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

[bowtography]

[ The room is still very pink. March has definitely made it her own and that likely won't change, even as she gestures for him to sit down on the edge of the bed.

It's fine if it gets dirty, she'll just clean it later. But for starters, before she really gets into it, she stands facing him once he sits and looks him over. ]

Are you hurt?

[hitokiller]

Huh?

( it startles him out of his thoughts, that question. he'd already forgotten the red splotched across his lower half, because being him was being of blood in general. the response is almost sheepish, a hand that was resting on the soft edge of her bed lifting briefly only to settle back down. )

Nah... —that... none of that's mine.

( he's trying not to fidget, as much as a man can sitting awkwardly on his girlfriend's bed as she's rightfully blunt with him.

his feeble heart takes the opportunity to glimpse at things he recalls from before and was in awe of, the wall of memories and all her trinkets, before finally looking up to meet her gaze proper. the last time he was in here... was the first time he felt a pulse of a deeper emotion for her. )

[bowtography]

Okay, good.

[ At the very least, he's not hurt. Even March knows when there's a time and a place and it's not when someone is injured and bleeding. But he's not, he's fine, and she exhales quickly through the nose before she moves. Decisively.

Up onto the bed, onto him, straddling his lap, and half of it is to ensure he listens to her and the other half is this painful heat in her chest that can remember someone else, someone she deeply cared about, pressed up against him and--

Anger and something much more pained are both prevalent in her gaze, even as the fingers of both hands grip his shirt, pulling him closer. ]

You know, watching your boyfriend get touched by a bunch of other people, one of which is your own best friend who said it was "just a massage", isn't exactly the greatest feeling ever. Especially when your boyfriend decides not to even say a word about it.

[hitokiller]

( oh.

that... is not the approach he expected, those legs of hers pinning him in place as the cushioned spot on the bed he's settled on remains damp. it's easy to support her weight against his, even as she bends in close enough for him to get a very clear picture of her upset.

there's a heat in him, too, now, but for two reasons: the rightful accusation activating his fight, and she's right on top of him. his shoulders tense, and the pulse in his throat is pounding. what's the right thing to do in this scenario other than confess he made a mistake and slipped up? that he could've absolved the guilt of a situation that escalated too quickly just by saying something, and yet the prospect of disappointing her had lingered in his throat, unpleasant and sour?

and now here they were. )

It... It wasn't 'sposed to go that far.

( which just sounds like an excuse. try again.

the hurt in march's eyes is so hard to look away from, izou always trying to run with his glances. here, he refuses to look away, swallowing before he speaks. )

I didn't think... —I didn't think, bein' the problem, just wantin' to get a little more spending money. But it wasn't like I was asking them to cop a feel to get at you or anything, and Malkuth, she— ( no... this isn't the right approach either— ) ... I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. Not when... a lot of that was platonic, yeah?

[bowtography]

Okay, so think of it this way.

If I'd done that, with a bunch of my friends, pretty much done all those things that were shown...

[ This is said matter-of-factly. ]

Would you have been okay with that? Especially if I hadn't told you before it got showed to everyone? I know you weren't trying to do it to make me feel bad or anything, I get that, but it still feels like you were definitely trying to keep it from me. Like it was something you felt you needed to hide and I don't--want to feel like that. I don't want to have to find out from some other source!! Again!!

[hitokiller]

... No. I would've beat every last one of 'em black-and-blue if they put hands on you.

( no mumbling this time, everything clicking into place fairly easily with that explanation.

which he'd considered, briefly, during that walk with elysium. izou grits his teeth, the intensity of her distress almost seeming to pass from her clutched fingers and straight into his chest. )

And if you hadn't told me, I... ( his jaw... feels tight, her point proven— ) —I haven't been considerate enough. To your feelings. I get that. If it were me, I... I'd be on the floor, all twisted over you. A right goddamn mess. And I told ya I'd do my best not to keep anything from you, and 'rounded back and did it again. Like an idiot.

( out of fear. a fist on the sheets balls up tight. )

You... I didn't know you felt that strongly 'bout people messing with me. When we're together... it's usually me reachin' tight for you. To the point I can't tell if you're into me that way.

( that balled fist comes up, relaxing to wrap around a hand of hers tightly wrapped against his damp dress shirt and suit and then press it tighter against his chest. to let fingertips pass across his wet collarbone. )

So, touch me yourself. Or hit me. Whatever'll make you feel better... I'll take it all.

[bowtography]

[ March is silent for a long moment, sitting still for all that she lets him guide her hand. It's hard to put a name to all of the emotions welling up within her right now, and she doesn't even want to try. She's been thinking too much this whole time, after all. Trying to understand. Trying to be patient. Pulling back but not wanting to pull back too much, because she knew that Izou was still trying to stabilize that trust in her. That she wouldn't leave him, like everyone else did.

But she'll be direct now and before she answers him, she leans in, catches his mouth in a kiss that isn't necessarily sweet and lingering. It's fierce, unyielding, frustrated.

And, as she leans back, fingers fluttering over his collarbone, eyebrows knitted-- ]

Neither one of those things is going to make me feel better, not right now. So I'm only going to touch you a little, because even if I'm not used to any of this, or at least--I can't remember if I am, that doesn't mean I don't want you.

But then I'm kicking you out so you can go take a shower and you can talk to me later because I really don't want to cry in front of you right now, and that's what I need to do after that. Okay?

