hadriel_logs | Event Log: Stepford Summer

Entry tags:

Event Log: Stepford Summer

Who: Everyone participating in the event
What: The Stepford Summer event!
Where: Across the city
When: July 16th-July 25th
Warnings: None!

Good morning, neighbor!

On the 16th, everyone wakes up feeling a little more... complete. The sun is shining, your bed is nice and comfortable and when you throw off the blankets, your perfect dog (probably named Spot) is sitting eagerly at your feet, waiting to be fed and walked.

The newspaper smacks against your porch and the paper boy calls out in hello as he cycles off further down the road. Sure, you can't actually read the strange symbols on the paper, but it's nice to have the ritual of it in the first place. Your parent or your sibling or your significant other is busy making pancakes in the kitchen when you come in, filling the room with the smell of delicious cooking. Yum!

The rest of the day is much like this. You straighten your tie, adjust your blazer and head off to work at a normal place, doing normal things. So what if you work with a guy who's actually a demon, or a seven foot tall elf? That's normal, isn't it?

There are cracks in the illusion, of course, but whether you're able to put it together is on you. Why would you want to, anyway? You have so many great relatives and an awesome support system, you're drinking awesome coffee every morning, and maybe you'll treat yourself to some ice cream at night before bed. What could be better?

Certainly not the cave. You don't want to remember that, do you?

► This log covers July 16th-25th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If suburbia is your worst nightmare and you succumb to the pressures of a day to day life, please let us know here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Despite the god's attempts at creating a peaceful illusion, everything must bend, and as the illusion starts to let things seep in through the cracks is the first time he realizes it. If he had remembered, it would have been a jarring thought to wake up one day without magic, but he couldn't remember enough to miss it.

But it's today, when he's home with his sister, taking an important few days of rest before they set off for their tour, that it happens.

He's doing the dishes, cleaning off a mug of coffee from that morning, thinking idly about the lack of light over the sink, when a new source starts shining over his shoulder. He turns, thinking Lup may have just flipped the switch from the doorway, but--

It's an orb. Just a little, floating orb of light, hovering exactly where he needs it.

He watches it curiously, hitting the tap off as he lifts his hand to it, finding it quite solid and able to be moved. He brings it down into his hand, rolls it there, and tosses it again, freezing in place with a thought of where he wants it to stop. A grin spreads across Taako's face, less in nervousness, and more of curiosity. He feels... tied to this. And as he waves his hand over it and it disappears, he thinks a few moments, twists his wrist in a way that feels familiar, and it reappears.

Now, figuring out you can make a tiny light show is usually cause for alarm. It's typically the thing that you tell your dearest darlingist sister about the moment you find out, just in case something weird is happening and someone might get hurt. However, both those sentences assume some very key things about Taako, and both of those things are wrong. So instead, he positions himself around the corner of the kitchen door, fingers sparking with whatever this is, ready to pull a little jumpscare.]

Hey Luuuup? Can you come give me a hand with something real quick?

[He sounds absolutely saccharine. It will be her only warning.]

[Who knew that running a super popular restaurant, playing host on a live cooking show, and working out a multi-city tour simultaneously would be so freaking exhausting?

Lup wasn't the type of woman to spend her free evenings with her aching feet propped up in fuzzy slippers, unable to focus on anything but how good sleep currently sounded, but even she had her limits. And after running at full speed for weeks on end, she'd finally smacked hard right into that limit, all while lounging in the twin's shared living room, the familiar sound of the water running in the kitchen quickly lulling her to sleep.

--Until suddenly Taako's voice was calling her back, her eyes snapping open almost immediately. Taako might not be able to feel it, but Lup glares in his direction straight through the wall. That sugary sweetness in her brother's tone can only mean one thing.

Yet even with her suspicions, Lup unfurls and heads for the kitchen, raising her voice to respond to him before she's completely visible.]

