House of M - The Beginning

[selfhelp]

Who: Billy Kaplan + Anyone who wants to be involved in the House of M Plot + Related CR + Anyone Really
What: Um. The House of M Plot.
When: October 1st-7th
Where: Literally anywhere in Luceti, yo
Summary: Billy returns from a kidnapping feeling a bit, er, different. A white light envelops the village for just a moment, and when it fades... well. All kinds of things are different, actually.
Rating: Varies, anything above R take it elsewhere!

Still accepting last minute sign-ups, if anyone is interested.


It starts off so innocently, early on the morning of October 1st. A burst of light, a warm rush of energy that consumes everything it touches, and it's gentle enough to feel like stepping out into sunlight from the shade. It's so brief that some people might not even notice it happened. But there are certainly... differences. Some subtle, some not. And those changed won't even understand the problem.

After all, why would perfection be a problem?

The truth is, there are no problems. There can't be. It's perfect, Billy thinks. Believes it. His belief is his reality, and now, it's their reality. It all has to be perfect; they deserve it, all of them, for one reason or another. And he'll do whatever he has to protect that perfection from being tainted, ruined, taken away from them.

Teddy died so this could happen, after all.

So what is your new reality?


((first two threads reserved for the intro thread and billy's status; after that consider this log a free-for-all.))

Comments

[October 1st, morning - locked to kate bishop]

[selfhelp]

[It's only been two days since he was taken, but it feels like it's been an eternity. For Billy, everything suddenly feels like that; time passes sluggishly, the world blurs, and everything around him seems to be saturated in blue. He wonders if this is what it's like to be Tommy. He doesn't feel very fast, but still... there's something wrong. Something different.

Is it possible to remember in slow-motion? Because his mind is doing that. He can remember blood, screaming, electricity, anger, pain. He can remember Teddy's eyes, the fear he saw within. He can't find the words to remind himself what Teddy was afraid of. He can't figure out why everything's gone blue, why the world blurs at the edges, why he feels like he's on fire yet chilled to the bone.

He's holding a body, and there's blood all over his hands. It looks blue; everything's blue. He thinks of the prince in Stardust, of aliens with multi-coloured blood. Teddy would have understood that. Teddy would have laughed.

Teddy can't laugh right now.

"Billy, I love you, I'm sorry, I-"

The world burns again, and this time it hurts; he feels everything around him disintegrate, everything but the body in his arms. He can feel his own heartbeat, but no one else's. There are voices in the background, familiar yet strange and dreaded, but he ignores them. What they're saying doesn't matter. What they did, however...

I can fix this. I can fix this, I can change it all, I can make them pay, I just need-

He needs a minute. A minute, while the room around him dissolves, while the weight of whatever power suppressor they've installed on him is pressing down on him and he fights to ignore it. It's fine. Just one minute, and he-

There's a flash of light - not from him, but around him, joined by more shouting and a sudden yanking sensation - and when it fades, he's in the woods. He's alone. There is no body, only blood and ripped feathers and a heat still burning like lava in his very core. Everything is so bright he can barely see.

Teddy... Teddy...!]

[tryit]

[Kate probably could have just as easily put Tommy up to taking care of Optimus. Billy's his brother after all and the apartments the boys share are practically connected. But while there's some things she might acknowledge Speed to be good at (so long as he's not in earshot), she doubts puppy sitting is one of them.

It's why, rather than going about her normal morning routine of training at the Battle Dome, she's out walking along the outskirts of the forest. Teddy and Billy didn't return yesterday. Weren't around most of Sunday either. After the last time they attempted to go on a mission without her, she'd like to think that they'd know better than to try again. Which leaves her with one very worrying conclusion.

It had been her turn in August. In some sick way, it only made sense for one - or both - of the boys to be next. She doesn't like this feeling of helplessness, knowing there's nothing she can do for them until they get back. Not all the puppy sitting in the world can make her feel useful right now.

Optimus' barking snaps her out of her thoughts. He tugs sharply at his leash and Kate frowns, looking around for the cause of the sudden excitement. Then, she spots him. Kate drops the leash to run over towards her friend, Optimus following in her footsteps.]

