ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

[headandhand]

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.

Comments

[skyward_eyes]

[Definitely not the sort of sweet Nida had been looking to get, but damn if it wasn't worth it anyway. Leaning in and kissing him like this was like stealing something of value, and he is left grinning when he pulls back. Damn, Billy can just make him smile by pure force of personality. Bless him.]

That sounds lovely, a nap with you. I'll see if I can squeeze it in. I'm due back to Seifer until dinner, though. He's gotten lost in the shuffle since we got here, and unlike your brother, he needs lots of care and oversight. Like Dog or Julia when they found something loose around the house to play with. Except he tends to do a bit worse than chew on the furniture. Brothers, you know?

[But maybe he'll buy dinner for Billy. Take him out and find a nice little hole in the wall restaurant and laugh over things. Be sweet and warm and just them.]

Oh, hey. Did you see any thing from the game stands that you absolutely had to have? I feel like I should win you something, and I know Seifer will love laughing over my hours of failing at it. And I promise, tomorrow is yours. I don't have to be back at work for another few days, so let me treat you to a full fair day, holding hands and being terribly sappy and the envy of every other couple out there. Maybe go for the festival record for longest hand holding. Think I can do one of those scoop rubber ducks out of a stream for a prize thing one-handed?

[demiurgency]

Like Tommy doesn't. He's just harder to keep track of now that he's got his speed back.

[He wrinkles his nose, but honestly it's affectionate. He loves his brother, honestly, and no matter what's happening here, he feels better knowing both of them have their powers back. At least mostly. He hasn't tried opening any doorways--because he's at least learned how terrible an idea that is--but it does take a little more work these days to cast the basics, and he's not sure if that's because he's out of practice or for other reasons.]

But that's fine, I get it. I can probably get tomorrow off for festival things, the new boss is pretty lenient. You can take all day to win me the most ridiculous stuffed animal we can find.

[And honestly, that'll be nice, too. A normal date. Not that he didn't love their dinner and dancing dates back in the village, just... it'll feel nice to be almost normal for once.]

[skyward_eyes]

Just for that, I will take all day, just to be there with you.

[Is there a lot of overly sappy statements from Nida these days? Maybe. He's smitten. Besides, it's a day to just hang out with his boyfriend, and they've lost some of the old methods they had. Can't teach Billy to fight when he doesn't have training weapons for them anymore.]

I'm going to impress you with my lack of game skills.

[demiurgency]

[It's okay, honestly. It's cute. And after the way Nida was when he came back from his second trip home, well. There's worse things than being overly affectionate and ridiculous.]

Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it, with your amazing coordination. It's been literally years since I've played any kind of carnival games, anyway, you'll see just how terrible I am, too.

So, tomorrow?

[skyward_eyes]

My coordination is good in some ways, but alas, fair games don't seem suited to it. But for you I'll try.

[He reaches out and takes Billy's hand briefly to kiss the back of it. What? He's an affectionate fool.]

I belong to you tomorrow, beloved. I'll even pay for food.

[demiurgency]

All you need is practice. And maybe a few private lessons.

[Listen...no he's not ashamed of it. It's nice to be sweet and silly, especially in the midst of some chaos, and he's grinning like an idiot when Nida kisses his hand, pushing lightly at his chest.]

What a gentleman. Go on, I'm supposed to be working. Text me later?

[skyward_eyes]

[Private lessons sound good. Nida even gives a little eyebrow wiggle at that before he laughs. He's being silly and he knows part of that is sleep dep, but he doesn't care.]

Only a gentleman for you, beloved. And yeah. Later.

[He backs away and winks, taking out his device and starting a text already. What? It's later. He offers a brief wave as well as he backs away.]