maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Jeopardy -> Heropa
WHEN: Nov. 19
WHAT: A resolution and a swear-in
WARNINGS: Please label threads

Somewhere, in a place that is and is not Jeopardy, time has passed. To some, it may have felt like mere hours; to others, days. For time doesn't truly touch this place. Only fate exists here, for imPorts to change or allow to proceed as it will.

Somewhere, the sisters look into the hearts of those with the power to decide the fate of this entire world and know their choice. A blinding light grows, forcing even the strongest to close their eyes, and as they do so, a vision of what could have happened appears in their minds. A world wreathed in flames, fire and screams echoing ceaselessly as they depart; a peaceful world, healed and whole and well—and a certainty that another world has paid a heavy price.

And then there's the sensation of three powerful forces leaving, two taking an unwilling third with them to wherever they are going. This world will be left as it is now, and its future will be whatever the people here make of it.

MEANWHILE, IN HEROPA

One week into the mysterious storm that has enveloped much of Jeopardy, citizens across the nation are losing hope. The government continues to monitor the situation at a safe distance, but cannot enter the affected part of the city, though one SEAL team did make an attempt, only to become lost in the wind for hours before emerging without ever making it through. While the storm hasn't grown, neither has it shown any sign of changing.

The heroes who bravely charged into the storm have not officially been given up for lost, but with no news coming from Jeopardy, few believe they will emerge unscathed. To honor their sacrifice (?) and offer sorrowful natives a means of coping, a candlelight vigil kicks off outside Heropa City Hall at 4:30 PM EST.

Speeches are given. Commemorative t-shirts are sold. It is at this point that a large portal of light opens up in front of the building and deposits all imPorts who entered the storm, as well as a confused but unharmed Layla and Sally Clapp. A stunned silence falls over the crowd — followed shortly by an eruption of cheers.

Organized chaos quickly reigns over the occasion. Medical personnel are quickly called in to aid any imPorts who might need it, and government officials quickly descend, one thing on their mind: what the heck happened, heroes?! ImPorts are asked to state, for the record, exactly what they experienced — which leaves a lot of room open for the more creative among them. Just what each imPorts is willing to confess to or lie about is up to them, but there are other imPorts at hand to refute or support all statements.

While imPorts are technically free to go, all are encouraged to enter the building for a debriefing with government officials. Those who care to share their story begin to paint a picture of what happened, and a flurry of transportation begins to move between City Hall and the local porter outpost, as Jeopardy will certainly require some aid now that it is fully accessible. Reports begin to filter back that while there have been some casualties and collateral damage to the city, it is far less of a disaster than the government anticipated during the storm, no doubt due to imPorts' efforts. Additionally, news from other porter cities begins to arrive; with the dissipation of the Jeopardy storm, all dimensional anomalies elsewhere have ceased.

Following the briefings, ImPorts may go home and get some rest, although they may have trouble shaking off the crowds — which are largely ecstatic that the people who apparently saved the world are in front of them.

While imPorts were occupied with the post-disaster debriefings, locals have used the time to launch an impromptu celebration of their defense of this world. Local restaurants, breweries and nanas have hustled their finest wares over, and free food and drink are flowing for the homecoming heroes. A local party & events organizing company has strung up some lights and tents in the park across the street from City Hall, lending a festive atmosphere to the area. T-shirts being sold to honor the assumed-fallen heroes have been 'edited' with permanent marker, going from 'FALLED HEROES' (there was an error in the print run, given the notice of less than a week) to 'RISEN HEROES' and are, regretfully, being given away for free.

For those who stay, an impromptu party breaks out, and the occasion quickly becomes the latest swear-in, albeit with a more casual emphasis on the actual swearing-in than usual; a card table is set up with the usual seals and documents, but it's a bit haphazard.

Along with tasty libations, local musicians start jamming on acoustic guitars in the park's gazebo, setting up some cheerful background music—or maybe you're not too tired to dance? A local physical therapy school has rolled in multiple portable massage tables, with free sessions for sore heroes!

The locals who haven't dispersed yet are also around, likely to seek autographs from the world savers, while podcasters, BlueTubers and regular nosy nellies might lean in with a recording device, asking for the real story of what happened. For imPorts who become too intoxicated or exhausted to porter home, many locals are offering couches to crash on — although the pillows they use may later show up on ePay.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Jane spots the dog before she spots him, and very much on a high of being alive and not being crushed into oblivion by an angry god or Fate or force of the universe, or whatever Atropos could be called, she approaches Adam from behind as he walks and leans down to squeeze her arms firmly around him, planting a kiss against his cheek.

"Hello, sweetheart!" she says, detaching from him to lean down and give Dog a thorough fussing. Due to being fairly nondescript herself, and having not been involved in the fighting at all, she's managed to keep the reporters at bay so far.

