So Familiar a Gleam: Start

[voidtreckermods]

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JINNJAR CITY

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"Welcome to Jinnjar City! A city famed as the central power of all of Diagad, and where the magic happens. It has a big history: the birthplace of the first Heroes Association that led to the creation of the Interstellar Justice Alliance, the protectors of the universe. Compared to other places, Diagad's what many people call a superheroes world, but that isn't true. A lot of us don't have the crazy powers that some of the popular folks have! And people like me? We don't care about saving the world! I'm just trying to make it through school, hang out with friends. Live my life!

People tell thousands of stories about us though, and that I can be proud of. When other planets call for help, it's us that comes running to their aid. Our heroes put their lives on the line for anyone who needs a hand, and sure, I don't count myself one of them... but I want to share their story anyway.

Well, I don't need to be telling you about this city, do I? You're a part of it! Always have been, just like me. So I should talk about some funny stuff that's been going on lately instead…”

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A TL;DR notes version of days/prompts: (click to show)

EVENT BASICS: Un-apped AU characters were taken 1 week before the event from their own worlds, their minds altered to believe they were always from Jinnjar, Diagad. They have a superpower because of this and a new life either living alone or with family (other NPCs or PCs). Go to the OOC post for more info.

DAYS ONE-TWO:

• Strange streams of colour in the sky have appeared, and looking at them for too long causes strange headaches. At this point you’re not sure what they’re about, but you can investigate them. However, trying to get right close to them is impossible. You will never get high enough. Regardless, let us know if characters will be investigating anything!
  
  
• Voidtreckers arrive, be on the lookout. People are excited about finding these infamous criminals, and may be bothering those wearing peculiar watches, or the colours of Blue, Red, Purple, or Orange. You might be one of them: the bothered, or botheree. Many games or movie criminals are some adaptation of these Voidtreckers. A lot of people are worried they’re behind the phoenonem in the sky.
  
  
• Nevertheless, people will still have their own lives to deal with, regardless of worrying events. Play around with what job your character has, if they’re in school, what work they do; if they’re drawn to a night life or just hanging around wherever they like. Characters not used to technology in-canon may find themselves having trouble with this world (despite believing they’ve always lived here).
  
  
• Some of the Voidtreckers who are most resistant to illusions and mind control will be breaking out by the end of the first day. They will have to lay low and plot in secret, figure out how to make contact with others. The SCA comms do not work.
  
  
• Other Voidtreckers might begin having dreams about their past by day 2-3.

DAYS THREE-FOUR:

• Those who have been brought to the world begin to dream of their real and past lives, if just in very small and confusing snippets. Some of those dreams may bleed into reality, and people may start to recognise absolute strangers, but don't quite always know why. This is stronger for Voidtreckers than 4th wallers.
  
  
• Random electronics seem to be glitching in odd ways, particularly the training centres, which lock people in together, even random strangers. Mostly it's harmless and more of a pain. People also swear they think they see the tops of buildings 'glitching' or colouring out. People have been speaking about pets going missing on walks, though the zoos and such are mostly fine, save for some of the higher up bird sanctuaries.
  
  
• More of the Voidtreckers and some of the more resilient guests will begin realising the reality of the place they find themselves in. That this is not their own world at all.
  
  
• The propaganda of the city starts to escalate, warnings about the dangerous voidtreckers and reminding people of how great the city is.

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DAYS ONE & TWO: SLICES OF LIFE

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"This is an emergency broadcast to everyone in Jinnjar City. At 08:00 today, a breach into the city was attempted by the invading force known as the Voidtreckers, who have tried countless times before to take over Diagad for themselves. While it's believed the group was resisted, citizen are advised to watch out for anyone acting suspiciously in the city, and to watch out for this emblem. Please call the D-F-O-R-C-E hotline if you see anyone you suspect of being an intruder! Remember to keep low altitudes while we deal with the phenomenon above."

[ RAINBOW SKIES. ] "Everyone's been speculating about what's been going on up above. About a week ago, these long streams of twisting colours suddenly spread through the purple skies of Diagad, rainbow colours inking the clouds. They've been growing out, like merging with the sky itself, and news broadcasts have been telling people not to worry. But what even are they? They say that looking at them for too long causes headaches, while some swear up and down they've seen things in them! I've heard a couple of friends talking about investigating them, but I dunno..."

