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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-05-15 08:31 am

DOWNTIME MINGLE #8

DOWNTIME MINGLE #8


CONTENT WARNINGS: disease, epidemics, COVID-like illness, lockdowns

▶ 001. WINNER'S CIRCLE

In light of everyone's recent help with both the ocean exploration and the clinical trials, the Outsiders will return one day to a surprisingly well-decorated area within the mess hall at the Kyoto base. It's been adorned with some of the flowers that have wildly bloomed on the outskirts of the city in various areas, as well as those that the researchers had been personally working on fostering in the LILITH greenhouses. Beneath it will be not a pizza party for once, and charcuterie and other donated food items will be there for Outsiders to enjoy. There is even some recognizable cuisine from Egypt for them as well!
GOOD JOB:
FORGERY (K.O.)
AKATSUKI (600)
BANKERBOY (600)
Thanks to the Outsiders’ hard work, they are met with positive reception by the general public, which seems to have grown astronomically since the past two missions. This has only grown from their recent success abroad. Per usual, there are a few oddities that have caught on in the city.

While Neo Tokyo has always been noted as being a city of technology (even with their dwindling resources), a new trend of collecting swords has sparked in the city. Maybe they've seen it in certain Outsiders, but the idea of both collecting swords, displaying them, or even holding exhibitions for them have become more common. Some have even taken to hunting for them in the wild.

If any Outsiders are interested, there appears to be several posts online in which they think older blades may be laying in sleep. But, as with most rumors, there's no guarantee it isn't a wild goose chase.

On TV, the new spring line up is out. A new live action series featuring a group of friends who fight kaiju using mecha has made its debut. Their mecha are animal themed and can combine to create a super mecha. The new lead is a hot headed female character with a lion mecha, which spawns a line of action figures in stores across the city. The lion mecha is the most popular and often resold online for inflated prices. Maybe an Outsider can get their hands on one without paying the scalping fee?

Oftentimes when it comes to the Outsiders and the general masses, there's a distinct disconnect. Which is why it all seems to hinge on rumors and hearsay. Who knows where the information stems from, but they heard a certain Outsider has a liking for bread. There will be no shortage of bread sponsorships for the base, though... some may be far more experimental. However, some claim lab-grown bread may actually be tastier? Only one way to put it to the test. The lab-grown bread conveniently also comes in cans.

▶ 002. FROM SUMER WITH LOVE.

Around the same time, a few LILITH employees show signs of a common cold – nothing noteworthy at first really, if only out-of-season. But then the disease starts spreading at an alarming rate within the headquarters, its symptoms evolving from a mere cold to a severe life-threatening flu. Preliminary analysis reveals the disease to be unlike any known on this planet – perhaps this is why no medicines work. Symptoms include chest pain, trouble breathing, nausea, excessive vomiting and diarrhea, chills and high fever.

To make matters worse, news from LILITH locations around the world reveal all known bases to be afflicted by the same mysterious epidemic, only affecting LILITH staff and not Outsiders at this time. This cannot be a coincidence: LILITH is under attack.. but how is something like this possible?

As researchers race to try and understand the disease, LILITH will request everyone to quarantine themselves on base for the safety of the public. Gradually, the disease spreads across the base only for tests to reveal: the Outsiders are left unaffected.

As the month progresses, more and more of LILITH’s employees find themselves bedridden with the deadly disease until by the 30th of May, only Outsiders are left standing and healthy; all the LILITH crew has been affected. The civilian population outside the base is safe for now, but for how long? Unless something is done, it is estimated all humans working for LILITH will be dead by late June.

"Greetings, my children. Worry not. I come here to report some concerning news: both Captain Yamakawa and Commander Shiro have fallen gravely ill. Since I am an A.I assistant, my health is optimal. Seok Dang has also fallen ill, though he is still in denial of it. I will do my best to take care of each and every one of— "


"BULLSHIT!! This is nothing! I've had hangovers worse than this, you hear me? Calm your terabyte-tits, bitch. I'm here. There ain't nothin' that is gonna stop me, in fact, with the higher ups feelin' like shit, that would put me in command, right? W-Wait, hold that thought, I.. feel like I'm gonna throw up."


Seok Dang tried to stay on the line, but all that was heard was gut-wretching vomiting, to which SYNTHIA promptly cuts his connection. Sorry about that.

