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

[Someone who's unafraid to do his own exploring and learning of new surroundings is more impressive than someone who needs to be given a tour and led around by a resident. Shows initiative, bravery, self-reliance, all things needed for an effective soldier. Minus the kidnapped bullshit. Bakugo's never going to get over that either, no matter what happens.]

How can you be "new" to spices? [Unless you've had nothing but salt or... nothing your entire life! The idea of it smotes him as incredulous on the brain. Digging the spatula under the chicken breast, he gives it a quick flip in the pan, leading to another sizzle and steam.

Luckily they aren't on ration cards here, but when the food supply drops, people have to spread their searches, get creative with what they have, or tighten their belts until the next wave arrives. There's a lot of research and effort going into trying to bring the food supply back to normal flow, but success is intermittent.]

Aa. It's one of the top three so far.

[ If he was afraid to do his own exploring or learning about his new surroundings then he wasn't a good pilot. Wasn't someone worthy of taking Gipsy Danger out there to fight kaiju. Something he's been doing since he was about eighteen years old. ]

Hey, being new to spices is something that can happen. Especially during a war where all you end up with is ration cards, unless you're one of the more richer people.

[ Whatever spices Bakugo was using, however, actually smelled good to the jaeger pilot. ]

What're the other top two people have liked?

[So long as Raleigh wasn't exploring outside the city walls, he'll be fine. It's a risky gamble to go out there alone. Some people do, with their vehicles, but it's uncommon and they don't stay out there long. Feel free to go wherever you can in the city, man. Some places are obviously off limits.]

You still know what spices are, dammit! [Another guy from a war-torn world, huh. That would explain his unfamiliarity with them. He'll have plenty of time and opportunity to experience them here.

At the question, he swings his arm around and points to two clumps of chicken cubes on the sample platter.] These two. The left one's not as hot.

[ No, he hadn't explored outside the city walls, not yet. That was bound to happen. If he did head out beyond the walls then he'd go out in his jaeger, not on his own two feet. Luckily, for now, he had no inclination to do anything like going outside the city walls. ]

I do know what spices are. Though, I have run into some who weren't.

[ There would be time, honestly, to get to know one another. He does, however, try the one on the left. ]

That one is a bit too bland for me.

[ He doesn't mind something with a kick to it. Blandness, however, he wasn't fond of. Didn't mean he wouldn't eat it if it was the only thing around though. Beggars couldn't be choosers in war-torn worlds. ]

[Bakugo will want to go with Raleigh if/when he does take a walk outside the walls. Mostly because he wants to see the guy's mech (jaeger) but he'll use the grumpy excuse of not wanting the newbie to get dragged off by a shitty kaiju. He's gone outside the walls a few times, and each time came back with little appreciation for it. Not much to do out there in the overgrown world. Perhaps it's a good thing they get to travel with new missions.]

Don't go any further left then. You won't like those. [If he thinks that sample's bland, the ones beyond it are even weaker or less notable. Going to the right will start to veer towards hotter and bolder spices. Bakugo flips another piece of chicken, then deems the four breasts done and starts removing them from skillet to cutting board.]

Did you ever read up on the kaiju files I told you about?

[ Raleigh wouldn't mind if Bakugo decided he wanted to head out with him. After all, he doesn't mind showing off Gipsy Danger. His mech might be a bit smaller than usual now but she was worth showing off. ]

Alright, no veering left. I'm going to assume going that way leads to more blandness.

[ Even if he's used to things being bland he'll avoid it as much as possible. ]

I have. You all have run into and taken down some interesting kaiju.

[A lot of the mech pilots have differing opinions on their machines. One of them specifically hates it, two others value them but come off as showmanship quality at times, and others simply treat them as weapons to fight with. It'll be interesting to see how Raleigh considers his own.]

Don't state the obvious.

[He doesn't need the validation of his warning. Sheesh.]

Four major threats so far.

[With the last two dealing serious damage to the Outsiders in both mind and morale.]

[ Gipsy Danger has been a part of his life since he was eighteen. His mech was an extension of himself. Will he like that she was scaled down? Not really, but that wouldn't change how he felt about the mech.

He tries not to laugh when Bakugo says not to state the obvious, that was fine. He wouldn't. ]

All of them stronger than the last?

[Most mech pilots are at least glad to have their mechs, even if they are scaled down. Home familiarity isn't something to snub even if it's changed. Bakugo arrived with his Quirk severely degraded and weakened; it took him months of hard training to work himself back up to the level he had been back home.]

Different. "Stronger's" subjective.

DOWNTIME MINGLE #4

▶ 001. WINNERS CIRCLE.

▶ 002. PROJECT EGG.

▶ 003. OPEN FORUM.

▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

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