synflux | TEAM BUILDING EVENT #1

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TEAM BUILDING EVENT #1

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: forced scenarios, violence & action scenarios, thalassophobia, mass death & injury from natural disaster.

▶ 001. GET ALONG PROMPT

LILITH is highly invested in the physical and mental well-being of its employees. A happy and connected workforce is a strong workforce, after all. However, SYNTHIA has picked up on many instances of discontent between Outsiders - people being blocked by each other on LINE, or teetering on the edge of having a fight (you know who you are and so does SYNTHIA, surprise!) That just won't do. Outsiders who cannot get along will fail miserably when it's time for teamwork. That is why this month's team-building exercise aims to spread positivity amongst the Outsiders. We all gotta get along in the middle of a crisis.

Whether you are looking someone in the face, texting them, or staring at their profile on the network, you receive a prompt from SYNTHIA, followed by an image (exactly as pictured, Shutterstock watermark and all):

"LILITH promotes a positive working environment. Why don't you pay this Outsider a compliment or do something nice for them? Or else :) Noncompliance will result in disciplinary action."

True enough, ignoring the prompt a total of 5 times will result in characters being transported to their rooms and put under house arrest - ahem, time out for a total of 2 days. It doesn't hurt to play along, right? As a note, the prompts become especially persistent when you're faced with someone you dislike. Should Outsiders try to leave their room during this time, they will find the automatic doors do not open the typical way (retina scan and thumb print.) They are trapped! Perhaps asking SYNTHIA for some mercy with positive compliments directed her way will do the trick (it won't, bu you can try!) Remember, Outsiders can speak to SYNTHIA anytime. She's everywhere all the time. Consider her your prettier Alexa. In fact, she might be flattered by that compliment.

▶ 002. TEAM ACTIVITIES.

You've had your fun back at the MAIN BASE. Now it's time to work. Outsiders will be sent back out towards Tokyo Bay while LILITH's research crew continues to try and detect the source of the strong waves. The city is in disarray after the tsunami, with the less secured buildings torn down and many lives lost. Morale within Neo Tokyo is at an all time low even with civilians comforting one another. Each Outsider will receive a small mission brief marked in the colours of their respective team as they are once again flown via helicopter to the designated area.

REDEMPTION:
Outsiders within REDEMPTION are tasked to spread joy in the streets and at the hospital. Be creative in how you wish to do this, whether it's putting on a performance, a skit, or spreading kindness with gifts and sweet gestures. Those with a Style Upgrade are encouraged to use their chip to don funny and eye catching costumes to entertain the civilians. Those with a healing upgrade are highly encouraged to help medical staff.

REVELATION:
Outsiders within REVELATION are tasked with babysitting duties. Many parents are still recovering in the hospital and there's no one to watch their children while they recover. A lot of pets need looking after too! Make sure the children and furbabies are fed, clothed and getting enough sleep. This can even include filling in for classrooms that have recently lost their teacher. Outsiders in REVELATION are encouraged to keep a tally of the census and go looking for lost children if someone seems to be missing.

EVERLIGHT:
Outsiders within EVERLIGHT will be tasked with keeping the people fed and the local businesses running. This can mean organising a soup kitchen, preparing homecooked meals for the civilians and delivering hot meals door to door. It can also mean helping local businesses with repairs to their shops, bringing them supplies and filling in for the staff they might have lost. The city might have just been hit with a tsunami, but that doesn't mean it needs to shut down!

BRIMSTONE:
Outsiders within BRIMSTONE are the luckiest of the lot - they get to be clean up crew. They will be mandated to wear hazmat suits in outrageous colours along with breathing gear. Why? Because they will be scrubbing the whole place of rubble, dirt, debris and corpses. Yes, corpses. Outsiders within BRIMSTONE will be given a census and tasked with identifying any dead body they find. They will then need to transport the corpse to the nearest LILITH disposal truck on a stretcher, where LILITH will cremate it properly. Note that they will be some survivors in the mix, so be prepared to administer first aid and conduct rescue operations accordingly.

