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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"The dream," he acknowledged, nodding. He took a deep breath.

"Nautilus was great, except for Papillon being there," he said to Plagg clinging close to Adrien. "And anyone can just create food by Bending. Though some people were brats about doing it for you. Not Adrien though. Watch out for Leia how...."

RIGHT.

"Adrien! Yes, the train is the Voidtreckers. We go from world to world. Leia is there. And... she knows. Somehow she knows. About Spark and Gar. And the dream... That actually happened. Sort of. She told me she knew after..."

He shook his head, trying to put it into order, to figure out how to tell it right. But Donovan he wasn't.

We were on this underwater world. We could all breathe and stuff. We were supposed to be training along the track of fighting illusions. Like Storms. Or whatever this is, I guess. But there were just fish... everywhere..."

Like he had to explain more about his reaction to living underwater, surrounded by fish? Adrien knew him by now.

"I ate a whole bunch then found a place where no one could see and took that form from that one underwater Storm where Nino and I were brothers and just started gathering fish for the train, for later. I was on the second or third bucket and then...."

Things were a little foggy in the transition, but how he ended up...

"I was Spark again. Alone. And everyone was dead. Everyone I ever loved or knew was dead. They had been eaten. I don't know how I knew but I did. I was trapped there. I don't know how long. Just trapped. Alone. And everyone was dead and it was my fault...."

A shudder ran through him and he clung to Adrien again. "I was alone and it was my fault. And when I finally got free... It was over but no you, no Nino. the Doctor doesn't know who I am. No Rose. Nita left. I... I hid and changed to Gar and tried to be alone, but Leia found me and insisted on talking and she told me she knew I was Spark and I tried! I've been trying so hard to keep the secret, Adrien! I swear! I wouldn't do anything to put you in danger!" He cried into him again.

"Don't leave," he whispered. "Don't leave me behind. Come back to the train with me, or bring me to Paris. Don't leave me behind again."

"And where exactly do you think that we are?" he asked, dryly.

"And then I'll be a star, like I said, and he'll be nothing!"And... she'll be able to keep creating new parts of herself, new bits of Kyoko Mogami.

"And how does being a star get you revenge? Why do you want to be a star?"

"Because all his stupid pride is wrapped up in being famous and being the best. So I'm going to be better than he ever could be and leave him in my shadow!" It was like she had forgotten all that lovely character growth in the absence of Mr. Tsuruga and her need to make him hate her less.

"I'll destroy his ego, crush his pride and make him cry!"

"I'm at I know where we're not. Where we are is a little hazy, but I think you've missed a detail father," Adrien said. He gestured over himself. "I'm shorter then in Nautilus. This isn't me. I'm also missing the scars I got. This isn't 'my' body. This is the Adrien who was still in the dream."

"And then what? What's the point of your life after that?"

"What do you mean?" Then she'd be an actress, of course. She'd keep acting, keep finding new roles, new corners of her soul to fill.

"What?! You were dealing with Papillon on your own?!" Plagg asked because he knows Exactly How Adrien Is and forgot to try and not show how much he actually worries.

"Right. I have information to tell you," Adrien said.

Plagg grumbled. "Is the food thing true?" Adrien nodded and Plagg made the most offended noise. "And I wasn't there?!"

Adrien looks at Spark and....oh. Oh no.

"Spark," Adrien said, and put his hands on Gar's cheeks, and makes him look up, meet his eyes. "I need you to listen to me Gar."

"If keeping a secret is going to destroy you, don't keep it. Not for me. If revealing a secret is ever putting me in danger, I will deal with it. But I have watched how secrets are destroying me in the dream. And I don't want that for you, Spark. Leia can be trusted, to make it easy for you, but don't. Hurt yourself. I don't want you to suffer for my sake. Please. I love you and I want you to be okay."

"Storms change things like that all the time. There is no reason to think that you will not revert when this insanity has passed," he said, dryly.

Bucky! is what Steve means to say, but certainly before he can even open his mouth, he's dragged inside. Anyone else he might fight on it, but it's Bucky - is it Bucky? It is, right, it's Bucky - so he doesn't fight it, lets the other drag him inside, eyes wide, heart still pounding.

Once the door is closed behind them, his fingers curl around the metal forearm, not squeezing or pushing, but just holding like he's not sure if Bucky is going to fight him or run away. Or maybe one and then the other. "Bucky - what the hell is going on?" he hisses.

Please be Bucky, or this is going to get really weird. (It's already really weird.)

