lucetilogs | Post-Event Blues

Entry tags:

Post-Event Blues

Who: Everybody, everybody!
What: The battle is won. Now what?
When: The eleventh, twelfth, and onward
Where: Luceti
Summary: With Zompano dead and the cultists routed, Luceti is restored. Kind of.
Rating: F for Feels

On the eleventh, things were slowly breaking down. Memories of their true lives were breaking through. The village, scarred by the battle with the cultists, began to rebuild itself. Community buildings that had vanished were returned to their rightful places. The battle dome was uncovered from the earth that had covered it. Hundreds and hundreds of fake homes slowly faded away. Paved roads gave way to trees and grass. It was an incredible sight for anyone who was willing to sit aroun and watch it happen.

Things wouldn't be easy for the villagers, though. The memories perpetuated by the last ten days would not be easily removed. The feelings and hatreds it had created would take time to conquer and remove. Perhaps, in a way, that was Zompano's nastiest trick of all. The village itself may heal from his invasion, but it would take far more than a few Shifts to fix the people left behind.

Towards the end of the day, their wings returned. Much like some of the buildings, they seemed to just reappear, as if they had never been gone. Their barcodes became visible again as a singular reminder that they were, ultimately, just the property of another entity who as a whole were not much better than Count Zompano.

By the twelfth, the village looked as though nothing had ever happened. Sure, the contents of buildings might have been messed up or destroyed during the battles, but things were otherwise as they were supposed to be. The night before, people would have had to find their old beds to go sleep in, as they no longer possessed the old ones granted to them in another life.

The village was peaceful.

Modly Note: That wraps up the event. As noted in the prose above, you have the option to play up the after effects of the event more than in other ones. While it won't have the same impact universally, the Shift was constructed in such a way that people may have difficulty shaking off the emotions they developed during the event. In effect, it was a cruel send off to Luceti so they would have to deal with the loathing and hatred that came with the less desirable parts of it. Of course, that means the feelings of familial bonds will also persist for awhile as well. It's up to you, as players, to decide how much or little to play with it!

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[It's not something he wants to discuss. It's still too raw, too close. He can't be analytical about it yet. He hasn't had time to figure out all the angles or play through a conversation like this in his head yet. It's a game of chess, and he's only brought along a backgammon set.]

Why're you telling me?

Well, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't because part of me thinks I can trust you with anything. [The other life, where Zatanna and Dick had grown up together as best friends, maybe closer. She shrugs a shoulder, still looking down at the world below.]

The thing is, there's nothing in me that really disagrees with that part. [And she thinks that maybe it'll help him to hear it, but Zatanna doubts it'll do any good to actually say that bit out loud.]

[It hurts to consider how much she'd become family, and there's nothing to shield his eyes and prevent her from seeing the remorse, the loss, the subtle swell of water against his lower lids. No tears will fall, but that doesn't mean they're not produced.

He won't answer her. But he'll draw his right arm over both her shoulders and hold her that way.Maybe it's old instinct. Maybe it's just something complicated.]

[She almost misses his tears he doesn't shed, but his heart is easy enough to read in his eyes anyway. It makes her ache for him, that he hurts so much, even as the distant understanding of why he really wears a mask snaps into place. Later, privately, she'll marvel at how clear his eyes are, how they show just what he's thinking.

For now, however, she leans into that embrace, her head tilting to rest against his shoulder. It's both familiar and foreign, and the half that doesn't know what to do with it is quickly silenced by the side of her that does.

She doesn't want to lose this. Even if it hadn't been real, it had still been good.]

[He stays there like that with her for hours, retaining silence. She's warm against his side, and he doesn't hate that. She can stay, if she's willing.

In time, the sun begins its trip westward, casting a violet tint over the dwidling light.

He nuzzles his cheek against her head, to rouse her in case she's started dozing.]

It's getting late. I should get dressed.

[Because this? This is naked.]