Within certain parts of the city (the sewers, in particular, which have flooded with water), the natural flora seems to have been poisoned by a mysterious element. Toxic, monstrous plants are coming alive and attacking anything they see! They bind and strangle Outsiders with their vines and sting them with their nettles. These plants need to be dealt with before they overgrow. Fire & ice works well on them.

"Good afternoon, Angels of LILITH. Please pay close attention to the brief sent to you. We have specific duties for each team. Once you have done enough work, you will be prompted to help another team with their tasks if you desire. Our research crew is searching for the source of the kaiju and we have received information it is in the ocean. Please be ready in case it makes an appearance again before we can find it. You will be staying in Moonlight Inn & 11 Hours hostel once again as we should remain close by. Thank you for the cooperation."

Outsiders will need to finish their team missions. However, if they have time afterward and want to do some overtime, they are more than welcome to help the other teams on their missions.

▶ 003. IT ISN'T OVER YET.

Those who remember the mission brief two weeks ago will know that the first shockwaves are usually the sign of an impending kaiju. LILITH is conducting their own investigations, but with a fresh and energetic workforce it only makes sense to ultilize it. All Outsiders will be given orders to collect samples and bring it back for ongoing testing. By samples, they mean contaminated fish or ocean life remains, or samples of the toxic plants appearing in the sewers.

For Outsiders braving the sewers, they will need to don the silly hazmat suits issued to BRIMSTONE for their own protection and fight off the monstrous plants to clip some samples. It's encouraged to get leaves, stems, seeds, flowers or the whole plant if you can manage it. (Note that collecting the whole plant in a sample container will result in said plant hissing and striking you through the glass.)

For Outsiders who feel like taking a swim, they will be given diving suits and ordered to take a dive in Tokyo Bay. Once in the waters, they are to hunt down and capture any contaminated fish or marine life they can find. This means tuna fish with three eyes or octopi with two heads and 16 legs. It's encouraged to capture them live, but LILITH will also accept remains or waste samples. (Note that the available oxygen in the tank is limited and attempting to swim too far from Neo Tokyo will likely result in an Outsider drowning. )

▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our first CR Building event! All prompts are highly encouraged but OOCly optional. Characters are encouraged to participate in their team-specific missions but can help out the other teams if they have time. Feel free to ask any event-related questions below!

As always, you are free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts!

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each. Have fun! The next log will feature the kaiju fight and will be posted on FEBRUARY 1st in lieu of a TDM.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ There is a lot going on - Aki has had to adjust quickly, push himself to adapt to a world that is both familiar and achingly different, having his perspective totally switched up on him. It means he's been forgetting to do simple things like take care of himself, the kind of thing that Denji would definitely shout at him and scold him for, but...

It's hard to keep going when his mind is the way that it is.

Reaching out, he draws the rice closer with a small smile. ]

Do you want to join me?

[Join the club. Everyone they kidnapped and shoved in here has had to do that. Is still doing that if they're going to be honest with themselves. Without knowing what team this guy is on, Bakugo had to determine whether to let him just wilt away at the table or make him eat. Considering he's Denji's friend...

Whatever. He'll drop him off at Denji's room later, when it looks like Aki's actually got strength enough to walk.]

As long as you're not gonna run your mouth.

[Bakugo takes a seat beside him, setting down another bowl/plate combo. He leaves just long enough to get some bottled water, but that's about all the fare options the cafeteria will have on hand for a bit.]

That's not my style.

[ Aki could never claim to be talkative or chatty; he might fill in the gaps if he's with people he recognises, or is familiar with, but he's not going to sit and chatter away with a relative stranger. It just doesn't sit right with him, and that's something he can live with.

He's still adjusting, after all. He only has one arm, he isn't sure if he has a life waiting for him at home... Maybe the quiet will do him some good.

Leaning back, he rubs a hand over his face before he breathes out softly. ]

Have you been here a long time?

[Bakugo just grunts in acknowledgement and spoons in. The rice is salted to a bare degree, since the stew has been spiced enough to at least make for a good taste. Everything's been cooked to a nice texture, though does err more on the side of firm to avoid running into mushy risk.

