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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-03-14 12:53 pm

DOWNTIME MINGLE #7

DOWNTIME MINGLE #7


CONTENT WARNINGS: suggestive topics

▶ 001. WINNER'S CIRCLE.

Although the base has been destroyed, not all hope is lost. Many still view the defeat of the recent kaiju as a significant win, especially knowing how much more powerful it became. Considering the ominous timing of the rift as well, it seems like LILITH predicts everyone is a bit on edge, and as a result, when they come into the main hall that day they will see that it is actually decorated quite nicely. While it’s not a professional venue by any means, it certainly does have its own charms. It’s a step up from the usual pizza party, at least.


There will be plenty of fresh food prepared for everyone, and not a single questionable meat in sight. It’s either they’ve upped their lab meat game, or they’ve managed some success in their endeavors on duplicating some of the food processes from Transylvania. The one thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the bulletin board in which they’ve posted—
GOOD JOB:
MACARONS (K.O.)
GOJIRA (K.O.)
RUBBER DUCKY & QUEENOFKUR (600)
POKER & BAD DADDY (678)

While no one can say where these trends and rumors begin, maybe it’s only natural that people’s eyes are drawn to those they consider strong. Or is it that everyone else is YOWAI weak in comparison? Whatever the catchphrases are, it seems the new thing on the streets of Neo Tokyo is the emerging trend of people either wearing sunglasses or blindfolds.

It seems to be some sort of fashion statement, but it may be doing more harm than good. The blindfolds are often tech visors that citizens wear to amplify the screens they see directly from their retinas, but it doesn’t mean that’s always the case. Some people even consider it a personal form of training for them to live and breathe with blindfolds on. Unsurprisingly, hoverboard accidents have increased by 24% and the city is looking for ways to address this new craze.

There’s a yearly event that’s rolled back into town and somehow they have their new mascot, MISTER ZILLA. It’s in the form of a certified cute and extra cuddly looking kaiju that is strikingly similar to one that people may see on base day-to-day. But that has to be a coincidence, right? Maybe it’s just one more thing that’s been released by a particularly loose-lipped researcher who's been pulling one too many all-nighters.

Maybe people in attendance will end up seeing him a lot more. He’s also given out in the form of a keychain to all attendees. Perhaps he will give GIBUBU a run for their money?

Speaking of kaiju and research, a very popular brand called CHALK-MATE has hit the shelves. Supposedly it’s a food shaped like a stick of chalk that once eaten increases one's overall ability to concentrate; it even claims to make people read a little faster. … Is that a myth? There’s only one way to find out what this little treat actually does.

The only thing is that it definitely tastes a bit like chalk, too. Oddly enough, the flavors come in just “DOCTOR” and “PHD.”

CHALK-MATE, however, seems like it’s especially popular amongst avid readers. Particularly of the romance genre, also known as NOVELTOK. The fans on these platforms have been especially into a new series based on a Goddess of Death who is in constant search of love, only to be met with horrible romanceable options that leaves every reader both salivating and scratching their head. Supposedly, it’s not a book appropriate for children…

A new alcoholic drink, GLITTER, has gotten popular in Neo Tokyo’s nightlife scene. The drink’s iridescent shades of purple, blue, and green have made it a hit despite its high price tag and the condition that needs to be met in order to request one: customers must first play a game of dice with the bartender. Should the customer roll a higher number than the bartender, they will take the order and make the drink; if they roll less than the bartender, they must forfeit the cost of the drink and pay the next seven rounds of drinks, even for people who aren’t in their party. High risks begets high rewards, as they say.


▶ 002. BASE-LESS EXPECTATIONS.

Fortunately, with the success of the last battle with the Imugi and Gigakame, many companies have come forth in support of a few rebuild projects. They state they are very interested in providing funding, granted, it’s not without placing their names down as part of the construction efforts. They’re especially interested in getting some sway down in Kyoto, as that would be a new place for them to not only pitch their businesses and potentially attract those pockets of civilization out there that they haven’t been able to connect with, but it’s a good cause as any in theory, right? We don’t talk about all that free real estate, either.

