middleofsomewhere | So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

JUST Ā̸̛͇̹̈́͌͐͛̐̋͝Ǹ̵̠͍̲̘͈̮͈̺͔̤͙̳̓̔͑͌̒̓̃́̄̚͘Ớ̶̻̱̄̓͆͂̈́̄̔͋͌̽̀̕͘T̵͙͍͓̻̩͙̻͙̹͎̫̘͇̱̈́̌̓͝ͅH̶̭̻͇̰͈̯̦̹̦̗͐̒́Ẽ̵̡̡̘̳͉͇͚̼̗̣̩͎̞̏͒̈́̏͂̈͝Ř̴̠͋̐͘ NORMAL DAY

"Jinnjar citizens. Unfortunately, all train travel will be closed due to issues on the lines. Members of the Voidtrecker Express have been located around the city, and are deploying trickery to agitate and confuse us. We ask any volunteers at this time to help us locate any suspicious objects and people, and to restrain them.

For the f̴̘̯̰̦̺͖̔͌̋̃ũ̴̢̖̦͙̩̼̺̪͚͍̥͈̜̝͋̌̒̊̚ẗ̶̪̺͕̤̯̞̤͓̝́̑̄̎̊̕future of our city!"

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

EVENT BASICS:

DAYS 5 & 6:

By now, some people have broken out of their fake lives while some haven't. Tension is rising in the city as people are led to believe this is by the Voidtreckers, which some will believe due to illusions and messing with one's heads is believed to be one of their many tactics.
Some oddities are occurring with travel, and glimpses of how the city is made beginning to show. The streams of colour - the void - are getting brighter. Electronics are not working well. Some monster sightings are seen, but not to a large degree.
The prompts here are light to give characters and players time to ICly coordinate, as Voidtreckers are being more actively hunted. Some faces are known. You know who you are, troublemakers.

DAYS 7 & 8:

The world is really starting to go a bit wild now, with more things disappearing, animals on the loose and more monster sightings.
By the end of day eight most people have realised the truth though those who are very susceptible to mind control or very stubbornly wanting to believe in this world will still be trapped, believing this is the Voidtreckers doing.
There are monsters to fight, people to keep calm and a plan to make.

[ HOME SWEET...HOME? ] By day 5, the people of Jinnjar are in a state of anxiety more than before. There's those who realise they're not a part of this world, never were, while there's those who still cling onto this life. Health services say that the source of confusion comes from the colour trails that are brighter than ever in the sky, while the D-Force/Heroes have it confirmed - internally and publicly - that there are Voidtreckers amongst them.

The media shows pictures of potential suspects, some Voidtreckers, some not; a man with the same face as two others, one who made a show by creating ice in the middle of the street. Your face may be shown, but don't worry - they're asking people not to play vigilante.

That'll surely keep people behaved.

[ TRAVEL REVIEW. ] As if it couldn't get more frustrating, most of the trains are down. Air taxis are still available for short journeys, yet some people have the bizarre occurrence where they end up in the wrong spot, and even remember going in this wrong direction...but never say anything about it. Those using the tele-pads will also find themselves not always arriving where they should, or worse, suffering intense headaches, swirling colours behind their eyes, their thoughts jumbled for as long as ten minutes before it passes.

You might want to walk.

[ MAKING DO. ] Still, with all the chaos, many are trying to live. You have a life here, no matter what some other force is trying to make you believe,

For our HEROES: The cinema has rethought its showings due to the worrying happenings of the last few days. Clearly a boost in morale is needed and so they have pulled out some of the great films of the past. Action films that show heroes beating the bad guys, disaster films where the good guys beat the aliens, stop the natural disaster or thwart the secret agency looking to take down civilisation from the inside, at the last minute. Even the childrens films have taken on a pro-hero and triumphant air.