Plenty of people here have their own struggles and thoughts about what to do, where to go, what will be. There's nothing they can do right now to return home, much less find out information regarding their home and what was left behind... Bakugo has suspicions, but that's all they are.]

A month.

[A little over.]

[ It's nice, as nice as something he might make at home, and that means Aki approves of it. The instinct to go out of his way to make something as good to eat for Denji is still present, but he needs a little bit of time to get his funds together. They're not getting paid as handsomely as the devil hunters at home did, but it's enough.

Leaning back in his chair, he nods his head absently. ]

That seems to be when most people showed up. [ He's been speaking to Denji. ] How have you found the training?

[It's true their funds here aren't as well off as the ones they had back home, whether it was paid position or some kind of allowance (depending on age and life circumstances). But what they do make is enough if you're smart with it. Buying in bulk, going to market places or personal sellers rather than what chains are still open. Not being as picky with food.

And certainly knowing how to use what you have is a big benefit.]

That's when they started kidnapping people. [He's always going to call it kidnapping cause that's what it is.] It's effective enough to get an idea of what we can do and what kinds of smaller monsters we'll face. But it's unstable at times and fucking suspicious they have such detailed data on the monsters.

It is suspicious, but if they've fought them before, then it would make sense that they have data on them.

[ Devil Hunters had managed to get information about various devils in their time fighting them - on the Gun Devil for example, or some of the ones in containment below their main base. It's not a bad idea to have research, but if they're able to gather that information, why can't they fight?

Shifting his weight, balance still a little awkward with his one arm, Aki sighs. ]

Has there been much information about the world outside this City? We're in Japan, but what about the United States, of Europe?

Uh-huh. Enough to develop replicas of their nests, habits, internal organs, everything feels real.

[He agrees that it's not out of the realm of logic to gather intel and data to create these simulations. Gathering information from people's video feeds, eye witness reports, captive specimens, and so forth, isn't hard to imagine. But even if the how and why can be easily answered... it's impossible not to be suspect of someone who kidnaps outsiders to make them fight for them, while people work behind the scenes to study the foes being taken down. Governments aren't all light and good will...

Bakugo doesn't doubt them, but he's not about to up and trust them completely either. He's keeping a cautious eye.

As for the "why can't they fight" question... considering there's apparently only 30% of the world's population left thanks to these monsters, it makes sense to sick "not our world" people on them?]

Apart from the big percentage they gave us in orientation, nothing. Some of the simulations take place in other countries though.

[Fighting monster snails in view of the Eiffel Tower anyone?]

I haven't had a lot of experience of the simulations, so I'll trust your judgement.

[ Aki understands the suspicion. Maybe he is just too acclimated to the nature of fighting devils, of being sent out on missions against monsters that he doesn't recognise that well, or knowing that he might die in the meantime. At least in the simulations, they're going to get out of it alive - as far as he knows. Things could end up being far more dangerous in reality.

He takes a little bit of time to eat his rice, thoughtful as he listens to Bakugo. Then - ]

That does suggest other places might still exist, or they're testing us on other terrain. It's not a terrible idea.

[ And a good way to judge their experiences, all things considered. ]

You're not happy here, then?

It's not running all the time. And the damn moderator can get fucking drunk.

[Which left Bakugo and other Outsiders stranded in the simulation, which was already "drunk touched" enough to be whacked out in the first place, for hours, dealing with injuries that wouldn't "heal" like they were supposed to post sim...

But Aki has a similar thought line to Bakugo. The simulation can only give them so much experience before it starts to cut into the real world trials waiting. Like training too much against a weak opponent. The real thing isn't a simulation...

Bakugo pops a piece of meat in his mouth before mixing the stew with the rice for a chunkier compote-style meal.]

As far as I know, the rest of the world is like Earth. [He knows Denji came from his own world's Earth, so Aki must be the same.] Only ravaged by kauji.

[Good to know all those Godzilla films aren't going to waste in the mind! Who knew?]

Who the fuck's happy getting kidnapped from their home and conscripted into a monster-fighting army?