As such, Outsiders are being encouraged to submit their proposals on how to build up on the city of Kyoto and what attractions would lure the citizens to take on the city. While safety protocols are naturally being put into place, as with any new build, they are also open to any additional ideas to secure the perimeter, as well as to make this a more colorful and unique place amongst the wreckage that sweeps the abandoned areas outside the immediate cities.

The only thing is… bureaucracy strikes again. The forms must be filled out in a specific fashion, and Outsiders will be expected to go through a similar trial like when gaining clearance to travel. They will be required to sign documents, and even rushed to the temporary “city hall” in order to drop it off on the dot. They may even expect some people to warp back to Tokyo just to submit a page or two of a signed waiver.

With city plans still emerging, there are positions open for Outsiders to apply and run as local government. While the government of Neo Tokyo have already designated a mayor for the city, there are positions open for people to be in charge of other areas such as healthcare, food, energy, culture, justice, treasury, and infrastructure. LILITH is placing no restrictions on Outsiders who want to contribute their time and expertise to the new city as long as they continue to carry out their missions to defeat the kaiju. Those who wish to apply are free to do so at city hall, but they will need to rally votes and support from civilians and other Outsiders alike to be elected.

Speaking of trouble and real estate, while a lot of vacant land is available, Outsiders have been summoned to confirm all the plots of lands are free of kaiju before any real scoping can be done. Outsiders will be tasked to go out and survey the areas and stave off any large or mutated creatures that may exist in the expanse of wilderness that borders the area around Kyoto. For anyone interested in assisting with the scoping efforts, they will be encouraged to travel in pairs. The permanent rift that’s opened in Tokyo has been making many strange waves all across the country. Kaiju have been acting far more erratically, almost as if they can feel the pulses from this rift, regardless of the distance. Or perhaps, it’s all connected somehow? LILITH researchers think it’s better to remain on-guard because of this, especially when traveling through uncharted territory.

Outsiders are also welcome to explore the region. They will find several old temples that may appear dilapidated, but very much recognizable all the same. Such as the Todai-ji Daibutsuden in the neighboring Nara, or even closer sights like the string of tori that line the Fushimi Inari Shrine. There is even a setting in the oculars in which a general tour guide audio can be heard. However, Synthia is still on the fritz and there is no telling what she says is completely accurate. She also can’t control her language functions, volumes, or the fact that she may also be linking random people’s calls and text messages to one another.

There’s no way that negatively impacts any travel plans, right?

(Note: Please fill out the thread below and submit ideas for buildings and businesses in Kyoto! If players wish to have their characters take a role in managing the city, you are free to coordinate this with other players with the same goals for their characters (or handwave it if your character will be taking a smaller role). Mods will not be choosing any characters officially. )


▶ 003. KAIJUCON.

This is the yearly event everyone has been looking forward to— KAIJUCON is here. This event not only acts as a large research symposium for those who work in kaiju-related research fields, it’s also a place where the most enthusiastic members of the kaiju community come together to share their mutual fascination with the creatures. The event makes it clear that this is in no way meant in any support of the kaiju or the devastation that’s hit humanity, but of coming to be a better understanding of them. Or that was its original purpose.

Now it’s become a larger, more commercialized event where vendors from all over come to pitch their safety gear, offer classes in case of a city-wide emergency, and even have several large and popular exhibitions for kaiju. As much as people may fear kaiju, it seems that kaiju themselves as a concept have been popular for decades before even the first rift opened.

As a result, there are sections of KAIJUCON for the most… zealous kaiju researchers in which they can enter virtual reality scapes and pretend to be kaiju. This form of live action roleplaying has become wildly popular in the city, and has become a hobby to relieve stress for some.

On the flip side, it seems this also has opened up a whole group of people who come up with their own KAIJUSONAS and who attend the event dressed up as their idealized version of kaiju. Fortunately, as LILITH does have its fair share of research and information to trade, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab additional funds to fix up the areas of the base … and of course, how could they not ask the Outsiders to join in?

Instead of the usual team building exercises, they will be expected to help at various booths at KAIJUCON. Whether these are panels in which they teach and share all the intimate details of kaiju anatomy, or where they join in the highly coveted title of BEST KAIJUSONA.

