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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Huh?" There's a shift of tone in the voice talking, his chin lifting some off the hand it rests against. Tidus blinks, and sees a face -- Inigo, the structure of the café around them. Have they ever gone to this one before? He can't recall it, but he doesn't let it drag his attention away, giving Inigo a sheepish chuckle under his breath.

"What? I was listening. ...okay," okay, "I dozed a lil'. Everything's just been crazy lately; it must be getting to my head." That's it, that's all. But this, this is normal: the pair of them hanging out, talking about whatever. The threat of a headache behind his eyes, he might be able to shake it off.

"Why don't you repeat it?"

Usually Inigo would easily have complied with that request. He just would have repeated it before continuing his story.

But right now he doesn't. Instead he just keeps on staring at the other, holding Tidus's gaze as long as the other keeps looking at him as well. There's a slight frown to Inigo's eyebrows, a worried look in his eyes as it almost seems like he's studying Tidus's face for a moment, for some signs of.. something.

Then he glances over at the rest of the diner. It's quiet - perhaps because of everything going on, really, and the main reason this even seemed like a place to rest for a moment because of it. Even the person standing behind the counter seems to have gone to the back for a moment to grab something.

It's then that Inigo leans a little towards Tidus over the table.

"Are you just tired?" It feels like something a little more. Something about the other's words feels off.

He isn't sure why Inigo leans in - scrutinising? About to look at his brains via his eyes?? But he chuckles in that way to brush off the worry, aiming for a smile sincere.

"What else would it be? Those dreams, the crazy colours and everything happening in the city... I just want everything to go back to normal, you know? It's getting even to me."

He's not unaffected, no matter his stance to not fret about the happenings with the Voidtreckers; with people accusing one another and even eyeing him with suspicion. It's been an annoying last few days, and he'd welcome their lives returning to normal.

"But hey; we get some food in us, I'll be feeling good as new. You're buying, right?"

".. Tidus."

Inigo sounds like he wants to say more. It's so obvious too. Not only in tone, but even in the way he looks. His mouth hanging open slightly still, the way he looks around them again before his gaze lands back on the other.

Whatever he was about to say, he seems to think better of it. He isn't sure why Tidus is slipping back into the illusion, but potentially making a big scene out of that in the middle of a diner just sounds like the worst idea ever.

"Yes, I'll pay." He'll get that out of the way, try to make his answer sound at least slightly more natural than any other part of it, before continuing with: "I think you need to think a little harder right now though."

Ugh! That's so dumb and cryptic, Inigo, what are you thinking. But what else can he say about it when they're here? He can't just ignore it either when the whole thing they've been doing is trying to snap people out of it. How could he abandon his best friend to the illusion after all that?

Tidus's smile widens with Inigo's compliance to feeding him, grabs the menu to the side to scroll through the menu. How about a burger and chips? Chips so he can let Inigo nibble a few (like he wouldn't anyway!) and a drink. He hums and only glances at the other guy when he speaks.

"Hmm? About what? Oh, the thing you were talking about?"

Whatever that was?

"No, no that." He feels antsy about this. About the possible cause behind this, about whether it could suddenly grab a hold of Inigo all over again too. But for once Inigo actually succeeds in shoving most of the antsiness down far enough that it isn't super obvious as he speaks up to the other.

"About everything. I mean, doesn't it feel weird to you that we're sitting here eating so calmly?" A slight pause, and then added with an almost meaningful tone to it: "When there's so much going on?"

"...Do you think we should be freaking out?" He asks it slowly, unsure, looking to the side of him for a window that isn't there. Usually he likes those seats, the views from them; regardless, he glances at Inigo before returning to his menu with a puzzled brow.

"I mean... it's not like I'm not worried. Something feels off, right? I don't think I remember why we came here." To meet up, hang out - which? Frowning more, he looks back up at Inigo. "What were you telling me before?"

--What is he forgetting? What can't he suddenly remember? Like a puzzle piece missing that shows the events that led them here.

There's a brief pause on Inigo's end.

Then he slowly says: "Look down at your leg."

Maybe it's not the most useful way to do this. He sure isn't explaining a lot, and he's pretty sure Tidus will just freak out when he sees some of the dried blood still present on his pants - a side-effect of their whole 'Oh No Help, My Friend Is Injured' routine, even if the actual wound itself has been healed a while ago now.

But maybe that shock is exactly what will jostle the other's brain back in order.

His leg? Tidus stares at him in puzzlement, figures it must have something to do with the conversation and looks. One of the pant legs are rolled up, getting his attention first, and he shifts it to get a better angle.

And he sees it, the patch of dried blood; keeps him staring at it in bewildering, thinking back - when? But Tidus remembers then: the knocking at doors, the bumbling to get through awkward pitches to be let into houses, to be seen by their owners and to get them out of their spells.

Inigo was with him. Tidus brings his gaze back up, first to confirm the shirt he's wearing, with its buttons and rolled up sleeves, then back to Inigo. Blank, still confused - but for another reason.

"I...forgot?"

How? When all they were doing was sitting there, taking a break.

".. yeah." Inigo lets out a sigh of relief as he says it, realising that Tidus managed to snap back out of it again. Relatively easy and painlessly, thank Naga. It doesn't mean all of their problems are over, because they'll definitely have to think about what draws people back in and make sure to avoid it happening to both of them at once, but at least it's not permanent.