It wouldn't be the first time I've seen someone in a position of power drink. That doesn't make it less irritating.

[ Aki really hadn't minded being stuck in the simulation, since it gave him a little more time to practice with his balance and the awkwardness of fighting with one arm, but he can appreciate why it might be frustrating for other people. The most difficult part for him had been the snow; he's still not good at dealing with winter.

Leaning back in his chair, he sighs softly. ]

Damaged, then, so it's safe to assume it'll be too dangerous to go out and attempt to explore any further.

[ He takes a few more bites of his rice, trying not to smile a little at the response. ]

It's just like home for me. I'd rather not have been kidnapped, but since Denji's here... Then I'm glad I'm here too.

Then you can handle the people bitching when it happens.

[Bakugo wasn't an easy person to deal with when he got trapped in the simulation either. Raging and cussing at the sky and firing off a few explosions to try and wake the bastard up. Took about three minutes of attempts before he had to acknowledge it was useless and they were here till the guy awoke. Ripped into him when they got out, that's for sure...

And Bakugo can relate to Aki not liking the cold weather.]

I don't think this place is going to send a squad of police out to drag you back if you leave.

[But considering the AI was able to transport people back to their rooms just for not following the fucking "be polite" prompt, that's not assured... Still, no one said they weren't allowed to leave the city. It was just... not incentivized very much. Wandering kaiju out there also made it less an ideal idea.]

Tch. Devil hunting. He mentioned that earlier.

[Not in detail, but it was touched on.]

It wouldn't be the first time.

[ Denji and Power bitched and complained enough that Aki couldn't do much more than deal with it, so here he is. His attitude towards all of this perhaps a little more pensive than it ought to be, but given that Denji is here... That is where his attention lies. Fighting monsters doesn't frighten him, not if they're going to be on the same playing field as the devils he fought at home.

He still has his contracts here, still has his abilities, so he can fight. He just needs to see if he can get himself another arm.

Though... ]

'He'? Do you mean Denji?

[ Is his charge making friends? ]

[A grunted acknowledgement is all Aki gets in response. If he wants to handle that, he's more than welcome to take the load off Bakugo before it even happens. Aki's blase attitude towards everything points to him either being shell shocked over the capture, or he's just used to this kind of shit (which raises more questions). That's to be expected when dealing with people hailing from different worlds. Bakugo's own has plenty of monstrous villains to contend with.

Plus the idea of kaiju isn't unknown in his world. Heroes need big giant things to smack around on TV and shit, right?

Bakugo picks up his drink.]

Yeah? Chainsaw Face talked about his world and you a few times. How the hell do you think I recognized you?

[Mostly the topknot...]

I didn't think about you recognising me at all.

[ Leaning back in his chair, he frowns a little, placing his chopsticks down carefully. It's good to hear that Denji seems to have been talking to people here and getting to know them, branching out, but... He doesn't want to pressure this guy into telling him things that he's not necessarily inclined to share.

He's not going to demand anything of anyone, not right now. He's still adjusting to being here to begin with. ]

I'm surprised he talked about me.

Urusei. [He wasn't looking for that to be taken literally. Who the hell answers that kind of question anyways?

Granted, Bakugo hasn't spoken a lot to Denji about his past. He recognized quickly enough there were heavy things in his history, painful things he didn't want to talk about. He's not one to push into someone's past unless it's necessary for a task at hand. But there were a few mentions, a few dabbles into those areas. While Bakugo's not going to say he and Denji are "friends" (because Bakugo outright refuses to admit he's one to anyone) they have worked together on missions and projects.

Surprised he talked about him? That says a lot... Bakugo finishes off his bowl of rice and stew.] We traded meals.

[Denji cooked Bakugo an omelet one morning, so Bakugo made him katsudon for dinner.]

He cooked? And you didn't throw up?

[ That makes a change. The one time Denji and Power had tried to cook for him, Aki had been sick immediately, so to hear that Denji has had time to grow and learn to cook properly... How long has he been alone for? If Aki was still with him, he'd be cooking all his meals, he'd be providing for him, making sure that he was being taken care of...