As Outsiders within LILITH, all characters will be approached to speak at panels. Characters previously deemed as HEAVY HITTERS or characters who have dealt a K.O. to a kaiju will be particularly popular at the convention, with fans flocking to them with requests for pictures and autographs. While at panels, a Q&A session will often be held, and Outsiders may have to deal with questions ranging from sensible to ... uncomfortable.

Once their shift is over, they’re more than welcome to take a look around!

(Note: You are all free to presume everything you’d expect at a convention to be there! Including, but not limited to, merchandise, snack carts, panels, and more! Outsiders with inhuman forms do not need to wear their cloaking devices. As a note, Outsiders are public figures known by their alter egos/usernames. However, the fact that they are from a different dimension remains classified information to the public. )


▶ 004. CROSSED WIRES.

While rebuilding of both the Tokyo Base and Kyoto are coming along, certain other departments seem to be struggling. SYNTHIA in particular is still broken, and try as the LILITH engineers might, repairs are slow going.

While SYNTHIA is down, there are all sorts of communication errors:
- Messages being sent to the wrong recipient, or to the base at large
- Thoughts transcribing themselves as texts and being sent without approval
- Text messages glitching during the sending process and sending as illegible symbols and strings of letters
- Text messages never sending, or sending dozens of times repeatedly
- SYNTHIA generating inaccurate information about Outsiders and sending them during the numerous reboot processes (think Google AI summaries)
- Blocked users suddenly becoming unblocked, and best of friends suddenly blocking each other

If asked, researchers will apologize for the errors and suggest that Outsiders meet in person to discuss any important topics. There's no better way to grow relationships than to spend time in person after all, right? Towards the end of the month, the errors will slow until they are finally fixed.

(Note: Feel free to use this as a general text glitch event in either your top levels for this event or in inboxes and individual player logs! We've listed out some suggestions of what characters might experience but feel free to come up with your own fun ideas as long as they aren't gamebreaking.)


▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our fourth downtime mingle!

As stated in the prompt itself, players are welcome to suggest buildings and business to be found in Kyoto by replying to the header below. Please submit all suggestions by March 31.

The texting glitches will last to the end of the month, at which point SYNTHIA will be repaired and all systems will go back to normal.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.


EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. WINNER'S CIRCLE: The heavy hitters/KO winners of the last kaiju fight receive their sponsorships, including cute plushies, stylish sunglasses and blindfolds, and edible chalk enhancements among other things.

2. BASE-LESS ACCUSATIONS: ICly, Outsiders are tasked with assisting in rebuilding projects across Kyoto, which include scoping out land, suggesting what new businesses and buildings to construct, and general exploration. OOCly, players are welcome to suggest new businesses and buildings to add to the Kyoto area.

3. KAIJUCON: The annual convention centered around kaiju-related research and inventions. Outsiders can find all sorts of kaiju-related merchandise and gear for sale, as well dress up and meet other kaiju enthusiasts.

4. CROSSED WIRES: With SYNTHIA still broken, communications within LILITH are breaking down. Outsiders will experience a string of troubles when trying to message others. This will be fixed by the end of the month.

zauneyete: (pic#17680401)

crossed wires (because I CANNOT resist)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-15 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
You doubt Tezcatlipoca's blessing? For shame. You should know by now that he is quite potent.

Why, you should be proud to be second to us. This is, after all, my second time achieving high praise like this.


[ just rubbing it in more... ]
queenofkur: (kaf 002)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-15 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh for the love of--

Why did it glitch again, and why with him of all people, with that thought of all things? It's like the world is conspiring against her! ]


Leave me alone!
I didn't ask you anything!!
zauneyete: (pic#17631909)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-16 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
You didn't? Then why did you text me with this?

Was it simply a random insult lobbed my way?
queenofkur: (bao 001)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-16 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
You know this is a glitch.
Either that or you are a complete nitwit.
Which is it? Os it is both?
zauneyete: (Played right into my hand)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-16 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Perhaps I do know it's a glitch.

You knew mine was a glitch the time you attacked me, and yet you did it.

Or is this another case where you can do what I cannot?
]
queenofkur: (kan 012)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-17 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes.

[ She can do what she wants, thank you very much. ]

The day I gloat about having killed one of your friends,
Maybe we'll be even.
zauneyete: (pic#17504652)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-18 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh? Maybe?

