lucetilogs | Luceti Valley

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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.

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Current events?

[a bald faced lie, and Jack knew it. But he stopped short when Jack mentioned the picture album, looking a combination of smug, nervous, and affectionate. He ducked off the path and into some growth nearby, not enough to get in the way but a nice and shady place. Good a place as ever. If he was going to be bearing potential bad news later, he wanted to preface it with hope, at least. So he spoke in a hushed voice, leaning in to speak to Jack alone as he fished in the inside pocket of his jacket.]

No, that's for mom. And Max, when I want to torment him but this... this is for you.

[Jack practically giggled as he was pulled into a break in the shrubbery, a bright tumble of breath and laughter with a scandalized little lilt to it. After all, he and Eugene had been pulling each other aside in the gardens and lake to steal kisses (and more, on rare and delightful occasions) since-

. . . well. For a long time, suffice to say.

But he wasn't pulled into an embrace, Eugene's mouth didn't descend on any part of him. The man just looked pleased and unsure, the same sort of look he'd had ever since they were boys and Eugene had come into the deviousness needed to scheme without losing a scrap of his conscience in return. Jack's grin turned quizzical as he listened and watched, trying to put together the fidgety grasping of Eugene's fingers with his words, and he frowned when he realized what was happening.]

Eugene- no, stop it, I've told you, I don't need-

[-your money, he meant to finish, reaching out to push Eugene's hand still against his chest. He doesn't need money he hasn't earned, because he doesn't want that to become a part of what they have, another thing to be put in the ledgers. He won't risk losing Eugene's respect that way.

But no money clip or wallet rose with the hand that Jack grasped just as it came out, just the visible half of a shining bit of metal, a little gleaming arch between Eugene's fingertips. And Jack went absolutely still and pale in response, as his brain recognized the gesture in an instant.]

. . . oh God.

[There weren't words to adequately describe the look dawning on Jack's face, though maybe a sunrise might cover it. His grin felt fit to split his face with how anxious he was, heart pounding even though this was a gift he was absolutely certain wouldn't be rejected. As much as Jack might deny it, this... well, it would be his first (and hopefully only) proposal. In a manner of speaking]

It's not really money I think you'd be wanting anyway. I do actually listen to you.

[So, with that said he inelegantly held it out for him, not having planned this to every ounce of detail as he normally would. He had hoped to make it seem more natural this way but he found himself fumbling slightly.]

It's yours, though. I'd've made it a little bit more... uh, flashy, but. There it is.

[Jack could see his hand shaking as he reached out for the ring and took it, bringing it close and turning it between uncertain fingertips, grin shaky but brilliant and head buzzing brightly. He knew this dance by sight, recognized the tune it was performed to, and he'd also known since he was small that it wasn't a dance meant for him. But now Eugene was extending his hand and the instruments were warming up and he had no, no idea how to perform the steps.]

Eugene, what . . . [He swallowed, voice shaky with joy and uncertainty, lifting barely-shining eyes full of questions up to him.] What does this mean?

[His gaze never left Jack's face because it was what was far more important than shaking hands or shaky voices. The intention in his eyes was what spoke the most, and Eugene didn't want to miss a second of it. To find that anyone would be excited to be his, or to receive this from him was... more than any pre-arrangements could have thrown his way.]

You know what it means, dummy. Don't make me explain it!

[It was much more than that, he knew Jack knew that much. It was a promise of a lifetime, of partnership to endure the good, the bad, the boring... the trying. He turned the band over to Jack-- a simple golden band that could be fashioned into something more fitting for Jack's tastes. He had taken special pains to make certain it was the proper size, though... which had earned him a few jabs about his "lady-love" when buying it.]

Are you gonna put it on or what? Make me sit here in anticipation? Rude, Jack...

[Oh God.

Oh.

God.

Jack tried to breathe, but his throat was squeezing tight, full of too many of the things he didn't know the words for. Eugene had always just been his in the most vague, ephemeral of senses - he'd been insistent that he do what he loved in school, go to college, go where his heart took him. Somehow, seeing that where his heart took him was right back to his home, to Jack Holden Lauchlan, was more than he could bear for the moment, and he blinked as the pressure behind his eyes melted into heat that stuck in his eyelashes and beaded at the corners.

His hand closed around the ring tightly, and he shook his head, looking back up at Eugene.]

But- Jesus, Eugene. You know I can't . . . it'll take me a year to save up enough to buy you one of these-

It's-- I'm-- not worried about getting a ring back.

[As nice as that would be, he knew Jack's situation and wouldn't expect him to do that. In fact, the very meaning of this exchange was likely to turn heads, cause more than a small measure of disgust, but Eugene was ready to face that. Would face that, the brunt of it, for Jack.

