TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

[synfluxmods]

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: medical content

▶ 001. WELL DESERVED REST.

With no sign of upcoming city-level threats, LILITH has made the decision to provide Outsiders with a well-deserved break: there will be no official missions for the month of December. Outsiders are free to roam the city, continue their usual civilian jobs or take a holiday to any of the locations available via data portal. During this period, LILITH leadership will also be taking time off and any attempts to contact them will be met with an ‘out of office’ return email unless it is an emergency. (Dr. Spim is still around, but … he is a cat and doesn’t answer anyway... unless he feels like it.)

That isn’t to say it’s going to be a completely quiet month, of course. Our players have kindly prepared several player plots that anyone is welcome to join. Please refer to the top level here for links to the relevant plots. An updated quest has also been listed here.

Additionally, the Outsiders Program has successfully finished its first year! LILITH will be giving all Outsiders old and new a thank you bonus of 500,000 KRYPTOS (approximately 3230 USD) to spend freely on their holiday. Try not to spend it all on pachinko!

▶ 002. LET IT SNOW.

Starting December 1st, the temperature in Neo Tokyo will take a dive as the country enters into winter. The first signs of snowfall will occur on December 1st, and as it continues, the city will be transformed into a winter wonderland. The shops and restaurants of Neo Tokyo are capitalizing on the approaching festivities, putting up Christmas lights, Christmas trees and decorations. Many stores are having sales on warm clothing and popular gifts. Isn’t it the perfect time to find some nice gifts for your friends?

While only a suggestion, it is encouraged to support the integration of the orphans from Transylvania by taking them out on a winter adventure.

Winter activities found in Neo Tokyo include:

- Christmas Winter Illuminations. Certain parts of the city will be lit up in Christmas lights and holographic, winter-themed illuminations. Stop by at the right time and there might even be a drone show to watch.
- Ice sculpture building. Artists have gathered in Yoyogi Park to showcase their latest ice sculpture creations. Outsiders may view the attraction or join in on the ice sculpture contest. Winners will get prize money.
- Ice-skating. The Yokohama Red Brick Ice Rink is open again and characters are free to go skating with their friends. As a part of its latest attraction, the ice has been fitted with microscopic nanobots that light up when touched, causing the ice to glow or showcase striking colors as people skate across it.
- Playing in the snow. Even under threat of kaiju, the people of Neo Tokyo take the time to have fun when they can. Through the streets, there are people making snow angels or pelting each other with snowballs.

Characters may visit Las Vegas, Kyoto or Okinawa using the data portals. Kyoto and Okinawa continue to be uninhabited, but they can camp there if they wish. They are free to book a hotel and enjoy their holiday in Las Vegas too, where the city will have its own brand of winter activities (winter illuminations, Christmas shows, ice-skating and holiday-themed Vegas shows). While the weather is still cold, it will be snowing in Kyoto but not in Okinawa or Las Vegas.

▶ 003. SNUGGLE UP.

All the lights and festivities happening in the city are putting some strain on the power grid, and this leads to occasional bouts of power failure during the month of December. These seem to be happening in the base and throughout the city of Neo Tokyo, and they last for a few hours each time. With hospital equipment running on back-up generators, it isn’t a huge cause for concern, but it certainly is an annoyance; especially with the weather so cold.

LILITH robots will be offering Outsiders on the base extra blankets (traditional and emergency foil blankets) along with heat packs to get through the cold. Starting a fire within the base will not be allowed since it is a hazard, so those who still need the extra warmth will need to find other creative ways to obtain it. A snuggle never hurt anyone, right? There is one operational fireplace in the Library, and Outsiders may notice an influx of small tables throughout the base with self-serve hot beverages on battery operated kettles, such as tea, hot cocoa & artificial coffee. As Outsiders congregate around the base, snuggled up in their new festive blankets, perhaps now would be a good time for some classic party games such as Never Have I Ever and Two Truths and a Lie.

▶ 004. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.

Dr. Spim takes regular cat naps anyway, so he doesn’t see the need to take a holiday. As a result, he has continued to work tirelessly on finetuning the cure for the vampiric disease. Throughout the month, he will make several requests for volunteers (those with and without the vampiric disease) to participate in the ongoing clinical trials.

