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

[The relief he felt hearing Max admit he wouldn't be out of contact completely was plenty enough to get him teased for a decent amount of time. A ghost of a grin flitted across his face and he took a chance at looking at him again]

I'll have to find more convincing people to blame shit on, then, won't I? Send pictures for your brother stuck at home, won't you?

[And how was it that Max hit the nail right on the head like that? He bit his lip but listened, wanting nothing more than to be with Jack. He was fairly certain Vastra would be amenable to the idea of adoption-- since she was doing that very thing for her 'sons'.]

I've been meaning to talk to Jack about that. Not sure how well it'll go over and I get... distracted.

I'm sure you'll cope. I'll leave you some wonderfully huge and terrible scandal to act as a smokescreen for a few months. You might actually be able to get things done while people are talking about it.

[He catches Eugene's pensive look at that and sighs.]

Don't let it distract you for too long. He's not... we're not kids anymore. And he's not dumb. He's not been around so much recently either. He has to work. Talk to him soon. Lay your cards on the table. Don't end up regretting what you could have had.

Mother didn't.

We should time it properly, then.

[He was serious, though. Not eager to see Max off or to call off the engagement with Adele, though she might be more relieved than disappointed. ...He knew it wasn't anything personal, after all.]

No, Jack's-- he's really smart. Damn, he's smart. He could blow some of the students at uni right out of the water, Max. I wish he could... be there.

[Mother hadn't backed down when the world had gotten a little crazy. Overall, he knew she wanted him and Max to be happy, but sometimes he really didn't want to disappoint her. In a way, not telling her this might just do that very thing]

I'll talk to him tonight. Still getting over the you're back! from him. But hey, I don't think I've met Helios. Who is this guy?

Probably a good idea. Maximum scandal to act as a cover up.

[Might as well help his brother out since he was going to do this anyway.]

So take him with you. You know you could get mom to... to set up a scholarship or something. He's smart enough to go.

[whether he would accept such a thing was another question entirely however.

And then of course talk turned to Helios and Max looked a little awkward.]

He works at the library. Blond, glasses. He's kind of eccentric.

Heh, wow, am I actually plotting this with you in all seriousness? It seems surreal.... and I dunno if Jack would want to be so far from his family. As much as I dislike Simon, it's not... the same story for Jack.

[If he had a choice, he wanted Max nearby, in the event something terrible happened and he might need Max's opinion. His presence. But he knew that was selfish]

I'll ask him. And eccentric, really? You go for the eccentric types? I never would've guessed, Max. You always seemed like the kind of guy to go steady and stable~

[And every last word here was pure sarcasm]

Smart-type, then?

Apparently so! It does seem a little like something from a bad novel but I'm sure we'll manage it.

And yeah, I guess. Simon's an ass but... he's Jack's brother. Like you're mine.

[And here he was, running away. Did that make him a terrible person? Probably.

He gives Eugene a thoroughly unimpressed look at that.]

Hey! Hey, just because I prefer to live a little while I'm young...

very smart.

[A brother he'd miss, leaving him all alone to handle Simon by himself. Not that he couldn't but sometimes there was way too much frustration than he could keep cool and calm about]

He is Jack's brother.

[And he couldn't simply ask Jack to leave his brother behind, too, even if Eugene was keen on the idea of up and leaving everything behind. Jack had already lost so much, and even if he was well-cared for, Eugene doubted Simon would want to come with.]

Does Helios have any family?

This is true. You know you wouldn't change that. Jack... it's good Jack has someone. [Someone who wasn't from a completely different class that couldn't be got over no matter how well they got on.]

Uh yeah. He does. He has a daughter, actually. I know exactly what you're going to say so don't. I have thought about this.

[All the more reason Eugene would have liked to get away from it all, but someone had to stand up and represent something while not spiriting away. Max's statement and Eugene's were different sides of the same dilemma, but Eugene could live with himself in the life he had currently]

I don't think I'd want to change him, he's... perfect, just as--

[Wait, family. A mother and a father, perhaps even a sibling and Eugene might tell him to go for it, but a daughter? A daughter, who might need a father instead of being left behind. He stopped mid-sentence and looked at Max, expectant, because an explanation was in serious need of forthcoming]

And?

But thins will change. You know that.

[There was a good reason why he'd wanted to keep this secret from Eugene as long as he could. Preferably until he'd already gone.]

And I'm still thinking, okay? It's not like she's a little kid or anything.

That's--

[Alright, so he knew Max from growing up, sometimes he did stupid things but other times he had the best intentions. The worst thing he could do right now was purposefully drive a wedge between them when he was making plans to leave. Sighing softly, he let his shoulders relax while he leaned against the wall again. The smell of cigarette smoke would be hard to get out of his clothing, at this point, but he could always get new clothes. A luxury not many people could afford in these parts.

Maybe he also needed a drink, now.]

Does she know?

Yes. She knows. She's a good kid.

[And he was a selfish asshole for wanting to do this but maybe they could all get out? Go somewhere different. It would be nice to try, right? He had to try.]

I'll figure something out.

What's her name?

