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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[OOC: Elliot Stiller is a research coordinator of an independant company. What this means is that people hire the company to research, gather, and compile data on a subject. This could be anything as basic as workforce trends for business solutions to statistical data used for various thesis. Elliot specifically tends to lead a team, take all the collected data and arrange it into the final user-end product.

Elliot is also a superhero who works closely with D-Force as 'The Lightwarrior'. A very archaic looking but effective 'Knight in Shining Armor'. People outside his family who know Elliot as The Lightwarrior are limited even among D-Force but are not unheard of.

Elliot has been under a lot of strain lately because his brother was in a pretty critical accident. Albert has been recovering and is working on physical therapy and regaining fine motor skills. He's been work at home for his research job, so seeing him in his regular commute haunts will be surprising.]

1. Voidtrekkers [Day 1-4] [OTA, Criminals, Trekkers. Will likely be transformed and unrecognizable as 'Elidibus']

Rumors and hearsay may have made many make light of the Voidtrekker 'myth', but Elliot would not be so lenient. If there was even a chance an invasion was imminent, he would seek to root it out and take care of the problem.

With distinct finality. He would not let anything threaten [his family] the people of this city and its sanctity.

Thus of late, The Lightwarrior has been a more prominent presence in both the news and on the street. Sightings, encounters and teaming up. While the hero's drive seems to be for hunting down any Voidtrekkers, he will not overlook other dangers.

Those familiar with his hero persona would recognize a level of intensity which had not been present a week ago. He seems almost driven to save people. Almost... recklessly so. No few times, The Lightwarrior might be seen hesitating; not to strike with deadly force as typical of his altruistic image, but to hold back from striking.

It's a dangerous time to be seen as a criminal.

2. Commute [OTA]

Elliot sometimes does have to show up at the office, either to collect hard-copies, do a check-in with the owner or any number of small tasks. Usually he went straight to where he needed to go then straight back home without stops in-between. People understood. After all, anyone that's worked with Elliot has known the close bond the triplet Stiller siblings have and when his brother Albert got in the accident...

But for the first time in week(s?), the bell of a favored bakery cafe chimes and in walks the familiar figure of the young researcher. For the first time in a while, he was smiling with a relaxed expression. It'd been a while since he thought he could bear the sympathathetic looks and the 'how is your brother doing' that so often follows a crisis like they went through.

Finally, there's good news rather than more of the uncertain same.

"The usual, if you would," he requests at the counter.

3. Breakfast of Champions [Closed to WoLFam Q'uila and 4th Wall Ardbert]

It was not meant to turn out this way.

The unmistakeable scent of burned bacon and toast hangs in the air. Elliot is ignoring it; the hastily opened window will absolutely dispel ~~part of the evidence~~ hints that he's up to something.

He can't mess up the beverage at least, thanks to the conveniences of modern technology.

Elliot hasn't missed a day of work. But recent events have had him working from home; seeing him out in the kitchen for any length of time has... has been unusual, right? Yes, ever since the accident, he had thrown whatever free time he'd had into making sure he didn't have free time. Driven, between the mild-mannered 9-5 and working with the D-Force as the Lightwarrior. Any other time was dedicated to being at his brother's side or getting convinced, finally by Kelly to take some time to rest.

Except that all changed. Yesterday there had been an actual conversation. And it was like the weight of the world had momentarily lifted from Elliot's shoulders.

This has led to the morning's efforts, though by all accounts, the somewhat extra crispy bacon and the charred toast and maybe a tiny bit dry omelette has suggested his mind's not been as focused on the task as it should have been. But there's enough for three and places will be set at the dinette, complete with loaded plates.

Albert's may show signs of precut egg and other helpful arrangements like serving size portions of condiments, but that much is reasonable.

And despite the airing of the kitchen, there's probably plenty of signs that something's up that particular morning. All that's needed are two of three siblings to complete the scenario.

[Wildcard]

[OOC: open to other scenarios! Feel free to contact.]

Albert's improving. Walking straight, talking clearly, and taking care of the basics he's been able to do for a while, he's only really started feeling like himself in the last few days. Sure, he still has poor spatial awareness, clumsy fine motor skills, and vivid senses of touch, taste, and smell, but he can handle those.