[The silence is more comfortable than she'd thought it be. She really doesn't hate it either--quite the opposite, and while something in her is worried that this is going to just end up with the same frustration as before, she can't bring herself to pull away. Not until the very end, when she's started to doze and Dick nudges her awake. She blinks a few times, takes in a slow breath to try and clear her head a bit.

Guess it's time to get back to their real lives.]

You know, I could help with that. [Zatanna straightens up, tilting her head to stretch her neck a bit. She glances over to Robin with a small grin.] No tutus this time. Promise.

[He looks to her then, soul-deep affection shining in his eyes.]

I trust you.

[But before she has a chance to perform the spell, he's leaned in, mouth brushing against hers.]

[Nothing about that moment is what she expects, even after spending silent hours with him looking over Luceti. From what he says, to how deeply he means it, and what he does next--dear god, what he does next. Her eyes widen in surprise and at the same time, her chest grows so tight it aches.

Everything in her, true or false, lie or real, is terrified he's telling her goodbye.

But she wants this. Even if it's just a moment, even if it doesn't last, Zatanna wants this now, and she leans in to kiss him back.]

[He doesn't know what he's doing. He doesn't know what they're doing. It's impulse, but not one of the impulses he's rehearsed. He did something and now she's doing something.

And now he's hugging her and keeping her close and the kiss keeps going and what do you even do with your tongue in a situation like this??

It ends. Was it supposed to end here?]

[That makes two of them, on every count. Zatanna certainly isn't thinking this through, or doing anything that will spare her heartache in the future. But when she does want something, she goes for it--makes her own luck, as Jason said. She may not know what she's doing in her head, but her arms slip around him, at least as much as she can with the way they're positioned, because it feels right. And maybe if she moves her tongue a little--

But then he's pulled away, although not very far at all. Whether or not it's supposed to end there, she doesn't want it to.

You make it happen.

So she does, this time by kissing him.]

[And then it's his turn to return it, even though he shouldn't. They shouldn't. But nothing is right... So what happens next?

He pulls her back from the edge of the roof, lying her on her back. It's making his heart race even though they're not being terribly active.]

Zatanna.. I.. [He.. doesn't know how to end that sentence.]

[Somewhere in between the touches and the tastes, Robin guides her back so when she opens her eyes again, she's looking up at him and the sky. And yes, her heart is definitely pounding, because while she doesn't really know what comes next either she's sure of something. It isn't right--but it absolutely is.

He starts to say something, then stops. But it's okay; his eyes are still so expressive, and maybe she can see it there, even if they haven't figured it out the words for it yet.]

Yeah. Me too. [Her fingers lock together behind his neck, and she gives him a little tug to urge him down to her again.]

[With the Shift over and the village returning to normal, Jason headed to the roof for some fresh air and maybe a smoke. In retrospect, this was probably a bad idea—if Dick wasn't brooding in his room, he'd probably be brooding up here, and Jason wasn't quite ready for that conversation. Maybe he could just say hey and go back to his room, that seemed like a good idea. No harm done.

But when Jason gets to the roof, he spots a very distinct shape on the other side of the roof, and he doesn't have to look very long to realize what's going on there.]

...oh.

[...did he say that out loud? Oops. His first instinct is to escape, to slip away unnoticed. Who's he to interrupt somebody's rooftop action, right? But as he turns way, he realizes that there's something familiar about those silhouettes, and his eyes widen in surprise. He almost doesn't believe it, but after what happened over the past week? Yeah, maybe not so unbelievable after all.

He doesn't say anything, but he does let out a loud whistle. They would thank him for this later.]

[When Zatanna pulls him down, he follows. His mouth begins to travel over to her neck, breath hot against her skin.

He's so engaged in the moment that it's startling when the whistling happens. His eyes jerk up toward the source -- Jason.

It's Jazon and he's here and Zatanna...

He pulls away from her, suddenly stiff and red-faced.]

I'm so sorry.

[She tilts her head back, eyes half-closed as she savors the way his mouth feels on her skin. But just when she's about to lose herself to it completely, a shrill whistle comes from far too close. It has her looking over in surprise as well, and a moment later Robin's warmth is gone.

