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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For a long while she was fighting with herself to step inside. A part of her considered remaining quiet and hoping to convince them both that they had maybe misheard her presence.

...but no, she didn't want to cause Caleb to become more angry. That would only make the situation worse in the long run. As she positioned herself so that only half of her body was visible through the doorway. "...I heard an alarm."

That was enough. She didn't need them to know how much more she had overheard.

"... Yes. Of... course you did." He shakes his head and takes a few deep breaths. Focus. Be a... father? Somehow. "I... am sorry. That was my fault."

He searches back, tries to grasp bits of the illusion to use as cover.

"... You have to understand, when we were younger both of us were not... like we are now. People we would not let you near if you encountered them now. And despite my power not being helpful I was... very destructive. I... sometimes have trouble reckoning with it. We both do."

Essek is a little surprised at Caleb's subtle, but still rather straight forward approach. It's good though, he gives Caleb a soft but considering look. He would reach out and take the man's hand, but he's hesitant to, his sense of decorum a little too strong now that he can recall himself. Plus, it feels inappropriate on too many levels, too familiar and affectionate.

"Our lives were... ah, difficult and there are times the memories of that past still linger, but our paths crossed," Caleb and the Nein saved him, "and we chose to make a happier path together," he looks away from Caleb at that, his ears darkening some, be careful. "I apologize if you were frightened."

For a long while, Mimi doesn't say a word. A quiet gaze moves from Caleb, to Essek, and back to Caleb. "We were... talking about this in school. How sometimes people who are fighting in dangerous places sometimes... do things that they don't like... and that they sometimes they remember after the fighting is over..."

This wasn't her place. She shouldn't be here. This was a part of their world, and she had no right to be a part of it. She turned away from the doorway, the fingers of her right hand on the doorway the only visible sign that she was still there. "...I'm... sorry... um... I am... going to make us some tea... to... help calm our nerves..."

She was not going to come back with tea.

"No, I -" He reaches out towards her, his hand shaking. "Mimi, don't... don't..." He's not sure why - she shouldn't mean anything to him, but everything is overwhelming and he can feel himself tilting. He leans to the side, onto Essek for support. He eels weak and he hates it. Nothing is right in this moment.

Essek hesitates when he thinks to move and stop Mimi from going, coming out of that hesitation as he feels Caleb lean against him. Without thought he takes Caleb's free hand, holding it close and the man close in turn. Turning back to the door, he doesn't know why, but he wants her to have a good family, even if it's not real.

"I-" he hates the feel of being so emotionally vulnerable. His hand squeezes Caleb's for support, he doesn't know how to be a parent, let alone a good one, he doesn't know what he's doing. "Don't misunderstand, this family includes you, so we want for you to join us. Please, ne'enuvar," waterlily "it would comfort us both. Tea can wait."

Edited 2021-07-09 06:11 (UTC)

Why? Why why? What did she do to deserve parents so... special? They were there... they were hurt, and they wanted her to be present for this? Essek knew Caleb's past, that much was apparent... and Caleb was clearly suffering. It starts with a trembling in her hands and suddenly she breathes in sharply. A sob, barely audible to only perhaps the most attentive or elvish ears. Like Essek, she too doesn't like revealing such raw emotion, and yet... here they were.

"I know..." She squeaks through sharp breaths. "I know..." She repeated as she stepped through the door, tear trails streaking down her cheeks. "...you both told me... dozens of times that I am your daughter, even if we're not related. And its not that I don't believe you..." ...its that she never felt like she earned that love. "I am... I am no good with things like this, Caleb. I'm not... special... I'm not..." Leaving. She's not leaving. Her parents asked her to stay. They needed her, for reasons she did not fully understand. She wasn't about to make this about her. She didn't know what she could do or say or anything to help improve things.

But she could be their daughter. She could share this moment.

Perhaps that was enough for now.

"... I..." He pushes himself up a bit, still leaning against Essek for support. "Come here. There's room on the bed for you, too. There will always be room." He offers her a shaky smile. "I apologize for worrying you. I... I only want to help you stop making the same sorts of mistakes. To keep you from falling for the same sorts of things we did."

That's... both true and generic enough. "... I don't want you to have to hurt like we do. That's what we try to do for the next generation - leave things better than we found them. You needn't have to go through hardship if we can help it."

Seeing her cry makes Essek's heart hurt but also the rising feel of panic crawling up the back of his head as he feels more and more out of his depth. He's not.. he doesn't comfort people, it's like going to a ice carving for warmth. He can practically feel the anxious swirl of thoughts of screwing this up, about how he should leave, about- He squeezes Caleb's hand again to quiet them, even a little. Caleb was placed in a position of forced vulnerability with him and Mimi was trusting them with her open tears, he should keep trying, even if he has nothing to draw on.