It is up to the Outsiders to find the source of the disease and resolve the crisis before all hope is lost. Is this somehow related to those Outsiders who recently disappeared? Wait, aren’t there a few Outsiders here who have seen this flu before and can recognize it…?

▶ 003. LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCKDOWN.

While everyone is quarantined on base, they are encouraged to communicate with each other through the network. During this time, they can do research, share ideas, and try to figure out what is happening as the disease spreads across base and around the world.

While they are in lock down, LILITH encourages the Outsiders to pick up some new hobbies and interests to keep themselves active. They will have access to various workout videos. Some of the videos are hosted by cyborg coaches that expect Outsiders to do things with their bodies that probably aren't physically possible. Other Outsiders might get simple ovens and jars of suspicious "starters" to bake. Of course, there are other hobbies like growing miniature artificial plants, board games, virtual reality games, and more to keep them interested while they're trapped inside!

After about a week, when it becomes obvious the Outsiders are unaffected, they will be allowed to leave their rooms and roam freely to assist. LILITH does not understand why they are not affected but they are depending on the Outsiders for help now more than ever.

Though they are free to wander and seem to be immune for the time being, LILITH warns if they experience any cold-like symptoms, they should report their status and quarantine immediately.

▶ 004. AFTERWORD + SPECIAL NOTE.

Welcome to May's downtime mingle! All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

The June Event is a player plot that is going to differ from regular events in a few ways: Outsiders have to find the location for the next Kaiju fight on their own using hints given in the From Sumer With Love prompt, and correlating them with the past and ongoing disappearance of various Outsiders. They can use LILITH’s equipment to look for anomalies across the globe, however there is not enough time to scan or contact every region in the world. Outsiders need to guess where the anomaly likely is before they can get confirmation. There is a PLOTTING post for this event over here.

Furthermore, they will have to reach this destination through their own means as there is no LILITH staff left to fly them there. Vehicles can be requisitioned, but will have to be flown by Outsiders on their own. This also means Outsiders are free to stay behind at the base if they prefer, as nobody will force them to go. Pain-relieving medicines can also be developed if the true nature of the disease is found and the appropriate characters work on it, though nothing short of defeating the anomaly will solve this crisis and save everyone.

Last but not least: this event will have two Kaiju battles, one on each log as well as many different challenges the Outsiders will have to solve on their own if they want to save LILITH and bring home their missing friends! Please use this thread to ask questions and offer your proposals as to what the Outsiders should do (location guessing, transport, etc). Proposals made in this thread will affect the first and second prompts of the first log.


EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. WINNER'S CIRCLE: The heavy hitters/KO winners of the last kaiju fight receive their sponsorships and inspire new trends, including an interest in collecting swords, a new live action series (like Power Rangers), and free bread.

2. FROM SUMER WITH LOVE: A mysterious disease spreads across LILITH's bases. The symptoms are like the common cold/flu but much more severe. There is currently no cure. Outsiders seem to be immune to the disease. After quarantining, they are encouraged to investigate and come up with plans for the battle to come.

3. LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCKDOWN: While on lockdown, Outsiders are encouraged to try some new hobbies. They can also communicate through the network and do research to uncover additional clues and come up with more plans.
intertwinedfates: tch (45)

@Destiny

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-15 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
nothing's changed, then. we still gotta get her out of there. then we can help her through whatever she's going through. calamities can be quelled. I'm not giving up on her just because she's become one!
fursuit: (① pocyo.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-15 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
assuming that she wants to leave in the first place.

look. I'm not one to mince words and I'm not going to start now just because she's everyone's buddy.