"I do hope you both kept out of trouble through all of that."

Before Adam knows, he’s being hugged and kissed on the cheek and being greeted by a very familiar voice, which makes the surprise turn quickly into a big ol’ smile. Dog reacts equally happily, maybe even more, wagging his tail fast and barking excitedly up at Jane, attempting to lick her hands.

“Yeah, we were good.” The boy says with a grin. “Were at inside the whole time. It got a little boring.” You know, even if the world was at risk of ending out here.

“Are you doing alright?”

Oh, she can't help it. She was sure he wouldn't have gone too close to what was happening out there, but it's in her to be worried about those things. Dog is very much allowed to lick her hands, and she continues to fuss him with her fingers scritching into his fur and behind his floppy ears while she smiles up at Adam.

"Yes, wonderful! And even more so now that everyone is back safely."

Finally, she straightens up. "Have you eaten? Come, I'll get you anything you want."

He probably could have gotten closer to the action, but his caretakers - godparents, really - didn't really want to get involved with the whole business. It makes sense, he guesses, with how scary things did seem to get, and with how all three of them have already dealt with enough ends of the world to last them at least a few years, he reckons.

Dog blissfully lets himself be scritched and petted, panting happily and leaning into Jane's hands until she stands, tail back to wagging as he looks up at her and his master. Adam, in turn, grins.

"I could eat." He figures she'll make him eat real food and not the offered treats he's gotten into already.

"Did you watch the news?" Not something he'd usually pay attention to, but since they were covering the recent events, he found himself quite interested.

For once, Jane means precisely what she says - she will get Adam anything he wants to eat, even if that thing is deep-fried chocolate bars.

"Oh-- yes, I saw some of it," she says, but a good deal of it was beyond the realms of her understanding. It only made her wish she could be out there, that she could be of some help instead of hiding.

Frustrating.

"What would you like to eat? Tina's burgers are excellent."

Adam did feel the same thing, at a certain point. So many people were in there, the whole thing didn't seem real, but he's had his fair share of unreal events in his life. He does wonder, even now, if there was something he could have done. At least everything seems to have turned out okay.

He perks up at the mention of the familiar name. "I never had one of her burgers." Which is to say, yes, good idea.

"Oh, then you're in for a treat," Jane tells him with a bright smile, and she puts her arm around his shoulders to steer in him the direction of Tina's stall.

"You know I have trouble with the food here, but this really was delicious."

It’s these little moments that would have you believing that nothing horrible had almost happened, that they were just a young woman and a little boy and the little boy’s dog just going out for a nice meal and a chat. Normalcy in the details, even in the very, very strange bigger picture.

Dog happily trots after them, already excited about the smells of food in the air. Adam chuckles, taking a moment to look around at the crowds as they go. There’s people he wants to check in, but later.

“Do you think it’s really over?”

"Honestly..? No..."

She wants to be able to tell him 'yes, it's all over, we never have to worry again' but just the little she's heard from the imPorts who were there has her worried that this could be only the beginning of something bigger.

Jane looks over at the boy and smiles, giving his shoulder a gentle chafe.

"But I don't think we should be all doom and gloom just yet. Wouldn't it be terribly dull to always know what was going to happen?"

Adam grins up at her. He’s heard his fair share, and even if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be as naive as to think this would have been it. It just couldn't be. That’s not really how the stories go.

“Well, if anything else happens, we’ll be ready for it. Probably.”

"Oh, I'm sure we will."

Or... other people will. The smile is there, but slightly dim. Jane has no doubt in her mind that she is never going to be terribly useful as any kind of hero here... but she just needs to find something to turn her mind to.

"But you should still try not to get involved, you know."

There’s probably something out there she’ll excel at, something useful. She wouldn’t be the first imPort he’d have that sort of conversation with, should it come up, but super powers aren’t the only thing people can make use of here.

Adam almost doesn’t answer, at first, thinking of leaving it be. But, then:

“What If there’s som way I can help? I'd have to.” He says very matter-of-factly. "We won't really know until anything happens. If it does."

Jane sighs, shaking her head, and she would perhaps have rathered he hadn't said anything at all.

"You don't have to, but I understand feeling like you should," she tells him, and she knows she can't very well stop him should he decide he's going to do something. She isn't his keeper, after all.

"But you're right. We can't tell the future."

"Yeah." He consents easily enough, looking out toward the crowd. Locals and imPorts and all sorts of people all around. So much noise, so much activity. This time, he can't really get a general feel of everything like he did back home, and it's a funny feeling when he compares both conclusions to similar, equally strange stories.

"Hopefully it won't happen again."