▷ Twisting streams of colour are becoming exposed in the sky, and indeed, those who look too long high up will find themselves receiving headaches and dizziness. They’ll fade once you look away, but those who do decide to investigate by getting close will experience a tug, as if something yearns to take them somewhere. There will be patrolling Heroes - this world's equivalent of police - keeping an eye on things. Maybe your character is one of them, or posing as one. Maybe your character wants to learn more about what these are. Regardless, they won’t be able to get significantly close to the streams no matter how high they aim.

[ THE VOIDTRECKERS. ] "Gossip is HOT about these Voidtreckers. I remember seeing a movie about them once, based on something that happened years ago. They tried hacking their way into taking over a dyson sphere being built - like a giant structure around a star. There's other stories about them too, but are they really the ones behind this? Who are we even meant to be on the lookout for? I don't know... I'm kinda spooked. But do they seriously ride around in a flying train?"

▷ You've heard about the Voidtreckers, whether you remember stories about them or not. Are you bothered about them? The news broadcasts say they got rid of them - then why are they asking people to look out? And what are you supposed to look out for? On top of the emblem, there's chatter going on about watching out for people wearing strange devices on their wrists, and wearing colours of Blue, Red, Purple, and Orange.

Will you defend your city from these mysterious foes? Be smart about it, or rash? Or maybe you're interested to know more for your own deeds… whether or not they’re the Voidtreckers of tale, they may have resources for furthering your own goals.

[ LIVING YOUR LIFE. ] “But nevermind all that! Life’s about having fun and hanging out with your friends too. I work part time, but I’ve got plans after my shift’s done! Doing some shopping, going to see a movie. I can’t stress out about the funny stuff going on. And I heard the new waiter in my favourite cafe is suuuper cute!”

▷ Despite the few anomalies going on, you still have a life part of Jinnjar City. You have a job filled with devices that you’ve been surrounded by all your life, or certainly longer than a week or, so you know how to work a coffee machine, right? You know how to drive an air taxi!

And where would you take one to? To anywhere: to the gym, one of the training centres, a spa, to the movies - normal things that everyone around the city have always been around. Meet up with some friends for fruit smoothies, or watch one of the shadow displays held by the Georgi’s Gang around every street, putting on shows to mesmerise and delight the kids.

Or how about buying your groceries to take back to your apartment or house? You know what all these fruits are! Right? Right?

… … maybe it’s produce from another planet.

DAYS THREE & FOUR: JUST ANOTHER NORMAL DAY

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[ DREAMS. ] “Dreams are just dreams, but a lot of people have been talking about them. Like, really being disturbed by them? Not in a creepy ohhh a monster’s coming for me! way, but like, they say they see worlds they swear they’ve been to before. Or see people? I wouldn’t really think about it except, there’s this guy… not like a super cute guy, but someone I think I knew…”

▷ Talk about dreams have been popular lately, though not everyone has them - or, not right away. Sometimes people may be at work, in school, doing nothing in particular when a name (important to their real self) appears in their mind, a flash of scenery. Coming as quickly as it goes. They don’t know what it means, if it isn’t just a symptom of the latest weird gossip influencing them.

But it sticks with you, something you can’t completely dismiss. But surely it’s nothing - right?

[ ANOMALIES. ] ”Just what we need! My friend’s dog’s gotten lost! She was taking him for a walk, and then she just says he went running ahead, and poof! Disappeared! Maybe he saw a cat? He’s always been a lazy chubby thing, but even dogs can’t help themselves, I guess…”

▷ The colours in the sky seem brighter today, closer...but it’s difficult to say for some, unless you’re actively studying them. Sometimes when you look above, you might catch - if just for a second - the tops of roofs glitching out, corners or streaks erased, colours meshing with the walls. You think it might be the light or your eyes, as it never lasts long, and even standing around waiting to see it happen again won’t give you what you want.

