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

[complicatedliar]

That's very kind of you, Peggy, but that would make for an awkward dinner. [And the thought of food is quite revolting to him these days.] Thank you all the same, though.

Nice. Hah.

[rightfootforward]

Awkward dinners aren't exactly foreign to us, you know. [What with both of them disowned by their families, it makes everything a little...strained. Likely not as much as with Loki's family, considering what she had heard from Steve. ]

The offer stands, should you wish to take it. Since coming down to this part of town doesn't seem as distasteful to you as our other relatives.

[complicatedliar]

Good lawyers learn to not be picky. [It's more that in his youth, he did spend a lot of time down here, when he still thought he had a way out of this life.]

I'll think about it. [No he won't.] You're very kind, Peggy.

[rightfootforward]

And all good lawyers learn to lie so well.

[She gives him a wry smile.] You didn't really think a platitude would be enough to placate me?

[complicatedliar]

[He offers her an ironic little bow.] First course they have us take in law school, you know.

I'd rather hoped it would. I have enough awkwardness in my life already.

[rightfootforward]

Yes, enough that it's brought you to our side of town at this hour.

[Stepping a bit closer, she reached out to put a hand on his arm.]

I know it isn't the most reassuring thing, but should you need anything, Steve and I are both here for you.

[complicatedliar]

[Loki laughs.] Steve's already been there for me once. I can't imagine what would be left of my life if he decided to be that upstanding again.

Thank you, Peggy, but no. I appreciate the offer, of course, but there isn't anything I want for.

[rightfootforward]

Sometimes it isn't things we want, but things we need that we are lacking in.

[She can smell alcohol on his breath from here, and in higher concentrations than would account for a simple "drink before home."]

[complicatedliar]

[He raises an eyebrow.] There isn't anything I need, either. Well, other than a bit of peace after a long day.

[rightfootforward]

[He isn't willing to talk about it, so Peggy won't push - not now, at least. She pulls her hand back and shuffles her groceries again, with a soft shrug.]

A sentiment I can understand. It's surprising how little time raising three children leaves you with.

[complicatedliar]

I can only imagine. Give them each a kiss for me.

[rightfootforward]

I imagine it would mean much more coming from you directly. It isn't often they get to see you. And you could always be the gentleman can help me with these [She raised the bags in her arms slightly.] one day after your stop at the pubs on the way home, if you were so inclined.

[complicatedliar]

[Appealing to his image as a gentleman. Well played, Peggy. He eyes the bags.] If you need help with those, I suppose I can do that now. But I really can't stay.

[He really doesn't want to. He doesn't want to deal with Steve and what feels like judgment to him. Though it's really just his own guilt talking.]

[rightfootforward]

Thank you. And I wouldn't wish to keep you from your appointments any longer than necessary, so just to the house, if you don't mind.

[She hands him one of the bags with an appreciative smile. A walk together would let her talk to him, maybe see just how he was doing with everything.]

[complicatedliar]

[Loki manages the bag all right, even if there's a certain looseness to the way he's doing everything right now.]

I can agree to that. I shouldn't like to linger. [How did he get conned into this?] Because yes, appointments. [...with another bar.]

[rightfootforward]

[Being a gentleman is the pits, isn't it? She notes his level of presumed sobriety and smiles.]

Work is never done, hm? Are you meeting a client in this area?

[complicatedliar]

No rest for the wicked, I'm afraid. Yes, a very important client. By the name of Jameson.

[rightfootforward]

The twelve or eighteen?

[complicatedliar]

[He grins.] Gentlemen don't tell.

[rightfootforward]

[As she guessed. She's going to have to tell Steve about that.]

From one appointment to another, is it? Working yourself to death is a terrible way to go, Loki.

[complicatedliar]

There are far worse ways, Peggy.

[Like dying in a car accident. Like not dying at all, and living on in half-life in a hospital. Like losing one's sanity and becoming a living ghost.]

Besides, if you like your work, that means you effectively die of happiness, yes? But why be so grim? You're far more cheerful than this.

[rightfootforward]

[She looks at him for a moment as they walk, then turns her gaze forward again. Worse ways to die? Yes, there certainly are those and while Steve hasn't gone into details about what happened to his cousin, she knows enough.]

I suppose, but you'd have to like your work for that to be true.

[Peggy shifts her bag from one arm to another and takes the opportunity to watch him for his reaction.]

[complicatedliar]

And that I do. How lucky I am. [It's like he's daring her to call him a liar.]

[rightfootforward]

[Well, she could, but she isn't sure it would drive him away. So she bets on a different method.]

Lucky indeed. But was there nothing else you wanted to do? Even I was hoping to keep my job before one child became three.

[complicatedliar]

Nothing at all these days. It'd be lovely to meet a nice girl, I'm sure, but they seem to be in short supply.