This last week, his recovery has been more of a sprint. He had forgotten so much about life in general, and suddenly, he's starting to remember. Albert had an entire conversation with Elliot where he didn't have to ask what Elliot was talking about even once. He just knew. Old concepts that hadn't been explained again to him yet didn't need explanation. His memory had already remarkably improved in general, but this had been a major missing piece of the puzzle. Spontaneous recovery, rehab had called it.

It's not gone when his alarm wakes up today, either. Albert is ecstatic. Maybe he won't have to ask about basic things anymore! It doesn't take him long to put on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, and he takes a moment to simply admire the softness of both across his palms and fingertips before heading downstairs.

The smells of burnt bacon and toast greets him (he remembers what that smell is!). He wrinkles his nose as he approaches the kitchen, but all thoughts of teasing the culprit whilst complaining fly out the window when he sees it's Elliot in the kitchen, not Kelly. Elliot cooked breakfast!

His eyes trail to the loaded plates on the table. That's going to taste a bit awful, but he doesn't care. Elliot cooked breakfast, mostly successfully.

Albert looks up to his brother and his pleasant surprise blossoms into a brilliant smile that reaches his eyes. This is a normal moment! Normal. Elliot often burned things when he was distracted, sure, but the distraction must have been a pleasant one judging by the way Elliot's carrying himself for the moment.

"You cooked breakfast!" Albert strides up to his brother and wraps his arms around his waist, lifting him up a bit in a great big hug; half to annoy him, half to enjoy the fact his twin will indulge his even greater appreciation for the wonderfulness of being able to give and receive affection. "Sort of!"

Kelly is not an early riser, she never has been and it takes a lot to coax her from within the confines of her duvet. The smell of carbonising bacon does start to bring her out of a rather interesting dream she'd been having about candyfloss sheep, but it's the bright, sunny sensation of happiness after weeks of the house starting to choke on a fog of negative emotions that truely gets her up and out of bed with a yawn.

The sight of Albert hugging Elliott and hefting him up has Kelly laughing as she trudge down the last couple of steps and into the kitchen.

"Morning Bertie," Another yawn creeps up on her and it erupts her teasing, "You crushing Eli for his crimes against bacon?"

He cooked breakfast! Poorly!

"Hey! Albert!" Yes, the man gets his actual name used. Elliot's been way too serious lately. "Knock it off!"

He really isn't angry. A brow recently furrowed with tension and stress is relaxed and the emotions floating in his blue eyes are relief and simple joy he didn't think to feel ~~again~~ so soon.

"Go sit down. What do you want for your drink? I've got coffee, juice. There's a kettle of water for tea."

Kelly enters and her teasing earns a scowl from Elliot's direction. "There's nothing wrong with my cooking," he protests. "It's just a little bit crispier than normal." You guys like crisp right? Because that's all there is on that plate, with the edges somewhat charcoal. But definitely edible.

Elliot frees himself from his brother's grip and turns to half shoo, half guide Albert to a chair. "Seriously, sit down. Eat. Both of you. We haven't eaten together in a while."

One could say Elliot is as much to blame for that as any of them, given he barely spent more time on food than was absolutely necessary, particularly in the past week. This morning though, the difference in the mood around him is as night and day.

Albert, upon hearing his full name and seeing the look on his brother's face, lets out a carefree laugh that feels wonderful. Just as he tries to memorize the look of happiness on his twin's face, Kelly enters, teasing, and Elliot is out of his arms. Albert had hoped the moment could have lasted a little longer—they haven't had enough of these lately—and perhaps even wheedle a hug out of him. He lets Elliot guide him to his seat all the same, almost soaking up any chance touches from his twin.

He loves being solid. He loves existing. And he loves being able to treasure that with the same two he shared a womb with.

Ignoring Elliot's protest, he answers Kelly as he plops down in his usual seat. "Of course I was punishing him for his bacon crimes." He points dramatically at his brother then, properly and with only his index finger, before proclaiming. "His sentence: eating it, coffee, spending time with family, and juice!"

Sitting down for breakfast together as a family, for once, is an acceptable substitute for a hug from his brother.

Kelly sticks a tongue out at Eli like the mature grown-up she is as she properly entered the kitchen. "Eli," She sing-songs, "There is a difference between 'crispy' and 'charcoaled' but don't worry, I'll go get the dictionary for you in a minute."

