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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.. Tidus is right. What would those weird Voidtreckers want to do with them when they're just two regular guys near the end of their teens? It's not even like their powers are particularly remarkable, or anything those people would be able to use for their nefarious purposes.

Whatever said nefarious purposes are, anyway. It's not very clear, other than them just being Very Bad.

"I'm seriously impressed by your ability to worry so little about everything. You know that?" He glances over at Tidus before raising the cup to his lips, taking a sip. "I bet the world could be collapsing around us, and you'd still be.. staring at the sky, or whatever. Were you looking at the colours?"

"You should be more careful Tidus."

Taiki had entered the coffee shop and gotten some tea before making his way over to his brother and friend, to hear the end of their conversation.

"It seems things are getting very worrying out there, I had to turn my phone off because the alerts were worrying the kids."

The orphanage where he ran his art club was a good safe place, but the kids there were even more sensitive to the frightening realities of the world and the constant warnings had caused a few of them a lot of worry.

He's about to give a defensive no before Taiki speaks up, and now he's getting mom'd, mom'd! Don't mind him as he gives a little pout at being called out, picking up his drink and looking sideways as he takes a sip himself.

(mumblegrumblemumblegrumble)

"I'm not not taking it serious," he protests, the waving hand coming out as he speaks, clearly there to help him make his case. "I just think everyone's worrying too much. Like, so these guys tried to get in. What're they gonna do? Our guys will beat up their guys and it'll be done! If you track every news app, you're gonna get scared."

Or scare the kids inadvertently!

Wow, don't you call Inigo out on his doomscrolling!

At least he's getting somewhat backed up by his brother here. The moment Taiki shows up at their booth, he turns to smile widely at him, all excited to see him. As if they don't live literally in the same house.

Maybe it's since Taiki's presence immediately lifts his mood, but it makes Inigo willing to be a little easier on Tidus too. After all, the other guy's got a point.

"I guess it's true that nothing has happened yet.." He glances over at Taiki. "You haven't seen anything weird yet either, right?"

Taiki smiled at Inigo as well, relieved to see him. This had been a very nerve wracking day even if he had tried not to dwell on what was happening.

"Tidus is right, you have to be careful with what you read. A lot of it is just people trying to make people more scared."

He reached out to touch both his brother and friend on their arms, calmly.

"Nothing too weird, just the sky being a bit brighter than usual."

How can Tidus stay a pouty thing when Taiki is being calming, soothing in that way? Familiar and comforting, in a way that melts his earlier defences with ease, and anything else he would have had to say is swept away with a need to reassure.

"If anyone gets funny with you and the kids, you call us! I'll be there in a flash if you need me." And with his ability to show up to those who thought of him - an ability he didn't often share of or approve of with most people - Taiki knew that would be literally. What else could Tidus do from there? ... be really loud and annoying.

It's the thought that counts. "They say the sky's been like that over a week now. You shouldn't even look out of windows." He laughs, a dip to his brow as he thinks back. "Didn't something like that happen before?"

It doesn't sound so strange, when he thinks about it.

"Maybe it's some natural phenomenon?" Just.. a really odd one. It's not exactly like a thunderstorm makes you feel crappy when you're staring up at it for too long. But it's not like Inigo claims to be a specialist when it comes to the weather in any way, so he figures that there's got to be people who've thought about this sky and its potential danger - or lack thereof - way more than him.

It ought to be okay. (Hopefully, a voice in the back of his head says, not quite able to be silenced.) He sips from his coffee again.

"It's too bad you can't look up at it. I bet you'd have fun trying to paint it with the kids."

Taiki smiled. "Of course." Tidus would be one of the first people he would call in an emergency, not only was Tidus good in such times he would also be great around the kids, able to keep them calm.

"Trying to stop them looking up at it was a challenge. But I think before. It must have. I remember... We mustn't stare at the colours for too long."

Who had told him that? It is in his mind as knowledge as intrinsic as not staying out in the sun too long or wearing a rain coat to stay dry... But he can't remember the sky being like so before.

Was it was a natural phenomenon? It's strange- Inigo says it, and it sounds wrong, but then Taiki says what he does, and doesn't it sound right? He can't decide what it is - if there was a time this happened when he was young, and people always said, 'Don't look out the windows.'

"We don't want to give them ideas," he says a little late, having to pull himself away from the thought. Leaning to grab his drink, mouth tugged up to a side. "Taiki's got a handful with them every day as it is."

He takes a sip, then after-

"You should go with Taiki and tell them the story of the two-legged shark. Bet they'll like that."

How about that for a lighter note.

Really, Tidus? Really? Right now? Right in front of his big brother's cup of tea?

Inigo just looks at Tidus. Staring. If looks could kill..

"How about you first tell Taiki all about how you're harassing his poor little brother in the gym!" Yes, this is just what Taiki has to deal with now, once the serious topics pass. This is just his life.

Voidtreckers, lights in the sky and potential threats from who knows where yet some things never change and these two bickering at each other is certainly one of those things.

"Two legged shark?" He asked Inigo, over his cup of tea, hiding a smile.

"I told him he should imagine himself running from a bear, so he started saying a shark was gonna come out of the water to eat me." All said with the humorous honesty of an honest honest person. It's close enough to reality, right? Right.

Inigo will surely not agree.

"Tell Taiki more about this macho shark after my behind."