You may have other things to worry about than tricks of the light. Animals have simply been...disappearing, and always the ones owned, or particularly birds that fly around freely. People will ask you for help, and it’s weird they need to. Most owners have a tracker chip and app, and either apps show a blank map, or show them just standing in place...a place that when you get there, is nothing, no one.

[ TRAINING CENTRE. ]
“Really though, other than the weird sky business and how jumpy the news has made everyone about the Voidtreckers, the only odd thing that’s been up is some weird stuff happening at the training gyms. Even I saw it! I was just doing my warm-ups for the day when the field I set it to, the sky...these shapes suddenly appeared, dark and looming. It seriously creeped me out. But it’s just a glitch, right?”

▷ Young or old, the training centres around the central district are a popular spot for everyone to give their powers a safe space to be unleashed. While there’s basic simulations that’s free for everyone to use, people can be personal trainers, or even run group sessions in the bigger rooms.

Sessions aren’t always linked, since getting private training is allowed. However, lately, people keep getting jumped into other’s sessions, and can’t get out until they finish the routine. Sometimes they’re simple, where you need to destroy building block-esque cubes, or superspeed through courses twenty times. But then there’s also story modes, such as…

Castle Defence: Help protect the castle of Erna from the tricky Voidtreckers! They’re trying to storm the castle, and the world needs your power to help keep them away. Difficulty is based on the amount of people present, and speed of the individual. Do you turn things green? Then turning a Voidtrecker green will make them pop! Good job!

Kama Aid: Floating spheres have been lured inside a giant 3-tiered labyrinth ball. You must help the spheres - come in optional people-shaped or even cute animals - be released back outside where the air is fresh. Use telekinesis to tilt the tiers like a ball tilting game, or use super-strength to destroy the different tiers!

Dia Mysteries: A theft, vandalism, maybe even a murder. The crime scene is locked down, and something is afoot. Use your telepathy to gain information from the suspects, sneak into a secure area under invisibility... the solution is yours to find in this investigative simulation.

[ A PSA or Six. ] ”Stay vigilant citizens of Diagad. Please report any suspicious behavior to the DFORCE force.”

Announcements blare from speakers on public transport. Adverts pop up as they scroll through Diagnet. All remind citizens to be on their guard, report strange or disturbing behaviour and keep a look out for any of the symbols or colours of the Voidtreckers.

"Heroes don't keep secrets! If you have suspicions about any dangerous people in our midst, let your local DFORCE force know. Speak the Truth. Save the World."

▷ Billboards are plastered with bold posters reminding citizens to keep an eye out for the Voidtreckers or anyone who they might have tried to sway to their side. For those beginning to glimpse that this city might not be what they once had thought, this could be dangerous especially if their families and friends believe the city truly is under threat.

---

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

Comments

Xehanort (nee Theodore Murphy) - Orange Team - OTA

[mustknow]

Rainbow Skies and Rumors

Xehanort's not around. There is this other guy, who looks suspiciously identical but named Theodore Murphy instead, who has very obviously been living in this city his entire life. Although pretty young, he's made a decent start for himself working for D-Force as one of their many desk jockeys, angling for a management position after proving himself very, very good at picking out the right hero to track down specific villains or handle certain crimes, and having several popular heros on a first name basis has benefits.

Like being invited along on a completely innocent survey of the ribbons of color across the sky, because he's perfectly capable of holding scientific instruments and is intensely curious. No harm's likely to come after all! Which means he's up on the roof top of one of the higher towers, with aforementioned instruments and a lone Hero on speaker phone.

A short invite had gone out to any other idle scientific types who might be interested in taking some photos or readings for posterity. So long as they could get to the roof.

"Okay, Ted, we have a good view from here but shift camera two over a few degrees will you?" Some residents who turn up might even recognize the voice on speaker, a tech-oriented young Hero named ShockJock.

Ted, who is CLEARLY not Xehanort, frowns and works on adjusting the camera just so. "Everyone in the office is suggesting this is just a new form of aurora, but I don't know if that's just the line we're supposed to be telling people. It doesn't look like any aurora I've ever seen."

"That's what we're told! But I heard a rumor from Reliant.. now, don't pass it on but Reliant heard that this is actually a psychological attack. Those stories about the Voidreckers being back? This is just the prep to soften us up."

