middleofsomewhere | So Familiar a Gleam: Finale

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So Familiar a Gleam: Finale

YOU R̴̨̬̗̞̺̖̣̱͌̋̅͊͒̃͘Ų̴̨̨̦͎̭̥̰͍̞͙̲̰̞̭̎̆̓͂́͒̑͌̆̉̕͝Î̶̲͖͙͍̮̮̯̭͘͝N̵̡̢̢̛̛͔̳̲͚̙͕̘̠̞̈͊̂̋̆ͅÉ̸͖̟̻̯̪̭͉̭͖̱̙̠̺͎̥̿D̸̥́͒̈́̔̓̅̋͛̉̀͒̇̚̚ MY WORLD

A TL;DR notes version of days/prompts: (click to show)

EVENT BASICS:

DAYS 8-9 (M11-M12):

Buildings had begun to disappear during days 7&8, facilities and even whole streets begin vanishing. There are signs of crumbling infrastructure everywhere they look.
In the early morning of Day 9 (M12), the cracks in the city - in this illusionary world - finally spread. The void sky above shines brightly in its colours. Chaos - also referred to as the Entity, or That Guy - is heard screaming of vengeance against the Voidtreckers, blaming all that has happened onto them. It shows what happened to the original Diagad: It was destroyed by blocky shapes in the sky that came down and destroyed it, while Chaos itself fell into the void.

There is also some light mind torture, as a treat, to really wake people up. Memories, visions of their past assail them. This is the sort of stuff the voidtreckers have been training against and it's a good time for them to put all that work to the test.
Anan's group then takes over any electrical device still left. She explains that they have a way to get the non voidtreckers (4th wall characters and npcs) home and also a way to temporarily seal the world. The entity takes offence at this and the screens smash. The entity appears as a cyclone of crackling colourful energy.
Illusionary creatures are sent around to find and attack Voidtreckers, but they're also going after 4th wallers/NPCS. There's also monsters from other worlds leaking through, real monsters. People will have to move around more carefully, as going out on the streets is dangerous.
However, there's word that buildings are disintegrating/disappearing farther out from the centre sector. People see where the city limits are as the illusion of there being more to the city has completely faded.
Their SCA's begin to work fully, including comms. Of course not everyone was wearing their SCA when they got pulled and the 4th wallers don't have one so it will be up to those who do to make sure everyone is kept in the loop.
The main tasks are as follows.

"YOU. YOU WISH TO RUIN MY WORLD. TO TEAR IT ASUNDER, BREAK AND CRUMBLE AND INCINERATE ITS EXISTENCE AGAIN. AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WATCHED IT. THE END OF DIAGAD, PURPLE SKIES, THE CHILDREN WHO LAUGHED IN JOY, THE SMILES I BROUGHT TO LIFE. THE REASON I WORKED AND WOKE AND WHAT KEPT ME GOING EACH AND EVERY DAY. MY EXISTENCE. MY BEING.

FALLING. FALLING. FALLING. I FELL AS IT CAME, BLACK TERROR WITH A HUNGER. HOW DID THE CHILDREN CRY? DID THEY SUFFER? I CAN HEAR THEM ALL, I CAN IMAGINE THEM. SEE IT. THE POSSIBILITIES, THE MAYBES, THE TRUTH. THE WORLD-- MY BEAUTIFUL DIAGAD, OH! THE VOID HAS BLESSED AND CURSED AND DAMNED AND DESTROYED AND BROUGHT TO ME A CHANCE TO SAVE IT THIS TIME, I WILL SAVE DIAGAD, I WILL HEAR THE CHILDREN LAUGH AGAIN, NO ONE WILL DESTROY MY CITY AGAIN. NO ONE, NO THING, IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND SAVED AND IT WILL PROSPER FOREVER.

ALL WHO HARM US! ALL WHO STOP OUR RETURN! I WILL FIX WHAT HAS BEEN BROKEN. NEVER AGAIN SHALL YOU YOU VOIDTRECKERS HARM MY WORLD AGAIN. TWISTING AND RUINING OUR HOME NO MORE NO MORE I WILL END YOU."

The spiel comes in the early morning of Merriment 12, their ninth day on this strange world, though morning and night are indistinguishable now with the void-scarred sky burning above Jinnjar. Little exists of the sectors but the education and political district, and everyone has had to take shelter in its buildings, on cold tiled floors and with few blankets. There is no waking comfortable, feeling at ease. The city continues to crumble, and the citizens turned into the Entity's Heroes never quit their search and harassing of people who may be secret Voidtreckers, regardless of the ruinous world around them.

