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

[eyescar]

[ Yuji looks up at the toy that Bakugo picks out, and he has to resist the urge to burst into little giggles. Of course, he picked the one that's a bomb... It's pretty cute, and he shifts, tucking his hands into his picket for a moment as he rocks on his heels.

His dandelion can be cute too, sometimes, huh... ]

We'll win it!

[ Even if Yuji doesn't get the high score and Katsuki does, he'd be fine with that. He's not a particular fan of guns either, but he can lift it up, peering down the sights and watching for a moment before he tries to focus on the bullseye. ]

It might take me a second to get used to it though.

[blastedass]

[Shut up. Mario definitely exists in his world and he likes Yuji enough to want to give him the satisfaction of winning something for him rather than denying the guy the chance. So good ol bob-bomb's the compromise. Hmph. Katsuki pumps the gun, even though it does little but put air into the stock to ready for firing.]

Give 'em hell.

[They're a team now, so the high score's gonna share between them. If Katsuki wants to get the solo high score, he'll have to do that later. But working with Yuji to get it's arguably more fun. Cause it's Yuji. He aims the gun, then glances at his friend to note his stance and hold.]

It's not archery.

[Just in case Yuji did that during school. He reaches over and uses two fingers atop Yuji's knuckles to guide his hand to a better grip on the gun, providing more stability and better aim.]

There.

[eyescar]

I've never used a bow before. Sensei always gave me swords before, and most of the time my fists are enough. I didn't have a technique that needed anything else.

[ Yuji sometimes finds using a weapon a little frustrated, because it feels far more natural to use his hands. He's not someone like Nanamin or Maki-senpai, who are accustomed to using weapons, or even Okkotsu-senpai, who was good with a katana. He just... Punches good.

His hand moves, adjusts as Katsuki shows him, and he breathes out softly. ]

You think this'll do it?

[ He looks down the sights again. ]

Did you use these at home?

[blastedass]

I see.

[There really hadn't been reason for Yuji to use a long-range weapon with that kind of strength. Katsuki understands the frustration of needing to use something you're not familiar with. He'd have similar issue, used to his hands being free for his Quirk and relying on his external gear for any arsenal functions. Still...]

When you get some time, I want to see if you can use a technique All Might taught De- Izuku.

[Mentioning his childhood friend comes with a similar weight to when Yuji talks about Nanami. People important to them who are now gone. Katsuki focuses on the targets in front of them. Even if Yuji's not familiar with guns, the hero has ample trust in the sorcerer's aiming prowess.]

Yeah. Take a few practice shots, then we'll do it for real.

[First time shooter. That said, Katsuki and Yuji had been to the arcades before, laser tag and all.]

I didn't. One of U.A.'s teachers, Snipe, used guns with his Quirk.

[eyescar]

All Might's techniques, huh...

[ Yuji hums. He meet Deku, before, when he was around, and had learned a little bit about Katsuki from him, but it's not as if they'd become close with one another or anything. Instead, he'd used the bare scraps he'd learned to get closer to the boy beside him, and that had been enough for him.

If he can learn more techniques here too, then that would be great, even if they don't go home with him.

Adjusting his weight, he aims and shoots off a few practice rounds - he's close to the bullseye, and getting closer each time. ]

You guys really have anything and everything, huh?

[ Lowering his gun, he hums. ]

I'll bet there's curses that have similar stuff, and sorcerers, too. The crossover is cool.

[blastedass]

He didn't use it as often as Izuku did.

[All Might gave Izuku more the lesson and principles behind it while Izuku made it into his own move. Likely due to their difference in physical size, resulting in Izuku being more willing and able to use long-range techniques where All Might could get in close and pulverize the opponent.

Despite the slight bittersweet, Katsuki finds the idea of sharing something from All Might and Izuku with his best friend here... brings a warm feeling to his chest. A reminder that the people from home he cares about are still with him in a way. Helping Katsuki and his friends.

He takes aim as well and fires off a few times, striking the background in relatively the same area with each shot. No point in shooting the target just yet in practice. Yuji's success quirks the corner of Katsuki's mouth upward. Proud of him.]

