Luceti Valley - The First Log

[lucetimods]

Who: Everyone
What: The start of a new experiment... or is it?
When: August 2nd - August 6th
Where: Luceti itself
Summary: Luceti has become an idyllic and peaceful 50s-esque village. The first few days are just business as usual, right?
Rating: Varies with thread. Please move explicit stuff to appointments post with appropriate warnings.

August 1st had seemed like an ordinary day in Luceti. But late in the evening, for those night owls who had not turned in yet, they were witness to strange fluctuations in the barrier. Beautiful, really, almost like Luceti had received its own 'Northern Lights', even though it seemed to come from the far east, across the ocean. This ominous light show lasted for all of fifteen minutes before it ceased all together. Skimming the ocean waters, a horde of cultists entered Luceti, cloaked by darkness. Upon reaching the entrance to the tunnels, their leader stepped inside and was followed one by one by his fellow cultists. When the last had entered, the tunnel entrance closed. Across the mountains, the entrance to the tunnels in the village did the same.

Midnight passed without incident, but by three in the morning, the change suddenly came. Minds were altered, forms were changed, and buildings sprang from nowhere.

Much later, on August 2nd, morning settled on a changed village, the new mayor made his way to his mansion with his pair of adorable dobermans at either side of him. The sun shined bright. It was a good day to be a Lucetian.

Note: There will be a stand alone log for the homecoming dance. There will be another log for the second stage of the event.

Comments

[tearmeanewone]

[One time, Elizabeth had played along, asked how Aunt Rosalind liked the institute too. After that she'd gotten a very stern talking-to about how that would set her uncle back, destroy parts of his treatment, if she continued to support his delusions. It hurt to just ignore Robert talking to himself, but Elizabeth loved him. She'd never do anything to ruin his treatment.]

[Elizabeth put on a brave smile and held his hand.] I know how that is. I must have gone to every single store and business last Friday and Saturday. They all said the same thing--no work here.

[ablankpage]

[Robert looked at her hand and closed his other around it. He swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to hold her hand tight, grab her arm, and shake her. Try and tell her everything. Try and see if maybe she had the power to get them out of... whatever this was.

But if she was anything like DeWitt here, that would only end with nurses and guards restraining him, a hose of cold water, and very possibly another treatment of electricity.]

You're a bright girl, Elizabeth. You'll think of something.

[tearmeanewone]

I hope so... [Elizabeth struggled with herself for a moment, then finally decided to tell him.] Dad... came home with blood on his face yesterday. [And she tried to laugh it off. She really tried.] I don't think the strike is going to end anytime soon. Which makes me think that I'm going to have to do something. Something serious. Before we get kicked out of the house.

Not that I want you to worry about it! [She said, looking panicked for a moment. Robert was in this terrible, sterile place away from his family and Elizabeth probably wasn't making it any easier on him.] I just always valued your advice on things, uncle.

[ablankpage]

[Robert Lutece had never been inclined to view the high likelihood of having become sterile from constant exposure to his and Rosalind's machine a bad thing. He supposed, in the interest of passing on genetics of brilliance, he ought to have...

But situations like this reminded him why he didn't mind it so much.

He was not father material.]

You--

["'You've never asked my advice on anything before.' Go on, brother. Say it. We both know you want to."]

Rosalind.

["Don't use that tone with me, Robert. Lying to the girl does nothing."]

Yes, I know--

["--So tell her."]

I can't. You know that as well as I do. It's hardly--

[He cuts off, realizing both his own agitation and that he has been... carrying on a conversation with no one.

Robert sighs softly and shakes his head.]

Some things are out of your hands, Elizabeth. When he has to, Mister DeWitt will make the right decision.

He always does.

["Does he? Since when?"]

Eventually.

[tearmeanewone]

[Apparently Elizabeth had misjudged how Robert looked when she'd first come in. It sounded as though he was even worse today. And unfortunately, most of the clues to what Robert was talking about tended to lie in 'Rosalind's' half of the conversation. And so she didn't know what conversation was being held half behind her back.]

