voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2021-07-14 07:28 am

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.
flatteries: (you don't gain a single thing)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-07-18 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
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)
blitzcheer: (arms folding galore!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-07-18 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
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.
flatteries: (you look like you've been)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-07-18 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
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!"
blitzcheer: (the QUEEN)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-07-18 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"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.
flatteries: (you could forget that)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-07-18 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"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.)
blitzcheer: (UGGGH!!!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-07-18 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
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!!!!!!!!!!
flatteries: (so tell me; i need to know it)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-07-18 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
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.