The serum he is testing will not cause harm to the body, but it might result in any of the following side effects:

- Dizziness, fatigue and difficulty coordinating movement.
- Fever, chills and a desperate need for warmth.
- Mood changes, which can present as euphoric or depressed or both.
- Hallucinations or delusions.
- Increased hunger, thirst or other physical needs (interpret as you wish.)
- A ravenous need for blood (for vampires.)

Certain volunteers may encounter no side effects at all, while some may experience all of them. Luck of the draw, really. The side effects are not permanent and last for a few hours. As always, Dr. Spim will explain the possible side effects and get consent before administering the medicine.

By the end of the month, a stable cure will be finalized and LILITH robots will deliver it to all those affected by the vampiric disease (if your character was already a vampire, don't worry about it). It is highly encouraged to take the medicine! Dr. Spim has no time to chase down the people refusing to take their medicine, so he might pay some of their friends to do it for him. He is a cat. He has better things to do (such as knock this beaker off the table….)

As an OOC note, please do not let your character remain a vampire unless they are already a vampiric character. The vampire event in Transylvania was meant to only have temporary effect.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third team building event! All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards December AC.

We have a lot of player plots this month, and are using this log to encourage players to participate in the player plots since the event itself is light. As a reminder, the mod team will be taking a break during the month of December and will not be answering any questions at this time.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. WELL DESERVED REST: Outsiders enjoy a quiet month with no kaiju attacks, but are provided plenty of things to do (via player plots) and they are welcome to use the data portal to travel to Okinawa and Las Vegas at this time.

2. LET IT SNOW: Heavy snowfall turns Neo Tokyo into a winter wonderland with many snow related activities to participate in such as ice skating, ice sculpture making, etc. LILITH encourages the Outsiders to allow the misplaced orphans to participate in some of these activities.

3. SNUGGLE UP: The power outages strike again, this time from too many festive lights that overheat the generators. LILITH provides Outsiders with emergency blankets and hot beverages during times of outages.

4. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE: Dr. Spim trial runs an antidote for the vampiric disease that struck Outsiders during their mission in Brasov. He takes volunteers who are both vampires and not. Finally, a cure is made, and all Outsiders are asked to take it (please do not let your character remain a vampire unless they are already a vampiric character.)

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Raidou Kuzunoha XIV | Devil Summoner | Everlight

[the_fourteenth]

▶ 001. LET IT SNOW

[While Raidou has been spending a lot of time travelling back and forth to Okinawa, he's actually more of a cold weather fan. Now that the ice skating rink is open, any free time he can manage to wedge into his schedule is spent there. It's one of the few hobbies he had as a kid, and it's probably his favorite.

If you've never tried it, or you look like you're struggling out on the ice, he'd be willing to help give you some pointers. Any company is welcome, too. You'll also catch him out there racing quickly, and attempting the occasional jumps when the rink is clear enough. He's out of practice since last winter, but agility and speed are Raidou's two greatest strengths. He's a natural out there.]

▶ 002. SNUGGLE UP

[Raidou is dismayed as anyone after returning from work in Okinawa to a base with no heat. Here we go again, like last winter. He's tempted to just go and camp out in Okinawa for the night, but he wouldn't want to leave everyone else to shiver. Since he does a lot of junk shop and thrift store shopping for supplies anyway, he will return to the chilly base with blankets collected from his treasure hunt. He'll be handing them out (after running them through the laundry, of course) to any and all who want one.

Since these are second-hand pickings, you can't afford to be choosy. Raidou might be handing you something weird, or cutsey, or maybe festive. Whatever it is, at least it's free?]

▶ 003. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE

[With everything else Raidou has in his schedule, volunteering for medical trials may have been a bad idea. These side effects are definitely interrupting his day. It's so hard for him to say no to the doctor cat, though.

You'll find him sitting in the cafeteria with several empty plates of food, his shinto studies text next to him as he was attempting to at least read while eating dinner. Instead, he's now sitting there looking at plates with a subtle look of dismay, because even after all of that, he's still hungry. It feels like he hasn't eaten anything at all!

He gets up and clears his place, and returns with two more plates of food, looking no less concerned. And is also really hoping the people sitting nearby him aren't judging him too hard.]

003

[harboredfeelings]

[ Forget whoever's sitting nearby, not too long after he's sat back down Raidou gets himself a visitor. Sitting right next to him, maybe just a little close, thoroughly ignoring her own plate of food to instead peak at the texts he's been failing to study.

