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.

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

Comments

[averyusefultray]

Grocery

After a day at the garage, there are still errands to be done. That last hovercar had had a bit of a strange engine with a few parts that she didn't recognized, but she'd made the situation work.

With assorted niblings likely to show at her house whether they actually live there or not, and a standing policy to welcome any strays that happen by, she tends to make meals that can scale quickly when she's suddenly feeding more mouths than expected.

There's also a quite nice cake. It's not every day her son is home from touring, after all.

Home

It's wound up being quite a bit. SHe figures having her son home will probably lead to other people, after all. And they were out of a surprising number of staples, she needed to fix that.

She's barely in the door when she calls out. "Everyone will eat faster if they come help put groceries away!"

Everyone should know that rule by now.

Training Gym

She's not sure what to make of all this Voidtrecker talk. But there are countless reasons to make sure everyone is well versed on the use of their powers. And she can help people learn that.

She's gathered a class together for this one. "We're going to be trying a new scenario today."

If nothing else, Voidtrecker talk is leading to some interesting exercises.

Hardware Store

She's picking up parts for a personal project when she happens by the paint aisle. It's not on her shopping list, but she picks up a can of vibrant orange spray paint.

"Sabine will want this..."

And then she blinks. That's not one of the kids. Sure, she occasionally calls a nephew by her son's name or the other way around, but she does know the names of all the young people in her life. Not a Sabine among them.

She puts the can in her basket anyway.

Grocery

[fun_thementalist]

Best that Gen could determine, they'd been trapped in these fake lives for a couple of days, now - unless he and his husband had lost more time than they realized. Still. There was no time to lose, now - they had to figure out what was going on, and how to solve it.

With all the warnings about Voidtreckers, however ... just because he recognized Hera immediately (she was hard to forget!) he still needed to be cautious.

Fortunately, there's something that would catch Gen's attention no matter what - whether or not they're on mission, on the train, with their memories, or without them.

"That is a lovely looking cake, my dear," Gen remarked, giving the dessert in her shopping cart a covetous glance.

Re: Grocery

[averyusefultray]

She smiles. "It's a special occasion, having the whole family at home." Family is very important after all. Having them all together was so rare, of course she was going to celebrate.

There's a brief flicker of... something in her expression. Her whole family is here... right?

[fun_thementalist]

"That does sound like a reason to celebrate!" Gen agreed cheerfully. "Sometimes I'm out and about on performances - taking very, very long trips by train - and returning home always is a celebration. It's always a relief."

He tilted his head. "Are they on break from school and class, perhaps?"

[averyusefultray]

"My son's been touring... not a train." Not a train, right? Haneul has... a tour bus, yes. "My nephews are so excited."

"A family train trip could be fun though." More spacious than the alternative, at least.

[fun_thementalist]

"You've never taken one before?" Gen asked, tilting his head. "I do recommend trying to go with friends instead of alone. That has to be a lot more fun if you're going on that kind of adventure with people you know ... instead of seeing all of those new places, and wondering what people at home might think of them. Missing them."

He's not sure if she feels the same, familiar tug that Gen did at the idea - before he had woken up from the illusion. But he also wanted to speak abstractly enough that she wouldn't be reminded of all the government's warnings ...

[averyusefultray]

"Not on a train, anyway. Travelling with family though..." She reaches up to touch the crystal on her necklace.

She schools most of her expression, but she can't hide her eyes as she does the calculations. Constant announcements about Voidtreckers being dangerous. She's been under cover before, she can handle this.

And she knows someone talking in code when she hears it. "The right companions though, you can travel far with them."

I'm really sorry about the delay in this tag x_x

[fun_thementalist]

Gen blinked, his only outward sign of surprise, at the little clue. Oh. So Hera did remember - that was a more positive sign than he'd hoped for. He'd believed that she was completely in thrall of the illusion that surrounded them, but it turned out she was playing along in order to not draw suspicion. Just as he was.

