DOWNTIME MINGLE #5

[synfluxmods]

DOWNTIME MINGLE #5

CONTENT WARNINGS: medical procedures, needles, drugs, psychological changes, hallucinatory effects.

▶ 001. STATE OF THE BASE.

In light of recent events, Outsiders are provided with an ample amount of vacation time. While they are certainly permitted (and encouraged!) to continue their training or to participate in missions, Outsiders may use this downtime to facilitate their own funeral services as well as catch their breaths and be able to both physically and mentally heal from the traumatic events of Transylvania. This period of time is also to allow for any Outsiders who lost limbs during the last mission to get any necessary cybernetic surgeries and permit for proper recovery time before any missions going forward. As the enhancements are a difficult surgery, these individuals will be paired with an Outsider who will be their designated "nurse" and they will work in shifts to care and help those who received the surgeries.

In terms of the cure for those who are still experiencing symptoms of being turned into vampires, they will find clinical trials are now taking place with an experimental drug being offered in either pill or shot form. It is not the perfect fix, but it does subdue a lot of the side effects, making it easier for Outsiders to be able to walk around more freely without concern of losing control over themselves or their thirst for blood. The result of these clinical trials do seem to differ from individual to individual, however. Some side effects can cause an extended feeling of nausea, vertigo, shortness of breath, insomnia, and general feelings of exhaustion. It is suggested that those who receive this trial medicine do not drive any vehicles or enter the simulation room. All trial medicine seems to achieve a similar result, but need to be taken multiple times throughout the course of the month before actual results are seen. If one is diligent in taking the medicine, they will find that they will be reverted back to normal by the end of the month.

Additionally, there are also trial drugs being offered in America, and those who do take on the Las Vegas mission are also permitted to try them for pain relief. However, those drugs come with an additional side effect of causing strong hallucinations, and it is advised to take them in an enclosed area until the effects pass.

For those wondering about the status of the Imugi eggs the Outsiders were tasked to take care of prior to the Transylvania mission, they have been moved to a private nursery room that is inaccessible to Outsiders as they are expected to hatch soon. LILITH will be upfront with this information to Outsiders should they ask, and will also inform them that Outsiders will soon be able to visit them and be thanked for their hard work in taking care of the eggs.

▶ 002. WINNERS CIRCLE.

While it still appears to be a delicate time, in light of the success of the last mission there are a few decorations that can be found around base, as well as a handful of foods that were readily found in Transylvania which include actual meat dishes. The bulletin board is marked with the following:

GOOD JOB:

KENSUKE (K.O.)
FUTURETERROR (600)
BAD DADDY & TYPHON (600)

While normally no one entertains the idea of consuming kaiju as a go-to, in light of the recent battle that the world has only heard about in whispers, a certain cookbook comes into existence. It’s unknown who the source actually is but it is rumored that someone who works closely with kaiju released it on the down-low. The cookbook features what appears to be recipes based off of both kaiju and other monsters always believed to be fictional, including hand drawn pictures. The chef’s photo on the inside of the book looks eerily similar to someone that should be familiar to all the Outsiders.

The newest craze in Neo Tokyo is for a set of blind boxes sold only at POPPY MART’s within the city. The blind box features a beaked cyborg kaiju named “GIBUBU”— no one seems to know how this came about, but there are rumors a certain personnel at LILITH helped create it. GIBUBU can be seen wearing various outfits, including the secret rare version of him in a fuzzy brown suit dressed as a bear. Try and collect them all!

A series of strategic board games are released in which the pieces appear to be very similar to two particular Outsiders but in different color palettes. The virtual board game is a cross between monopoly and a strategy war game in which each party competes against one another to become the richest and strongest warriors, creating their very own empires. Apparently, the game itself has already sparked several strategy guides online! There is also a physical copy available, but it is released as a limited edition.

As the mission to Transylvania was optional and considered overtime, those who partook in the mission will receive a notification that 500,000 KRYPTOS (~3200 USD) has been deposited into their account.

▶ 003. POCKY DAY.

The Halloween festivities run late into the first week of November, but while that’s all cleared and done away with by the second week, it doesn’t mean the holiday season ends there! Now that October's over, it’s all about Pocky Day!

