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

[zauneyete]

Somewhat, yes. I don't enjoy the idea of being quite so out in the open. Under the light of the sun.

[ It's not that he's a moleman, but!! He is the kind of guy who looks stuck in his ways, and even up on the roof, there's a certain...something about him. Maybe the hunch of his shoulders, or the way he keeps his back to a wall, or any number of things, that just make the man look uncomfortable in the open air.

But to proposes an interesting statement, and he tapped his finger against the cigar, considering. He'd known people from a Tokyo as well, back where he had been before. It's...interesting, how it keeps coming up. ]

Tokyo seems to be pretty popular. [ he admitted, offhand. ] As for the technology, I'm sure I'll figure it out. I dislike the idea of allowing others to teach me.

[ Silco, it should be noted, does not like the idea of owing anyone anything. ]

[gorb]

( He wonders if it's Tokyo for the same reasons most jujutsu sorcerers come from Japan, a natural affinity for monsters maybe. It's not something he needs to consider, tapping ash off of his almost burnt down cigarette, letting it flutter uselessly in the wind. )

It's a big city. I preferred mine though. Easier to navigate.

( He misses his home in a way that surprises him, but then again, should it? His family were there. )

Though this one is less crowded, a boon. ( Because the humans have died in droves before LILITH brought them to action, replaced by robot workers and Outsiders. It's the only vicious kind of positive Geto can find in a place like this. ) Just be thankful you didn't get here when LILITH sent us to America. The desert would have been much worse. Like burning under a magnifying glass and nothing but sand, sand, and more sand.

[zauneyete]

The desert.

[ He says, his tone dipping into disgust. ]

You're right, I would have hated it. Thankfully, I've never had to see much sand in my life. [ He's seen some, of course. One person in particular floats in his mind, and he wonders... would he have ever grown to enjoy sand like Set did?

Silco tapped at his cigar again, considering. ] I know someone who would greatly enjoy that, however. What a shame that he was denied his natural element.

Oh well, at least he's used to disappointment.

[gorb]

I'm sure we all are. Or if not, we will be. The rewards are fine, the pay is ... passable. At least we're getting something out of it. But that doesn't bypass the fact that we're essentially cannon fodder here. Albeit powerful cannon fodder.

( Although, looking at the man across from him, he's not so sure. Geto certainly knows not to judge a book by its cover, especially if said book has been left to be trampled in the rain, but still. )

At least we'll never be bored.

[zauneyete]

[ No, Geto, you're right. ]

Which still begs the question why Lilith chose me in this state.

[ After all, Silco wasn't going to be useful in a fight, particularly if these Kaiju are rather large. He doesn't even have shimmer and grunts to do the work for him, no powers his last world granted him...

He's starting from scratch, again. ]

Well, at least it will be a challenge. I would start to get bored if it was just fight monsters, and that was it, after all.

[ He doesn't care about the pay, not really. He'll find a way to survive even if she didn't. Silco wasn't above surviving off the streets. ]

[gorb]

Well, you must have something they want.

( He's yet to come across anyone truly ill-fitting in LILITH's ranks. A few bleeding hearts, do-gooders that ruin his day, but mostly everyone has some sort of skillset that puts them beyond normality. Silco must, or they've made a mistake. He doesn't know the man well enough to guess. )

I'm sure you'll find entertainment. ( He hasn't, but he's been spending his time brooding. Being bored isn't exactly as high on his priorities as laying down in a dark room contemplating his mistakes has been. ) Besides, it could be worse. We could be nicotine free.

[zauneyete]

Maybe it is my winning personality.

[ He said, with a spread of his hands.

But Geto makes a good point. Silco will downplay it, but it leaves him curious enough to watch the man for a long moment. He had been up front, and clear with his lack of powers for a reason. His inability to fight. He wants to be underestimated. After all, if the others here think that he is weak, and useless, they won't look to closely when he moves through the shadows, or when he sneaks through the city.

This man, however, was peeling back the camouflage, even if he did it inadvertently.

He would have to be cautious. ]

Very true, though. I would think I'm in a hellish afterlife, were we to be without nicotine. [ A smirk in his direction. ] Thankfully, they haven't been able to kill us yet and subject us to that particular misery.

