metalogs | HOUSE OF M(ETA)

Entry tags:

HOUSE OF M(ETA)

HOUSE OF M

A DREAM IS A WISH…

In dreams you will lose your heartaches,
whatever you wish for,
you keep.

Anti-Meta sentiments are on the rise. This is no secret. Check the news and you see it, politicians arguing about the dangers that superhumans pose to the world. What if they go rogue? What if they stage a mutiny? How can they tell that heroes are really the good guys, when so many of them have secret identities. In the last week, multiple protests against metahumans potentially moving to their cities have broken out across the United States. Some cities have proposed legislation that would make it illegal for metahumans to live within their borders.

Excelsior is leading the charge, politicians are looking to ban any metahuman whose abilities are not technical in origin from living there.

It is little wonder, then, that so many go to bed dreaming of a better world. One without the hardships of this one, or of the one they endured before.

Meanwhile, across the country, Sunset Falls is in a state of change. Mayor West finally has candidates willing to take the position of Mayor from him. This shift in the city's attention prevents anyone from paying much mind to the odd and potent energies taking shape. Sure, there are strange occurrences happening. A young woman walks by the school and immediately forgets her name, her job, and where she lives. Others report a strange feeling of being watched. Those sensitive to it may feel something otherworldly and strange hanging in the air. Bearing down on them with oppressive force.

And, dear heroes, as you know - two forms of surging energies create what is known as a Confluence.

THOSE LEFT BEHIND

You wake to pandemonium.

An emergency broadcast is blaring across any transmissible signal. A Confluence of unprecedented size has struck. Half of the country has been consumed by it.

By noon, there is a quarantine in place - not that anyone seems to be trying to leave the affected area. No, this quarantine is to prevent people from trying to go in. Unauthorized access is not permitted, not until the capes in charge have a better idea of what is going on. Once again, the Godfall Protocols are enacted. All able-bodied metahumans are recruited to the task, and once again, the Starfallen will find themselves standing shoulder to shoulder with those far weaker than them.

This time there is no giant monster to fight. Just a barrier, invisible to the naked eye, that seems to alter anyone who enters into it. The early metahuman scouts report themselves to be unaffected for the first few hours, but any normal humans who enter this space quickly find themselves… no longer themselves.

Atomight, Frances Starling and Mechanima are all at the Alliance HQ. For once, the three faction leaders seem to be in perfect harmony. This is a bad idea, they cannot send their people into this No Man’s Land… but they have no choice. The Godfall Protocols are what they are, they were created for this very reason. Though they are not arguing with each other, the government agents suddenly standing in HQ are telling a very different story. The three of them are not hiding the fact that they are all too aware that their “freedom” comes with a price, and their resentment is reaching a boiling point.

At some point during these early hours, Atomight finds himself temporarily locked out of his office. While the three leaders are distracted trying to regain entry, Fantastic takes center stage and begins issuing the most scripted heart-felt speech you have ever heard. Unlike the other three, he doesn’t seem to care much for what he could be sending people into. This is not a speech meant to inspire confidence that all will work out in the end, that the weakest among them will be taken care of, it is a speech to inspire soldiers.

By the end of this first day, they have gathered enough information to make a determination. The Starfallen seem to be more resilient to whatever effects are occurring than the rest of the population. They are called to a unique, private meeting - one in which all three leaders attend.

“We don’t know what you will be facing there,” they state plainly. “But we know you have the best chance of making it out with your minds intact.”

The choice is yours. You can help secure the area, you can retreat to Little Love and hope that this expands no further, or you can step into the unknown.

You can engage with the leaders here.

HOUSE OF (M)ETA.

Inside the quarantine zone, all is well.

Your alarm rings a little late and you find yourself groggy and briefly disoriented, as though waking from a very long dream. One that you find yourself considering to be unpleasant, and not worth thinking about. You stretch and slide out of bed, perhaps kiss your partner good morning and prepare yourself to wrangle your children and get them prepared for school, but today is like any other day. The world is as it always has been, and you find yourself oddly comforted to know that things are not as bad as they could be.