Then there's pretty much just awkwardness, and Zatanna sits up quickly, her face going just as red as Dick's.]

No, it's okay. [It isn't as if he's the only one who wanted--things. Part of her still does, but embarrassment has gotten it's grip on her. Of course, now she's thinking about how fast that had been, and just they had been about to do, and--

Oh God.]

Uh, hey Jason. [Right. Not thinking about it anymore. Zatanna tries to smile to their mutual friend and yes, he's getting thanked later. Definitely.] Were you looking for Robin? Because I can go if you were going to have guy time or something.

[Jason holds up his hands and shakes his head.]

Oh, no, you don't have to stop on my account. I was just taking inventory. Making sure no one got lost on the way back here, you know?

[Okay, maybe the teasing isn't entirely appropriate. But if it's an out she's looking for...]

But if you guys are done, sure, I'll stick around. Maybe we can gossip and make s'mores.

We're done. [It's rushed and insistent because it shouldn't have happened in the first place.]

We were just.

Talking.

[Oh geez, guys. Zatanna is just going to quietly facepalm now. Between Jason's teasing and Robin's fail, she's nearly ready to take the short way off the roof.]

Yeah, I'm not even going to pretend to go along with that.

That's not what we call it where I'm from, but hey, whatever floats your boat, Grayson.

[Seriously, good going, Dick, that was awful.]

So, how about we call it a night?

Night's just started. ...I'll be ready to patrol in a minute.

[That's a thing they still do right? That's a normal thing? Ugh, Zatanna smelled really good just now can they go back to doing what they were doing?]

...Right. I was going to help you get dressed.

[Which is a thing Zatanna remembers now. She brushes off her pants as she stands up, knowing that what they had been doing is pretty much over. She's not exactly happy about that.

But what actually makes her a little sad? Is knowing she probably won't be able to see those eyes for awhile.

She still grins a little though, hiding it as she lifts her hand toward Dick.]

Egnahc sehtolc otni sih smrofinu!

[And one cloud of smoke later? He's ready to go.]

[Patrol? Really? Jason decides this time to keep his comments (jokes and otherwise) to himself—he wasn't going to dissuade Dick and he wasn't going to tease them about the irony of the whole "getting dressed" thing. (Though he's totally thinking it, sorry, guys.)

Once Zatanna finishes working her magic, he looks over at Dick and speaks up.]

Alright, since it looks like you've got this under control, the night's all yours, Boy Wonder. [Hah.] I'm gonna go pass out.

You're going to bed? [BUT HE JUST ALMOST HAD SEX WITH A GIRL. THERE SHOULD PROBABLY BE SOME DISCUSSION and he's still feeling more clingy than normal where Jason is concerned.] It's barely sunset.

[Wait he's ignoring Zatanna. Should he be talking to her more? What do you do in a situation like this??]

Uh. And. Thanks.

[Nailed it.]

Edited 2013-08-18 12:21 (UTC)

[Jason isn't the only one thinking it, but Zatanna also doesn't say it out loud. There's probably enough humiliation material going around without her adding to it.]

Didn't think you'd be such an early sleeper. [Zatanna shrugs a shoulder as she glances over at Jason, but her attention is still largely on Robin. There's still a lot she has to sort out in her head, but there's at least one thing she's sure of--and she wants to make sure he gets it.]

You're welcome. We'll talk more later, okay?

[And maybe do more than talk, although not quite as suddenly as they had been. But the way her cheeks go red all over again probably send a pretty clear message.]

[Ugh. He probably should've figured it wouldn't be that easy to escape. At this point, ditching him would probably be in bad taste, too.

He'll just... suck it up... or something...

He waves a hand at Zatanna.]

See you later, Zee.

[No teasing this time, either, even though he most certainly sees that blush. Jeez, guys. Dick isn't lucky enough to avoid the teasing, but at least it's not about that this time.]

So what, Dick, you afraid of the dark? Need me to hold your hand?

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