That earns a disgusted snort. "You don't believe that do you?"

"You don't believe it's an aurora, do you?"

Livin, via groceries.

Rumors aside, Theodore has an actual life to keep to, and he is nothing if not excruciatingly punctual. To the park for most of his lunch break to see about fattening up the local birds with breadcrumbs and get some fresh air, and then inevitably back to work at the office.. but on the way home, there's plenty more to do.

Like grocery shopping. Which means taking the time, very slowly and very carefully, to feel each and every single odd looking but completely familiar fruit for the right firmness and texture, and then the right smell. He has the meticulous care of someone sixty or seventy years older than him, and has gotten tacitly approving looks from various seniors before for this.

But a fruit must be picked carefully. Some are supposed to be squishy! Some are supposed to be firm! Some are supposed to smell like socks, and the expression of revulsion that crosses his face when that particular fruit is sniffed is apparently a good thing because in his basket it goes.

Another shopper?

"Avoid the mirror figs, they all smell off." It's helpful advice, given freely! "I think they got frost-shocked."

Dreams, anomalies, what lies beyond

It's the park again, early evening, and Theodore's brought his usual mix of seed and breadcrumbs and treats for the birds, but not a single bird is in sight. Or even heard. Not a rustle of feathers or cheep anywhere, and the young man seems... distinctly puzzled by this, watching the sky and trees with a frown on his face, small bag of goodies still held in one hand.

No birds. Where could they have gone? "It's strange, isn't it?"

To no-one in particular, but the question is posed anyway, distant and thoughtful. "Things are going missing. Pets. Birds. Is it the colors in the sky? Is it.."

Something more? Something connected with the name in his dreams, something that made the world glitch and fritz out in the corners of his vision, something so deeply disturbing he didn't want to think about it long. He knew, surely, on some level .. didn't they all? But he rejected it firmly. To do so would be to question the life he'd worked hard for, fought for, struggled to achieve on every level simply to try to give a little back to the equally hard-working father who'd raised him -- no.

He wouldn't allow it. What could he possibly have, other than this? This was worth fighting for. A home, a family, a place he belonged-- "..Something else I suppose.."


[Wildcard: hit me with something else!]

Livin via.... breadcrumbs? (Lunchbreak)

[wewillwewill]

Found you.

There are those scenes, you know? Where a cloud of birds are suddenly startled into flight. And once the flurry of wings pass, a figure can be viewed where they once... weren't.

There's no trick to this, this time. Elidibus has been making use of more mundane means to get around. But he can discern SCAs. And the people who have been pulled into the illusion are fundamentally the same people.

Xehanort has a very distinct aether which the Ascian has come to recognize.

But by all accounts, the man had walked into the area just like anyone else would. Wearing a loose white button-down shirt with long sleeves, black slacks and black shoes and nothing that looks anything at all like a train logo involved. The SCA is hidden under the shirt sleeves and plenty of people wear pendants, so those shouldn't raise any immediate alarms, right?

If it's a bench 'Ted' occupies, then Elidibus will approach. "May I join you?"

[mustknow]

Had it been another world, other times, it would be the darkness that warns him, not the explosion of feathers. Without it... mundane means work just as well, and people pass by all the time.

The birds perch all over nearby, unwilling to go too far from the scattering of seeds and treats on the ground, but Elidibus is New, and doesn't seem to have a seed bag, he could be Dangerous. These thoughts don't bother Theodore any, what's one more stranger in a city this big?

It's the query that draws his attention more than anything else. Company wasn't usually how these lunchtime forays went! "Ah, certainly, if you want." He sounds a bit surprised, and a bit puzzled - but why wouldn't he? This is a stranger.

Isn't it?

[wewillwewill]

Not even a hint of recognition, is it? Elidibus is not surprised, given Xehanort's difficulties with the illusions of the Caves. He is almost unaware of the fleeting sense of disappointment that stirs in his chest.

"Thank you." And the Ascian sits on the bench. There are no breadcrumbs or seeds in his hands for the birds. Though once he no longer moves, the more adventurous of the flock begin to return. The rest soon follow suit.