And then your day begins.

If you are a card carrying member of the Guardian Alliance, then you report to work before most of the world is up and running. Atomight appears to be busy in Central City, as he is not present and is not answering any calls, but you know what to do. The Guardian Alliance is all about finding ways to be useful, without enrolling in any of the government run Metahuman departments. It pays less, and you have to have frequent check-ins with actual government approved heroes, but you find a measure of freedom in it… though the pressure is immense. One wrong move and you may find yourself imprisoned for “irresponsible” use of your powers, branded as the reason why metahumans should stay under the thumb of the government after their service ends, and not allowed to organize themselves in fear they may take over the world.

If you took the darker path, then you will find yourself reporting to an ordinary office building in whatever city you live in, for a boring job that you do not have. Villainy is not a safe passtime, but those who band together tend to stay alive a little longer. The Society of Villainous Reformation exists to provide the community that most villains lack. Villainy comes in many shapes and sizes, and the Society has all sorts. The only uniting factor in this faction is the fact that you do not want to be used the way heroes are. You want to use your powers as you see fit, whether that means you get an edge on tests or rob banks to your heart's content is up to you.

Or are you a vigilante? A complete wildcard, answering to nothing and no one but your own personal sense of justice? Vigilantes have a reputation for being brutal and efficient, needing none of the teamwork and oversight that the guilds use. They are also generally less accountable, unless The Society or the Guardian Alliance steps in.

Starfall, formerly Starstruck. He was one of the first heroes to enroll in the government's War Hero project, which has now become a mandatory military service for all young metahumans upon reaching 18.

The most concerning thing right now in the world is the cult, the Battlements of the Shining God. They are known to sacrifice people to their fearsome God, stating that it will give them the power to put things right. But… you have never seen them in person. Only heard of the wreckage they leave. But disturbingly, if you tune in to the nightly broadcast that the Dreamers of the Willow Maiden put out to help lull you to sleep, you will note they seem… off. Warning of a war that is coming. You are fairly certain you can handle a confrontation with them, though. After all, nothing you couldn’t handle has ever happened.

And as you fall asleep at night in this perfect world, in your perfect life, you swear you hear The Lady herself whispering in your ear. Wake up, wake up, this dream is not yours to live.

Yet when you try to hold on to those words, they slip from your thoughts. And when you awaken, all remains as it should be.

SNAP BACK TO REALITY

For those who agree to go into the quarantined zone, you find yourself given the best gadgets both the Alliance and The Society can offer. They are unsure how to prepare you for this, though the scouts that made it back say that things seem… fine. Peaceful, even. Everyone seemed so happy, but they did not recognize them.

Contact will be difficult to maintain. The radios were functioning while they were inside, but it seems that the further they went into these zones, the worse communication got.

When removed from the quarantine zone, those who were affected regained themselves bit by bit. Some held on stubbornly to their illusionary life, but when presented with undeniable evidence of the life they had before, and reminders of any joy they found within it, they came back to themselves.

“Are you saying that they have to befriend them to remind them of their sanity?” Mechanima asks, torn between incredulity and amusement.

“What he’s saying,” Frances cuts in, “is that they need a reminder that they have a life worth living outside of whatever the hell is going on in there.”

Atomight nods. “This appears to be a shared delusion manifested by magic. So, a mass psychic relay would be the best way to break the hold. However, it will take time to do safely.” He turns to the gathered volunteers. “Your job is to start cracks, so the whole thing shatters when we deliver the final punch… and no one soul is left bearing the brunt of that psychic backlash.”

There’s a moment of silence. You find yourself being handed resources for your trip inside - no weapons, just first-aid kits and any items you may have told people to gather that could remind your lost friends of who they are.

"This is going to change everything," Atomight continues. "Even if all this goes to plan, the fact that it happened at all means things won’t stay like they’ve been."