Neo Tokyo’s craze for Pocky Day is only amplified with the new pocky dropping on the day of. While it’s newly released on 11/11, they will be available all throughout the month of November. What someone didn’t say, however, is that this pocky was actually undergoing further research but was released far too early. Each stick of pocky has been made with certain biotech causing various types of reactions in people depending on its flavor. While that’s half the fun, it’s also made a complete mess of the city.

So far, the known issues with each flavor are as listed:

STRAWBERRY - Eating this particular flavor will make those who eat it kinder and more agreeable. They will find they will have difficulties saying no, and will do their best to make those around them happy! Wonderful with the holiday season around the corner.

MATCHA - Who knows why, but chomping down on this flavor makes one more likely to speak openly and truthfully about themselves, and also be inquisitive towards others.

BLACK SESAME - Those who consume this flavor become agitated and more prone to lashing out. Also if they have a grudge against someone, they may be more likely to act on these negative emotions.

ROSE - While it’s not Valentine’s day, taking a bite out of this one will certainly make one feel like it is! It increases one's general desire for affection and physical touch.

MELON - This will make one feel like they can’t sit still for a second. It will make them feel constantly antsy as if they need to impulsively jump into the next thing. What’s the worst that can happen?

While a lot of these flavors are to be reviewed and confiscated by both the companies and government agencies by the end of the month, they will be found littered throughout the city in the meantime.

OOC Note: You are 100% free to make up your own flavors and effects if you’d like. As always, just make sure to mark each CW appropriately. By the end of November, it can be presumed they’ve all been taken off the shelves, but if people wanted to hold onto a box or two for the future, well… they can’t be stopped.

▶ 004. TFLN REDUX.

Those who have been with LILITH for some time may remember the ocular glitch that happened half a year ago. Thanks to an upgrade gone wrong, that very same glitch is now back.

It happens the first time, and several times throughout the week as your character goes about their routine. The sound of machine-like whirring, deep within their cranium, like a computer that’s in the midst of processing some new information. Then, there’s the familiar ping of a new public message, and whatever you were thinking about at that point in time will be plastered on the network for all to read and react to. Thinking about your recent health check results? Having a fun night out at a club? Regretting said night out at the club? Falling into a deep depression about how your life has turned out so far? It doesn’t matter when or where, because the system doesn’t discriminate. You’ll soon find the thoughts you were having during those moments posted on the network and you can’t delete them.

This is a TFLN-inspired mingle that’s been tweaked to make it completely canon to the game. Due to a glitch in the system, random thoughts that characters might be having throughout the week will be registered as network posts and posted in public for all to see and respond to. This can happen at any time as they wander around the main base or different Neo Tokyo locations!

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Write out prompts (example below) for others to respond to. These can be thoughts they’re having in bed, at work, while intoxicated or what-have-you. You can look up shower thoughts or TFLN as inspiration, but remember that this will be game canon so it has to be written in your character’s voice.
2. Go around and respond to others!
3. ???
4. PROFIT!

Participation in this mingle isn’t obligatory, of course. If you don’t want your character to participate, you can simply assume the glitch did not affect them. We also have a code below for fun, but please don't feel pressured to use it. As always, a regular text thread works out just fine! Most importantly, have fun!

(Please remember to put warnings for NSFW/triggering content in the subject header.)

<lj-raw><div style="width:60%;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;flex-direction:row-reverse;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;color:#fff;"> <!--YOUR ICON--> <img src="IMG_HERE" style="width:40px;border-radius:100%;"> <!--YOUR MSGS--> <div style="margin:0 10px 0 0;"> <!--MSG - COPY/PASTE AS NEEDED - NOTE: IF YOUR MESSAGE IS LONGER, JUST ADD MORE BR CODE SPACING AT THE END AND IT SHOULD ADJUST - JUST REMEMBER TO PREVIEW --> <div style="background:#90EE90;padding:8px 12px;border-radius:10px;margin:5px 0 0 0;float:right;clear:both;max-width:250px;"> !!TEXT HERE!!! </div><br></br> <!--MSG - COPY/PASTE AS NEEDED--> <div style="background:#90EE90;padding:8px 12px;border-radius:10px;margin:5px 0 0 0;float:right;clear:both;max-width:250px;"> !!TEXT HERE!!! </div><br></br> <!--MSG - COPY/PASTE AS NEEDED--> <div style="background:#90EE90;padding:8px 12px;border-radius:10px;margin:5px 0 0 0;float:right;clear:both;max-width:250px;"> !!TEXT HERE!!! </div><br></br> <!--MSG - COPY/PASTE AS NEEDED--> <div style="background:#90EE90;padding:8px 12px;border-radius:10px;margin:5px 0 0 0;float:right;clear:both;max-width:250px;"> !!TEXT HERE!!! </div><br></br> </div> </div>

