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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[Godzilla taking the hit is a bit of a surprise, and his momentum is used against Raidou as he's hit with the headbutt.

The sword comes out along with him as he staggers back with a grunt. It doesn't hurt Raidou as much as it might have otherwise, thanks to his nanotech, but it's still a bit disorienting when you're not expecting it. He only has enough time to block the overhead attack with an arm, taking the punch to the chest. That nanotech keeps a skinny thing like him from collapsing in a heap from that hit, but it hurts nonetheless, and he lets out a groan though clenched teeth.

He's furious now, too worked up to fight fair either. With his arms occupied, in order to get some distance between them, Raidou gives his opponent a fierce kick to the stomach.]

[ In his eagerness to follow up Godzilla gets hit square on by the kick, the packed snow under foot serving to send him sliding a good few feet away to give both combatants some room to breath. The big guy coughs and fixes Raidou with a glare, snorting smoke out his nostrils. ]

Fuck. This.

[ He cursed. Godzilla actually cursed.

He hasn't been taking this nearly seriously enough. Raidou isn't holding back, combining this with the enhancements LILITH has given the boy makes trying to fight him like a "human" a fool's errand. If the boy is giving it everything then Godzilla will too. This place is abandoned enough, he won't shackle himself down any longer.

The unsightly sound of cracking bone and unknitting and reknitting flesh fills the air in a way Raidou's witnessed once before. The man in front of him starts to grow from seven to a full ten feet, his skull contorts, his face widens into a reptilian snout. The spines that erupt from his back start to pulse pink in full threat display, the light leaking from Godzilla's eyes and gills as he straightens himself to his full height and shakes out his body.

This is better. He feels exhilarated as he slams his tail down onto the ground and lets out a growl. He has his tail, his elbow spikes, his claws, his teeth. Every weapon in Godzilla's arsenal is now at his disposal, alongside his odachi which is now more proportional to his body. So much so he switches it to a single handed grip, transferring it to his left hand and spinning it experimentally. His other hand beckons Raidou with an almost taunting motion. ]

Come. Let us battle as our true selves. Do not hold back.

[Raidou stands back, sword held defensively in front of him as the transformation takes place. He's not letting his guard down for a moment.

He's fought things bigger and scarier than this. Things that threatened the very fabric of his city and his world. The stakes here were not so high. This is a battle that's meant to be savored, instead. The fact that Godzilla had to stop to revert to his true self is an encouraging sign to Raidou that he's on track to winning this. That he's showing his opponent just how strong and capable he truly is. Godzilla wanted to see that rage and passion from within this kid, and he's getting it.

Raidou's true self is just that, with the downside of being too reckless. He's never concerned with his own safety, even in a personal battle like this one without others to protect. When Godzilla tells him to not hold back, a grin flashes briefly across his face as he rushes the kaiju again. Look at all the weaponry his opponent has to bring just to fight him, a teenage boy with a sword.

In this form, Godzilla is a bigger target, but he's going to be harder to hurt, and his weapon only has a longer reach now. A challenge, to be sure. His best bet is to move faster than Godzilla can keep up with. Although there's a tail to contend with, his plan to move to Godzilla's back for attacks. Or so it seems, anyway. In the long run, his plan is to keep moving around his larger opponent, feinting and dodging attacks while making shallower ones himself. A plan to tire out and confuse his enemy as to where he might go next, and use that to his advantage to find an opening.]

[ That brief flash of a grin across Raidou's face is answered with an amused rumble of a chuckle before the battle begins again in earnest.

Godzilla isn't foolish. He knows what he looks like to others in his true majesty, a lumbering reptilian beast. A creature more of raw power than speed or grace, while this is somewhat true, he's definitely not as agile on land as he is in the ocean, it's still a misjudgment. The big guy went and killed an entire uninvolved Titan so he could evolve past that lumbering form, he's plenty agile now!

When Raidou moves to his side Godzilla lashes out with a warning swing of his blade, though he doesn't turn to follow the human's movements. His back is mostly protected by his dorsal spines, a thrust could potentially find the spaces between them sure, but any movement to get that close would be one he could exploit, so he's not very worried about that. His opponent must surely be looking for an opening whilst distracting him...

The Titan gives that opening to Raidou. He begins to turn more to his left, bringing his right arm over in the movement, leaving his entire right side fully open to attack. It's a trap. If Raidou takes the bait he'll find that pulled back right arm being swung his way, the sharpened spike on Godzilla's elbow aimed right for him. ]

[Raidou is a keen fighter, but he also is a reckless one. Much like Godzilla taking a shot to the shoulder, Raidou takes the hit from the elbow once he sees it's too late to dodge it. It hits him in the gut with a sharp noise coming from Raidou, a hit that would have done him in without his nanobots. Even with them, it hurts like hell, and manages to pierce him. However, he holds on, wrapping one arm above Godzilla's elbow to hold on to him instead of being knocked away. With the other, he brings his sword up, and twists his wrist around to drive the sword right into the joint as hard as he can, with a gutteral grunt.

