middleofsomewhere | So Familiar a Gleam: Start

So Familiar a Gleam: Start

JINNJAR CITY

"Welcome to Jinnjar City! A city famed as the central power of all of Diagad, and where the magic happens. It has a big history: the birthplace of the first Heroes Association that led to the creation of the Interstellar Justice Alliance, the protectors of the universe. Compared to other places, Diagad's what many people call a superheroes world, but that isn't true. A lot of us don't have the crazy powers that some of the popular folks have! And people like me? We don't care about saving the world! I'm just trying to make it through school, hang out with friends. Live my life!

People tell thousands of stories about us though, and that I can be proud of. When other planets call for help, it's us that comes running to their aid. Our heroes put their lives on the line for anyone who needs a hand, and sure, I don't count myself one of them... but I want to share their story anyway.

Well, I don't need to be telling you about this city, do I? You're a part of it! Always have been, just like me. So I should talk about some funny stuff that's been going on lately instead…”

A TL;DR notes version of days/prompts: (click to show)

EVENT BASICS: Un-apped AU characters were taken 1 week before the event from their own worlds, their minds altered to believe they were always from Jinnjar, Diagad. They have a superpower because of this and a new life either living alone or with family (other NPCs or PCs). Go to the OOC post for more info.

DAYS ONE-TWO:

Strange streams of colour in the sky have appeared, and looking at them for too long causes strange headaches. At this point you’re not sure what they’re about, but you can investigate them. However, trying to get right close to them is impossible. You will never get high enough. Regardless, let us know if characters will be investigating anything!
Voidtreckers arrive, be on the lookout. People are excited about finding these infamous criminals, and may be bothering those wearing peculiar watches, or the colours of Blue, Red, Purple, or Orange. You might be one of them: the bothered, or botheree. Many games or movie criminals are some adaptation of these Voidtreckers. A lot of people are worried they’re behind the phoenonem in the sky.
Nevertheless, people will still have their own lives to deal with, regardless of worrying events. Play around with what job your character has, if they’re in school, what work they do; if they’re drawn to a night life or just hanging around wherever they like. Characters not used to technology in-canon may find themselves having trouble with this world (despite believing they’ve always lived here).
Some of the Voidtreckers who are most resistant to illusions and mind control will be breaking out by the end of the first day. They will have to lay low and plot in secret, figure out how to make contact with others. The SCA comms do not work.
Other Voidtreckers might begin having dreams about their past by day 2-3.

DAYS THREE-FOUR:

Those who have been brought to the world begin to dream of their real and past lives, if just in very small and confusing snippets. Some of those dreams may bleed into reality, and people may start to recognise absolute strangers, but don't quite always know why. This is stronger for Voidtreckers than 4th wallers.
Random electronics seem to be glitching in odd ways, particularly the training centres, which lock people in together, even random strangers. Mostly it's harmless and more of a pain. People also swear they think they see the tops of buildings 'glitching' or colouring out. People have been speaking about pets going missing on walks, though the zoos and such are mostly fine, save for some of the higher up bird sanctuaries.
More of the Voidtreckers and some of the more resilient guests will begin realising the reality of the place they find themselves in. That this is not their own world at all.
The propaganda of the city starts to escalate, warnings about the dangerous voidtreckers and reminding people of how great the city is.

DAYS ONE & TWO: SLICES OF LIFE

"This is an emergency broadcast to everyone in Jinnjar City. At 08:00 today, a breach into the city was attempted by the invading force known as the Voidtreckers, who have tried countless times before to take over Diagad for themselves.

While it's believed the group was resisted, citizen are advised to watch out for anyone acting suspiciously in the city, and to watch out for this emblem. Please call the D-F-O-R-C-E hotline if you see anyone you suspect of being an intruder!

Remember to keep low altitudes while we deal with the phenomenon above."

[ RAINBOW SKIES. ] "Everyone's been speculating about what's been going on up above. About a week ago, these long streams of twisting colours suddenly spread through the purple skies of Diagad, rainbow colours inking the clouds. They've been growing out, like merging with the sky itself, and news broadcasts have been telling people not to worry. But what even are they? They say that looking at them for too long causes headaches, while some swear up and down they've seen things in them! I've heard a couple of friends talking about investigating them, but I dunno..."

