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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It was interesting. Some of her constellations he knew, some of them he didn't, but he couldn't help but sit down, still glancing at the sky in a bit of wonder.

Senku had missed looking at a night sky.

"Maybe the stars were something I saw in a dream." They weren't. "Would you like me to show you?" He gestured to her sketchbook.

"There were eighty-eight constellations." Naturally, Senku knew them all, and a voidtrecker would recognize the pattern immediately - as he'd decorated one of the quiet rooms with each constellation meticulously.

Her hands tighten on her sketchbook a moment, protective.

Then again, she us very hard to steal from. So she flips through the pages, a flash of other oddities, before she's on a fresh page and holds it out.

"I like the sky. Its safe." Which is odd, but true sentiment in her mind. "And the stars. I'd like to go up there one day."

She watched as a dying planet is left behind, sad and grateful, another voice in her mind finding peace. Then he's there, taller now, red eyes relieved and amused as he gets her to talk about being on a ship, meeting an alien-

She breathes in sharply, hand going to her head. "Eighty-eight sounds right."

"You know, so do I." Senku said, as he began to sketch. Fortunately, he had no desire to steal from her, he was just illustrating his point.

"It could be we just know them under different names." He hummed. He began with Perseus, because well, of course he did.

"Are you going to be an astronaut, then? Or try and find your own way?"

Dani leaned against him, looking at the drawing. "You knew Lacerta," she pointed out.

She hummed. "I'm going to explore. I have a friend who wants to see everything and I can't leave her alone."

"I'm going to explore. No reason to let Wonderella do it alone. But..." She found herself smiling, sitting beside a friend who had finally given her permission to be close, given her for what she did. "He promised me a house." It was a place to return to and it meant everything to her.

"I did. I've been studying the stars since I was about four." Senku explained as he moved onto Andromeda, which would lead into Pegasus in that direction.

"It's very important to remember your friends." He agreed. "And help them when they do seemingly crazy things." He chuckled, although in his relationships - he was the latter.

"I think getting up in to space would be a once in a lifetime experience, not to be missed."

"I've been into stars for as long as I can remember," she said. Which...

How long ago was that?

"Well, there'll be plenty of that with her. She's not the best at the common sense thing, which is saying something. But she means well, and she can be clever. She's helped a friend of mine when he was suffering and I...saved...her life..." She trails off because she's saying all this, but she can't-

She can't think what actually HAPPENED.

"It really can't be, nothing compares..."

He continued to draw, moving his way through the night sky on the page.

"You saved her life? How heroic of you." Senku responded easily. "How did you save her life?"

His tone remained curious, not too pushy. He was genuinely curious.

"She..." She was silent several moments, a hand going over her heart.

"He was....going to kill her. We knew that. But I was fast. I got us home and....we put her key together," she said, words slow, and she can't think of what is happening, she can't, its muddled, but the words come, and those feel right. The feelings match.

"You've done this before. But its just you, there's no one else this time." A girl with white hair and blue eyes that saw deeper then anyone should. "You forgave her."

The realization. The fear. The rush as she grabbed him, because she was faster then he could hope to run. The scattering of pieces over the floor as they hurried to solve the puzzle as everyone bought them time. "He had her name....but I knew her heart...so I gave her a new one. One that would fit, that would....let her be."

For a moment, while she spoke, after she spoke, he continued filling out the star chart, he was about halfway through.

He raised his eyes finally. "You don't belong here, do you?"

There was no malice in the question, no threat of danger or any other anger. Senku meant it to be supportive.

"Of course I do. Danny's here," she said.

"There's nothing for me at home. Not without causing problems for Danny."

"He's my brother. We look like twins. Except, you know, I'm a girl. And younger." She's staring down at herself.

"You know people can look alike for a lot of reasons," the girl with blue eyes says. "Like we do."

Her hand stays over her heart, the other to her side. To the tattoo that wraps around her side. Who let a kid her age get a tattoo? Why did she get a lizard with a crown?

"Don't be tricked. But...you can live like this. I do this willingly." Because suffering was worth what she wanted. What other choice did she have?

"We both have intangbility. Same eyes, same hair color, same face. Almost like a copy. Where else would I belong?"

Edited 2021-07-10 02:21 (UTC)

Danny. That was right. Senku knew Danny, and he'd thought he saw the resemblance in this strange girl.

He remembered teaching Danny to make a proper grilled cheese sandwich.

"With Danny, sure." He agreed, not wanting to rile her up. "But maybe he doesn't belong here either." Senku continued to speculate.

"After all, none of these constellations are in this sky, are they?"

That was the thing. Dani knew biology, knew genetics. Other school subjects were hard, but she understood those. She looked so much like Danny. Especially for not being twins.

