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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Living the Life (Day One/Two)

Life isn't always just work and home, though Jon would say that his home life is a satisfying life with the wife he has and their cat. Their own little family. But there are other things to do with life than work and commute. There's a whole city to take in, spend time in.

Jon does occasionally slip over to grab a smoothie, so you might run into him there while he's grabbing a purple-colored smoothie. If it's late enough there might be one that he's bringing home to his wife as a treat too. Though if it's in afternoon you catch him it's likely a break from his job to get some air and a treat.

Did he bump into you on accident? Or is he holding the door open for you on your way in or out? There's also the pleasantries while you wait in line with him for your turn to order.

It's all about the Social (Day One/Two) - likely threadjacked by his wife and honestly open to other threadjacks if you'd reasonably be at the game night

Are you friends of the Snows? Because if you live near them, you totally should be. Jaisyn has amazing hostessing skills, and Jon enjoys throwing the occasional game night with their friends. Just beware, because the pair hosting tends to be fairly competitive in the paired games.

Tonight's game of choice is charades. There's plenty of drinks to go around, both of the adult persuasion and not. As well Jaisyn's made a lot of finger food to nibble on while you're playing against them to try and guess what your partner is going to be motioning at you. But first, Jon's shaking a small container so you can pull the word once your timer is set.

Just a little Training (Day Three/Four)

With all the talk of the VoidTrackers that they have to beware of, Jon's opened a few more spots on his schedule for those that are looking for more one-on-one personal training to be prepared and ensure you know what you're doing with your powers. He's good for harder, more demanding training or if you're still a little unsure of how to use them he'll be able to help.

Are you his next appointment of the day?

Wildcard!

[ Hit me up on Plotting or

thewrittenfae to plot anything. ]

Ah thank you. [Taiki has a whole tray of drinks, treats for his family and so the man holding the door open for him gets a very grateful, if slightly shy, smile.]

You are very kind.

It's my pleasure to help, looks like you're ordering for a lot of people. [ Jon's own smile is warm as he's patient with the door. There's no real hurry for him at the moment. ]

Are they at treat or expected?

A treat, I came here last week and really liked their fruit tea and wanted to share.

[He has a couple of extra drinks even because his Aunt is some kind of magnet for random drifters and there are always more people in the house than actually live there.]

Their fruit smoothies are really good too, if you ever want to try something different.

[ Jon's a big fan of the smoothies personally. Though he may have to try the tea now too. Just to see what it's like. ]

"Ah. I will have to try some next time. My brother really likes sweet things, he would eat and drink nothing else if we let him."

Well he ate other things as well, but sweets were a clear favourite.

"I'd say there's nothing wrong with that, but we do try to stay on the healthy side of things even if we give into our sweet tooth now and again."

There's a grin from Jon as he says it, because really, it's fun to give in occasionally.

He smiled as well with a nod. "Yes, he's a dancer so although he likes sweet things he's also very serious about health."

Even if apparently treadmills are the devil...

"And yet I've heard with all the energy they expend with dancing, sometimes sweets are good to have too. To keep blood sugars up and have the energy for the exercise that dancing entails."

And one to try wouldn't do too much to their health, right?

"That's true." He nodded and smiled a small smile. "Don't worry, we don't deprive him."

He knows no one who can withstand even a moment of Inigo's sad eyes after all.

"Or yourself either. Treats for everyone." Because if Taiki is the one bringing them home, well he definitely deserves one himself, right?

It's only fair, after all. "My wife will pout sometimes to ensure I bring home a treat."

"Inigo pouts a lot." His smile is very fond, it's clear he cares about him a lot.

He looked around. "Um... Which way are you walking?"

"Hey, can you pass me a pack of that gum?"

Jon may have noticed a hand reaching into the space of his unpacked groceries on the till line, attempting to reach for the gum on sell, but just out of reach. A hand with a peculiar band around its wrist, its strap the colour purple. It looks like a watch, attached to an innocuous-looking young guy, who looks like he's fresh in uni.

And he's not acting suspicious or anything, the request casual, simple. But around when Jon might want to give an answer, there's someone far more suspicious right behind the kid, an Oi, what was that?' coming from behind Tidus. 'That watch?'

"Eh?" Tidus turns his head, looking at the guy. "What's it to you?"

This might be about to go somewhere bad...

He's already reaching to grab the gum requested as he glances over at the man making a fuss over the watch that has that band of purple. Jon knows it well enough because he has one of his own, though his has been a little modified so there's no color showing.

Ever since the Voidtracker whispers and everyone being on the lookout for certain colors, Jon's stuck to blacks and greys when going out anywhere. No one looks at him funny for them, and well something in the back of his head whispered don't take the watch he always had on off, so he'd settled some black fabric over the color - hiding the purple from view and looking like just a decorative black band with a few silver accents on the fabric covering the color.

