So Familiar a Gleam: Start

[voidtreckermods]

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JINNJAR CITY

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"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…”

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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.

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DAYS ONE & TWO: SLICES OF LIFE

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"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

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[ 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

Comments

Hoban "Wash" Washburne (and Rose Washburne) | FIrefly | Fourth Wall

[dino_zarf]

Park Day 1/2

Some of the announcements are concerning, but Wash still has a four year old who has a lot of energy so they can't really skip out on their daily excursions when he's done work.

Especially since little Rose keeps running up the sides of the structures. Not the parts that are meant to be climbed. The sheer bits.

Wash has more or less accepted his lot in life and starts filming with his phone.

Training Gym Day 3

All the warnings are making Wash a bit nervous, but he'd already scheduled this appointment. Usually the training centre is a little calmer when he brings Rose by, but people seem interested.

He's a bit surprised to end up in a group scenario and can't help laughing. "You want me to stop Voidtreckers by making their clothes itchy?"

It's basically the only trick he has, but still!

Park Day 4

Their next park outing seems like the rest. SUre, Rosie woke up from her nap babbling about ink animals on the ceiling, but kids have weird dreams all the time. It wasn't even a nightmare, probably just some cartoon she watched at daycare.

Except then Rose puts it together and runs over to her father. She makes a face as she tries something...

And then starts crying. "Daddy!"

Whatever she was trying... did not work and now despite Wash's assurance that he's still here, the little girl is distressed.

Park Day 4

[yondu]

A little girl yelling for her father immediately grabs Yondu's attention. Even if he's starting to realize what's going on? He still goes to see what's going on.

His girls aren't really his girls, but Peter wasn't his boy and he's still very much a dad, and an occasionally over-protective one.

"Y'all doin' alright over here?" he asks as he approaches them, haggard face all twisted up in concern.

Re: Park Day 4

[dino_zarf]

Wash scoops the little girl up and holds her close. "I'm right here, Rosie. I didn't go anywhere."

This has done nothing to calm Rose, though she seems unperturbed by Yondu's appearance. "It's wrong and I can't..."

She trails off before she can do something silly like scream about not being able to deinfiltrate her father.

[yondu]

"Wait wait wait, hold up... What's she talkin' about bein' wrong?"

He asks, holding up a hand. Because maybe this kid sees something. Which is an odd thing. He knows someone that little isn't on the train. He'd have blown up the engine somehow by now if it was grabbin' pint-sized sorts.

But it seems like maybe she notices somethin'.

[dino_zarf]

"I have no idea." Which is really distressing. Bouncing her up and down is not helping at all. Why is she so upset? "What's wrong, Angelcake?"

"Daddy, remember! Rose scrunches up her face as she attempts to do... something that would not make sense to anyone who isn't a Traveller. And isn't working anyway because it's not an overlay that's the problem.

[yondu]

Oh... hell. So the kid does remember.

But this fella? He wasn't on the train. Shit! He wasn't on the train. So who the hell knows where they come from.

Yondu approaches slowly, pulling out his pendant, dangling it from its leather cord. "Hey, hey. I got an idea. Why don't you hold this an' ask her some questions about what might be upsettin' her. It's supposed to help with that kinda thing. Certainly did with my girls."

[dino_zarf]

"Not quite clear on how that's supposed to help."

But he does reach over for the pendant. His baby is in considerable distressed which means he's in considerable distressed. "On the other hand ready to try a mighty lot of things."

Rose for her part can really only try crying to get him to snap out of it.

[yondu]

"Hey, hey there." He says in a voice about as soothing as his raspy tone can get. "I'm Yondu. Nice to meetcha."

He taps his chest with his right fist, giving her the tiniest little Ravager salute. "What's your name? I think if you help me out we might be able to help your daddy understand what's wrong, right?"

[dino_zarf]

"Rose." It's usually Rose, even when they're travelling. Or a word that turns out to translate to Rose. It's almost like her parents named her with the hope of it fitting in in other universes.

"What's wrong, Rosie?" Wash moves the amulet around, not sure what it's supposed to do.

"You're not remembering right!" She glances over to the blue man. Does he remember right? He doesn't look like a Traveller, but she can't feel the network so she can't cheat.

Training Gym

[worthallthis]

"You're the one who picked story format, Mr. Washburne," James says, but with a smile that says he's not annoyed. "Besides, this is a team exercise. Itchy clothes or really stiff clothes are a distraction. How about: you target an enemy image, and tell one of your team with a more offensive power which one, and they take them out while the target is distracted."