I'll give some benefit of the doubt because this ain't our world and therefore there's some mystery to what's possible. but back home? becoming a Beast isn't something that's done to you. it's part of you. maybe not a choice, exactly, but you don't get saved from it.

when that kind of power is turned towards the World? you kill it. no other choice unless you want to see this world's end.
intertwinedfates: talk angry (138)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-15 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I doubt the Eresh we know would want to stay inside a rift, cut off from her friends. even if part of her is giving in to this side of herself, then it's our job to knock some sense into her

I'm familiar with beings where there's no choice but to slay them for the sake of everyone else, but we don't know that this is the same case! we have to at least try!
fursuit: (① queptoc.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-15 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
hahaha

make sure you remember to say that to her. have a feeling that if it's going to work that's exactly the kind of sense she needs knocked into her. she's got more people in her corner than she thinks.

but to be clear, if it doesn't work? I'll take her out myself if no one else has the stomach for it. kind of my job.
intertwinedfates: smile sweat grimace (251)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-15 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
trust me, I will. even if I have to beat it into her head, she's gonna know how damn much we care. she's our friend and teammate - we're not going to give up on her that easily

then fair warning, I'll stand in your way if I feel I have to. I won't let anyone strike her down without an earnest attempt at saving her
fursuit: (① elcicihuiliztli.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-15 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
yeah yeah I figured you'd say that. predictable... you got a real hero streak you know that

but don't worry. I'll let people give it a shot as compared to my usual m.o. which would be kill on sight. don't got anything to back it up so we'll just call it intuition and say I feel like there's a chance this could be solved

slim chance. but a chance.

it's going to be disgustingly sentimental I'm damn sure of that too

gross
intertwinedfates: talk smile (153)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-16 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
heh, yeah, I know. I can't help it. I'm tired of living life with regrets, y'know?

thanks, though, Tez. I mean it. Ereshkigal's a precious friend. I don't want to abandon her to a cruel fate if there's even the slimmest of chances we can get her back in one piece

if it takes sappy love and friendship to do it, then dammit, I'm making our whole side wear rainbows and glitter!
fursuit: (① elelehuia.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-16 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
ughhhhh

please don't or I'm quitting and switching sides
intertwinedfates: laugh talk happy (288)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-16 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
haha~

let's hope it won't come to that, then!
fursuit: (① miztepiton.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-16 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
yeah keep all that mushy hero shit to yourself

even helping out this much makes me sick. or is going to give me the worst luck for a solid year.
intertwinedfates: happy dork (173)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-16 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
hehe will do~

although I don't think it'd be as bad as you're making it out to be. gods should help humans! it's what we're here for
fursuit: (① milini.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-16 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
your kind maybe.

not me though

or not straightforwardly

got bigger considerations to keep in mind. keeping he world itself going is more important than the people that inhabit it.
intertwinedfates: think serious frown (284)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-16 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
eh, I know there's plenty of life beyond humans, but they're still a bit part of the world

besides, isn't their belief in us what makes us exist? or is that strictly a thing for my brand of gods?
fursuit: (① elcicihuiliztli.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-17 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
...well. I'm a special case even among gods. so wouldn't give my personal case as any kind of example.

but generally speaking? yeah. that's how it works. gods have a duty to humans. I've got a duty to Earth itself and mankind as a concept.

real pain in the ass honestly
intertwinedfates: mellow talk (13)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-17 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
sounds like you have a tricky job, all things considered. can't say I envy you, that's for sure
fursuit: (① miztepiton.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-18 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
damn right I do

like I'm the most powerful deity of my pantheon but you know what that really means? responsibility. honestly all this shit has basically been a vacation so guess it makes sense that clock ran out
intertwinedfates: blush grin (129)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-18 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
hehe you can only get away with slacking for a set amount of time before responsibility comes back to bite you in the ass. that much I've learned myself over the years. no matter how much you shirk it, your duty catches up eventually
fursuit: (① pochehua.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-19 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
yeah no kidding

not that I'd say I'm shirking my duty exactly. like this is only part of me, so the rest is back home working hard and all that shit.

but damn could at least get a little of a break before I get a Beast thrown at me
intertwinedfates: talk (24)

[personal profile] intertwinedfates 2025-05-19 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
you're the sort who can split himself up, huh? that's pretty damn impressive

though 'fraid all of our break's over for the time being. maybe afterwards we'll get the chance to rest, but... we gotta stop Eresh and help her and everyone who's disappeared first
fursuit: (① elcicihuiliztli.)

[personal profile] fursuit 2025-05-22 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
sure. easy for me even. the lineage ain't straightforward so don't ask but preeminent god of my pantheon. all comes from me or falls under my eyes. omni-everything if I'm feeling like expressing it but usually don't

but yeah yeah luckily this is a case where I can forgo my usual impartiality no problem. I'll be on a beeline to go take care of her