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

all days

[ofwesternwinds]

[Being of the lower class, Rudy's family was no stranger to hard times, especially after their mother's passing away. Still, despite hardship Rudy's life has been mostly normal. He still attends school--not exactly top of his class, but he managed well enough during his earlier years. That is, until last year. Declining grades, stress from work, on top of his injury from a few months back made for pretty hectic times. He still does his best to keep up a smile, if only not to worry anyone else.

Come afternoon time, Rudy can be seen working at the bakery and soda shop. Whether it'd be serving customers or cleaning the dining area, you can spot him easily from his neat appearance and a friendly smile ready for any and all customers!

Later on at home, Rudy can be found sitting at a table holding a pen and staring blankly at an application. Nearby lies his half-finished homework, lying face down and neglected. With the recent announcement of the tax hike on his mind, it's getting even harder to concentrate on studies. It'd already been a hard time catching up after falling so far behind last year... He's not sure if he could pull it off again this time.]

[winds_voice]

[While Eley has been concerned about all of his children, he's been particularly worried for Rudy. He was already suffering from a bad injury and Eley felt that he shouldn't be working so hard with it... it couldn't be helping in his recovery. Not only that but he feared that the boy was overwhelming himself trying to balance work and school.

It was when he passed Rudy in the living room staring at some kind of form that he decided to address the situation, though not before getting a glass of water for each of them. He comes to sit down with his son, offering the water to him and placing his own glass in front of him on the table.]

Son? What have you got there?

[ofwesternwinds]

[Rudy looks up, noticing the glass set in front of him. On top of that, his father sitting aside him. ... Not good. He wasn't still worried about him, was he?]

... Thanks, Dad. [With a faint smile, he accepts the glass.] I'm just filling something out.

[winds_voice]

So I can see. May I ask what exactly it is?

[He could just look himself of course but he doesn't want to be so forceful. This was Rudy's business. He should be allowed to open up to his father about it of his own accord if he so wished.

Though that didn't mean he was just going to leave it if he refused...]

[ofwesternwinds]

[There's a brief pause from Rudy. He sets the application down on the table.]

... It's an application. I stopped by Capsule Corp.'s main office today.

[There was no sidestepping this subject even if he tried. His father would just see right through him, and he knew it. And yet... Rudy was okay with that. Because as much as Rudy never wants his father to worry, he couldn't ever bring himself to hide anything from him either.]

[winds_voice]

Rudy...

[Of course it was a job application, what else would it be?]

Do you not think you are already doing enough? You should be paying more attention to your studies... taking care of yourself, especially with that injury of yours.

[He didn't like to bring it up too often, draw more attention to it, but that burn was nasty and Eley always feared that his son would somehow make his health worse just from overworking. He was already hurt... Eley just wanted him to be safe now.]

[ofwesternwinds]

... It's already been a few months, though. The doctor said it's nothing to worry about, and it'd heal in time.

[Rudy tenses at his father's tone, touching his right arm. ... It should have been healed up by now, if anything. Which was awfully strange, but it's not like they could afford another visit.]

Besides, everyone else is working pretty hard right now. ... Even you, Dad. I can't let this hold me back.

[winds_voice]

I have noticed that it does not seem to be improving as well as they said, son. I try to ignore it as much as I can, but I feel there is something wrong.

[There really was little they could do in this position though. With the tax hikes everything was quickly becoming out of reach. It... scared Eley, more than he had first realised.]

I know you wish to help, and you already are. All of you are. Please, look after yourself.

[ofwesternwinds]

... I will. I'm sure it'll all work out.

[Rudy stares into his glass, biting his lip. There had been something else on his mind lately, and he wonders if it's okay to bring this up. ... It should be okay, shouldn't it? "Never be afraid to speak what's on your mind." That's what his father always said, right?]

You know, the same goes for you too. I saw how you haven't been eating much lately...

[winds_voice]

[He knew they'd notice of course, but he hadn't said anything about it, hoping they wouldn't ask. But no, they're going to ask. He should have realised that in the first place.]

It is only temporary. Only until I have worked out how to re-balance our income to afford the rise in taxes. You are all growing and you need to be fit and healthy if you hope to make something of yourself in the world. That is why I offer you the best that I can afford. You are my future.

[ofwesternwinds]

[He can't. None of them could. Their father was too important to them; especially after their mother's passing.]

... I know that. [They all knew that.] No matter what's been thrown at us, it's always worked out for us in the end. It always has, hasn't it? We've always been able to handle things just fine. ... You've already done so much for us.

[winds_voice]

Only because you have always been there for me as well. [He offers a soft smile.] Tell me, how much are you already doing, Rudy? What would this job involve were you to get it? How will it fit into your day-to-day life?

[He wanted to hear exactly what his son was planning. There was no point trying to stop him completely, Eley knew that wouldn't work.]

[ofwesternwinds]

[For a brief moment, there's silence. Then a defeated sigh. Dad really knew how to put him on the spot, didn't he?]

... I'm still trying to work that out. I don't know how I'm going to fit in another part-time job this time, but I'll think of something. I need to put money aside.

[With his current grades, college already isn't looking feasible for him cost-wise. He never was one of those honor students, and any hope of getting enough scholarships for tuition was looking quite dim.]

[winds_voice]

No... you need to work on your studies. Let me take care of the money. I will find a way.

[If Rudy could focus on school perhaps he could still improve those grades and at least salvage that side of things. Eley knew they were always going to be struggling for money at this point no matter how many jobs his son tried to take on... at least he could still try to make a difference while at school. The rest would have to take care of itself in time.]

[ofwesternwinds]

[Rudy glances downwards, pensive. It was hard for him to focus on school while something like this was going down.]

... I hope there's not going to be another one like this.

[They were already in over their heads with this one. It feels like with every tax hike the aristocracy puts out, families in Lowtown were getting squeezed drier and drier out of their hard earned money. How was anyone going to afford to keep living here?]