Re: Training Gym

[dino_zarf]

"I think I hit the wrong button." He's pretty sure this wasn't the one he picked, but he'll just have to roll with it. "As long as some of them can be taken out by Rosie running up a wall and bopping them on the head, we've accomplished our goal."

Voidtreckers are at least unlikely to see that one coming. Not that he intends to let his daughter anywhere near such things.

[worthallthis]

"I think I can make sure the difficulty level isn't too high," James promises. Honestly, as soon as he saw the child, he made sure the difficulty was set nice and low. "You're Rosie, huh?" he adds, specifically to Rose. "You looking forward to a little game of defend-the-castle?"

[dino_zarf]

Rose jumps up. "Yeah! Do I get a sword?"

Wash laughs. She's going through a sword phase. For the past year. "We'll see. You've gotta use all your best tricks."

[worthallthis]

God, she's cute.

"I could probably finagle something," James says. "If your dad says okay." Then, to Wash, he adds, "My power's metal manipulation. I could probably work up something real quick that won't hurt her on accident. Or us."

[dino_zarf]

She's very cute. THat's why she's going to get away with that request. "If you make sure it's blunt. And she promises to use it on the simulation, not on anyone's shins."

Rose gives him a wide eyed innocent look. "Sword!"

[worthallthis]

James drifts over to the rack of practice weapons and picks one of the metal swords. After a stern but silent conversation with it, he brings it over, much reduced in size and weight, and offers it to Rosie hilt-first, expression solemn. "This is a big responsibility, Rosie. You think you can handle it? Promise not to swat your pa or your teacher with this today?"

Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[fingersandteeth]

The little girl looks familiar. Steven's damned if he knows why, but she does. So despite reservations, he goes over and crouches down by her and asks, "What happened mija?" And then things slide into place and he remembers where he saw her and, "I dreamed someone projected a home video of you into my mind. Which makes no sense at all."

Oh hell. He said that out loud. Steven glances up at the girl's father and adds, hastily, "I-- don't know why I said that."

(Wash, who is presumably still caught by the illusion, will see an older man of seventy or so, still hale, addressing his daughter. Rose, however, will be able to see through it enough to know that this man is not-quite-forty and she might remember him from the big crowd of former Travelers after the final Jaunt.)

Re: Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[dino_zarf]

"Daddy brags." Psychic babycam has just been a fact of life for her.

"Never heard anyone talk about the channel quite like that..." Sure, he's got a decent number of followers. Rose's power antics are pretty funny. Still, right into his mind? That's a lot of impact.

Re: Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[fingersandteeth]

"He sure does," Steven agrees. "But I can see why. You're really cute."

He looks up at Wash. "She looks a little like my kid did at her age," he says. "Down to the curly hair. I guess that's why. Though it's been pretty long since Tommie was that small."

Honestly, it's a good thing the man has social media. Easy enough to come up with the excuse.

Re: Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[dino_zarf]

Rose giggles at the praise. She hears it a lot, but it's fun.

"They grow like weeds. And then they decide to start walking on the walls."

"Gravity's dumb." Some things about Rose are just inherent character traits. This, it seems, is one of them.

Re: Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[fingersandteeth]

Steven chuckles. "So it is."

The more he talks to this little girl, the more familiar she seems. How very odd.

He glances up at her father. "Mine turns into a tiger. Takes after my husband—he turns into a big cat too. He spends all his time that way these days, actually. Talking cats don't get arthritis, evidently."

Re: Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[dino_zarf]

Wash has to laugh at that. "I guess that makes as much sense as anything. I just make clothes less comfortable. Or more." Not everyone wins the power lottery.

"Do you travel?" It's a bit of a non-sequitor, but who can really follow the logic of a four year old?

Re: Day 4 (plz enjoy thorne's brother from the synodiporia timeline, veteran of syn fourth walls)

[fingersandteeth]

"It's all in how you use it," Steven says, blithely. He doesn't mention his own ability, mostly because energy draining is inherently creepy.

Then he looks back at Rose. "I— " And he can tell the question is significant, even if it's escaping him as to why. "I think so?" he says finally, because it feels right.

day 4

[insidegalra]

Oh look! It's Thace, even if he seems different to other eyes. He hasn't broken out of the illusions yet, although there have been a few disturbing dreams, so as far as Thain knows, he's never met this girl.

A child in distress calls to him even so. He kneels down near the little girl. "What happened, little one? Can I help?"

Re: day 4

[dino_zarf]

Rose is used to picking up other Travellers with her brain. She's surprised to just see it with her eyes instead.

She can't explain what happened. She doesn't know about this world like she's used to and they aren't here with the rules she knows or she'd just fix the problem. "Daddy. Something's different."