It's not quite distraction though, how could it be when every film has a warning before and after. REMEMBER TO REPORT ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO DFORCE and WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW. REMEMBER TO WATCH YOUR SURROUNDINGS AS CAREFULLY AS YOU DID THE SCREEN.
Fun Park: It's for the kids, but one of the largest arcade parks has a special discount on everything to anyone who come visit. It's even advertised across the news: For half the price, get amazing fun and even better food! Kids younger than eight or from the orphanages get free access everywhere!

It's time not to think too hard, and to ignore the trouble! Play laser tag, racing cars or get a high score on the dance mat!
Encroaching Dangers: Something new is beginning to happen, as the city continues to shift. It starts at night, those that stay out past when the streets go quiet might see a shadow, might hear a growl.

Rumours and reports start to spread about monsters on the street.

DAY SIX: HELP FROM INSIDE

[ AID. ] DIAGNET is full of videos but one that has started doing the rounds is of a small droid and a cat. It's not hard to see why it has gone viral, the cat and cleaning droid are chasing each other around an apartment, caught on a home security footage. The cat tries to catch the droid but every time it gets close the droid turns to chase it and the cat runs away. It has been uploaded with stirring orchestral music, which adds to the madness.

But... For those Voidtreckers who have already regained their memories that little droid seems familiar indeed. As do the sounds that punctuate the music.

beep beep beep boop | boop

boop boop beep | boop boop boop

boop boop | boop boop boop | boop boop boop | boop beep | boop beep beep | beep beep boop | beep beep beep | boop

boop beep boop beep | beep boop | beep beep boop beep | beep

boop boop boop | beep boop beep | boop beep beepp | beep | beep boop beep

boop beep | beep beep boop | boop | beep boop beep | beep beep | boop | beep | beep boop

Of course it might not be anything, just weird droid sounds that haven't been fully edited out of the video.

[ MOONDUST CAFÉ. ] It might be that they figured out the message or, it might be that a friend is dragging them to the cafe. But for those that make their way there, they will find the Moondust Cafe is a bustling cafe on the edge of a park, near local transport links.

For those that say the right words, a slightly bored looking teenager manning the counter waves them to a side door. "Best sit downstairs, service will be quicker."

Downstairs has a fair number of tables and booths and is lit by coloured lighting making everything look a little obscure. There's soft music playing, not loud enough to make it impossible to hear each other but enough to make it a little harder for evesdroppers.

Mingle, discuss. This is probably the closest to a safe space there is.

[ LOST & LOST. ] You may have spotted it already - that is, spotted what's missing. There's been the pets, the birds in the sky, a pen or apple or wrench from the garage. But now, with every single bad thing going on, more is starting to disappear. Machines stop working, from air conditioning, freezers, your Jinnjar MP3 player, to TVs and more.

And in some business buildings, even entire rooms are gone, their floors empty of more than the door you opened to find this out. Even the heroes seem worried and they quickly clear any affected areas, chasing away bystanders and sealing off whole wings of office blocks.

None of them have answers though, except that this must be the Voidtreckers doing. After all who else but that group could have power enough to do such damage?

DAY SEVEN & EIGHT: UNRAVELLING

[ OVEREXPOSURE. ] Everything is starting to escalate. The headaches are getting regular the more you're outside, buildings are starting to go missing around the outskirts. People see parts of the city flickering, and when they reach certain sections of the city, they find they can't go beyond it.

Life tries to go on, but as more areas of the city begin to be sealed off and considered dangerous, even those who are most stubborn about pretending everything is normal can see that is is not.

[ LET LOOSE. ] The breaking down of the city has caused a lot of chaos, but one of the biggest problems are that parts of the zoo have vanished. Walls, fences, enclosure roofs. Meaning that the animals inside are no longer confined and are now prowling the city streets. Real birds now fill the sky that the fakes left empty.

And they aren't all that's there. Twisted creatures are becoming more common on the streets of Diagad. Creatures that look almost like animals but warp and twist between them, one moment a bear the next it has horns and then it is a wolf. But no matter how they look those claws and teeth are bad news for everyone.