Kaga's already a nosey tart by nature but the vampire cure and the weather have her feeling cold and she does not appreciate it. So any excuse to get up close and personal with someone she 1) can actually stand and 2) is pretty sure won't try to hit on her for it is an excuse she'll take... please don't mind the fluffy tails in your space too much, Raidou. ]

Studying, Kuzunoha-kun? How diligent of you.

[the_fourteenth]

[Definitely no hitting on will happen, just mild confusion as she gets a little too close. But you know what? Those tails sure are warm. It's fine for now.]

--Oh. Ah. Yes. There is always a lot to study.

[So many rituals and norito to learn. It's endless.

He'll slide those plates of his to make some room for Kaga, too.]

[harboredfeelings]

[ Thank the Creator! She figures Raidou would be a dependable heat source to syphon off of for a bit!

With room made she moves her own plate in front of herself and picks at it idly, finally taking note of the sheer amount of food Raidou has been going through. ]

Clearly. Looks like you've been here awhile.

[ Because surely all this esting was done throughout the day, right? ... right? ]

Going to be weird if you take over the shrine. Not sure how I feel having someone younger as my boss.

[ Some good natured ribbing! She doesn't actually mind, Kansen are used to ypunger humans being in charge of them. ]

[the_fourteenth]

... No, only about... twenty minutes. [As he checks the time on his implant. He's a little embarrassed by that, considering how much he's managed to eat in that time.

Her other comment is a nice distraction, though, and he smiles lightly.]

If that ever happens, it's a long way away. I still have about a year and a half til I can even take the entry level exams.

[He'll do fine. He studies hard! Raidou takes his training pretty seriously.]

[harboredfeelings]

[ On the one hand Kaga's used to people who can pack it away like that but on the other hand those people have been other shipgirls, not humans. It'd be pretty rude to make a big deal out of it though so she'll just marvel at where he's putting all of it in silence.

Seeing him smile is neat though! He doesn't really... do that a lot in her experience? Granted last time they really talked one on one she'd just finished doing some minor crimes against humanity and everyone was Going Through It™. ]

Hmm, would've thought they'd want to get you through those as fast as possible. It's not like we've got people lining up to work there.

[ She sighs. It actually bums her out how little traffic the shrine gets. Kaga's never been super pious herself but she's keenly linked into spiritualism given what she is. Seeing such a core part of the island's identity slowly forgotten hurts, even if it's in a mirror version of her homeland. ]

Think we'll see more traffic come New Years?

2. Free is free!

[lunarchivist]

[Dan Heng sniffles, miserable but on the tail end of a cold. He takes whatever warm thing is given to him with gratitude. And...maybe some curiosity. His lips quirk up as he holds up the cutesy option...] What sort of creature is this supposed to be, you think?

[He snorts softly, stifling the cough in his elbow that that triggers. He wraps the thick blanket around him, the hood stopping short of his horns. ] Thank you. Are these from your personal store? By when do you want it back? [He needs to be sure to wash it by then; he doesn't know how contagious a cold that can affect him is, and he doesn't want to find out.]

[the_fourteenth]

I, ah, I'm not totally sure. A... rabbit?

[It's a llama. That hasn't occurred to him.]

Oh, no, please keep it. I bought spares for the base.

[As if he has much money left. Raidou keeps spending all his money on his base projects. It's not like his day job helps much either. Student priests aren't exactly rolling in dough.]

... Are you feeling alright?

[Since Dan Heng sounds fairly congested.]

3

[zauneyete]

[ Clouding up a whole section of the cafeteria is the local nastiest man, as always. It's easy to tell when the cafeteria is being... haunted (in a sense) by the man, because it always reeks — at least until the air scrubbers do their job and eliminate the majority of the stench. As it is, he's still... adjusting to the cure. Small consumption of food had already started when someone forced him to take the early trials of the medications, and his fangs have already receeded (annoyingly) but he's still not exactly one for an appetite.

Unlike Raidou, apparently.

Silco tends to, if he is in public, sit by himself, in the darkest corner, and smoke. Very, very occasionally he can be caught munching on a ration bar. Normally, he doesn't even do that. Normally, he just sits in the cafeteria, watching everyone else, occasionally annotating something on a small book he carries in his pocket.

What's in it? Don't worry about it. It's dirt. ]

A bit hungry, are you, boy?

