low fidelity
𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘴
HEARTLESS.
─ lore, backstory, & more. ─
─ lore, backstory, & more. ─
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WELCOME TO
HEARTBEAT
CITY
─PLOT SYNOPSIS.
The year is 2092.
In the bright, bustling metropolis of Heartbeat City, some stability has been achieved after an event that shocked the world to its core — people started developing powers.
The exact date of this occurrence isn’t precisely known, but roughly twenty years have passed since this development commonly known as the Change. Some of the affected people were born with their abilities, while others developed them later on in life. But the chaos that ensued from that point forward left the Heartbeat City in shambles, the scars of which can be seen to this day. The dead are mourned and memorials grace the quieter parts, but the city has been rebuilt and is now more prosperous than ever. Skyscrapers gleam in the daylight, but the nighttime landscape is illuminated in neon, shining just as bright.
Despite the Change being such a prominent event in recent history, people with powers still seem to be a minority, making up around 5% of the global population. Many of them continue to live in hiding due to the social stigma born out of the hate people harbor after witnessing the fallout. The bright lights and shiny new neighborhoods act as a facade, a distraction; they don’t do much to obscure the blatant discrimination against powered people, the rampant crime in the midnight streets, and overbearing police presence seemingly everywhere you look. If you know where to go, late in the night, you can find underground fight clubs, speakeasies, and safe havens for the career criminals of the streets. The biggest gang orchestrating this crime network are the Hell Hounds, who have gained a great deal of control and notoriety since the Change.
But Heartbeat City prides itself on the fact that many of the world's most popular superheroes have emerged from its ruins, providing a smiling face and a reassurance that no, not all powered are ne'er-do-wells.
Society currently hangs in a precarious balance, uncertain of what lies ahead for the future of powered people. These superheroes assure the public that everything will eventually be alright, but violence and crime runs deep in the roots of the city, and the police's control continues its stranglehold on the powered populace. And what no media outlet seems to be covering is the fact that people have started to disappear.
If there's one thing Heartbeat City and it's populace is familiar with, it's change. And once again, the city is slowly but gradually evolving, venturing into parts unknown.
Politicians wear wide smiles and clean suits, but dirty their hands with each new, awful deed. The government's distaste for heroes was never blatantly obvious, but only for the sake of appeasing their constituency; the job of a superhero brings forth controversy and debate with every passing day. What are they really doing to help? Is the massive collateral damage—hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of repairs and overtime to stop a bank heist or a drug deal—really worth it? What happens when these heroes, each individually stronger than a whole police squadron, team up against the government?
Sure, they're beloved in the public eye, but behind the scenes is a different matter altogether. Some politicians appreciate their help, but others wish they would just disappear.
Likewise, in such a vastly technological age, the average citizen wouldn't notice a new traffic camera on every corner, or personalized ads on their social media. After all, many are familiar with the concept of their data being collected by corporations and digested by algorithms intent on selling them the perfect product. When that type of technology is turned against the population, however, how would anybody take notice?
Slowly but surely, the facial recognition used to unlock your smartphone could place you at the scene of a bank robbery gone wrong. An individual's search history could flag them if what they want to know seems suspicious. Even your personalized beauty advertisements turn into personalized news articles, turning the daily media you consume into censored, perfectly sanitized material that does not make you look past the status quo.
These little changes have gradually made the public more and more blind to the root of problems in Heartbeat City. New types of articles about formerly beloved heroes and their questionable actions arise, and once a name is slandered, the hero is never to be heard from again. Of course, it's easy to think 'Oh well, they were cancelled, of course they're gonna wanna lay low!' For the city's heroes though, just one incident could be the beginning of a domino effect. It's every man for himself.
─ THE CITY.
In Heartbeat City, there are endless possibilities, opportunities as far as the eye can see, and plenty of things to keep you busy. Located on the upper east coast of the United States where New York City would be, it truly is the city of the future, rebuilt from the ashes of strife and glittering with lights. Like most other cities, it's major areas are divided by cardinal directions.
─ Heartbeat City North.
Filled with gorgeous, towering buildings that sparkle in the sunlight and stores catering to those of high society. The North side of Heartbeat City is without a doubt its most wealthiest. Most of society’s famed and esteemed individuals can be found residing here. It's a place often described as a utopia of some sort. The North side is truly a thing of beauty and prestige. Clean streets, gorgeous architecture, and zero crime. It’s said to be the safest place to be, people often leave their doors unlocked and the authorities hold this place as their top priority when it comes to safety. It’s shopping district is something worth admiring as well. Everything in Heartbeat City North is something amazing.
