TEXT | BONUS XMAS MINGLE

[synfluxmods]

[ The moment the clock strikes 12 midnight to usher in Christmas Day, a hoard of delivery drones will be activated throughout the base. They enter each Outsider's room or finds them where they might be and drops a gift off into their hands. Some Outsiders who have been gifted a paid subscription or virtual gift will receive this gift in their oculars instead.

Each gift was individually chosen. Please refer to this table to see what your character will receive! (If we have missed anyone, please contact us on the mod contact page.)

There's a brief note from Captain Yamakawa. ]


My Angels of LILITH,

I know we haven't made it easy on you during your stay here, but please know that we truly, genuinely appreciate your service and what you have done to protect our world from the impending threats. Please take this gift as a token of LILITH's appreciation.

Happy Holidays to you all. Let's hope for a peaceful and fruitful new year.


Sincerely,
Jun Yamakawa

[ Feel free to use this network post to chat about the gifts your characters received. Happy Holidays everyone!! ]

Comments

@ SHASH

[gyve]

Are they spicy?

( please god )

[fastpaced]

they can b

[gyve]

Then I'll take one.

What exactly are they? Not actual dogs, right? I think that'd upset a couple of people here.

[fastpaced]

course not!
its pork usually
u kno what a sausage is? its like that but in a bun w chili on it and its awesome

[gyve]

I've heard of sausage and chili

( exposed to so many new foods at once, it's almost impossible to keep track of them all. pork, however, is something he knows—and likes. )

I can't say for sure if I'll find the combination good
I'll try anything recommended though
Should I meet you somewhere

[fastpaced]

[ that's the spirit, kaladin. ]

yea at the restaurant!!
its called ichiwan dogs
u need directions or do u kno how 2 look it up in ur head map?

[gyve]

I've got it figured out now thanks

( so thoughtful... a month ago, kaladin might've needed the help, and he appreciates having the option.

not doing much, he heads out. en route, he asks sonic the Real questions. )

If it's not made of dogs I wonder why they call it a hot dog
Is it your favourite kind of food

[fastpaced]

ok dont take 2 long

[ so pushy. he's impatient! ]

beats me!
but yea its my fav!!
i like trying new stuff around the world but nothings beaten a good chili dog so far!
its comfort food u know

[gyve]

Moving as fast as I can on two legs

( he could fly there but that'd be a gross misuse of limited resources..........

MARCHES FASTER... HOT DOGS!!! )

I understand what you're saying
Though I haven't found an equivalent to what I'd consider a comfort food yet
Maybe it's a chili dog

ETA 8 minutes

( more like ten, but kaladin makes it in eight. no one ever said he couldn't jaywalk to reach his destination dodging a couple of automatic cars. ichiwan dogs doesn't look more or less special than any other eatery on this strip, but he isn't in the habit of judging books by their covers.

at least it'll be relatively easy to find sonic when there are only a couple of patrons in the building. )

Are you... Need-Four-Speed? ( asked on approach, uncertain he has the right guy. who knows? he could be looking for a woman. )

I'm Kaladin. I'm here for the "chili dog."

[fastpaced]

[ ugh... eight minutes..... that's basically forever....... Sonic resigns himself to the wait. If he were out somewhere in nature, enjoying the beautiful scenery, it wouldn't be so bad, but he's already taken in all the sights around this particular part of Neo Tokyo, and the only things that change are the advertisements. Not particularly thrilling.

On the bright side, he does have a big chili dog that he paid nothing for, so, really, he can't complain.

He might stick out among the patrons for his age and stature - a short young teenager out on Christmas Eve by himself. He may also stick out for how bored he looks, or for his bright blue hair, or for how he immediately perks up and squints at Kaladin when he enters. Sonic's been doing this for literally everyone that walked in the store for the past five minutes, and what do you know - it paid off eventually. ]

There you are! I was starting to wonder if you were gonna show. [ it was literally eight minutes. ] My name's -- well, you can call me "Oggie" for now. Nice to meetcha, Kaladin!

[ holding out his hand for a shake! ]

[gyve]

( well, whatever personality he might've conjured up for sonic isn't the one he's met with, taken aback by the enthusiasm. the last time anyone greeted him so brightly was a couple of years ago now, a time he refuses to think about as he awkwardly shakes sonic's hand.

oggie's hand. oh, storms, he's already messed this up. )

Uh, it's... it's actually "Calvin." Calvin Wero. My... My head's been in the clouds all day.

( incredible save. none of the other patrons care or even notice the blunder, too busy living their lives. eating their dogs. )

Nice to meet you, too. I'm not late, am I?

[fastpaced]

Whoops, sorry. Must've heard you wrong! It's kinda loud - holidays, am I right?

[ he gives "Calvin" a big, cheesy wink. Don't worry, homie, he's got you. ]

You're not too late! This thing doesn't expire until I order 1500 dogs. Even I can't eat that fast. [ Sonic raises a hand towards the man behind the counter at this little hot-dog-stand-cum-ramen-bar, chirping brightly: ] Hey, can I get another one for my buddy? Make it spicy!

[gyve]

( that cheesy wink does more for him at that moment than being weightless in the sky would. sonic... reminds him of a friend. so kaladin, amazed to see someone unrepentantly joyful in such a dreary city, can only tower dumbly behind sonic and try to regain focus. )

Fif... Fifteen hundred? ( from SYNTHIA? for christmas? what the— ) I got a t-shirt.

