synflux | DOWNTIME MINGLE #4

DOWNTIME MINGLE #4

CONTENT WARNINGS: suggestive themes, egg hatching, parenthood.

▶ 001. WINNERS CIRCLE.

During this time period, the Outsiders would typically have been met with a makeshift party with poorly placed balloons and streamers. However, this time it’s just a bulletin board with the following message scrawled out on it:

GOOD JOB:
LOREMIPSUM (K.O.)
REDMIST (600)
NICE TOY (600)
RISK (599)

Even though the mission was a partial success, there are still sponsors who were impressed with the actions of the recognized Outsiders. They also believe those who have contributed are still able to provide relief to the people, and should not be criticized too harshly due to their efforts.

In light of this, the base will have an increase of various lab-made spices delivered by a certain sauce company that heard a certain Outsider has a preference for spicy food. Apparently, the spices pair perfectly with their lab-made chicken.

Maybe it’s a coincidence with a certain network name but the Nice Toy Company also endorses the base and creates a whole line of toy guns in the airsoft and BB variety which replicate antique guns that any collector would salivate over! These are distributed on base and can be seen sold at many stores in Neo Tokyo. There has also been an influx of people who are passionate about fitness and training, sparking a trend for those who work out in bunny outfits. Supposedly, it’s something they’ve seen in a prior battle with the kaiju and so the workout is full of intense cardio, and even bunny hops.

Makima’s face will be found on several brands of what appears to be packaged dog food, however it is unclear if it is really dog food or not. Either way, several hundreds of packages have been delivered to base and are stored as “emergency rations.” Everyone on base is free to grab a snack or two at any time!

For those Outsiders worrying about whether or not they'll be docked pay for only taking down one Imugi instead of both, worry no more! Everyone will wake up one morning with a notification that 300,000 KRYPTOS (~2100 USD) have been deposited into their account. It seems pulling double shifts at their civilian jobs won't be necesssary...

▶ 002. PROJECT EGG.

With the last mission ending in the retrieval of the Imugi eggs, the research teams have been left with one major question: what will they do with them? After some initial discussions, it has been decided that they would keep the eggs and attempt to raise them into maturity in order to see if they could garner more insight into not just the kaiju itself, but of their abilities. It is also their desire to see what the relationship between kaijus and the rifts are, and they believe this would be the best opportunity to do so.

The only caveat to this, however, is who would care for them in the meantime? From previously documented research, they found that kaiju eggs are not easy to raise, especially those who mirror lizard-like creatures. They need special attention that exceeds that of what people would typically expect from egg-rearing. Due to this, LILITH is asking for help from the Outsiders to temporarily tend to the eggs. The Outsiders will be working in shifts to watch the eggs, and are expected to care for them properly. It is noted that for kaiju who have been separated from their mothers, the chances of them hatching are very slim, and so they are not expecting each and every egg to hatch. They are, however, expecting Outsiders to put forth their best efforts in spite of that. At least, it’s one less thing to be blamed for.

Outsiders are expected to sign up for egg raising shifts and will get a single egg to care for. They are to be with the egg at all times during their shift, and negligence will not be tolerated. Occasionally, the staff will send drones to check in and also deliver food items and energy drinks in order to ensure that the eggs are being properly cared for. Eating or destroying the eggs is prohibited.

Coming up with names, however, is encouraged, and Seok Dang has even set up a small contest for it....

▶ 003. OPEN FORUM.

As soon as the order is delivered for them to take care of the eggs, a new download will be prompted on everyone’s oculars. It comes suddenly and without any real explanation. When it loads in, people will find that it appears to look like the “forums” of old. They have various topics already posted, including a bolded one that remains pinned at the top of everyone’s oculars labeled “PARENTING FOR DUMMIES.”

When anyone clicks on it, or even allows their eyes to linger on it for too long, it will automatically open. The explanation at the top is as follows:

I see what you all look up in your free time and I think you could use the help.

Who wrote this cryptic message? Their identity has been kept anonymous, but it seems clear that Outsiders are meant to utilize this to field any questions in regards to the eggs they have been ordered to care for. Some of the questions already include “do I keep them warm by sitting on them?” and “what can I do to provide further enrichment?”

While most of these topics pertain to parenting, if one exits the parenting tab, they will find the forum is entirely opened up for other topics as well, including a GENERAL chat, and a thread created by Seok Dang called “AITA.” Apparently, this was all the rage once upon a time.

[ Note: Feel free to use this not only to discuss parenting, but also to discuss any other topics Outsiders may want to engage in. You can use the code below, or do it without! ]

EVERLIGHT

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REVELATION

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BRIMSTONE

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REDEMPTION

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▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our fourth downtime mingle! For the naming contest, we are limiting submissions to one name per character. This is entirely for fun and there is no obligation to participate.

