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

"Hey, let the kid's sandwiches speak for themselves." Pikachu moseys on through the crowd, instantly distracting a few people with his adorableness, but he deigns to ignore them in favor of the food. "Oh you know, I'm going for the Are You Afraid of the Cheddark. It's such a cliche, but I can't help myself."

"Good choice."

Tina nods approvingly, deciding to take a cue from Pikachu and simply ignore the pressing crowd. If they want burgers, they can get in line; she'll have to put up a sign saying imPorts will be served first.

"Are you doing okay?" she then asks him as she places a patty on her griddle. "You weren't involved in that whole... uh... thing, were you?"

"Couldn't quite avoid it." He climbs up on whatever structure isn't currently in use for food prep. Being on the ground and having a conversation is a pain in the patoot. "I gotta do the whole hero thing. Couldn't live with myself if I didn't."

Tina reaches into an iced drinks bucket between her and the next table over, placing a bottle of water in front of Pikachu as she cooks.

"I understand," she replies, breathing in the smells around her as the burger sizzles. "I stayed away from it, myself." There's a tinge of guilt and regret in her tone. "There was nothing I could have done to help. Or, rather... the best way I can help is by doing this. When things are over, just being there."

"You're a kid, T. Like sure, kids in my world? They're usually the ones stopping apocalypses, but they've also got teams of Pokemon and the power of friendship on their side." He grabs the bottle of water and screws off the top.

"And I fully believe you got the latter in spades, but I saw those goddesses. Not big on friendship... Or reason. Or like anything besides destruction and stopping destruction and telling us what we had to do to fix it."

Tina smiles a bit at the first part of his statement, but turns sober as Pikachu talks about the goddesses.

"And I'm still awkward in ordinary social situations," she replies, trying to sound lighthearted about it, but she then continues seriously, "But hearing all that, I'm glad I stayed away. It's better for me to feel guilty now than to have everyone else worrying over my injured body. Or worse. I know better than to try and play the hero."

"Don't feel guilty." He gives her a stern look. Or as stern as one can look when they're cute and furry. "Look, hero types are a dime a dozen around here. We need people who take care of the simple things, too."

He waves a tiny hand at the grill. "Like burgers. Or delightful social awkwardness to remind us that there's a world outside of solving crimes and saving people, because if we don't pay attention to that, then what the hell are we saving?"

"My guardian said something like that, too," Tina agrees, turning the burger patty over. "I told him that sometimes I feel like since I'm an imPort, it's almost expected of me to be the hero... but then again, nobody's really pressured me like that before, either. I know what I'm good at, and trying to be something I'm not is just going to leave everyone feeling frustrated."

"Being an imPort doesn't mean anything aside from not being from here." He rolls his eyes at the thought. "And if anyone ever said that to anyone, least of all you, I'd give 'em a good shock to the back of the kneecaps. That's ridiculous. That's like expecting every doctor to cure cancer. We've all gotta cure different things."

Like hunger... Or hanger.

Edited 2019-12-01 00:32 (UTC)

"Yeah, that's a good way to look at it," Tina agrees. "Nobody's said that to me, thankfully, since they all understand I'm kind of at a disadvantage here. I'm just an ordinary kid from an ordinary world where nothing magical happens. It WOULD be a bit like expecting me to cure cancer right off the bat."