( —HELL? HOW IS THAT FAIR? )

At least you're sharing with the rest of us.

[fastpaced]

[ look at him just standing there... Sonic, clueless to his inner turmoil, simply scoots over and pats the spot next to him, inviting him to sit down. ]

Hmm... Maybe she didn't know what to get you?

[ at least Kaladin wears shirts. Sonic would have just given that gift away if he received it... ]

[gyve]

( straightens up, hesitating over sonic's invitation. then miraculously—though reluctantly—he goes to him.

taking a seat, kaladin grunts. ) Maybe. It's not like I wanted anything, but giving me nothing wouldn't have been as amusing for her. ( synthia has a strange sense of humour.

he doesn't fault her for it. it occasionally annoys him, as most things do. )

What do you do for work, Oggie? Here, in the city. I haven't seen you around much.

[fastpaced]

[ poor guy must be shy, he figures. Sonic makes a mental note to treat him with care. And also to try and figure out something that he likes so that he can be given a proper present at some later point in time. ]

Me? I'm a delivery guy! Mostly picking up pizzas and stuff for people, things like that. I know how to get anywhere in the city in no time.

[ privately, he thinks that Kaladin probably has seen him around - just not in this form. He's hard to miss when he's on the base. ]

[gyve]

You must have a good sense of direction. ( if not, then kaladin supposes the implants have map functions, but sonic suggests he gets around quickly without fuss.

that doesn't suggest ignorance in which way to go. maybe he's been in neo tokyo longer than kaladin first thought. )

Do you only deliver food, or does it extend to everything? There's a lot of work that could be done for the hospital. Neo Tokyo Central is understaffed... We're trying to account for everything, but it's tough with everything going on. If you ever want to run medical supplies, it'd be a big help.

[fastpaced]

[ he tilts his head; if his ears were visible, they'd be perked. ]

Really? Geez, I didn't know. [ more resolutely: ] Of course I can help! Just let me know. I don't know anything about healing people, but I guarantee you won't find anyone faster than me in the whole city.

[ shadow hadn't shown up yet at this time so he's correct ]

[gyve]

Just like that, huh? Thanks, Oggie. Let's talk about it later; I'll give you the details.

( that's an impressive set of morals... kaladin thinks he ought to keep track of this one. like-minded people should stick together, especially when outnumbered by those with sour opinions.

leans in a little, voice lower. )

That's a pretty confident statement, though. How fast are you?

( kaladin doesn't know that if he'd been two minutes slower getting to the hot dog place, sonic would've given up on him )

[fastpaced]

[ what's this? one of his favorite subjects? Sonic smirks, leaning in in return, and looks quite smug. ]

Just the speed of sound. I can run anywhere in the city and back in five minutes or less.

[ the only thing he has to worry about is getting caught - civilians aren't supposed to see him using his powers, especially while he's in disguise. It's a pain specifically because it means he has to slow down sometimes... ]

[gyve]

( ... but... sound travels instantaneously, doesn't it? to an extent. if he yells, someone across the street would immediately hear it.

that fast? )

I... don't think I can even comprehend how fast that is. ( when their chili dogs are ready, kaladin stays seated out of respect for the sheer magnitude of what he's just heard. )

Amazing. That's just... amazing. Could you show me sometime? If I can even... perceive motion that quickly.

[fastpaced]

[ the praise has him grinning ear to ear; he gives Kaladin an affirmative nod. ]

You bet! Just wait until we get back to base. Hold onto your socks, 'cause I'm gonna blow 'em off!

[ there's nothing he loves more than running - how fortunate to be blessed with an ability that only enhances that love. Also fortunate for this specific situation: he loves to show off. It doesn't take long to cook a few hot dogs, especially in a hot-dog-specific food stall, so the attendant comes back over to them with two freshly-grilled chili dogs in little paper boats, steam still rising from their spicy toppings, and sets them before Sonic and Kaladin. ]

[gyve]

My... My socks?

( first, someone steals his boots, and now his socks will fly off... when will someone attack him directly instead of always aiming at his poor feet? WHEN?

he's back to looming behind sonic, unsure what to do with himself until the purpose for their visit is placed into his hands. accepting the chili dog is like holding a newborn baby; he awkwardly cups it, fearful it'll fall and spill everywhere.

it smells... good. it smells amazing. )

My mouth is watering. ( a detail that startles him. the food in his country can be good, but soldiers eat primarily rations or stew. maybe a dense curry that sticks to the ribs, spicy and delicious. but there's nothing like this. chouta, maybe, a handheld meat wrap, but that's soulcast—fake—meat. )

What's the best way to eat it? Do you just pick it up with your hands?

[fastpaced]

[ considering the average chili dog's propensity to make a huge mess, kaladin's ginger handling might be warranted...

Sonic's still all smiles, nodding in understanding at Kaladin's reaction. ]

I know, right? These are my favorite food. [ clearly, Kaladin is a man of taste. At his questioning, Sonic goes ahead and picks up his own. ] You just pick it up and chow down. Like this!

[ as if to demonstrate, he takes a comically large bite out of his chili dog, which, predictably, ends up getting chili on his nose and slightly on his hands, but it's fine, because it's delicious. ]