And then it speaks. The Entity's voices wakes everyone, enters into dreams, reality and the fake undefinable between one another. Scenes switch from one to another. A sky. Purple, serene and calm. A feeling of great contentment. But then come the shadows. Dark clouds filling the sky, blotting out that most perfect sky. A scream. No, a thousand screams. A world of screams echoes in every ear. A shadowed figure falling into the void. Pain erupts through the body, the mind, madness and grief suffocating every sense, every fibre of the being, and more attempts to fill and drown each and every person in Diagad. There is grief, there is love, there is despair. A longing and desperation that can never be fulfilled that cries out.

Once it's over, many have collapsed from the experience, and there are screams of those scared for their lives. Go out into the streets if you haven't already, and you will see the streets breaking, buildings being pulled like cubes, splitting people and trapping them. And there is a surge that hits people - Voidtreckers, others - with a brainwashing that makes them think of only one thing:

NO MORE. END. WE WILL END THE VOIDTRECKERS.

In amongst all of this chaos screens switch on. Any screens left working in buildings, on buildings, peoples phones. All show a young woman, a droid sat on her hair, metal legs curled around her head.

"Malin?"

A woman's voice. "Yes, go Anan. Now."

"LISTEN UP!" Anan isn't as loud as the booming voice echoing through the city, but she makes herself clear. "We need to evacuate and seal this world. It is falling apart." Stating the obvious, perhaps.

"We can temporarily seal it and we think there is a way to get the others back to their worlds. I know you Voidtreckers have had no training and this is advanced and really dangerous but everyone who is not a void traveller is in a lot of danger."

In truth, even the void travellers were in danger, but she doesn't want morale to be too low.

"Anyone willing to help meet me in the big park. You'll know it, it's the only park left!"

'HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU THWART ME. NO. NO. YOU DON'T. THIS IS MY CITY. MINE NOT YOURS. NOT YOURS TO DESTROY.' There's a huge crack as the sky itself seems to crack apart as colours twist and turn, a cyclone that forms at the edgez of the city, slowly beginning to devour it.

Over the camera Anan looks visibly shocked, terrified even, lost for words. An older man with reddish greying hair steps towards her, putting a big hand on her shoulder.

"Focus Anan. Voidtreckers. We do not ask it lightly. Please those that can, fight. Buy us time to set the seals. Buy time for those with no void craft to evacuate."

The screens flicker in colour before it cracks into static.

'NONE OF YOU WILL SURVIVE.'

A DISJOINTED REALITY

[ FALLING CITY. ] The city has been torn apart, fragments of roads, buildings and structures floating in a horrible mess. Friends and comrades split apart, some trapped in rooms that once had exits, or with no way out than to fall to nowhere. Pieces may stitch back together again at random, but with the same unpredictably, tear apart.

And if it couldn't get any worse, those core lights buzz around the environment, searching for individuals. They will do anything to hinder our heroes: turn into monsters from their minds, attempt to encase them inside illusions of their fears; even try to make them see pathways that don't exist, to make them fall into nothingness.

But for those who honed their resistances against illusions, this time may be different from the last. And with some experimenting, or just some lucky wishful thinking at the right time - some will find they can bend the illusions to do as they want, if just for a while. Stitch back together pathways so they can be crossed over, or make a weapon appear where it's needed.

It requires concentration, will be exhausting with too much use, but still - when isn't an axe or road on call handy?

[ HINDRANCE OR HELP. ] But it isn't only the core lights and environment they need to worry about. There are monsters coming out of the void - monsters they may recognise, monsters they may not. But unlike those of illusions, these are real, monsters - mechanical, ghostly, flesh and blood, something else entirely - slipping through from other worlds to rampage here.

There are also civilians, those who remain brainwashed, going after the Voidtreckers with powers of their own: telekinesis, pyromancy, superstrength and endurance, and so forth. Their skill levels vary, but the strongest of all are those who features have become twisted, chaotic. Streaks of colours dance under the skin, and they listen to no reason but their own. The entity - no their god, Chaos, is remaking the world. Remaking it the way it should have always been.

