headandhand: (Default)
the head | the hand ([personal profile] headandhand) wrote in [community profile] dualislogs2019-06-17 11:40 am

ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

WHO: The entire dang city.
WHAT: Dualis Days, a week-long summer celebration.
WHERE: Central Square Park and the rest of the city.
WHEN: June 17-23.
WARNINGS: Terrorist violence, likely some blood and injuries. Please warn in individual threads!

June 17; Central Square Park.

Every year for as far back as anyone can remember, the start of summer is heralded by the week-long festival known as Dualis Days. This celebration officially kicks off at midday in the middle of Central Square Park with a commencement speech by the current mayor. This year marks Marcelina Dubanowski's third term as mayor of Dualis; she is an average-sized, middle-aged human-presenting woman with blonde hair styled in a short bob and a plastic, toothy smile that never seems to turn entirely off.

"Welcome, one and all!" she begins, with the practiced cadence of someone who is quite comfortable with public speaking. She invites all citizens, new and old, to spend the next week indulging in festivities in all districts of the city and getting to know their neighbors a little better. This is a joyous time of celebration, and the crowd responds with enthusiastic applause as the mayor finishes her speech and introduces this year's parade marshall, Peshtigo Tengfei.

Tengfei blows a whistle six times to signal the start of the parade - and this is where the celebration goes sideways.

A loud explosion tears through the air, and it's followed by panicked screams and the sharp screech of microphone feedback. A bomb has gone off at the platform where the mayor was standing, collapsing the wood and tearing it to splinters and dust. Chaos erupts in the gathered crowd, and as the people shift in all directions to get clear of any possible additional bombs, a loud siren cuts through the cacophony, calling attention to the sudden crackle of video feed present on all television screens throughout the city, including those set up in the park to broadcast the mayor's speech for those standing far from the stage. The picture is plain, a black background and bold white block letters filling the screen:

WAKE UP
WAKE UP
DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES


The final image is an anatomical graphic of a human heart, displayed for about three seconds, and then the feed goes black again.

Confused murmurs sweep through the crowd as citizens resume tending to the injured and evacuating the area until official first responders arrive.

June 17-23; aftermath around the city.

Dualis Days continues as scheduled, though Mayor Dubanowski is unable to enjoy the festival, as she is spending the week in the hospital recovering from her injuries. A team of Iterations guard her door - no visitors allowed - but the news media frequently report updates on her condition. Nothing to worry about, folks! Return to your celebrations, and don't mind the increased visible presence of the Hand as Iterations are stationed every few blocks throughout the city. It's only for your protection, after all.
silentnarration: (stare)

[personal profile] silentnarration 2019-06-25 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
Squall looks at the hand and reaches out to shake it after a moment's hesitation. Shaking hands for friendship is strange.

"Yeah, I'm Squall." He lets go and hands her the crocodile. "Here." Just take it so he doesn't have to hold it anymore!

"You saw the explosion?"
cisskabob: (Quietly sad [AB])

[personal profile] cisskabob 2019-06-30 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Cissie takes the crocodile, doing her best to not look like she's laughing at him. She's not, really, she's just amused by how literal he seems to be.

"Thanks," she says, indicating the crocodile. She sobers a bit when he mentions the explosion, and she nods. "Yeah. I was there when it happened. You?"
silentnarration: unknown artist (meh)

[personal profile] silentnarration 2019-07-01 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
Don't laugh. The crocodile doesn't fit his image okay.

"I was by the stage. I didn't see anything useful so I've been trying to ask around but the robots don't like it when I do."

And there are plenty of Iterations around here too.
cisskabob: (Frowning)

[personal profile] cisskabob 2019-07-06 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Cissie nods again, expression still serious and concerned. "Yeah. They're... interesting. I'm not used to robots, honestly. I guess I get them not liking us snooping around, but... There hasn't really been much news released, either."
silentnarration: (default)

[personal profile] silentnarration 2019-07-06 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
"A lot of people don't seem to care." It's disconcerting. "We have some robots back home but they're not humanoid. And they're usually trying to kill us."

Spoken like it's just a day in the life.
cisskabob: (Alarmed)

[personal profile] cisskabob 2019-07-29 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
Cissie doesn't bother to mask her reaction, which is alarmed. "Trying to kill you? Does that happen... a lot?"
silentnarration: unknown artist (wha?)

[personal profile] silentnarration 2019-07-30 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
He blinks. Is it that alarming?

"Not really. I fight soldiers and monsters more often." He's been fighting a lot recently. It's a thing.