I swear. Taako, if I walk in there and there's another bucket above the door, I will kick your ass right out of this tour so fast.

[When she enters the kitchen, Lup's gaze is focused upwards instead of on her brother, checking above for any traps he might have set for her.]

[Oh, she looks up, that’s so much better. Oh, everything’s comin’ up Taako right now.]

Lup, why would I dare dream of setting a water bucket trap?

[She enters, and if she sees him right before he moves, all she’s going to get to see is his face grinning like a motherfucker.]

I’d never do the same joke twice!

[He surges her direction, the ball of light reappearing in his hand again but stronger this time, just sort of tossing it right at her face.

It occurs to him he probably should’ve checked if this thing was like, hot, or could hurt her, but he was holding it so it’s probably fine. The point here is surprise, and a little bit of blinding. Y’know. Just sibling things.]

[Later, when Lup thought back upon the details of this specific afternoon with her brother, she'd be amazed at how difficult it was to recall exactly what had happened between the pair there in their kitchen. It had all happened so incredibly fast. Lup felt like one moment things had been as normal as they'd ever been in Pleasant Valley, then she'd blinked and the world had turned itself upside down.

It's the way his voice is just dripping with sweetness, so completely over-the-top, that has Lup's gaze dropping to catch Taako's expression a half a second before everything goes bright. The woman shrieks, more out of surprise and flat out annoyance than actual pain, and throws up a hand to defend herself from the second attack that never comes.

Because then, as she was attempting to blink her vision back into focus, Lup feels a sudden, sharp rise in heat at her fingertips. At first, she's still caught in shock at that flashing light in her face that it isn't even noticeable. A slight tingle in her fingers versus the new tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. But then, it rises, the warmth engulfing her entire palm before it suddenly wasn't.

Somehow, the whole thing feels terribly familiar, even if Lup is half-dazed and barely able to make out Taako's shape in front of her. But before she can focus on why that is, she feels that same heat rising again. Just now it's coming off of her brother, brightly colored flame just barely coming into focus as her vision returns.]

[Alright. Well. Taako may have made one teeny, tiny, very insignificant error in this plan.

That error being if he could suddenly do a light show that he would at all expect his fucking twin not to be able to pull something out, too.

That error is also that he made a light show and she lit him the fuck on fire.

He hits the ground in a stop-drop-and-roll immediately, mostly just screaming incomprehensible garbage until the flames cut as he makes sure he still has hair and eyebrows. Those're, you know, priorities. When he doesn't feel like he's actively gonna die, he looks up at her from his position on the floor, scrambling to sit up with his hands on the tile.]

Lup, what the fuck?

[This has to be karma striking them down finally. This is what they deserve for being such garbage people. It just has to be.

With her twin hollering unintelligently on the ground, Lup starts screaming along with him, hands clutching at the side of her head as Taako log rolls wildly around her feet. There's a moment where Lup is stuck frozen in shock, just shrieking at high volume while Taako does the same, but just as the flames begin to die down, she's vaulting over her twin and throwing open their fridge. A second later, timed perfectly to when her brother sits up completely flameless, Lup throws a pitcher of chilled lemon water over his head, dousing Taako and their kitchen floor completely.

A moment of silence passes.

The empty pitcher topples from Lup's hand to the floor as the woman raises her hands up to her face. She stares at her hands, then briefly down at Taako, then back again. Her slim fingers wiggle, tingling still from the flame she'd conjured, but there's no other hint of what she'd just done. Lup opens her mouth and says nothing, head tipping to the side as she tries to settle on something. She should definitely apologize for setting her brother on fire. That would be a good start.]

...That was fucking rad.

[He gives her the most flat, unimpressed look. Great. He was on fire and now he's wet and gonna be lemon-sticky. You are the worst, Lup.]

Okay. Here's the thing. Listen.

[He claps his hands together, placing them in front of his mouth while he thinks on how to phrase this.]

