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

[tryit]

[More than ideal. That's the nice thing about the mountains. Almost every spot makes for an ideal picnic spot. They're near enough the hot springs that she can hear the burbling of the brooks leading down to the pools. The trees are changing colors at this time of year.

It's perfect.

Not that Kate expresses the sentiment aloud. But from the smile on her face, it's clear that she means it.]

Nice choice. [She walks towards the edge of the bluff they're on.] The view's gorgeous.

[dickmoves]

The scenery isn't bad either. [ He spreads out the blanket and sets the basket down with a grin, zipping over to her side. It's not like he's been here before or anything, or planned for every conceivable date she could want to go on.

That's just crazy. ]

[tryit]

[She turns to smile at him, blue eyes peaking over the rims of sunglasses and a wicked and knowing little grin on her face that says she knows exactly what he's talking about. But it's appreciated. It's always appreciated.]

Too bad I can't say the same about the company.

[dickmoves]

I'm so hurt. [ Gosh. But he gives a lop-sided smirk and gestures towards the picnic set up. ]

[tryit]

[She rolls her eyes at that statement as her hand reaches for his, lacing her fingers with his own. There's no way that she's letting him get a head start on eating any of that pizza. It'll be gone before she gets there.

Besides, it's kind of nice being close to him as she begins to walk at a normal speed]

Pizza and coffee. I can't think of anything better.

[dickmoves]

[ Ugh, normal walking speed. For her he'll deal with it. ]

You're responsible for the consequences, you know.

[tryit]

[How sweet. Just one of the many reasons she loves him.]

Nothing I can't handle.

[dickmoves]

And that's why I love you.

[ When things go back to normal he'll deny emotions ever happening. ]

[tryit]

[She'll never tire of hearing that. That Tommy loves her. And not because she's a rich girl who can kick his ass any day of the week. It's just because she can kick his ass any day of the week.]

I love you, too. [After two years, it's gotten a lot easier to say those words aloud. Reasons why Kate will do her best to avoid him after the spell ends.] Caffeine-induced ADHD and all.

[dickmoves]

Good, pretty sure you're stuck with that. [ Sitting down and flipping open the basket.

Ah.

Right. The present.

Tommy grabs a small wrapped present and offers it out. ]

[tryit]

[She plops down on the blanket next to him, brow wrinkling when he hands her the gift. Though she takes it, she doesn't open it.

At least, not right away.]

It's not my birthday.

[dickmoves]

So? In some alternate timeline it could definitely be your birthday. [ Which is Tommy for "I just wanted to". ]

[tryit]

[She shrugs. Okay, fair enough. Haven't they all had enough of alternate timelines since coming here?

So she doesn't hesitate in ripping open the wrapping. No reason to be delicate about this.]

[dickmoves]

[ It's a book! Of Greek Mythology.

Is it a dumb present. It's probably a dumb present. He picked it for a good reason and he's... well, semi-sure it's a good reason. And not looking even remotely nervous.

For real. ]

[tryit]

[...

She doesn't know why she expected something like jewelry. She'll wear earrings or a necklace now or then. Often enough, at least, that it ought to count as a legitimate gift idea.

But a book. A book on Greek gods and goddesses?]

Um, Tommy, you do know I'm your girlfriend and not your brother, right?

1/2

[dickmoves]

[ Never listen to Billy. ]

Well, duh!

[dickmoves]

[ Stop. ] I- [ Ugh. ] I was flipping through it and there's a bunch of legends that remind me of you. [ Never listen to Billy. ]

[tryit]

[You have her attention now.

Still holding the book, she looks at him.]

Really?

[Do go on.]

[dickmoves]

Yeah. Like... all these stories about this chick named Artemis.

[tryit]

Artemis.

[She considers this just for a moment. And then chuckles. The huntress. She's not much of a hunter, but Kate's cocky enough to bet that she can take on a Greek goddess in an archery competition anyway.]

Y'know, she was one of the maiden goddesses.

[dickmoves]

[ OH.

WELL... SHRUGs. MAYBE A LITTLE AWKWARDLY. ]

[tryit]

[Have some giggles on this end, Tommy. (However awkward and a little bit shy they might be as well.)

...she loves you. Really.]

How much of this did you really read?

[dickmoves]

As much as I usually do. [ So you know, skimming for the relevant bits. ]

[tryit]

Right.

[So, glossing over small, uninteresting details?

She inches closer to him until she's close enough to give him a kiss on the cheek.]

Don't worry. [Because, as much as it puts her on ease, there's something fun about knocking Tommy off course.] I have no intention of following in all of Artemis' footsteps.

[dickmoves]

[ Sneaking in a kiss on the lips. ] Have I told you lately how you're my favorite human being?