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

[soft_shelled]

[He harumphs, as in he literally says "harumph" when he does it. Crossing his arms over his plastron, not that she'll see it what with the blankets in the way.]

So what if I did?

[wwtd]

[ but she can imagine it, which only turns her expression a bit more amused. ]

Then you did and that's that. [ waves a hand!! ]

It makes it more personable, I think? Or maybe expressive. Masks are usually used to hide your identity.

It makes me think of those famous wrestlers or... like a hero.

[soft_shelled]

I didn't do it for any of those reasons! [He did it when he was like, nine. So probably just to look cool/different from his brothers.]

... And yeah? My family are heroes. We saved the world twice.

[Just not saying that it was kind of their fault the world was in peril in both situations. What with the family duty with the Shredder and then the whole thing with the Key and Leo and the Krang... Not anything Donnie will talk about or dwell on though!]

[wwtd]

[ o-oh?

"why'd you do it?" doesn't get past her lips.

hiyori wants to believe it. those that are brought here are usually pretty special. it makes her being here an ENIGMA but she has supportive friends. ]

... With you here we should have no problem saving this world then, huh? Third time's the charm.

[ yet her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes as they've dropped to the floor. A MOMENT LATER!! ]

I'm going to keep guessing unless you tell me to stop. Why'd you draw them? Did you do it when you were little and it's permanent marker?

[soft_shelled]

[Donnie is bad with reading people, so Hiyori's smile not reaching her eyes doesn't even register with him. Also;]

That might be harder than you think, I'm the only one from my family here.

[There might be a slight tinge of sadness in his words, but it's dashed aside when she keeps picking at his eyebrows.]

It's fabric marker, to be exact. [Still not telling her why he did it.]

[wwtd]

[ it's been pretty difficult as it is.

unlike donnie, hiyori is pretty good at reading people. he just got here and he's the only one? he must be lonely. on Christmas, too.

she ALSO notices he's not telling her. nor is he telling her to stop. ]

Aha! So, it is permanent! [ GOT ONE. ] But that fades over time and those are pretty crisp eyebrows.

[ on fleek. from one thing to the next with hiyori: ]

Do you celebrate Christmas?

[soft_shelled]

That's because I had to get a new mask, I didn't come in with one.

[He's a horrible liar, so no point lying about the state of his mask(s). But yes, the holidays. Kind of a weird subject?]

I mean, kind of? Not anything like what everyone around here is doing... So many parties.

[Donnie does not do parties, moreso when he doesn't know anyone at said parties.]

[wwtd]

[ so he went out of his way after getting here to get a new one and drew on it. he called himself close to a yokai.

she's getting

a vibe but she doesn't know him well enough to start prying. not yet, anyway. ]

Not a fan of parties?

[soft_shelled]

[Look, he looks ridiculous without the mask. So of course he had to replace it asap.

He gives a dismissive wave at her asking him that about parties.]

You don't really go to many when you look like this, and live in the sewers.

[wwtd]

[ hey, man, whatever makes you comfortable we ain't here to judge

maybe he doesn't look like an average human, but who cares? because he helped save the world. TWICE. he's good in hiyori's book. ]

That doesn't make sense.

[ all of this makes her a bit incredulous. maybe a bit miffed. maybe a bit sad. like, does he CHOOSE to live in the sewers? or - ]

You're a hero and if you're telling me you're treated like an outcast...

[soft_shelled]

Because mutants aren't normal.

[He sees nothing wrong with it, really. It's just how things are.]

And no one knows we saved the world, which is fine. Better than the alternative.

[wwtd]

So? Normal things aren't always good. And some not-normal things are good. It's about giving them a chance.

[ she's passionate about this!! and can't really believe what she's hearing. ]

What's... the alternative?

[soft_shelled]

Oh you know, in a government lab. Being tested and dissected.

[Nothing good, basically.]

Or being a weapon, which is what we were originally mutated to be.

[wwtd]

[ this is not

christmas talk.

you've done it now, hiyori. WE'RE IN IT NOW, HIYORI. after the initial shock and disgust (not with him, with the government) fades from her face, she takes a deep breath. ]

What do you want to be? That's the important part.

[ she knows humans that turn into weapons for gods. she knows those war gods. she's met so many people that live and survived in horrible circumstances. ]

[soft_shelled]

[This is so far from Christmas talk! Not that Donnie minds it, his expression is flat in face of her one of disgust. What does he want to be though, well, that's not exactly something he's considered.

So there is a brief look of surprise on his face at being asked that, but it's gone as fast as it came.]

Just myself, which is to work on my projects and be left alone. But that's not how life works.

[wwtd]

[ christmas talks? nah, REAL TALKS. ]

... I guess not. We were brought here.

[ hiyori says quietly, but still loud enough to be heard. there are things you have to do, sure, whether you like it or not. which, really, makes it all the more important to do what you want. where you can. ]

But I don't think you're asking life for much. You should still be able to do those things, for the most part, if you want to do them. You'll find a way. I mean, um, if you want to be left alone now...? I can -

[ and yet hiyori doesn't MOVE. ]

[soft_shelled]

Apparently it is a lot, my family doesn't exactly let me be alone for long.

[Which he might complain about it, but he likes his family. Even if they can be annoying at times.

As to being left alone now, well.]

I was going to my room to sleep, brumation is a pain after all. So you can do what you want.

[wwtd]

[ so he DID mean alone, alone.

such is family. when he says that, she smiles at him with some sympathy. that's not asking LIFE that's asking your FAMILY. difference there.

brumation...? like hibernation, right?? ]

Ah. Oh, okay, then um. Here. [ shuffling through those gift bags, hiyori picks one that has holiday treats and the like inside. ]

If you want, you can have this. And could I drop off water bottles outside your door or something? That way you know it's from me.

[soft_shelled]

[Her train of thought on brumation is kind of right, but right now Donnie is just...

Head tilt at her offering.]

Hot water bottles aren't really efficient, I should get a heat lamp but with the power going out like it has been... That's not a viable option either.

[He is going to, kind of hesitantly, take the offered gift? Look, he's not used to this and it's showing.]

[wwtd]

[ it's showing but unlike the drawn-on eyebrows, she won't point it out. besides, she's happy he takes the gift even if it is hesitant. that means he won't throw it out!! hahaaaa.

he needs those calories for reserves. ]

But it's better than nothing, right? And I'll have an excuse to move around. I think one of these has - [ there's some shuffling in another bag, moving tissue paper around and pulling out

you guessed it

Christmas socks. ] Aha! Thick socks! Here, if you need them. There's always the body heat option, too.

[ with who hiyori ]

[soft_shelled]

[Look, look. At her offering him another gift, he's got a conundrum. He would feel bad accepting two gifts, and he's not sure how she'd take him switch? Swapping? The gifts.

But for now that's not being considered because she brings up body heat and Donnie, in the way only a teenaged boy can, says the first thing that comes into his head.]

... Are you offering to help with the body heat then? [Has no idea how that could be taken, even after saying it.]