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

mmm coffee

[expeditiousness]

[minty mocha supreme sounds divine, especially after almost a year of roughing it in that weird-ass shitty village, but free minty mocha supreme? that’s even better. the tiny cup disappears from billy’s hand with a blur of movement and a gust of air, and a second later, tommy’s standing next to the coffee stall, crushing his fingers around the cup and breathing out a pleased ahh.]

Now that’s the stuff. Hey, you got any more of that? Maybe at a “favorite older brother” discount?

[tommy grins and waggles his eyebrows behind a pair of ridiculously orange-lensed sunglasses.]

nectar of gods

[demiurgency]

[Honestly the sudden disappearance of the cup in his hand is not at all surprising. It was really only a matter of time before Tommy came in search of sugar and caffeine. The only part that's surprising is that it took him this long.

In a show of incredible maturity, Billy wrinkles his nose and makes a face at Tommy, holding the tray at his side.]

Like you need the caffeine, especially now that you've got your powers back. Also, there's literally a ten-minute window where you get to use that older brother line, and it's not until tomorrow night, so shush.

[expeditiousness]

[hey, give him a break - this is a big city and there’s a lot to see! tommy slides the sunglasses down the bridge of his nose and quirks an eyebrow at billy.]

Ten minutes is always ten minutes, little brother. [he grins.] How long are you stuck here for?

[demiurgency]

[There is at that. Seriously, this place is huge, somehow sprawling and all on top of itself at the same time. Honestly, Billy really digs it. Definitely a Fifth-Element, Bladerunner kind of vibe. And also has he mentioned the lack of farm life?]

Yeah, yeah. It barely counts.

Probably not too much longer. I'm about due for a break. Want to kill five minutes with me, or you want to go do another ten laps of the city?

[expeditiousness]

[look, you can have tommy's claim to being the older brother when you catch him and pry it out of his hands.]

Who says I can't do both? [he grins.] Nah, I'm kidding. I doubt anything's changed in the city in the last ten minutes. I can hang for a bit.

[that was really why he came to visit, but don't expect him to admit it.]

[demiurgency]

[JUST YOU WAIT, SHEPHERD...actually nah, Billy doesn't have that big of a problem with it, at least not anymore. After all, it's Tommy admitting they're related, and that he doesn't mind being related. It's a nice thing, in its way.]

I mean, you probably could, but if you start getting the zoomies I'm never giving you caffeine again. [He will absolutely hold your coffee privileges ransom, sir.]

So what have you found? Anything cool? Is it more Bladerunner or The Fifth Element out there?

[expeditiousness]

You’d have to catch me first to block me from caffeine.

[tommy grins. after however many months of living like a snail in the village of suck, he is so happy to have his speed back.]

Man, have you seen this place? Everything is cool here! Very Fifth Element for sure. Blade Runner was the boring one where it was always raining, right?

[blade runner is a slow-moving story. of course tommy would call it boring.]

[demiurgency]

It wasn't boring, it was a commentary on--nevermind. Fine, it's more Fifth Element.

[Billy huffs a sigh, but he's not mad at all, really. It's just easier to feign irritation.]

I'm surprised you haven't already found holographic sneakers and a neon shirt, honestly. Live your best cyberpunk life and all.

[expeditiousness]

Who says I didn't? [tommy waggles his eyebrows at his twin. it's fun when he pretends to be annoyed.] Maybe I did and I'm just not wearing it right now.

[is he joking? it's tommy - who can say for sure.]

Hey, listen, I got a question for you. Did you, uh - y'know, when you've done magic stuff, did you ever turn yourself invisible?