So. Maybe. We both made some mistakes here. And I volunteer you go first. In explaining what the fuck you just did.

[Go on Lup admit to setting him on fire, it'll make "I planned on momentarily blinding my sister" sound way less terrible.]

[She's only this way because he makes her like this. This worst-ness is a joint collaboration, dear.]

I...I don't know. Full honesty? It was cool as fuck but I did not do that on purpose. [Lup closes her hands into tight fists and then immediately unfurls them, trying to keep the tingle from the warmth she'd conjured there at her fingers. A second of intense concentration, Lup putting her full focus into willing the flame back and poof, both of her hands light on fire again. She should probably be alarmed or, y'know, screaming senselessly again, but the action feels so damn familiar that Lup can't help the way her mouth curls into a grin at the sensation.

She thrusts her hands in Taako's direction, not throwing the flame at him this time, but maybe getting a little too close for comfort in her enthusiasm.] Touch it! Is it hot to you?

[Don't blame this on him!!!! This is only, like, 25% his fault!!!

Still, he accidentally lets out a high pitched shriek when she just FOISTS FIRE HIS DIRECTION and he scrambles backwards, lest he loose an eyebrow.]

Yes it's hot! God, Lup, I can feel it from here what the fuck, I get a goddamn light show and you can just summon fire??

[He's. This is not going the way he planned at all.]

[Take that 50% or she is walking!

At his shriek, Lup withdraws her hands back with a snap, brows raising in surprise like she honestly is surprised her brother is screaming at her for throwing fire in his face. Maybe she expected a more 'oh wow, you're so cool' reaction instead.]

I don't know, Taako. [The fire goes out just as easily as it appeared, Lup's hands moving to her hips before she's rolling her eyes. Gods, her brother is so overdramatic.] Have you even tired to make fire? Like, maybe you're just not as natural at, um, whatever this is as I am. You started at entry level and I'm just already at level expert. Makes total sense to me. I've always been the smarter twin.

[NEVER!!!!!

Still, he looks at her, kind of indignantly, because the reality here is that he's jealous he got light orbs and she got fire hands. Still, he makes a face at her, actively determined to figure some impressive thing out from... whatever the hell this is.]

Oh please, if anyone's entry level, it's you. Fire's sooo basic. You think I've only got one trick up my sleeve?

[He does. He really, really does. But he's about to learn on the fly.]

Get a load of this, homie.

[He tries to feel for that thing, like that light was, something just a little off the edges of his vision, to just do it, and--

There's a tiny pop, and suddenly, Lup can't see him anymore.

Taako can see her, of course, but it's like there's a filter over his vision, something tinged pink and otherworldly, and he grins, because for some reason he knows he's got a time limit, and for some other reason he knows what that time limit is.

So he hurries around her in the kitchen and climbs up on the island, already posed dramatically as he shows back up with another small pop.]

Boom.

[Taako's not the only one who thinks he might be a bit of a one-trick pony. As he goes on and on, bullshitting the true extent of his abilities without a clue to his real potential, Lup's head tips to the side as a haughty grin tugs at her mouth. Her eyes roll, exaggeratedly to make sure he sees how utterly unimpressed she is, but just as she's opening her mouth to throw another condescending comment his way, Taako disappears.

Lup's wide grin drops so fast it can't be anything but comical, her eyebrows flying up to her hairline in surprise.] What the--...

[And then he pops back into existence, posing like the diva he is, and Lup lets out a shrieking laugh. She's already leaping up onto the counter with him, reaching out to shove Taako a little too roughly in the shoulder.] Okay, what the fuck! I thought you were totally bullshitting me, you dingus! You better fucking show me how to do that shit or I'll light you on fire again.

[He's laughing, too, nearly tumbling backwards off the edge of the thing but catching himself and rebounding as she settles.]

Listen, my girl, it's just natural talent. Can't just go around copying the Taako brand up in here.

[Because it's her, though, she doesn't just get his cryptic bullshit.]