▷ Twisting streams of colour are becoming exposed in the sky, and indeed, those who look too long high up will find themselves receiving headaches and dizziness. They’ll fade once you look away, but those who do decide to investigate by getting close will experience a tug, as if something yearns to take them somewhere. There will be patrolling Heroes - this world's equivalent of police - keeping an eye on things. Maybe your character is one of them, or posing as one. Maybe your character wants to learn more about what these are. Regardless, they won’t be able to get significantly close to the streams no matter how high they aim.

[ THE VOIDTRECKERS. ] "Gossip is HOT about these Voidtreckers. I remember seeing a movie about them once, based on something that happened years ago. They tried hacking their way into taking over a dyson sphere being built - like a giant structure around a star. There's other stories about them too, but are they really the ones behind this? Who are we even meant to be on the lookout for? I don't know... I'm kinda spooked. But do they seriously ride around in a flying train?"

▷ You've heard about the Voidtreckers, whether you remember stories about them or not. Are you bothered about them? The news broadcasts say they got rid of them - then why are they asking people to look out? And what are you supposed to look out for? On top of the emblem, there's chatter going on about watching out for people wearing strange devices on their wrists, and wearing colours of Blue, Red, Purple, and Orange.

Will you defend your city from these mysterious foes? Be smart about it, or rash? Or maybe you're interested to know more for your own deeds… whether or not they’re the Voidtreckers of tale, they may have resources for furthering your own goals.

[ LIVING YOUR LIFE. ] “But nevermind all that! Life’s about having fun and hanging out with your friends too. I work part time, but I’ve got plans after my shift’s done! Doing some shopping, going to see a movie. I can’t stress out about the funny stuff going on. And I heard the new waiter in my favourite cafe is suuuper cute!”

▷ Despite the few anomalies going on, you still have a life part of Jinnjar City. You have a job filled with devices that you’ve been surrounded by all your life, or certainly longer than a week or, so you know how to work a coffee machine, right? You know how to drive an air taxi!

And where would you take one to? To anywhere: to the gym, one of the training centres, a spa, to the movies - normal things that everyone around the city have always been around. Meet up with some friends for fruit smoothies, or watch one of the shadow displays held by the Georgi’s Gang around every street, putting on shows to mesmerise and delight the kids.

Or how about buying your groceries to take back to your apartment or house? You know what all these fruits are! Right? Right?

… … maybe it’s produce from another planet.

DAYS THREE & FOUR: JUST ANOTHER NORMAL DAY

[ DREAMS. ] “Dreams are just dreams, but a lot of people have been talking about them. Like, really being disturbed by them? Not in a creepy ohhh a monster’s coming for me! way, but like, they say they see worlds they swear they’ve been to before. Or see people? I wouldn’t really think about it except, there’s this guy… not like a super cute guy, but someone I think I knew…”

▷ Talk about dreams have been popular lately, though not everyone has them - or, not right away. Sometimes people may be at work, in school, doing nothing in particular when a name (important to their real self) appears in their mind, a flash of scenery. Coming as quickly as it goes. They don’t know what it means, if it isn’t just a symptom of the latest weird gossip influencing them.

But it sticks with you, something you can’t completely dismiss. But surely it’s nothing - right?

[ ANOMALIES. ] ”Just what we need! My friend’s dog’s gotten lost! She was taking him for a walk, and then she just says he went running ahead, and poof! Disappeared! Maybe he saw a cat? He’s always been a lazy chubby thing, but even dogs can’t help themselves, I guess…”

▷ The colours in the sky seem brighter today, closer...but it’s difficult to say for some, unless you’re actively studying them. Sometimes when you look above, you might catch - if just for a second - the tops of roofs glitching out, corners or streaks erased, colours meshing with the walls. You think it might be the light or your eyes, as it never lasts long, and even standing around waiting to see it happen again won’t give you what you want.

You may have other things to worry about than tricks of the light. Animals have simply been...disappearing, and always the ones owned, or particularly birds that fly around freely. People will ask you for help, and it’s weird they need to. Most owners have a tracker chip and app, and either apps show a blank map, or show them just standing in place...a place that when you get there, is nothing, no one.

[ TRAINING CENTRE. ]
“Really though, other than the weird sky business and how jumpy the news has made everyone about the Voidtreckers, the only odd thing that’s been up is some weird stuff happening at the training gyms. Even I saw it! I was just doing my warm-ups for the day when the field I set it to, the sky...these shapes suddenly appeared, dark and looming. It seriously creeped me out. But it’s just a glitch, right?”

