Open | The city at the center of it all

[welcome_summer]

Who: open to all, 4th wall visitors more than welcome!
What: New faces and new cracks in the sky
When: August 2022 4th Wall- Weekend
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: If needed

[As Friday night rolls into Saturday, the repercussions of this Earth rejoining the multiverse are starting to become more clear. Missing persons reports are flooding the airwaves, the OurPowers metahuman-only social media network included. In Excelsior, it seems the newly-sentient tech devices are adding to the noise. News coming from Sunset Falls is terse-- there is also a Strong Magical Effect of some sort active in addition to the disappearances. Not even Little Love is immune; thankfully, the residents report no additional hazards.

But here in Central City, the citizens only grow more tense with each resident taken. A powderkeg with a long fuse that has just been lit. The sky is starting to crack, and the feelings of homesickness and fear are starting to spread.

It’s not the warmest welcome a visitor could receive, but the meta population has been put on alert for new arrivals, searching from rooftop to water’s edge. Central’s a VERY big city, but hopefully some generous souls can point you to the swanky Diadem Hotel in the end.

Resident metas, you might want to check in on your nearest and dearest before heading out. Some of you might be deploying to Sunset Falls or Excelsior soon, or making plans to get to Little Love before Central gets… too rough. Some of you might be adventuring Elsewhere very shortly. But maybe there is time to help out a fresh face, extricate them from a confrontation, give them the lowdown about this alternate Earth? After all, you were once new yourself.]

((4th-wallers, feel free to touch down here! Network/”text” threads welcome. Mingle to your hearts’ content))

Comments

Twitter | Video Stream | Public (@therealmrmind ☑️)

[ear_worm]

[The video looks out on the skyline of Central City from atop a building, at a strange angle, as though the recorder is lying perfectly prone, or very, very small. His voice has a comforting, radio static hiss.]

Whoever is out there, I've seen a similar phenomenon to this where I come from. I'd like to help you, if I can.

They call me Mr. Mind.

@chirpchirpchirp

[mostdangerousbird]

[ There are no visible tweets or responses on the account, which still has an egg icon. ]

You get a better view two buildings northwest, Mr. Mind.

[ear_worm]

[That's excellent, whoever's replied to this has done so very discreetly, and given the way people in this city are reacting (justifiably?) to the crisis, he can see why.

It's a simple matter to levitate from one building to the next, though the little sorcerer prefers to have someone holding him, or being inside someone's cranium, this isn't impossible. Once he's made it to the suggested 'vantage point', he lands delicately on an air conditioning unit, all five inches tall. He doesn't respond in text, but audibly, having a lot of faith in this mystery tweeter's acumen already.]

That's impressive. You figured out exactly where I was from a single viewpoint of the city. You may well be the earliest bird.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ Oh, that was quick, clean, and quiet. He’s impressed, and increasingly cautious. There’s not a lot of places to hide on a roof top, and he is, in fact, simply on the shadowy side of the maintenance access. ]

Thanks. Most people don’t appreciate the nuances of learning a new city.

[ Robin spent several weeks, when he first arrived here, patrolling with an eye for the views and the street names. It does one no good to traverse the city from the rooftops without recognizing landmarks just as well as from the ground.

What he doesn’t immediately recognize is where the sound is coming from. Tim is keeping his eyes peeled, but, when looking for anyone smaller than, say, Mister Mxyzptlk on the roof of a midrise, proportions start playing tricks on you. ]

Do I get the worm?

[ Just the slightest hiccup in patter indicates when he spots something dark and tiny near where the sound originated. ]

Quentin Beck | MCU | Ryslig CRAU

[thegreatmysterio]

1. Moth in the Big City [IN PERSON]

[For anyone who's met Quentin Beck before, this one is... definitely different from his counterpart of this world. For one, he's definitely got antennae and- moth wings coming through the back of his shirt? Huh, weird. For another, he's not exactly backing down or throwing out some tricks to get some angry citizens off his back. An obvious 'meta' makes an easy target in this stressful situation.]