Strangely, but luckily, not everyone is harmful. Amongst those out there are a peculiar sight: a short hybrid between child and woodland-creature. They're keen to help, particularly anyone young or good of heart. They will help to lead them to safe shelters - the safe-houses made by Voidtreckers, the protected rooms all that are left. They may even interrupt the core lights from harming youngsters, knocking and shattering them, and then staying close to the youngster.

[ THE EVACUATION. ] For those who manage to make their way to the park, Anan is there, looking grim. One good thing though, as voidtreckers rush towards the entity or get ready to protect those helping evacuate this world- those with SCA's will see them burst into life, comms online.

The evacuation area needs protecting. Those acting as beacons aren't able to fight for themselves and the evacuation process is intense, slow and there are many many people in this city. The main entity is distracted but the monsters are drawn towards this gathering of people. Holding them back is vital to this plan working.

It's going to take everything the voidtreckers and their new friends have, to pull this plan off.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

These past few days have wrecked havoc on Murderbot's processor. Rin's processor. Eden's? It's- difficult to establish identity, when it feels tugged in multiple directions, half of which seem to be part of a feed show. It holds on to a few things that hold solid throughout them, chief of which?

It wants to protect people.

So when it sees a disorientated-looking figure being led by another - maybe it can be forgiven for jumping to conclusions. Maybe it can be forgiven for analyzing the situation with all the gravity of a kidnapping, and maybe - just maybe - it can be excused for firing a precise shot in to the leg of the steadier figure before lunging forwards to try and take their 'cargo'.

Devero's attention is absolutely focused on the being huddled in the crook of his arm. They're an utterly inhuman person, a slender upright dinosaur-looking thing with a supple, lashing tail and a rich plumage of feathers; their voice is a piping counterpoint to his deep, rumbling one. He can barely understand them, not with the magic that binds this place shredded the way it is, but somehow he's managed to convey that he can take them home and that's all they want.

It takes an effort, though, to bend the illusion enough to make himself understood. It takes all of his concentration. So when something impacts his leg and sends a shock of searing pain through it?

Well, he's caught by surprise.

Devero shouts and goes down as his leg buckles beneath him. At least he manages to shove the dinosaur-person away, so he doesn't crush their bird-boned body under his solid bulk. (They seem stunned and agitated as Rin grabs them away, struggling against its' grip.) And though Dev hits the ground hard, he still manages to roll and sit up to face his attacker--

"Rin? What the fuck!"

'Rin' is as focused as Devero's ever seen it. Interspersing its body between the dinosaur-figure and Devero, the construct's goal seems to be both extraction and protection- and further disabling, if the raised weapon back towards Devero is any sign.

Another shot is fired, but this one, a warning; the energy impacts right to the side of Devero's body.

"Stay down."

Devero had, in fact, been trying to rise-- well, sit all the way up, at least. When the second bolt sizzles under his arm and leaves a scorchmark across the pavement, he freezes. "Rin--!"

He doesn't get out anything more than that before a raptorine shriek of protest slices through the air. A slight weight impacts against the construct's back as the dinosaur dinosaur-being launches at their 'savior'. They hammer at its back, then dig sharp-tipped claws into its arm to try and pull it away from the fallen man.

The meaning of their words 'translates' inconsistently, but it's shrill and whistling speech is understandable enough for it to be clear that they want it to leave "Tall-dark" alone and let him take them home. They want to go home!

Edited 2021-07-25 19:32 (UTC)

Hostile down, now to deal with- "-!!!"

Rin catches itself without much trouble, but it clearly wasn't expecting that. Still, it wouldn't be much of itself if it wasn't able to adapt on the fly, and it quickly moves to try and grab the wrists of those claws and pull the limbs in to a position where they can be pinned.

"I'm trying to help you, damn it!"

Sorry, Rin, but this civilian has not two manipulating limbs, but three. It's pinned their wrists? Fine, they'll lash at it with their tail instead. The gist of its rapidfire birdsong tirade now changes to he was helping me and you attacked him! What's wrong with you?

While Rin's distracted, Devero manages to sit up the rest of the way. "Rin, listen to me," he says desperately when the dinosaur breaks for breath. "I'm not your enemy. This shit's falling apart around us and I'm just trying to get as many people to safety as I can!"

What's wrong with-

Many things, honestly, but that's- that's not the point. It needs to focus. If it can get both wrists in one hand, it'll try to grab the tail, while shouting over its shouler-

"That's -NOT- my name!"

