Luceti Valley - The Second Log

[lucetimods]

Who: Everyone
What: The second part of the experiment. Things begin to unravel.
When: August 7th - August 10th
Where: Luceti itself
Summary: Check out the mod post for more. This covers Day 6-9!
Rating: Varies with thread. Please move explicit stuff to appointments post with appropriate warnings.

Luceti Valley continued in its own merry little way. The rich got richer, the poor got poorer. A new tax hike had ensured increasing animosity between both groups, despite the protests of the every charitable Lord Mayor. But on the sixth day, something happens and people begin to notice things are unusual. Idle thoughts that if thought about too much is bound to get you a visit to the police station for an hour or so. Or worse, it may just get you committed.

Meanwhile, the asylum continues to gain more and more patients. Those that are trapped there will find escaping difficult, but there may be more to this place than they first assumed...

On the tenth, battle breaks out across Luceti Valley. People begin to exhibit powers and abilities they didn't know they had. The police begin rounding up these people to lock up. If they resist, its bound to come to blows. Even though no one has regained their memories of their true self yet, it becomes apparent that some trickery is afoot, even if they might not know the source or why.


Note: This is the second log! There will be a third and final event log for the aftermath. There will also be two separate logs specifically for finding John and defeating Zompano. For those of you that signed up, we'll be randomizing the results and replying to the selected characters later tonight. In the meantime, keep enjoying the event! If you have questions, direct them here.

Comments

Evening of Day 8

[i_speak_softly]

[The unrest has intensified, and it's not easy for Don to get to the Institute. But someone told him his indescribably-awkward friend Robert Heart is there, and he has to try to save the man from himself.]

[An orderly lets him into the room, then withdraws to a discreet distance.]

Robert, what are you doing here again...?

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert is hunched in the corner, arms crossed, rocking very very slowly. It's a behaviour that he can't remember where he learned, but it soothes his tangled, confused mind just a little.

Donatello's voice pushes through the haze, and he ticks his gaze up. It's dark, unsettlingly so for the usually-docile man. It's the expression of someone who has been caged.]

Nobody understands. [Not even you.] ... There are too many... unresolved errors. Too many... too many coincidences... [He knows he'll be "treated" again if he talks, but he can't bring himself to care.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Robert has always been a little obsessive, a little neurotic. This is not especially unusual for him.]

Life is messy and random, yes. You need to calm down about it.

[semper_cogitans]

[The man's expression falters, like he doesn't know whether he ought to convey amusement or anger or sadness at this statement. In the end it settles for frighteningly blank.]

It is... precisely the lack of randomness that is the problem...

[Locking his gaze with Don - it makes something inside him coil.] Things are too... c-c-controlled. I am not certain how I... never noticed before, but - the world is rigid. It is planned. Luceti's history does not... bear out that state.

And our families... has it never been odd to you that you are so different from your p-p-p-parents? [He doesn't even have to point out that they aren't the same species. That would be normal, even reasonable, if he was adopted - but he isn't.] Even for me, my sister is so different that we do not match the definition of "fraternal twins" as simply as I would like...

[He trails off. The intern is staring at him with eyes that, even to him, scream hostility.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don bristles - he's always been a little sensitive about the "green" thing.]

Robert, things are getting strange in town. I have a feeling the Institute is not a good place to be right now.

[semper_cogitans]

[Sharply:] The Institute is never a good place to be. Do you think that I wished to be detained?

[He begins kneading his hands gently. It's another reflex he's never had before, but the pattern was just so easy to fall into. (He's noticed that his face has felt strangely empty as of late.)]

... They are afraid of me. And, perhaps, so are you now... [With the tangled thoughts in his mind, maybe Donatello should be afraid.]

[i_speak_softly]

[... Now that's unusual for Robert.]

I'm not afraid of you, I'm trying to help you. Do you want to get out of here or not?

[semper_cogitans]

[Fervently:] Yes.

[But he also knows that Don can't exactly break him out.]

[i_speak_softly]

Then you need to stop - [A vague gesture encompassing everything.] - this.

[semper_cogitans]

[Oh, of course.]

... Donatello, if the price for my freedom is willful ignorance... I will sacrifice my freedom. [Still, his voice wavers. It's not that he isn't afraid, or desperately wanting to be out of here.

But he also can't pretend otherwise when the world has gone wrong.]

You, an intellectual, would... turn your back on the t-t-truth, if it... kept you safe?

[i_speak_softly]

[He furrows his brow at this strange question.]

If it interfered with keeping my family together and getting through everyday life, of course I would. [But that's missing the point.] Is this truth, Robert? Is this really more important than what's out there?

[semper_cogitans]

[The man's expression hardens again, into a quiet mask, and he pulls his arms in. Defensive. Donatello doesn't understand.

Why? Why is it now that he turns his back? Why does he ignore what Robert is saying for the tenuous promise of normality?]

... For a scientist... nothing is more important than kn-kn-knowing. Even if knowing is... a trial, in and of itself...

Why? Why would you say this to me, knowing that...? Is this really so easy for you to ignore?

[i_speak_softly]

[Bitterly:] But we're not scientists. That's reality.

[semper_cogitans]

[In a soft way, like he's reciting it from some book:] Anyone can think scientifically. It does not require being... a scientist.

[And on some more inane level, he feels like one. He feels more like one - like a real scientist - than he's felt in years.]

[i_speak_softly]

All right then, think scientifically. If something is wrong about Luceti, what is it and what could be causing it?

[semper_cogitans]

[With obvious frustration in his voice:] That is what I am trying to determine... and it is why I am here in the first place.

They will not let me think for myself... it is something to fear, to push away.

[i_speak_softly]

Robert... [His tone is serious, but not without compassion - he knows the man's history with this place.] You being here doesn't do yourself or anybody else any good. Things are strange right now. You need to get out of here and then just lay low for a while.

[semper_cogitans]

Even if I were willing to remain silent on these issues... it is highly unlikely I would be released now. [This doesn't preclude an escape, but Robert knows far better than to talk about that.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don glances sideways at the door, and lowers his voice.]

Why do you say that?

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert's voice quiets reflexively too, but he's resigned; he's pretty sure he can be heard and this is obvious anyway.] Many people are being... taken, now. It seems like there is a deliberate attempt to repress... any sort of "unusual" behaviour.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don rubs his arms, uncomfortable. He's never been arrested himself, but the way things have been the last few days, who knows.]

I don't like this, Robert.

[semper_cogitans]

Does anyone? [The question is serious; is there anybody who's actually had a positive experience with what has been happening? Even the almighty bourgeoisie haven't been immune.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He shakes his head.]

I've got to get home. Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you?

[semper_cogitans]

[Something in Robert tears at this. The idea of being apart from Donatello - Don, he wants to say for some reason - seems strangely painful.

He presses a hand against the cell, fingers splaying against the tangible surface, hating it for being a physical barrier between them.]

... No, I... s-s... s-suppose not.

[He drops his gaze down and away, trying to hide the pain in his expression. How does he explain how intensely he misses Donatello right now?]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don turns away.]

I'll try to visit again soon. Take care of yourself, Robert.