▷ Young or old, the training centres around the central district are a popular spot for everyone to give their powers a safe space to be unleashed. While there’s basic simulations that’s free for everyone to use, people can be personal trainers, or even run group sessions in the bigger rooms.

Sessions aren’t always linked, since getting private training is allowed. However, lately, people keep getting jumped into other’s sessions, and can’t get out until they finish the routine. Sometimes they’re simple, where you need to destroy building block-esque cubes, or superspeed through courses twenty times. But then there’s also story modes, such as…

Castle Defence: Help protect the castle of Erna from the tricky Voidtreckers! They’re trying to storm the castle, and the world needs your power to help keep them away. Difficulty is based on the amount of people present, and speed of the individual. Do you turn things green? Then turning a Voidtrecker green will make them pop! Good job!

Kama Aid: Floating spheres have been lured inside a giant 3-tiered labyrinth ball. You must help the spheres - come in optional people-shaped or even cute animals - be released back outside where the air is fresh. Use telekinesis to tilt the tiers like a ball tilting game, or use super-strength to destroy the different tiers!

Dia Mysteries: A theft, vandalism, maybe even a murder. The crime scene is locked down, and something is afoot. Use your telepathy to gain information from the suspects, sneak into a secure area under invisibility... the solution is yours to find in this investigative simulation.

[ A PSA or Six. ] ”Stay vigilant citizens of Diagad. Please report any suspicious behavior to the DFORCE force.”

Announcements blare from speakers on public transport. Adverts pop up as they scroll through Diagnet. All remind citizens to be on their guard, report strange or disturbing behaviour and keep a look out for any of the symbols or colours of the Voidtreckers.

"Heroes don't keep secrets! If you have suspicions about any dangerous people in our midst, let your local DFORCE force know. Speak the Truth. Save the World."

▷ Billboards are plastered with bold posters reminding citizens to keep an eye out for the Voidtreckers or anyone who they might have tried to sway to their side. For those beginning to glimpse that this city might not be what they once had thought, this could be dangerous especially if their families and friends believe the city truly is under threat.

credits: text box - city banner - city side - coloured sky by benjamin0000

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She likes her 'usual.' It's a...contrast. And she looks ever so good in them. But it's all about what she'd told Alice from the first date - they'd make the rules up as they went. See what worked, what didn't. She'd pick up on the details of the scene, Alice was clever like that.

The smile she gives Alice is radiant - and then immediately distracted as she gets on hands and knees to greet the cat with a happy gasp, holding out both hands.

"Oh hello, cutie! Alice said there might be an extra guest today!" And if willing, that cat was going to get swept up into a comfortable hug against Guri's chest. Either way - "And don't you worry. I brought lunch and a treat for you, too."

She finally turns her attention back to Alice, rising up with newly-acquired grass on her knees. The farmgirl underneath, really.

"You're always worth a wait. But not long," she says. "But you need to properly introduce us."

She wouldn't say no to a kiss, either, and she does her best to communicate that with body language, turning back and forth a bit. Her small way of helping the process of getting familiar with things.

Guri is so much. Not even in a bad way - just the kind of way that makes Alice stand and stare there at the other as she stands up. There's all the enthusiasm, for one, which is such a contrast with Alice's own more introverted nature, and then there's the fact that.. well, Guri does look really nice in that dress.

But whereas Alice is awestruck into quiet for a moment, the cat itself doesn't seem to be at all. Instead it's just gently nuzzling Guri after being picked up, clearly totally comfortable with this stranger.

It's after a moment that Alice manages to find her voice again.

"You seem excited today," she softly says, before leaning in to press a brief kiss against the other's lips. It makes Alice's pale cheeks light up with a blush.

She's quite the contrast herself, huh. Raging superhero half of the time, practically a blushing schoolgirl the rest of the time. Or maybe that's just what Guri induces in her.

"Her name is Dinah, by the way."

She nodded happily. “I am. First, you’re here and we’re likely to get at least a few solid hours together. And second, you brought this fluffy sweetie.”

She have Dinah a good stroke behind the ears, smiling at Alice. She folded herself back onto the picnic blanket, indicating that Alice should join her.

“I mean, call me a softie, but I think someone has every reason to be excited when on a date with their superhero girlfriend. Who looks quite lovely today, too. Oh, I didn’t know what you’d like to drink, so there’s wine and soda.”

She placed Dinah down gently.

“And water for you, cutie, and some nice fresh fish.”

"Well, I suppose I should start off with some soda," Alice replies as she moves to sit down on the blanket as well. (Notice the words 'start off' there - as Guri says, they ought to have quite some time here together today, so there's plenty of time to be had to move on to the wine later!