He holds a hand out to her, there's a barely there shake to it, but he tries to keep it steady, be steady for both of them.

"It's not about being special or good at things, all you ever need to be is exactly who you are... that's enough, that's already special," they are words he wishes he-... words that will never be for him but perhaps he can offer them to her. "Let us bear the burdens of the world right now, okay?"

She... hesitates as she fights back the tears. Oh, she believes the words, yes. She knows them to be true, for she knows no reason to doubt her parent's convictions. What troubles her is the way reason... Were they letting her into a world that she only had the faintest idea about, save that it was enough to shake Caleb's resolve? Would they beckon her so had she stayed in bed this night, or left to go outside like she was told to do in those fire safety drills?

Her legs seemed to have other ideas. Before she knew it herself she had slowly made her way to the side of the bed. She took Essek's hand. "I'm sorry, Essek. I'm sorry, Caleb. I'm sorry for overhearing. But mostly... I'm sorry... that you were hurt... are hurting..."

A memory came to her. Something that her supervisor told her to keep in mind when she was on duty. 'For you a person's emergency will be another day at work. But for them, it is one of the worst days of their lives.' She forced a smile, which frankly looked ridiculous with how awful her face looks right now. Despite that she reached to hold onto Caleb too. "I'm here, Caleb. Essek is here, too. We can't... go back then... but we're here, now..."

Can an adoptive daughter be a hero for her dad? She... wants to try...

He can’t help but smile slightly at the ridiculously forced smile on her face. She’s trying. She’s trying so hard for people who aren’t even her parents in reality, and it hurts. It makes him miss the rest of the Nein terribly, but he has to be strong for both of them.

“I… I know. It’s just… I’m protective for a reason. People can be good, but there will always be those few who are…”

His stomach churns at the thought of admitting this - he’s not sure even Essek knows, but given the timelines he might. “… willing to sacrifice the lives of innocents for power. I was… I was that way, and it broke me. I was… not right in the head for over a decade, to the point where I had to be locked up for… for safety reasons.” And he’s pretty sure Essek knows exactly where that was.

“I’m just afraid of that happening to the people I care about.”

Essek stays quiet now, holding Caleb's hand in one hand and Mimi's in the other, keeping them close. His face is schooled to something passive but reassuring, not wanting to show that he's hearing things for the first time from Caleb about his past. There are aspects he knew or speculated on, but he knows there is a whole world of suffering the man has endured that he only knows the surface of.

He can feel his heart crack from the words, the way anger seeps out at all those who caused Caleb such suffering, but his face remains calm, years at court paying off.

It's strange to feel expected to stay while also equally an intruder. He wants to release their hands, the tingle of contact starting to feel like pins and needles as his discomfort with being there grows.

But he weathers it for now, giving both their hands a reassuring squeeze.

The news hurts Mimi terribly, and she has to grapple with a new version of Caleb. One version was the kind, if emotionally distant, father that looked out for her and made so many cat sculptures that they have taken over one half of her bedroom, the other is this new version... who sounded like a villainous monster that caused pain and others.

Two versions. Two realities. She looks to Caleb to gauge his reaction, but his expression has been steeled. He knew, right? He did know... yes... he knew. She convinced herself that was true.

And they were still together despite that. Her uncertainty subsiding, Mimi looked back to Caleb through glassy eyes. "...but you got there in the end. You are... doing right now." She had to believe. Was at the point of her adolescence where she needed to believe. A flow stitched together memories that never happened came to her: memories of a shy girl who would hide whenever her "dads" approached them. The hurt and sadness that they felt at her distance. The day she broke that silence when a curious finger picked up and examined one of his cat sculptures. The smiles on their faces when she started talking to them. Trips to the aquarium. There was rarely laughter, but there was always... warmth.

She needed to believe that warmth. His warmth. Yes, this was the real Caleb. This was real.

"... I got there, y - ja." Oh no, was he supposed to - he's not sure what languages exist in this place, but he can't do anything abut it right now. Ugh.

"... I am doing... my best. And that is... all I can ask - all anyone can ask." It doesn't erase the guilt, though. The soul-shattering, world-defining guilt. All he can do is his best... and his best will forever be still not enough. His debt is too large.

He's prepared to keep working it off until the end.

The plan was to stay quiet, let them have this moment while trying to not to intrude, to support if they needed it, but hearing Caleb speak of himself, he can't stay silent. He can't sit here knowing that Caleb is full of doubts for the good man he is, for knowing how the man clearly doesn't see himself well enough to recognize the great things he has and will continue to do.

