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]

( Panic rises. He isn't sure if he's betrayed his friend or not with that information, didn't think to ask if Hiyori knew or not, or if it were a secret. He'll have to deal with it, if it is something he's given away out of place. Hopefully it won't be too terrible.

Soothing her is first priority though. )

I'm sure that helps. And having you around now. I can't imagine anyone not finding peace in knowing you, you're so kind. And maybe they'll turn up here, who knows? Stranger things have happened, right?

( He bites his lip, chewing some of the skin. )

I think maybe Yato feels a little guilty about some things. I tried to help. What he told me, he blames himself a lot, but it isn't his fault, you know? I get it. It's kind of similar to how I lost Rem. And I blame myself for that too, so we talked about that. I think it did some good? Maybe. I'm sure he'll talk to you too.

[wwtd]

[ though she tries to smile, it tugs on her lips faintly. treat others how you wish to be treated, right? be kind. it's better for the world around them. there is a lot wrong with the world, but hiyori is a product of her environment. good, loving parents. nothing toxic in her life.

nothing like yukine went through. or yato. or vash. it gives her all the more reason to be kind to others. to share her good fortune in life. ]

No kidding. [ stranger things have happened for sure. but she stands by what she said earlier. it'd be better if yukine didn't show up and didn't have to go through this.

though hiyori is quiet, it's obvious she's thoughtful. ]

Yeah. I know. He's more than a little guilty. [ eventually, she sighs. worry tugs at her, like it always does when it concerns yato. away from his father and there is still so much that haunts him. it's his hurdle to overcome, but he has people there for him to support him.

the same goes for vash. everything he's told yato, though, she only HOPES vash treats himself the same. with that kindness. ]

I take it you talked to him after what I said? [ suddenly, she presses her cheek to his arm and takes a breath. almost relieved. emotional, definitely. ] Thank you. As soon as I heard what you went through, knowing how kind you both are, you'd be able to help each other. Relate in ways I... I can't.

[photosympathies]

( He hums a soft note, head briefly resting on top of hers. )

I'm glad I did. Yato's a good guy. And so are you. I think if you asked him about it he'd tell you, if that's what you wanted. I think sometimes it's just hard to be the one to bring it up. At least that's how I always feel.

( Burdening people with the man he is. Which means he's hyper aware about other people's feelings. )

Also, if there's anything you need to talk about, I hope you'd feel safe coming to find me too? Because it doesn't matter if we're all from different walks of life, the things you've gone through matter too. You're my friend anyway, and friends have to stick together.

[wwtd]

[ vash is like a brother to her, like family, so it's difficult to express the sense of calm she gets just from that touch of his head on hers.

yato is a good guy. the best.

is that what she wants? for yato to relive that pain with her, too? she wants him to heal from it, definitely. ]

Woud you want to talk about Rem? Good memories? Would that help?

[ at no point has hiyori ever thought vash was a burden. not with every piece of information he fed her. from worms, to a troubled brother, to his love of food and donuts. ]

Me? [ she hadn't - does she have anything she needs to talk about? not right now. she's in a good(ish) mood. it's christmas time. it's christmas... ]

I mean, of couse I would! You're one of my closest friends, Vash.

[ he's good for saying that. the things she's gone through matter. they do, it's hard to recognize that when faced with the troubles and upsetting things that people like him have gone through. ]

But I have to admit that my problems seem so trivial. Not that they don't matter! I know they do. It's just compared to the kaiju threat and what everyone else has been through. I... overlook myself sometimes, honestly. It's a bad habit. It comes with being a doctor, I think. I'm constantly thinking about my patients, too, and what I can do to help them.

[photosympathies]

Maybe. ( Gently, because he surely knows the answer is yes. He would like to talk about Rem, it would help. He's been nursing the wound of her loss for a hundred and fifty years, she was the first person to ever love him - ( that doesn't seem fair, a second later, Nai loved him first, Nai was with him first ) - she was so kind, though. Planted the seed of his growth easier than he thinks either of them knew. ) Not right now though, but some time?

( A smile, lighting up behind his eyes. )

It is a bad habit! ( Teasing, he's teasing. ) If I don't eat six donuts at a time any more then you have to look after yourself too, okay? It's gonna be a team effort. We're gonna become well-rounded. ( Not that he thinks Hiyori isn't, she's definitely the most adjusted out of his friends. ) And I wouldn't care if it was something silly. If you need to complain about something then you can come to me. Even if it's just some crochety patient.

[wwtd]

Mm. Alright.

[ agreed. but... in the coming days, for sure. now that she knows. if it's hard for him to bring up, she can take the lead. she can ask. ]

Wh - eh - I - I knooow! [ hiyori's sulking isn't real. not with her smile and the words coming out like she's trying not to laugh. color her surprised, though. he took the six donut thing to heart so much?? one of the first things she said to him. ]

Y, yeah. So well-rounded we'll become donuts ourselves, huh?

[ no, vash never struck her as the type to care if it was silly. always just the person who wanted to help others. big and small. ]

There's no shortage of those. [ crotchety patients. difficult ones. drug-chasing ones. sigh. ] Hmm. I'm going to complain about one thing. I need more pictures with you. Not just with the Christmas tree. With everyone, really, but especially people I'm friends with.

I want to add them to the journal I've been keeping.

[photosympathies]

A journal!