Full disclosure though, uh, I have no fucking idea. Kinda thought I was just gonna get you with a light show back there and now things are way past anything I had a plan for? But this is waaaay better, so I'm thinkin' we just roll with it and accept the fact that we're superheroes now or something.

[After the earlier screaming and general panic, the sound of their laughter mixing leaves Lup beaming over at her twin, the excitement of this newfound power practically sparkling in her eyes.]

Superheroes. [Who ever would have thought these two could ever be responsible for saving anything other than themselves? The thought is surprisingly empowering, Lup wanting to do nothing but keep testing out just how deep this actually goes. She suddenly reaches out to grab his shoulders, shaking him playfully.] Wait, Taako. Do you think that means we could fly?

[Time to jump off the roof and find out.]

[She speaks, and it's like she's said the magic (haha) words. His eyes light up, because god, now he wants to try.]

Fuck, I don't know! How do you think we test that?? 'Cause uh, I'll be honest, I've just been bullshitting up to this point and stuff's been happening.

[What else can he bullshit??? Probably everything but he wants more specifics.]

[If it had ever come into question whether they were twins or not, the identical looks of 'fuck yes' on their faces would have to be a dead giveaway.]

I mean, okay, so maybe we should test out a few other things first before we hop right into the flying. Like, uh--[From their counter perch, Lup quickly swivels to get a good peek around their kitchen. They need something else to test on.

Her traveling gaze freezes on their toaster.] Bingo! [Lup hops off of the countertop and rushes over to roughly unplug the toaster, hefting it up with one hand like it's a trophy more than an appliance.] I have a cunning plan. Follow me out back, we'll need more space.

[Taako probably would've made a distinct call if she actually suggested jumping off the roof without some kind of safety net. He's excited, but damn, not that excited. But she grabs the toaster, and he doesn't even have time to worry about what she might wanna do with it, he's in.]

Fuck yeah, toaster sacrifice! I'm in on it!

[He climbs off the counter and heads for the door, holding it for her so she can come out, still quietly chanting 'toaster sacrifice'. He's so fucking pumped.]

What're you gonna do??

[With Taako chanting excitedly the whole way, Lup follows her brother out into their perfectly manicured backyard, giving his hip a playful bump from hers while she passes him by. Once outside, she takes her time stalking around their yard, like finding the perfect spot for this little experiment actually means anything, before she's standing straight in the center, giving the toaster a quick toss in her hands.

She shoots her brother a curled, wicked grin, just oozing far too much confidence for someone who only just learned she could do any magic at all five minutes ago.]

Gonna make this thing fly, that's what.

[Lup bends her knees exaggeratedly, going low to the ground, before she tosses the toaster with all her strength up, up, up into the too perfect blue sky above them. Once it's out of her hands, they curl into fists as she concentrates on the appliance spinning in the air above them, trying to push her full concentrated focus on getting the toaster to freeze there in the air...

Instead, it quickly plummets down, narrowly missing knocking Lup in the head, and crashes back into the ground, smashing to pieces. But, just before Lup curses and makes a move to kick it across the yard, the hollowed husk of what remains of the toaster floats up off of the ground, smoking and shattered but surely flying.]

Oh, guess it just needed a sec.

[He can't stop the encompassing grin on his face when she decides she's just gonna lob this thing skyward, because there is literally no negative option here. If she does it, he gets to see a toaster fly. If she doesn't, he gets to brag about being the twin with better superpowers. There's literally no downside.

Or, well, there's at least a downside to the toaster as it hits the ground with a spectacular smash, and he can't contain the giggles that burst from him when it beefs it right on the floor. And then, just like that, she's got it- at least a little- even though hes still shaking a bit with laughter.]

Nice save there, sis. Totally let it fall on purpose.

[It is, like, totally flying though, and thats very cool no matter what way he slices it.]

Here, if you're done ruining that thing yet, it's my turn.

