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....

code

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Godzilla waves a hand dismissively in response. ]

Do not barter yourself away as small of stature. [ Sell yourself short. ] Any act of care given to a young one is an act of parentage.

[ Surprise Ishmael, the big guy is here exactly to just get wet. He proceeds to lean back and just float lazily on the water, making a content growling noise. ]

I do not deny that I have found value in the time spent with the eggs, however I did not come here seeking to relieve you of your watch before time. I simply seek the familiarity of water. When one is under stress things they are used to are the best cure, are they not?

I was just doing my duty. I'm not as attached to these eggs, believe it or not.

[ but at least she's not planning on harming them anytime soon. LILITH needs them in order to do what needs to be done with them, after all.

she watches godzilla float away, softly kicking the egg floatie towards him. watch out... ]

But you're right. It's been a stressful couple of weeks, so I sometimes spend my time in the water and just... float. Like what you're doing right now.

Indeed? This is an electrocution, I must confess. [ A shock. ] Your kind is not well suited for aquatic endeavors, one would not think you find comfort so far outside your elements.

[ Godzilla's so relaxed he doesn't really notice the egg's been sent his way. Until it bumps up against his side. That has him glancing over, then scrambling to right himself before it's too late. ]

Dam-!

[ Before he can finish that four letter word there's a bop of energy and the big guy, is, well, the big guy again. The water in the pool takes exception to the sudden displacement, rocking out waves from him, but the egg and it's floaty are safely guarded by his tail. Once the initial shock wears off he's busy checking the egg, looking at it from every angle, laying his snout on it, feeling, listening.

He must be satisfied because finally he looks up at Ishmael, letting out a frustrated snort of smoke from his nose. ]

A warning next time, perhaps? My current situation is volatile, I would not have it harm the young one.

[ Hey guess who can only keep their real body when they're in physical contact with one of the eggs. This guy! Right here. ]

[ the sudden giant wave splashed her, drenching her completely. the tidal force may have been immense but ishmael was able to stay put thanks to the years she'd spent through rough waves.

still, she sputters, bug-eyed as she watches the lizard take form in the nearly empty pool. ]

I-I didn't know!

[ SERIOUSLY it's an honest mistake ]

Can you turn back? Is the egg okay?

Edited 2024-09-26 08:16 (UTC)

[ Godzilla is not unduly cruel. The discomfort and misfortune of those he calls allies is not something he would ever take lightly.

Ishmael getting hit by that wave though? That's funny. It takes what little self control he has to not chuckle at her expense. ]

The young one is sound, do not be concerned. As there is no harm then there is no cultivated avian, as they say. You are unharmed as well, I hope.

[ No harm no foul. Godzilla there's a difference between foul and fowl, c'mon buddy...

His butchering of idiom aside the big guy lazily ambles his way to the edge of the pool, carrying the egg carefully in his arms as he does so and focusing intently on it. He doesn't need to look where he's moving, his tail makes up for any balance lost by not paying attention to his steps. ]

I can and will, not that it is a thing I wish to do. LILITH has seen fit to confine me to human form when not in the presence of the young ones. It is vexing.

Edited (reading comprehension is hard at 5 am...) 2024-09-26 10:06 (UTC)

[ she's so sopping WET, with strands of her absurdly long hair sticking to her skin and everything. she could resemble some sort of kaiju herself with her disgruntled expression, even.

she slides into the pool, her feet touching the ground as she goes to gather up the egg and check for cracks and stuff. ]

They probably made you guys put on cloaking devices for your own protection since anyone outside here could mistake you for kaiju. You could explain to them that you aren't one of them, but that'd get even more complicated.

[ sorry, big guy... ]

[ The very second Godzilla carefully passes the egg back to Ishmael, pop, he's human again. The big guy lets out a sigh and shakes his head. ]

My meaning has been lost at the train station. [ Lost in translation. ] I am well aware of the import of the shape-change outside the base, the civil denizens must be kept unaware of the Outsiders. However, due to recent... events with Ratio.

[ Even though he's human he still manages to growl, good lord. ]

LILITH has made the choice to deprive me of my form even in the safety of our lair. A message to keep internal conflict at a minimum, to others as much as to myself I am sure.

DOWNTIME MINGLE #4

▶ 001. WINNERS CIRCLE.

▶ 002. PROJECT EGG.

▶ 003. OPEN FORUM.

▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

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