Hey-, hey! Stop throwing shit, and answer my goddamn question! Is this Bavan, or isn't it? Where the fuck am I, hasn't the Fog done enough already-

[ "Central City!" One of of the small group hollers, and Quentin can't help how he rolls his eyes.]

No shit, central to where, asshole? Plenty of places are centrally located, I need more to work with here-

[Someone may need to intervene before either the three citizens decide to kick his ass, or he swings at them first. He has teeth and hands, and will make both of them everybody's problem.]


2. UN: Disillusioned [NETWORK] ooc: I totally accept jokes on this one.

Alright, I want some answers here, jokes not accepted at this time. I am *dead* serious.

1. How many fucking worlds do this thing where you're dragged in, and then they shove a piece of tech at you to communicate like this? This has happened to me twice now, and I'm pretty sick of it at this point!

2. How many of you twitch if I say Avengers, SHIELD, the Snap, *whatever*. Yes, I have to ask this, because if you twitch, goddamnit. I do NOT want to be back in that clusterfuck, and I'm already being reminded of it right now! How do you even LIVE like this around here.

3. If one more person looks at me knowingly and says "Society, right?" I am going to bite them. What even IS this Society shit? If this is some Avengers-level bullshit, I decline. I don't even respectfully decline, I straight up *deny* it. No thanks! I have plenty of my own shit to worry about without getting lumped in with whoever those guys are.

1

[heyunderoos]

[Well would you look there another 'meta'. A giant rat. Peter has been getting a decent amount of heckling given his appearance. He managed to lose a few people giving him a hard time when he comes upon the group shouting Beck.

Even with their very mixed history, Peter is relieved to see the familiar face. The relief is what pushes him to weave through the crowd to hook his arm with Beck's in an attempt to make a great escape.

The fact he's 4'10 and just showing up gives the group some pause.]

Uh, if you'll excuse us! We have... stuff to do!

[Smooth, Peter.]

[thegreatmysterio]

[Oh thank fuck it's the kid. There's only one pooka around with that kinda patterning. He's not the only one who's been tossed into this bullshit, then. Quentin is going to fucking kill Octavius for not keeping the kid out of this somehow, though. Motherfucker. They had one deal-

He manages to smile pleasantly at the other people as he briefly pats Peter's hand. It's strained as hell.]

Yup, we gotta- Go do that thing. See if Octavius needs a hand or something, let's just-

[He's about to go with Peter's plan of 'great escape' when one of the crowd throws something.]

[heyunderoos]

[The teenager tugs Beck along, with the intent on getting his weird frenemy out of harm's way. Maybe together they can figure out what is going on here.

Unsurprisingly something being thrown is a milkshake. The cup all but explodes upon impact. Peter squeaks indignantly, ears pinning back as the cold liquid pours down his back. He whips around, his free hand pawing at the back of his hoodie.]

Oh, c'mon! For real!? We're leaving! Like right now!

[This is Beck being pulled even harder to just get away from this mess.]

1

[bestbrotherever]

[A wall of flame suddenly appears between the moth and the citizens. Loki stalks out of the shadows' on the citizens side, giving them a withering look.]

Are you certain you wish to continue with your course of action?

[thegreatmysterio]

[Good news! The citizens look suitably startled and alarmed by the sudden wall of fire. The bad news is, that moth is looking at Loki like he's seen a ghost. It's hard to forget the face of the guy that wrecked New York while you were living there.

If it hadn't been for Loki's whole... world ruling thing, the Avengers wouldn't have been formed. It's a lot of things to unpack for the moth-man, in the span of a handful of seconds. So he'll shove the whole lot down and not think about it until he's out of this situation.]