Billy? [Oh god, oh god, he doesn't look good.] Ohmigod Billy, are you okay?

[1st-7th, after the first morning - open to all]

[selfhelp]

[The world is infinitely less complicated when it is perfect; Billy has decided this. Perfect, and peaceful, and controlled. It means he doesn't have to think about what happened to him, or what happened to Teddy. He doesn't think of the pain either of them went through, he doesn't think of what was done to him, that internal fire that he can neither control nor understand. He doesn't have to, he figures. As long as it allows him to live in this bliss, control or comprehension doesn't really matter, does it?

So he lives as he usually does, day by day, wandering the village, relaxed and happy and telling himself with spell and smile that he isn't dead inside. To those who are a part of Billy's recreated world, he welcomes them with a placid expression and a welcome word. He's William Maximoff now, and his life is much better than Billy Kaplan's, isn't it? No death or pain or loss, just love and family. That's how it should be.

To all others, he is changed in three very crucial ways: firstly, there is terrible burn mark encircling his neck; secondly, his eyes are blue, bright and consumed with a fire the same shade as his magic; thirdly, he is accompanied, at all times, by a shadow that by all accounts resembles Teddy. He acts like Teddy, he smiles like Teddy, he holds Billy's hand and compliments him and jokes and even laughs, sometimes. But like Billy himself, there is something missing, something vacant. And to him, everything is fine, just fine, and go ahead and try to convince him otherwise.

Still, this perfect world is not without its cost. As the week progresses, he begins to look more and more strained; reality resists him, the barrier suppresses his power, and the willpower (conscious or otherwise) of those affected is troublesome. He doesn't sleep- to do so would be to risk breaking the spell. Like hell he's going to give it up, though. It's still fine. It's fine, fine, fine...

It's more than fine for Billy. It's perfect. Because as long as it's perfect like this, it means Teddy isn't gone.]

Sometime whenever /vagues

[teenwonder]

[Dude, of course it's fine. It's better than fine! It's everything that life is supposed to be. So when Billy and Teddy pass by the Hayley's Circus tent, Dick's happy to peek out from a flap to greet them.]

Hey, you two! Isn't it a great day today? [Of course it is. They're all great days now.]

You guys wanna stop in for the show tonight? We've got your usual seats saved.

Pick a day, any day

[complicatedliar]

[Well hey there, neighbor. Everything is perfect, right?

...Billy, why do you make his head feel weird?]

1st

[dickmoves]

[ Hey, Billy. Hey. Hey. Billy. William. William. Bil-bo. Billy-goat. Billy-bill-bill-bill. Bill-bill-bill-bill. Billigan. Billyon.

I hope you were expecting your brother to yank the things you were just holding out of your hand and shove a book of Greek myths in your face. Because it just haoppened. And so did the obnoxious nicknames, although much much much faster.

Whatever you were doing before doesn't matter now. You're now shopping with Tommy. From your apartment. He's just running back and forth. ]

Do you think she'd like this?

Day 2

[bluestyonder]

[So Kurt comes to, as usual, bamf up behind his younger friend and greet him with a slap on a back.]

Willy, my boy! [And he smirks at Teddy.] And good old Teddy. How are we today?

[which_witch]

[Wanda is concerned. Her little boy, beloved and so wonderful, had always been such a happy child. Growing up, it was like they were blessed. A single mother with twin boys should have had her at her wits end, but while they had their fair share of chaos, she could never remember being unhappy. They were the joy of her life.

Now though... Now, something had changed. She couldn't really put a finger on what. She was still happy. Thomas was still happy. William was still happy. So what was it that was different?

Well, for one thing, happy though he may be, Wanda had noticed how... tired William had seemed recently. Rather 'out of it,' as if he's not sleeping. And that's never a good sign.

Concerned, she heads to his room, and knocks on the door lightly with her knuckles.]

William...? [He's ALWAYS "William" to her.] ... Are you asleep?

ALL THE DAYS.

