synflux | TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

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TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's it! Keep up~!

[He teases lightly as they approach the building, tagging the structure just as Vash arrives there, too.] Hell yeah! The friends that suffer icky tastes together, stay together!

[As he hurries on inside, he shakes the snow from his jacket and head, nodding.] Maybe next year - if we're here - we can get some lights and ornaments to make this place more festive. If we all chip in early, it should be doable. Trees and lights and garland... The works!

[Taking off his gloves, he rubs both hands together while they head to the dorm area.] And it LILITH balks at it, we can hold a protest in the hallways, heh.

( Don't worry, he and Hiyori are officially On It in regards to base decorating. )

Man, they'd better not. The stuff they put us through, you'd think they'd be super ready to provide with a little cheer. ( Not that he knew what Christmas was a month ago but hey, if Neo Tokyo's so ready to decorate then clearly they're aware of it. ) The kids have been making decorations at the orphanage though, so maybe I can get them to donate some! That'd be cute, right?

( The snow is now melting on his glasses, so he has to take those off and wipe them with the hem of his compression shirt. ) Man, I didn't know winter was so wet.

[The Festive Squad is a-go!]

Right?? Otherwise at the rate things are going, everyone's going to burnout and then there won't be anyone fit to fight the kaiju... [Christmas may typically be for lovers in Japan, but he likes the international idea of it being a time for family and spreading joy.] Hey, that's a great idea! And maybe we can make some for them, kind of like a gift exchange but for decorations!

[Seeing as how Vash is already holding the toy drive to gather gifts for the kids.] Hehe, it sure is. Some areas don't get cold enough for snow, so it just rains most of the season. Talk about dreary.

Yeah, rain got real old real fast.

( Maybe if the cold didn't make the area around his prosthesis a little achey, then he wouldn't be so bothered. But unfortunately he does not like being wet. Not like a plant at all then.

But they're at his room, and the complaint gets abandoned as Vash opens the door, ushering Yato inside as he flicks on the light. Then he's abandoning his coat - arms bare, but his friend already saw him in the wedding dress so the scars are not quite as problematic - to immediately fish out two glasses, the bottles of booze he's squirreled away. They fill up his arms, and he gives Yato a toothy grin. ) Pull up a pew somewhere, buddy. You wanna try the gross one first or ease ourselves in?

Old and cold. Brr...

[Yato doesn't even have that kind of problem and he still prefers the snow over rain during the winter. It gets so gloomy and slushy when the temperature drops at night.

Though speaking of sopping wet... He slips out of his outer clothes and hangs them up, rubbing his hands together to start warding off the chill. Politely he keeps his gaze on Vash's face rather than his scars, even if he is curious about how his friend got some of the larger ones. If Vash feels like sharing that info, he will. Besides, it's drink time!!] Whichever sounds good to you. We could try the weird one and then rinse our mouths out with the good stuff.

[Taking up a chair, Yato seats himself backwards on it, arms draped over the back while he watches Vash.] Need me to take one of those glasses?

Yeah!

( He brings the glass over, piles the bottles on to the table top with a clunk. The offending bottle gets plucked back up and unscrewed, Vash sniffing it curiously before he pulls a face. ) I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. Most booze doesn't smell good anyway.

( But he's pouring Yato a healthy amount either way, dragging the secondary chair closer so he can sit on it backwards, fill his own and then reach out to clink the glasses together. ) Bottoms up?

[Once they both have a suitable amount of alcohol in their glasses, he reaches out to tap them together, then follows suit by nervously sniffing the liquid inside. It smells... curious, to say the least. Cinnamon is nice, but he's not sure how well it's going to mix with the booze itself.

Well, only one way to find out.] It's all a matter of finding the kind that appeals to you, whether it's wine or spirits or beer.

[Steeling himself, he holds the glass in the air and grins, not without some trepidation.] Bottoms up, and hopefully everything stays down! [Down the hatch it goes!

......and he promptly coughs, covering his mouth with a fist as the liquid burns his throat. When he speaks, his voice comes out in a higher pitched wheeze.] Spicy.

( Oh, it burns. It burns so badly. Vash has to pound his metal fist against his chest, clearing his throat. )

I don't know if it's bad, but I don't think I'll be buying it again. ( Except he's knocking the entire glass back, letting it simmer all the way down. ) Yowch. Hoo-boy.

( A wild little laugh. )

Actually, it feels like it does the trick. Y'want more?

[Is it a good burn? A bad burn?? It's so difficult to tell because it's just scorching. The cinnamon isn't helping, either. Cue more coughing.]