We decided to keep the mingle lighter this time due to the number of player events ongoing. Please do check out the SPA UPGRADE and the ROYAL GALA also occurring this month. Big thanks to Sky and Bijou for organizing these! Additionally, the LOCATIONS page has been updated with both Kyoto and Okinawa. Characters may now visit those locations at any time.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. WINNER'S CIRCLE: The heavy hitters/KO winners of the last kaiju fight receive their sponsorships, including spices, BB guns, training videos, and fancy dog food.

2. PROJECT EGG: Outsiders are tasked with caring for and attempting to hatch the Imugi eggs salvaged from Seoul. They are encouraged to try a variety of methods in order to get the eggs to hatch, as no data currently exists. Not all eggs will survive.

3. OPEN FORUM: Outsiders are provided with an open parenting forum to ask for and exchange egg raising advice. However, a certain someone seems to have also included a general forum for Outsiders to discuss whatever they wish....

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Aventurine does lower his hand, his gaze going Ratio for a moment before it flicks back to Godzilla just in time to see him open his mouth again. Cursing, he throws himself at Ratio to drag him down onto the ground behind the bed, attempting to get both of them out of the line of fire as much as possible.

His shields are good, and he doesn't doubt that they'll keep the two of them safe, but he also doesn't want to risk whatever the hell the pink fire is eating through it. Once the fire stops, however, and the room is mostly cinders and smoke and the still flickering hologram of the lovely view of the ocean Ratio picked for it, he feels secure enough to let go of Ratio. )

It's self-defense for blowing up our door and showing up unannounced. Don't kaiju know how to knock?

( He's just saying. )

Edited 2024-09-15 07:30 (UTC)

[ Ratio doesn't resist as Aventurine drags him to the ground, only using an arm to cushion himself in the fall. Instead, he allows himself to observe and think while Aventurine handles the defense—as has always been his role when they fight together. He calculates plans to escape or take out Godzilla if he presses on the attack even though it may be a last resort. ]

We have no intention to fight! Calm yourself!

[ He unfortunately does not trust Godzilla enough to peek his head out from behind the tattered remains of the bed while saying that. ]

YOU DARE MAKE A DEMAND OF ME?!

[ So the good news is he doesn't fire again, the bad news is it's because he's holding his last shot for if he needs it. Instead he shoulders his way into Ratio's room to Loom in the general direction of the two humans that have earned his ire. Standard rooms were not built with Godzilla in mind, not only do his dorsal spines slice through the top of the door frame and send debris scattering forward but the bad tempered dinosaur slams his tail into the side of the wall to further leave a gaping hole where Ratio's door used to be. ]

Come out. Now. Face me or submit.

( Aventurine doesn’t flinch with the force of Godzilla’s rage, he’s simply trying to figure out the best way for him and Ratio to get out of here rather than deal with an unreasonably enraged kaiju. When he opens his mouth to respond he’s suddenly overcome with pain right behind his eyes, the voice running through his head secondary to the sudden onslaught of fear that strikes through him. They can control him, and as much as he’s now curled in over himself where he’s kneeling on the floor, a hand at his head, the other blindly searches for Ratio’s hand through the pain.

So it’s come to this, has it? It was too good to be true, he knew it, and even through the blinding headache he can’t help but laugh – a hollow, empty thing.

Of course. Of course. He really can’t ever escape can he, no matter how far high up the IPC ladder he gets, no matter if he’s ended up on another world. Fuck.

And then, louder: )

Fuck!

[ Ratio hisses at the same time Aventurine flinches back from the pain himself, immediately clutching his temple as pain lances through his brain, right behind his eyes. Synthia's warning sounds loudly in his ears, only adding to the din overwhelming his mind.

Dim, through the searing feeling, he can hear Aventurine swear, and the scholar struggles to open his eyes so he can pull the gambler closer to him in protection and observe Godzilla's reaction to all this. If the two of them were being punished, then Godzilla ought to be suffering as well. ]

[ Just like the humans Godzilla gets hit with the pain straight in his head. The kaiju reels back scratching at the side of his head, roaring in pain. At the same time the lights on his dorsal spines blink out as his powers are sealed and his thrashing leads to him ending up flat on his back.

Flat on his human back. Godzilla's form is locked alongside his powers, leaving the big guy slightly less big and very discombobulated. He heard that voice in his head, he's putting two and two together. Whatever just happened LILITH did it. LILITH interfered in a perfectly reasonable dispute between him and other outsiders, in doing so they've shown how much control they actually have. His head is still throbbing, what else could they do to them against their will?

For a beat all the noise that comes from Godzilla are very inhuman growls of pain and displeasure, until finally he speaks up. ]

A draw then.

[ Of course that's his primary concern, the thick-headed gecko. ]

DOWNTIME MINGLE #4

▶ 001. WINNERS CIRCLE.

▶ 002. PROJECT EGG.

▶ 003. OPEN FORUM.

▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

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