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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Jiang Cheng's head has been hurting all day.

He thinks he needs to go to his offices, but they don't make sense - he doesn't have an office, does he? He keeps hearing Wei Wuxian's voice wherever he goes, and it annoys him; not because he doesn't want to hear it, but because it doesn't feel right to hear it over strange new technology, talking about things he doesn't understand. It makes his hands clench, it makes him feel frustrated, argumentative, and he snaps at people he barely remembers remembering.

It's what has him tracking down his brother at the end of the day, his headache getting worse and worse, dressed in a suit that doesn't feel right (too tight, too constricting, what is he wearing) and forcing himself to push and push until he can reach out and grab Wei Wuxian's wrist in the middle of the street. He notices his hands are shaking, he notices that this all feels familiar, but he doesn't say anything.

Not until he lifts his head and his eyes narrow a little.

"We need to talk."

Wei Wuxian's hands are bandaged, as if he's burned them both, and he's been having his own internal struggle. Why he works in a closed, dark room in front of a device that allows him to speak across great distances, and why that'd echoed as something else, something new but more familiar than this. How his phone reminds him of yet again something else, but a strange twinning, and poking the tip of one finger out to use it had him moving so slow with the confusion of icons that he can't figure out what he does or doesn't know.

Jiang Cheng, however, feels right. Having him reach out to take hold of his wrist has a strong echo to too many other times, in places less tall, in cities less immense, where the sky felt closer at hand and less hemmed in.

Yunmeng.

He startles, looking to Jiang Cheng. "Yes," he says. "I really think we do. Though if it's going to involve a lot of yelling, can we get something to eat first? Like soup?"

He holds up both his bandaged hands. "I think I'd fumble chopsticks right now."

There's a part of Jiang Cheng that wants nothing more than to reach out and rip off the bandages, to see what is going on with his brother and demand that he do something to take care of himself better, but he resists the urge. He's sure there's a silly, stupid part of his new powers that is airing all of that to Wei Wuxian anyway, so there's no point voicing it, right?

His fingers slip away slowly, dropping down to rest at his side before he looks around them. Even with all the strangeness and the mess that's dropping on their shoulders he still feels so much more at ease here, with Wei Wuxian being his usual ridiculous self.

It comforts him, and only a tiny part of him hates it these days.

"Soup? Here?" He wrinkles his nose almost immediately. "I don't trust it. There's a coffee shop I know, though, if you want to drink something." All of these words sound so strange and foreign on his tongue that he has to shake his head, lifting a hand to touch at his hair. It centres him just a little.

"We can get you a sandwich."

Sensing emotion in the city was one thing; energy tied to emotions had a particular strength to it. Sensing Jiang Cheng's emotions because of a manipulation of the city was a whole other interesting deal, reminding him of the skyflowing river world and the consequence of its pebbles. How many of those had made it home to the people he intended them for? What of across worlds?

Questions for another time. Or for never, whichever came around first.

"Coffee?" Even here, he'd primarily been drinking tea, in or out of illusion. Wondering just what it was in reality, what they were consuming. Pure energy? Didn't feel right to be that, but he didn't quite have it figured out yet. Attempting to both see and not see the illusion at once was tiring indeed.

"Sure, sure, lead away, ah?" He jauntily offers his hand, like they should hold hands and make for this coffee shop. To feed him a sandwich. He, of the fully wrapped hands.

For his part Jiang Cheng is doing his utmost to bury away all those emotions so that no one else can pick up on them - he doesn't want people to be able to read him like a book, doesn't want them to peer inside of him and recognise him for all the problems and strange, twisting parts of himself. It just feels wrong, especially when he has spent so long being guarded.

It's not like Wei Wuxian can't read him like said book anyway.

"It's what I drank. As a lawyer." It seemed natural to have lots and lots of cups of it, having it by his hand whenever he was working late. He had memories of working late. Nose wrinkling, he begins to turn and walk away, to head towards the shop he recognises.

He raises his eyebrows.

"I'm not going to hold your hand, stupid," but he reaches back to offer his own anyway, for Wei Wuxian to touch at his sleeve or take his hand if he really wants to.

Sometimes the world will presume it sees more than it does anyway. Jiang Cheng was simply stuck in moments where he was seen, in spite of his wishes, by more than those who knew him growing up.

Wei Wuxian, utterly shameless, smiles and takes his brother's hand in his bandaged one. He barely can curl his mitten-like fingers around his brother's palm, but he manages, doggedly enough for a man who cannot actual handle being around dogs.

"So tell me about coffee," he says, since it's the thing he hasn't tried. "It's the kind of nutty scented stuff, right?"

It's exactly the kind of conversation he's keeping up for the walk to the cafe.

What he feels like now is more akin to him being a mirror, him being something that people go through, that see him but don't really understand him. It's something he can't really focus on right now, feeling uncomfortable and on edge, ready to snap at anyone.

Wei Wuxian holds his hand and Jiang Cheng scoffs, loudly, but doesn't let go. He lets himself walk with his brother trotting along like a toddler, a little creature he has to keep safe, and tries not to let his contentment show.

"Something like that," he says, nodding. "It keeps me awake. I don't recommend you have any of the stuff that will do that - you can have decaf."