A lot. You had to, bringing up the next generation of heroes. [He pumps the gun again.] Yeah, it is. We should compare curse techniques and Quirks, see what might match up.

[Oops. His inner nerd's peeking out again.]

[eyescar]

Is it the kind of thing that Izuku made better? I don't think I did that with Black Flash, but I do it more than Gojo-sensei did.

[ That's mostly because Gojo didn't need to use Black Flash to beat things, thanks to his technique and the things he was born with, but that's an aspect of the point that's missed on Yuji. He just knows that Gojo is the strongest, and the best teacher that he's ever known, and that affection runs deep.

He knows it's the same with Bakugo and All Might, even if the nature of it is a little different. Maybe it is more like him and Nanamin, that kind of hero worship that gets hurt, that gets damaged, by the way that the world offers them aches and pains. Sacrifice for each other, for a better future... Yuji gets that.

It's still weird and uncomfortable, though.

Pouting a little at the awesome perfection that is Katsuki's aim, he sighs softly. ]

You wanna sit down one day and do it? I can tell you all the techniques that I can remember.

[blastedass]

Yeah. His version turned out more streamline and numerous than All Might's. [Granted Izuku used his fingers and All Might used his fist.] Black Flash, that's that punching technique where you release your energy in a split second, right?

[He remembers Yuji talking about it once or twice before, but he's only seen the technique in use during training missions. It happens, as said, in a blink. Even staring at it closely feels like he "missed" the trigger/impact. The visual result's impossible to miss though. Despite Katsuki's bravado, power, and strength, he only needed to see Yuji perform Black Flash in action once to know he should avoid getting hit by it at all costs...

Yuji's right about Bakugo and All Might. As much as he admires his idol, Bakugo never got the same close relationship with him as Izuku did. Due to One for All and Izuku being All Might's direct successor. It always made him jealous and angry, but he slowly began to get over it as he worked with Izuku to hone One for All, under All Might's guidance. But he never lost his admiration.

Honestly, he wishes he got a relationship with All Might like Yuji had with Nanami. Mah... He's made peace with it.

Katsuki reaches over to adjust Yuji's hold on the gun and aim, only slight needs, then gets ready for the real round. Time to crush some high scores!]

Hell yeah. [He's all grins at the prospect, a combination of the game's challenge and learning more about curse techniques, triggering that boyish dork again.] I bet we'll find a few common skills.

[eyescar]

Yeah, exactly like that. Nanamin was the guy who held the record, and he said it was mostly just luck? So I don't know if there's really a way to do it whenever you want, or if I've just been really lucky.

[ Yuji doesn't quite realise how special he is when it comes to Black Flash, his ability to use it whenever he wishes, 'chosen' by the flash as he is. To him, he just uses his power as he can, to make sure that the people he loves are protected, taken care of - because they're the most important thing in the world to him.

Letting the hold change, he takes another few practice shots, and he does much better this time. He's getting the hang of things easily enough, and he leans back as he stretches his arms a little, bones crunching. ]

We can do that over dinner, then!

[ Nodding at the bomb prize again, Yuji lifts his arms and starts to aim, attention focussed. ]

We've got this.

[blastedass]

There's always a way to do something like that deliberately. It's not autonomous like digestion or blinking. You can't rely on getting lucky.

[Katsuki's too focused on control and superpowers to leave something up to "luck" when a battle hits. He knows very well there are instinctive times when a person's body will move on their own, a surge of strength and a new power born when desperation or life and death situations trigger an unnatural awakening. But afterwards, the ability is there. Next comes making it your own.

Just like Cluster for him.

Yuji does even better on his second practice. Damn, this guy's so good at physical stuff. He adapts and learns fast when it's not technical shit. Oy! What the-]

Did you just break your shoulder? [Despite the look on his face, his tone's teasing, one of those "ew gross, dude" moments where you wanna laugh despite yourself. That was a hell of a shoulder pop.]

Heh, sounds good. [Dinner that is! Not breaking shoulders. Katsuki swivels his attention to the game and brings his gun to bear, eyes narrowed in similar attention.] Mow 'em down, Gari Head.

[BAM!! And proceeds to do just that. Probably making the game runner piss himself. Carnival game people hate dealing with skilled professionals.]