Inigo is definitely starting to slide down his seat now. It almost looks like he'll be on the ground within about twenty seconds or so if this keeps up. Maybe he's waiting for the earth to swallow him up so he doesn't have to face this situation.

"Tidus dragged me over to the gym, saying I just had to try out the treadmills. Even though they are machines made by the devil!" Apparently. Inigo never thought of them that way, but now he's tried them out? Never again. It's awful. Why would anyone put themselves through that torture? It looks so much easier in videos! "And then he started to make up dumb stories and make fun of me while I was doing my best to run."

Okay, okay, so technically Tidus wasn't making fun of his running ability. He was just making up dumb stories, but that feels like making fun of him all the same to Inigo, so of course he's going to pout and whine about that now.

Especially since Tidus is making fun of him right now! Just look at him, going on about that shark! Ugh!

Edited 2021-07-12 15:08 (UTC)

Taiki reached out to catch Inigo before he really did fall off his seat and to the floor. Also to show him support, he knows how embarrassed he gets.

"Hey I'm sure you did your best Inigo." He also knows that Tidus won't have meant to be cruel, Inigo is just so sensative.

Which is something he loves about his brother.

Oh, these are some lies back! But Tidus is a smiling face that contrasts the sinking, sulking Inigo. Still, Tidus needs to protest his defence in this case - they're in front of Taiki! And he never wants Taiki to get the wrong idea (luckily, he's been around them long enough to know better).

"He did!" First, an actual agreement with Taiki! "And I wasn't making fun of him, I was trying to inspire him! Wouldn't you run if a bear was chasing you? It's calling having fun! While exercising! And you got into it, didn't you?"

Is that what one calls it.

"I was dying."

Thanks for your encouragement, Taiki, but apparently it's not enough to fully keep Inigo from being dramatic. Sure, he got into it, but at what price, Tidus. At what price?

"I bet you wouldn't have made up the whole bear story if Taiki was the one running with you." Granted, Taiki doesn't deserve the bear story. In the slightest. He should only have nice reasons to run.

Taiki laughed softly, rubbing Inigo's hair gently. "It sounds like Tidus really put you through your paces." He smiled at Tidus over Inigo's head.

"Though perhaps bears are a bit frightening for gym sessions."

Inigo is very sensitive after all.

Yup, that's some dramatic Inigo alright. Good thing he can use the cover of Taiki speaking to neither confirm nor deny Inigo's point, Tidus humming as he considers Taiki's instead.

"Inigo, what do you want to get chased by next time?"

Nothing, Tidus knows is the answer - but he might as well let the other guy whine and be miserable. Dramatically.

"Taiki gets chased around by kids all day, so he doesn't need anything."

A very sensitive boy indeed. A sensitive boy that's leaning into the hand that's giving him headpats like he's some sort of cat. Or at the very least totally starved for affection.

Though his voice is still a little flat and deadpan all the same as he speaks up with: "I only want to be chased by the concept of all my hopes and dreams coming true."

Thanks.

"I don't even know how you came up with bears!" Why bears, of all things. They've never even seen a bear in person before!

Taiki is very used to his brother and never misses a chance to spoil him so though Inigo might be acting like he has never had positive attention in his life Taiki is acting like he is making up for that now, making a sympathetic noise when he whined again.

"Tidus is always playing video games when he's not doing sports, there's all sorts of strange things in those."

Wow, playing his videogames Taiki?! Is there any bears in his videogames? His mouth tugs aside as he tries to think.

"I dunno--bears are big, right? Doesn't the zoos have any? What else could I have come up with?" Other than the concept of all of Inigo's hopes and dreams?

"Anyway, don't talk like you haven't played a game, Taiki. You've gotta have one on your phone!"

Inigo won't comment on Taiki's gaming habits - or Tidus's, for that matter - but he does helpfully add a bit to the conversation here, at least.

Even if it's exposing himself a little, but really, it's not telling these two of all people something they didn't already know.

"Taiki's watched me before when I played Handsome Princes Steamy Romance on my phone." Though Inigo may have been way more into that than Taiki. But still! It means Taiki does know what phone games are, regardless of whether he plays them or not!

"I didn't say I hadn't... I just..."

He cuts off as he looks at Inigo as he speaks, nodding and petting his hair more. That was Inigo's favourite game, even if Taiki understood that even less than he understood fighting games.

"I mean... Yes they have bears at the zoo. We haven't been there in a while."

'Handsome Princes Steamy Romance'? That gets a 'what the' kind of face out of Tidus, a small judging look at Inigo - before he takes it to Taiki, asking, "So, who's his favourite prince?"

That's how the game works, right. Tidus know about those games! But he can pipe up, a little more at proper volume and suggest:

"How 'bout we go sometime, just to hang out? I think the last time we went..." Hmm- "What was that? Little school?"

He can't remember anything recent. Though- wasn't there something about pandas...?

Tidus's look is just met with a 'come at me, bro' kind of look from Inigo. What's wrong with liking hot, steamy guy romances, huh?! Sometimes a guy has to get his fill out of phone games when he can't have it in actual real life!

"We should go!"

Maybe it's even said with a little more enthusiasm than necessary. Like he's trying to move past the other part of what Tidus is asking Taiki as quickly as possible.

"You'd like seeing all the cute animals, right, Taiki?"

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longforgottenpromise - 2021-07-13 18:00 (UTC) - Expand

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