He doesn’t elaborate. Mechanima’s mask turns to troubled static, and Frances throws a glance back towards the Alliance’s tents. Many of the native metahumans are gathered, and Fantastic is posing for photos with them. The hashtag #METASTOTHERESCUE has been trending for hours, and were you to believe social media, Fantastic is the one leading the charge.

You turn, take a deep breath, and walk through the invisible threshold into another world. The teleportation devices you have been given will take you directly to the city of your choosing.

IN SUMMARY...

The unrest in Excelsior and the upcoming election in Sunset Falls has caused a massive confluence, which has affected a great portion of the country.

Anyone within the border of these affected areas finds themselves thrust into an alternate universe, wherein they lived a very different life as a native citizen of this world. In this version of the world, the Godfall Incident never happened.

All metahumans - regardless of if they belong to Society, the Alliance, and the Unaligned - find that the Godfall Protocols are being enacted, meaning that metahumans will be conscripted into assisting. Knowing most metahumans do not stand a chance against whatever metaenergies are causing this, the leaders of these groups are asking the Starfallen to enter willingly.

Being in the alternate universe for more than 72 hours will make you start to believe that you are part of it. It is very keen to assimilate you into it, and you may find yourself slowly developing false memories the longer you are in there.

Exiting isn't an immediate cure, but the longer you are out, the faster you will come back to yourself.

You can bring your AU-affected friends back to reality by reminding them of who they are, and that the life they have outside of the bubble is equally good as the one inside.

Anyone who wants to sit this one out can kick back, relax, and enjoy some Kansas hospitality. Little Love is a safe area and will protect any citizens who do not feel capable or are unwilling to jump into the unknown.

Please direct any questions regarding this log HERE.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

→ a little background

[In another world, Arthur Brown was a famous quiz show host who was callously fired and tossed aside, starting his downward spiral, taking his wife and daughter down with him.

In this world, Arthur never lost his job. The show flourished. Maybe the difference was Arthur himself; a little more patient, a little kinder, a little less obsessive. It kept him from becoming a violent, angry criminal, whatever the reason. It saved Crystal Brown from turning to drugs and alcohol to cope. And most importantly, it meant that Stephanie Brown was raised by a loving, well-off family who did their best to give her a good life. Neither of them had expected to have a metahuman for a child, but they focused on raising her as normally as they could, steering her away from heroics out of concern for her safety.

She was able to focus on school without having to worry about her father's temper or her mother's addiction, and did well in class as a result. Gymnastics was something fun, not just an escape, and with better resources and more support, she ended up competing several times at Nationals. A gymnastic scholarship had been in the cards at UNC, until a poorly timed high school fling resulted in Steph discovering she was pregnant at seventeen.

Life hasn't been all sunshine and roses, but she kept the baby with the support of her parents, and worked hard to finish high school so her life wouldn't be knocked too far off course. In a way, she views it as a blessing in disguise. There's a lot of pressure in professional gymnastics, with such fierce competition and unreasonable demands on the body. With those plans sidelined, she took some time to focus on raising her daughter, Chloe; being a single mom with reasonably well connected parents kept her from the front lines, during her service. As soon as she was free of all that nonsense, she decided to return to gymnastics, finding a job as a coach at a local gymnasium.

It's fun, working with little kids who don't take themselves too seriously, and it leaves her with enough free time to take a few courses at CUNY. Once Chloe is old enough for school, Steph plans to return to college full-time, earn her degree, and start the rest of her life. With little interest in heroics or serving, she'll figure out the military issue whenever they eventually come knocking at her door.]

i → college campus

[It isn't often that Steph manages to make it to campus; most of her classes can be taken online, but sometimes she has to make the trip in for whatever reason. It's a good excuse to get some socializing in, especially on the occasions when she isn't just there to take exams or hand in papers.

