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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

~~smash my typos too~~

Is Demyx going to cockblock Tidus's chance to get lucky today? That's alright, he'll accept it. Though their friend doesn't seem so keen, taking the first wallop like a champ (but with a sound like 'gyuh!'); but when the second hit comes back it lets its tongue free, needing a second to swing it for an attack it wants to do - but Tidus slices his sword with a 'oh no you don't!', which only manages to slice some of the tongue.

That's a thick tongue. But a cut is a cut, and it still squeals, hopping back on its long limbs to get away from the pair for distance.

"This? You mean... the pet disappearances?"

Don't worry Big Mama, Daddy Bear got your back. [He pats her back jokingly, knowing fully well he's making trouble for himself but she has been through such a damn time that sometimes you just have to make light of the situation.]

[And with that he's off to go get her some items. He has a plan to get her a burner phone while he's at it. Hopefully that'll let her have access to the networks when she needs it.]

[Who knew social media could be so damn crucial.]

Essek turns when the other talks, his eyes wide with unsuppressed fear, his breathing heavy and erratic, not just from his movements but from the spike of panic that laces through him. His mind feels numb as he takes a step back, away. People were looking for him? Who? Why? Because he was shown to kill those people? The man before him is familiar, but he's having trouble thinking passed the fog of grief and fear across his mind.

Though, as the man keeps talking, he hesitates. Trying to digest the words as he squeezes his eyes shut, trying desperately to think clearly. His body is shaking as badly as his mind is, rattling in a cage.

"I-... I need to- I-" he shakes his head harshly, as if that will dislodge the thoughts trapped in his mind, his shaken voice strained with rough, broken pain, "I have to find my- I cannot leave Beauregard and Caleb- I need-" He makes a frustrated sound at his inability to form thought, the cloud of paingriefguiltpanic suffocating him.

He chokes on a breath, his voice raw, "Please, I must find them." I need to know they're alive, echos softly against the fog.

"That sounds more like a criminal skill, than an acting one."

That was probably how Shadow got that alcohol, come to think of it. Maybe she had something there.....

"Well, you have to do things like that, otherwise people know your weaknesses." that was what Mr. Tsuruga said, after all.

"Oh, good."

And his plant powers aren't here anymore. He's going to have to rely on his arrow in public. He quickly takes the animal in another direction, making sure his grip on the cage is steady.

"Really gonna need some kinda course on handlin' animals." He's not really had to interact with them at length but it's something he's gotta get used to. Seems like animals are a big part of this job.

"But, everyone has weaknesses."

"Well yeah, but you don't want people poking at those weaknesses...." she pointed out.

"Why would they do that? People aren't all bad. Most people are really good."

Have her just staring at him for a moment. Then her face softened and something like envy appeared there. Accompanied by sparkles.

Because of course. He was a Faerie. And Faeries were good and kind and wonderful, of course he'd have no concept of evil and hatred and scum like Shotaro.

"I wish I were a Faerie," she said dreamily, forgetting, as usual, that no one else could follow the weird inner roadmap of her thoughts.

"Trust may come, with time and effort, on all our parts," and Essek knows, trust is incredibly difficult, especially when there is so many falsehoods afoot.

But he hears what she's saying, what she means and decides that doing this close up, instead would be less frightening than from afar, less impersonal. So, he dropped his float as he stepped from where he was seated and approached Mimi, his movements slow and unerring in their grace, even more so than they were in the illusion. He drops to a knee before her, giving her the higher vantage so she feels safe.

"It was a nice illusion, while it lasted, Ne'enuvar," he says it quietly enough that Caleb might not hear it, but then holds his hand out for her. "It won't hurt, it will be a faint brush of a warm wind that should remove what fog remains."

He holds out his hand for her to take. She can still back out, there's no expectation on his face, this is still her choice, but if she takes his hand, he will perform the spell.

Edited 2021-07-21 13:29 (UTC)

As the sky started to grow dark, the memories of darkness, nothing, loss, slams into Essek with enough force that he can barely remember moving out of the street to curl up as panic starts to seize his lungs and rend his heart. His body and mind are so exhausted he can't hold it off as it gnaws and grows in his chest.

