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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"Really? How strange is that!" She said with a chuckle.

Her friend...who was her friend again?

Oh it didn't matter, she'd had it forever, right? "It's been so long, I forgot their name." She laughed a little bit at the absurdity of that.

It was close, very close, but in the end, Rui missed two steps and took the defeat.

She deflated and let out a good natured groan. "Aw!" She exclaimed.

"Rematch?" She was catching her breath a little bit.

The spark seems to dim in response to that. She wasn't really aware of this subconscious conversation, not on a surface level, she seemed to be a bit stuck in place as Shadow Link did his work.

I'm tired. There was never a truer sentiment to be had. Rui fought, Rui fought all the time.

"Funny how these things happen." This is close enough to familiar that she's managing, but she still misses the usual way of things working.

Though there's one thing about the network and liminal connections being gone. "Huh. I've never properly sensed you through the Force before."

"Exactly. It just happened all over. Not even a thing where purebred animals, or exotic pets or whatever were taken. I'm at a loss."

Being human and humanity are two different things, I think.

[ There just feels to be some distinction to him that he can't explain, but he's afraid of digging deeper. Thanatos has felt, seen things that worry him. ]

Voices? Do you mean the light?

[ There... might have been voices. Might have been something very big that happened recently, but Thanatos isn't entirely sure if he'd call it voices. ]

"...you were a unicorn? And that's not even where the strangeness ends? Oh wow, you have been busy."

Sunset's empathy will get her a vision to back up Mami's words...the same girl dressed in a white and yellow gunner's costume, aiming at enemies with a whirlwind of rifles.

Mami shakes her head.

"The entity that trapped us has been chasing my friends and I. I'm sorry you got sucked in too, but I promise I'll try to help you all out. We have to break the illusions."

Mami smooths her skirts and smiles, lifting one end to reveal her handiwork. Er...magic-work. Bits of gold embroidery throughout the blue.

"Yes. I use my magic to create clothing quickly, and it has...limited uses. I'm not really a fighter, but I can give you banners. Costumes. And...use the cloth as ties in a pinch."

Best not to mention anything else until she can lure Buttercup back to herself, she thinks.

"So what was your plan for fighting the Voidtreckers?"

He gives her a nod, his expression more comfortably aloof once more. The mask was comfortable, he was getting used to not wearing it around the Nein, around Caleb and Beauregard, but Mimi was a stranger... it's easier.

Essek looks at Caleb, not minding the other's touch in the slightest, even welcoming it, before nodding again. "Yes, take your time, we should be around for a while yet." Reaching up, he gently touches Caleb's hand and gestures for them to leave, coming to a float before moving to do just that.

"We have to keep pushing! The illusion will break eventually!" Mami herds a few more critters to safety, then swings over to Nozomi's side.

"Are you all right? Need a heal?"

It's not Tidus' day to get lucky with a creepy tentacle monster. He can do that another day.

He saw it trying to retreat and huffed. "Oh no you don't."

Demyx began to play to erect a water wall behind the thing. "Why is this thing so...gross?" He made a face. It was all wiggly and tentacles. Yuck.

"I could certainly use one, yes!" Nozomi said, nodding.

"I don't." Demyx chuckled a little bit and beckoned. "Stay out of sight."

There was a sporting goods store nearby and he vanished from sight. Without much finesse, he broke the window by the doorknob and slunk in.

He wouldn't be seen again until moments later when he reappeared behind Murphy with a grin and a bat. "Good enough?" It was good, sturdy wood.

"Okay!"

Mami calls on the light from her hairpin, and a little swirl of gold surrounds Nozomi. It only takes a few seconds to reinvigorate her and patch up any injuries, and then Mami smiles and gets back on the monster's...back. They can do this.

"All better?"

"Oooh, fancy." Demyx said with a bright grin. "I wish I could get around that fast!"

There's a relieved sigh as the magic washes over her, feeling rejuvenated by it. With a big grin, she nodded at her friend.

"All better! Let's finish this up and go help out any one else!" she said, going for two other rifles and firing.

"Not that weird if you know me. Although..." He chuckled and waved his hand. Water vanished from his glass, dissipating back into the air. "Didn't need the music, but there's a limit to that." A limit that didn't extend to a simple glass of water.

