"...olice responded en masse to a hostage situation earlier this morning at a fast food restaurant on Monroe and 41st. The suspect, 35-year-old Tyler Schelp, held two employees hostage with a list of demands given to authori..."
"...way as the Fortuna Knights clinch another win against the Walfield Rangers with a score of 11-4. Asked about the play that narrowly gave them the victory, quarterback J.P. Carpenter had this to say..."
"...Robert Lazaretto is now looking to celebrate his mayoral win with the launch of the HSS Panacea, one of the largest cruise ships in the world and most certainly the largest cruise ship in all of Fortuna City. Lazaretto, CEO of Averia Health Systems, said of the controversial win over former incumbent George Freeman: 'It was clear that people wanted change in Fortuna City, and they made the right choice to secure that change. I promise, as Fortuna City's new mayor, to bring change to the people and to raise our ambitions to new heights. A new era of prosperity awaits us, and I will be sure to lead the charge where it counts. However, that can wait for after the celebration.'
"The HSS Panacea is set to launch tomorrow afternoon, with Lazaretto's wife and first lady of the city, Gina Lazaretto-Schaefer, christening the initial departure. The two-week cruise for all of Lazaretto's constituents has been called a bribe, with Lazaretto defending the cruise as 'a necessary getaway from all the negativity brought on by diehard Freeman supporters.' Further criticism has been drawn to Mayor Lazaretto's continued ties to Averia Health Systems, the pharmaceutical company that handles almost all prescription medication within the region. When asked about this, Mr. Lazare..."
June 11th, 20XX || 10:40 A.M.
Fortuna Port, Fortuna City
If there was anything about Fortuna City that nearly everyone could agree on, it's that the City of Glass was irreducibly hot. Not even the height of summer, the mid-morning sun brought the heat in triple-digit degrees, causing micro-mirages across the godray-soaked cement platforms of Fortuna Port. The shadows that glided across the docks wore sandals and Crocs of varying kinds, a mish-mash of colors that would melt and stick to the ground were they to stay outside any longer. Many people, luggage in tow, were eager to ascend the steps of the HSS Panacea's loading platform.
"Credentials, please!" piped an excited concierge next to the stairs. The name tag pinned to his chest read 'Atlas', and the young man greeted each passenger with a firm salute and a wink. He was built for the sun, tanned and sunscreened skin absorbing the light and giving it a honeyed luster. As he checked the passports and verification IDs for each passenger, the line that building all the way back to the parking lot was starting to crawl forward.
Tony McGee
@AuragreediaTony, for all he could do, was near the back of the line, but was starting to see some movement. If he were to gauge how long it would take, it could be anywhere from another 30 minutes to an hour before he reached the front and had his credentials checked. As he waits, another man - one much older and wearing a gaudy sun hat - lets out an exhausted sigh.
"I got up at 4 A.M. for this shit. I shoulda just stayed my happy ass at home. At least I wouldn't be dry-roasting in the sun. Unbelievable. And what is the point of all the glass in this damn city? We don't need all those damn windows."The old man turns in Tony's direction, but doesn't quite face him, instead crowing out to the open air.
"Open a fuckin' door once in a while, would you?!"Someone further behind Tony responds.
"Shut up!"With a harrumph and cross of his arms, the old man's eyes dart over to look at Tony's face.
"Can you believe the gall of these kids?" he asks expectantly.