InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Not the butter"

paxnarrator (paxnarrator) wrote in paxletalelogs,
@ 2017-06-21 08:45:00

Entry tags:

ares, chernobog, coyote, event post, freyr, hades, hel, hermes, loki, maui, pan, persephone, tyr, uke mochi, xochipilli

hot summer streets
Who: EVERYONE.
What: Pax Letale pool party.
Where: Pax pool.
When: Wednesday, June 20; in-game time, 7 p.m.
Notes: Hey guys -- you know the rules. Tag/label your posts, ask for permission coming into threads, etc etc. Any questions, toss 'em at the the modbox.

Despite the mildly warm weather, a pall seemed cast over the planned festivities. All throughout the day, clouds had swarmed the skies, covering the apartment complex in shadow. The passing of the sun did little to aid in this, though as it grew closer and closer to the established party time, the pool area was made ready for its assumed guests.

A sickly green light emanated from the pool itself, the glow growing stronger as the darkness encroached. Strung lights hung from the covered sitting areas, their colors punching through the darkness without shame. Music scattered itself, blaring softly from a nearby boombox that was controlled by an unseen hand; nearby, a table was laden with as expensive of foods as had become expected from these types of social situations: shrimp cakes, lobster sliders, three-queso dip with accompanying chips, and more. Perhaps to the guest's chagrin, there were no alcoholic beverages to be spoken of, but those who decided to BYOB would not find it difficult to do so. Otherwise, a flavorful fruit punch was on hand for thirsty attendees.

As the hour grew nearer, people started to collect outside of the pool, helping themselves to food, some sitting at the pool's edge with their feet dangling in the water. The music, which had been alternating between old summer time hits and the latest pop ballads, began to croon out a familiar tune, though only those listening closely might have heard any true malice in the lyrics.

Hot summer streets
And the pavements are burning
I sit around
Trying to smile but
The air is so heavy and dry...

...it's a cruel, cruel summer...

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-23 11:48 am UTC (link)

"Yeah..." Alice's brow knit together and she gazed off across the pool, her sight falling on Kal and Daniel who both seemed to be looking toward her. She sat up a little straighter and flashed a half-hearted smile and a little wave. "It's good that there are nice people who live here though and friend's, too. Kal said he had a childhood friend here which is nice... I do too. Do you know BB?"

Her friend's name was an unexpected kick in the gut and she only looked a little hurt by the notion. Quickly, she looked up at Chris and tried to appear casual but the recovering hangover both emotionally and physically was still there at the corner of her eyes, making them not as open and eager for the world. "And I mean, of course I've made other friends while here. Everyone is great. It makes up for the lack of neighbors on my floor and it's nice to be able to sort of... you know, share all of the craziness with others."

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-23 12:10 pm UTC (link)

"I am that friend, actually," he offered. No point in sowing lies that could easily be sussed out. "Known Kal since high school. And yeah, it is... nice." That wasn't the word he would have picked, necessarily, but he certainly shared the sentiment. He passed his plate between his hands.

"Speaking of sharing, just... I spent most of that one week in my apartment, so I keep hearing different stories." It was a lie, one that she could have easily figured out, but Chris had to take a risk that she wouldn't go snooping around why he was asking. "When all of that...the stuff happened...what, exactly, did you see? If it's not too personal, you know," he quickly amended, trying to clearly show that it was blank curiosity and not something else that drove his questions.

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-23 12:17 pm UTC (link)

"Do you mean when the floors did that... thing?" Alice asked, her voice softer than before, more conspiratory. She glanced about, not quite wanting to avoid the eager ears of neighbors but hoping that an employee of the complex wasn't near--not that one ever was present for apartment parties.

"All the floors seemed to have a different style, or a different theme. There was food on some, drinks on others. Some people were able to touch and drink the stuff from some floors while other floors would cause a bad reaction." She gave a quiver, an arm wrapping around her thin torso to hug herself. "Sometimes I wonder if half the stuff that happened during that week was a figment of my imagination or a hallucination or whatever. It seemed to do things to people but everyone experienced something different."

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-23 12:22 pm UTC (link)

Chris found his head bobbing almost without meaning to, but he kept the motion, finding it encouraging.

"I heard that, too," he said, trying to contain his impatience. He needed to draw this out slowly, carefully. She was clearly willing, but it'd be too easy to scare her off. "I heard, like... Some people felt things? They, uh, changed. Not personal growth or anything, more...physical changes?" He shook his head. "It just sounds too crazy to be believable, you know? Maybe someone pumped gas into all the floors and we really did just hallucinate."

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-23 12:28 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah..." Color kissed Alice's cheeks as she looked down at her hands. "Some people had weird things happen like that. Or rather, at least we think. I had strands of wheat in my hair but..." She shook her head and laughed. "You know some days I believe that totally happened and other days I'm like, that's not even possible.