Jack might be panicking, he couldn't quite tell on account of being on the verge of it himself. It was one thing to be a secret lover to someone and another entirely to be acknowledged publicly and accept that. There was always a slim chance that Jack would refuse outright-- though Eugene hadn't braced himself for that possibility. Still, he closed his hands over Jack's and squeezed... in the hopes it might steady them both.]

I want you to have this. And keep it, wear it, hide it, lock it up, but... keep it. For me.

. . . hide it?

[Just like that, the tremulous, hopeful happiness goes out of Jack's eyes, replaced by a brightness that is all incredulity and indignance.]

Lock it up?

[That's all he needs to hear, and his stomach clenches sickly as he shoves the ring back against Eugene's chest, trying to force it back into his hands. It's too close to Simon being right, to everyone being so right, that in the end birth and money have consigned him to be nothing better than an amusement to the men and women of Hightown. His voice rises a pitch as he faces down Eugene, wet-eyes and not really caring who hears, something faintly desperate thrilling through him.]

Gene, I don't want anything like that! Not- not if you're not a part of it-

Wha--

[What he had meant to be somewhat romantic wound up being the polar opposite and he was stunned for the span of a moment while Jack shoved the ring back at him. That was stupid-- a very stupid thing to say, and he knew that now, that knowledge sharper than any other feeling he'd felt in his life. But he wouldn't let go, and this wasn't something he wouldn't be a part of, but... people could hurt Jack if they knew. And Eugene wasn't entirely out in the clear with the Adele situation and the timing was...]

Jack-- wait, listen!

[This was bad, very bad, and if he didn't come clear, then it could be so much worse. But here they might be noticed and interrupted and Eugene didn't want that to happen because if Jack were to run off he might not be able to find him again. So he took hold of the hands shoving against his chest and shoved them back at Jack, something a little desperate pushing him onward. Pushing them both onward and roughly against an old, thick tree.]

Listen! I'm in an arranged marriage-- shut up and seriously listen until I'm finished, okay? ...You know me... [his voice softened into a whisper, but still with a frantic edge barely concealed] With Adele, right? Something my mom and Mr Odinson arranged back when we were very small and if you haven't noticed, I don't... I don't want anyone else but you. Okay? I'm going to get out of it but I wanted you to be the first and only person I ever propose to.

[Call it naïve and stupid, but even if he was older than Jack, some things he wanted to do right like in all the movies. And endangering Jack because he was too excited to give this to him before everything was in order was a dumb move, a stupid, stupid move he regretted now. But he wouldn't back down]

I'm working on it, I don't want to marry her. And I don't want anyone coming after you in retribution for it.

[Jack had just begun to retort angrily that no, Eugene should listen, because if he thought-! and only the impact of the tree against his back stopped him from blurting out something brash and angry and probably very damaging. His breath caught in his throat and he glared, but listened, hands tight around Eugene's and the ring, whole body thrumming with energy desperate to be freed though words and fighting.

Slowly, he listened, and felt the outrage drain from him little by little. Eugene was right, and he'd at least obliquely known about all of that. It still stung, knowing what had to be done and how they had to do it. Knowing they couldn't all be Max, act how they will and damn the consequences. He took a shivery breath and nodded, leaning in until his face presses into Eugene's shoulder and his hands open, clenching at his shirt.]

Eugene, I-

[His voice is hoarse with threatened tears, and whatever he means to say chokes off in an ugly noise as he pulls closer, back bowed and tense.]

[In retrospect, it wasn't a good way to blurt out that information. It took a few moments of mentally kicking himself in the backside to finally get something out instead of just standing here gawking with Jack shoved against a tree and on the verge of a breakdown. But in the end he had listened, and it gave Eugene the kickstart he needed to move forward.

He tugged Jack closer into a proper embrace, rubbing his cheek against the short, scruffy hair at the side of Jack's head. Tense and bowed like that was no way to be when he'd just been proposed to.]

What is it, Jack?

[Eugene's arms around him were steadying, and Jack managed to keep his single sob short and choked before he finally managed to start wrestling back control of himself, holding tight to Eugene in return as he shivered his way through one laboured breath after another. They slowed gradually, and he looked up with red-rimmed eyes, hopeful and hesitant all at once.]

You- you really think we can do it?

[It... wasn't an unfair question, but Eugene knew that just saying something would be fine is one thing, it was another entirely to prove it. He slipped his arms from around Jack but brought both of his hands to take Jack's face and pressed his lips to Jack's cheek, before he shifted and kissed him properly]

We will do it.

[another kiss, a smile growing on the edges of his lips]

We can. It won't be easy but...

[And another, lingering]

This is going to work. But I can't do this without you.

