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]

Nida pauses for a bit, moving to sit on the edge of the curb next to Jason. Just a few more minutes. When Seifer shows up he'll go. As it is, he sits there. Sits and stares at the road.

"You're... healthy though, right? Except for the whole getting tazed thing? We could get you to a doctor if there's any lingering wounds."

[firacrux]

"At least there's somethin'," He murmurs, accepting the tags and stuffing them into his pocket. The explanation didn't sit well with him, seemed too vague, but he wasn't going to push his suspicions and paranoia on her. Instead he just nodded his thanks and finally turned to go find his brothers outside. Hopefully they haven't gotten into too much trouble.

They're not hard to find, thankfully, so he just strides out after them. "Hey you two, who's hungry?" He calls, moving to join them.

[scathefires]

Jason's fingers curl more tightly into his hair, but he shakes his head. "Far as I can tell, I'm fine. No holes, nothing broken. I'm just - tired." Whether that's physically from the electrical jolt and shaking off the sedation or mentally from the strain of being resurrected once again or both, Jason couldn't even say, if questioned. He just knows that bone-deep exhaustion feels like a scarf knotted tightly around his neck, threatening to cut him off from breathing.

He releases his hair and raises his head, dragging both hands down his face when Seifer arrives. "I'm fine," he repeats, tense but not actually angry with his other brother.

[skyward_eyes]

"I'll pass," Nida tells Seifer, pushing to his feet. "I'm tired. It's been a long day. I want to just get some sleep."

He doesn't bother to explain anything else to Seifer, just starts walking toward the dorms.

[firacrux]

"Didn't ask how you were, asked if you were hungry," Seifer quipped easily, no bite to his tone. As he spoke he dug the dog tags out of his pocket, holding them out to Jason. "'Cause I sure am, and given the afternoon you've had I bet you haven't eaten in a while."

Fine does not equal not hungry, Jason, and frankly Jason looks a little hangry as far as Seifer can tell. He'll hook him up with a not-bloody shirt while he's at it. As for Nida, he does frown, but nods and watches him go. Probably better they have some time apart.

[scathefires]

Time apart is exactly what Jason asked of Nida. Much like a feral animal, Jason's instinct when wounded - emotionally, at least - is to withdraw, enforce space between himself and the rest of the world, isolate himself until he's rebuilt his defensive walls higher and stronger than ever. He has much more practice at being alone than with other people, and alone is still his default.

Maybe he is hangry. Jason can't remember what he last ate or how long ago it was, and he was dead for a while between then and now, so he's not really in a good position to make that assessment of his own state. He knows he's tired. He knows he's angry and hurt and significantly stressed, and he's wrapped up more in his own mind than present in his body, so he doesn't notice if he's hungry.

Partly because he's too tired to put up much of a fight and partly because he imagines Seifer isn't going to take an answer of no as easily as Nida (not that it was easy with him, either), Jason sighs loudly and nods. "Sure, I guess," he says, and holds out his hand to accept the dog tags. "You gonna take me to a 'no shirt, no service' kinda place? 'Cause we might have a problem." Given Jason's current shirtless state.

[firacrux]

Jason has brothers now, family didn't often respect the withdraw and put up your walls method. Though Seifer would be inclined to agree that Nida's initial reaction hadn't exactly started things off well. Being part of a family is hard, Jason, Seifer understands.

It's exactly as Seifer figured, coming back from the dead has to be hard on the body. Maybe he could use something to eat. Something to eat somewhere calm that he can rest when he's done. Catch back up to his brain.

"Nah, I'll cook for us. Let's head back to the dorms, I'm sure I've got a shirt I can give you." He plops the dog tags in Jason's hand, nodding in approval. No, he won't take no lying down, just come eat and reassure them both that he's alive and going to be alright. Then he can go sulk or do whatever it is a Jason do.

[scathefires]

Being part of a family is something Jason’s never been good at. His own parents left much to be desired, and his relationships with his first adoptive family - Bruce, Dick, even Alfred - weren’t the most stable connections. But he’s trying with Nida and Seifer, which is why he hadn’t simply told them both to fuck off and leave him alone.

Jason gives the dog tags a long looking-over before he slips the chain over his head to hang around his neck. That gesture alone should indicate that he wants this family he’s found, this pair of brothers who care about him more than most of the people he’s had in his life. He nods.

“Lead the way? I got picked up by the cops before I ever made it to the dorms.”

Shall we fade out here?

[firacrux]

Honestly? Neither has Seifer. Not in any conventional manner anyway. He had his posse, who might as well have been his family, as the orphanage had long been forgotten and split apart. He's trying his best here, muddling through it to the best of his ability. They're all trying here.

The gestures enough. As he turns to lead the way Seifer offers a faint nod, satisfied. Nothing else needs to be said on the matter. They were still family, they were still going to try. Hiccups and road bumps were bound to happen. But so long as they stick together they'll figure out how to make it through.

"Yeah, come with me. This place is pretty confusing but I think I know the way back." At least the dorms don't wander too far.

sounds good to me!

[scathefires]

Jason readjusts his coat, slinging it over his shoulder, and follows after Seifer. Of course, he has one more thing to say: "Well, if we get lost and eaten by robot wolves, I'm coming back to haunt your ass."

He laughs quietly at his own joke, and it's the most human-sounding laugh he's expressed since he woke up here. Maybe he'll be OK after all.