"You appear to be at peace," Elidibus offers after a few minutes of quietly observing the birds. Or the grounds around the birds; there is a way he watches them that seems as if he's staring through them.

The words are for Theodore. They suggest familiarity that a stranger shouldn't have.

[mustknow]

It's strange, but stranger has happened before. The city is vast, and full of all kinds of people who might simply want to chat. And with the ribbons of color overhead and whispers of foreign invaders in every corner, who might not be interested? He keeps tab on it, like so much else.. but nothing said by way of suspicion. It's only a twinge after all.

The seed bag is offered. Maybe it'll keep the birds interested. He's there for a purpose, beyond simply enjoying a lunch break.

"As much as can be had of late," he agrees. "It's a nice day, it would be a shame to not enjoy it. I'll be glad for it when things go back to normal."

[wewillwewill]

After studying the bag of seeds, Elidibus takes a small amount and scatters them on the ground. To him, the birds are illusions. The act of 'feeding' them just plays into strengthening the belief of it.

But sometimes one must compromise. The interaction allows for a more receptive mood; however fragile that will be.

A pleasant day. Even Elidibus might agree with that. But the peace he speaks of is not about the day or even the circumstances that seem to threaten the city.

"Pray tell me, what would be normal?" The Ascian glances at his current conversational partner. "Friends? Perhaps a family who accepts and loves you as you are?" The tone is as one might expect from casual small talk. The words... are not.

"A city, free of concerns that there might be something fundamentally... wrong."

[mustknow]

"Well. I will say this, of all the things lately that have been abnormal, this start to conversation is ranking right up there with ribbons of rainbows in the sky."

While his tone is pleasant enough, there's an undercurrent of tacit disapproval. It's just not something that's done! Random strangers don't sit down and begin asking what's normal. It's not a lead in to normal, comfortable smalltalk between unknowns. "You may want to get to whatever point you're trying for a little faster, since you're making such an effort to be noteworthily peculiar. No-one's going to just dump their life at the feet of a stranger because they posed an odd question or two."

Was Elidibus intending to? He has the experience of thousands of years to draw on, if he wanted to blend in for action and words surely he'd be able to without difficulty.

[wewillwewill]

The intention was not to get Xehanort's life story, no. At least not the life story that this city has attached to 'Theodore Murphy'.

"Yes, a stranger." The Ascian offers a wry look toward the disapproving Theodore. "Then I will begin with introductions. I am Elidibus." The man's expression sobers. "And this is not the first time we have met."

There is a pause at least part of which is to give Ted space to introduce himself. The other part is to observe Xehanort's reaction to his name.

[mustknow]

No introduction is forthcoming, after the politeness pause of Elidibus offering his own.

It's normal and proper to do so. He doesn't. There were of course little signs that things weren't quite right, troubled dreams among them ... but Theodore continued to staunchly ignore all of them. It wasn't important, except maybe between himself and his doctor.

"How often have we met before?" It's a big city, after all. "And where?" He didn't recognize him from work or scattered classes!

Well... no. If Elidibus had been wearing a certain other form he'd have recognized the Ascian immediately! But as he is not particularly high ranked, he does not know Lightwarrior's undisguised self or even the sound of his normal voice!

But this is a city where powers of disguise, shapechange, obfuscation and more are commonplace, nothing he says is an outright dismissal or disbelief. Not after dealing with Damon so recently.

groceeeries

[blitzcheer]

"Eh?"

Tidus's hand stops near the fruit, a few others in his basket; stops, but he still reaches just to give it a feel with his fingers. But he can't help but to look across to the other guy and his...fondling, a brow raised at the sight.

"You giving everything a once over there? You should ask if they have a spot going in the store." Heh!

[mustknow]

"Everything worth eating." He's not ashamed! Fruit that isn't perfect isn't going on his table! ..It might go in a blender or something, but that's different. "You can eat them that way if you really want to, but you'll be missing out."

The true taste of a fruit, at just the right ripeness! "Some people just grab whatever's on top, but it's worth it to dig around a while for what's best."