Kelly walks behind Albert's chair and gently drapes her arms around his shoulders in a loose hug and gives him a quick peck on the cheek and looks back to Eli from above Albert's head, "A most cruel punishment there, Bertie. I shall second it! Your fate has been sealed, Eli, may your soul rest in peace!"

This is what you get for being the eldest Elliot.

Chance touches and gentle guidance. Elliot acts like he's trying to find a balance between the care he's been giving to assist Albert in earlier days of recovery and letting the newfound independence bloom. So there's moments of touch followed by drawing back to let Bertie move on his own.

But before Elliot moves away once a seat is taken, he lets his hand settle on his twin's shoulder for a period of time. It might not be a 'hug' but it holds the same weight as one.

Not all of these breakfast ingredients were in the fridge yesterday morning, so it's obvious Elliot went shopping to celebrate. "No need for that, Kels," the newly-sentenced breakfast criminal protests with a roll of his eyes. He retrieves the pot of coffee and pours a mug for himself and Albert, bringing it over. Kelly will be provided with a third if a questioning glance in her direction and a tilt of the pot is answered with an affirmative.

"There's worse fates," he says then. Elliot's voice drops a bit as he wars with emotions. Of course he's relieved and happy! Yet this renewed joy is still a tremulous thing. And he's been running high strung for such a long time, there's bound to be moments of weakness.

Though he's quick to take a seat to cover it. "Of course, you're stuck here with me. Burnt bacon and all."

Albert's radiating joy as Kelly hugs him and kisses his cheek, only to have it grow exponentially as Elliot puts a hand on his shoulder. It's not a hug, but Elliot was always the more reserved one, and it counts for him. Things will eventually be back to normal, but he'll soak up the extra attention while it's there.

It's so wonderful to be alive.

He stiffens slightly as everything suddenly feels wrong, his smile almost sliding off his face. No. No, it's not wrong. Everything's right. Not this again! Albert's supposed to be alive.

Then it's gone just as soon as it came, and Albert relaxes back into Kelly's hug as his brother pours their drinks. He's just happy that Elliot didn't see this time. It's gotten worse, but he'll be damned if he lets the other two know. That's just his mind playing tricks on him. He's alive and has both of his siblings at his side.

Albert listens to the banter, his eyes softening as his twin has a moment of weakness. He never hid his emotions himself—only partially because he was poor at it—and never takes for granted whenever he sees past his brother's 'calm' exterior. Elliot shows affection through other means, making breakfast from just bought ingredients, for example.

"Gods, I didn't even think of that," Albert looks up to Kelly, feigning horror. "We're stuck with him. We're all being punished!"

Tired though she may be, Kelly still catelogues each fluctuation in her brothers' emotions for later reference and quiet conversations with each of them seperately later. Albert's spike of anxiety and confusion almost blindsides her, the emotions even stronger due to their physical contact, and its only experience that stops her more feline features from reacting in alarm. The moment clears almost as quickly as it came but Kelly gets Albert an extra squeeze, purring as she leans against him.

Elliot's flashes of emotion are no less concerning and the constant aura of stress coming from the eldest sibling is honestly the reason she turns down the coffee when offered, Kelly isn't eager to give herself a headache so early in the day.

"We are, as always, wonderfully stuck with each other," Kelly smiles, "We are terrible triples afterall."

Terrible triplets indeed. But Kelly and Albert's acceptance brings a rush of warmth in kind. And... relief? As if there would be any doubt they'd not accept each other as family.

...Right?

It turns out there is spinach and cheese in that omelette, thanks to a certain former high school teacher's recommendation. So at least there's something tasty hidden in the middle of that at-first-glance dry egg.

After adding milk and sugar to his own coffee, Elliot looks up at the other two. "Come now, Kelly. Sit and eat. Tell us how things have been with work? And the food isn't so bad, is it?" As an example to them all, he bravely picks up a piece of bacon and takes a bite.

Absolutely fine! Just a little... burnt. But nothing horrible and at least it's crispy!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So Familiar a Gleam: Start

Elidibus | Final Fantasy XIV | 4th Wall AU

3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Sorry! Thought this had sent but looks like the train ate the original

no subject