I- he's right! It's not worth it! You really wanna try shit with this guy around? He means business, I've seen him wreck a place before-

[Quentin's stretching of the truth leaves him paling for a moment. He has to support himself on the wall with a slightly shaky breath.]

You really don't want to cross him.

[The citizens are now sharing more than a few dubious, unsure looks. At least one of them looks ready to run. Another one has quite the unhappy expression.]

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki gives him a puzzled look. He's never met a moth-creature... unless this is one of the fae? He turns his attention- and ferocity- back to the humans, but he does conjure a flicker of the same flames at the moth's feet. Through his feet. Don't worry about the fire, it's an illusion, he's trying to be reassuring to the one who is clearly under attack.]

Well, then? What is it to be? Will you brave fools take on two powerful beings from worlds beyond your imagining?

[To punctuate his words, a lance of fire stabs out of the wall, towards the citizens.]

1

[slidesrightoff]

[Oh wow this is not going well for anyone involved in this, is it? Of course, the citizens are being assholes, but they're also stressed and the world might be ending, so no one is exactly putting their best foot forward right now.]

Uh, mister, ever heard of "Who's on first?"

[Eddie steps in between the moth guy and the angry people, who only seem to bristle a bit more when they see his obvious metal appendages. Fortunately, he seems to be well known enough that while no one seems thrilled he's there, no one is trying anything either. And that's all he can ask for.]

Wren Fulton-Gray (The Shrike II) | OC

[shrikesback]

A. In Person/ Rough Landing
Wren doesn't even realize something is wrong at first.

Well, okay, something is obviously wrong in that Wren was in the bad part of downtown in the middle of the night one moment, and the next it's a bright sleek uptown in the middle of the day. Something is very wrong. But the immediate anger from all the people suddenly around, well - Wren's costume has a reputation from the past owner. It's been a while, sure, given that Wren has been the one wearing it for the last year but it's not unheard of.

"It's okay - look, I'm not here to cause any trouble-" Wren says, voice modulated through the headset in their helmet to sound deeper, a bit older, hands up and open in a placating gesture as if not being visibly armed made them any less dangerous.

"That's all your kind does!" someone in the crowd shouts, which is the first signal that this is a different kind of anger than Wren is used to having to diffuse.

"-my kind?"

A barrage of insults about metahumans follows that. Too much anger, and moreover too many people feeding into it - Wren's better at de-escalation than the rest of their team but this is beyond their abilities. Time to look for a fast exit.

B: Network/ UN: Shrike
I don't suppose anyone else here is familiar with the place Cobalt City or the organization Supergroup? I'm trying to find out if anyone else is from the same place I am. If there are any beginner guides of any kind I would appreciate it.

I also assume just going home isn't an option if enough people have gotten stuck here for there to be a process about it now.

A

[robintohood]

Whatever this phenomena is, it feels like the whole world is on edge from it. Jason has been keeping an eye on the crowds, both as a civilian and as the Red Hood. Speaking from personal experience, he knows fear has a hell of a way of whipping up people to do unreasonable things.

He was on his way to do some grocery shopping when he sees the mob surrounding another meta. The new arrival's suit is also hard to miss. He walks over, hoping it's not too late to help.

[shrikesback]

There's always going up, but to get the force to lift off significantly there's a certain amount of blowback that occurs at the liftoff point and with everyone so close together Wren has far too many awful visions of crushing injuries that can happen of falls in a tightly packed crowd. Okay, fine - a smaller one then, not full on up up and away but just enough to get over the crowd. That's easy, Wren's used their flight to finesse what looks like inhuman acrobatics plenty of times. Kickoff up and over, hitting the ground on the other side so they're no longer penned in with a tumble that absorbs most of the force of that fall - and of course almost colliding directly with the guy who just approached the outer edge of the growing mob. At least he doesn't look ready to pop off - only a little curious. And Wren managed to stop themselves from an actual collision that would have definitely toppled groceries. They'll take their lucky breaks where they can get them.