[teenwonder]

[And suddenly, Luceti's a whole lot more fun. The circus has come to town, filling a substantial bit of the empty space between the rec center and community house 3. At night, spotlights beckon Lucetians within, to see a full three ring show. There are clowns and juggling routines, lion tamers and bearded ladies. But the main event is the gymnasts. The Flying Graysons are the reason the show is as popular as it's become, full of nail-biting tricks and aerial stuntwork. It's a death-defying show, all performed without a net by a family that's devoted its existence to the art.

The Graysons are a saccharinely happy family, as close knit as three people could possibly be. And though the mother and father might seem a little stiff and vacant-eyed at times, they're everything a son could ever ask for.

And so, all that Robin stuff? Yesterday's news. Dick's hung up that costume and exchanged it for a different kind of spandex. There are plenty of people here who can be bothered with heroics. If Luceti's going to give him back his parents, then Dick Grayson certainly isn't going to question it.

Robin Dick will be available on most days while the spell is in effect, working out routines within the tent even during the off-hours. He won't be difficult to find, for those who know where to look.]

Re: ALL THE DAYS.

[complicatedliar]

[Sure, Loki will take his daughter to the circus. So what if she's probably a little too young to know what's going on? It's something to do.]

All days

[complicatedliar]

[Loki is enjoying his unwedded bliss with Rogue. Who needs a wedding when you have a kid?

Expect him to be doing disturbingly domestic, dad-like things. He's just taking a little vacation from being the best and most popular king of Asgard ever. Expect to see messengers checking in with him fairly often when he's not enjoying his time with his kid and not-wife. Expect to see him wandering around town with a baby in his arm, perhaps lounging around at the fountain or dropping by the item shop to check on Rogue.

And there might even be a barbecue in the works. Neighbors are always welcome for that, now that the world is perfect and Loki no longer feels the need to stab everyone in the face.]

One of the days!

[widows_kiss]

His not stabbing everyone in the face is very much appreciated.

Especially by the team that would usually have been wary of his continued presence in Luceti. Not to mention his... procreating. Ohgod not another one. But hey, it's a perfect world and so old rivalries have long been put to rest and no one's really finding that weird.

Which is why Natasha looks up with a wry smile when he wanders into the cafe this morning with his child and sets about making him a coffee.

"Morning, Loki."

All the Days

[eversohungry]

[Retirement is suiting Vastra very well, strangely enough. Sometimes even she marvels at how happy she is simply not having to pick up her sword and go to work. Not even the Doctor has come knocking and she is completely and totally fine with how quiet life has been since her honorable discharge from Scotland Yard.]

[Now her life is firmly situated in the small village of Luceti, with her lovely wife Jenny and their adopted son Thomas (who, much to their joy, is just starting to take a serious interest in cartography. Vastra and Jenny even follow little Tom-Tom along the roads, smiling as he counts 'paces' and scribbles away in his notebook).]

[She doesn't miss her adventurous life at all--and a few times that does concern her, but only for a moment. Jenny only has to smile at her, and Vastra's worries leave her altogether. There is nothing to fight, there is nothing to investigate, there is only life after the endless battle for the safety of London.]

[Which... somehow... has concluded. Though Vastra can't exactly recall how.]

[Another thing she doesn't think too much on. Her days are filled with family walks, outdoor painting (she's rather awful at it, actually), and writing her own detective novels. After the life she'd had in London, there is no doubt in her mind that she deserves this peace.]

Re: All the Days

[complicatedliar]

[Loki drops by, Anja held easily in one arm. She's a bit too young for playdates, perhaps, but he thinks Auntie Vastra might like a visit...]

Any day

[degozaruyo]

[Life in Luceti got much more pleasant when Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Megumi came to the village. Now they all live in Kenshin's apartment, which has been expanded to fit their large "family." Their growing family. Shortly after Kaoru's arrival, they held the long-delayed wedding. It had been a beautiful ceremony, done in the traditional Shinto style, but the pregnancy that soon followed was more beautiful still.