[Jack is still half-tense with the first kiss, but the hushed warmth of Eugene' voice and the press of his lips, the certainty in his words, melted him from the inside until he was pulling just as much into that last, lingering kiss. He pressed close and only parted when it was unavoidable, smiling hesitantly, eyes lifted to Eugene's.]

Like I'll let you do all the exciting stuff on your own.

Well you sure as hell had me terrified for a split second there.

[A soft, giddy laugh escaped him and he felt just how hard his heart was pounding at the thought of Jack rejecting him. The alternative of marrying for convenience and show instead of what this was...

He preferred the slightly bruised feel to his lips to what might await if he didn't have Jack.]

Let me talk to mom. But come to my room tonight and I can give you more details. And... y'know...

[Open-ended as that comment was, he slid his hands around Jack and settled on his backside. More than just a little flirty]

[Giving a breathless little laugh of his own, Jack scrubbed at his eyes, leaning against Eugene and getting his feet under himself again. The ring was still in his hands, and he looked down into the narrow space between them, turning it over in his fingers again with that same faint thrill of warmth and wonder. He'd never owned anything so small and so valuable, and it was almost frightening, to just be handed so much money in such an easily-lost form.]

Can . . . do you think I could get a chain for it, maybe? I'll scratch the hell out of it if it's on my finger.

You can do what you'd like with it. Personally, I'd... like to see it. When I said hide it I meant more... like I didn't want you to put yourself in danger by showing it off.

[But if he did it willingly, knowing that there was a chance he may be harmed by standing proud with his decision, somehow Eugene would love him more than he did already. Which was considerable, something that was overtly obvious, somehow, to everyone who knew them. He looked down at the ring in Jack's hand, eyes flitting toward Jack's face when he spoke]

D'you have a chain to put it on? Once we're married, I'm gonna insist it goes on your hand, even if it's scratched up.

[And wow, did he honestly just say that? Vastra and mum made it happen, it felt surreal to be making such a similar promise]

If you don't, I can give you one.

No, that's okay. I think we still have a few bits of jewellery at the house. From mom, you know?

[His smile dims a little with the memory - he has no idea what his mother would say to this, and he only dreads that it would fall in line with Simon's feelings on the issue. But he's still glowing, and laughs softly as he slips the ring onto his finger for the time being, twisting it around and around as the slowly-growing excitement swells in his chest. He's known all along that they wanted to stay together for a long, long time, but a proposal-?

It's perfect. It's insane. It's completely Eugene, to want to be married to someone so badly that he completely ignores how impossible it is to have a wedding without a bride. Jack laughs softly, nosing up under his jawline, deliberately tugging him back toward the tree. The gardens are private enough, right now, and he is ridiculously in love.]

Any wedding plans yet, or are those going to be a surprise too?

[Once Jack slid the ring on Eugene felt something slide into place and it was... nothing was perfect, but that feeling was. He'd never be able to confess how complete he felt with Jack right here like this. He was warmth and light and everything that no one else was to him. His own memory of Jack's mother was similar to how he felt around Jack. Something caring, hardworking and sincere. He suspected the reason Simon disliked him so much was because of what loving someone from nobility had done to her heart. Mark his words, if brought to the same situation, he knew where his decision would be]

Heh, you are the biggest sap, Jack.

[But it was a tease, something familiar and a space that he wouldn't have to start holding Jack carefully in. The tug became more of a push forward and Jack would find himself pressed solidly between the tree and Eugene's weight pressing on him.]

Most of the... plans my mom's got dibs on. But to be fair, I don't think she's going to do anything any respectable lizard-lady might do.

[Conflict resolved for the moment, Jack gave a soft, giddy laugh as he was pushed back, leaning his head back against the broad trunk of the tree and looking at Eugene with a lazy, all-too-pleased expression.]

Oh my God, your mom is-? [He couldn't even finish, flushed with an oddly proud embarrassment, and leaned in to tug Eugene into a brief, playful kiss.] Please tell me she doesn't want me to wear a dress. I'm sure I look awful in women's clothing.

If I asked you to wear a dress, would you? [There was a glint in his eyes that he didn't bother to hide. Sometimes he wanted to do very unmentionable things to Jack. The kinds of things that he'd be shy to discuss with him. His hands did skim down along Jack's sides and rested on his hips, leaning back enough to have a look at them.]

Too narrow, but I mean... I kind of have a thing for you and we should... try fun stuff. And well, mom wants to have something to do with my wedding. She's told me this since day one-- since day before I can remember. Max remembers it better.

[Don't mind him while he takes this opportunity to duck his head and kiss Jack's neck, definitely leaving a sharp mark there because he wanted Jack to remember he was home]

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Luceti Valley - The First Log

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