expiationlogs | MINGLE LOG: AUGUST

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MINGLE LOG: AUGUST

IT'S CASINO

What have the five NPCs that split off to work on their special project been doing all this time? Well, they’re ready to unveil it. The new NPCs as well as the locals hand out small pamphlets to invite the Chosen to a Great Unveiling that’s going to be done in the evening on the 21st of August. They encourage them to dress their best, and miraculously, Rin's tailor shop has new clothes for sale! When the time comes and the Chosen have begun to gather, the workers who have prepared this building so diligently cuts a bow up in front as the building flickers to life behind them.

It’s a casino! (Who knows where they got that idea.) Or rather, a new event hall. But right now, it looks like a pretty flashy casino.

Come on in!

ANTE UP!

I. DON'T BET THE HOUSE

Chosen who decide to meander past a grumpy man and into the casino itself are met with an opulent scene before them.

There's a large main hall, full of tables with games run by a surprising combination of fairies and local citizens from Aldrip. Further in, there's a massive space to lounge, socialize, and eat. Here you'll find couches for cozy conversation, tables for dining, and a cash bar on the side.

Rooms in the back offer more serious games--you may find a table of fairies playing poker, for example--but...some attendants may close the door to bar your entry, at least for now. These tables are for only the highest rollers, folks.

The sound of music may lead you further back, where you'll find a stage and musicians playing a plethora of music from different worlds that have gathered here, and a space to dance as well. For those who aren't the gambling sort, it seems as if there are still plenty of things to do.

Party away!

II. PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT

There is a grumpy-looking man in a small, dark room off the main hall of the Casino. He’s drumming his fingers on the table, and, if approached, is rather rude about it. He’ll try to chase onlookers out of the room, and then start groaning about how someone is “taking too long” and “not respecting his valuable time, for goodness sake!”

Shortly, some of the NPCs from the desert approach the room with giant sacks and lots of apologies. The tinkerer pulls tablets and cords out of the bags (some half-fixed thanks to industrious Chosen), throws his tools onto the table, and gets to work. He has tools to fix cracked screens and inner parts of the tablet to make them…work? Interesting.

For now, this tinkerer is not interactive, but he has some choice remarks for those brave–or brazen–enough to try socializing with him. Don’t just stand there! Hand me that screwdriver! or take this out to the dumpster around back, will ya? or even the occasional grab me a drink! It’s stuffier than an armpit in summer back here...though if you’re planning to run errands for him, be aware that his tab is not in good standing. If he wants you to run errands for him, you’re probably going to have to pick up the tab, either with coin or with work.

If someone were to look over his shoulder as he's doing his tinkering, they might see the words CYCLE 15 on the loading screen. Otherwise, it's just a lot of blue and black maintenance screens as he's essentially having to do a system restore of the tablets.

LUCK OF THE DRAW

The tables in the main room are where the more adventurous Chosen may go to gamble. Currently, NPCs are running the roulette and blackjack tables, but if someone wants to be the one to run these games, they won’t say no! There’s also slot machines from the sounds of the bells in the distance, so there’s plenty of ways to test your luck. Just be aware that there may be… consequences, whether your character does well or poorly at the games.

Below, there will be a comment section for players who may want the mod team to choose their luck for them. There are three options that you may choose:

You comment with a heads or tails, and we’ll roll the dice for the corresponding “good” or “bad” scenarios.

You comment with whether you want “good luck” or “bad luck” to happen to your character, and then we’ll roll for their consequences.

If you want to put your character's fate in our hands, you can just comment that you want us to rng it all!

SPOILERS: if you want bad effects to be a surprise, don't peek!

The “bad effects” are as follows: memory loss, temporarily loss of taste, can’t speak certain words for a couple of days, feel compelled to follow orders to the person they lost to (kind of like a King's Game), forced honesty, bad luck (which is entirely up to you, the player, on how to interpret this), and temporarily losing one ability of your choice for the next event.

If you want to participate and there’s something you’re not cool with us landing on for the bad effects, just let us know which ones you’re not comfortable with and we’ll leave it out of the rng pool!

A Note: The “good” and “bad” effects won here may have some mild influences on your character for the next event. Nothing life threatening or incapacitating, but just keep in mind if you want us to roll for your bad effects. If you want to just say you had shit luck in the slots and you don’t want your character to have any effects at all, this is fine. It’s not mandatory to have either effect happen to your character to have a good time playing in the casino.

WILDCARD

Go wild! This is a casino after all, and there’s supplies to play pretty much any gambling or card game laying around. If you can’t easily find it, an NPC would be more than happy to help a Chosen find the items they need to play the game they want. Want to play Go Fish while you drink your cocktail? That’s fine too. Anything goes!

