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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Comments

[photosympathies]

( 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?

[intertwinedfates]

[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.

[photosympathies]

I think you did your best in a bad situation.

( From what he can parse of Yato's family situation, it sounds just as complicated as Vash's own, just as toxic. He knows what it's like to get backed into a corner like that. ) Helping Sakura in the end, making sure she was at peace, that sounds like all you could do. A kindness. You didn't want to. It's not the same, and if she cared about you like you say she wouldn't want you to suffer for it, you know? Isn't that what a mom does?

( Another squeeze of his hand, a patting, Vash pulling away. )

You're not a bad guy.

[intertwinedfates]

Sometimes your best isn't good enough, though, y'know...?

[Even if he was a child, he should've listened to his instincts. Should've kept his mouth shut. But he trusted his sister and Sakura's begging got to be too much. He was weak. He's still weak to this very day.] Y-Yeah... I know she wouldn't. She was too kind to wish that upon anyone, even the person who turned her into a monster. I just wish--

[Things could've been different. He can't help thinking Vash would've loved her, too. Smiling softly, he scrubs at his eyes again.]

Thanks, Vash... You don't know how much it helps to hear that.

[photosympathies]

Even if you think you should have been better then, you're still trying your best now, right? You're a different god entirely, even! ( If he's picking up the correct things on how that goes. ) You've changed. And you meant well. I really believe that, Yato.

( And he isn't stupid, he sees the parallels here. It's why he's sure no matter what he says his friend will still blame himself for it, even if it's just a little. So he downs the rest of his drink in one go, fills both their glasses back up, takes a deep breath. )

I'm the reason Rem died. I'm the reason a lot of people died. I'm actually the reason the rest are all stuck on a barren planet too. ( A faint edge of hysteria there, before he takes another mouthful to drown it down. ) So I get it. I really do. It's hard to shake it off, and sometimes it feels like no matter what you do, or how far you go, or who you save you'll never pull yourself from that very first thing. But we have to try, right? And we deserve to? I think you do, anyway. And I'm working on the rest for myself.

[intertwinedfates]

[There's no denying what Vash is saying, even if his first instinct is to raise objections. Besides, it's difficult to keep being hard on himself when someone - Vash - believes in him so much.] Heh... Maybe you're right. I could very well be a different god from what I was back then. I know I've changed multiple times over the years. [From being innocently sadistic to kind to coldhearted and back again.] It certainly wasn't my intention to ever hurt her, y'know...?

[Never Sakura. Though the fact still stands that he killed her twice over. Nothing will be able to change that, though perhaps he can come to accept it more. Flashing Vash a grateful smile at the refill, he behaves himself by merely sipping his drink.]

...you are? That's so hard to believe, unless it was just people getting caught in the crossfire between you and your brother. [At the mention of a barren planet and Vash's panic, he reaches out with his free hand to grip his friend by the forearm of his flesh and blood limb.] Heh, Hiyori was right. You really do understand, don't you... You're also right about us needing to try our best to reach a kind of peace we deserve. Because I know if I deserve happiness and redemption, so too do you. You have so much love to give, it shouldn't be squandered on regrets and sadness.

[photosympathies]

I know, and I think anyone else who knows you would also be aware of that. You're not a bad guy, sometimes bad things just happen. And it's what we do now that matters, right?

( He appreciates the touch, it's steadying. It means he smiles when he breathes in, lets out a sigh. ) It was something like that, yeah. And I don't want to let go of my part in it, I think it's what makes me try so hard now. But I also know that there's nothing I can do, and beating myself up about it won't help anyone.

( It's entirely possible he'll go back on that thought once or twice from hereon out, but the attempt is the important part. )

I do really like people. I've made so many friends here, and it's nice to not have to leave anyone behind because I'm afraid. It feels good to stick around, put down roots. ( He laughs a little at that, a small heh of sound. ) I don't know, it's right to keep doing that, you know?

[intertwinedfates]

I'm sure there's plenty of people who'd argue that I was, but... These days I try not to be the bad guy. So yeah. All we can do is move forward regardless of our past mistakes.

[They really are in the same boat, aren't they? It's... comforting, knowing he's not the only one who's gone through similar circumstances.] Mmm. Embracing our previous mistakes and keeping them close to our hearts while continuing to move forward is the best way we can honor those we've lost, I think.

[Even should they stumble along the way, it's fine. Everyone struggles and has moments of weakness. It's what makes them people, truthfully.]

I'm so glad you can finally do that, y'know? It's important to have somewhere secure and safe to rest when things get tough, to know there's people you can count on for support. [He knows, due to never having had it himself, either. So he smiles warmly at Vash, thumping him lightly on the shoulder.] I think so. So long as you're doing your best for yourself and others, that's the part that counts.

[photosympathies]

Safe.

( It makes him smile a little. He's sure not many people would find a place where they're under the whim of a shadowy organisation in a world besieged by monsters somewhere safe. Maybe it says more about Vash and Yato that it feels it. But that's fine. He doesn't care too much about that. He's just glad he finds it to be so. )

Look at us! Hiyori would be proud, right? And just, any time you need to vent, or you need someone to look at the hard things with you, then you can absolutely call on me. I'll even make sure to have better booze.

[intertwinedfates]

Well, safer than being out there, yeah?

[Better than the people of Brasov were, having to resort to sacrificial ceremonies in order to live. It's one of those cases where everything is subjective. And honestly, it's slightly better than his own situation back home, where whenever he went out, ayakashi were always trying to eat him.]

I think so! We'd probably be praised for being good boys, heh. [At least, he'd want to be, haha...] Hey, the same goes for you, yeah? You can always hit me up, anytime, day or night for an ear or hell, even a hug if that's what you need. We'll have a drink one way or another and talk it out, yeah?

[photosympathies]

Yeah!

( A smile, more real than his usual disarming ones, softer around the edges. ) I'm really glad I met you, Yato. You're a good guy, and a great friend, and I'm really happy you and Hiyori get a second chance here. You two deserve the best life can offer.

( At least he can live vicariously through them, right? That's allowed. )

[intertwinedfates]

[Ah... it's so nice to finally see Vash beginning to honestly and truly relax for once. To know that he doesn't have to wear a forced smile all the time.]

You and me both, y'know? But thanks-- we're grateful for this chance, too, and hopefully you can find the same opportunities here as well. I want you to be just as happy as us! So if there's ever anything I can do for you, you'll let me know, I hope.

[Whether it's help in match-making or just getting out on the town for a night, he's here to be a bro.]

[photosympathies]

You got it.

( He gives Yato a cheerful set of fingerguns, rocking back on his chair with a new energy, a delighted laugh. ) Though maybe not all the same opportunities. You and Hiyori can corner the market on romance.

( His newly discovered feelings for Wolfwood remain well wedged behind his ribs, he doesn't know if he wants to examine them yet. Or even if he should. There's little point now the man himself is no longer here. ) But anything else and I know who to call! Don't worry. You're never getting rid of me now.

[intertwinedfates]

[Ah, somebody else who loves fingerguns! Vash gets the gesture right back at him, with Yato grinning like a loon on top of everything.] Hey, you never know! Don't sell yourself short or close your heart to possibilities you haven't even seen yet! You might discover someone new here before you know it!

[Even if Yato has to play matchmaker himself. He's planning on it for Ereshkigal, so why not Vash, too? Both his friends deserve all the happiness in the world, and it's his job as God of Fortune to see to it!!] You got it! Just like you ain't getting rid of me, either. I'm in your corner now, buddy, and I'm staying there rooting for ya!