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

@Destiny Video

[intertwinedfates]

[Guess who's showing up in a referee outfit, complete with whistle and doing a 'timeout' gesture.]

Okay, this is getting ridiculous. You're two smart people, er, beings, why do you have to keep fighting all the time?? You heard the girl! Go to bed, dammit, before you get everyone else in trouble!

@rubber ducky

[curingidiocy]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[intertwinedfates]

I thought you were the smart one, Doc! Geez! Don't go emojiing at me, dammit! If we all get our asses busted, I'm strapping you to a giant rubber duck and floating you off into the Sea of Japan!

[curingidiocy]

His only target is me. If you stay away, you won't be involved.

[intertwinedfates]

Too late. Besides, what kind of god would I be if I sit back and let him step on you or something?

[curingidiocy]

[ Normally he'd tell Yato his concern is unneeded, but given that he still doesn't have his powers... he had to call on Ereshkigal for protection last time, and to keep relying on her would place undue burden on her. ]

A normal one, if Set and Tezcatlipoca are any indication of how a god ought to behave. But I will not refuse your assistance should it come to blows again.

Not that I wish for that to happen. I simply do not believe it should be my responsibility to manage Godzilla's temper. He is the one who ought to learn to ignore that which incenses him.

[intertwinedfates]

Well, I'm not normal, in that case. Looking after people is my priority, especially when we're friends, yeah? So if you ever need a hand, you can count on me.

You're right on that account, too. He can't go jumping the gun every time he thinks you're doing something suspicious or questionable. I'll try to get that across to him, but I can't promise any results, unfortunately.

[curingidiocy]

[ Friends... yet another god is calling him a friend. Do gods give out their friendship so casually?? ]

I doubt he will change his mind about me any time soon, but your efforts are appreciated.

[intertwinedfates]

[The nice ones do! Can't speak for those other types, though...]

Hey, all we can do is give it a try, yeah? It's worth a shot.

[curingidiocy]

I suppose so.

Truthfully, I had not expected him to misinterpret my thoughts so wildly. My intention was to use the pocky as an aid should we encounter another village like Brașov. Why would I ever consider using them on my allies? It hadn't even occurred to me.

[intertwinedfates]

I can see where he was coming from, since it's often typical of us to bring supplies for ourselves, so he must've misinterpreted you to being planning on using the truth ones on us. But that's still a bit of a leap to make... It's clear he was already wary and feeling hostile.

I don't think there's much you could've done to prevent him from assuming as much.

[curingidiocy]

I can carry around two cubic metres of objects in my subspace storage, so I've gotten in the habit of carrying extra supplies, both essential and non-essential, for everyone's use. The list of candy in the previous text is among the supplies I bring with me.

[intertwinedfates]

Oh, that's pretty damn handy. And honestly, I think the candy is a good idea, both for us and anybody we might meet up with. Better to be over-prepared than lacking in resources, yeah?

[30storieshigh]

Come speak this within my presence.

[ Yato don't do it it's a trap. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[HE'S GONNA DO IT, DAMMIT, HE'S HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU TWO

At least he knocks politely...?]

Goji, you in there?

[30storieshigh]

[ Hey look at that the door cracks open!

And there's a click... of like, a metal piece being pushed into position?

Aaaand a gun barrel peaking out of the crack in the door level with Yato's face. Yup. They gave Goji a gun. ]

I am ill in the mood for this, Yato. Make your points swiftly.

[intertwinedfates]

[TALK ABOUT UNEXPECTED?! Cue the poor little, practically helpless god all but yelping at that gun being leveled at him by Godzilla of all people.

Stammering, he just shakes his head.]

A-A-All I wanted to say was that it's a bit... [Silly? No, bad choice of word.] ...unnecessary to be so worried about Ratio harming anyone? We've got enough eyes on him that if he were to try anything, he wouldn't get very far with it.

So... it's okay to leave that to somebody else...? Please?

[And plz don't shoot him?? Think of Hiyori! She wouldn't like having a boyfriend with a hole in him! She'd have to clean up the mess...]

[30storieshigh]

[ Beat.

Beat.

Beat.

An angry snarl accompanied by the sound of a hammer decocking before the gun is set away. What Yato doesn't know, it wasn't even loaded. Goji's just being a dick today.

The door opens more fully as the big guy snorts out a cloud of smoke and stares down at Yato, his tail tapping on the floor behind him like a human would tap their foot. ]

I am Godzilla, Yato. I do not leave things to someone else, even less so when it comes to my enemies.

[intertwinedfates]

[W-Whew... That sure was a close call, even if it wasn't loaded. That's still one hell of a surprise! He would never have thought of Godzilla conforming to the human flaw of using firearms. It seems awfully... hypocritical, in a way.

Not that he's going to say that.

Instead, he sighs with relief, leaning against the doorjamb. When he speaks, it's quiet, respectful.]

Hey, you know I understand that too, right? I'm a god myself. But what you're doing isn't getting us anywhere. Ratio's a decent fellow, believe it or not. I trust him to not harm any of us Outsiders. If he does, I'll eat my scarf.

[30storieshigh]

[ If Yato works up the stones to ask Godzilla will be adamant that there's nothing hypocritical about preparing to be devoid of his powers since LILITH's already done it to him once. Plus humans seem to respond quicker to the cold steel than they do his pulsing so it's a win win.

ANYWAY. The big buy lets out another derisive snort, his tail thumping the ground a bit harder. ]

Bah. He and his mate have made threats towards my kin for daring to speak in my behalf. I believe he is decent towards humans and those close enough to their like, he has shown a continued disdain for any that do not meet this standard.

[ Another snort and uh speaking of his spines, they sure do pulse involuntarily right there. ]

It would be unadvisable to consume your own garment. The fibers it is made of are not the edible kind, yes?

[intertwinedfates]

[Hard to argue with logic like that, it must be said. Humans ARE pretty damn dense at times, feeling like they can overpower nature itself, yet bending to the whims of their own creations.]

Well, they were in the wrong and should definitely apologize for talking shit towards you. That's just messed up for those who are supposed to be our allies. I'll see if I can't have a word with him about it.

[Uh. Please don't blast him, either? If that's what that means? He's still learning Goji body language.]

Heh, yeah, they're not. Which is why I made that promise. I'm confident enough that I won't have to eat it. And if I do... well, you can get a laugh out of watching me make myself sick.

[30storieshigh]

[ Head tilt. ]

I do not see the humor in watching one I do not consider my foe take ill. This is a human joke?

[ Well good job Yato. The best way to get Goji off his shit, besides chin stritches and food at least, is to baffle him so that he focuses in on his confusion rather than his anger. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[Hurray! Small successes! He'll take every little bit of calm he can inspire, honestly.]

It is. Kind of like watching a friend getting their tongue stuck to a frozen pole. It won't kill them, but it's amusing to watch for a little while.

[He thinks for a moment, then laughs lightly.] And if you're curious about the pole thing, I'll show you sometime! I'll even be the licker.

[30storieshigh]

[ Blink.

Blink.


....

Blink. ]

Why would one place their tasting organ upon a frozen length of metal...?

[ HELP HE IS SO CONFUSED ]

[intertwinedfates]

[DON'T WORRY, GOJI, HE'S GOTCHU COVERED FOR IDIOT ANTICS]

Usually as a dare or prank! Kids will tease each other and egg their friends on until one of them licks a pole, and then once they get stuck, they have a laugh cuz it's so stupid!

[Humans are weird.....]