[ CRUMBLING, CRUMBLING. ] By day eight whole streets are disappearing. homes, houses. people need to be moved in closer around the congress sector. Colours crackle through the sky like lightning and the world shakes often.

It's not just the infrastructure but the memories of those in the city. Dreams have come realities and all but the most stubborn have begun to realise that this world is not their own. They are from another place. What is going on? Why are they in this city? Who are these people who are their 'family'?

Confusion and anger are growing in the streets and it is perhaps time for the Voidtreckers to come out of the shadows.

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"No!"

Maybe it's not the best idea to say that. To protest like this to someone who could probably crush Alice if she tried. Sure, Alice herself is far from helpless - even without the powers the illusion had granted her, she still has plenty of ways to fight. She's still stronger than she looks.

But not stronger than a robot. Still, Alice doesn't budge in the slightest. She can't just let Guri walk over there and get herself into trouble like that.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Ahhh, geez!

[ There's no time to correct him, and she can't justify leaving him alone! So, she grabs him - ]

Hold on tight, and whatever happens, don't let go until I tell you, okay?!

Not great, but good enough that Wash doesn't need to worry about finding him urgent medical care for a brain injury. He'll take it.

"Stay there." Not that he thinks the kid will do any differently with how he's acting, but nonetheless. He gets up, heads to the kitchen for a glass of water, and brings it back, setting it down on the table beside the couch. "What's your name?"

I worked at the training centers - with my name and face blasted everywhere as an enemy, they're probably expecting me back there, and I don't think I'd be accepted with welcome arms.

... Monsters it is.

"You're a zombie? I know in general what a zombie is, but I've never met one. Your brain is not ammenable to illusions? Oh, and how did you become a zombie?"

He watches Murphy mess up his hair and judges that the man must be pretty frustrated by the headache, the location, and the situation.

"Pleased to meet you, Murphy! I'm with Orange Team. I guess we don't have to pretend we're not Voidtreckers."

Senku didn't get up but he was moving, what amount he was capable of at the moment. He brough his hand to card his fingers through his hair. It felt like his nerves were on fire, but they weren't. That was irritating.

He blinked slowly at Wash's question. "Senku." He answered after a moment. His thought process was so slow at the moment.

"Disrupting a concentration of enemy defense forces," she replied, in the same even tone.

"I calculate a mere twenty-six percent chance they can inflict meaningful damage - and that will mean a lowered enemy presence, ideally, on the the way to critical infrastructure. An opening other voidtreckers can exploit."

There is a pause.

"I will require my arm for the task."

The more the being talks, more questions arise. Is it a single creature with immense power and capability? A world's will? A collective consciousness bearing a shared rancor? It certainly does not appear to be 'one' in the single sense.

When Masumi raises the question of who should speak, Elidibus momentarily turns his attention to the young woman. "...While I have questions, I am more interested for now in those you and the others would ask first. Roland Crane. Wei Wuxian. Masumi Sera, feel free to speak first. Though remember our purpose is to understand and learn."

Many questions Elidibus may have will, after all, likely be answered by this first critical round. It allows him the chance to observe; most particularly this curious entity but also his companions.

Edited 2021-07-20 19:17 (UTC)

It's an answer, but it's definitely delayed. "Not thinking too fast, huh." He might not be concussed, but he's still not all here. "Get some rest, Senku. Nobody's going to come looking for here - you should be safe." Maybe he can sleep it off.

"O-oh okay--?" [The weight Della feels as she grabs him is astronomically lighter than she likely expects any child his size ought to be; practically nonexistent in regards to his appearance.]