"-Sorry!' for the close call, though.

[robintohood]

Jason watches the... liftoff? Or at least the person attempting to escape. At the same time they nearly topple him over, Jason had taken several steps back.

"It's okay!" He says after they apologized.

Then Jason sees the crowd start to turn to them.

"Come on. You don't wanna hang here any longer. There's an alleyway shortcut down the block."

Jason starts to take several steps back as the mob notices him trying to help.

A

[eggplanting]

Steph isn't a stranger to negative reactions from the public, but it feels different when it was directed at Batgirl specifically. This is just... anger and frustration bleeding through and making people dangerous, and she can't say she's a fan.

It has her out in uniform, knowing it's likely a bad idea but unable to just sit somewhere safe while people are in trouble.

Like Wren, being dumped into an unfortunate situation with no idea what the situation actually involves. Steph doesn't think twice about stepping in, which mostly involves hooking her grapple gun on a nearby building so she can swing down and land next to Wren.

"Hey folks, you mind if we cut this short? I've gotta take our new friend for a tour." It's not really a question, and she holds a hand out for Wren, her expression a very clear suggestion that Wren should let her help so they can get the hell out of here.

[shrikesback]

Look, Wren's got no idea who the purple suit is (that logo is fully unfamiliar) but in spite of what their former team might say Wren is fully capable of playing along when needed. It could of course go pear-shaped, some kind of draw away and attack trap, but even if going 1v1 against another mask is the significantly harder fight Wren would much rather risk that than hurting a bunch of non-powered people. People don't get this angry overnight - not without mind control involved - so Wren's definitely missing something here and even if it is mind control that's another check into the box of 'do your best to not let them get hurt'.

"Sorry for the interruption, back to your regularly scheduled programming - uh, maybe," okay, that sky looks questionable to say the least, but that is not yet Wren's problem to deal with. They take Stephanie's hand without hesitating. Sure they can fly but this way they don't set off a blowback and potentially knock people over that are standing too close. "Thanks."

[eggplanting]

The problem with random people in costumes turning up is that there's no indication whether they're the good guys or the bad guys. Someone like Tim or Bruce would likely exercise more caution and analyze the situation first, but Steph isn't like Tim or Bruce, and she figures that either way, she's doing the right thing.

If it's a good guy, she's helped them out of a tricky situation. If it's a bad guy, she now has their attention on her instead of civilians. And if it's someone who doesn't fall either way, maybe showing a little kindness will make the difference.

So when Wren takes her hand, Steph smiles, despite the fact one of the locals is starting to tell her off, too. She decides it's best to ignore them for the few seconds it takes to leave.

She leads Wren a couple of feet away, still holding their hand, which she then guides to her shoulder, so she can wrap an arm around their waist and fire off her grapple gun, hooking onto a nearby building. The line retracts, and Steph keeps her grip tight on Wren so she doesn't lose them.

The landing isn't going to be the most graceful thing in the world, it never is when two people on one grapple line, but she'll do her best to make sure they both stay on their feet.

B

[slidesrightoff]

Sorry,c an't say I do.

Cool name for a city though. Cooler than Mercury City where I'm from.

I don't think anyone made a guide, but I can answer questions if you have any??? There's a lot of stuff going on right now, like extra lot of stuff, but I can do my best.

Nah, we're stuck here for, uh, now, but like... not sure for how long.

[shrikesback]

Mercury like the element, planet, singer, or deity?

Cobalt City isn't the only place in my world that has Masks but they have the most, so it's the place everyone's heard of.

I guess first off did something happen to make the people here so angry at costumed heroes or is that just ... generally how it is?

[slidesrightoff]

Uhhh element or planet, I guess, but I wish it was the singer.

I mean some people have just been generally angry because metaheroes here have done some stupid shit over the years and there was a sudden influx of people from other worlds, but like now they're just angry because it's maybe the end of the world and so I don't blame them I'd be angry too.