Unless a sudden emergency threatens their date, but so far, so good.)

She reaches out to grab some, while Dinah gently meows, making herself comfortable as well after being set down.

"And it's fine, it's just that.." Her voice momentarily trails off, and she shakes her head, as if to shake off the redness on her cheeks. "You are rather cute when you get all excited."

She grinned and blushed a bit at the compliment.

"You're sweet," she replied, "but you give me a lot to be excited about."

She opened up the cooler and handed Alice a soda, before taking out a small bowl and bottle of water, pouring out a measure for Dinah. Another move produced a dish of nicely minced tuna, also placed down in front of Dinah.

"There. Now that I've made my attempt to appease her, we can eat."

It does seem like the cat is appeared by this offering. Dinah lets out another meow before starting to lap at the water right away, content for the moment. Alice's gaze lingers on the cat for a moment, just to make sure she really is satisfied, but the moment it seems to her like that's true, she instead looks back to Guri.

And while it's still a little hard to her - the sweettalk and all - Alice figures she ought to try. After all, that sort of stuff is what makes a date a date, right? Probably?

So her tone turns a bit more shy and a bit more teasing, somehow all at the same time, as she speaks up with: "So where is the attempt to appease me?"

Knowing it is makes it all the more appreciated. The effort at the unfamiliar.

But she puts on a theatrical ‘thinking’ face, before reaching into the basket.

“Right, close your eyes, hold out your hands.”

And when she does so, the potted cactus will be withdrawn from its hiding place and plopped gently into place.

“Technically a Opuntia basilaris but I’ve been working on changes so it kinda doesn’t have a real name yet.”

Alice closes her eyes, and then opens them back up again when she feels something in her hands, and hears Guri's words..

And when she does so, there's a rather surprised look in her eyes. Not at the cactus itself, necessarily, though it's a nice gift.. But Alice is much more surprised by what Guri is saying, so she looks over at the other.

"You made this?" Or, well, adapted it. But still. Even though Alice knows Guri has a flower shop and all, it's a little more impressive to know she even makes her own breeds of plants.

"Uh-huh, plant shop owners are an odd bunch," she replied, brushing back some hair behind her ear. "We're always cross-breeding and trying to come up with something unique, something new."

She pointed at the cactus.

"Like making the spines shorter, that's mainly my efforts," she said, "they're longer and thicker, usually. Who knows, in a year or so I might have something unique enough to warrant its own name."

She grinned at Alice for that.

"And by then, we'll know what this is, I think, so maaaaybe it will become the Opuntia alicium if you play your cards right." She punctuated the last with a wink.

She looked into the others' eyes as she continued, however.

"But I hope you like it. People don't understand cacti. They think they're just these tough things in deserts, but they're so much more complicated - a stand of them can breathe so much life into the world around them."

Like Alice herself. A lot of people just saw the hero, or the one aspect of her. Guri was privileged enough to see the whole.

"They're wonderful just as they are, as nice as any flower."

Feelings are hard, use metaphors.

Edited 2021-07-11 18:00 (UTC)

Honestly, Alice already thought it was amazing enough that Guri can grow her own plants - and not just any plants, but making them entirely her own, new things that the world has never seen before. It's a thought that feels mindblowing the more she tries to wrap her head around it.

But then the other just has to continue. About the name, and.. well, then there's a metaphor that's so thinly veiled that even Alice can see through it as she looks down at the cactus on her lap.

"You're very thoughtful," she says. Softly. Touched. There's a very tiny smile on her face, but it's ever so genuine. "I.. I'll make sure to treasure this one. I will take really good care of it."

"Heh, I don't know about that. Maybe I just wanted you to know what I do all those long hours when there's no customers," she replied, knowing full well she would. It was who Alice was.

And one of the biggest reasons she got a warm feeling every time she was around her. Alice was straightforward, and meant what she said - when so many didn't. That she constantly gave of herself to protect the vulnerable...that certainly didn't hurt.

That she had eyes like oceans was also a rather major feature, she had to admit.

"But I wanted today to be special."

"Today is special."

There's no hesitation in that answer. Even though Alice is still totally unused to dates and the like, and even if she doesn't really know what she's doing half of the time.. there's no denying that fact.

Today is special. She's never done anything like this before, other than with Guri.

One of her hands even moves to cover Guri's, before lightly taking said hand into her own to hold it.