"Cloud...Chase..rr? No.." [The name is still on the tip of Mono's tongue but it will have to wait, he can hear their pursuers approach already. Maybe there is ONE way he can help them make a break for it. Quickly, before grabbing hold, the child lifts his hands before and all of the surrounding paper: discarded newspapers, remnants of candy wrappers, confetti, posters warning to be on the lookout for suspicious individuals all of it lifts up in unison and flies to assemble into a solid pillar behind them to temporarily try and block them from view.]

Ugh, of course she's going to get a way too literal answer to that. Of course. This is Guri. Even when she's acting more than herself, she's already the type to take things a little too literally.

And right now? Guri seems so much less like herself. But oddly enough she doesn't seem like the Guri from a few days ago either. She is neither right now, and that fact really doesn't sit right with Alice. If anything, it just makes her latch onto that arm even more tightly, usual unease with physical contact be damned.

"I am not going to let you get hurt. Or let you get yourself into trouble." Especially with how much the city seems to be on high alert right now. "Besides, this-- this isn't you. You wouldn't want to fight."

Didn't she and Guri talk about that often enough in the past?

"No, I do not," she replied. "But after several days of being pursued, I have realized that avoiding direct action is an unsustainable response. Small damage is accruing."

Like the visible bullet wound on her chest, seen through what remains of some of her normal clothes. Or the one lodged on her side, or the other, lower down on her leg. She gestures towards the barricade with the free arm.

"It is the only logical course of action available, given extant evidence. The safety of this unit is immaterial given the larger issues at play."

"No I..." He tries to sit up on one elbow, it's slow, sluggish like his mind's just not working like it should.

"I wasn't alone..." He felt a rush of that crippling feeling that he is alone, everything is gone, desperation...

"I wasn't!"

“I don’t think anyone has ever called Shadow Fairy Boy. He’s got some pretty cool powers and talents, though.”

Link grinned. “You should see him act. He’s great!”

He paused. “Apologize for what? It’s hard to upset him.”

"If you happen to have pictures of who would be in the know, I can start with that. Far as I know, I haven't outed myself amongst the DForce, and I'm very good at maintaining a cover. My sister is in the High School with the same device, shouldn't be hard to get through to her after how many times we've been mindfucked," he said.

Its been A Lot.

"We're pretty good at the recovery part now, but then we can find any of those way too grown up teenagers and I can see what counts for records here."

Her eyes widen.

Not because the wounds, mind you. Alice could already see those from a distance, since it's very hard to miss what sort of state Guri is in right now. Those are worrying too, but thankfully Guri can sustain this sort of thing a little better than most humans, so there's the opportunity to make that a second priority for now.

No, the reason for the surprise and desperation in Alice's eyes lies elsewhere entirely. It lies with what Guri is saying.

"Do you hear yourself right now?" Alice gives another tug on the arm, as useless as it may be. "What if you get worse damage? What if they break you?"

There couldn't be a person more opposite of Peter Quill than the calm-natured young woman by his side, just wanting a hug. Not that either were bad, it's just something he notes in the back of his mind. She ain't nothin' like him.

"You're tough, you gonna be fine out there."

But he does get up then, having to discombobulate himself from the kindly hug (as much as he'd like to hang around for it) to gather her up some bar snacks. Best he can do at short notice. The food's startin' to feel fake, anyway, so maybe it doesn't make much difference.

"I was someone's labrat and generally nope. I can't even dream. I control other zombies. And right now, my head feels like a hangover that won't go away." He leaves his hands in his hair, frowning pissily at the whole unhelpable situation.

No, he supposes they don't. Unless they do! And he's sure going to love that.

"I don't even care at this point. Arrest me. Throw me in a pit. Shoot me and put me out of my misery. Make sure it's in the head 'cause apparently anywhere else is just a painful inconvenience." That'll knock him out at best. He'd survived a gutshot once with little trouble. He has no doubt he can do it again but he doesn't want to and please, if he has to live with the headache and there's fuck all he can do about magic stuff just end him.