"We came here for a break. You remember that?" He waits for a moment for Tidus's answer, but then continues: "I was just talking, and you started to space out. And then when you spoke up again, you were totally back into it again. You didn't remember any of the stuff we did this morning."

(Is he being a little vague on purpose? Sure, but you never know who might be listening in, even with as quiet as it is in this diner.)

Even with the relief, there's still a hint of worry to Inigo's brow as he asks: "How are you feeling now?"

What even. Tidus rubs at his face with both of his hands, pushing the end of his palms against his eyelids for the burst of stars once he drops them back down.

"Spaced out," he admits, if not as badly - and as literally - as he was a moment go. "I don't know... I was feeling off, yeah, but I didn't think I'd lose it like that. I need to keep my head straight."

Remember who he is, not get lost in the lies.

"Guess that's what they meant 'bout not overdoing it." With the powers they shouldn't have. He settles his gaze onto Inigo with his mouth tugged to one side, letting it go with a sheepish, if complicated, expression. "Sorry if I freaked you out there."

His b, bro.

Tidus did freak Inigo out there, even though he managed to contain the worst of it. He's rather thankful for that fact in this moment, since Inigo really doesn't want Tidus to have to feel guilty about it. It's probably already hard enough for him to deal with the idea that he slipped back into it - or at least, Inigo knows that he'd be majorly worried in the other's shoes.

So rather than confessing to it freaking him out, he instead just smiles at the other, even leaning a bit closer in his direction across the table.

"Do you want me to try kissing you next time to see if that helps?" He jokes.

It's just a joke though, bro. Unless.

Edited 2021-07-18 19:04 (UTC)

B-baka!

It's a silly joke and Tidus knows it, even initially batting at the other's arm with a scoffing "You wish", leaning his own body weight back. ...but it's been a while since they've gotten to do anything, hasn't it? And Tidus - poor timing as it is, in the middle of a mission where he nearly fell back into a fake life - kind of wouldn't mind that right now.

His gaze shifts, and he folds his arms across his chest, trying to act a cool customer.

"I'll do that if it happens to you," he finally throws back. "Or tell you to look at your knees."

Which means: Great way of snapping me out of it, bro.

There is so much to unpack when it comes to the reaction Inigo's mind has to that 'I'll do that if it happens to you' statement, but we don't have time for that. Especially since Tidus continues, and Inigo's mind continues right along with it, for better or worse.

Because it mostly ends up with him looking ridiculously shocked.

"What was wrong with that I did?!" Is Tidus even making fun of him for what he said? Inigo isn't even sure, but maybe it's exactly the initial ~~thirsty~~ freaked out reaction he has to the idea of Tidus kissing him that leaves him vulnerable for taking anything as him getting teased. "It worked, didn't it? I was being super clever!"

"Couldn't you have gone for something personal? I dunno... eating pancakes with Taiki and Roland? You crying 'cause I told you to share your food with other people?"

Congratulations to the Inigo brain: You got the teasing right. And Tidus is only continuing with the most uncertain tone, completely criticising Inigo's plan that obviously worked. But wow, pal, did you have to pick that? Really? Couldn't do any better there?

unsure.gif right here, mate.

"Oh, sorry!"

Whoops. Apparently Tidus picked just the wrong moment for Inigo teasing. Because when he's already worked up to begin with, things always escalate rapidly inside of his peanut brain.

Which means that he's slamming his hands down on the table, apparently momentarily having forgotten this whole 'laying low' plan, and standing up from his seat.

"Should I just next time just remind you about THAT TIME WE HAD SEX?!"

(The person behind the counter is probably going to come back from the backroom any moment now to check up on what sort of chaos is going down in the diner.)

Tidus is expecting a come-back. It's inevitable, it's welcomed, some bickering is good for the soul, and he has no reason to think that Inigo will cross the line. Why would he? There's the stuff they keep to themselves, and then everything else that's free game.

Tidus expects Inigo to be a bro. But Inigo isn't -- and exposes them both right in front of an entire diner's salad, with even the till operator coming back to get the tea on what's going on.

There's no need to look around the room to figure there's eyes on them. Tidus doesn't look anywhere but at Inigo with an expression beyond stunned, beyond horrified. The heat warming his face, every part of him dying without him outwardly doing anything. Inwardly however, he's already made what's probably a dumb decision, given the circumstances.

And that is to - as soon as he can find someone to give him permission --

that's to disappear to some other part of the city and far away from all of this via teleport. BYE!!!!!!!!!!

They really were right that you shouldn't overdo it, Tidus said. Right before using his power all over again.

Leaving Inigo behind in the middle of the diner by himself. At least people don't really seem weirded out by Tidus disappearing like that, since they do seem to assume it's just his power, but Inigo definitely did just make a scene and draw a lot of attention.

And Inigo already ordered food before this whole circus went down. He can't just leave without paying.

So he just sinks back down onto his seat, his face entirely red, and he drops his arms onto the table before burying his face against them.

Goodbye, cruel world. He'll just wait here for the food awkwardly by himself now. THANKS, TIDUS.

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So Familiar a Gleam: Ongoing

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