Now their son, Kenji, is nineteen months old and a holy terror. With his fighting spirit, sense of adventure, and healthy set of lungs (he'd kept them all awake for much of last night, but Kenshin doesn't mind; it's simply one of the trials of parenthood), Kenji is sure to grow up to be a great swordsman one day.

Kenshin is walking through town with a bag of groceries in one arm and a squirming toddler hanging off the other. Kaoru is back at home; she needs a much-deserved rest after last night's travails. Also at home is his sakabatou. He doesn't carry it these days. Why would he, when everything is so perfect? It holds pride of place in their living room, waiting for Yahiko's fifteenth birthday, at which point he will inherit it until Kenji is old enough to weild it. The reversed sword is a symbol of who he was before he settled down; he's a changed man now. Even his scar has faded.

Kenshin is beginning to lose control of Kenji, who has just spotted the fountain. Maybe they'll stop there for a while so Kenji can run around a bit and get himself nice and tired out for his afternoon nap.]

[OOC: Open for anyone to talk to! Particularly those with kids.]

Re: Any day

[complicatedliar]

[It seems reasonable that Loki might be hanging out at the fountain with his little girl. Just to get some air... and let Rogue have an afternoon to herself. And give him some time with his daughter.

He laughs when he sees Kenshin's son barreling toward them. Thankfully, magic will keep them safe from any splashing.]

Any Day

[tryit]

[Sure, Luceti isn't New York City. It doesn't have any of the establishments she's used to. None of the exotic restaurants, fancy dance clubs, or the contrasting large department stores to tiny boutiques. But hey, at least it's not the Middle-Of-No-Where, U.S.A. Life could be a whole lot worse.

After all, she has most of her best friends here. More than that, she has Tommy. After two years, their relationship is still going strong. Sometimes, on really good days, she'd like to think they could rival Billy and Teddy in terms of team super couple - but without all of the sickly sappiness of course. She never really imagined growing up nightthe that she'd find someone like him, someone who makes her as happy as her father makes her mother. And that, more than anything, keeps her from missing those left behind too much.

Someday, she thinks, she'll see them again. Her parents and sister. Eli, Nate, and the Vision - the rest of her team not in Luceti with them. But most of the time, she's too busy to think otherwise. What with training and keeping the Young Avengers in shape or spending time with her boyfriend or working on the nightclub she plans on starting.

Life's exactly the way it ought to be.]

Any Day

[which_witch]

[Wanda is so happy her children have found such wonderful partners. Really, all she could ever hope for is that they're as happy in life as she herself has been. And Teddy and Kate are good for that.

Except.

It's such a small thing. Really, it's not the sort of thing one even really needs to think about these days, but.

Well.

She's a human.

And there's nothing wrong with that! Really!

She just-- some how always pictured her boys ending up with someone... less ordinary. Plus she wants mutant grandbabies, someday, and that's not happening with Billy.

It's on one lovely, perfect day, perhaps when Kate is in transit either to visit Tommy, or leaving after such a visit, that Wanda waves the younger lady over.]

Oh... Kate! How nice to see you. ... Do you have a moment, by any chance?

[not_a_troll]

[Well, Asgardia has been everything except a paradise. But Luceti came pretty close to it right now. He enjoys the company of his brother and spends a good time hiding underneath his cape.

And when he goes outside there is no hint of fear or worry. He knows he has friends and that he won't ever be alone. Promises were kept, bonds have never been broken. When he looks out of the window at night he finds Leah sitting underneath it. Loki waves, Leah glares. Sometimes they go out to walk the forests and it feels as if she has always been here.

Loki's life has reached perfection and frankly, he's the happiest godling of mischief in the Nine Realms and Luceti. They even gave him a pad of i! And everyone who meets him will be lectured about the meaning of faces of rage and other very interesting things!

Oh, and that bag of skittles? He is totally sharing today!]

[complicatedliar]

[Hey kiddo, want to babysit?]