[blitzcheer]

Okay, that gets a small chuckle out of Tidus, tickling a funny bone somewhere in him. He'll leave the one fig fruit behind and feel for another. Why not; the guy isn't wrong about them feeling off, anyway.

"What are you, a nutritionist? Cook?" He gives the one fig he's picked out a turn around to look from each angle. "Actually, you ever cooked with these? I think I've got the wrong fruit."

Eh. Maybe it's good anyway?

[mustknow]

He's neither nutritionist OR cook! "...Hobby dabbler I guess, it's either I do it or I wait for the folks to and sometimes that doesn't go well." Enthusiasm only goes so far, and if he can help.. well.

The fig in question is eyed. HAS he ever cooked with it? He ...wasn't sure. Maybe it was a long time ago. "Not lately. Are you trying to cook something? Maybe I can point you at something a little less.. uh, freeze shocked."

[blitzcheer]

He's really got it out for these figs, doesn't he. Tidus eyes the fig one last time before putting it down, admitting: "You ever eat out for so long you don't step inside a grocer in forever? It's kinda like that."

Meaning, he's aimlessly browsing because it feels like forever since he did. Can he even cook? He thinks so...

"How about... a tart? A tart's easy. Get some ready-made pastry. A quiche?"

Quiche is always easy.

[mustknow]

Things Theodore doesn't have memorized: tart recipes.

On the bright side, he knows what to put in them! Or at least what flavors he likes buying in the premade sorts, and thoughtfully, he studies the entire produce section. "Yeah, that was us for a long while. But a few years back, when I got old enough to realize we were all growing out instead of up, I started working on fixing that." And doing the cooking himself!

... More or less. There's a distressingly high amount of chips in his diet. "For a tart, you'll probably want those." He points, to a whole section of pre-packaged little black berries. "But ... uh, aren't.. aren't quiches made with eggs?" FRUIT with that??

[blitzcheer]

That gets a small laugh out of him, already quirking a smile when the guy pointed out the berries.

"Didn't know we had to stay in the fruit aisle! But some fruits can go okay in a savoury tart- 'pends what else you're sticking in there." But he is looking over at the black berries, a tilted head.

"...I don't know if those would, but." He'll walk over to them, pick them up for a look. "These'll be good in a smoothie."

[mustknow]

"..Oh I thought you were.. looking for ingredients for ..." EGG TARTS. There's a mix of embarassed horror and utter disgust at the idea of an egg tart even if it's just in his imagination. Nobody ever needs to know!

Some people keep their composure well under hypothetical fire, Theodore is not one of these.

Smoothies are a far less alarming topic!! "Ah, yes, that'd probably be really good." Especially with the heat of summer on! ....And now he's weighing if maybe he should be getting some of those instead. And not put an egg in it. "...You know, I wonder if we're getting imports from a new world. There's a fruit or two.. maybe a vegetable.. I don't know."

There's one thing to do about that when he gets home: search for it on the internet!

Rainbow Skies and Rumors

[zombiemessiah]

The man named Alvin Bernard Murphy is here, but in a different flavor. A vibe of telekinetic rather than an undead psychic, and pleasantly at ease in a normal world 'cause creature comforts and first world problems feel good.

He follows up on some manufactured memory of being a doting father, of fantasies he never got to live out with Lucy, and shows up at 'Theodore's' work with bag of his favorite take-out.

"Hey, Teddy!" He calls from the front desk, waving madly with a red hand, the picture of fatherly embarrassment.

"Brought you something."

He's on his break, and not about to let his son go hungry.

[mustknow]

It's an excruciatingly effective bait to put out, for more than one person.

Here's the life fate's denied them, a family, a place to be, a purpose that isn't full of pain and suffering and loss! No wars to fight, no real concerns beyond the inconveniences of modern life like irritating coworkers or a train being delayed on the way to work.

It's easy to forget.

It's easy to want to forget, and embrace the illusion of contentment and comfortable familiarity. Easy to think, to want it to be real, that there's a doting father that might bring him a lunch or 'bother' him at work simply because that's what caring people do, and the illusion allows for it. Allows for the huff of a laugh over the radio from his coworker, as if this is normal and expected and has happened countless times before. Maybe in some other reality, it has.