No. That's not its name, is it? Devero calls it Rin, because he's been asked to and because he of all people understands how much it sucks for the train to reveal private information openly. He had intended to never use the name he'd seen printed on the roster unless Rin gives him permission.

But this is an exceptional situation, isn't it?

"Murderbot, then."

[See, the thing is?

While 'Rin' isn't its name

the word 'Murderbot' gets a visible reaction.
Which is to say it goes absolutely rigid and still, hands tightening
to what's no doubt a painful degree on the bird-dinosaur-person,
possibly even enough to crush bone-

]

[-except no. No, it's not that kind of person.
Bot. Its hands release abruptly as it pulls them back,
a hand moving for its head as its processor informs it that it's taken
a sharp performance drop, except- it isn't-]

[it is and it did, that's where the name comes from
even though it knows now that it wasn't its own fault,
it's still kept that name because it can't ever forget that day in the mines
as much as they tried to forcibly delete it from its memory
it's still fucking there]

[and like that, everything else falls back in to place.
memory. identity. history. experience.

Murderbot collapses to its hands and knees, mouth open, but there's no sound.
No scream. No breathing.
Just an open-mouthed grimace as it struggles to reclaim itself, its control.
It may be shaking. Shuddering. Trembling.

It is.]

Edited 2021-07-29 02:34 (UTC)

"Fuck you."

Edited 2021-07-29 02:33 (UTC)

Well, that had an effect, didn't it? Devero watches it grimly, not happy to have caused such obvious distress to someone he'd like to consider a friend. (The dinosaur doesn't agree, and lands another slap with the meat of their tail against the construct as it goes down, before hopping nimbly to Devero's side.)

The dinosaur tries to help him to his feet, but his leg spasms and he staggers drunkenly for a moment before going down again himself. They try to offer him their shoulder but he waves them away. He's way too big and heavy. "Find me a stick or something," he says to them, pantomiming the use of a mobility aid. It takes a few repetitions-- and a few reassurances that he'll be fine with 'Rin', really, please go get him a crutch or something-- before the dinosaur is willing to leave him. The eye Murderbot with an uncertain bob of their head, then turn and run off with fleet steps.

He returns his attention to the construct once the dinosaur is gone. "I'm sorry," he says, eyes hooded. "If this wasn't such a dire situation, I wouldn't have done that."

"No." A shake of its head. "I get it. It's fine."

May as well give it a reminder of what it really is, right? For better or worse. Murderbot presses its lips together in an unhappy frown before starting to push itself up, briefly glancing at the dinosaur in the distance before looking back at Devero.

"Just don't call me that again."

And with that? It'll over a hand up.

"You have my word that I won't," he says solemnly. When the hand is offered, he takes it. Murderbot-- Rin might be smaller than him but he knows by now the strength it possesses.

"Do you need me to fill you in?"

There's no hesitation in that grip, but also? None of the ruthlessness that Devero caught a glimpse of, earlier. No doubt he knows how efficient Murderbot can be, but then, he's never had that aimed directly at him. And while Murderbot - Rin - is grim right now, it certainly doesn't seem about to turn on him once more.

"Yeah. That'd be nice."

That's reassuring. He knows how this illusion shit works by now, but he also knows how damn strong this one is. If it pulls Rin back in, let's just say he wouldn't be entirely surprised.

But for now, it looks like the construct's out, and Devero's glad to have it on their side. Being ranged against it had been alarming in a way that he'll probably really only be able to process later.

He nods and gives it a rundown of what's going on, as best he currently understands it: the entity behind all their illusions so far is behind this as well. It's caught a lot of people, not just Voidtreckers, and these people are in danger. It's furious, it's turned people against them, and it's tearing the city apart in a massive temper tantrum because they're not letting it get away with this. Now it's up to everyone who's free of the illusion to either fend off/distract the entity or assist with the evacuation effort.

Oh yeah, and they can't forget all the fucking monsters around now.

"That's what you... interrupted," he finishes diplomatically. "I'm trying to get folks to the safe zone in the park so we can get them sent home." He shifts his weight thoughtlessly, grimacing when his leg cramps and threatens to spill him again. "...Probably go back to anchoring for a while after this one, though. That weapon of yours packs a fucking punch, friend."

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So Familiar a Gleam: Finale

shit-i-missed-the-event solidarity!

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5/5 DONE

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