Don't blame ya. It's-- something else, I'll give you that. Think I'll stick to beer rather than these kids' crazy flavorings, y'know? [So he says as he sips some more, snorting in between gulps.] Yeah, buddy. That's the stuff!

[Given the reason they're drinking? He holds out his glass and nods.]

Fill 'er up, man. I'm gonna need every drop I can get.

( Another healthy amount in both, and then Vash is putting the bottle well within reach of the pair of them, slinging an arm over the back of his chair so he can rest his chin on his forearm, watching Yato carefully. )

You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but also sometimes it helps? Or that's what I've heard, I don't really do it much either. ( Another laugh, somewhat sheepish. ) But I think it might be good for you, and also I'm not going to judge. Maybe it'll help that I'm not from your world? Like an impartial observer.

( Though really how impartial can he be when he cares about Yato and Hiyori so much? )

[Ah, booze, what (not so) sweet relief you are during the tough times. And Hiyori wondered why he called it his medicine. With another swig of the stuff and a cough - less so than before - he lets out a long, heavy sigh.]

I said I would, plus I think it's only fair for you to know. But it's hard, yeah? I haven't even told Hiyori what happened. Or anyone... [He mumbles that last part around the lip of his glass as he swallows another mouthful.] ...yeah, you might be right. Keeping it bundled up for a millennia can't be good. And you definitely don't seem like the judging sort.

[At that he offers a smile, swirling the booze around.]

Back home us gods have shinki - divine instruments who are the souls of deceased humans. We give them names that seal their original identities because they're all people who have died under tragic circumstances and can't move on, be it murder or accident or illness. If they were to remember the manner of their death, the weight of it would turn them into an ayakashi. A monster of despair and negativity.

[Here he takes a breather to pour a little more drink and sip at the stuff, peering at Vash.]

( He listens attentively, expression careful only when he is not sipping the terrible alcohol. At least it warms him up from the inside out, gives him something to focus on while Yato talks. A lot of it sounds a little fantastical, but that makes sense. He's from a place where gods exist. He is a god. So spirit instruments makes sense, so too do monsters. )

Wait, didn't you say something about Hiyori and an ayakashi?

( Hadn't Vash been drunk, maybe? He's been so busy. )

[Is it any wonder that even in his own world, there are those who don't believe he is a god? The world of the Far Shore is so different from that of the mortal realm - the Near Shore, one can hardly be blamed for finding it tough to grasp. Even more so when someone is from a different world. Nodding, Yato sips at the vodka.]

Yeah. Hiyori's a special case, technically a half-human, half-ayakashi due to an accident. Her soul got knocked out of her body, so if she falls too much into despair, she could begin crossing over to become a complete ayakashi.

Or that's how it was when she was younger. I think my future self managed to fix that problem at the cost of her memories of me.

[Hence why she has over a year-long gap in her memories from ten years ago, when she was a teenager. It's... complicated.]

How much despair are we talking? Does it have to be a specific trigger? Is her fighting kaiju dangerous for her?

( It's a lot of questions, but she's his friend too and he worries about her as much as he would those he's close to back home. The idea of anything terrible happening to her fills him with a specific kind of dread, and now he needs to know how to be on the lookout. )

Wait, she remembers you now, right?

Like, I think what they did to her at Brasov would've triggered it if it was still a problem. Fighting kaiju should be fine, though, I know our failure against the Imugi took its toll on her, too...

[He totally understands Vash's concerns about Hiyori and is hopefully reassuring him that if these past months haven't caused her to cross over, then not much would. It'd probably take something happening to him to be a true risk.]

Yeah! Her memory of that year a decade ago is still a bit fuzzy in places, but she recalls most of what went down. ...I just hope she doesn't end up remembering all of it...

You're probably right.

( But the rest is a little curious, so Vash tips his head to one side like a quizzical bird, drinks more of his attrocious alcohol. ) Why? Did something bad happen? Is this anything to do with what you were talking to me about?

[While the subject remains on Hiyori, Yato finds himself unable - or unwilling - to drink. Like all his focus is on her. He does stare at the liquid, though, thoughtfully.]

Something bad, yeah, but different. I don't know all the details since she's from a time after me, but-- if she has gaps in her memories then that means I must have cut our ties. And the only reason I would do that is if... her life was in danger. Not just in danger, but...

[He doesn't have to say it, right? Vash understands, hopefully? That only if Hiyori came close to flat out dying would he give up their relationship.]

Sometimes you have to hurt people to keep them alive.

( Usually it's running away for him. )

Even if it means taking something away from them, right? Even if it means removing yourself. ( He sighs, but it's bittersweet and full of understanding. ) So, did meeting here bring her memories back? Or is it something you might figure out in the future?