"I think you're right. There must have been a gas leak or something. It was all too surreal. Like a dream, you know?" She shifted on her seat and looked back at Chris. "Did your friends have anything strange happen? Daniel or Kal? I've met Daniel before, by the way. I saw you together over there. It sucks that he broke his leg."

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-23 12:59 pm UTC (link)

Chris glanced in Kal and Daniel's direction, his head nodding again. He was starting to feel like a bobble head.

"Yeah," he said, glossing over it as much as possible as he looked back at Alice. "He...he gets ahead of himself. Doesn't think before he acts." The plate switched hands again. "The big guy, he got... a little glossy, bigger. Nothing like what you said, though. Wheat? Really? Just, what, woven into your hair?" His brows drew together as he frowned, clearly trying to imagine what she was describing.

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-23 01:09 pm UTC (link)

Alice's eyes widened. "Bigger? God, he's already so... tall. He's like a walking fridge." She stared at Kal for a moment, trying to envision him becoming larger than he already was. She wondered, briefly, if that would mean he'd have a bigger appetite.

Pulling her gaze away from Kal and back to Chris she laughed again. "No, like... like it was growing out of my head. Like instead of hair coming from my scalp, it was wheat. Literally attached to my hair. But that's all it did... grow in, disappear, sometimes thicker than other times. It didn't hurt or anything, it was just there."

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	Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m. coyoti 2017-06-23 01:19 pm UTC (link)
	He didn't have to feign the surprise that made his eyes grow rounder. Between Nish having a huge change of heart and now Alice saying she'd suffered actual, physical transformations during the floor change was... shocking, to say the least. "How long did it last? Was it just... Did anyone else see this?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-23 02:06 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, uh... BB, Isobel--I don't know if you've met her--, and Rafael? I don't know who you do and don't know." Alice smiled but felt the smallest twist in her belly, that perhaps he had too many questions. Still, he was pleasant enough and she had this very conversation so many times with so many others....

"But yeah, it lasted for about a week then it went away when the floors went back to normal. I haven't seen the wheat in my hair since."

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-23 02:19 pm UTC (link)

"I know Rafe," he said before he quite realized it; the other names meant nothing to him, though Isobel's was slightly more familiar due to it being on the list he'd received.

"Shit, though. Sounds like a crazy week, for you. Did you... I don't know what you thought of it, but that spa offer. I mean, small recompense, right? But it was something." The conversation was sparse, but he was getting good information. What his employer planned to do with it, he didn't know, but he shifted from one leg to another, doing his best to avoid the pinched feeling that his right leg was currently telegraphing to him.

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Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-23 06:05 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah, I guess it was something," Alice replied, her voice clearly uncertain. She sighed and leaned back into her seat. "It was just a regular spa experience, I suppose. Nothing too exciting but it's nice all the same. Spa days are super expensive around here. Still, I almost would rather they spend their money doing more than offering us free days. Like, maybe the weird things just never happening again. Or maybe a free month's rent."

She smiled up at him and waved at Isobel's empty seat. Despite the uneasiness that Chris had so many questions, he checked off a long list that Alice mentally had. He knew Daniel, Kal and Rafael, three people she liked and trusted, so surely he wasn't a creep, just curious. Plus, the memories of the night before were still poking the back of her mind, threatening to take over, and she knew she'd have to face it all eventually but it certainly didn't have to be now. "You know, you can sit if you'd like. You don't have to stand there."

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	Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m. coyoti 2017-06-25 01:39 pm UTC (link)
	Chris waved a hand. "Oh, that's OK. Really. Thanks though. I, uh, should be getting back, before Kal gets some stupid idea in his head and throws Daniel in the pool. Swear to god, I'm pretty sure Daniel would be egging him on up until he hits the water." His grin was not entirely forced. "Uh, one other thing though. Did you fall asleep? At the spa?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m. rosemary_thyme 2017-06-25 03:10 pm UTC (link)
	His last comment caused Alice to pause. She furrowed her brow, slightly confused by such an odd question, but couldn't just brush it off. "Um, yeah I dozed. It's a spa, right? You're expected to relax until you doze." She tried a smile on for size and looked at Chris expectantly, wondering if he had more questions or if he'd leave now as he indicated earlier. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Chris/Alice - sitting area - 7:53 p.m. (completed/closed)

coyoti
2017-06-25 04:28 pm UTC (link)

Chris gave Alice a long, careful look, before bobbing his head once more. He'd pushed too far in this particular avenue, and he knew more questions would just backfire on him. Better to step away now.

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I don't know why I asked. Just, I guess, making conversation. It was nice to meet you." He smiled and nodded at her one more time. "Next time Kal stops in at the shop, tell him I ordered something with pineapple in it. On him."

And on that note, he proceeded to continue his slow walk to the food table, hoping that no one—Alice most of all—had taken too much notice of their brief but strange conversation.

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