So he acts as illusion and false memory dictate. "Hey!" There's rules against things and he ignores them, his dad is perfectly harmless to the D-Force and all related projects, and they know it. "Do you have a few minutes? Come take a look at this!" Screw front desks, there's science gong on!

And besides it means he doesn't have to go fetch his own lunch.

[zombiemessiah]

Murphy's been here. Well, not here, but in Hawaii, on Zona, in the place made specifically as civilization away from civilization, living merrily on as zombies infested the rest of the world. He was taken there by force, but he had stayed and played along for the comfort of it.

But it's that experience that will be Murphy's salvation. He remembers the sort of disaster an idealized place became. He knows they don't work out forever.

Especially with how badly some of these people react to mind-control.

But he doesn't quite know that yet. All he knows is that Teddy gets wrapped up with work and even if he keeps a strict schedule, he needs to eat. And he doesn't know whether or not the kid's going to wrapped up in work.

"Sure. Headin' in." He moves past some people who act like they've known him forever. He thinks he has? Oh well, these are just Teddy's friends. Right.

[mustknow]

There was likely a time limit on all of this. A limit on the world, on the power that created it, something. Maybe it has already ended, and they interact with little more than illusory ghosts of a forgotten time.

It seems real enough in the moment. The people who wave at Murphy, or just wave him on, seem as real as anyone on the train ever did. It's familiar, it's comfortable.

And it's probably going to hurt like hell to have it torn away.

"ShockJock asked me to lend a hand with some of that mess up there-" There's a vague gesture skyward, "And it's pretty neat if you don't look at it too long directly. Nothing top-secret this time, I think we're just working on finding out if the things in the ribbons of light are actually there or if it's more of a 'see a bunny in the cloud shapes' sort of thing."

There's a little thread of interest and excitement - and it's certainly nothing anyone has to worry about. If it was WORRISOME he wouldn't be involved at all, never mind inviting his father to check it out too. "What do you think, dad? Spooky alien invasion, or minds playing tricks?"

[zombiemessiah]

"It's been killing my head." He says honestly. "Hell if I know why."

It's because of the real Murphy's psychic inclinations sitting under there. A now malformed brain unable to prod at the threads it's used to. It's enough to have him curious.

"I keep hearing the alien invasion theories and... you know? Considering so many animals have been going missing? I think it's something. But it could be someone whose powers are going out of control. Which would really have us in deep shit."

He scrunches up his expression. "I would much rather it be aliens. Seems unlikely though."

[mustknow]

"Don't look at it long enough to get a headache!" As far as he's aware, that's the only reason anyone should be getting any headaches from this. At least it's only headaches, it could be significantly worse.

Alien invasions were hardly on his list of concerns, be it some other world or these Voidtreckers, but there were plenty of other modern, mundane worries that could very well be just as bad. "Probably someone just coming into their power." A glance is cast skyward. "It's pretty rare that the effects would be this far reaching, but we're only one city." That's one powerful civilian! And the government was sure to lock that down fast.

"My money right now is on some other country deciding to have a go at us for fun. That it's mostly birds disappearing.. well, we know how reliant they are on the skies, it might have scared them all off."

[zombiemessiah]

"I only have to look at it for a few moments to start getting a headache. Starting to think I'm developing migraines in general. Your old man is getting old. But at least I'm still stylish."

He plays off that minor concern with fingerguns before following after 'Theodore'.

"What about the pets. Think they're getting spooked too? Nobody can figure out where they've gone to."

[mustknow]

It's something worth making a doctor's appointment over sometime in the coming weeks, if this is really a chronic problem. He's going to have to find out, maybe speak to his stepmother for verification.. "We should probably get that checked out though, when all this is settled and over with, just in case."

No playing off concerns!! But there's something pointedly exaggerated in the way he eyes his father. "You're not .. hiding anything are you? Besides migraines?"

He doesn't at all mean this voidtrecker stuff. He's not actually serious at all, but it would take someone who knew him well to know it.

"...I don't know, maybe. If I had a little animal brain and a whole lot of animal instincts, terrifying things in the sky would be a pretty good reason to hide. But.." He shrugs. "Seems kind of strange. People aren't going missing."