It would be weirder if they were cousins. Not impossible, but still weird.

"Danny....Danny has two sisters here-"

But she was supposed to be a red head. They don't look as near alike. She looked like their mother-

"They....weren't there either. It was stone. The sky....the sky burned a long time ago."

"My sky burned."

"And three of these aren't...so why...."

Black suits. People they had to save. The key could. They could find their oaths and break them, that was Wonderella's domain-

Her hand tightens on her side. "I....I wasn't supposed to return to him. I went...I went to the cave so I wouldn't hurt him anymore." Because that was her only option at home. If she stayed, if she tried to find her happiness, she would hurt him.

So she agreed to the deal. "There weren't stars, just the names. Did Sabra ever have those stars?" Sabra Sabra Sabra... "Sabra La Tau....it was a dying planet. I was...I was on a dying planet."

Senku was quiet as she processed all of that, putting the last constellation on his star chart and offered her sketchbook back to her.

"That's the night sky I'm familiar with. I'm from Earth. Japan, specifically." Senku hummed. "Circa. 2019." He clarified with a small smile. "Not the recent night sky for me, I haven't had the chance to remap it."

He paused a moment. "You have one of these?" He lifted his sleeve up a bit to show her an orange watch.

Dani looked over at the sketching and its familiar. Not quite the same picture of stars as she sees in her mind, but close, like she's seen in a book. Some stuff is familiar and some isn't. ~~Being from different latitudes.~~

"I'm....I'm from..." She frowned and looked at the watch. "No, I have a bracer-"

She looked down at her bracelet and the green orb.

Pressing her hands to bloody wounds and healing magic-focusing on the blue green orb and the cold that fills her-frost covered ground-freezing the metal, the brass that covers her friend's arm and shattering it-

Explaining that invisibility is indefinite, but if they need intangibility, she'll have to take off the bracer. She can't risk passing out on them, not while getting the keystone. But ghost powers are easy to use without memories. As long as they keep her thinking about not being seen, feeling nothing, she can keep them safe. Ghost powers are emotional and she's calm enough without memories.

Berry after berry after berry, in different spots, different people, as her memories are returned bit by bit.

Her breathing hitches and her eyes glaze over.

"There you are. You remember yourself, don't you?" The girl with blue eyes asks.

There is. A solid minute of Dani being silent, looking in a trance.

And then extremely annoyed. "Are you kidding me?!"

He let her work her way through it. Senku was nothing if not infinitely patient, at least outwardly.

He knew what he was getting into when he was trying to wake people up.

"Careful." He said his tone quiet, but kind. "We're in a precarious situation here." In other words, he didn't want her to draw attention.

"Yeah, kind of used to that. And its a shoddy job. They didn't even take the memories and just slapped on a peaceful life simulation," she said, crossing her arms and lookong annoyed.

But she does keep her voice low. Even if ita the most offended whispering.

"....wait." She frowns deeper, looking to be concentrating and then makes another offended noise. "They took the hop! I'm going to throttle them!"

"It is." Senku agreed. "I'm getting rather sick of it." He snorted.

"However, if you know anyone here that should also be a voidtrecker, be careful when talking to them." He advised. "If you say too much too fast they might turn you in."

"The fact this place made intangibility my superpower means they aren't great at taking them away. About the one smart thing they did, the one most likely to go off accidentally," Razzy said.

"But I'm not too worried. I can't leave the world, but that still leaves a stupid amount of escape routes and two ways to really force the issue of making people remember," she said, tapping her chin. "I need to wake Danny. They got him as a hero and that could be very dangerous. He's not that hard to trick."

"Getting someone close to you is the best way to start, they're more likely to listen to you." Senku advised.

"I'm not sure how the powers are assigned. Mine's not related to the real magic I can do now that I remember. It's a lot more low-key than that." Senku considered that. "But be careful."

He got up with a bit of a grin. "It was good talking to you." He did mean that.

"Debatable, but its better then nothing." There is a history, okay.

"Do yours take knowing to get them to go off? Mine runs a lot on emotions. I've made them go off without any knowledge of them before." They're not quite passive, but it is stupidly easy.

"I always am." Just what counts as careful for her is a very weird range. "I'm Da-Razzy. I'm Razzy. If you need back up, call me. I can get anywhere pretty fast. And...thanks for the help."

"As far as I know it does. My usual powers are all intentional." Senku explained. "They're spells I came up with and learned on the journey."

He smiled. "Senku. And you can do the same. I'm not that fast, but I'm a good source of information, if nothing else."

"That'd be the difference then. Instinct versus technique."

"Information is usually key with these things," she said. "So I'll probably give a call, once I have some people up."

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So Familiar a Gleam: Start

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