So I'm finding out. I wish that wasn't the case, though.

[For both of them. They deserve to be with those they care about.]

...I'm sure you've been there and experienced that, huh? [The smile he offers is one of sympathy. He knows what it's like to leave those you care about behind; he did the same before coming here.] I think she said she met me again just before arriving. So... it's not like I'll never see her again. I just. Have to be patient.

[For ten years. Not long for a god, but long enough to hurt.] I'm just grateful she's okay, yeah? That's all I can ask for. [Scratching at his nose, he grins sheepishly.]

But I was going to tell you about Sakura, wasn't I? Got kinda distracted there, sorry.

Yeah, but you can tell me about whatever you want to, Yato. It's all good, I don't mind the detours we take to get there.

( He really does mean it when he offers himself up as a sympathetic ear. It helps him a little too, draws him out of his own thoughts enough to focus on someone else. )

Sakura. Is she the woman you were talking about before? The one you -. ( At that, he trails off uselessly. But there's still care when he looks at his friend. ) What happened?

Heh, thanks, Vash. I know I've said it before, but you really are a great guy. Don't ever let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

[Because only a true friend would listen to the rambling about a tragedy that happened a thousand years ago. Most people would probably say he should've gotten over it by now, but the fact is the wound is still as fresh as if it occurred in recent memory.]

...yeah. [That's all he can manage, nodding before he downs the rest of his drink and pouring more. Liquid courage, that.] She was my first personal shinki, who came to me asking for a name so that she would be taken care of and protected. She taught me about human morality, good and bad, how to help people instead of hurt them, and to do things for others without asking anything in return.

She was something between an older sister and a mother, I think. She was... special. So kind and compassionate. I-- I loved her with all my heart. In way I never had with my sister or father.

( A divine instrument, the soul of somebody dead. Vash tries really hard to frame it in a way he understands, which really just makes it seem less impactful, more normal, grounded. One day he might understand the scale. Or maybe he doesn't need to. Looking at Yato it feels like a very human hurt. )

She sounds nice. ( She sounds like Rem. Vash never had his brother's zeal for religion but even he had always thought there was something divine too about the woman that raised them. ) Did something change?

[It's definitely something most folks struggle to understand, the bond between shinki and god. He's simplifying it for the sake of trying to keep things brief, but the connection they share is a strong one. Something humans tend not to be able to grasp completely. At least he can convey how important she was - and is still - to him.]

She was. One of the kindest people I've ever known. [Which makes her fate all the more cruel.] Yeah. She was my secret. I knew my dad wouldn't approve, so I never told him about her. But I think he knew - or my sister told him. Either way, my sister let slip about the God's Greatest Secret: a shinki's human name. She convinced Sakura to beg me to reveal it to her, and despite my entire being screaming for me not to... I did.

[Here, his hands start to shake, trembling so hard the alcohol sloshes around in his glass as he dips his head in shame.]

Telling her what her name was lead to all her memories flooding back, breaking her shinki name and turning her into an ayakashi immediately. A monster. She was in so much pain... All I could do was... kill her.

( At the first sign of a tremble Vash leans forward, flesh and blood gloved hand over Yato's wrist. ) Hey. I know I don't get all the particulars, but it doesn't sound like you wanted any of that to happen. Someone asked you for something and you gave it to them, and when it hurt them in the end you helped put an end to it. If she was kind then she wouldn't want to be a monster, and you absolutely didn't want to hurt her, I can hear that.

( He doesn't know if there's a cure for someone turning into an ayakashi, he's not going to ask. That would cause more harm than good, and he knows all about having to act in the moment. ) You didn't do it on purpose. It sounds like it was a situation out of your control. Your sister - did she know what would happen?

[At least the feel of Vash's hand on him helps calm Yato somewhat. Not enough to cease quivering completely, but enough to allow him to breathe again.] No... I didn't. And I was young - just a kid. But still... I should've known better-- I knew better, and still I...

[Hastily, he scrubs at his eyes with the back of his hand, hoping to hide the tears before they can escape. He already feels like a weak fool for needing to get all this off his chest after a millennia. No need to make things even more awkward.] ...she might have. Maybe not. But Hiiro was always strange. Disconnected from emotions, always smiling. She did what dad told us to, without a shred of remorse.

I can't blame her, though. It's just who she is. It was my fault. My mistake.

▶ 001. WELL DESERVED REST.

▶ 002. LET IT SNOW.

▶ 003. SNUGGLE UP.

▶ 004. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

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