... Or at least, that was the plan. He brings the sword down, and suddenly, his arm stops. The sword hits the scales, and should have gone through, but it seems LILITH's technology has decided that this fight is starting to go a little far. Raidou's arm shakes, and is taken by surprise as this has never happened to him. He's never fought an Outsider in earnest like this.

It's just a moment before he tries to let go and get that spike out of his stomach for Godzilla to make a move.]

[ Feeling the sword connect with his scales Godzilla braces for the pain of metal biting into muscle and flesh, but it never comes. He doesn't question why, questioning is something he's rapidly losing the capacity for. His enemy is holding onto him and just attempted a very serious blow, instinct is rapidly taking over for the big guy.

He drops his own sword so as to grab onto Raidou's shoulder, attempting to hold him in place so he can finish this in one decisive blow. Godzilla's mouth opens, sharp teeth fully on display, an angry hiss issuing forth as he moves to bite Raidou's head and--

Nothing. He winces as the implant delivers a jab of pain in response to his intent. Too far for LILITH's liking, he was about to turn things lethal. At least the pain isn't crippling like its been when he tried to blast Ratio those... last two times... anyway.

He rolls with it, attempting to pull Raidou in and lock the boy up in a headlock or bear hug. If he wants to hold onto Godzilla so badly then he'll get his wish. ]

[ It's no secret to Ratio that Godzilla has been visiting the children. It isn't as if the Kaiju has been making it a secret, most likely to exert his authority as a 'king' and attempt to rile the scholar up. However, Ratio isn't known for his intelligence for nothing. While it does prick at his pride, logic dictates that this might actually favour all involved parties. The kids are looked after by someone who, while having declared his desire to see them dead, had (after a day or two of observation) no intention of doing the deed himself, and Godzilla eventually learns to have faith in them.

Sure, it put him on edge to allow the kaiju so close to them, but it's for that reason that he's had a drone monitoring their every interaction.

So the altercation between Raidou and Godzilla does not go unnoticed. And when the two of them leave the premises, Ratio knows trouble is going to follow. Abandoning his work, he briskly makes his way towards the location his drone has indicated. Fighting in an abandoned lot of apartments and not in the simulation area as they'd been advised to previously? LILITH would not punish them lightly if this went any further.

He enters the clearing just as Raidou makes a serious attempt on Godzilla's elbow. As he hurries his stride, Godzilla attempts to trap Raidou in a squeeze. Not good. A mental command to his drone has it swooping down towards them and begin emitting a shriek resembling an imugi's cry. Something to draw their attention towards his direction without adding himself to the battle. ]

That's enough! Cease the fight at once!

[Raidou was in the process of readying his sword as best he could at this angle, in case he needed to stab Godzilla's face if it continued to get too close. When his opponent's attack also fails, he starts using his nanotech-backed strength to try and pry himself loose from the kaiju's grip as he's grabbed around the neck.

That's when he hears the unmistakable and perplexing sound of an imugi. Hard to see while being clamped in a headlock, he hears who's interrupting which he isn't happy about. Logic hasn't fully come back to him quite yet, though.

He says nothing, and does not drop his weapon. Not as long as Godzilla has Raidou within his grasp, restricting both his movement and his breathing. If he doesn't let go thanks to Raidou trying to pry his arm off, the swordsman will make a move to stab whatever he can reach.]

[ Beginning to run on instinct as he is Godzilla's reaction to a call he knows belongs to an enemy is instant. He lets go of Raidou and turns to face the threat, stepping forward to put himself between Raidou and the attacking kaiju, his spines aglow, a deep breath taken to answer back with his roar.

That breath goes out in a confused huff as he sees not an Imugi but Ratio and his drone. And in that second of confusion Raidou's got a perfect opportunity to stab Godzilla right in the back! If he does the big guy will answer with an angry tail swipe. Either way he throws a side glare at Raidou and growls angrily. ]

Vexing... Did you make call for your ally, Summoner?

[ Good, he's got their attention. Ratio maintains a respectable distance from the pair, arms crossed and frowning. ]

I chose to intervene of my own volition, because, as I'm quite sure you are aware, LILITH does not take kindly to Outsiders utilizing their abilities in their petty squabbles. Or do you desire even worse punishment, Godzilla?

[ Ratio glances over at Raidou as he speaks, both checking to ensure the young man isn't greviously wounded and to try to dissuade him from doing anything with a look. ]

[Godzilla's shift into defense mode doesn't go unnoticed. Interesting. Now that he's freed, he takes a moment to catch his breath, still holding his sword defensively, pose hunched, as he responds to Godzilla's question.]

No. This is just between us.

[He shoots Ratio a baleful glare for interrupting, but the fight was going to be hobbled due to LILITH's interference anyway. Raidou doesn't take the free shot to Godzilla's back; summoners might not be the world's most honorable fighters, but this was also a duel more than a fight against an enemy. He knows where to draw the line.

Before Raidou can take another action, he coughs. Sure enough, there's blood, thanks to the hit with the spike to his stomach. It's fine. His nanobots will take care of it. Eventually.]

[ The information both improves Godzilla's mood and worsens it, he's not thinking any less of Raidou on one hand but on the other Ratio has once again managed to make himself a target for the titan's ire. ]

Bah! You have no sense for matters of battle, feckless academic. I have only made use of my full strength, as Young Radiou has, to do any less would be an insult.