[magicalesbian]

[Even in a perfect life, Kari is still rather anti-social. But she has no reason to feel gloomy now! After all, she's here in this veritable paradise with her mother and the two of them can finally spend some quality time together as mother and daughter -- time they never really had when Kari was growing up as her mother became more and more involved with her job. She'll be around the village for the first few days, often with her mother at her side, talking animatedly about one thing or another. The similarities between the two of them are uncanny appearance wise, so the relation between them should be pretty easy to see.]

[But on the sixth day, everything changes. Tired of being forgotten by it's vessel, the spirit in Kari's pendent forces itself out, breaking the spell's hold on Kari and causing her mother to disappear. But Kari won't have much time to mourn the loss -- in taking control, the spirit also takes control of Kari's entire body, locking away her mind and delegating it to the role of mere observer. She'll be Hoshikyo when this happens, of course, but it shouldn't take more than a glance to tell that something is very different her. Her eyes are dark, and there's a cold air of unfriendliness about her.]

[And for anyone capable of sensing such things, she'll also have a very powerful aura of evil and ill-intent. But don't worry, the spirit is not about to act on anything that would put its vessel in danger. However, anyone who knows Kari or Hoshikyo should expect a long, icy stare from her direction. Kari may not be completely aware of the spirit, but that doesn't mean it can't see her thoughts and memories. It knows everything she knows -- and perhaps even more than that.]

Any Day

[handing]

[Some things change, some things don't. Pepper still runs her art gallery, and she still volunteers at the Welcome Center. She's a business-minded woman who enjoys the challenge of both. But her hours are more strictly kept, both when she arrives and when she leaves determined not by a desire to finish one more project or stretching things to help some new arrival, but instead by her daughter's school hours.

It's important for a mother to be involved in her child's life, after all.

And Pepper is very involved, right along with Tony. Their world revolves around a vibrant, bright child named Susanna Stark (although with the nicknames her father bestows, no one might actually know that). She's got her mother's red hair and her father's brown eyes, and so many other traits that can be attributed to each of them. She is adored by her parents, walked to school each day and picked up by both her parents, spending time with them each night and especially on weekend family days. She also spends time at the gallery with her mother, and there are a couple of the girl's prized drawings on display with the rest. She's only five, but she's very good--and that's not just Pepper's bias talking.

But even in ideal worlds, things don't stay the same. Not long after the flash of light, Pepper finds out wonderous news that has her drifting off and smiling for no apparent reason at times. She's not going to tell anyone, though. At least not until after Friday, when she and Tony have their date night and she breaks the news to him. After that, she'll be much more willing and eager to share.

And why not? Everything is absolutely perfect. This is the life she's always wanted, and she couldn't be happier.]


{{ooc: Threeway threads with Tony very welcome! Just put it in the subject line, please.}}

Friday

[alloys]

Friday was date night, and even since their daughter entered their lives, Tony was glad to have the time just for him and Pepper to have together, short as it might be so they didn't have to keep a babysitter waiting too late. Tonight was dinner at Seventh Heaven, all sparkling conversation and playful banter, and Tony couldn't tell what it was, but there was something special in the air. Maybe it was just the general good mood catching on everywhere, but it seemed like more than that. But he couldn't place his finger on it, so he didn't give it too much thought. Besides, he didn't want to be distracted from the wonderful time he was having with his wife.

But as they walked home, hand in hand, Tony gave her a curious look, wondering if he should say anything about the way she seemed to shine. "Was dinner that good? Because I've got to say. I've had better."

Any Day! (for Bucky & Tasha both)

[widows_kiss]

[There's not a lot that Billy's magic changes for them, although there are some that are easily noticeable. Bucky and Natasha aren't living in separate apartments anymore - they've got a house down by the stream on the outskirts of the village. There's also the new addition of rings on their fingers, appearing along with the knowledge and memory of a wedding, small and private with just their friends standing in as witnesses.

She's still running the cafe and in their free time, they train students in the Battle Dome, in fighting styles, in weapons, in just about anything else that comes up and needs taught. Not that there's a whole lot of need for that in Luceti anymore, with things so peaceful and all. But habits run deep and these two don't let their skills lag even now.