"And your best is more than good enough, Caleb," Essek says it softly, but his voice so fiercely sure and heartfelt as the words come into being. "I have known terrible people," in so many ways, "you are not one of them. You're a good man..." Caleb just doesn't let himself see it.

This was no longer the time for words. In a moment she let her hands free as she jumped across the bed to give Caleb a warm embrace. Even in the illusion, both Caleb and Essek would only be able to count the numbers of times she did this on one hand.

"I am... so proud of you, daddy."

The sudden movement is startling, but he wraps his arms around Mimi in a stiff hug. He looks over at Essek and flushes slightly. "I... I do not know if that is true. But I am trying to be less of a garbage person. At least... we can work on it together, right?"

What kind of 'together', he's not sure.

Essek lets go of both their hands as they move to hug, letting them have this moment without interfering. It wasn't a moment for him and he was comfortable with that. He looks at Caleb knowing this man has done terrible things, yet has the capacity to feel guilt for those things. That he possesses the desire to do better, to not want to repeat those perceived atrocities.

Instead of answering, his gaze falling to his hands, to the invisible lingering tingle from the contact. Eventually, his gaze makes it back to Caleb's, his voice soft. "Of course."

Though she wasn't one to show affection, when she felt it was right she goes all in. Her hug with Caleb goes on for a bit before she releases, wiping her tears from her eyes as she backs away and giving him the most encouraging of smiles.

She then looks over to Essek, thinking that it should be his turn now to show his support. They were there for each other, right? Caleb needed this moment, and it would have been the right time to show, not say, that support.

He pats her shoulder gently as she disengages, reaching up to wipe her face for her with his sleeve. He can always wash this later...

Caleb looks over at Essek and smiles slightly. "I... it's not a road we'll travel in a day, and maybe we'll never get there, but we're... at least there to support each other."

Essek hesitates at Mimi's look, unsure how to interpret it. Did she want him to join in the hug? The idea makes him think of the last hug he got, it makes his chest warm but also ache, a longing for... for-

He averts his eyes from her to Caleb as the other man speaks and he sees that spark of the man Caleb will grow into, through all their time together. Essek unabashedly holds deep, sincere eye contact with him, "And you will always have my support.. I was told, not too long ago that it takes time. Not days or weeks, not even years, just time. And with that time we'll travel far, together for as long as you wish it," because he will never hold Caleb back. Should the man's path take him away from Essek's... well, then he will just support him from afar.

Mimi frowns a little, but she couldn't fault Essek using words to express his feelings. In all of their time together, she could only recall them ever holding hands or standing close together. Maybe... maybe that was the type of relationship that they wanted? But, to Mimi, she couldn't help to think that it was a little lonely.

But they were her dads, and she was in no position to call him out on it. Essek had his own ways of expressing his love, like the little notes he would hide for her to find.

Mimi uses a sleeve to rub the remainder of the tear gunk from her face. "Me too, Caleb. We're all in this together." She smiled reassuringly. She made a vow, then and there, that she was going to do all she can to keep that promise.

"... Thank you. Both of you. I don't know what I did to deserve either of you, but I... I welcome it."

His chest hurts, but this eels... right. He doesn't want to fall under the illusion again, but being close to Essek feels right... and while he's not sure he ever wants to have children, having a young one to teach and help grow feels right, too.

He'll have to think on thins.

"I think we're all right now. Do you want me to tuck you into bed again?"

Essek understands, he does completely, but he hates to hear Caleb say he doesn't deserve something that he clearly feels the other man does indeed deserve. It feels bad to think Caleb doesn't feel he deserves the it from Essek, who is clearly a very low bar of what anyone deserves.

"It is not about what you do or don't deserve, it is about accepting what's freely given."

Taking a slightly shaky breath, he looks at the two of them with a smile. He considers going downstairs to make Caleb some chamomile tea, something to calm him down so he can sleep. Something that might bring him some memories of the Nein to think about instead.

Mimi nodded, keeping her eyes on Caleb. His suggestion throws her a little off guard, and she has to consider the best course of action. On one hand, she was 16 and didn't really needed to be put in bed but on the other...

Maybe he needed this for some reason. "Okay," she consented as she shifted her weight out of the bed. Mimi paused and looked back to see Caleb follow, not wanting to get too far ahead.

She had a feeling that even after she was put to bed that she was going to have some difficulty going to sleep tonight.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Start

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lmao wrong account

what was that acc-/click ohhh..