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our fifth downtime mingle! All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards November AC.

Those characters who are currently vampires can remain vampires until December 15. Ideally all characters will have ICly taken their medicines and been cured by the end of the month, but any stragglers will be rounded up by medical staff and forced to finish their series of drugs until they are healed.

Any character that lost an appendage during the last event can get a basic prosthetic for free without needing to spend reward points. Any additional upgrades will require points.

As stated in the post, players are welcome to come up with any additional Pocky flavors and side effects they would like. The ones listed above are merely suggestions.

For the LINE app, characters are welcome to customize their app with different themes, as well as download sticker packs. Anything that you would typically expect to be present in a messaging app can be found!

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. STATE OF THE BASE: Outsiders are back on base after a long and harrowing mission. They are given time off to see to their own needs, which can include: preparing for funerals, getting surgeries for prosthetic limbs, and general R&R. There is also a trial cure being developed to combat the symptoms of vampirism in Outsiders, which all infected Outsiders are required to take. The Imugi eggs are expected to hatch soon and have been moved to a private nursing room so that they won't be disturbed.

2. WINNERS CIRCLE: The heavy hitters/KO winners of the last kaiju fight receive their sponsorships, including kaiju-focused cookbooks, strategy board game sets, and strange little dolls.

3. POCKY DAY: New shipments of Pocky fill the shelves of Neo-Tokyo; however, some of these Pocky shipments have been tampered with, causing anyone who eats them to suffer from a variety of side effects. All affected Pocky will be rounded up by the end of the month and disposed of.

4. TFLN: Outsiders' ocular implants glitch, leading them to send out stray messages and thoughts unprompted.

code

Comments

Spock | Star Trek: SNW | Redemption

[ektal]

Antigulan motion theory in coordination with Virasoro algebraic concepts provides only theoretical basis for universal displacement, and is not sufficient for reverse-engineering a solution to this problem. Additionally, constants of physics as I know them are not necessarily axioms of this new environment. I will need to create my own theories and formulas based on fresh readings. If the primary state of chief vector L is descended past 0–

Wednesday morning. Based on previous days' observations, 85.682% chance of avian swooping during morning commute to work. Unsure whether previous forehead abrasions were a result of pecking or scratching. The birds must be reasoned with.

Disgusting. The cafeteria is disgusting. Why would anyone chew so violently? Some of these Outsiders have no manners. To chew in such a way, to wear such clothing. Disgusting. Tasteless. Disgusting.

"The more so, I say, because truly to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself. If you flatter yourself that you are all over comfortable, and have been so a long time, then you cannot be said to be comfortable any more. ... Then there you lie like the one warm spark in the heart of an arctic crystal."

This is not helping. I am so cold. Cold. Cold.

@poker

[stonehearts]

Aeons, I almost thought you were someone else for a minute there

[ektal]

"Aeon", the astronomical term for one billion Earth years. I fail to note its significance or meaning here.

[ Sorry he hast to first distract himself from the horror of having any of these thoughts publicized. ]

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine can’t blame him, he’d do the same if anything he’d blabbed was particularly damning. )

Where I’m from we use “Amber Era” for galactic units of years, though how many years in each Amber Era depends. On an Aeon, exactly.

Which are… I suppose you could say they’re gods. All powerful cosmic forces that can be made and can die? Something like that, anyway

[gyve]

( fails spectacularly at understanding even a quarter of spock's entire stream of consciousness.