[ He asked, after he gets even more food. ]

I'd almost say you were consuming something you shouldn't.

[ Th — The munchies. He's saying he thinks you have the munchies. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[Silco, please. This kid has no idea what "the munchies" would even reference.

Since what he did was sign up to be a non-vampire control subject in the medical trial, he assumes Silco means that.

Someone should also get Silco a new brand of cigars. As a 1920s kid, people smoking anywhere and everywhere is nothing new to him, but there definitely are ones that smell less toxic out there. It can't possibly taste very good either.]

Ah. I wanted to volunteer, though. For the trial. But, um. I think this has to do with that.

[He looks pretty put out as he picks up his chopsticks to dig in to some more. Should he even be able to physically hold so much food in him? It doesn't make sense. Maybe it's messed with his metabolism. As if this kid needs to be skinnier.]

cw: reference to emeto

[zauneyete]

[ This kid clearly needs to find some friends to cause trouble and go smoke weed with him behind the bleachers already. Learn to have a little rebellion in your life!

(It should be noted, Silco's idea of rebellion was probably something teens shouldn't have. ]

It isn't the first medicine that makes people want to eat. Don't come crying to me when you start expelling it later.

[ So Silco is mean, he is nasty, but he knows what overeating when you're going through a trip does to a person. So he says something in the most unhelpful way possible. Because what was being helpful when you could be horrible instead? ]

Volunteer, really. [ He added, with a curl of his lip. ] Better to save your own time doing something more worthwhile.

[ This might be because he didn't want to be cured. But you know. Petty is as petty does. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[Wait til you find out that about 80% of this kid's life is filled up with combat training, and studying. And to become a priest nonetheless! A shinto priest, at any rate.

At the mention of possible expelling, he only gives Silco a flat look.]

Assisting in the trial is worthwhile. For me.

[Many Outsiders are still stuck as vampires, all these weeks later, including his boyfriend and his bestie. It's the least Raidou feels he could do for them, besides offer up some blood. That option is very limited, though.]

I knew it might not be easy. But this... is a strange side effect.

[What if food isn't enough and he starts craving blood next?]

[zauneyete]

[ He rolled his eyes. ]

Ever the one to pay the price, are you? Even when it is not required?

[ Okay, so maybe he's a little annoyed that the vampirism was going away. Silco might not like to touch people much, or be around people, or anything like that, but he did like the power that came with vampirism. The feeling close to immortality, or something near-it. Perhaps it wasn't really like that here, but in the world he had been before... oh, it had been. There were some things he missed about that horrid world before, the easy power and ability was most of it.

He puffed on his cigar. ]

I suppose you should be thankful this is the only side effect. I've seen trials such as these go... very poorly.

[ hey uh
what does that mean? ]

▶ 001. LET IT SNOW

[blastedass]

[Over the past few weeks, Bakugo's kept up with Raidou in regards to all things botanical. From traveling with him to Okinawa for scouting or tilling in reparation to picking through scrapyards or junk shops for potential material to quiet times in the greenhouse going over flora. As much as the other boy's helped him with his own project, he wants to be there for Raidou to help him as much in his.

However...

This is not about that. This is about paybacks. This is about another element of the past weeks. When the cold came and the water froze and he laced those blades on his feet once more to put practice back into his blood. It's been a fucking YEAR (okay, ten months) since he saw Raidou's back gliding away from him above alternating trails of white. A year since admitting the summoner had bested him. A year since he vowed to take. him. down!

Ice clicks under metal beside the young man and Bakugo slams his hand into his fist, a challenging sneer or a smirk wrenched across his face. Hey, at least the explosive hero looks like he's feeling better.]

Oy, Raidou. [Ooo, serious.] I'm back for a rematch.

[Whether they're at the rink or the frozen pond by the shrine is up to you.]

sorry for the delay. gonna be slow all month cuz of work ;_;

[the_fourteenth]

[And here they had such a pleasant few weeks, working hard and achieving goals! Yet again, competition rears its ugly head. Though Raidou is blissfully unaware until he hears that growling, sneering voice of his friend. Ah yes. He expected this.

Raidou's out on the ice at the new rink, more spacious but also with more patrons. He's skating backwards, going faster than almost everyone else who's going forward. Katskui calling him out gets everyone's attention, not just Raidou's. He slides up around to where Katsuki stands, hands folded behind his back, easy smile on his face.]