Lea nodded. It was fair, and he wouldn't force the guy unless he had to. He tried to keep his pace to something that Essek wouldn't have too much trouble keeping up with even in his current state, while keeping an eye out around them. There might not be many people left in the area, but there may be some escaped animals or those constantly shape-shifting monsters. Or even those weird lights that had taken to hunting people since the incident that had landed Essek in his current predicament.

All in all, though, their trek went relatively smoothly, until they rounded a certain corner. Lea had crossed a nearby bridge in order to get into the area and knew of no other way to get back to the relative safety of the city center. But what had been a solid bridge a few hours previous was now flickering in and out of existence, and would obviously be gone before too long. "Crap... this isn't good," he said. "We need to get across here if we're going to get where we're going."

He looked around for alternative routes, but the drop below the bridge was too high and sheer to make jumping or climbing down and back up the other side even a remote possibility, even for someone in good shape. "And can't use a dark corridor," he said, thinking out loud. "Even if I was willing to try it without protection, you're in no shape for it even with a black coat. But I don't see any..." Then a thought occurred to him. "Wait..."

He summoned he Keyblade, then waved Essek back slightly. "Keyblades are supposed to be able to lock or unlock basically anything, even things you wouldn't think of. Maybe it can lock the illusion of the bridge in place long enough for us to cross." But it wasn't something he'd ever tried before so... best to have Essek standing back a bit. Just in case.

Edited 2021-07-22 05:22 (UTC)

Great!

[ This is kind of stupidly dangerous for him, but needs must. He opens a portal and grabs her hand. ]

Don't let go!

[ Yoink! ]

"Uhhh, no thanks." Demyx chuckled. "I'm not really sure what they're passing as tea around her is terribly...real." He commented.

"What're you doing here?"

Mami twirled into position and fired again...oh, they were persistent! One monster lunged at her and knocked her off her perch, but a quick ribbon kept her from crashing to the ground. She kicked out with a little yelp.

"Ah---I see how you got into trouble---"

Nozomi's quick to Mami's side, making sure she wasn't hurt before pushing forward to kick away the monster again.

"Ahah, yeah, they're quite persistent in their attacks." she said. "Gonna be okay?"

Essek listens, though his brow pinches as he tries to make sense of everything he's hearing. The words are distant and hard to grasp, hard to make sense of, his mind too muddled with everything to think clearly, to fully comprehend what he's told, but he keeps trying until it does, until something gets through. Eventually, when it does, he nods, the heels of his palms against his forehead while he keeps his hands in his thoroughly disheveled hair.

Of course they would be branded terrorists, something he knows he would have deeper thoughts on if his mind was capable currently. It feels strange to hear they have been missing only days when it feels like so much longer, all sense of time was lost to him.

But more importantly... "Are--...you think they could be? Alive?" Could Caleb be alive? He feels so sure he lost him, positive they were all dead, that he was alone. He can feel how he starts to shake more, wanting so badly for that hope but so sure it's false.

"Between us voidtravellers and those who are not the only difference would be if they are wearing a SCA." She smiled at Eight as she joined the table.

"It might be that she is from elsewhere... Somehow brought here."

This place was unstable which might help with such things, but it was worrying nonetheless. "There might be other differences, but I am in the dark as the rest of you about that. "I'm not sure if there are any natives to this world. Everyone I've met who has broken from the control speaks of somewhere else."

She smiled at Senku. "That's the strangest. It speaks of a lack of control. That we are here, within the world built by whoever this is and playing by their rules."

Eight shuffles to her room, the weight of each step getting heavier... but it is welcome and she feels free, if sadder for the experience. She has no answers for the two of them. Not yet. She needed time. Yet as she was moving to turn the corner she notices the two standing close together, providing their own support in their own way. Her eyebrows furrow for a moment, only to raise at her realization. Ah...

She rounds the corner, out of sight. Through the mess of everything, she just had one sentiment confirmed. Those two truly did care for one another. Perhaps even enough to be living they way they did over the past week someday. It was... a comforting thought, but one that she had no right to point out. The challenge of realizing that was theirs.

She hopes they do. They would make a cute couple. And knows from experience that they would make any children feel truly welcome.

Her heart ached a little as she closed the door behind her. It hurt, but she welcomed that too.

After all, it was real.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

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Re: Day 5

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