A Note: This casino is going to be available in full capabilities until the end of the month. After that, the mod team will explain what’s going to become of it then and in the future!

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Sigma-san!

[She beams brightly, resting both hands on the bar and looking a little proud of herself. Lupin really doesn't need the money, but she thought it would be fun! And since Sigma is from the same kind of place as Dazai, if she can get Sigma's approval, that's like getting Dazai's approval. Not that she needs it, per se, but it's nice to have.]

There's a couple options! I can make you a regular old drink, or if you want, you can flip a coin! Heads, your drink is free! Tails, I'm gonna charge you double price, though. Or you could buy a drink and spin the wheel for a prize!

[She came up with it all on her own, and honestly? She's a little proud, even if it feels a little better suited to a cultural festival than a bar. It seems like it would be fun, so she hopes other people also have fun!]

Want to give it a try?

Edited 2023-08-24 22:28 (UTC)

[ Putting his money right back where he earns it may be a little silly, but 1) seeing other people playing and having fun is the best way to draw more in, and 2) Kotone looks so pleased with herself, of course he's going to give it a shot. ]

I'd love to try. Let's see, how about...

[ Hmm hmm, which of these has the most Spectacle? ]

I'll go ahead and buy something to spin the wheel.

Okay! What do you wanna order?

[Hopefully nothing too complicated... Sigma's from the same place as Dazai and Chuuya, which means he must know way more about alcohol than she does. But she'll try her best! And hopefully Sigma will like the result.]

You can spin when you're ready!

[ Nooot as much as she'd think. He usually sticks to sparkling wine when he has the option, it's tasty and he knows he likes it, but he also realizes that's not a very exciting choice when trying to drum some up is partly what he's hoping to do here. Of course, hanging around his casino and Lupin he's heard plenty of names by now, just not had the chance to try them...

...This counts as a special occasion, right? One perfect for trying new things? Right??

He leans in, as if about to tell Kotone an embarrassing secret. ]

You wouldn't happen to be able to make a mudslide, would you?

I think so!

[She reaches under the bar to pull out a little notebook, crammed full of pieces of paper and notes that she's been taking since she started working at Lupin. Mudslide, mudslide... Oh! She likes that one, actually, and she smiles brightly as she taps her notebook.]

Yeah! Gimme just a sec, I can make it. You want it with ice cream, right?

[And she's already turning to the fridge. Making ice cream is way more of a pain than just buying it at a local convenience store, but it's kind of fun to make, too! So she has some. Otherwise, heavy cream it is.]

[ Oh! He hasn't heard of it being made with ice cream before, how delightful. He's going to down this thing much faster than he should, isn't he...? ]

Yes please!

[It's called having fun and enjoying life, Sigma! Humming a little to herself as she starts her preparations, she tosses him another smile over her shoulder.]

Have you ever been to places like this, Sigma-san? I haven't ever seen anything like it.

[ He'll take a lean on the nearest stable surface, curiously watching her work. ]

I ran a casino an awful lot like this one, actually. So it's far more familiar than anything else I've seen here.

Oh, really?

[She almost looks embarrassed as she keeps working on the drink -- vodka, coffee liqueur, what Dazai has assured her is Irish cream even if there's no "Ireland" to speak of, ice cream, and ice. Sure, she could make the easier version and just use a shaker with heavy cream but-! Ice cream! The old-timey blender doesn't look like it's going to short out just yet.]

So you're the expert on this kind of stuff? Do you like what I set up? Be honest.

[Her little game... does it fit the casino vibe? Did she do good?]

Oh, I do. It wasn't all roulette tables and slot machines--we had smaller raffles like this to break up routine all the time. You can't very well keep regulars entertained if it's the same options day in and day out, can you?

[ In theory, at least, but Kotone doesn't need to know the nitty-gritty of his odd situation. He had his vision for his casino and he's sticking to it. ]

People are also more likely to play with a little liquid courage in them. I could easily see the wheel being a hit.

Oooh...

[That feels like useful advice she should remember for later, just in case Dazai wants her to keep working at the bar. Mix things up to keep regulars entertained... got it! But also don't take the usual stuff off the menu either, probably? Boy, it's a lot to think about.

Still, she tosses him a grin over her shoulder when he says he likes the wheel, even as she turns the blender on and it whirs to life. She doesn't say anything else until it's finished chopping up and mixing the ice, then as she's assembling the drink, she adds,] I'm really glad to hear that! I just wanted to do something fun for everyone. Stuff has been kind of hard for a lot of people since the desert, I think.

[ Oh good, a convenient segue. He didn't want to spoil the mood, but he has to know. ]

I've been meaning to ask how you've been doing since then, actually. You weren't hurt too badly, were you?

