middleofsomewhere | 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

"More like the people are some of the only real things here, and the rest is illusion. Not just suffering under the effects. In a way, you could say this city isn't here except someone is believing or putting energy into making it tangible for the rest of us."

So yes, the objects put off energy, but it was the same energy everywhere. The headache inducing part of it, beyond it outright giving a headache, is he'd only run into people not being defined by that same energy.

"I bet this piece of shit blew a hell of load doin' that."

He shakes his head and takes a sip of his drink, wrinkling his nose up in a sneer afterward.

"What about people from other worlds? Sanzo said his son was the right age to be the real number, not just somethin' what he dreamed up from just wantin'."

"I've heard of some of the same, but haven't run into anyone I recognise. Though that makes sense, that people could. I don't know if the mechanism is the same because I don't know how the train or whatever's behind the train as a whole manages it, but it's basically abducting people from multitudes of worlds. This place, it's probably populated in the same way."

"You would think someone bein' that tapped into the void woulda been real big news." But it seemed like they were a relatively new thing. "Do you know if the whole population is that or did they all get yanked from their respective places."

"Mm, aside from the Trainlings? Whoever else crops up dragged into these messes might make up a handful, I don't know, but my guess is it's more like how we were when we first arrived on that platform."

Not that he has enough evidence either way. He lifts the glass, finishing off his third rum. That warmth he wants to feel is felt, but he wonders how much of it is his convincing himself it can be. All, probably.

"Besides, maybe it's learning from us? That sendoff last world, could it have been learning things from how the train moves through the void? It moves fast, and this whole place... if it's being caused by the same presence, this city is not even a month old. This whole world hasn't existed for more than a month, and what was it the announcement on train said, something about five cycles worth of information?"

A longer pause. "Whatever a cycle is."

"Hard to tell when days are at odd hours and months are measured in food an' animals an' whimsy," he says offhandedly, before finishing off that last glass. Okay, no more than a month old.

"Meanin' it lit out from the last place an' immediately got started on this. Likely took what it learned there and started from scratch. But we know they come from Diagad. This entity... quite likely a person. Seems like the magic it uses taps directly into the void. Headaches it causes are similar, so on and so forth."

That it is a person gives him some hope. That they're so powerful though? Yeah, that's a little problematic. Even the gods hangin' with them weren't prepared for the void.

He taps a finger on the rim of his empty glass. "Mm. Person can be a pretty broad concept, but yes, it could be an individual, young at the time, desperate to regain its world. Though what destroyed Diagad?" If it was the one running world to world looking for a new home, or if it was one of the other lurking disasters that was ultimately on the multiuniversal board.

Too bad he didn't have actual alcohol to drink. He could use that pleasant buzz to help slow his thoughts down for a while.

"Magic or spiritual connection, and yes, it is. Even here if I spend too much time concentrating on what things feel like, I get a headache. Worse in the centre than in the apartments, so distance matters. It's definitely located somewhere central to all this."

"I unfortunately didn't read the book on Diagad. I was neck deep in other shit. So I wish I knew if they had some kinda religious structure or somethin' that might account for exceptionally strong individuals."

He'd been focused on diplomatic stuff, ways to keep people talking in an emergency.

"I did hear that it was possible that the same thing that destroyed the VT's system got to Diagad. Don't know if the two things are related though."

"The same thing?" He frowns, no comment on which books were read. He'd had some... interesting times figuring out the library here, familiar and not, but what information has been retained in what manner in his head is a messy thing at present. He can't say anything, with that in mind.

"I feel I'm barely tracking the relevant things, but in what you heard, how did they decide that was a possibility?"

"Nothin' more than the world bein' referred to as a past tense. Now, all kindsa things can bring about the end of a world. But if the world is full of superpowered folk like what these was, then it's my guess it had to be somethin' big."

It's a reach, yeah, but he's guessing if they can ask the right people they'll find out for sure.

"I hope this place's atmosphere ain't magic. I'd hate for it to go down an' us be stuck gapin' like fish gettin' a suntan." Nothing he ever wants to go through again.

He makes a considering noise, continuing to tap a finger against the empty glass at a steady pace. Less than a heart's beating, for certain.

"I'd only imagined individual worlds coming down for a person before this whole business," he says, offering a lopsided, wry smile. He follows it with a sigh. "I wonder if the bands won't help with that for us, but what about the rest of this city? Everyone is real."

It would be a whole city's worth of people gasping for air in an environment with nothing breathable to provide. Coldness settles in the pit of his stomach at the idea; an injustice he has no immediate answer for, and a possibility that's not dismissible. What is atmosphere? Why they breathe, and not every planet would allow them to. Important facts, because it's not just bad air, but as often none at all.

There's not exactly a whole lotta precanned air here, either. The only thing that makes him consider it is how people just walked out into the middle of nothing.

"Guess we just have to hope for the best. Maybe it's just me not wanting to have to go through it again."

He just flat-out admits that. If the train didn't have its strict controls, it'd have him waking up at night over it.

Again? Sympathy shows in his eyes, and he reaches out, clasping Yondu's shoulder if he can.

"I hope none of us need to, Trainling or not."

Leaving his hand for the moment if Yondu allowed the contact in the first place.

"Getting answers for that kind of thing... we need more than our word. Do you think any of the others like have been run into elsewhere will potentially be here, too?"

Continued here.

So Familiar a Gleam: Start

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