InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "parce que"

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: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

chernobog
2017-06-25 06:00 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, uh, Matthew or Matt, I guess," Matt stumbled, accepting the man's hand and giving it a firm shake. "My friends call me Matt at least, so..."

He pressed his lips together, feeling awkward and odd and shifted on his feet nervously. "The free food is nice though," Matt commented, trying to move the conversation along as he dove into awkward territory. "I've never lived in an apartment complex that has gone all out like this before. It's kind of amazing."

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	Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m. coyoti 2017-06-25 06:19 pm UTC (link)
	Frowning, Chris cast a glance to the food in his hand before looking back at Matt. "Yeah, I mean, it's nice." He went quiet for a moment, obviously debating something before finally deciding to go ahead with his inquiry. "You know, you're lucky you're new. Less...bullshit to deal with, I guess. Anyone tell you anything, about this place? So far?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

chernobog
2017-06-25 07:45 pm UTC (link)

Matthew looked at the man, quietly contemplating him and taking note of what he looked like. "Yeah, I've heard a lot.... well I've seen a lot of chatter too on the message boards. This place sounds like a haunted building, you know?"

He shifted forward to toss his wet napkin into the trash and returned his gaze to Chris. "I haven't had anything happen to me though but...yeah I've heard a lot of mixed messages. Are you willing to give me the low down? The only other person I know here is Thomas but he just moved in and is always positive. So even if anything bad hit him in the face he wouldn't realize it."

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-25 09:49 pm UTC (link)

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Chris wished he hadn't said anything. But then again, that was his job at this point, wasn't it? Talking to people, and he didn't especially want to find out what would happen if he didn't He was already lying to too many, one step away from needing to keep notes so he knew who knew what.

"Uh," he said, at least sounding hesitant so Matt wouldn't believe him eager. "Sure, I can... I'll tell you a few things. Weird dreams, and then in April... The whole place got a makeover. It's, uh... It's hard to describe without having been there. But one minute it's normal, like you see every day, and then it wasn't.

"And then they," he put emphasis on the word, obviously trying to distance himself, "gave us a spa day in recompense for all that, instead of keeping people from moving out. Weird, you know?" His brows came together, watching Matt's face, believing that the other man would be just as unsettled as everyone else. Maybe he could help someone, Chris thought, get out of this unforsaken building before it was too late.

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

chernobog
2017-06-26 12:12 am UTC (link)

Matthew could feel the blood run out of his face. His stomach dropped and he blinked as he attempted to regain control of his facial features. "A spa day? When was that?" He recalled the location of the tests, recalled the scent of lotion and freshly painted nails... Straightening his back, he tried again.

"Did everyone here go to it? I mean, it's nice that they offered it if a little extreme...I suppose if things are being strange everyone should be offered a free month's rent or to be able to move out."

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-26 11:13 am UTC (link)

A thick, black brow arched; Chris was fairly certain the spa day had been introduced after Matt's arrival, and there'd been so much chatter about it on the boards that it was nearly impossible to miss.

"Uh, not everyone," he admitted, watching Matt's face carefully. He suddenly seemed awfully nervous. "I didn't, and I managed to convince my friends... I mean, my friends didn't go. There's a handful who did, though. Just, struck me as weird, you know? All the strangeness and then the best they can do is a comp day for a spa." He rolled his eyes, briefly wondering at the microphone he'd gotten back in April and glancing around as though there might be more so they could listen in. Then he rolled his eyes; he was getting paranoid.

"I was talking with a few who did. Alice, Nish. You met either of them? They both said they fell asleep, which... I guess that's not that strange... I take it you missed out on the opportunity?"

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

chernobog
2017-06-26 12:10 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah," Matt replied with a slow nod. "You know, I moved in here just at the end of April but I haven't really settled down until June. I came from Baltimore, so it was kind of a big change. First the time difference then having to buy furniture for my apartment--I didn't bother to ship it all out here."

He fell quiet all at once and looked around the pool. "I've met Alice, she's the bakery shop owner, right?" He gave a nod in the direction of the red head in the seating area who seemed to be frowning to herself. "And I haven't met Nish, is she here?" He looked around, spotting multiple people he recognized but didn't know the real names of. The man beside him was a huge help though, if a little suspicious, which only made Matthew suspicious. There seemed to be a general sense of paranoia in the community but Chris's was of a different sort. Why did he feel that it was necessary to prevent his friends from going? It was weird, certainly, but it seemed like he knew more.

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-26 01:30 pm UTC (link)

Chris jerked his head in the direction of where Nish was laying out on one of the chairs.

"Yeah, that's her right there. And yeah, I think Alice owns a bakery; I've never been myself." He looked back to the snack table and grabbed a shrimp cake, adding it to the growing pile, just to give his hands something to do.

"That's a huge move, though. What brought you all the way out here?"

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

chernobog
2017-06-26 02:14 pm UTC (link)

Matthew looked toward Nish and frowned a little but said nothing. Instead, he looked at Chris, meeting his gaze and not backing down. There was no need to look guilty for moving out here, even if his job was quickly becoming something he hadn't realized he was signing up for.

"A job opportunity," Matthew replied. "I'm a doctor by trade but do research mainly. I worked in Baltimore at a lab but then was given a chance to come down here and took it. I've never lived far from my childhood home in Philadelphia, so it seemed like a nice chance to shake things up. It's a little... more... than I asked for. But that's my own foolishness, I suppose."

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	Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m. coyoti 2017-06-26 02:44 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh yeah?" Chris decided to continue pressing his point, though he wasn't sure how much further he was going to get. He cast a glance back toward Kal and Daniel, gratefully finding them both where he'd left them. That alone seemed to bolster his courage a little, and he looked back at Matt. "How so? What kind of research do you do?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

chernobog
2017-06-26 04:00 pm UTC (link)

Matthew's brows narrowed. Chris was asking too many questions and for a fleeting moment he wondered if perhaps Chris was employed by the same people he was. Or perhaps Chris was just paranoid--understandably--like everyone else at the complex.

"Do you know many doctors who work on medical research?" Matthew asked, opting to be offended if only to shake Chris off his trail. "It's confidential information and not to be shared due to privacy issues. What I meant was that moving across the country and this being my true first time away from home beside medical school is more than I asked for. Luckily, a childhood friend found his way here." He looked around for Tom and didn't spot him. "Thomas, if you've seen his posts--he offered the free yoga classes."

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-26 04:23 pm UTC (link)

"Haven't met him," Chris dismissed quickly, realizing he'd overstepped. Similarly, he took a step away from Matt, the wet spot on his pants sticking back to his thigh.

"Hopefully he'll show up, though. I'm... gonna get back," he continued, thumbing at Daniel and Kal as they provided a quick excuse for his exit. Without further inquiry, he turned, one last glance cast over his shoulder in Matt's direction. More questions swirled through his mind, but none of them were appropriate here.

Instead, he focused on balancing his plate and making his slow, steady way back toward his two friends.

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Re: Matt/Chris -- Food Table -- 8:05 p.m. (completed/closed)

chernobog
2017-06-26 04:31 pm UTC (link)

Matthew watched as Chris moved away, his lips pressed thin with a mixture of curiosity and frustration. He didn't try to stop the man from leaving, in fact he felt a little relieved he was alone, but still his questions nagged at him.

So Matthew did what he could do, he turned and picked up his plate and made his way out of the pool area. He'd take the food up to his apartment and eat there, away from people and prying questions, away from active faces who upon his first encounter, were inactive and asleep.

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