middleofsomewhere | So Familiar a Gleam: Start

So Familiar a Gleam: Start

JINNJAR CITY

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

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

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

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

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

DAYS ONE-TWO:

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

DAYS THREE-FOUR:

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

DAYS ONE & TWO: SLICES OF LIFE

"This is an emergency broadcast to everyone in Jinnjar City. At 08:00 today, a breach into the city was attempted by the invading force known as the Voidtreckers, who have tried countless times before to take over Diagad for themselves.

While it's believed the group was resisted, citizen are advised to watch out for anyone acting suspiciously in the city, and to watch out for this emblem. Please call the D-F-O-R-C-E hotline if you see anyone you suspect of being an intruder!

Remember to keep low altitudes while we deal with the phenomenon above."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

… … maybe it’s produce from another planet.

DAYS THREE & FOUR: JUST ANOTHER NORMAL DAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Senku!" Yo, yo, hey!! Tidus is surprised, but that quickly turns into relief to see the other guy. He's been keeping an eye out and around for people, but it looks like he got found this time.

"I'm okay! Uh, as okay as I can be." To which he gives the rest of the shopping district a look over, as if to say, 'for being forced to live some fake life'. "What about you? You meet up with Gen?"

Should he be more discreet, this should be alright to ask, right.

"Good, good." Senku said agreeably, and since their other selves hadn't known each other, that was enough for him to deduce that Tidus had broken free.

"Of course, he's my husband. He and I share a house here." Senku said, just as specualtively so if they were overheard it wouldn't be weird.

"Good thing too, might have been awkward otherwise."

Wow, the idea of them both waking up and realising they've been with different partners is something worth grimacing at.

"No kidding." Eeesh, he wouldn't want that to happen to him. "That's good though. Uh, I've seen some old pals of ours around. You and the marry life keeping you busy!"

He gives him a playful punch to the arm, light and quick. Look, he can pretend well too! (Debatable.)

"You wanna get a drink and catch up?"

"You know how life gets away from you." Senku chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, I've got time to get a drink, let me just text my husband so he knows I'm going to be late." It was a very normal thing to say when meeting an old friend, wasn't it?

"There's a diner nearby, we can have coffee or something."

They're so good at being inconspicuous, Tidus nodding, - "I know the one, this way, right?" - and starting to walk with the other guy to the place. There's been crazy things both going on and not; talk of some people getting hassled because of the colour of their clothing. But meanwhile, everyone just trying to get by, day by day.

Tidus takes a booth close to the entrance, two slim menu devices free for them to view. He takes one, but he's looking at Senku instead.

"So...we're looking for the big guy himself, right? We got any leads?"

He looked so relaxed walking next to Tidus, one could be fooled into thinking it wasn't Senku. His posture was different, so were his clothes for that matter, he looked a lot more like the artist he was pretending to be.

He settled into the booth, perusing the menu idly, so he looked like he fit right in.

"Not a one." He gave him a headshake. "What I can tell you is everyone is in this mess, and we're scattered across the city in such a way I haven't been able to locate all of our old friends."

He hummed. "And some I've managed to locate, are completely unwilling to be open to the possibility of reality. Treading carefully is vitally important because one can and will be turned into the authorities if you're unsuccessful waking them up and they catch onto you."

"I do not believe we've been here long, however." That was a positive note.

That he could believe, but he's relieved to hear too, even with a mind that still at time second-guesses what he knows. Have they been here for a week? A few weeks? Their whole entire lives-?

He frowns, looking at least like he's having a hard time picking what to eat.

"Do you think it's toying with us?" he asks, not taking off his gaze from the menu he's barely registering. "Is everyone- everything- real?"

"Thinking about the scant information we got before appearing here..." Senku mused, moving his finger as though perusing undecided.

"The train did say there were life forms here in need of help, so no, not everything can be fake. But a good deal of it can be. We didn't even get proper lead up time, or prep time either. We must have gotten too close and just..." He trailed off.

"Mm." Senku considered. "I think toying with us is exactly what he's doing. Although why go to this elaborate ruse. We were completely vulnerable...we could've been killed any time. Although we're still tethered, maybe that's the problem." He was just speculating, hypothesizing.

"I've been looking for allies, people I can wake up."

The mission information - Tidus doesn't even remember it, but then he realises as Senku speaks that he might be able to look it up on his SCA. Later, when they're not in the middle of public.

But, he wonders if the tether they had would make them vulnerable too, being here. Was that something people could notice? That this...whatever could notice? He frowns, tries focusing instead on what Senku then says - that's easier to think about than anything to do with tethers.

"We need a way of making a show?" Tidus thinks, about the things they have, but then groans, shifting in his seat. "We didn't have time to bring anything. I can try magic, but it's not what you'd call subtle."

He taps to make a random order of food, just to not keep delaying, and submits it by the menu device.

Senku had the benefit of time, reflection and his eidetic memory which was a gift unto itself at the moment. Barely a glimpse at the mission information and he had it memorized.

He followed suit, ordering a sandwich and fries for something to pick at.