That sounds a bit like you're pretending like you will promise something, but decide to take it away in the last minute. I am no fool.
queenofkur: (dad 001)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-18 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh for the love of--

Okay. Deep breathes. Don't let him goad you into getting angry! It is so tempting to say something along the lines of "Maybe I'll do to you what I told you I did my sister," but sinking to such lows is beneath her.

Unbeknownst to her though, that thought sends Silco's way a fragmented and severely glitched out Memory (II) in video form. It immediately deletes after viewing. ]


Leave
Me
Alone!
zauneyete: (pic#17504538)

I can't believe this!! What a TIME for him to see this

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-19 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
Hm.

You know what's funny about these machines? How much they tend to show more than we want.

I will do you a courtesy, Ereshkigal. I will not share your business to outsiders. What this system made me see. I, too, know what it is to do what you did.

And what happened before.


[ and, because it's silco: ] Although I'm sure you will tell me that you are very different, and I likely deserved it. Go ahead, I know it's coming.
queenofkur: (kac 002)

it's like the glitches are conspiring!

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-19 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ E-Eh? Huh? Oh no, what did he see? S-She sees no messages in her backlog?! The reply comes with a super long delay, because that's how much times it takes her to see it sent fragments of her memories as a video.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

GUUUUH. She hates technology. That kind of stuff can't happen when you write physical letters or use the mirror of the underworld! ]


Why does it keep happening to me?! Isn't there a way to turn those implants off?

[ Yes yes, that's yet another thought that got transcribed. Maybe she should just ask to be put into cryo-sleep until it's fixed. ]

Deserved?
No one deserves to be betrayed.
No one is born evil,
Not even you.

If you went through something similar,
I can't fault you for snapping.
It's wrong.
But I understand

I will, however, fault you for staying that way.
Even now that you can change.
And have reasons to.
zauneyete: (pic#17504538)

HMMMMM

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-20 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ Poor Ereshkigal, giving up all of her secrets to Silco. ]

I do not think you understand. I did not "snap".

What happened to me was different. I was reborn into what I had to be. That is all. It's a lesson that I learned that day. There is no changing. What is there to change?

You seem to think there is something wrong with the person I am. You should learn to accept that I am quite different than you.

After all, I learned to anticipate such things far better than I used to.


[ N -- No he didn't. ]
queenofkur: (kan 010)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-20 11:21 am (UTC)(link)
You learned nothing.

[ Well okay he probably did learn some things... But that sounds so cool to type that! ]

You've renounced making friends.
You've shut down an entire pan of your humanity,
Because you can't bear to try again.

I know, for I did too.
I was a cold and cruel goddess for a long time.
But no more.

You are like a baby who got scared after he stumbled and hurt himself.
But rather than try standing up and walking again,
You decided to crawl and claim this is the way things should be.
zauneyete: (pic#17504602)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-22 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, but she admits something here. Silco ignores the insults and all the rest of it. ]

And how long were you like that, I wonder? Before you became this...

Thing that you are now?


[ He would very much like to see the Ereshkigal that once existed. ]
queenofkur: (kaw 020)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-22 12:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He wouldn't. Hopefully. She was more the "kill first, talk later" type. Which is kinda logical when you rule over the afterlife, all things considered.

... Or so does the lore say anyway, they've never shown her being anything but her regular self in flashbacks. Stop being cowards, FGO writers!! ]


Too long of a time.
Enough so I know no matter how rotten a heart is,
There is always a chance for it to be saved.
zauneyete: (pic#17680986)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-23 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ LET US SEE MEAN ERESHKIGAL FGO!!! ]

Who gives you the right to say that this is the right way?

The world, because you are a goddess? Because reality makes space for your decree by right?

This is why I have no care for these decrees. Because I do not think you have the right of it. It is not childish to understand these truths, it is the way the world has always worked. Ah, but it so enjoys rewarding people like your sister, doesn't it? Tell me, did she end up suffering for an eternity for her transgressions? Or did you forgive her in the end, too? Let her get away with it, once you'd had your period where you did precisely what I did?

Or are you going to tell me that you didn't?
queenofkur: (kaf 050)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-23 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
The other gods begged me to let her go.
Something about the fertility rates going down on the surface...
Well, she is the goddess of fertility.
I guess it would have been the end of the world if I had kept her.