[hitokiller]

( to say that being kissed first in this situation, with her weight balanced on top of him, was surprising, would be an understatement. the sort of kiss one does to catch attention rather than make someone whole, and izou feels it on his teeth as they draw apart. feels something scratch in his throat for how, in realization, he's just pushing her the wrong way again—making a stupid assumption while she's upset.

but what makes his brow furrow more than that, is hearing that she needs a moment to cry.

over him, of all people, and of course she would given everything, but. any tension that had built up in him from their current exchange flat-out melts away.

if his heart had tipped out of his chest before, had torn at the seams over her abundance of kindness and concern, now a piece of it chipped at the thought of her in this world that she'd made for herself, this wall of pictures and memories, crying alone. he'd never considered anyone ever being so upset over him that they'd cry. who had ever? who would ever? not his family, to his knowledge, even as he walked homeless on the streets and even as they tried to push his little brother to poison him. not takechi-sensei, who met izou's grin upon his first kill with a straight face. not even...

but here, there was march. someone still so wholly new to him, so bubbly and feisty and willing to share her insecurities with him. who'd pushed his boundaries from day one, and had been so inviting. and now, he... why does it feel like he's falling for her even more, his chest seizing over the barest gap between them on this bed?

izou takes a couple seconds to rapidly collect his thoughts when it comes to that, "okay", because all he wants to do now is... comfort her somehow. hold her, but a hand that rises up from the pink of her bed can only freeze in mid-air. his fingers curl inward, back to rest on the bed instead of at her back. )

I... I hear you. I'll do it, after that. Leave, I mean.

( there's an unfamiliar timbre to his usual rasp, and that shocks him, too. )

... M'sorry. It prob'ly doesn't help to hear it, now, that I never wanted to... make you cry. Not when I keep telling you I won't let a soul hurt you. ( a grimace, as he finally breaks their mutual gaze to flick that one eye to the floor, and then back up. ) ... Maybe I should've told myself that. Will you let me... tell you a little else, before we're through? If you want me to just keep quiet, though, I can do that. I owe you that much... a hell of a lot more than that, even.

[bowtography]

[ Given the choice, most of her would happily accept the option of being effervescent. Of understanding that what was going on between her boyfriend and her best friend was in no way meant to hurt her. She should be smiling. Teasing. Confident.

And maybe that confidence is still there, but it's tinged with a weary sadness, an anger that glows at the edges like a flame sinking down to join the rest of the ashes. The kind of thing that only dies down once it's been addressed.

The good and the bad, she'd told him. Reminds herself. She has to allow him to see those not-so-cute sides of her too, even if it feels like it's very unlovable of her.

March exhales. Almost silently, fingers relaxing just slightly to ease down, slip beneath his shirt to rest against his skin. At rest, for now.

How could he possibly think she didn't want to touch him? ]

I'm listening.

[hitokiller]

( izou may be chill, but the rustling of that hand brushing against skin feels even cooler.

and to what little credit he has at the moment, he manages to endure and keep his eyes from sweeping away like they usually do. to keep from drowning in the dread of how he's about to piece together his thoughts and place them on the metaphorical table, not as articulate as most.

but he doesn't want to always be apologizing... making mistakes, and so he greets the terse silence with his voice low after she agrees to let him speak. )

I told you before... I was a ghost, sort of. A spirit. They call us "Servants", and... we're summoned into timelines to try and save humanity, bound by someone's life force in order to keep us around. By a spiritual contract.

( there's a small pause as he fumbles over the next sentence, still willing every inch of him not to move. to just let her remain while she's his sole focus. )

But right here, I'm alive. You can feel my heart thumpin' hard against my chest as proof. And I... I was never in a real relationship before. Not even once. That's why I'm gonna say it as clear as I possibly can, right now: that as long as I'm in this world, my contract holder might as well be you.

[bowtography]

[ In a way, it's still not... all that clear, or maybe March is just not used to that kind of statement declared so firmly. Servants. It really does have a certain type of connotation, one she's not sure she likes, but it's also not like she knows everything about the naming system or what it truly means for a spirit to be brought back into some semblance of life to save humanity.

But he's saying that in this world, despite no longer needing that force, that anchor, that the person stabilizing him here regardless is her. That he's... ]

... I wasn't ever going to not carry you with me, you know. There's a lot of space inside of me for a ton of memories of you. With you. Even the painful things.

I'm yours too, you know.

[hitokiller]

( ... ah.

and here's where he needs to remove himself from this situation immediately. where the impulse is strong to respond to her words in another way, izou becoming acutely aware yet again of how easy it would be to plant a chaste kiss on her sternum... to cut into flesh with his mouth and twist her around and onto this bed.

this bed that's hers, where everything around him holds the scent of her, and—... ugh.

let the wave crash over you. just, hold it in.

the most he manages is to lean forward and press his forehead into her shoulder, resisting out of regard for her... her anger, and her in general. )

... Hop off, and I'll go.

( to shower, and clean himself of the scent of dried blood, and his voice is unexpectedly docile given it's a bit muffled from this angle. )

[bowtography]

[ March sits still for a minute longer, resting a hand on his head--and then she lifts it, shifting herself off of him to allow him room to stand. It truly is an unfortunate time when bringing one's boyfriend to one's room doesn't necessarily mean doing Things behind closed doors.

... But maybe next time, she tells herself. It wouldn't sit right with her to do anything more when her emotions were still in turmoil. ]

Thanks for hearing me out, Izou.

[ I mean. She dragged him here. But he'd listened. ]