DOWNTIME MINGLE #8

[synfluxmods]

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.

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Comments

soon after Sumerian Summer Fever is confirmed

[golmi]

[ Zelgadis is late. Fashionably, as one could argue, but in reality there’s just been so much to do. This mystery wasn’t going to scry itself, and there were virtual bucketloads of information and tidbits to sift through, which was a lot of air to say he’d just plain forgot about swords in the interim.

But ‘lo, he’s here now, passing through only the most sophisticated barrier he’s seen since grandpa, and forgetting swords yet again in the face of scrutinizing the perfect marble from within.

Well, damn. That’s some real nice work. ]

I thought this was supposed to be a forge…

[thighhighs]

[ She's probably not who he expects to see — tank top, shorts, hair pulled up into a ponytail to keep it off her neck as she moves an armful of metal scraps from one side of the room to a pile on the other.

Rin stops cold, eyebrows raised in a combination of curiosity and surprise (derogatory). ]

How did you get in here?

[golmi]

[ NOT who he was expecting, but really, what was he really expecting at the end of the day? Another strange, hip turtle-boy? This is positively normal in comparison.

The look she fixes him with is almost welcomed, it's so familiarly irreverent. ]

Walking. I walked in. How did you get in?

[thighhighs]

I'm allowed through.

[ hiss hiss— She looks like she's about to drop the metal in her arms and stance up. ]

Most people can't just walk in without permission.

[golmi]

And I'm a customer.

[ he can't help it, it comes so naturally: he glowers, huffs, and seems to bristle up with the indignation of an innocent window-shopper flagged by mall security as a Suspicious Person. ]

Do you greet every client like this, or is that why it's deserted?

[thighhighs]

[ She stands stock still for what probably feels like a handful of years, eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the man in front of her. She's seen more people bounce off that barrier than not, so what gives?

And he's a client? Yeah, she's been busy with her own stuff, but she'd know if Muramasa had a client, right? One that isn't currently swaddled in the storage room?

The silence stretches on long enough that a crow can be heard, cawing in the distance.

Finally Rin turns on her heel and moves the final few steps to deposit the scrap into the semi organized pile in the corner of the room. She can't deal with this with her hands full. She turns back to him, one hand on her hip. ]

If you're a client, where's your key?

[golmi]

[ Every molecule in his amalgamate body wants to rise up to the occasion and give this upstart a real reason to bite his head off, but he’s got manners, see. (only when it matters, like now, in the spirit of spiting someone)

Arms crossing in kind, Zelgadis draws himself up to full height- which, while not that impressive in a world full of gorillas, is still taller than hers. ]

I never received one, but I have spoken to Muramasa about it. You obviously aren’t them.

[thighhighs]

[ Rin bristles; she may only be 5'2, but her attitude is at least 6'5. One eyebrow raises into her hairline and her tone and expression say it all: Are you stupid? ]

Of course I'm not Muramasa? Wouldn't I know you were coming if I was?

[misclassed]

[ Considering the number of people Muramasa's let bonk off the barrier, he might actually not know. ]

[golmi]

[ It’s so familiar a sensation as to be Almost endearing: a tiny woman who holds herself like she’s the size of a castle. ]

At this rate, I can’t speak to your rote abilities. Where is the smith?

[thighhighs]

[ She rolls her eyes and turns towards the back of the forge. ]

MURAMASA! YOUR CLIENT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS COMING IS HERE!

[golmi]

[ He could almost feel the world tilt with that eyeroll, wow. ]

Who were you again, anyway?

[misclassed]

[ ... Sigh. So much for a peaceful work environment. (Yeah, he let that entire exchange happen.)

Instead of shouting back to Rin immediately, Muramasa's exasperated tone rings out from around the corner of the door to the forge, where he sits at his station at the fire, pumping air into the charcoal at a steady, slow pace, working on melting down another batch of salvaged scrap. Of course he'd focused on getting the fire to the right heat before he started acknowledging the ruckus. ]

And? You know the deal, quit interrogating 'em.

[ What kind of assistant are you, Rin? If someone needs him for work, he'll take it, no matter what kind of weird sonovabitch they end up being.

[thighhighs]

[ She pointedly ignores Zelgadis's question and heads back towards the fire, clearly expecting the client to follow her. ]

He got through the barrier, what am I supposed to think!?

[golmi]

[ Aha. Another voice. By the inflection, an elder, but the tone… ]

What is the barrier for?

[ Like maybe if he keeps tossing questions like coins, she’ll deign to pick one up. He follows anyway, since she seems to know where she’s at, and the voice drifts out from over there anyway. He looks about as he goes, taking in everything he can without looking like a gawking tourist, surreptitious as he can be for a blue guy with a sword. ]

[misclassed]

You're supposed to ask what work he wants done, and if he doesn't give a satisfactory answer, kick him out.

[ Keep trying Zel, surely the RNG will let you get a word in edgewise eventually. Muramasa and Rin have the problem that it's too easy for them to bicker in a way that's unbecoming of a master smith or a mage, and the week of quarantine with only Aventurine for company has only made their proclivites worse — the only way around this obstacle is through it.

Like the barrier, the rest of the smithy is unassuming and humble, though if the power that fills the air is anything to go by... Muramasa might not have been bragging about his ability to craft a magical focus. Which is a good thing, since the smith sitting at the forge and staring into the red and gold flames that shoot up from the pile of burning charcoal looks barely older than the cagey girl. Not exactly inspiring confidence here.

But he does cast a short glance at Zel, before looking back at the fire again. ]

It [ read: the barrier ] just pops up on its own, don't worry about it.

[ Or... do? which is it. ]

[golmi]

[ wHICH IS IT, PEEPAW??? ]

If this is meant to keep me from thinking about it, it’s failing miserably.

[ Which is just another way of saying that He’s Really Nosy, Sir. The dance around answering is… a pain, really, but nothing that Zel isn’t already used to. These situations just called for an equally stubborn head, and of the three of them, Zel’s skull was indeed the hardest of them all. ]

Are you the one I work this out with, or is there another, more mysterious smith around the corner?

[thighhighs]

[ Rin is about to snipe back at Muramasa that that's exactly what she did, thanks, but she's interrupted by the client, which doesn't help her irritation with him. Her eyebrow twitches — at both of them, honestly — and her first comment is to Zelgadis: ] He's the only smith here — [ the second to Muramasa ] — you could try explaining it better, you know — [ and then back to Zel ] It's a barrier meant to keep out things that aren't human, or are otherwise cursed. For those types of people, they need permission or a charm to get through.

[misclassed]

It's not meant to do anything of the sort. Hell, it wasn't even meant to go up to begin with. You think I want to keep customers out like this? It's a pain in the ass.

[ he's GLAD someone didn't bonk off the barrier, this time, thank you. ]

I'm Muramasa. Which one are you?

[ which one that replied to him on the network, he means ]