"How true that is!" Gen agreed brightly. "I remember for a school trip - they put my entire group in these very hideous orange shirts, but, I will tell you. It really meant we could better find each other if we were separated from the group. Or I'm pretty sure that was our teacher's reasoning ... I suppose other colors might've worked just as well, so far as we all had the same uniform."

Better late than never!

[averyusefultray]

"Easier to pick you rascals out from a distance in bright orange." Useful for schoolchildren. Not necessarily ideal for people trying to engage in subterfuge. "Put enough of them in purple and it's obvious it's a uniform, but the crowd's more likely to be wearing it too."

She glances around. They should get checked out quickly, a crowded supermarket's not a good place for this conversation.

Home

[dreamtamer]

"Sure Aunt Hera!" Takato quickly scrambles off of the couch and comes running to take some of the bags of groceries. It was the least he could do, considering Guilmon's appetite.

"Where do these go?"

Re: Home

[averyusefultray]

"In the conser..." No, that's not the word at all, how would she forget a simple word like that? Too many errands after a busy work day. "In the fridge, most of that's going into dinner."

[dreamtamer]

"Okay! What are we having for dinner?"

He moves over to the refrigerator and starts putting the groceries away. He pauses for a moment as he look at the open door, wondering why he suddenly felt like it should be much bigger. And that there wasn't enough flour and eggs in the bag.

[averyusefultray]

"I'm going to stir fry that chicken and serve it with noodles." It's nothing super fancy, but it feeds her growing boys. And it's an easy meal if Haneul has more people than expected or if anyone else shows up.

[dreamtamer]

"That sounds great! Is there anything else I can do to help?"

[averyusefultray]

"There's some celery in the bag. Could you cut it up?" That way she can get the other ingredients started. You don't look after this many kids without teaching them how to help out with all the household tasks.

[dreamtamer]

"Sure! I know how to do that!"

Takato takes the celery out and goes to wash it in the sink. He didn't know a lot about cooking, but he was always happy to help.

[averyusefultray]

She's sure he does, it's a good task for a helper. "Anything interesting happen at school today?"

Some things stay the same even in a giant city full of superpowers.

Home

[longforgottenpromise]

"Of course Aunt Hera."

Taiki was already half way down the stairs when she opened the door and he sped up to take a bag out her arms.

"How was your day?" Taiki's a weedy nerd but he carries as much as he can through to the kitchen.

Re: Home

[averyusefultray]

"It's like a bunch of people suddenly forgot how to drive an aircar. Some of the vehicles people brought in were a real mess." Sometimes she just didn't want to know what they were up to. "I'm still up to doing a training session with you though."

Once they manage dinner, of course.

Re: Home

[longforgottenpromise]

"Oh. I hope no one was hurt too badly." Taiki went pale at the idea that all this chaos could lead to people being harmed.

"Oh. Thank you. I'd like that."

Re: Home

[averyusefultray]

"Everyone seems to have come through it okay, but it's a real mess." She'll fix what she can, of course. It's what she does.

"It's important for everyone to be at their best, and we get there with practice." She's not sure what's coming, but neglecting training won't help.

Re: Home

[longforgottenpromise]

He nodded, feeling a twist of nervousness, of anxiety at whatever might be coming their way.

He buries it by starting to put the groceries away in cupboards. "Inigo came home with me, but have you heard from everyone else?"

Re: Home

[averyusefultray]

"Haneul should be here soon." The one they're all waiting for, of course. "Takato said he's coming too. And Zeb always shows up when there's food."

She pauses. Well that doesn't make sense. One of Takato's friends maybe.

Re: Home

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes. I can't wait to see him."

His big cousin, back from his tour. He hasn't seen him in a long time, so long that it's almost hard to picture him in his mind...

Weird. "Zeb? Is he a friend of Takato?"

Re: Home

[averyusefultray]

That is an excellent question. Why did she even say that name. "Someone he goes to school with, I think..."

She knows most of the residents classmates' names by name, but Takato could have some she doesn't know as much about.