[ His own wound is no longer in a sling, but still lightly bandaged beneath his suit just to be careful. The thought of her having to deal with the same thing, the throbbing and bleeding for days with no one knowing what to do other than just not touch it... ]

No, I'm okay!

[She'd twisted her ankle pretty badly and kept fighting on it, but that was something normal healing could take care of. The rest...

Well, she's had worse! If there are still bandages wrapped around her back where she'd taken a hit or two, well, they can't be seen under her dress and they aren't stopping her from moving, so clearly there's nothing to worry about.]

What about you, Sigma-san? Everything okay after the desert?

[Less physically and more mentally. He might be older than her (she thinks), but it's still important to ask.]

[ She does look like she's doing alright, no visible injuries and seemingly plenty of energy. He doesn't really have any reason to push, so, suppose he'll have to trust her word on it.

And so, it's good news. ]

Much better now that we're out of it. I don't know about you, but I can't stand the heat.

[ As if to illustrate the point he tugs at his collar, just enough for effect. ]

[Source: just trust her.

She giggles a little, eyes twinkling with a bit of mischief.]

You're probably not very good in the kitchen, huh?

[If you can't stand the heat... etc. etc. She thinks it's funny, anyway, as she carefully adds some chocolate syrup to the inside of the glass and pours in the the rest of the -- well, it's basically a milkshake the way she's made it, but Sigma hadn't said stop, so...]

Ta-da! One frozen mudslide!

[ At first there's a blank look of confusion, as if he genuinely doesn't get it.

--And then the lightbulb. Oh. Oh! Har har, you silly little goober.

By the time that's had the chance to connect, though, he's being presented with what looks like heaven in a glass as far as he's concerned. He'd say it looks too good to actually drink, but who would he be kidding, he's so excited to give it a try. ]

Thank you for going through the trouble! I've never gotten to order something like this so I wasn't sure if it was too much.

[ And well, he needs to let her know if it's good, so he'll have an experimental sip...okay, nope. Yep. Big sip. That should speak for itself. ]

Oooh dear, this is not going to be my last.

Never?

[Considering how much Chuuya and Dazai drink, she'd just assumed all of the guys from their part of the world were the same way. Still, she looks genuinely pleased to see how happy Sigma looks upon receiving his drink, pressing a hand to her heart.]

I'm really glad you like it! I don't actually drink that much, but I like stuff like this more than the harder stuff Dazai-san and Chuuya drink. The stuff they like is way too bitter.

[She winks at him, still grinning.]

I'll make it for you any time you want!

I'm more of a social drinker who had few opportunities to be social. Which may have partially been my own fault--I do like to keep myself busy.

[ If she's seen him on the clock at Lupin, yeah. That tracks. His nose is always either stuck in files and forms or checking on equipment and inventory to keep everything running as smooth as it possibly can. He's probably even gotten on Dazai's case about proper business management where other employees could hear at least once. ]

Careful, I may take you up on that offer. [ Ooone more sip. ] Ah, but we're here to play a game at the moment, aren't we?

[Bless Sigma, it's probably the only reason she can actually work there successfully in the first place. Dazai is certainly a... creative... manager...

But she smiles at him, nodding along. She gets it, she also tries to stay busy as much as she can.]

You just gotta keep yourself busy with social things. Multitasking!

[Anyway, yes, she moves down the bar to the wheel, beaming with pride.]

Whenever you're ready. I mean, I guess the coupon's not a great prize for you, is it...? [And that's like, the best prize in her opinion! Or second-best, at least. Coupon for Lupin, personal request of Kotone, free spin, free drink, and nothing.]

[ Busy with social things? Like, what, organizing brunches or something? Most of the people he knows aren't really the type, not without ulterior motives...maybe he should make a point to get to know people who are the type. That's a whole other issue, though. ]

I could always gift it to someone else. Just one more way to generate traffic. [ Said with a smile--he may not know brunch types, but he does know drinking types.

Anyway, time to give the wheel a decent spin! Spin, spin, spin! ]

[Sigma, honey... she'll be your brunch buddy any day. She gasps with a,] Noooo! [when he suggests gifting it to someone else, though. That's no fun at all!] You're not allowed to think of it as part of the business, okay?

[She peers over the bar as he spins the wheel, though, watching it go around and around. It's kind of childish to be proud of the little contraption, right? But she still looks pretty pleased to see it getting some use.]

Oooh! ["Personal request!" She leans back and grins at him.] Anything within reason, to be redeemed whenever you want.

Anything, any time?

[ He stops a sip to give Kotone a concerned look. ]

Shiomi-san, that's quite a prize to just be giving out to anyone who spins the wheel. Are you sure about this?

Within reason! [she repeats with a shrug. Yeah, seems fine to her? What's the problem?]

I mean, if it's something I don't want to do, I can say no, I guess.

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MINGLE LOG: AUGUST

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