synflux | DOWNTIME MINGLE #3

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DOWNTIME MINGLE #3

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Would you participate? [ he recalls aki had received a reward at some point, and so he could only envision he held a decent amount of strength. it's more impressive if just because he had recalled it was soon after aki's ...

arm (and hand incident). ] Though as you know, I'm not much for suggestions or gathering people up. [ at least outside of his small number of personal objectives. he supposed it wasn't a bad thing to see everyone's abilities on full display. a thought he decides to pocket until a later time. ]

Oh, right. [ that made sense. ] Congratulations.

[ on denji also receiving a reward, he means. ]

I might. I don't think I'd be the best competitor here, since using the rocket launcher would be unfair. [ He might be able to get away with using his sword(s) and fighting with those, but in terms of strength and durability, he's well aware that he's behind the others. His damage is all based on what LILITH had given him.

For a brief moment, he thinks that Yuwon is congratulating him on Tsurumaru, and he blinks, eyes widening for a moment with a deep, red blush. Then he realises what he actually means and looks away, refusing to meet the other man's eyes.

Embarrassing. ]

I haven't seen how he feels about the plushie yet. I'd like to.

[ the idea of aki blasting someone with his rocket launcher... is definitely a bit out of place in a martial arts tournament. just the initial image of it coming to mind is enough to make his expression falter briefly. ] Yeah, you might really end up killing someone. [ ...

anyway, ] Then if we end up having one, I'll invite you.

[ or so he seems to starts until he sees the man's cheeks color. ] ...?

[ is he okay? was he embarrassed that his care was called out in this manner? yuwon isn't sure if just because he seemed so comfortable with saying it when he was inebriated. ... little does he know. ] You must be proud of him.

[ Look, it worked once and then never worked again. Aki may or may not be a little bit sour about it, but at least he still manages to get some good hits in on the kaiju sometimes - and where he fails, others make up for him. That's how a team works. ] I don't want to do that.

[ Obviously.

Stop looking at him like that, Yuwon. He looks away, scowling. ]

Of Denji? Of course. He's grown a lot here already, I'm glad to see that.

[ makes sense.

but, as reasonable as it is, it still does make him give a small exhale in light humor. at least, it's the closest he'll get to laughing about it. especially, as aki wears that sour look on his face. ] Aren't you too old to be pouting? [ he's not serious.

he doesn't even think aki's expression even means that, but it is what it is. he figures no one likes being called out. himself included, and so he seems to permit it to be swept under the metaphorical rug for now. though, if he were truly so kind, he probably wouldn't have mentioned it at all. ]

Yeah? What was he like before coming here?

I'm not pouting.

[ Aki is absolutely pouting, just enough that he has to school his expression into something more set and stern than it had been before. It's difficult to forget the fact that Yuwon had seen him drunk before and knows just what it's like when he's being petulant and a little sour.

Shifting his weight a little, he tries not to give into the urge to look as sour as he feels.

Glancing back over at Yuwon, he shakes his head. ]

Denji? He was... Complicated. Simple, in some ways, and complicated in others. I feel like he's settled in here.

[ the more aki denies it, the more he wants to open his mouth and say something. he gives it a few seconds of aki adjusting his expression, before he continues. though, the slight quirk of his lips may still have indicated that he found it funny enough, anyway.

but, on the topic of denji, he seems to fall silent. recalling what aki mentioned before, it sounds like they didn't exactly lead a simple life. while he wouldn't necessarily call this world ideal, he has heard that in some ways it was infinitely better than a handful of people's actual "homes."

... and at least, aki was alive here. or so he seems to consider, before shaking it off. ] Yeah, he does seem to have found friends. [ is that how the conversation is going? well, it's the conclusion yuwon comes to. ] He mentioned you, too.

But, I can see what you mean about simple. [ ... and complicated,

yet. ]

[ All of this is strange to Aki, who hasn't ever had a lot of friends beyond the people he worked with; because he didn't see the point of it when all his attention was focused on getting revenge. The idea of actually having friendships now is odd enough, and twin that with the strangeness of having some kind of romantic partner and - well.

Maybe he's pouting a little, but he's just confused by the entire situation.

Talking about Denji is a much easier thing, however, and Aki can focus on that because it's comfortable to discuss his friend and leave anything about himself to one side. ]

He's happier here, I'd like to think. It must be better than what's happening to him at home. [ A frown, as his hands tighten over his chest.

Glancing at Yuwon, he frowns. ]

As long as he didn't call me anything like 'mother', that's fine.

[ in a similar vein, yuwon didn't put a lot of excess thought into friendships, either. they were equally foreign to him in a way, not that he didn't acknowledge them, but similarly, they were comrades and people he shared the same objective with. people he chose to stand against the outer gods with. perhaps, it may have not been unlike here, and yet it was vastly different. in a sense, back then, it might have at least given him the illusion of a choice.

his choice to dogmatically pursue the outer gods, his choice to regress....

regardless, it has been becoming a bit harder to ignore that he didn't exactly mind the companionship. however, temporary it may have been, and even now, he does feel comfortable enough to discuss such topics with the man. ... like kids? with him?

he's about to open his mouth to say that... there probably was some version of them still grounded in that reality, but he just leaves it as a thought. (thankfully) instead, he latches onto: ] Mother...? Is that what he calls you in your personal time?