"He wasn't on his own," Gar grumbled at Plagg. "We all helped out. I even have a fake Miraculous. Actually sort of more than one..." He still had his fox form, and only didn't use it because of Nino. He did quite like it, though.

Gar listened to Adrien and closed his eyes. "I'd rather be in danger than you, especially if you show up without Plagg again. I have nine lives, being a cat and all," he mumbled.

But knowing Adrien was okay with trusting Leia helped...

Wheezing, Link reached for a cup of tea, and shook his head. "I'm fine," he rasped out. "Just trying to choke on the air again."

He took a tentative sip of tea, which helped.

"You... were cursed not to have enough air?" she asked, stunned. "How... how would such a curse even work?" How should she break such a curse?

"More like I forgot how to breathe for a second," Link joked as he got his airway working again. "Don't worry."

"Oh! Okay! I didn't know Faeries could forget how to do that," she said, awed.

It very belatedly occurs to her — and only once he pins her to the wall — that this might be the beginning of the end of their marriage. Why would a nice, sweet guy like him want to stick around someone who's lied to him from the moment they'd met? It's not the possible loss of their partnership that strikes her, though, but the very real pang of attachment she suddenly feels. Which is bad for business.

"I'm not a Voidtrecker," is the first thing she says. Because she isn't. She knows she isn't. Although isn't she, really, when she's been having flashes and headaches as well? "But I... have a part-time job?" It's almost sheepish, the way she says it. Not that anything's timid and shy about her now, her outfit least of all.

"You were on the news," she adds after a moment. It's important, and whatever happens to their relationship tonight, he at least has to know that. "You better lie low for a few days, or the D-Force might take you in."

"It...might just be a me thing."

Shadow was going to laugh himself sick over this later.

"Wow...." She was still so impressed by that as she started to eat. "Tell me more about your world and what it is like?" Being a Faerie, that is.

"Uh..." Link had no idea what she was talking about. He decided to just talk about his life in general.

"I live with my brother and our dad. Shad does some acting work, he's really good at it. Dad's a professor, his hobbies are studying and making other people study. I hate school, uh, can't wait to graduate and not do that anymore. I like shop class, and I'm really pretty good at welding already. I aced all the welds Mr. Soldius taught us so far."

Link crammed his mouth full of food before continuing. "I like helping out on Malon's family's ranch. And napping. And fishing."

Her head shot up. "He's an actor?" AND A FAERIE?! "How did I not know that?" She was bouncing now. "Would he talk to me, do you think? About acting I mean? Once I appologize to him properly?"

He can’t say that he’s really happy to find out she’s been keeping some secrets from him. Secrets that lead her to have a hover-motorcycle and a gun and armor. Even if she looks incredibly good in that armor. “I never thought you were a voidtracker.” Because that much he wants clear. “I’m not either, at least I have no knowledge of being one.” It’s honest at least. If he is one, he has no active knowledge of it, no active movement with it.

But he’s been having dreams, flashes, though a couple of them have Jane in them. So he has pushed them aside as weird dreams from the stress of everyone being on edge. Not that it could actually mean anything. His brow arches at her though. “What is your part-time job, Janey?” His nickname for her past the normal shortening of her name. A sign at least that nothing’s broken. Even if he’s curious, confused and not happy she’s keeping secrets.

“I don’t understand why I’m on the news. I haven’t done anything.” His brow creases as he tries to take that in. How cool that have happened. “Are you… going today low with me?”

"There are ways to hurt beings like you." He says soberly, but the hand he reaches to tousles her hair if allowed is as gentle as ever.

"Once, I was very good at it." He probably still is, but he hasn't been near the Barrow Downs of late (he probably should, if the King is rebuilding the Road. It won't do to have Elrond's daughter having to deal with the wights.)

"Many." He says wryly. "But no matter what my heart tells me, I am not actually your father. You can tell me, or not, Dani, as it please you."

"I know, right? And here I'd mostly giving up on ever seeing a familiar face around here." Here Danny pauses. "My... cousin." Who looked exactly like him, had a nearly identical name and identical powers.

But admitting that she was his clone tended to stir up a lot of trouble neither one of them needed.

She gives him a wry grin. "We'll probably need some brandy to go with that. Come on, I just opened a bottle." While she's relieved that he's still calling her by his nickname for her, she can also sense his unhappiness from finding out she's been keeping secrets from him.

Huh. They've been married for a while now, that's true, but she's not sure she'd ever been this attuned to his feelings? It's almost... weird. Like flashes of things and colors in the sky weird.

"Who have you been talking to? Traded with shady types lately?" She realizes a second too late that she's given away the other secret she's been keeping from him — that she knows what his part-time job is.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

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