VoidTrecker Express Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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middleofsomewhere2021-07-14 07:28 am
voidtreckermods) wrote in middleofsomewhere2021-07-14 07:28 am
Entry tags:
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.
- 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.
no subject
At least I don't waste my energy living in denial about that anymore.
[ With time, it has become clear that building a jet shaped like one's favorite dragon is definite dork behavior.
But on to the important business. His little headshake becomes a stern frown. ]
That would clearly be where the alleged terrorists came from. But you know how often the official word is used to manipulate the public for PR purposes.
[ Can he trust someone who usually trusts no one, is the question. ]
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.....
[Narrowing his eyes, he mercifully let that one slide though the implications displeased him, the statement was unclear.
Excuse you, there is nothing dorky about his vanity jet. It is the most extra thing in the skies][Measuring his double's words he questions whether this is an attempt at playing dumb or if this other him is still operating under the illusion]
Yeah, right. [He snorted derisively.] That's what we've been told. Honestly I couldn't care less either way, not what the Voidtreckers are up to, nor what reality this place is trying to weave, neither have anything to do with me.
[Laying his metaphorical cards on the table]
All I care about is getting out of here and back to where I belong.
no subject
He has to. He takes a deep breath and rolls up one sleeve, revealing the currently-useless orange band on it. If things go south, he can always fight with what little power he has. ]
I'm wanted for treason or whatever. Problem is, you most likely somehow came through the void to get here, and traveling through it without a voidcraft like the Express is...well, it's not gonna happen and end with you alive.
I need to get back in contact with the train if we're going to send you home, and that'll involve taking a few more sledgehammers to the illusions pressing down on us.
no subject
Which did he want it to be?. The best outcome would result in a greater understanding of interdimensional travel so he wouldn't have to choose. Why should it be one or the other- not that he was all that connected to Havenwell, there were a few parties he had grown... used to seeing regularly.Oh Kaiba, how you gush]So you've finally decided to drop the pretense.
[Good, it would have been a waste of time otherwise. As the other Kaiba speaks, it becomes more obvious why earlier conversations had been confusing before. There were multiple places called "the void", the lack of creativity catching up to all those involved.]
So you're completely cut off from it, great. [He stared at the other scrutinizing him, another question burning to be asked.] That doesn't explain how I got here in the first place since to my knowledge I was never on the train. [His memory was a little hazy on the details but he felt relatively certain of this.] I suspect there are those that find themselves in a similar situation so either there's a larger infrastructure behind the abductions with the means to provide enough transportation, which would be a waste of valuable resources, or there is another way to travel safely.
It's this method that interests me more. [Which shouldn't require further explanation. If he could master it, then he would be able to control where and when he appeared on his own] Don't tell me the thought hadn't crossed your mind?
[Then without any warning he switched subjects entirely]
.. So what's the deal with you and Yugi?
[Tony had to have been lying... this should prove it]
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[ He shrugs. ]
We visited a planet that claimed to be a nexus of the void a while ago. We were told that 'emotion' guides void travel. Ridiculous, right? I tried to use it to send a message back to Mokuba, to humor them...but there's no way to know if it was received.
[ So that was a waste of time. But that last question causes him to lift a brow. And he reaches inside his sweatervest (boy, what a fun disguise this was), where an unfamiliar ring hangs above the photo frame on his locket. He doesn't move to open it yet, not unless proof is needed, but...]
Someone told you about us? Hah...if you'd told me six months ago I wouldn't have believed it either.
no subject
[Fixating on the idea of it ever becoming normal to run into duplications all on one plane at a time.]
Emotion? What a joke, as if I was harboring some deep-seated desire to travel to this dump. [The part about their brother got him to silence himself briefly. Kaiba had been thinking about Mokuba a great deal in the last two months, maybe this 'emotional conveyance' wasn't as outlandish as it originally appeared. Or it was a crock of bull, because his desire to see his brother didn't bring him any nearer to Domino, and he certainly hadn't wanted to go to a planet that required it's populace to get all touchy feely.] There has to be a more scientific solution.
[That outfit was such a fashion-don't on so many levels. The ring is more than a little disturbing but he was in denial as to it's meaning]
There is no us. [He spat out reflexively, and with a level of disgust. Nevermind that it wasn't his place to make that call for an alternate universe Kaiba and Yugi, he was expressing his disapproval of the match] So it's true? Really? [A beat passed as he pressed his face into his palm and then slid his fingers up into his hairline] It's not even the pharaoh?! [No, wait. What was he saying?] I.... we- We're not that way. Why would you ever fall for a simpering fool like Yugi!?
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[ Scoff. That little grunt of frustration becomes full-on fury in a moment. ]
Yugi Mutou is the rightful King of Games, he's no fool. You should see the strategy game he's designing...it's going to make a splash in the gaming world, and you'd be a fool not to scoop up the license before Pegasus does.
[ Deep breath. ]
Yugi and I have more in common than I ever realized. Being forced to work together in these cramped quarters showed me that, and even after everything...he still trusted me. Back when we were still at each others' throats it was always him reaching out to me, not Atem. I didn't realize that until I had time to untangle it all.