[gorb]

( A laugh, bright and easy. )

Maybe. There's no shortage of strong ones here. Perhaps LILITH merely needs entertained. ( He wouldn't be surprised, but truthfully he knows it's just a byproduct. Bring in the strong, the powerful, the hungry, you get people who are loud and brash. It makes sense. He's sure Silco is hiding something, the same way Geto is. It will either show itself in time or it won't. He has no interest in picking apart a man he's never met anyway. )

You'll be fine. I think if they tried to take away our coping habits the whole base would riot. Not just Brimstone.

[zauneyete]

[ A soft sound, that's somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. ]

Oh, I guarantee you, I know a few things about vices.

[ He dropped his cigar onto the ground, and let his heel crush what was left under it. ]

Perhaps this is a part of the game, keep us just complacent enough that we will be pliant. It is what I would do, though I'm used to... [ A twitch of his lips. ] Things are different, where I am from. The indulgences are as well.

Hm, though, perhaps I'll keep that in mind. You never know when a good riot is necessary.

[gorb]

( Ah.

Definitely not a hero, if he's talking about how he would play a game like this. Geto's expression remains neutral, but he notches Silco further up the list of people to watch. It's not that he's afraid, but he is interested. There are curious forces at play.

And perhaps it would be nice, to not be the only morally bankrupt soul here. Well, apart from Toji Fushiguro. )

Well, if you plan on it then forewarn me, mm? I'd like a good vantage point. It can be so boring here.

[zauneyete]

[ Silco's lips quirked into a scarred smile. ]

Oh, I'm sure I can let you in on the secret. It's always enjoyable to see how the chaos plays out. Especially when it is targeted.

[ It would be subtle, and slow. Doing something like taking away creates a pressure pot, on top of that. Something to keep in his pocket, should it be required. After all, there had to be other powers here, something of intrigue. Maybe someone who detested LILITH, another faction, something.

If there was, he'd find it, with time. ]

You'll have to let me know if you find a good spot for observation. People at their most... unhinged are a sight to behold.

[ A shrug of his shoulders, and a soft sigh. ] But, until then, we'll simply have to play along, hm?

[gorb]

( There's a new kind of interest in Geto's eyes then. Silco might just wear unhinged a little more freely than him, but it's almost a relief to know he's not the only one here touched by something maddening. His expression remains impassive for a little longer, simply listening, but then it cracks into a smile all of it's own, toothy and splitting his face like a grimace. )

Oh, you'll be good to have around.

( Cheerful, like they aren't talking discord and rebellion. He's certain the man before him is most of the things he hates - a monkey, just like all of the others - but still. There had been people in his flock that he'd been fascinated with even with the revulsion. What's new about this? )

My name is Geto Suguru. And I like the way you think.

[zauneyete]

Do you? I do not meet too many who agree with me.

[ His tone is just as cheerful, a touch amused coupled with a splash of sarcasm. Silco is a foul little man, after all. He knows he is. Most are not so willing to accept the truths of the world, the hard ones that require cruelty and strength to survive. Perhaps Geto was the sort, or maybe he simply enjoyed the chaos. There were plenty of that type within Zaun, notwithstanding one of its more notorious residents. ]

I am Silco, and perhaps we'll have a chance to see these become reality, hm? At least make these people work for what they are given.

[gorb]

Well, I'm a particular case.

( You know, bad dad to bad dad. ) I like to give people the benefit of the doubt wherever I can. There's so many people here who make snap judgements. ( A sigh, heavily dramatic. ) It's not very far-minded of them. But aiy, lead by example.

( It's all bullshit, but he seems amused. )

And at least if they want us to mop up their messes we should get paid better. There's very little benefit to being here.

[zauneyete]

[ Silco offered something between a snort and a chortle. ]

Open-minded sort? Ah, if everyone in the world had a mind like yours. Don't worry, you have a companion in me.

[ imsotired.jpg These fucking two. ]

Correct, though I am quite used to laboring for next to nothing. I thought myself beyond that, but it appears that this world wants to return me to my roots, so to speak. [ A twitch of a smile. ] We'll see how long I put up with it, hm?

[ He sounds amused, but there's something about that smile that seems... off. Maybe that's also a lie. ]

[gorb]

Well, let me know if you need a witness to your patience wearing thin.

( His cigarette end gets flicked neatly off the into the distance, sizzling briefly before it's extinguished by all the rain. Geto offers Silco a smile. )

It would be entertaining, at the very least. You know where to find me.

( And then, because he's very cool, he gives the man a jaunty little wave before he turns to slip back into the building, nicotine habit sated for now. )