"Nothing but what was on us at the time, which means I'm limited to what's in here." He showed Tidus the ring on his hand. "Which is not nothing. Magic, too, I can do that again." He said, speaking low.

"I couldn't do it when I was still confused. The power I have here is nothing like the powers I was working on." He snorted. "I kinda wish, it's low-key but incredibly useful." Hopefully it would continue to be. "But not something I needed to use a lot."

"What was it?" Tidus can't help but to be curious by that description. 'Low-key'? "--Invisibility?"

That's something you'd call both low-key and incredibly useful. And might not be bad as they move around now, but for the meantime, Tidus wasn't finding much point - not until someone was actively eyeing him up, anyway.

Senku smirked slowly in the way he did when he was thoroughly pleased and intrigued all at once.

"Exceptionally good luck." He chuckled lightly. "I make a wish and then..." He waved his hand. "Within reason of course."

Wow, okay, that's -- a very good skill. Especially if it works that way, and Tidus's brow comes together in that moment he thinks, looking back over to Senku.

"Could we use it to get more people together? What if all at once? Find out what's going on?"

If all Senku needs to do is wish, then - they could get somewhere with all this nonsense. Easier, quicker. Wish for a way to find an end to this and get everyone back where they need to be!

"I don't know if it would quite work that way, since I'm not sure it has a ton of bearing on everyone else's will but I might be able to use it to bump into someone? Or find someone? I'm wary of using it on a large scale too..."

It wasn't his natural power, for what that was worth, and he wasn't sure there wasn't some kind of blow back.

"But I bet we can use it to find people, which should be our priority."

Tidus figures it was worth a try at the least, and nods to the plan of bumping into people. He waves a hand.

"Should we make a list? Or just try our luck with anyone? --Your luck," he fixes in humour. "I don't know anyone who'd be able to help us. Though...there was the guy holding the lessons on the train. A Wei Wuxian."

"Wei Wuxian, alright, yes. Roland, definitely." Senku responded with a hum. "I took a crack at Siebren, but he wasn't feeling it." He huffed lightly.

"And I did break through to Kaiba. I've had a couple of investigators sniffing around though. Heroes."

He may not be the most inconspicuous.

"It'd be strategic to hit up people who are living with others so they can go forward and spread it."

"Okay." Hit up people who are living with others...which would be easier to know visiting apartments and houses. Which--

Tidus's eyes lift, and he leans in a little as a brilliant idea hits him. "Let's be door salesmen! Make up a story about selling something and get in that way! We can get some uniforms and look the part!"

Perfect! Brilliant! He's never felt smarter than in this moment!!

Senku chuckled a little bit. "You know, I think that might be a fine enough idea. I don't know about these other people yet but..." He trailed off.

"It's the best we've got right now!" Whether they end up helping a passenger or someone unrelated to the train, what did it matter than to get people's heads on straight again? And to do it discreetly... there wasn't a better idea coming to Tidus at the moment.

Though--he leans in, with apparently a new brand idea on Tidus's mind. "Wait, Gen does performance tricks, right? What if we got a tent--"

'Your orders! I have...'

Tidus startles at the waitress that's appeared, lifting off - while showing the tray with plates - their apparent orders, waiting at their table to confirm. He leans back with a 'Y-yeah', nodding to his plate for her to put down.

"Thanks." He said vaguely at the waitress, which had interrupted their conversation.

"Yeah, Gen's performing, and he's good at that." He said honestly. "Captivating attention, getting people on side. He's an expert."

After all, the person he made look the best was Senku himself.

"I don't want to sit around and wait for this guy to get bored, I want to take action and get the fuck outta here."

The waitress leaves once they have their orders. Tidus picking at some of the chips, but mostly here to listen to what Senku has to say.

"Well, yeah. But more people means power to work with. More power in numbers, you know? 'specially if we can get people to figure out we're not the bad guys."

Whatever they need to do, to get the upper hand in the situation.

"After that... he's gotta be somewhere. In the city?" He makes a sound, shaking his head.

"I haven't got a clue how to start looking there."

"Power in numbers, and then I think we should do something to catch his attention. I don't know where he is either, I haven't heard a single thing about it." Senku shook his head.

"He has to be somewhere and if we have to draw him out, we should try that." He hummed.

"More than that, if we can drop the illusion that would be for the best."

"Do you know Elidibus? He's been investigating this place," Tidus shares - what he can, anyway. "He knows more than me anyway. Uh, his name's on that phone... but I think he had to change identity." And Tidus is being low as he shares this, though no one is here to pay attention to a pair of young-looking guys. "Goes by Olivia Curtis. Uh, call him saying a guy said he knows about fishing? That's how we met."

There, that's smart and discreet! No one listening in will ever catch onto that! ...if anyone is really listening to every call being made.

"Yeah, we met him. He came over." Senku responded. "Didn't get the update on the identity change though. He called me, actually." He hadn't minded. "At least we were both awakened at the time."

"Fishing, huh? Yeah, alright."

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So Familiar a Gleam: Start

iv sliding up into tidus's dms

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