[If this Helios was going to leave his daughter behind for the sake of being with Max, Eugene would feel responsible for her well-being. Even if she didn't want it, he would be obligated to at least make sure she was well cared for. Let it not be said that the Woodvilles didn't take care of those they meant to.]

And you'll just figure out how to get out of here, like you said. Cutting ties and all that. I'll be the one who needs to figure out the rest, right? We're in this together to make sure we both benefit.

Rei. She's called Rei. She's in high school.

[He knew what Eugene was thinking and he was grateful, really he was, knowing that she'd be taken care of in some way even if things blew up. But he didn't want it to end that way.]

I never said I was gonna cut ties, Eugene. God, what do you take me for? I'll keep in contact. I'll even visit when you and Jack get married.

Alright, Rei.

[He watched Max complain about his choice of words and grinned inwardly, glad that he was at least not planning on being entirely absent from this whole affair. The house certainly would be quieter with Max gone, and Eugene was hoping there were no plans in the works for his own... potential family.]

Me and Jack get ma--

[He had to scoff, not because he didn't like the idea, but that it wouldn't... it might not work out the way they'd like it to. Still, he sighed wistfully and scratched the side of his nose]

We'll see. Still the issue of Adele I have to sort out first.

[Oh god, no. Max is not ready for a family. Possibly ever. He barely feels capable of taking care of himself.

He gives Eugene a soft smile at that, shaking his head.]

You two are made for each other, Gene. You're gonna be miserable if you aren't with him and honestly, when you're miserable, you tend to make everyone around you miserable too and Adele doesn't deserve that.

H-hey! [Alright so maybe he was an ass when he was miserable, but for all intents and purposes, he and Adele were... a pretty match, a convenient one, but not who he would want. The sentiments, as far as he knew, were mutual. Sighing, he buried his face in his hands and rubbed his face]

Who knows, maybe he's into girls after all and I can have both of them.

[He was kidding, but unlike Max, he couldn't run away from his life. It was catching up to him, and fast]

So you're still considering it or have you decided on a date you're leaving?

[Max shrugs dismissively.]

It's true. You are an asshole when you're miserable.

[He pats Eugene's shoulder companionably]

When has Jack ever shown any interest in a woman? I mean, really?

...still working on it. After Homecoming though.

I can be an asshole right now if you prefer?

[snorts softly, not entirely serious, but he knew how he could ruin Max's day. He didn't want to, though. Jack's preference makes him shrug and smile all at the same time, because thinking about Jack made him do that. So smitten, so obvious, so ridiculous.]

I don't think he's actually tried unless you've tried to set him up with a girl just to see him squirm. And... Homecoming. Alright, I'll see what I can do to get ready, but just...

[a pause now, giving Max a serious look]

Tell me when you go. I don't want to be left wondering.

Awww, and we were having such a nice chat too.

[Max smiles fondly, ruffling his baby brother's hair. He'd been older when Vastra had taken them in, old enough to remember Eugene crying and trying to hide behind him when they'd been adopted.]

Well, there was that one party where a girl did her very best to get him into bed and I really thought he was going to flee.

[He returns Eugene's look with a blithe smile.]

Trust me, when I leave, I'm sure you'll notice.

[Frowning softly, he ducked his head and tried to fix his hair-- which was thankfully a mess of curls to begin with. He envied Max's hair, really, among other things, and he was grateful Max didn't make it a habit of revealing what a snivelling scared kid he'd been back when.]

Jack... did flee, right? You didn't just let some girl run roughshod over the guy I love, did you?

[If so, he was a terrible brother, and Eugene was going to go raise some hell. Not that he believed anything went down, he was simply fond of the teasing. But his smile did turn wistful, thinking about Max not being there to tease anymore, and it... well, it made him sad. The house would be so quiet, and more than that. His big brother would be gone.]

That's obvious, dummy. Now are you done smoking? After all this serious business I guess I want a drink.

[Max chuckled softly, grinning as Eugene tried futilely to fix his hair. It had always been fairly untameable without a lot of work. It was cute.]

Hey! Would I do that to you? No, me and Barnes didn't let him get taken advantage of.

[He huffed at Eugene and subbed out his cigarette.]

I'm done. I'm done. Geez, can't a guy spend a night on the town.

Want to drink here or go somewhere more... reputable?

You can spend a night on the town, but let's at least agree to both enjoy ourselves-- I don't smoke.

[Despite the fact that it was what a lot of the cooler... successful people, whittled their time away with. He's always had weak lungs and it never looked suitable on him. He was about to leap at the chance to go somewhere more reputable, but the way that Max said it-- he took it as a challenge]

What'd you have in mind?

[Forget being the good and dutiful son, he was up to any challenge that Max could throw at him. Call it sibling rivalry or teasing.]

[Max rolled his eyes, grinning at his brother with some amusement.]

Oh, I don't know. Just the way you're dressed, you look like you've just come from a night at the country club. I can't have you getting beaten up.

What's wrong with my clothes?

[He pouts a little before glancing down at the pressed shirt and tie, covered under a comfortable jacket of course to conceal himself. Or so he had thought. The dark slacks didn't help much, either?]

They won't beat me up... why would they?

(no subject)

abjurer - 2013-08-13 00:19 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only