[ That's the first time in awhile he's called Radiou that, that's what getting Godzilla's respect back earns you.

The big guy straightens his posture and rests his sword up across his shoulder, a mistake. The weight has him growling in pain as he puts pressure on the slash Raidou placed there, Godzilla hasn't noticed until now but he's bleeding quite a bit from there.

He doesn't really care. He turns from Ratio and diverts his attention back to Radiou. ]

Our contest shall continue, yes? Your ally's empty braying is little obstacle.

[ So they're going to ignore him, hm? He would normally be quite content to let them continue bickering and suffer the consequences of doing so, but said consequences are too great to be worth the lesson. Raidou and Godzilla both will suffer serious injuries if allowed to continue.

But if they keep ignoring him, then they can only blame themselves. He'll make at least one more attempt before he considers it a lost cause. ]

Raidou, disengage. There is little point in inviting LILITH's ire upon yourself. The children will be fine. His interactions with them do not go unmonitored.

[ Surely Raidou will listen to reason, right? ]

[Ratio isn't exactly someone Raidou is thrilled to see at the moment; much like with Godzilla, the accident attack against him went pretty badly. Not that Raidou blames anyone for doing so after he hurt them. He stays defensively posed, especially since his injured, eyes darting from one to the other. He does want to finish this fight, but can that actually happen?]

LILITH's safeguards render it pointless. We can't fight at full strength. We'll have to settle this another way.

[Perhaps in the sim, even if Godzilla isn't a fan of it.

Reluctantly, keeping his cold eyes on both parties, Raidou takes a moment to clean his blade against a pants leg before returning it into his gloves.]

[ For a moment Godzilla looks like he's about to throw something, or charge someone, or blast someone with his breath. He's fuming, smoke literally bellowing out of his mouth. It's not even Radiou refusing to continue the fight, it's what Ratio said. He isn't unmonitored?! Has the hateful little human been spying on him?! ]

𐏂𐎧𐎨𐎽 𐎨𐎽 𐎭𐎮𐏂 𐎮𐎵𐎤𐎱.

[ He spits the words out in the dead cuneiformic language, shooting Ratio a hateful glare, but he recognizes a pointless continuation when he sees it.

Once more it's the cracking of bones and uncomfortable movement of, well, scales this time, as he changes back into his human form. Away goes the tail, into his back sink his spines, his snout shortens, scales turn to flesh, ten feet of height squishes down to seven. This is one of the moments the style upgrade comes in handy, since by the time he's human again he's also fully clothed thanks to the nano-machines.

His jaw's a little... off hinged though. A situation he has to fix manually by grabbing the side and just kinda, snapping it into place with a grunt of pain. Transformation complete he returns his own blade into his gloves, crossing his arms and goes back to pointedly ignoring Ratio. ]

Very well. Name a method and time, Young Raidou. I shall gladly meet under the circumstances of your preference.

[ Did Godzilla seriously expect him to leave the children unsupervised after the kaiju declared his wish for their death so candidly? It's honestly more surprising that Godzilla hadn't suspected Ratio was monitoring him at all.

Godzilla's glare doesn't phase him, nor do the words he utters. At this point, he's accepted that their relationship is one that will never be mended, because it is unlikely Godzilla will ever think of him favourably even if he should regain his hope in humanity. An acceptable sacrifice if it means the kaiju learns to be better.

It is a bit of a shame though, because that transformation is fascinating to observe. From the looks of it, it was a true transformation of the body. How, he wants to ask. What does it feel like? But alas, he is no friend of Godzilla's.

He stays silent, opting to observe the proceedings now that his main objective has been accomplished. ]

[Ah, the ol' Ratio silent treatment. Raidou's been here. His gaze finally stays to Godzilla for a moment.]

... We'll discuss later.

[Since this is a private matter.]

But the sim will have t--

[He coughs again, his body reminding him that he's pretty injured and maybe shouldn't be talking right now. Time to get this patched up. He wipes the blood from his mouth with a sleeve, as if it were only a minor inconvenience anyway, and starts to head out of the grounds, to where he parked his motorcycle near the orphanage. Hoping to avoid the kids, as they might get upset seeing him in such a state.]

[ It looks like Godzilla's elbow blade went in deeper than he thought. The big guy follows after Raidou a respectful distance, taking off his hammerspace gloves as they go and replacing them in his pockets. ]

You are whole enough to make use of the cycling motor?

[ Motorcycle. MOTORCYCLE. Come on Godzilla you even have one yourself...

Still ignoring Ratio entirely, rip. ]

[ Satisfied that the conflict has been resolved for the time being, Ratio does not follow them. Instead, he opts to send his drone after them, placing it high in the sky and activating a camouflage so that it goes unnoticed by the pair.

There was no more need for him to be further involved. ]

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TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

▶ 001. WELL DESERVED REST.

▶ 002. LET IT SNOW.

▶ 003. SNUGGLE UP.

▶ 004. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

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cw: body horror transformation

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cw horror body...

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