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]

“I sure could have used one off those back home. But I think it would be a reasonable fit for you. You’re just... strong. That has to take emotional strength.”

Something Nida was lacking in. Manual labor was more his pace. But he had to winder what his life would be like if he ever went to college. But that wasn’t in his cards, so he won’t push at that. Instead he considers thoughtful before his next question.

“What sort of classes do you use for that?”

[ichoosefight]

The compliment makes her blush, and she shrugs and rolls her eyes in a nonverbal refute. She's never seen herself that way, despite the evidence.

"Dunno," comes the easy answer. She's not sure GU even has the degree program.

"Psychology, probably. Maybe some law?"

[skyward_eyes]

“Law is vital. Helps you know how to bend it without breaking it,” he grins. What? It seems a fair comment.

Maybe he is a bit too mischievous sometimes. Maybe he deserves to be that though.

“You’d Be a great role model for kids though.”

[ichoosefight]

She chuckles wickedly.

"Now that would be new and different." She does spend most of her time enforcing the law, but it is by definition illegal. Technically she's a criminal!

"Oh my god, stop, you're gonna make me conceited." Mostly he's making her blush, but it's still not a position she's accustomed to being in. This is a whole lot of positive reinforcement in one ten-minute period.

[skyward_eyes]

“And it would be lovely with your complexion,” Nida assures her. What? Steph is someone who knows just how taken he is with his love, which means he can get away with keeping his playful flirting skills sharp without either of them thinking it means a lick.

“So, think I might be able to borrow you to help keep my skills sharp once I’m armed? Not that training Billy isn’t a delight, and getting pounded by Seifer isn’t a gas, but it is nice to have someone used to fighting with the sort of things I use.”

[ichoosefight]

She sticks her tongue out at him again. Flirting is one thing, but genuine compliments are just too much.

"Of course you can. I've got my staff and everything." She remembers something, and as her face starts to return to a normal color adds, "that's the thing that was stolen, back in the village. I didn't have one of my own back then, but this one's legit."

[skyward_eyes]

There is a flash of genuine jealousy over Nida’s features. Truly she was the lucky one. He had put so much work into making his tanbo and his bo had been a gift from Danny. The boar spear had been been leonardo’s Make. So yes, he was jealous.

“Unarmed,” he explains, showing empty hands. “Genuinely even. I have the leather sheathes I made for the tanbo and staffs, but unarmed completely. Which drives me mad. Still, here I can get myself a proper training staff. Too long since I worked a six foot iron pole.”

Might explain where the truth of his muscle mass came from.

[ichoosefight]

"I still think that's weird. Though my staff compresses to like, this big." She shows around 22 inches with her hands. Not any bigger than the escrima sticks Dick uses.

"You can borrow some of my batarangs if you want," she offers in a low voice so as not to be overheard. Her identity is already blown where it concerns the people who brought her here but that doesn't mean it has to be everyone's business.

[skyward_eyes]

See, that is even longer than his tanbo. Still so very jealous. The other thing, though, makes him frown. What, in he love of all that was holy, is a batatang?

“A what? I’ve never heard that word before. Is it something from your world?”

[ichoosefight]

[ She palms one (never leave home without something sharp, kids) to show him surreptitiously, letting her hand hide it from prying eyes. Then she slides it across the table to him, still keeping it covered. ]

[skyward_eyes]

Nida follows the subtle gesture and lets her pass it. And then chuckles, shaking his head.

“I am miserable with thrown weapons. But thank you. Keep it for yourself, dear.”

[ichoosefight]

She shrugs and takes it back.

"Bats, you know. It's a whole thing."

[skyward_eyes]

“Yeah, but why? And I thought it was all about birds.”

Someone explain to him what is going on. Because bats aren’t scary. Not like something’s he knows.

[ichoosefight]

"One man's childhood neurosis and obsessive need for control," she explains with authority.

"Really, there's way bigger things to worry about than how birds got involved."

[skyward_eyes]

He’s mainly only known Robins. So it makes sense. And he is about to point out as much before an Iteration and a patrol officer walk up to the pair of them.

“Nida Nomura? We need you to come with us,” the person says. And Nida sighs as he pushes to his feet.

“Well, Steph, dear, we shall absolutely continue this later because I need to hear more about this bar brain. But for now, we’ll, it seems I may have a surprise engagement. Call me sometime?”

[ichoosefight]

She blinks as he gets up to follow what is clearly a robocop. At least he doesn't seem to be arrested.

"Uh, yeah, sure. Call me if you need..." an epic prison escape, "anything?"

[skyward_eyes]

Oh, he gets the implication and gives Steph quite the warm smile. It is appreciated. And he might let her know.

“I will. Get yourself some rest. And have some fun, okay?”