Ah. That so? Don't tell me you've been stewing all these months.

no problem! gotta work to eat and live. rl first, rp second.

[blastedass]

[Competition is Katsuki's nature, and he never takes losing to anyone well. Of course this has been eating at him since last winter! Did Raidou really think he was going to get away without the explosive teen wanting another go? He threatened as much as the ice broke up last March.

... oh good, he didn't forget.

Katsuki slams his fist into his palm, head lifted and everything limbered up and ready for their long-overdue rematch. Even during his warm up, he was fired up to see Raidou hadn't lost his edge over the months. Fluidly skating in reverse, outpacing everyone else on the ice, a perfect figure radiating more grace than his usual steel persona gives.

And ever the proper soldier, hands behind and chest straight. Hmph. He leers right back into his friend's easy smile.]

I'm gonna bury you in the ice.

[He has in fact been stewing all these months.]

[the_fourteenth]

You're free to try. But have you had any practice since last year?

[He hasn't either, but it all comes back to Raidou pretty fast once he's back on the ice. He turns to face the other way, with the crowd, and stretches out his arms and shoulders above his head, limbering up himself.]

Three times around. Run into anyone or knock them over, and you're automatically out. What do you think?

001. Let it Snow

[norwegianblade]

[ Sigrun squints a little as she watches the people stake around on the ice rink. She's clearly interested but looks unaware how to approach the entire thing. She mumbles something under her breath.]

Is this some weird way to get the fish closer so you can go ice fishing?

[ ...Wrong sport.

Regardless, she tries to step out onto the ice without stakes. She holds onto the edge of the rink as she watches Raidou do a jump. It's enough to get her attention to at least call out to him.]

Hey! How'd you do that with knives on your shoes?!

[the_fourteenth]

[That's a great phrase to pin down someone as an Outsider immediately. Raidou blinks at her for a moment, before smiling just a hint.]

Practice.

[He nods with his chin towards the rental booth. He's softspoken; it's almost hard to hear him over the din of the crowd on the ice.]

If you'd like to try, you can rent a pair. Though, they call them skates.

[norwegianblade]

[Sigrun has to lean a little bit in order to clearly hear him.]

Well that makes sense, I guess.

[She leans a little further, needing to use the railing a bit to balance. Once she gets the message, she gives a thumbs up and grins. ]

Sounds good!

[It takes a bit for her to come back to the rink again. Getting these 'skates' were one thing... However, once she got them laced up, she found the motions of balancing on practically knives were sending her for a loop. The movement was awkward, feeling more like exaggerated steps or wadding than walking like a person. That is until she made it to the actual rink.

One step was enough for her to feel the slip of the skate, much worse than simply walking on ice.]

Woah!

[ Reflexes are all that save her, holding onto the railing for dear life this time. Is this what it feels like to be a cat that doesn't want a bath and thus grabbing onto the nearest thing like your life depended on it?.... How embarrassing....]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou slides up closer, looking ever so slightly amused. Being out on the ice puts him in a good mood.]

Don't worry. You're not alone.

[He looks towards a few other newbies on the rink who are doing much the same as Sigrun. He delivers his advice with a gentle tone.]

Bend your knees just a little, and look ahead, not at your feet. You'll stay balanced better that way. Okay?

2

[thundercrashes]

[Manjoume sees the options that Raidou has to offer for what he's handing out for blankets here to warm up with, and...]

Why do you even have these? They're so weird...

[Who just gets a lettuce blanket or a photorealistic cow one?]

[the_fourteenth]

[He shrugs a little sheepishly.]

Thrift shops. Pickings are, ah. Slim.

[Up to you, friend. The cow blanket is being offered over.]

At least this one is, um, seasonally appropriate?

[thundercrashes]

[He sighs, before holding out a hand to accept the offer. Cow blanket it is... at least it looks like it provides adequate warmth.]

I guess, but it really makes you wonder, why did someone even think "Oh, you know what this Christmas blanket needs? A large cow's head plastered on it!"

[the_fourteenth]

Perhaps... someone who likes cows, who receives far too many gifts of cows as it is.

[You know how if someone people find out you like one certain thing, say cows in this instance, and then that's all people get you for gifts no matter how numerous or unwanted they may be?]

Ah... their loss is our gain. I guess. Beggars can't be choosers, right? I am glad I was able to find any blankets at all. We're not the only ones without heat.