"It's just a watch," Jon offers to the person behind Tidus, holding the gum requested. The cashier glances at the three and seems to just keep scanning Jon's items through in an attempt to just get all three through the line and out of the store.

"Seriously," Tidus chimes in, though his less an affirmative to the point of it being a watch, but to add to the dirty look he's throwing the guy behind him. Said guy - a few years older than Tidus - looks at Jon than him, and seems to sheepishly (if annoyed) look away from the pair, as if they weren't ready to start something in the middle of a shopping line.

With that defused before it can really ignite, some tension in Tidus's shoulders easing as he turns back to watch the proper direction. "Thanks," he says to the guy in front of him. "Don't know what's up with people lately."

Voidtreckers or no Voidtreckers. Sheesh.

To be fair, unless they were really itching for a fight, Jon was pretty confident the guy wasn't going to start something where they were standing. And yet you never really knew until you were in the moment for what they might do, confronting them or not. Jon's thankful that the guy backs down though, because he wasn't really itching for a fight. "No problem."

His hand stretches out a little to offer that gum that had been requested. "People seem spooked by the weird news coming out about threats. They forget people owned those colors before these Voidtreckers we're supposed to be careful about were a thing." Because really, the Voidtreckers didn't have the monopoly on the four colors they were told to watch for. Jon's closet at home contained some of them in shirts and things. Even if he's been careful not to wear them so people don't do exactly that these days.

"Hopefully you don't get too much trouble over a watch past this."

Tidus takes the gum with an appreciative hum, adding it to his groceries - a bag with pastries, juice and soda, some snack bars and packaged fish.

"Yeah, I hope so. I'm not gonna change a wristband just 'cause it's a colour no one likes right now." Does he look like he's made of wristbands? Where would he get one anyway? It's the last thing on his mind. "And you've gotta give even bad guys some credit. No one part of them's gonna be walking around in colours everyone knows them by. It'd be...symbols! That's what I'd do."

Outing himself before he's even part of an evil crew.

Jon's groceries look more almost homely, some burger patties and all the fixings for them, some chips for side and some sodas but also some fancy looking cat food. He's hoping to surprise the wife unit back at home with it since she does most of the house everything.

"I mean, just because you might like a color doesn't make you a bad guy." Because really, the guy's not wrong. He'd hope that if these Voidtracker people were smart about things, well, why stick out when everyone is now watching for the colors they're supposed to be watching. It would just paint an obvious target on their back. Not that Jon wanted trouble at all either, part of him was hoping this was some big overblown media thing and that life would calm down again soon enough.

"A symbol? Something inconspicuous but easily placed in the open then?" Is it weird how easily his mind jumps to that?

"Yeah! Like a...patch of a dog's face?" This is what his mind comes up on the spot, and if anyone thought a guy talking about making dog patch symbols to stay inconspicuous was part of some evil group, they're probably feeling dumb now (or should they be).

"There's dogs everywhere. Cats, birds- who'll think twice about a symbol like that?" Not unaware of how silly his idea sounds however, Tidus chuckles, throws Jon a grin. "How about it? Wanna be part of my underground dog gang?"

Jon's brow arches just a little at that patch of a dog's face, but his lips are quirked because, well it's kind of funny at the same time. But he's not wrong about it being a good way to subtly mark a group. Because who would think an evil group was running around with a dog patch on them somewhere. "Especially pending the kind of dog."

There's a more devious grin at the offer though. Because really, even if it's only for pretend it sounds hilarious to Jon. "Depends. What's the face of your dog game?" Because clearly this matters.

Jon, are you ready for these fingerguns and the prompt reply that's coming with them? Because- "The Pow-Wows."

Is there any better dog group name? No. Unoriginal, but a classic. Tidus is grinning and has no shame.

"Meet my evil void-travelling gang of pups in the skate park at 5:30 tomorrow. We're gonna ruff things up and take all the bones this city has."

A beat. "Also? I'm thinking a Maltese for the dog patch."

The fingerguns make that reply all the better, what are you talking about Tidus! Because his amusement only grows as that line is delivered and Jon's head dips as he laughs with it.

He's pretty sure only his wife could come up with something better. But she has a knack for the super cute puns. One he rarely sees rivaled like today with Tidus. And the grin only grows with all of those dog puns.

"I'll be there." How could he say no to at least checking it out after such a clever delivery. "Maltese dog patch would be good. No one would suspect anything with that."

"Welcome to the resistance!" Tidus lilts, fun-loving and jovial; the last few minutes of a potential scuffle entirely forgotten. He nods ahead where it's now Jon's time for his groceries to get scanned, just so he isn't entirely distracting the guy from why they're here.

But it doesn't mean the end of the joke, with one last- "Dogs! Gets new recruitments every time."

You can find odd fun in the most ordinary of places - even in a checkout line.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Start

Jon Snow | Game of Throne [Team Purple] | OTA

Living the life

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day 2

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