Jay Guthrie | Marvel Comics | CW: Grievous injury

[waxen_wings]

I. Arrival - Closed to Prodigy and Balthier

The change is significant, and utterly insignificant.

The whole universe melts and stretches and swaps around the teenager, clad in jeans, bandages, and blood, and he notices nothing in his current state. Even the smooth stonework becoming a pebbly concrete sidewalk is barely a blip.

He’s bled through the bandages and twin lumps of gauze on his back. It’s hard to say what could cause someone’s upper back to bleed so much, outside of deep stab wounds through the rib cage. One thing’s for sure - the redhead hasn’t moved in this universe. There’s no blood trail, just a thick, spreading pool as red as his hair.

The bystander effect is somewhat in play. There’s no immediate rush to his aid, although he stirs feebly when anyone comes near.

OurPowers - Video - UN: jayguthrie - OTA

[ The video is shot from out a window, up at a tear in the sky. It’s not a long clip, maybe a minute, narrated by someone who’s mostly offscreen except for the top of his them.

His voice sounds young, anywhere from 15-20, and the sadness in it fights against its inherently pleasing warmth and timbre. It’s a natural protagonist vice, easy on the ears with a mild Eastern Kentucky drawl. ]

I didn’t think I’d watch the end of the world with the new MySpace. I wouldn’t mind suggestions for something else to look at or listen to.

Thanks, if you’ve listened this far.

[ Social media was a lot different, in the days before hashtags and the explosion of Facebook and Twitter. ]

I

[helpdesk_hero]

Central wasn't the most common place for David to be these days, but there was a call for it with all that was going on. Being summoned to check in at HQ hadn't been a shock, especially when he heard there was a bit of a stir up going on with the locals with all that was happening. Why he was being called in when there was stuff in Excelsior he was FAR more suited to dealing with was a mystery. Maybe they just wanted to take advantage of some of the powers he'd told the guild he had?

But that meant teleporting in to a secure location. And from that location, walking to the HQ. Which meant walking down a street because he's not in the mood to summon a taxi right now. Probably for the best as he saw a collapsed figure on the street, bleeding badly. David doesn't think. He just lets medical training take over, and he runs forward, shedding his coat awkwardly from under his messenger bag as he goes because hell, he can replace a coat if someone takes it. He'd have to do it anyway if the thing got bloody.

What he wasn't expecting when he fell to his knees by the person (even while he was reaching into his bag for his first aid supplies of course), was to recognize the person.

"Jay," he gasped out, and then he was really wishing he had his smart watch on. He needed Josh. He needed Josh five minutes ago. Hell, from the look of it, Jay needed Josh years ago.

[portolan]

The Guilds seemed to be calling everyone in. Balthier didn't even know David was in Central, but given the weirdness of his week so far -- particularly a visitor he deeply wanted to send back to the right universe -- he was being as obedient as possible, knowing he'd want to pull strings later, and maybe he was hoping to overhear something anything useful.

That hadn't proven useful. He wasn't entirely convinced his coming wasn't a waste of time.

He's also trudging back to a secure location to head back to Excelsior when he catches David's silhouette turning down another street. Well, fine, this wasn't a total waste; they haven't checked in with each other in longer than he'd like, and the walks to and from transport locations give the excuse.

Except when he turns the corner, David's crouched over someone who looks like they aren't doing well at all. Balthier picks up his pace; he's been shifting a lot of wounds around this week until an actual healer can look at them.

Before he even reaches them, he's gone into his magic, reaching out to the man to pull bits of his pain off and stick onto random passerby. Except something feels wrong. Wrong like a missing limb. Wrong like Balthier's teeth hurt and his stomach churns.

"What's the injury I'm not seeing?" he asks by way of greeting. Because it's clear by David's expression this is someone he knows, and Balthier isn't letting David lose someone else. But Scions, this might be out of his depth.