There's another addition to their unit - a daughter, though not by blood. The aftermath of a shift ended up forming a close bond between Rue and Natasha. And when Bucky finally got up the nerves to make things more serious with Natasha, it wasn't long before the newlyweds turned things into a family of three.

They've settled in happily, content and grateful for the assurance of the time they've been given. None of them worry about having their lives together ripped away by time or distance and each day is better than the last. It's a perfect world and they're learning how to live in it.]


((OOC Note: This thread is for either Bucky or Natasha or both, feel free to ping any combination of the above, just include it in the subject line!))

Sunday, Both! (Let me know if this works?)

[handing]

[It's early Sunday morning when Pepper steals away to the cafe. Tony's at home with Susanna, and Pepper has a coffee date with two of her closest friends. She's all smiles when she strolls in, carrying a box from the bakery with breakfast pastries for the three of them to share.]

Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. [She grins teasingly at the two as she heads to the counter. In truth she couldn't be happier about how things have turned out for them.] I hope you're doing well.

any day

[alloys]

[ Tony's peached as a pie. High as a kite. And why shouldn't he be? He's happily married, enjoying life as a retired superhero with his focus on raising his daughter, Susanna Stark. Years back, parenting wasn't even a gig he would have remotely considered. But now that he had it, and he didn't have to worry about the threat of danger lurking around every corner? He couldn't be happier. Susie is the best thing that's ever happened to him.

During the week, Tony will be up to a variety of activities. Pick your perfection:

a. Every day, Tony and Pepper walk their daughter to school in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon, and certainly wouldn't mind company they might meet along the way.

b. At the Battle Dome, Tony has constructed a simulated amusement park just for Susie. Yeah, that's right. That said, visitors are welcome as the pair of them ride log flumes and eat too much cotton candy.

c. Elsewhere in Luceti, Tony can be found engaged in a number of activities with his daughter, including (but not limited to): tea parties in the front yard, checking out picture books from the library, firing science projects off the roof of the house (some of which may explode, sorry), playing at the playground behind the school. and “grocery shopping” to Tony’s taste preferences, which includes Poptarts and Eggo’s, naturally.

d. Behind house 49, construction has begun on a treehouse. Tony has TOTALLY GOT THIS PROJECT UNDER CONTROL. But that doesn't mean he still couldn't use a hand or some good, old-fashioned hassling.

e. When he’s not working on the treehouse and while Sue is at school, Tony is at home in his workshop, inventing to his heart’s content, since there’s always an abundant supply of the materials he needs on hand. He might be neck-deep into his work, but visitors are still welcome to stop by. He’s in a perpetually good mood these days, after all.

It's the life. ]


(( ooc: for choice a, just let us know if you want a three-way with Tony and Pepper!

Additionally, Tony will not have his arc reactor, so unaffected characters will notice it missing from his chest. Carry on! ))

d!

[complicatedliar]

[Loki's here to kibitz, maybe help a little. And he's also got his daughter with him, cradled in one arm, since she's a bit too young be left on her own. She's only six months old, after all.]

Look at that, Anja. It's a man who is trying to build a rat trap in a tree. How curious.

[dickmoves]

[ Luceti is boring, but there are some perks.

Thomas Maximoff is not a person that can be easily entertained. He spent most of his youth terrorizing his (arguably, mother's answer on who was first changes sometimes but he knows in it's hear its him) younger brother with his annoying schemes for attention, and then most of his teen years being the superhero that his uncle and mother were. His mutation was just plain cool and so there was never a shortage of positive attention, never a scolding for eating too fast and while school was boring nothing about it ever lead to the need to destroy it.

He's got the best family and friends a guy could ask for. He's got the best girlfriend a guy could ever want! His life is the best, and anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain crazy.

