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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Raven has also been surveying the disappearances. Sometimes with her cloak and cowl on, sometimes as a civilian. She has a notebook with her, and seems to be noting locations and what's missing. Searching for patterns.

The man's comments cause her gaze to look at him, an eyebrow raised. She's in her civilian clothes for the moment. "What do you think is breaking it?"

Loki looks over to her, trying to place the face and voice. He's seen her, before he broke out, and possibly at the cafe. And he's not under his illusion and she's not making to turn him in, so it's probably safe to be frank with her.

"I would guess that whatever created the illusion is losing control over it. Perhaps because it is losing control of so many of its captives, perhaps there's something else distracting it..."

"Has there been any noticeable pattern to what's disappearing? Locations that are similar, traces of spellwork, anything?" Oh she remembered him--and remembered seeing the signs. Loki Odinson. Which sounded off to her memories of who Loki was. Still, Loki was a powerful magician, and it made sense that that was what Raven had sensed behind barriers.

"Are you sleeping better now?"

He shakes his head. "The only real pattern seems to be that the edges of the city are disappearing much more than those in the center. Which fits with the creator losing control; the parts farthest from them are most likely to fall away. Possibly the places that belong to those freed are also more likely to go, but I do not know enough about who is free and where they lived."

He tilts his head and acknowledges her other question with a small smile. "In a sense; I am still only sleeping a few hours at a time, but it is restful now that I am no longer running from the dreams. Just the authorities."

"I remember you mentioning your previously stellar reputation. You're also someone I'm aware has practice dodging the authorities. At least if the myths are true." Raven replies with a small smile of her own. "I have one member of my 'family' who's still not out. I'm worried, as she's...not entirely aware just how powerful she is."

He gives a long-suffering sigh. "The myths. So you are from a world where the gods of Asgard are myths but not confirmed reality? I do not know what your myths say, but I can assure you, they are highly inaccurate. Particularly the one about Sleipnir. But I have been on the wrong side of authorities before."

His brow creases. "Your 'family'; do you mean the family that our mysterious captor grouped you with? Did you know her well before this? What could she do while unaware of her true power?"

"For what it's worth, I haven't run into any of the Norse gods in person yet. Or the greek ones, although I know they exist in my universe." Raven's smile remains. "It's actually reassuring to hear they're inaccurate, if you're telling the truth." Her voice though is still as calm and even as ever. Perhaps a bit warmer, as she felt like he was, given his sigh.

"The one that I was grouped with yes. We're three sisters and one father, although I have a half-brother as well. And honestly? I don't know. She has a great deal of trouble believing in herself, or even that she has such power. I worry more about her being a pawn or used as a battery, to be frank."

A nod of her head. "Raven."

"And I have seen no indications that any other gods exist in my home universe." He gives a slightly self-deprecating chuckle. "Though you'll only have my word for that, and that the myths are inaccurate. Were I home, you could ask Thor, or the experts on how the myths have changed throughout the years, but here there is only me." It's not strictly true; he remembers seeing at least one Avenger, but he's the only Asgardian, the only one who has lived the myths. He's been the only one for quite a while. A consequence of being unable to visit Asgard.

"Has your sister seen any parts of the illusion disappearing with her own eyes? That could be shock enough to make her think more about the flashes of memories that do not fit into this city. Or you and the rest of your family could tell her that you are Voidtreckers and ask her whether she thinks you are dangerous."

Loki inclines his head. "Loki. But I presume you had already guessed. Not Odinson, though."

"The last name didn't exactly match what I remember learning." Raven replied, albeit gently--not with her usual snark or dry wit. "Honestly--I don't know. We've been trying to be normal, because she's so distressed." Reaching up, Raven rubbed her forehead in annoyance at it.

"I wish we knew more about all of this."

"Not Laufeyson either. That is a name I have never claimed." Loki's voice goes a little harsher when he says that.

"I am not certain what is the best course. If she's broken out of the illusion suddenly, her powers could have a negative effect that gets our captors' attention and her labelled as a danger to the public."

He gives a dry laugh. "The one constant in this whole mess, we are always in the dark. Though now the authorities' lack of transparency makes sense and we know that if we want answers we will have to search for them ourselves."