As if a Wei Wuxian hyped up on coffee is what they need right now.

Wei Wuxian on sugar is as likely, given the servings in this city, but the more interesting thing is the fact they're all just... consuming... the same thing, no matter what it is. Clearly not deadly, but how fascinating, how the mind is tricked into believing things are of a form they're not. Energy used to create that form but not the energy that would belong to that form, made on its own.

"I wonder how that works here," he says, letting Jiang Cheng lead him, since it seems to be soothing for the both of them. "If we're not just taking in its energy in some direct form, ah? So interesting to think about..."

No one gives them much more than a passing glance, two guys heading into a coffee shop, only notable for having longer hair than most people in the same shop. Which goes to say: at present, not very notable at all, except to those fond of eye candy.

"Hey, what about the green tea latte?" He gestures to the menu he's thankful he can read, regardless.

"It's influencing us all the same," Jiang Cheng muses absently, "so at least we know it's nothing to do with our cores. There must be something that identifies us as one of those people." He's not going to walk around calling them Voidtreckers out loud - not when things are as tense as they are at the moment. He doesn't want either of them getting killed... Again.

Walking into the shop is familiar to Jiang Cheng in an oddly painful way; it feels like he's done it a dozen times before when, really, he knows he's only done it once. Then he spilled coffee all over Zewu-jun, if only to make the nightmare worse. He scowls to himself, walking forward and not letting go of his brother's hand.

He barely notices the people looking at them.

"If that's what you want," he comments idly, shrugging a shoulder. The barista seems to have noticed him and is already making him a drink - he's a regular here, in this world. She knows him. It's a strange thing indeed. "And pick something to eat or I'll get something you're going to hate."

He gazes blankly at the food offerings, then hurriedly blurts out, "A small cake!" Which turns into a negotiation that ends in a kind of pastry with white frosting. He would have let Jiang Cheng order as he willed, but the sight of something called oatmeal had filled his stomach with dread he didn't question.

He's still holding Jiang Cheng's hand in a sort of idle amused contentment, taking a moment to breathe despite the odd overbearing presence of scent in here that his brain said was coffee, even if it made little sense to him why he knew. The power of this illusion was commendable and intricate, but he wonders: are we borrowing on memories of previously alive persons? Or of a singular entity's?

He doesn't even let go when the drinks are slid across the counter, biting into the danish (what is one, he wonders) and holding it with his mouth while reaching for the green tea something or another with his other bandaged hand. On the upside, it means he's silent for now, mouth literally too full to speak.

Jiang Cheng doesn't hesitate to pay - because there's no way that Wei Wuxian would be able to, not with one hand full of pastry and the other full of brother - before he tugs his brother over to a table and urge him to sit down. The whole time their hands do not break, and he should feel a little more foolish about it, he thinks to himself, but the promise of a large, black coffee and a simple lavender cake is enough to calm him down.

(Lavender is floral, and he realises now it's one of the things that reminds him of who he is - it speaks of home.)

Settling down, watching his brother with a raised eyebrow, Jiang Cheng gives him a few moments, nibbling at his own cake before he breathes out. It's difficult, battling with these odd memories that are inside of his head, but he at least knows this is somewhere he belongs. Wei Wuxian is with him and that soothes a great deal of his nerves.

"So."

He sets the tea concoction down, relieving his mouth of the pastry with a final bite and chew and swallow. Licking his lips briefly, he looks to Jiang Cheng, with all his nerves. Confusion has been a natural state between these foreign, new memories, and the lifetime they were laid over.

Clever, clever entity.

"You were eager to speak with me, sounds like. How's reality treating you?"

He takes a sip of his tea. He nearly chokes on it.

"I was confused. By all of this, by the memories, by..."

Jiang Cheng leans back, playing with his coffee cup idly. He wonders if Wei Wuxian can pick up on the twisting, confusing feelings inside of him, broadcasted to the entire world and beyond. He feels uncomfortable and on edge just thinking that his brother can read him like a book - and his expression twists before he breathes out.

He can be the adult here - someone has to be.

Raising his eyebrow, he watches Wei Wuxian come back from his tea before he speaks again.

"I don't know who I am. Or who I am supposed to be."

Wei Wuxian has asked himself that question more in the last half year than ever. Has been sketching out the framework of ideas while he traveled, turning a critical eye on himself, then turning it away again. A half wrecked cultivator, and no one to really frame it around. Lan Zhan was in Gusu, helping guide the martial world. Jiang Cheng was in Yunmeng and Lanling, helping run the sect he'd rebuilt and ensuring their nephew was treated well as he settled into the same role even younger than Jiang Cheng had, albeit Zewu-jun was younger still, and supported by his uncle with only a fault for loving rules too much.

He can play the dead to destruction or free them to move into the cycle of reincarnation. He can understand the curses he never used; he can pick up the trail of ill intentioned demonic cultivation and spare the innocents from paying its costs.

Who are they, even more, once they've been abducted to the train, tossed world to world?

"In a very real sense, that's something we all have to work on. I can tell you who it is I see and remember, or keep it factual about recent events. Which would you like, brother mine?"

A second sip of too sweet tea. It goes down more easily this time.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Start

end of day two ( wiggles fingers )

grabs fingers and bites--

(ง'̀-'́)ง

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