lucetilogs | Luceti Valley

Entry tags:

Luceti Valley - The First Log

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's not so much a two martini lunch as a three heading to four and maybe five lunch. And Loki's eating by himself, a book on the table in front of him.]

[Steve had stepped into the diner to grab a quick bite to eat before his next set of classes. He'd forgotten to bring his lunch, and figured it would be quicker to order a sandwich and go back to the school then go all the way back home and eat an sandwich that had been sitting around for hours.

He hadn't expected to suddenly come across his cousin. It had been a number of months since they had last spoken. Or, well, they had done very little speaking and much more screaming and embittered silence.

Still, it would be impolite to ignore Loki's existence. So he finds himself walking over to his table almost without realizing it.]

Hello, Loki. You're looking well.

[He had been caught up with his book; he doesn't even notice Steve's approach until he's right there. His immediate thought is: What did Peggy tell him?

And then: I don't care. ]

How curious. I suppose being a lawyer has agreed with me after all.

How are you, Steve? [His tone is a little too flat to be friendly.]

[Well this false politeness is about what he'd been expecting. Good to know nothing has changed. Right. As if Loki would throw away all the time and energy he's spent hating him just like that.

The lawyer comment has his narrowing his eyes, but that's all he'll give away. He knows how Loki likes to goad him.]

I'm quite well. As are the children. They've asked about you. Wondering why you haven't stopped by recently. [Okay that might be a tiny stretch. But Loki is likely to react better to the mention of Steve's children than his own inquiry.]

Have they? [He doesn't believe that for one minute, really.] Peggy didn't mention that.

I've been very busy. Work, you know.

Perhaps they only mentioned it to me. [An easy save but he figures Loki doesn't believe him. And he can only hazard a guess on what Peggy has been telling him.]

Yes, understandable. But even so you should try to make some time to stop by. I'm sure the children would love to see you.

Perhaps. [Not buying it. Shame on you for using your kids as an excuse. Even if Loki really does like them.]

I don't really see how they would be served by an awkward dinner. Why are you and your wife so eager to have me over?

It's the polite thing to do. We are still family, you know. No matter how much you'd like for that to change.

Keeping me at a quiet distance and accepting my excuses would likewise be polite.

Technically, are we still even family any more? Since you went and got yourself cut off from that gnarled oak of a family tree we have.

Maybe it would be easier for me to uphold your standards of politeness if you would accept one of our invitations once in awhile.

I like to think that blood is thinker than the ink used to write that document.

I'm a very busy man. And I might consider it if I didn't think my chosen career might come up as a topic of conversation. [Or other things. Steve and Peggy are both entirely too nosey.]

Hah. It isn't my blood anyway to begin with. [His adoption might not have been a public fact, but it wasn't really a secret, either. And not something that bothers him so much.]

We don't have to discuss it at all if you don't wish to. We're concerned about you. [He means it too. The last thing he wants is another argument over his wretched job.]

Family is family. I've never seen you as anything less.

Why be concerned? The practice is doing quite well. [...it feels like poking a bruise.]

I suppose that's why you tried to convince me to get myself disowned as well, hm?

[His tone goes soft.] You know why.

Funny, I don't remember it taking much convincing.

Do I? I can't really think of a reason. Work goes well, we're keeping up the family name, all those responsible things.

[The look he gives Steve is sharp indeed.] Yes, well. I was young and very stupid.

You never used to care about all those "responsible things". It was never what you wanted.

[His expression softens at the look. It had been a cheap shot.] ...We both were.

[It's a tiny concession he's not sure he completely believes.]

People change. As do circumstances. Or rather, one comes to understand the reality of the situation.

[He snorts.] If only we'd kept it limited to hurting ourselves, eh?

Reality is what we make of it, cousin.

[His lips compress into a thin line.]

I didn't mean for you to get hurt. Or...anyone else.

Well, you were ever the artist and suited to making things.

[Loki looks equally unhappy, if a bit angrier.]

I shan't accuse you of cutting the brake lines. But what did you think would happen? It was doomed to failure. What I damn you for most is giving me hope.

If only I could use that to make things better.

[His expression is still and calm in the face of Loki's anger. This isn't their first time have this discussion.]

You can still have hope. What is a world bereft of hope? Or a...person?

They would not want you to suffer like this.

Well, I can certainly still hope you'll leave me be.

[His expression twists.] I am not suffering. Don't give me that shit.

[His expression hardens.]

Then what would you call it?

I'm working Steve. You do know what that looks like, yes? Living my life. Keeping up the family name. Well, I know you wouldn't recognize that.

[He places his hands on the table and leans forward into Loki's face.]

Working? You're running yourself into the ground and you don't even realize it. [From this short distance his nose is able to pick up a whiff of cigarettes and alcohol on his cousin's breath. He shifts and pulls away a little.]

...Have you been drinking?

And smoking too. It's a thing adults sometimes do during their lunch breaks. Would you like to clutch your pearls now?

[It's not just during breaks. It's also none of Steve's business. And he knows Steve likes to put his nose where it isn't welcome.]

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[August 5] "reality is what we make of it," huh, Steve XD

[August 5] shhh it suits his point

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