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

[cisskabob]

Cissie looks up at her again, frowning slightly. She hates to think of what happened to Steph; it was one thing when Tim told her about it when she didn't know her personally. It was bad enough, knowing how hard her "death" had been on him, and then to see her and how hard it was on her in the Village... It's something else when she considers Steph a friend. She wouldn't wish something like that on anyone.

"...Maybe that's not a bad thing, all things considered," she suggests quietly. "It must be frustrating, not remembering, but..." She remembers Jason, when she met a younger, just-revived version of him in Wonderland, and it still hurts to think of. "I'm pretty much just glad you're okay now." She pauses, and leans forward to look her in the eyes. "You are okay now, right? I mean, you didn't land here in the middle of a crisis or Arkham breakout, did you?"

Cissie may not be from Gotham, but she knows the drill, Steph.

[ichoosefight]

"Oh yeah, for sure," she enthuses, letting the remnants of grief roll off of her. The past can't be changed, so there's no use lingering on it and making Cissie worry.

"I mean, for sure I'm okay. Arkham's the same as ever, so if there's ever a good time to get whisked away to an alternate universe it's now."

[cisskabob]

Cissie laughs, because she has something of an idea as to what that means, and what it means is that there's always chaos and danger in Gotham. She leans forward and gives Steph a gentle hug, mindful of the injuries she's been stitching up.

"Well, good. I'm sure glad to see you, that's for sure."

[ichoosefight]

Steph gives as much of a squeeze back as she can without risking the new stitching.

"Same here. It hasn't been the same without you, you know?"