[ a pause as he looks at aki, his eyes clearly assessing him ] I could see it. [ the pouting, the nagging... ]

[ Aki scowls.

He scowls because he’s given the other man the ammunition to do this, to tease him and nudge him about his maternal nature and dug his own hole. Caring about Denji the way he does is a weakness, he’s aware of that, but he can’t help himself - he cares about him too much to give it up.

His happiness is twined with Denji and that won’t stop.

Sighing, he looks away, arms tight over his chest and expression tight. ]

It was a joke. I was called his ‘mommy’ once, but I’m not like his mother at all.

[ Yeah. He definitely is. ]

[ there is definitely doubt there, but instead of simply expressing, yuwon finds it far more effective to ask: ] What do you think the definition of a "mother" is? If you're doting over him, I think that's plenty of ground to call you one. [ he says this like it's a definitive fact. it's really not.

honestly, he's probably the least qualified person to speak on this considering he's an orphan himself, but he doesn't seem to say this. instead, just giving aki a firm pat on the shoulder. ] But, I'll let you play it off as a joke this once—

"Mom." [ despite saying it...

hm, that really didn't feel right. ]

I didn’t give birth to him. I feel like that’s a requirement. [ Said in a completely deadpan voice. First Makima-san, then Denji, and now this… He’s going to go to his grave being called a mother, isn’t he? Sighing softly, he shakes his head and rubs at his face, suddenly tired and thirsty.

There seem to be a lot of people without mothers and fathers in this place, but at least Aki had known his. There’s a strangeness to that, but maybe that lack of connection makes it easier to become a soldier. A fighter.

Looking away from Yuwon, he tries not to roll his eyes. ]

You’re - hmph.

You'd be surprised. Birthing someone doesn't end up meaning a whole lot. [ which he could attest to, if just for him having been an orphan himself. not that he says that, and yet maybe it could be inferred from his words.

regardless, he gives a slight smile. though, rather than being genuine, it's definitely just a bit mocking. sorry aki... you've made it too easy. for a moment, yuwon thinks the way he becomes ruffled up reminds him a lot of ahjussi (they literally have nothing alike, and yet)... ]

I'm what...? [ maybe it's fortunate for aki that it looks like their shift has just finished. ]

I'm also not female. Wouldn't it be much easier to call me his father, or something like that? [ Aki is frustrated, and he definitely feels like it might be fun to throw something soft and sticky at Yuwon's face, like one of the prizes from the game. That would give him some sense of satisfaction, especially after the fact that he hadn't even dared to get drunk when they went out together.

Annoying. He finds him annoying! But it's nice, too, to have the kind of friendship where he can be a sour, annoyed asshole and still get along with them. Kind of like having - well.

Well.

Looking over, he shakes his head. ]

You're lucky it's time for us to go.

You don't really strike me as a dad, though?

[ said plainly and matter-of-factly. if he had thrown something at him, yuwon probably would have smiled and taken it in stride. in contrast to his usual apathy, it's probably all the more clear, he's deriving some semblance entertainment from aki's reactions. ]

Yeah, yeah. [ he says, obviously not taking the threat to heart. ] We should head out now before they start demanding more things out of us. [ though, it's not implicitly said, he seems to be saying "have fun." ]

Couldn't I at least be an older brother...

[ No, there are no victories here, and Aki is stuck in the loop of everyone he knows here deciding he's Denji's mother. At least Ish hasn't been given the notion to start calling it, because then his life would truly be over. At least Yuwon seems to be enjoying himself, even as Aki rolls his eyes.

He's surrounded by idiots and pains in the asses, all over again.

Nodding his head, he steps around the booth and sighs softly. ]

I'm going to get sake.

[ he just looks at aki, and then looks away at the question. not every inquiry dignifies a response, or so his gesture seems to say. still, he also puts up a sign for the change in shifts, and also steps around and back onto the rear pathway. ]

Don't drink too much, or else Denji will have to carry you back.

[ he doesn't actually think aki is this bad of a drunk, but comparatively— it seemed like an entirely fair remark. (it isn't). ]

Denji won't carry me anywhere.

[ It'll be Tsurumaru who'll carry him back, thank you very much!!

He does try not to look too sour, and he shakes his head. ]

I'd invite you, but it seems pointless.

[ it's a bit humorous to imagine aki being being carried by denji, all the more when he recalls with plush denji looks like... ]

... Pointless?

[ oh, right. ]

Are you that bitter? Maybe you should learn to handle your alcohol better. [ says yuwon who literally can't get drunk, but shhh. ] You can even start today.

[ Stop!! Stop looking at him like that!! ]

I'm not bitter. It would have just been nice to have a warning.

[ Jerk. ]

I can handle my drink fine.

Is it normal to warn someone? Someone would think you were looking to get me drunk.

[ said more like a fact, and it's difficult to discern if he's joking.

this is why yuwon says he's not a particularly fun person. ]

We'll see. Maybe I'll hear from Denji.

Why would you...

[ You're such a pain in the ass, Yuwon!! ]

Denji won't hear about anything, so neither will you.

[ :)

time to text denji later just to prove a point. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

DOWNTIME MINGLE #3

▶ 001. A JOB WELL DONE.

▶ 002. TRADITIONAL TANABATA.

▶ 003. DR. RATIO'S RENOVATIONS.

▶ 004. MONSOON SEASON.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

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