[ Had it annoyed her? Yes, absolutely. But the apocalypse was a bit too much of a price to pay just to get back to her sister. Imagine all of the overtime work for her if suddenly everyone up there died! Besides she got a fluffy golden sheep in exchange, as far as she's concerned it's an absolute win. ]

I am not decreeing anything.
Why is it you are always trying to make me say things I didn't?
Your perspective on life is so based on your fears and delusions,
You have to make up enemies to sustain it.

It's really pathetic.
zauneyete: (pic#17504553)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-25 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
I do so because you do the same. You have made a decision about me, and you proclaim it.

And now I see it for what it is. You're projecting. Everything that you're saying about me is what you did, but I can understand the confusion. After all, you must have been very scared to lose your domain. Very scared to be done in by your sister.

You start this by insulting me. Then when the system glitches again, you take to insulting me yet again. I am considered unwelcome by the lot of you, I understand that, it makes it easy, doesn't it? To feel vindicated.
queenofkur: (aaf 001)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-25 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ There is a bit of a delay before her next reply. He's right, there's absolutely a bit of projection there. But the emotion she associates with this event isn't fear. Sorrow, anger, spite, even hatred. But fear? ]

You truly are the biggest nitwit around.
Ishtar never had a chance to take anything from me.
I cannot be defeated within the confines of the Underworld.
No matter how mighty one is, their strength is fractured before me.
I was never afraid she would succeed.

Is that all your betrayals were for you, Silco?
Is "fear" the only emotion they made you feel?
Not sorrow nor anger?
Perhaps you truly are an irredeemable soul.
zauneyete: (pic#17504655)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-28 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
More projecting from you, I see.

You are incorrect, you know. There was no fear. I do not live in it, I exist beyond it.


[ He does keep poking a god. Doesn't that say enough? ]

I won't gift you with the specifics. Do me at least the courtesy of thinking logically. What did you feel? Can you imagine anyone would only feel fear?
queenofkur: (kaw 020)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-28 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
You were angry, hurt - sad and even spiteful, I would imagine.
This is what I felt when Ishtar descended to the Underworld.
But I am going to take this a step further, if you want me to think logically.

I don't think you like yourself very much.
But because you hate the old you even more,
It's better being who you are now than who you used to be.

You hate it, but it's comfortable.
It's like you're wearing something that makes the world hurt you less.
But that also means all the positive emotions are out of your reach...
Until someone tries to pull you out of it.

Unfortunately, you killed the one who tried doing that for you.
I am fortunate that I didn't kill the one who did it for me.
zauneyete: (pic#17756823)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-03-29 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Quetzalcoatl?

You think Quetzalcoatl tried doing that for me?


[ Unfortunately, Silco was not... doing well... there. He doesn't think she did that at all. ]

All she did was goad me, leaving little traps, and secrets. She lorded her knowledge over me, and when I demanded something from her that was rightfully mine, she took my hand. There was no "trying", it was a war. It was a war that I fought.

You continue to project. How delightful for you that someone decided to teach you to be less than you are, but I think you do not understand much about me. It is, of course, reasonable. You know very little about me.


[ WHOSE FAULT IS THAT SILCO... ]

Suffice it to say, few of your assumptions were correct. I was, however, quite angry.

At least you guessed one thing about me right.


[ WILL NOT ADMIT TO BEING SAD ]
Edited 2025-03-29 19:25 (UTC)
queenofkur: (kan 012)

[personal profile] queenofkur 2025-03-31 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, the defamatory comments against her friend. As expected. And then the claim that she knows nothing about him. Which, in all fairness, she only knows what he's shown her so far - a detestable little man who murdered one of the kindest goddess ever, a sad little man who doesn't live by the very principles he keeps invoking. ]

There is no point in discussing with you, is there?
I understand lying to oneself is central to maintaining such a sad existence,
But please do not presume for your lies to convince anyone but yourself.

Even now, you are unable to understand what moved Quetzalcoatl's heart.
You are so blind, you try to reduce her to concepts you can understand...
Like a child who refuses to grow and understand the world beyond childish concepts.
You are a truly pathetic and pitiful man.