"Honestly, I'm not either." Raven snorts a bit at herself. "And I'm a little bemused that I trust you--but I don't sense you lying to me." Besides, he was a victim of all of this himself, wasn't he.

"I can show you my notes I've made so far on the locations. We could find another one, start trying to predict the locations of the bigger parts missing." It was something to do, at least.

He raises an eyebrow. "Are you able to sense the truth or lies behind words, then? I am not lying, as I have no reason to, and unlike my reputation, I am not a compulsive liar."

He nods. "I would appreciate that, as I have only had sporadic contact with others. Not everyone is at peace with being a wanted criminal, even if they are out of the illusion and working to unravel it. I could always use more sources of information on what others have figured out."

"I can." A pause, then adding. "I'm an Empath."

Looking around, she surveyed things. And was glad that she'd worn dark blue and black, even if it wasn't her usual skulking outfit. They were reasonably alone, but she still motioned him with her to an out of the way corner. "I've been coming to all this a bit late. Too busy playing 'normal', although I helped my "father" get a signal out for help. He's awake as well." While he skimmed those notes, she was pulling out a voluminous blue cloak and cowl, and pulling that around her.

If she was going to be associating with a known criminal, it was better to dressed more incognito.

"My friend who is also here is an empath as well. She likely intended to use it to help break me out, if seeing her transform had not sufficed."

He moves when she motions and waves his own hand. A bit of illusion magic, and he's an entirely nondescript man. "I have been letting my own illusions slip, though I don't mind being recognized as long as I can evade capture. I make a nice distraction. But I doubt your 'sister' is as prepared to live as a fugitive."

He pulls out a non-Diagad phone and takes pictures of each page of notes. "Are you and your 'father' Voidtreckers proper? Did he get any response from your train?"

"I'm glad you did." Raven replied genuinely. His making an illusion brought a hint of smile to her. "And hear I am, getting into my more clandestine activities outfit." Her usual snark in it, though not meant meanly.

"We are. I'm on Purple Team, and white squad as well. Yondu is Blue team, and has been stepping up to act more like a lead. My 'sister' is too. And I'm 90% sure that viral video is the response."

Edited 2021-07-18 04:57 (UTC)

"As am I, even if it hurt." He'd had a happy life in the illusion, after all, happier than any reality. But it was hollow and didn't have enough substance to have the bad parts.

He smirks back at her. "Are you a hero in your real home, then? With a magic and dark theme. I have thought about becoming such when I find my way home."

He shakes his head slightly; the color team names are somewhat familiar, but he has no idea what "white squad" means on top of it. "So, the train can likely receive messages, but not send direct replies. And too much communication might attract unwanted attention. It may be best for Yondu to wait until we have a lot of solid information before sending another message."

Bluish-purple eyes glance at him, her cowl still down. "It's...not a bad way to be, honestly." She wanted to be a hero. To try and make up for all the evil she'd cause by being Trigon's daughter.

"We're also looking for places to meet, and that..." She paused, and a small smile came to her. "That you can help me with, if you're willing. Warding is not my strong point and I don't have my books. But I'm seeking help from others who can either help me set up or maintain wards. As well as find good places that would be safe to meet." Now she pulled her hood up. "I probably shouldn't be asking the God of Mischief for help with that, but then again--mischief is what I'm up to, for once."

"I have certainly seen the appeal in being the unsung hero who lurks in the shadows and kills the villains who also hide there, who gets his hands dirty so the paragons need not break their pedestals. Problem is, I don't like being entirely unsung or always considered a villain."

He thinks about her idea for a moment. "Normally, I would say I could definitely help with that, hiding safe houses with illusions and setting up defensive barriers, but... D-Force is after me. Worse, the entity controlling the city can recognize my magic. So far it has not interfered when I use my magic to disguise myself or for other trivialities, only when I threaten its illusion, but if it can always sense my magic, then any spells I use to make places safe would instead be lighting a beacon, showing where its enemies gather." He's honestly regretful about that. He does like helping, because it gets him a lot of admiration and praise. Not to mention that having safe houses would help him, personally. Being a fugitive in a strange fake city is thrilling, but sometimes he just wants to rest.