...

kaladin realizes that this does not bode well for their future conversations. )

We spent an entire day together in the desert and not once did I hear anything like that come out of your mouth
You've got a pretty low opinion of the people here

( smirks to himself in the back of an ambulance, holding a tube in a drunk guy's throat... he knew it... )

[ektal]

[ ugh.... UGH! ]

That is an incorrect assessment.

[ ... ]

A few people possess a few undesirable qualities which do not summarize their overall value in any way.

[gyve]

They may not summarize their overall value but they certainly chip away at it
You're in company even if I can't call it good
Half of these people hate the other half

@BAD DADDY

[zauneyete]

Birds can't be reasoned with. Might I suggest something a tad more permanent?

why is this so instantly sinister

[ektal]

I disagree with your assertion, but welcome your suggestion. Continue.

because you know what it's gonna be; also cw: bird death

[zauneyete]

Just kill them, obviously.

@kuzunoha14

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou doesn't exactly like responding to these - it feels invasive - but...]

If it's the crows near the shrine swooping you, don't take it personally. They're cranky when they don't get enough treats. Just keep some snacks in your pockets. I recommend nuts. They're smart, so they'll learn you're a friend quickly if you do.

[ektal]

[ thank you, man, respect for privacy up in here... ]

You are suggesting bribery as opposed to communication.

If I may, how deep has your relationship with the crows become, kuzunoha14?

[the_fourteenth]

I work at the shrine, so I pass them a lot. I learned to keep something on me to share with them. I think they just might be territorial. Or spoiled. Possibly both.

[raynos]

i hate how cold this place is

are you inside the base or outside

[ektal]

So you are also unaccustomed to such temperatures.

I am currently inside the base, though my opinion is not informed by this. [ read: IT'S COLD EVERYWHERE ]

[raynos]

i lived in a desert so it was always warm. where are you from?

blankets help when it gets too cold inside. i have a bunch of extras if you want to borrow one

@dragontales (Sorry I heckin died last week, heLLO)

[lunarchivist]

Hm. Any idea why birds are attacking you?

I believe people chew violently because their teeth are generally flatter and need to work harder to break up the food. I recommend earplugs if the sound gets overwhelming. [Guy with dragon teeth and sensitive hearing here.] Hand sanitizer for general hygiene. Clothing...well. I'm not sure about that one.

As for cold...I understand. My species is generally cold blooded, so I learned early where the spare blankets and portable heaters were. You can have some, if you like.

Unless you meant cold in the emotional sense. I hear talking about it helps in that case. [Loneliness. He means loneliness.]

no worries, it only just went up!

[ektal]

You are very ready to give advice.

I have heard your suggestions, though I do not believe most of them to be applicable in these cases. I will act on the ones that are appropriately.

[ just... allow him to skip right over the last comment about EMOTIONS– ]

I have heard now that this particular murder of crows is particularly territorial.

it did! I meant forgetting to reply to cr meme stuff hhashfdds

[lunarchivist]

...Sorry. I should have asked first. The complaints seemed similar to some I've had, but what helped me might not work for you. Of course. Sorry. [Specifically since alot of this on the network he shouldn't even be able to SEE.......stars-damned glitches.

MURDER of crows?? Oh right, that is the proper term for that particular bird. Still. U m.] That would do it. Are you alright?

@sato7

[ultrastats]

Wow Spock tell us how you really feel.

[ektal]

[ damn it, Ken, don't look at me ]

Good morning.

[ultrastats]

Morning.

You really went off there.

@goddess of death

[queenofkur]

Are you trying to understand how LILITH transported us here?

I do not think this will be possible using conventional physics will get you anywhere close to that.

[ektal]

Yes, that is the conclusion I had drawn as well. It is now incumbent upon us to determine which methodologies can still be retained for application to this current problem and which cannot, formulas and constants aside.

The method of transport is only one piece.

[queenofkur]

I have a friend who is like-minded.
You should contact him, he would love to discuss that with you.
His name is Veritas Ratio.

Personally, I believe this to be a futile endeavor.
I do not believe it impossible to understand LILITH's technology.
But it is akin to understanding a god's authority.
Unveiling mystery is a generational work that spans millennia.
And it is highly unlikely for us to be here that long.