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

Babysitting to make sure they remain dormant?

[ is that even the same thing? ]

It's a long story. I still think raising these things is a terrible idea.

[ hunter runs his hands over the egg, seeming a little conflicted ]

.... There's a lot we don't understand about these things. Seeing them, studying them, it might help us understand what we're up against, how to stop them from leveling towns.

[ but on the other hand: ]

But it's dangerous. And LILITH.... they probably want to use them as weapons. That will backfire.

[ and hunter, softie as he is, doesn't want that for these unborn babies ]

It usually does. No matter what use you can get out of them, monsters are still monsters. They're not usually something you should mess with unless you're prepared to lose your life.

[ The Abnormalities had definitely torn through their employees, her colleagues, like paper, after all. ]

Or the lives of your subordinates, I suppose.

[ he is talking about them, since lilith is the one ordering them to do this. he then immediately looks ashamed of himself, like he shouldn't have said it. ]

Godzilla's a kaiju, supposedly. I don't know what makes him so different from the ones we've faced. I've seen some of the babies before, and they aren't aggressive.

Human interaction, maybe. Decades. You'd have to ask him what he thinks.

[ She gets along just fine with Godzilla, but it's not like she understands everything about him. Now she just knows he really loves his moth wife and she maybe didn't need or want to know that, but it is what it is!! ]

[ is that not the most important fact to know about godzilla?? ]

Maybe these creatures could turn out more like him. If we're involved.

[ he says that tentatively, glancing over at gebura ]

... Is that what you think will happen, Hunter?

[ With that kind of tone? ]

Not really.

[ at least he's honest ]

But if--- this is what we're doing anyway [ read: they don't have a choice ], we might as well try to do what we can... right?

[ right? ]

For all we know, they just want to get some use out of us and as soon as these eggs hatch, they're going to be whisked away to be studied. Or they'll attempt to be used to call the mother back, so we can kill her this time around.

[ She's not that optimistic. ]

They'll probably want us to be a little more involved than that, if we're responsible for naming these things. Maybe.

[ this is new territory for all of them ]

Which also isn't the brightest idea.

Naming them? You agree with Ratio?

[ or is it something else? ]

Not exactly. I don't think everyone who just went through that hell is going to instantly melt over a bunch of miniature dragons.

But I don't really see the point of giving them names, either.

[ hunter goes quiet, looking away, suddenly uncomfortable ]

Even if they're only alive to be experimented on or disposed of.... at least they have some... semblance of individuality.

[ his hands start shaking a little bit. weird ]

...

Speaking from experience here?

[ .... ]

I--- forget I said anything.

[ subtle ]

What were you saying about the monsters in your world?

Sorry, I'm not in the habit of answering questions if someone isn't willing to answer mine first.

[ he looks increasingly uncomfortable ]

It... It doesn't matter.

DOWNTIME MINGLE #4

▶ 001. WINNERS CIRCLE.

▶ 002. PROJECT EGG.

▶ 003. OPEN FORUM.

▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

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