( He thinks pictures are a nice idea. ) I didn't know you kept a journal. But that's a real cool idea, Hiyori. We should start taking more pictures. Maybe we can all get those little disposable cameras you can win at the arcade, and take a lot of them together. Oh, and one of the tree. Progress pictures.

( He should take more of his friends too. To go with the one of Nai and Rem. )

Is that what you're into when you're not being the best doctor in existence? Photography?

[wwtd]

The arcade has disposable cameras?! That sounds fun! Are they the ones that have polaroids??

Oh, um. I've been journaling since I was a kid, actually.

[ embarrassed, just a little, she hides a bit behind her pink scarf. taking more pictures though, yes. she wished she did it more at the beginning with the friends she met and... left. if she had one of wolfwood, she could've given it to vash. ]

N, no! I mean, I like it? [ waves her mitten hand in front of her face. BEST DOCTOR. please. not even close but he's a big sweetheart, he is. ]

I'm into photography like most people my age are, I guess. I take pictures of my food and my friends. [ eventually some of hers and yato's kitten, too. torane. ]

I wanted to get into archery. My late grandmother was an archer in her younger years. It'll help with... you know. The kaiju. Hopefully. I won't give anybody a panic attack by being on the front lines, either.

[photosympathies]

Maybe? I haven't tried to win one yet. Mostly because the guy running it hates to see me coming. ( A laugh, wide and bright. He's just really good at the games, it's not his fault. ) But next time I'm there I'll try and get you one, and you can see if they're good enough. I don't know much about cameras. Well, beyond what Meryl taught me but she was a journalist so I guess hers was pretty high-tech.

( A KITTEN???

But hang on, archery! )

Oh! Oh wow, that's badass. I can see that. Do you need any help? ( A pause, and then backtracking. ) Not that I think you need it! Also I've used a bow and arrow like once. Decades ago. But you know, if you're worried about the fights. I can help.

[wwtd]

[ hiyori muffles her giggles as best she can, but it's hopeless. she's laughing out loud with him. so much for politeness. that poor guy. it's for a GOOD CAUSE, guy. ]

Meryl?

[ KITTEN. they have a fur baby, come JANUARY. a lil orange tabby.

ARCHERY. ]

It's not throwing a table but... [ HAH. never forgetti. ] You can see it...? Ah. It's fine! [ waving off his fretting. frankly, she DOES kinda need it. it's nothing like MMA fighting. far more refined and less brute force. hiyori is

straightforward. ] I'm not surprised you know how to use a bow and arrow, too.

[ guess why. okay, outSIDE the fact that he's good at shooting anything? decades, though. vash doesn't look older than 23. ]

I, well, I am worried about the fights. About many things... but I'd never say no to your help!

[photosympathies]

My friend! From back home. She's a reporter. She was going to write a story on me, that's how we met. ( He speaks very brightly about her, energy seeping back in. It's clear she's one of the very best from how proud he sounds to know her. ) I wish you two could meet, I bet you'd both like each other a whole lot. You have the same kind of heart.

( An impromptu bout of giggling at the table, never forget )

Well, we could practise together? Or if you want I can teach you some other weapons. But I like the bow for you. It has range. Sometimes that's all you need.

[wwtd]

[ more friends from no man's land!! who wanted to write a story on vash as a reporter. hrrm. she'd be suspicious of that if vash didn't sound so happy to talk about her. if she didn't trust vash so much.

hiyori's cheeks go warm, touched pink and she exhales an amused sound. ]

It'd be nice if we could get all our friends together from our world and this one and spend time together. Especially for Christmas.

[ throwing tables to throwing hands to THROWING ARROWS WITH A BOW.

they're all worried about her. yato and ereshkigal and vash, too. she doesn't blame them. she's normal but it... it doesn't sting? it lingers in her thoughts. ]

I don't know if it'll be as satisfying as throwing a punch or a kick, but we'll see. I'd like to practice together, though. I won't ever say no to hanging out with you.

[photosympathies]

Once everything's back to normal and we won't run the risk of making ourselves sick we should hit the simulation room together. ( Because Christmas is for eating! And he knows first hand the perils of too much movement after a meal, but oftentimes people don't give him a choice. ) Figure out some things. You'd be doing me a favour, I haven't really been focusing on that stuff. Who knows? I might forget it all.

( He won't. But he doesn't like fighting as much as people might believe ( or wouldn't, considering how much his friends see of him ) and he's been keeping busy in other ways. )

But first, hot chocolate. ( Tugging her arm like a child, eyes big behind his glasses. ) My treat?

[wwtd]

[ this is the most normal that things have felt in a long time. what does he - OH. right. after Christmas, it's probably

back to business. hiyori's in the training room or out on a jog every night, so nothing has changed for her. ]

With the way your aim is, I doubt it. [ she laughs, trying not to let a word like "forget" get to her too much. in any case, she can see vash being way too preoccupied with the orphanage and all the kids to let something like training come to mind, too. hiyori is more likely to enjoy fighting than vash. she DOES enjoy MMA. ]

Okay! After Christmawhoa! [ she stumbles after him and looks up at his big blue eyes.

look, even hiyori iki isn't immune to that look. though she looks surprised to see it being used on her. ]

Pff - sure. Your treat. I know the place! Come on! [ using that grip, she skips them down the snowy sidewalk like they're BOTH a couple of kids. vash with her pink earmuffs still on his head, hiyori's pink scarf flapping in the wind.

they'll get to the pictures, eventually. ]