He's got a whole lot of places he can be.

a. At the item shop, picking up some things for himself and a few extras for his girlfriend. You'll have to sidestep him since he spends most of it zipping from side to side, grabbing things, deciding he doesn't want them, putting them back, and picking them up again.

b. BATTLE DOME. A superhero has to stay fit, and he's testing all the settings on this sucker. Feel free to join him for a session or complain that he's hogging up all the time!

c. Anywhere and everywhere! Seriously, he's all over. Just step out of the way if you hear him coming or you might get trampled. ]

[tryit]

[It's not as if Kate spends every moment of her free time with Tommy. She's got her other friends here, her business to build, training to keep up with. But, y'know? But there's nothing wrong with spending a lot of that free time with him, right?

Right?

Well, either way, he's stuck with her. And since Tommy has yet to complain, there's a Kate on his doorstep come Wednesday evening, refusing to acknowledge the start of autumn in her purple dress. Date night's something that totally has to occur more than once a week. Obviously.]

[bluestyonder]

[Kurt Wagner always likes to consider himself to be the coolest dad in town. He and his wife Amanda have been living her in domestic bliss with their gaggle of six blue children: David, Leonard, Josephine, Samuel, Penelope and Marie. They're truly a force to be reckoned with, as they all bamf around town, causing trouble. Sometimes they come back with other people's stuff, but it's no big deal. Kids will be kids; they're his little bamfs.

So, places the family can be found:

a. at their home, where Kurt has not yet noticed that any number of his children have taken something from a fellow villager. But said villagers should know by now that when something goes missing - especially something flashy or toy-like - this house should be the first one to check.

b. Trips through the item shop and the grocery store! Of course, the stores are quickly filled with some and load bamfing noises as the terrors of children make quick work of grabbing everything they want, picking the place clean.

c. The Battle Dome. Either Kurt is alone, going through a Danger Room session to stay in shape - and having more fun then ever - or he's with the kids and setting up a pirate battle simulation for them to play in.

d. Catch Kurt and Amanda while they're having a romantic dinner for two at Seventh Heaven, the children for now being watched by any of their hapless friends.

e. The following note appears in the journal early in the week:

"Bible study, this Sunday at the Welcome Center! And if that sounds dull to you? Then you better come, because brother? You are missing out! I can guarantee that there's nothing cooler!"

f. And, on Sunday, Kurt and his family are wearing their Sunday finest and the kids are on their best behavior, as they set up the Bible Study in an unused room. All kinds of folding chairs are set up, and Kurt is eager to go.

It should also be noted that, more often than not, Kurt Wagner is garbed in a sweater vest.]

[complicatedliar]

[Loki has been working on a new toy for Anja, which is quite shiny. And it's gone missing. He has a good guess where it's gotten to...

And goodness Kurt, Bible study? When your not-quite-brother-in-law is a god? Gosh. There might be some teasing over that while Loki's retrieving the toy in progress.

He's got Anja with him, since she's started teething and tends to fuss less if he's walking around with her.]

Any day!

[untrueheart]

[One of the first things Rue wanted to do after everything became final and real was help out in the cafe, however she could; sometimes that means staying into the evening and wiping up, getting ready for the next wave of people or to close for the day.

Other times it means drinking the last of the brewed coffee and waiting for her favorite, most precious minutes with her mother, and sometimes her father too. At those times, she can't stop smiling.

When not assisting her parents and turning her new, less-lonely demeanor on the world, she finds ways to just be kind to people: finding the book they're looking for in the library, grabbing a friend (who may be acting like an unsuspecting stranger for some odd reason) to help her tend to gardens around the village, or sitting and dreaming away about the future.

There's a friend of hers that she likes very much, you see. But he's a prince and she's a commoner and friendship is the best a girl like her can hope for, with him. It should be - and is, now - enough that her awful painful past can finally die, now that she has happiness and love from people here.]

Day 1

[soheartless]

[While she's at one of those gardens, there will be something like a sudden, brief wind. And then, he is standing there. A bouquet of flowers in hand.]