Places of Note:
Diamond Bay Community: Diamond Bay is a gated community which is located in the Northwestern side of Heartbeat. It is a beach community that provides a private beach to the residents there and is only for them. This exclusive, guard-gated community of approximately 500 homes expresses the many architectural influences of the Atlantic. The bay provides scenic and placid anchorage for luxury yachts, while residents lounge and frolic along the crescent shaped half-mile beach. With beach volleyball, six professional tennis courts, a community pool & spa, and an expansive park with a clubhouse, the families of Diamond Bay live an active lifestyle. Located in north, Diamond Bay is just minutes from the many shops and fine restaurants in the Northwest region of Heartbeat City.
The Heights: Easily the tallest building in Heartbeat City. The Heights is both a luxury penthouse and hotel for the wealthiest of people. Located in the Northwest region.
- Hotel Entrance: Penthouse Concierge | Mail Room | Valet | Management Office
- 2nd Floor: Hotel Lounge | Conference Rooms | Catering Kitchen | Function Rooms
- 3rd Floor: The Living Room | Restaurant & Lounge
- 3rd to 30th Floor: Heights Hotel
- 25th Floor: Hotel Amenity Level
- Swimming Pool | Spa Nalai | Sauna, Locker & Steam Rooms
- 31st Floor: Residential Amenity Level
- Library | Screening & Performance Room | Fitness Center | Conference & Private Dining Room
- 32nd - 38th Floor: Collection Residences
- 39th - 90th Floor: Signature Collection Residences
Heartbeat City Hall: Located in the northeast area of Heartbeat City. The building and plaza is actually the hub of their main governmental buildings; their municipal court, central police station, all of them act as the heart of the city. Superheroes working for HBC report here.
─ Heartbeat City East.
Similar to the situation in the South, Heartbeat City’s East side is a poorer area, where most of the middle to lower middle class residents live. Mostly made up of a few gated communities, apartment buildings, older neighborhoods, with many of the residential areas controlled by slumlords, it’s not the worst place to live but certainly not the best. Not many buildings of note, aside from local schools, malls and shopping centers, and a police and fire station.
Places of Note:
Sal’s Auto Parts: Sally Youngblood’s mechanic and auto parts shop. She specializes in most kinds of machinery; the gal can fix up any car or motorcycle for you. But, if you can afford her prices and know the right way to ask, Sally is also your go-to gal for weapons repairs, cypernetic enhancements, and special fix ups.
─ Heartbeat City South.
The South side of Heartbeat City is rife with crime, even now, and has a long history of violence and bloodshed. The South side is a dangerous place, somewhere where people don’t go out after dark and tourists are advised against visiting. It holds the highest crime rate throughout the city. It also happens to hold a large number of powered individuals. There aren’t many things on the South side, grocery stories here and there, schools that are poorly funded and a number of shops. When people get the chance to leave the South they rarely come back.
Places of Note:
The Hell Hounds HQ: The Hell Hounds are the most prominent and well-known gang in Heartbeat City, and it is run by a man only known as Hades. This street gang turned pseudo-mafia has gained a fair share of notoriety due to their involvement in drug and arms trafficking, illegal prosthetics, and generally providing the city and its citizens with contraband. They are loathed by law enforcement and heroes, who always seem to be one step behind the violence and rubble they leave in their wake.
However, their existence is a polarizing topic to many citizens. Despite their very true reputation, many lower-income people in Heartbeat City have benefited greatly from their interventions. Several notable Hell Hounds have given back to their communities in meaningful, tangible ways—orchestrating the reconstruction of run-down neighborhoods, providing funding for failing schools, and revitalizing necessary social programs—that many are grateful for and would be worse off without.
Located in the southside of HBC, their headquarters is a building that lets them hide in plain sight; an old mattress factory. The outside appears derelict and abandoned, but once you know what entrances to use, the inside is surprisingly quite nice. Much of the interior has been redecorated and renovated as the gang had more and more money flowing in. With a main lounge area, a meeting room, and a couple of bedrooms full of bunkbeds for members, one could call it home if they proved their loyalty to Hades.
─ Heartbeat City West.