[She looks down at her knees, apparently unconvinced that she needs to leave this to her father.] I don't know if this is entirely out of my hands or not...

[Robert would know soon enough, wouldn't he? Nothing stayed quiet in the town for long, after all, and such a 'scandalous' thing was sure to reach Robert even in the asylum.]

I've met someone, Uncle Robert. I met him months ago, honestly, but we couldn't really say anything until now. [Elizabeth looks back up at Robert, conflicted and nervous.] It's Gai Stark.

[Clearly this is supposed to mean something to Robert...]

[ablankpage]

[How much of that was true? Was really true?

Because none of this was real. Elizabeth was DeWitt's daughter, but she shouldn't know it. DeWitt shouldn't worry about him. He shouldn't be in an asylum.

If you were here, Rosalind...

"We won't be apart long, brother. I promise."

Good. Don't leave me. Not like this.

"I would never."

Robert took a few slow breaths, composing himself. His shoulders rolled back, and he regarded Elizabeth with the shrewd eye of a scientist. Someone entirely lucid.]

Tell me about him, won't you?

[tearmeanewone]

[Ah... was that, disapproval or just a concerned eye? Elizabeth didn't want the visit to turn into a blow up, but she had to ask Robert. She trusted his opinion.]

Well, he's... one of the Stark sons. The more aloof, seemingly cold one. It was ridiculous, I know it was, but I sought him out because... I didn't think he would be able to find a girlfriend with the sort of personality he has.

But when we started talking, I realized I'd misjudged him completely. We have common interests, we started reading the same book and talking about it, he took me to his Homecoming dance last night.

[He'd been supporting half of her and Booker's groceries, too.]

[ablankpage]

You started with a fallacy for a base. The ones who hold themselves back? Often have numerous admirers. If they do not seem to fancy anyone or be fancied, it is because they have chosen so.

[A minor correction, like he might make in a lesson. No grievous error, merely fixing a false perception.

But what really matters...]

You're rather taken with him, then. And him with you?

[The name "Stark" means nothing to him, but he also considers it unimportant.]

[tearmeanewone]

...oh... [That does make sense, Elizabeth can't argue that. Though it doesn't feel terribly good to think that she was the one 'allowed' into Gai's affections. It sounded a little as though Robert was suggesting that it didn't matter if it was her or some other girl--Gai was simply choosing to not be off-putting until he was bored or saw someone else he liked better.]

[She shifts on the couch uncomfortably.]

Yes, he is. I suppose if he wasn't, he wouldn't invite someone like me to go to his dance with him.

[Is she taken with him, though? That's the uncomfortable question.]

[ablankpage]

["Someone like me."

But, Robert reminded himself, she didn't know who she was. Not really. If she'd been raised as she should have been -- as Comstock's daughter and the heir to all Columbia -- she'd have had her pick of men. Hundreds, at least. All of whom were the most successful and important in the country.

Even as she'd grown up in her tower, she'd been the unattainable ideal.

But he restrains from saying any of it.]

Something like that is fairly telling, yes.

[tearmeanewone]

[She nods absently.] If he likes me enough, it's likely he'll treat me well. It's likely he'll want to keep me happy.

[Moments stretch by as she fights with herself. She wants to ask the question that's been on her mind since the beginning of her relationship with Gai, she values Robert's opinion. But part of her also knows what the answer could be. 'Are you out of your mind, Elizabeth?']

What if I married him? [She looks back at Robert, conflicted and scared.] Dad wouldn't have to worry about work, and... and maybe you could come home and we could hire a private doctor. You wouldn't have to be here anymore.

[ablankpage]

...You're a very clever young woman, Elizabeth.

[It's said, actually, with a quiet note of approval.]

You've determined what you want and found a way to get it you can live with.

[Would DeWitt approve? Probably not. But Robert? He could admire it, certainly. He'd never say it, but he saw a little of Comstock in the thought process. And a little Lutece.]