Brows furrowing, he shakes his head. ]

Either you have a metal stomach, or he's learned a lot since I saw him last.

I would've told you if I did.

[Or at least implied it by snarling that Denji shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the kitchen or badgering Aki on why the hell he didn't actually impart some kind of basic cooking skills to Denji.

So this means Aki's from a time before Denji. That's... annoying to think about. People arriving from the same world, but from different points on the timeline. Ugh. Reminders, catch up, spoilers, what a fucking mess.]

It's hard to fuck up an omelet.

[Though that's giving Denji more credit than due, since Bakugo's seen people fuck up just chopping chives.]

You would be surprised.

[ He has no expectations of Bakugo, no expectations of Denji, either - he just isn't sure what is happening here, or what has happened at home. Denji can't talk about it, or won't, and now he has to try and figure out what to do with the uncertainties. What to do with the confusion, and that unsettling feeling in his gut. ]

Denji wasn't very good at cooking when I saw him last, but maybe that's changed. A little time here might have given him some skills. I'm glad to hear it.

[ And he does smile, just a little bit. ]

I said hard. Not impossible.

[And really, he knows many ways an omelet can get screwed up. Shells in the mix. Missing the bowl/skillet. Burning the thing to tire rubber. Under cooked slop. Overdone spices for dragon breath. Getting cocky with the flipping and sending it flying across the damn kitchen. Bakugo's classmates run the gauntlet of masterful cooking to cursed in the kitchen.]

He did well enough.

[Something about the way Aki's talking and the brief comments from Denji give Bakugo one of those sinking feelings. Like something's not right between the two of them. It's not just the fact they were pulled from different points on their world's timeline...]

Good.

[ Aki sighs. Leaning back in his chair, he crosses one leg over the other, staring at the bowl of food in front of him before he gets completely lost in his own thoughts. He should finish it, but he doesn't necessarily have the energy to do that; he will, in a moment, but... ]

Are we allowed to do much of our own cooking here? The staff didn't seem happy when I was trying to make some lunch.

Cook in your dorm, not the cafeteria.

[Of course the staff would be ticked if someone came in and just started helping themselves to their kitchen! They even got mad at Bakugo when he did it, buuut since he brought his own shit and was a snarling beast about the interruption, he got his little spot. Would've preferred to cook in Everlight...]

They have grocery stores and market places here.

[If you have the money and time, you can cook for yourself. Just probably won't find a ton of fancier ingredients compared to your modern normal world?]

I found those. I don't want to make anything particularly fancy, but a few lunches would be good.

[ He wants to give Denji something good, and if he can take the position of cooking meals for him again, it might make things easier. He can appreciate not wanting strangers - 'Outsiders' - in your kitchen, too.

Arm resting across his chest, he sighs. ]

Thank you. For the information.

Make whatever you want with what you get.

[Bakugo's not here to police anyone's cooking. Unless, of course, it's for something necessary, like being told to cook for other people. Then he'll snarl if someone's putting out shit work. Luckily they've had one of those incidents, so...

Whether Aki finishes the food or not isn't an issue. Though preferably he'd take back with him whatever he didn't finish. Unless it's, you know, mere scrap.]

Tch. [He just did it because he didn't want to deal with Denji getting bent out of shape about Aki starving in the cafeteria. That's all. Right.] There are a few restaurants as well.

Yeah, I went to one with Denji. He bought dinner.

[ Which was a... Very strange and weird experience for Denji, who is far more accustomed to treating Denji than the other way around. Everything here has been strange and weird, and it's left him annoyed, frustrated, gritting his teeth and trying to find a way to work around it. The weight of change is heavy on his shoulders, and he lifts his hand to rub at his eyes.

The sword at his back feels heavier, all of a sudden, and he reaches around awkwardly to unstrap it and rest it over his legs, stroking his thumb against the pommel. ]

Are you on the same team as him? Denji?

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #1

▶ 001. GET ALONG PROMPT

▶ 002. TEAM ACTIVITIES.

▶ 003. IT ISN'T OVER YET.

▶ 004. AFTERWORD.

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