"All right, so order of priorities: Have a way to get people away from here for if and when this place destabilizes," Sunset said and looked at Loki. "Defeating our enemies is good, but an escape plan irregardless is important. Worse comes to worse, we live to fight another day."

"Which is second priority: Neutralize the entity. Talk them down, trap them, kill them, whatever it takes so they can stop doing this. Always be on a look out on how to get to them," she said, and is starting to draw circles and runes in her book.

"But for escape, we need to find out who and who is not real and how to wake them up so they'll be ready. High ups in DForce, people with powerful abilities of transport or high pools of energy, the crew-" She paused, staring at what she's written down. "And...I think anyone with mental abilities. Hopefully they're already free or won't be hard, but if we can get a bunch of empaths, telepaths, anyone whose got stuff to touch the mind..."

She looks up to Leia and Anan. "Your crews, do you have standardized communication devices? Would everyone have them on their person regularly?" She asked. "The Magic of Friendship-the Elements of Harmony, everyone who has an element is a siphon for power. Potentially an enhancer with the right circumstances. Loki might be able to get me a lot that way. And I know I can get magic to go through technology. Gets weird, but it goes. If there is a path for me to follow, there's a good chance I could force a mass wake up, especially if anyone has really good ways to get at most of your people emotionally, or any other mentalists who can send their own messages with mine."

Edited 2021-07-20 21:29 (UTC)

Wash just reaches over and places a hand on Senku's chest, firmly pushing him back down on the couch. It may not be a concussion, but that doesn't mean Senku is in a fit state to go anywhere. "And you're not alone now. You're a Voidtrecker, right? You've got friends all over the damn city, and provided they're not still whammied, they're probably out there looking for you. Once I can figure out a safe way to contact them, I'll let them know where you are. But you're not going anywhere the way you are now, so get some sleep."

“The safety of this unit is immaterial given the larger issues at play,” she repeats.

“Combat cannot be avoided, and local reality may be collapsing. Action is required.”

She looks to the barricade again. “And threat level remains within acceptable parameters…now thirty-two percent, given preparation time caused by delay.”

And the look in her eyes, placid, unfeeling - may give some indication why she’s like this. Emotions had been overwhelming and so…she’d shut them off. The error, of course, was in not realizing what a large part they played in who she was.

I can't say I helped much - I kept asking all the wrong questions to all the wrong people. I guess I wouldn't make much of a spy, if this whole thing was real!

"Honestly, you're the first I've seen in a while. And you're definitely not Equestrian," she said. Weird bone structure that seems almost painful, to be honest.

She shook her head. "Not in this form and I can't access that alone," she said. "I could lift myself telekinetically, but rapid teleportation is less of a drain."

Ryo doesn't believe the footage. He knows the people in it, for the most part, and they wouldn't do that. It's illusions again, and for now he keeps an eye out for the missing people (and for any of the yellow orbs floating around, because he does not trust those in the slightest).

He's moving through alleys and buildings as best he can, trying to keep out of sight of the more zealous of those hunting Voidtreckers, when his Sense picks up someone familiar. He can't place them immediately, but someone familiar generally means Voidtrecker, and they're a safer bet than most, provided they're not still under the illusion. He heads towards it, cautiously, and finds...well, a familiar face, and he is not doing well.

He takes a knee next to him, gently laying a hand over his. "Essek?" he says, voice quiet. "Can you hear me?"

They did something to our minds-

He swallows roughly. Of course. This world is built on illusions - of course the entity in charge of it all would attack the people trying to disrupt it. Siebren had kept up his facade for a multitude of reasons; this only adds another to the list.

And then Caleb freezes, and his subsequent question is not better. He is silent for a few moments, trying to find words, but...there is no good answer, and silence preys on the mind. "I do not know," he finally says. "The footage shown to the city depicts the five of you attacking civilians and lists nearly a hundred fatalities. I had not thought it to be true, but I do not know what actually occurred."

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

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No need to be sorry! XD

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Re: Travel

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