Most of the city’s West side is considered "downtown" Heartbeat City; full of clubs, bars, and an eccentric nightlife, West side is where all the tourism flows into. There’s lots of fun to be found there, with a range going from high class, delicious restaurants, and divebars to hop through. Sure, it's a great area to live in if you love the night life, but it's residents mainly live in condos, upstairs apartments, or own the businesses there.
Places of Note:
The Answer: Another nightclub, owned by Yah Yah Dekker and seemingly the club of choice for most, if not all, of the Hell Hounds gang. Focused on raves, techno/EDM music, with live dancers, plenty of drinks and drugs, and a hotspot to find anyone with anything you’d ever need.
01.02.03.
- ─ HERO WORK.
The world-famous superheroes of Heartbeat City are servants of the public. They are employees of the city government and must complete a rigorous training and certification process to officially don the title of a hero. The daily work of a superhero is more complicated than the average citizen would assume; heroes must take into consideration what area of the city they will work in, dealing with collateral damage from altercations, and even paperwork to report the actions they've taken and ensure that they were within their rights to act.
Many heroes work hand in hand with the city's police and detectives, can be involved with investigations, and more. Their work is what is recognized the most, however. They're extremely visible to the public, and the top heroes, such as Xiao Huo Yin, are revered and have celebrity status. It's common to see newer, less popular heroes working other jobs as well, or taking on other gigs to make money. Heroes grace the billboards and advertisements, appear on talk shows, have their own fan blogs and online fandom spaces, and even merchandise.
- ─ AUDAX CORDE.
Aspiring heroes must attend the Audax Corde Academy (Latin for ‘bold heart’) in order to obtain this certification. It takes four years, and students train rigorously the entire time they’re enrolled: honing their unique abilities to reduce accidents, developing disaster relief, criminal apprehension, and hostage negotiation skills, and communication with the public and the press. Each year’s graduating class is always small, but they are world-class, capable, qualified defenders of the public.
Audax Corde Academy does charge tuition for all who decide to enroll. That being said, partial or full scholarships are sometimes awarded to individuals who the faculty deem are exceptionally deserving and worthy. Historically, they have only been awarded to those who have had “exceptional life circumstances.”
- ─ PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
Currently, heroes are viewed favorably in the public's eye. They're a hot discussion topic, the subject of many fandoms, and you can't take a step in Heartbeat City without hearing about them one way or another. They're the peacekeepers of the city, keeping the streets safe from danger and harm. Not every hero takes on the biggest, baddest villains. Many are loved for the little things; helping local investigations, preventing burglaries, keeping schools safe.
However, this sentiment is not shared by every citizen. Aside from career criminals, such as members of the Hell Hounds, there is constant commentary and critiques about damage left behind by hero work. Whether it be hurt civilians, damage to public infrastructure, or scandals arising, there's plenty of rumors circling around.
─ THE CHANGE.
The Change was a worldwide phenomenon that occurred approximately 20 years ago, where around 5% of the population began to develop superpowers. This was an event truly witnessed and experienced by everyone. Whether it destroyed their homes, prompted them to run into hiding, or changed them permanently, it threw everything into chaos, with an extreme spike in crime, assault, murder, and deaths. Many people developed powers that they could not control, and either hurt and killed themselves, or others. Because of the insane spike, the world’s police forced and governments scrambled to gain control. The duration of the chaos varies region by region. The Change marked the existence of superpowers into the world, and anybody alive after the Change now has the potential to develop superpowers. Any babies born during or after the Change also have the potential to develop powers now. An important factor is that not everybody is simply born with superpowers, but can develop them at any point in their lives. It is to note that many powered individuals develop their powers early on in childhood, or throughout puberty.
Heartbeat City was almost burned to the ground by the time things slowed down, and like a phoenix, it began anew. Many homeless shelters and camps popped up as the city slowly rebuilt itself, with new governmental positions put into place, and systems of identification and labeling of superhumans arose as well. Twelve years ago began the Census.
The Census: The city, a couple of years after the Change, implemented a system to record each type of superpower that had been seen. It’s basically a census, conducted each year, keeping record of people who were either born with abilities, or developed abilities after the Change. Of course, there are some people who dodge the census, bribe census takers, or otherwise avoid it as to not be labeled. Purposefully avoiding the Census in any way is against the law, and violators can face jail time.
code by deer of 9 colours.
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