[ Sigh. ]
Look, go ahead and insult me all you want, but Yugi's a better man than either of us.
PSA: Sorry my muse is a jerk
[Was he always this insufferable?
It was like getting a taste of his own medicine and one he didn't relish]The rightful king of games?! [The phrase was so utterly ludicrous that it bore repeating at volume. So much for keeping a low profile, not that someone of his stature could.] Have you completely lost your mind?! That title is ours. [There was just the little bit of red tape between himself and reassuming the title in which he needed to beat a midget at a card game first. Taking in a sharp breath he amended:] Mine. [If this version of himself was unwilling to fight for it, then he had no claim] Pegasus- Schmegasus, you're getting away from the point.
[It was unproductive, sure but he'd been waiting to get this out of his system ever since Tony Stark had informed him of this whole mess]
What, you're both losers? [That was the commonality Kaiba was picking up on] I'm surprised you aren't wearing a pocket protector to complete that look. [Sounding notably snide] I didn't need anyone to reach out to me, I was strong enough on my own. [He says that- BUT, there were times he had needed to rely on others himself that he is not admitting to]
He's a better man than you, that I would buy. [Although he was tempted he didn't start lobbing more insults through the air about Yugi. Despite this situation he still felt a modicum of respect for the version he had met previous in Tabula Rasa. A bolder, more confident variety.. who still was no pharaoh in his eyes. Atem. Right. That was his name.. it was beyond this Seto's time. Atem was his rival, not the twerp.] I was right when I told Stark, there was only one Seto Kaiba- because despite having met a convincing lookalike I'm certain that I'm the genuine article.
no subject
No, he's certain that he's chosen the right path. But...Stark...?]
I've already had this argument with myself. Let's go through it: bonds are weakness, winning's all that matters, isolating at the top's the only thing that's going to keep Mokuba safe, blah blah blah. That might work in Domino, it's even necessary with the target the wealth and power paints on you but if you haven't noticed, all that wealth and power you have means nothing here. Which means no target.
And I had a choice. I could fume in my corner about how superior I was and continue to make things unnecessarily difficult...or I could meet people from other worlds, who could expand my knowledge far beyond Earth. And I could be...happy, for the first time in years. Not about the situation, I still have to wrangle void travel to get back to Mokuba, but what I've gained from knowing my teammates is invaluable.
[ He turns to go, with a genuine little smile. ]
But if you're absolutely certain a loser like me has nothing to offer you, I'll leave you to it. I have to find my friends.
[ He emphasizes the last word deliberately. ]
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Correction. It means nothing- to you. I haven't forgotten who I am, or what it took to get there. I might be temporarily cut off from those resources but I haven't lost anything. I still have the drive, the intelligence, and the tenacity to succeed anywhere without making concessions. It's not just about money and power but attitude and convictions. The setting might change but the inherent nature of people, doesn't. You're setting yourself up for a hard fall believing that it's any different. The only person you can depend on is yourself.
Or you could gain that knowledge anyway, and respect in the process.
[He'd made it his business to keep informed on the comings and goings of the void and he didn't feel as if his information network had been lacking. Kaiba had managed to learn about future technology without needing to kowtow]
[There's a sufficient pause after that last line]
You better not be waiting for some impassioned entreaty where I beg you to stay because that's not going to happen. [Friends, please. How the mighty have fallen]
I'll find my own way. [When he thought the other him was no longer listening he expelled a huff] .. and when I get back to Havenwell, Ann and I will make a detour to Domino. We'll see just who makes it back to Mokuba first..
no subject
And then maybe boast if he feels like it. But only if he feels like it.
He's nearly gone when his challenge-senses perk up, and a few odd names drift past his ear. He turns around and folds his arms, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his expression. ]
I hope Ann's a codename for some kind of computer program, because for a second there it almost sounded like you made a friend.
no subject
At the additional motion, he looks back to his sweatered clone.]
She's neither. [Not a computer program nor a 'friend'. Ann was actually something more than the word implied not that he was feeling like divulging more] .. but that's none of your business. [Still, he can't resist throwing an additional bard himself which ends up revealing more in the process] She does however exemplify just how different our tastes are..
.. but at least Takamaki can hold her own in a fight, not like your selection. [You want to go this route face twin. We can go this route, he will belittle your relationship with Yugi more] Also thanks to the pair of you I've faced my own... complications, in the environment I was previously trapped in. [It's totally your fault other Kaiba, and this Kaiba has every right to be miffed with you. (in his own mind)]
no subject
Your selection...oh, you have a girlfriend! I met a version of her briefly, actually...blond, pigtails, supermodel looks, slightly air-headed on the surface but a powerful foe?
[ Has to be. ]
I'm more interested in someone who can match me in a duel. But Tamaki's not the worst choice, I guess.
[ But what else was he saying? Huh. His eyes sharpen and he steps forward, determined not to let the other Kaiba slip away. ]
So, right, you mentioned a Mr. Stark. What, was he spreading rumors about me that you find unflattering?