Today, after spending the morning studying in the library and attending a hands-on class, she's detouring to some kitschy Valentine's Day market, just to catch up with some friends and buy some cute trinkets. It's a little bit of a bummer, being alone on Valentine's Day, but she's determined not to let it ruin her good mood.

Later in the day, she ends up going out for a few drinks with friends, knowing that Chloe is safe and happy with grandma and grandpa. There isn't anything special about the bar, it's just a fun spot with cheap drinks and a great music selection, where she can dance half the night away. Without the weight of her mom's addiction, Steph has no qualms about enjoying those few drinks until she's laughing on the dancefloor and chatting happily with anyone she bumps into.

The train home at the end of the night (or early morning, to be entirely accurate) is quiet, giving her the opportunity to get started on her next reading for class.

Some things will always stay the same, and Steph's never been good at slowing down.]

ii → a day in the park

[Chloe is a proper menace when she wants to be, which only serves to make Steph love her more, no matter how exhausted or covered in paint/food/etc she might be. It's been fascinating watching her daughter develop into her own little person, and Steph is fond of all her quirks and nonsense, including her frequent desire to befriend anyone and everyone she sees.

It results in Steph chasing after her and scooping her up with a laugh, flashing an apologetic smile at whoever Chloe was in the middle of bothering.]

Sorry, I swear she's determined to make everyone her best friend.

[At least it means Steph is meeting people, too.]

iii → the wildcard option

[Throughout the rest of the week, Steph goes about her life as she believes she normally would. Grocery shopping with Chloe, stopping by a café on the way to work, taking a long lunch in the park, going for a run in the early hours of the morning, grabbing dinner with her parents, attending town hall meetings to argue with shitty politicians (just because she's not a superhero doesn't mean she doesn't care), stopping by the library to study. The sort of normal, every day things that people do.

It's nice.

Even when she remembers herself, later, she'll think that it was nice.]

[ kyle vasquez smiles, placing a hand on his chest as he pretends to take offense. ]

Wow, an uncle can't be a best friend? That stings.

Definitely not. An uncle is way cooler than a best friend, you wouldn't wanna downgrade.

[This point is echoed by Chloe, who makes grabby hands at Kyle with a delighted 'Unc-Kyle!' because portmanteau's are fun for toddlers.]

You want a hug?

[The question is for Kyle, she knows Chloe wants one, but she prefers not to just foist her kid off on someone. It's polite.]

[ kyle grins, easy-going. ]

I wouldn't say no to a hug. Especially from my favourite niece.

She's all yours.

[With Kyle's approval, she has zero hesitation about handing Chloe over for him to hold for as long as he wants.

She's big enough to be put down to toddle around on her own, when he's done.]

I don't think she's gotten into anything sticky in the last twenty minutes, so your clothes should be safe.

My clothes will live. You should see what paints do to them.

[ kyle picks her up with a whoop, letting her dangle and giggle for a bit before setting her down gently. ]

At least those are artistic stains. No one thinks chocolate stains are artistic.

[If only because of the unfortunate color.

Once deposited safely on the ground, Chloe reaches for Kyle's hand with the clear intention of leading him somewhere. Probably to the swing set to recruit him into pushing her. If he follows, Steph will keep close.]

How've you been, Kyle? You keeping outta trouble?

There's nothing artistic about orange stains either, let me tell you.

[ he does follow, idly pushing the swing for her with a smile. ]

Me, trouble? Never heard of it. Mom's thinking of a vacation back in Ireland for a bit and trying her best to convince Dad to go along with it. Alex's got some big magazine job that's been keeping her busy.

[Steph hops up to stand on the swing beside them, holding onto the chains to help with balance. It's a good vantage point to keep an eye on everything, and makes Chloe giggle, which is always a nice bonus.]

Oh wow, Ireland would be super cool to visit. Do you think you'd go with them?

[Vacations haven't really been on the agenda for Steph, but she can live vicariously through Kyle.]

steph brown | dcu | au | ota

( ii )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

II

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject