of things for the will of their 'God.' And for some, it feels like it's their only way to live.

[bemist]

[ This is more backstory than she's had, that she hadn't witnessed herself through the eyes of a civilian. Then again, she wonders if he hadn't just said it simply because she hadn't asked before. Or if it's because she'd caught that reaction and not simply let it slip away this time, to be tucked away beyond his usual ebullience. It doesn't seem like a matter of trust.

It's hard to say and, in the scheme of things, it isn't that important to debate the why of it. It's new information and Gebura listens intently. It's hard to place him in a country like that, given how he's described it, but then again, back then, she'd hardly fit into the City herself, deep down.

It was what had led Carmen to recruit her, after all. ]

So similar to the Index, but on a larger scale. [ Which would definitely be something she'd hate. ] I can understand needing a purpose or something to believe in, but weaponizing it like that and forcing people into it...

[ She clicks her tongue, irritated. ]

And a world-endangering change isn't exactly promising, either. It's not that I didn't know other places didn't have their share of problems, but hearing about it really drives it home.

[transmit]

[ Other than Oripathy and the circumstances surrounding it, there's really nothing for him to hide, his own issues so compartmentalised they're hardly, if ever, brought to the forefront of his mind. Still, Terra as a whole and its conflicts are much more impersonal: just about anyone who'd had access to books and E.E. Erikson's writings would be privy to the history and major conflicts of the continent.

So, Elysium offers it up freely—the subject of being an Infected… is a bit more complex when Elysium's personal experience of it doesn't scratch the surface of what he's seen. Much like the deeper struggles of his country, he'd managed to escape its extreme prejudices—managed to escape the scathing looks upon becoming infected, non-standard cases for both.

With that in mind, it didn't feel right to claim either of those pains. It doesn't feel right to judge others for theirs, either, Gebura's or anyone else's when he considers himself lucky. ]

It's one way to get back at a world for failing you——destroying it. But if you do that, then you really will be left with the hand you're given.

[ Gebura clicks her tongue, and Elysium shrugs his shoulders with a weak laugh. ]

Perhaps not the full reason, but I imagine backgrounds are a part of their recruitment criteria. For us, it might be that we know what things look like if people stop fighting. Have you ever thought about it, Miss Gebura?

[bemist]

What it would be like here if people stop fighting or what their recruitment criteria is?

[ Gebura pauses on an inspection of an onigiri stall, head tilted lightly. ]

I think about a lot of things, I just don't really voice them if I don't see a need to. I'm not the eloquent type.

[ A true sign of someone not from the Nest, unlike her other coworkers (Tiphereth aside). ]

We know what it would look like. But also, skillset's probably important here. Malkuth is good at controlling a situation and taking charge, Yesod is good at information and details, Netzach's competent with caring for others. In your case, you've got those operator skills and your maps are useful, to say nothing of your coordination and support abilities.

A lot of people who were brought here are used to some form of conflict.

[transmit]

[ Whether it was a cue for Elysium to pick up or not, he does so without pause, pivoting to the very stand. They're living their best lives or so help him…! ]

Don't forget about yourself. You have a strength not many would be able to compete against, and I don't mean it in a strictly physical sense, either. Pragmatism, kindness. It's incredibly hard for them to exist in harmony. You're just as good as taking care of others, albeit in a different way than Netzach might.

[ If Gebura doesn't intend to purchase any riceballs for herself, Elysium will go ahead and procure a full set of them: one of some indistinct fish with mayo, bonito flakes, pickled plum, and the roe of the same aforementioned fish. Who knows what exactly exists out here in 22xx, but Elysium will glance at her with a tip of his head as he holds it out for her to take. ]

But I just assume everyone is; it's easier that way. And even if they aren't, most have some kind of story that explains why or who they are.

help, I somehow missed this

[bemist]

[ She'll take the weird fish mayo one, thank you. Good thing he just decided to get the full set so she didn't have to ponder this for too long. ]

I didn't think there was a point in talking about myself. I know why I was selected. [ And she doesn't really want to get into Legendary Fixer talk, anyway. That wasn't a title she'd chosen for herself. ]

But I'd agree with that. At the very least, we shouldn't have to worry too much about anyone getting recruited who can't handle themselves in some fashion. [ Even Siffrin. ]

♥♥♥

[transmit]

[ luckily, he got the Legendary Fixer lore from ishmael! thanks ishmael (he didn't hear it from her)

also: imagine how this conversation would go if syn still had haikyuus. but because they don't, he just nods as he bites into the first onigiri he picks up. ]

Do you ever see a point in talking about yourself, though? [ a glance. ] No matter. I can always hype you up in your stead.

[ that's worse ]

[bemist]

That's worse.

[ She and the brackets are in agreement. ]

What's the point in hyping myself up in the first place? I don't need to prove myself to anyone and it's easier on me if people don't get the wrong idea about me in the first place.

[ So you shut up, Elysium. Not a damn word. ]

[transmit]

Showing support towards your teammates goes a long way. Not everyone does things to be appreciated or to be proven, but there are few who truly dislike being noticed. People weren't meant to be solitary creatures.

[ yeah make him ]

If it's between you and me, is it fine?

[bemist]

[ The look she gives him is a quietly baffled "why". ]

I don't need it. If you're saying it because you want to, then whatever. But it's not like I need anyone telling other people or myself that I'm all that great. Either way, I'd just keep doing what I was doing in the first place.

[transmit]

What a reminder of so many of our other conversations. [ talking about need vs. want ] But, I'll take that as your express permission going forward all the same.

[ thanks, he's just going to use it to keep calling her kind. ]

[bemist]

... Don't you have anyone else you could go bother right now? Literally anyone else? They might even like talking to you.

[ She's surrounded by stubborn types. It's the worst. ]

[transmit]

Recycled dialogue isn't going to work in pushing me away, Miss Gebura. If you really wanted me gone, I'm sure you have your methods. It's just more troublesome than it's worth, right? I intend to make the most of it.

[ is she not a stubborn type herself?? ]

I don't get honesty like yours just anywhere.

[bemist]

That's everyone else's problem.

[ A sigh. ]

I'm sure if you told them to be blunt with you, that'd probably change.

[ But he's right. If she outright could not stand him, she would either leave on her own or pull out something sharp. ]