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Not so loud! [He chimed in instinctively, feeling a prickle of heat to the back of his neck as embarrassment threatened to overtake him.] Who are you calling air-headed!
[How swiftly embarrassment took the offramp and anger swerved back into the lane. It wasn't an inaccurate assessment, so to speak, but that was his airhead!
I'm so sorry Ann. No one else was allowed to insult her, especially when she wasn't here to defend herself]She might project that image, but there's more to her than that.
[There was another side to her, one that she only put forth when the situation called for it. Also, as inane as her conversations could become- he couldn't argue with it took someone clever to find so many unique topics to expand on. Ugh- thankfully no one here was a mind reader]
... [At some point Kaiba would have wanted that too, someone who could equal him in the dueling arena and he had attempted to teach her the game but it was more of an emotional connection, and a level of trust they had obtained that kept it going.] Depends on the type of duel! [He found himself spitting out the words with additional venom, as he got rather defensive over his absent girlfriend. He'd sure like to see his other self try to compete with Ann in a test of physical fitness.] .. and Yugi has never been my equal, in anything- so he would fail your stipulation if it were me. [Then he trailed off muttering..] ..as if card games can satisfy every desire.
[The encroachment on his personal space is a nuisance but he doesn't show weakness in taking a step back]
He's using a photo of you two losers at a pajama party to blackmail me into staying in line... [Look- this is apparently damaging enough to this Kaiba's image to warrant all this] .. a temporary arrangement, I assure you.
no subject
I don't mean her any ill will. She was kind, and we could've been better allies if she'd stayed. And she saved my life, I'm not going to forget that.
[ And then he hears the real reason for this Kaiba's anger and growls. But not at Kaiba, for once. ]
What the hell? I'd smash every one of Prompto's cameras if I could. Stark was bullheaded and stubborn, and had a definite troll streak, but if I'd known he'd sink so low...
[ He pinches at his brow, visibly frustrated. ]
I can't exactly negotiate with him from here, and unfortunately I don't have sordid pictures of him and his boyfriend, or all his little tea parties. I'd hand them over if I could. I promise you he was as disgustingly domestic as he accuses me of being---no, worse.
no subject
... That's better.
[It didn't surprise him that Ann had played a pivotal roll here, as was her nature to get into such messes.]
If it's any consolation I don't think he would have stooped to that level if I were more like you. [Not sure why he felt the need to say it] Both Gladio and Tony Stark seem to prefer you to me, but I don't really care.
[Perhaps it was because they had finally struck on something they could both agree on. The blackmail was crossing a line]
[After a snerk]
Tea parties? [That sounded sufficiently lame. It wasn't a lot to go on but he could just envision the other tech mogul in an apron and holding an empty tea cup pretending to sip from it.] I've seen evidence of that already. [Looking disgusted by the idea] Either way, I'll take care of it.
no subject
Mm...if there's one thing we can learn from this, it's that a carrot might work better than a stick. But obviously negotiating from a strong position is preferable.
How about this: if he backs off with you...feel free to tell him that his girls, Madoka and Buttercup, are still safe here. They're doing all right. And his son Parker too---he kept the would-be assassin distracted long enough for Ann to save me.
But it might be fun to dangle that knowledge if he doesn't play nice.
no subject
[.. he'll keep to the stick but to his credit this Kaiba is still listening. He grows silent long enough to hear the scheme.]
Are these biological children.. or...
[.. because last he checked neither of the guys in that relationship was likely capable of going through the necessary processes. Also, the names. The names were peculiar given the "parents".]
It's not much, but it's more than I had and I have no problem lording it over his head that I might have knowledge he would be interested in.
no subject
[ He elects not to mention that he's been adopted by a loving family too, positive that it will not go over well. ]
Dangled correctly, it should work. But before that I still need to get you and the others home. There's a safehouse I'm heading to, and I'm still willing to take you.
no subject
[Since he just considered most of that to be a load. The goodness of their hearts, please. Surely there were some ulterior motives in play. As for the trauma and desperation, he just didn't want to get into it.
It certainly wouldn't have gone over well, despite having essentially adopted a charge of his own recently, though not formerly. The timing had just lined up too precisely for him to have turned down the role. He happened to be passing by one of the temples when a priest happened have been looking for a tour guide for a new, youthful arrival, and Kaiba had just happened to have been feeling guilt over not having seen his own brother in a year when he realized he was going to miss Mokuba's birthday.]
I don't need to be instructed on that, I am still a strategist myself. [Just so you know, other self.] There's no getting around it, is there...? [He relented reluctantly. Like it or not he was likely on someone's most wanted list and he needed to get off this world.] We'll have to be careful not to be spotted, and it might be better if we split up. Can you provide the coordinates? [Then they could meet up there, but prevent being seen together]
no subject
{ Seto whips out a scrap of paper (the nerd supplies have some use) and jots it down. Better than over the phones, which are definitely being monitored. ]
The others waiting there will fill you in. If anyone mistakes you for me, or starts trouble like Stark did...I'll finish it.