He's exposed where he sits, a few people looking over at his curled, form, without his hood up and the growing dim light of evening, people might already be taking action against him. As it is, the terror of the world falling apart, keeps most eyes directed away. But that can only last so long before suspicions grow.

Essek hunches further, the tremors running through his body growing more violent. His hood shifting to show his violet hands gripping harshly at his stark white hair as he tries to stave off his panic unsuccessfully. His breathing is becoming more erratic and choked as he relives the darkness and grief of losing everyone he loves.

"Dani!" He gasps, jerking around a moment. "Don't do that! I might have hurt you."

Probably not, since he heard her coming over, but it's true also his hand dropped to where a knife or sword might be carried.

Trying to take a phone call from his wife while also avoiding being beaten by three men is an exceptionally interesting task as Jon answers the phone while also sending someone backwards with a punch.

While he can keep his voice fairly even, she might hear grunts as he works to keep the men off him. "Hey, love. I'm just leaving work." Which will give her a location, really, because she knows what building he works in and he's barely outside the doors when all of this happened on him. He'd argue that she's not a shitty wife, if pressed too. The fact that she hadn't put a tracker on him, even for the reasons she's claiming, say she's not.

"What did you need picked up?" A punch sends him back a few steps and there's the softest sound from him at the impact, trying not to let on through the phone he's gotten into some trouble. Because she's just a house wife, she doesn't know what he gets up to, so he doesn't want to worry her now. Especially since this isn't even in regards to what he was doing under the table.

So much for just stalking the husband home. There's not only the risk of her cover being blown by him now, there's also the risk of her cover being blown in general. Plus, association with a suspected Voidtrecker? The D-Force will probably be on their heels in an instant.

Which means Jon doesn't really have a lot of time. Especially when he's very clearly in the thick of a fight.

"We're out of cat food." There's a pet shop just down the corner; if he can head there, it'll be easier for her to intercept him. "There was a hole in the one can we had left and it's gone bad. Can you please get some for Neufie?"

Selene was getting a headache from just eavesdropping, trying to stay as still and quiet in her seat so she can catch the rest of the conversation from the next table over. Because, really? Voidtreckers and missions? Entities that eat worlds? The real Diagad, gone?

But most importantly: illusions, and people from different worlds. She's still very much denying the fact that this isn't her life, that this isn't her world. She hadn't cared much about the why and how, despite the fact that she trades in information around these parts. She's curious, yes, but not curious enough to want to step away from this world of make-believe.

Because here, at least, she has family.

As luck would have it, however, there's a sudden movement from somewhere behind her and she flinches, accidentally knocking over her glass of wine. So much for staying in the shadows and listening in.

It would have been far easier if people had left him alone at least until he got home and could just hide away out of sight in their house. Because if they’re out of sight, maybe no one will bother him. Not that he knows what to do about his job now - if he’ll even have a job. because if people will assault him right on the street, he can’t see his employers keeping a problem employee on the books.

He’s hoping this is just some kind of misunderstanding though, that an easy explanation will find it’s way to him. An easy solution. Because while he can say he’s a lot of things, until the voidtracker weirdness came up in whispers he can’t remember ever hearing about them before. He couldn’t voluntarily claim to be one, because to his knowledge he wasn’t one.

“Yeah, I can head there and pick some up.” He doesn’t say out loud where he’s headed, hoping to knock these guys out so he can shake them. Two of them get knocked out at least, leaving him two more to take care of. “I’ll make sure to get some treats too, to make up for it.“

Link didn't follow.

"Oh...oh, yeah?"

She turns sharply around a corner and dives into the thick of the district's streets, hoping that she's just fast enough not to get pulled over or worse, chased. "Can you hurry, please? I really need you home asap."

Because she's nearing the pet shop corner and he has to be there, or there's going to be trouble for both of them.

And he might even think for a moment that she's among the D-Force or someone out to get him, because her hover-motorcycle comes to a screeching halt next to him when she finally arrives, barely missing him that it's almost like she'd tried to run him over. Her helmet's face plate retracts to reveal her familiar features, and her voice thick with urgency as she greets, "Hey babe. Get on."