[tearmeanewone]

I don't know if I could live with it. [She's a little surprised by the response, but more relieved than anything. Upsetting Robert was the last thing she wanted to do, but the thought had been on her mind more than once in the past week with Booker so firmly out of work. Something had to change, the money had to come from somewhere...]

[What else could she have done? Just let him kill Booker?]

[Elizabeth gets a strange look on her face. It feels almost like she's been in this situation before, only it had been a much shorter, more frightening moment. She can't remember what moment it was, though... and she brushes the creeping feeling off.]

But I know we have to live, somehow. And it's better than 'working' on a street corner.

[ablankpage]

I think you could. You're stronger than you realize, especially when those around you need you.

[He'd seen it. Time and time again. Watched her flourish in spite of hardship. She'd fought, when she had to. Marriage to a man she didn't love? If it protected her family? She would find a way to thrive.

...Besides, selfish as it was... the sooner he could get out of this place, the sooner he could fix things. Or at least try.]

[tearmeanewone]

[Implying, of course, that Robert needed her to get him out. He needed her to go through with her original plan, no matter what real feelings Elizabeth may have developed for Gai. She liked him, enough to want to see him and spend time with him. But marriage... When did people even start to think about it?]

[In her case, she would have to start thinking about it the day Gai graduated from high school. No matter what her feelings ended up being. Elizabeth drops her head onto Robert's shoulder, still conflicted but feeling more resolved to her course of action.]

Everyone is probably already saying I'm only after his money. I'd hate it if they ended up being right.

[ablankpage]

[Robert sighed.

How the tides had turned. Elizabeth had needed his help once, and he's spent far too much time being unable to do so.

How, then, did he have any right to expect her to help him?]

Then prove them wrong.

[He didn't know what to do with her head on his shoulder.]

You... have a wonderful ability to care about other people, Elizabeth. Care about him. Take care of him.

Leave them no reason to doubt your affection for him.

[Even if it wasn't real.]

[tearmeanewone]

[She nods, awkwardly against his shoulder. That's what she would have to do anyway, if she wanted him to propose. That, and pray that someone richer and slimmer didn't come along.]

What am I going to do about dad? He's going to think he's failing me when I talk to him about this. What if he's angry about it? What do I say?

[ablankpage]

Tell him you're in love.

[Booker DeWitt would never quite approve, he was sure, but a young girl in love...]

Convince him, like you need to convince everyone else.

[He smiled faintly.]

I'll keep your secret.

[tearmeanewone]

[She didn't want to lie to her father, but Elizabeth loved him too much to watch him drink himself to death in a hovel. The time sensitivity on the issue was too important for her to spend time figuring out if Gai was 'The One' or not, and so the time sensitivity on the issue was too important not to lie to Booker. Yes, that was a good enough reason. She lied because she loved, obviously.]

Okay. [She smiles back and squeezes Robert's hand again.] Maybe you can tell him I look happier recently. Or something like that.

[ablankpage]

I doubt my endorsement would do you much good.

[After all, he was locked up here.]

But I'll see if I can help.

[tearmeanewone]

Of course it would. [Elizabeth smiles and brushes her shoulder against Robert's.] He misses you a lot. We both do.

[ablankpage]

You... miss me?

[How strange this... whole matter was. DeWitt, Elizabeth. Both so concerned. At to miss him.

He'd hardly been in her life. Not enough for any kind of attachment.]

[tearmeanewone]

Of course... [Elizabeth looks concerned now. Surely Robert's delusions couldn't have expanded to forgetting who Elizabeth was...?]

You've been like a second father to me, Uncle Robert. I miss you every day.

[ablankpage]

[Robert frowned. He had never really mattered. Not to anyone except Rosalind. One more scientist.

Never really a part of any family.]

...I'm sorry.

[tearmeanewone]

It isn't your fault. [She offers a tentative smile.] Don't be sorry. I'm lucky to have someone to miss.