"I worked as part of a team." Raven replied. "I'm....definitely still seen as creepy. But it helps. My team-mates, if no one else, don't find me creepy either." They'd made that clear to her. As had her friends on the train.

Considering there had always been the faint undercurrent of worry among most of the monks on Azarath, no wonder Raven felt she was creepy.

Raven took her notebook back, scribbling some notes--mostly about how the entity recognized his magic, and what it had done (or not done) so far with that knowledge. She was thinking while she made the notes, before stuffing that back in her bag, and tucking that under her cloak so it now concealed her fully.

"You have knowledge though, that I don't have." A hint of smile on one corner of her mouth. "You're also the God of Magic, after all. And you've been on the other side of this city's forces." A plan was forming in Raven's head, especially since a few feelers had been put out about her idea for a safe house already. "Firstly, provided I can get these set up--they'd be open to allies as well. But secondly, and more importantly, you can help misdirect the forces from our safe-houses if need be."

Edited 2021-07-19 13:19 (UTC)

"I have always been seen as... not quite right. Asgard has strong ideas of what a hero is supposed to be, and I never fit it. I was likely only tolerated as the second prince, and once I crossed a line and lost that protection..." He spreads his hands. "Now most of them consider me a monster who is incapable of redemption."

He starts laughing. "Of course. I can teach others! I may not be the best teacher, but when I am merely shoring up others' abilities or filling in gaps in their knowledge, I do not need to be the best. And we can practice on a sacrifice safe house."

"Good. I talked to some others. I'll put you in touch with them too." Raven said, about the safe house idea.

"I...I understand, believe it or not." Softly, quietly--while she made a decision. "I've been looked at with fear and caution, since I was 4 or 5... Supposedly I'll destroy the world someday." Her distaste for the idea was clear.

She was just pulling her cloak up when her hand went to her head, and she bent into a crouch. Rubbing at her head. Just..just some more. She'd rest soon. She'd deal with the mental box she'd put the experience in when it was safer.

"Who are they? And you have told them that I am not truly the unstable danger to both Diagad and the Voidtreckers that I have been acting?"

Loki looks away and stays silent for a while. "You are familiar with the myths of the gods. I assume that means you are also aware of the tales of Ragnarok? It has been foretold that I will cause the deaths of all the gods and destruction of Asgard. It is not commonly known among Asgard, and it may yet prove to be fanciful tales invented by humans, but it has governed how Odin has thought of me for centuries. And I only learned of it a few years ago."

"Wei Wuxian, for one. Tell him I sent you." Raven managed to respond, albeit her tone was softer than usual because of the head pain. Breathing to herself for a few moments while she listened.

"I am familiar with that story, yes." Looking up from her crouch, purple-blue eyes looking to meet his. "I'm sorry." Genuine sympathy, despite that her head hurt.

Maybe she'd only been treated better, given her destiny, because the monks of Temple Azarath were kind and compassionate for the most part. She'd still grown up aware of whispers about her, furtive looks when she was still learning how to control herself. As if she were something dangerous.

"Wei Wuxian," he repeats. The name is vaguely familiar. Maybe in his phone contacts? His real phone.

He shakes his head. "You do not need to apologize yet. We are working to understand and avert it. We have not given in to it as written fate."

He looks at her with sympathy, reaches out a hand to her shoulder. "Have you found those who believe in your good nature and will fight fate for you?"

"My friends keep convincing me you can fight destiny. I hope they're right. For you and for me." Raven is quiet a moment, before she nods. "I was lucky enough the first time to make friends, friends who I don't want to see hurt. So...I'm glad the train took me. So they won't have to fight for me."

It was an odd statement. But it was how she felt. Traveling as a voidtrecker had afforded her a chance to avoid her destiny as Trigon's portal.

"And then on the train, somehow, I've made friends again. I'm still not used to it. But I'd do anything for them." For Soldat, and Yondu. For Danny and Madoka, and Ple Two, and Kitty. There were others, but they were all her closest. It still amazed Raven that she had friends.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

Day 8: Crumbling

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