"There is no one I would do this sort of thing with, other than with you."

She squeezes gently, enjoying the contact.

"I know," she replied. Because she did. It was who Alice was, after all. She leaned in for a moment, resting her head on her shoulder. "And I'm glad of it, because every bit of time we've gotten has been wonderful."

O-Oh. This is such a soft moment, with Guri leaning on her like that. It's definitely something Alice allows, though he can feel her heart skip a few odd beats. She moves the cactus off her lap to gently set it down on the picnic blanket, just so neither of them will accidentally stick their hand in it.

That wouldn't end well.

"Speaking of wonderful things.." She mumbles.

(Or, rather, the idea that they might not stay so wonderful--)

"Have you heard the news? Or.. well, rather, all those announcements around town?"

She lifted her head to shake it, reaching into the basket with her free hand to pick sandwiches out of the basket.

"I have. And a boatload of rumors. You know the old ladies who run the pet shop next door? They were saying that they thought it was the end of the world."

She paused.

"I'm pretty sure the end of the world will be with more than pretty colors in the sky and strange new people showing up."

Alice lets out a bright laugh - a total contrast to her current outfit - at that statement. Partially since the idea of this being the end of the world is kind of laughable, but what turns the laugh so bright is Guri turning it into a joke like that. It's charming, and definitely fun.

"Yes, you'd expect a bit more doom and gloom rather than rainbow skies, right?" Even if these particular rainbow skies give anyone looking at it a headache. That's just a detail.

"I am fairly sure the people in charge will take care of those Voidtrecker people. But still.." She pauses, seeming to sober up a bit. "Stay careful, alright? I would hate for anything to happen to you while I'm not around.."

"I'm pretty sure there should at least be asteroids or, like, signs and portents," she said in agreement, nodding.

At the rest, though, she pauses, eyes finding Alice's. She smiles, reaching out a hand to gently touch her cheek. Alice all over.

"C'mere," she says, with a gentle smile - and with a gentle, lingering, kiss in the offing, a slight sound in her throat to express her feeling. After, finally, she'll speak again.

"I'll be careful, I promise. I don't make a habit of getting caught up in things. Just enough to meet a really nice girl, turns out."

She just stares at Guri after that kiss. After that tender touch.

Alice's cheeks were already kind of red, but it's most certainly spreading at this point. Up to the tip of her nose and the tip of her ears. All of this just feels like so much, and all ALice can do in the face of it - at least for a moment or two is just stare, trying to take it in.

"Thank you," she finally says. Her head ducks for a moment, staring down in a way that's definitely shy, but that Alice would never want to label as such. "Perhaps I am just being a little too worried about it."

Then again, it's hard not to, considering the announcements everywhere.

"It just sounded like a danger that could hit any of us, regardless of how careful we are."

She is a very definite person, and not hesitant once she's made her mind up. And Alice had won her over from the very first moments, really. Her face warms a bit, too, mainly because the kiss was very, very enjoyable on her end.

"Whether you are or not, I'll be extra careful," she replied, shifting to sit next to her, picking at the wrapping on her sandwich.

"Though if you felt like walking me home from the shop tomorrow, I wouldn't mind," she added, a bit coyly. But then she pauses, a bit serious.

"Would you mind if I wanted to hold your hand? You know, on a walk like that, in public? I mean, I'd like to but I don't want you to feel pressured or anything."

Ok, not definite in every way, certainly. There had been dates, but this was...different. And she was eager to do it right.

"I.." Alice starts, then stops.

It's something she has to think about, really. And it makes her feel slightly bad. Other people don't seem to have as much trouble with this stuff as she does, not from what she's noticed while walking out on the streets, anyway. It makes her feel slightly guilty, like she may be burdening Guri with how weird she is about these things. Making it harder for the other, even though Guri just seems to be the sweetest and most considerate person ever.

But then again, that last part is exactly why Alice likes her in the first place.

"We could try. It doesn't seem to be too bad.." And she trusts Guri with it. She gives the other an uneasy smile. "I would definitely want to talk you home from the shop, so when we do that tomorrow, we could try it out and see how it feels."

"We'll see how it feels," she agrees, with a nod. She doesn't need to say otherwise. She knows it's hard for Alice, and all of it new. So she asks, and lets her figure out how it will work.

She's worth the wait, and the patience. She'll be waiting at each step Alice is willing to take.

"Either way, I get a nice walk with you, so it's kind of a win-win."

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So Familiar a Gleam: Start

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