She nodded enthusiastically, wondering what it would be like to be a Faerie. Would she be the small type that flits from tree to tree? Her head shifted as if she was watching Faeries dancing about just over his head.

OR!

She looked excited and started bouncing at the new thought....

Would she be like Corn? Looking all tall and sort of human but impossibly beautiful?

Her face fell and she looked gloomy. Who was she kidding? She'd never be beautiful. Not without magic.

But she perked up again a bit. But... she did have magic. She had princess Rosa, after all! And her stamp book with the infinite stamp!

The female owner of the place came over with a tray, she set down a tea cup for each of them, a tea pot, a small plate for each, chopsticks, napkins, and a plate of sushi for them to start with. "Welcome, young man. We didn't even know our Kyoko was dating any one, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Kyoko of course didn't hear those words, she was busily starring off into space at a point just above his head counting imaginary Faeries flitting about, dancing around.

Until she remembered doing that to stay sane as Setsu when her brother....

AND... Kyoko has gone full face flush now, remembering that.

There's a grunt from him as he's pushed back a couple steps and the phone muffles a little while she waits for an answer as he makes sure to knock the two remaining guys out. "Hurrying, love." Because really, he doesn't want to stick around and have anyone see what he's done if he can help it either. Which means that he books it over to the pet store quick as he can.

The way the hover-motorcycle comes to a stop next to him does still his heart for a moment, his hand fisted and raised in a defensive position until the face plate retracts. It takes him a second to switch gears that this is his wife, not someone coming to take him in or try to beat him anymore than he's gotten. Not that he questions her either, shifting to get on behind her easily and quickly.

His hands settle around her waist, though can he help if one strays a little to feel her suit? Because he's never seen her in anything like this before, and even in the thick of danger he can't help realize and appreciate how she looks it in. "Any idea what in the name of the gods is going on? I came out of work and was attacked... And also where did you get all of this?" The question, even with her getting them moving is easily heard because his chin rests on her shoulder as she drives them wherever she feels is safest.

Link had been ready to start shoveling sushi into his face when the nice lady mentioned him being Kyoko's boyfriend. He choked on air and doubled over, beet red from the mixture of embarrassment and oxygen deprivation.

Malon was going to murder him.

Crowley's felt a sort of fondness for Alice since they'd met. She treated him much differently than the others did on the train, and after their little moment on the island, they had bonded. He couldn’t forget her so easily and even felt a need to protect her at times. He never had the urge to claim her as his, but to anyone else on the train, the relationship was obvious. He'd even gone so far as to make a space for her in his and Aziraphale’s room, just so she had a place to retreat to.

Crowley doesn't have a true concept of parents, but caring for Alice came naturally, all the same.

"It won't." she promises, giving her the same motherly squeeze she had in their illusion before letting go, a sentimental sort of look on her face. "You'll be strong for me, yes? We have to tell your father-- I mean, Ah--- Aziraphale next."

It still feels weird to talk like this. Crowley can still feel the full effect of the illusion in place beside her other memories sneaking in to confuse her.

What in the name of the gods? What gods? It shouldn't be what Jane's mind fixates on, yet she mulls it over in her head briefly before concentrating at the task at hand.

"Don't fall off," is all she tells him before the face plate slides back into place — obscuring her features enough, she hopes, not to get identified from the surveillance footages. Without further delay she gets them moving, weaving through the streets in an attempt to lose anyone trying to follow. Her ride is fast, the engines smooth, which will be among the many things she'll have to explain to him soon enough.

Just when she thinks they're in the clear, a hover-motorcycle comes up behind them. There's muffled cursing from beneath her helmet before she reaches for a compartment and pulls out a gun, handing it over her shoulder to Jon. Powers are good, but long-range weapons are better for chases.

Then she returns to gripping the vehicle with both hands, flooring it. Outrunning the enemy is even better, and she'll take them through a roundabout path before slipping into a tunnel that leads into a secret garage in their apartment complex.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

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Day 8 cw: panic attacks, mentions of psychological torture, grief

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threadjacking, hope this is okay!

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