Any day

[idealism]

[Luceti has been terrible for Tsuzuki's self-worth during the past years, making him fall back into his old depression. It has been a rough time. That is why the illusions manage to catch him so off guard_ His sister is alive again and she doesn't remember all the terrible things that happened. She is just happy to see him. His shikigami are all back, their connection singing in the back of his mind. All his life he has wanted nothing but to feel included and loved, to have a family again. It is so close to perfect that Tsuzuki had trouble tearing himself away, in case the spell will shatter (because such good things are often too good to last. He knows this, but his heart doesn't want to believe it). Even his home looks better, his plants thriving and lots of airy space. Green branches slowly crawls up the pillars in the ball room, and in the sunlight it looks like a dream. It's enough for him to not listen to the little voice in the back of his head that reminds him that certain people aren't there, even though they should be.

When he finally goes outside, it feels like he's walking on clouds. Caught in his own thoughts, he doesn't see where he's going and walks straight into the first person he meets.]

[bottomlessheart]

[There is now a new house located somewhere north of the plaza. Or rather, it's around the size of a house while actually seeming to be a small castle with a tower. It is the home of Mytho, now better known as Prince Sigfried. His heart is whole, and it is in love with someone. It's just a matter of courting his chosen princess.

Every day, he starts off his morning the same way: he leaps from his tower. And he plummets many feet... until he summons a cloud of pink flower petals that he uses to glide through the sky. He takes time to smile at those he passes. After all, this place seems just like his storybook kingdom. And he is a prince who loves all of his subjects.

There is just one person he loves most of all. One can find him at the flower shop, where he peruses the wares to find just the right flowers for Rue. Otherwise, they may find him by the fountain. There, he performs ballet with an incredible grace.]

[touchofrogue]

[Let's face it, Rogue's daughter is the actual cutest thing ever. Rogue feels this fact has been amply proved by her boyfriend consistently stealing Anja away from her.

'You have to have a break,' he says or 'I'm just going to go for a walk,' or 'Why don't you rest?' or 'I just want to help out, you're always working so hard' and sooner or later Loki has whisked their daughter away to show her off. So at odd times, Rogue will find herself with an abundance of free time on her hands. During these times, she:

a) Occasionally minds the Item Shop. She's not at all as interested in this now that she has a baby, however, and mostly just pokes about the home decorating section.
b) Will be at the Battle Dome. She is convinced that she hasn't lost all her baby weight yet and is determined to fit back into her uniform without a hitch.
c) In the library. She's looking up baby care books. Anja has started teething and while she's alright most days, some of them the poor baby just cries and cries and she hates not knowing what to do to help. Rogue wishes her mom was here.
d) Grocery shopping. Because diapers run out quickly and so do animal crackers.

When Rogue is not out and about, she's at home with Anja, encouraging her attempts to pull herself up by the sofa. But it wouldn't be too rare to see her taking her baby out for a stroll. It's too nice to just stay inside.]

[snikting]

After her workout in one of the Dome's rooms, she'll find Logan outside waiting. A sort of surprise, seeing as how he's resting against the wall not far from the door. Easily missed.

"Ya used to be faster."

Or maybe she used to be slower. It was a little too easy to give her some criticism after having a kid. After all, it seemed like everyone just decided to start popping them out.

Logan | The whole week okay, idk

[snikting]

So there was Logan. He and Laura hadn't been to Luceti in awhile. They tended to blow in from one place to another, unrestrained by the conventions of the Malnosso. Maybe they'd be in Kin'cora one week or Excenn another. It was wherever the road happened to lead them. This time, it was back to Luceti. And hell, Logan really didn't mind that so much. It was as close to home as anywhere got.

And he certainly was the unusual sight with his motorcyle parked outside the bar. It didn't really click with him that it was unusual that only he and Laura really had them. And why should it? They were free riders not bound by what regular folk like Lucetians did. He got his usual drink and though gruff as ever, he was just that tiny smidge friendlier.

Some time is spent at the Battle Dome, because he wants to see how well his former students are doing. He may not exactly be one of the X-Men anymore, but that doesn't mean they stopped being important to him. It'd be gratifying to see how far they've come.

And then in the evenings, it's east of the village, in the open forest under the stars with nothing but a sleeping bag and a pillow made of bundled up clothes. It was not yet so cold as to need anything more than that. Nothing beat living out in the open air where no one complained about your excess of body odor and stench of cigars. This was living.