[He honest to god has no idea what he's going to do. He just knows he's gonna do it.]

Step aside and let the master work, hm?

Edited (heck) 2017-09-25 02:06 (UTC)

[Now that she has the toaster off the ground, it's easier for to control, the appliance slowly gliding upwards over their heads, shattered screws and other small bits falling in showers to the ground. One of the smaller screws pings off of Lup's head, bouncing and rolling away into the grass, but she doesn't seem to notice, her attention shifting back Taako now that he's demanding a turn.

Lup shrugs, letting her hand drop which leaves the toaster dropping like a rock with it, falling right out of the sky for a second time and smashing back in the same spot. Did they think to buy the warranty on this thing?]

Be my guest, bro. Not sure what's gonna outdo flying, but give it a whirl. [She moves to take his spot, giving him the perfect center for whatever trick he's going to try next, her mind already made up for her next stunt. One that Taako is no way going to beat.]

[Taako saunters forward as she clears the grassy stage with all the confidence of a man that has been bullshitting his entire life up to this point and intends to continue. Okay, he's done light, he's done teleportation, he needs to think of something cool. Flashy. She did fire, so not that. Honestly, he's not feeling elemental magic pretty much at all here. The light just showed up in his hands; maybe he can summon something. Yeah. That would be wicked.

So he steps up, cracks his knuckles, tries to reach out again to that weird power. He feels himself mutter something, words he doesn't quite have time to process but must have worked, because--

The ground in front of him bursts open, now replaced with an honestly startling amount of inky, black tentacles, writhing over each other from no discernable source. In seconds, however, they've located the remains of the toaster among their midst, and quickly wrap themselves around it and squeeze, shattering it into pieces that scatter around the yard before continuing to thrash about aimlessly.

Taako, meanwhile, just stands there, mouth entirely agape, and blush unwillingly creeping its way to the tips of his ears as he looks over his shoulder to Lup.]

... Okay, I know what this looks like, and, uh. That was not my intention there. I think.

[For a moment only the completely unpleasant sounds of Taako's tentacles make any noise, the disembodied thrashing disturbing on all levels, while Lup is briefly shocked into silence. But let it be known, that from this day forward, Taako was never living this down. Prepare to be dragged for the next century, bro.]

Alright, so mega gross. My brother has a tentacle fetish. The weird magic we only just now discovered tells no lies. I light shit the fuck up and you--[Lup shoots Taako a look, nose scrunched up in disgust, her expression simply reading 'I'm judging you'.]--fucking tentacle porn things to death.

[Well, she was going to make a stride back out into the backyard to do her thing next, but moving anywhere close to those things is just a big ol' pass.]

Deffo could have gone, like, our whole entire lives without knowing that, bro. Can you, uh, clean it up or something? Make them go away.

[For a moment, Taako just considers walking right into them. Like, maybe, if he goes face first into the fucking tentacle hell zone he's created, they'll kill him, and he'll never have to deal with the ramifications of the Thing he just did. Like, out of everyone that could've been privy to this? Lup was the worst, by far.]

It's not a fetish! Do you have a fetish for your tits being on fire? There's a fuckin-- it broke the toaster, didn't it??

[God just kill him please someone strike him down. Thankfully, the spell only has a duration of a minute, so it's very little time for arguments between them before they disappear and all that remains is the absolutely shattered pieces of metal that was once a toaster.]

See. Toaster demolished. Still totally did my job.

Yeah, except that I wanted to make it fly, not totally decimate it, idiot. [Which, you know, considering she's the one who dealt the first two blows to the thing, maybe Lup should have been a little more specific in the instructions she hadn't bothered to give out. She shoots Taako another look, just to fuck with him more, before she steps forward to survey the mess left behind by the tentacles.

Her need to set things flying hasn't completely been itched enough, and with their toaster now a pile of screws and shattered pieces of cheap metal, she'll need another target.

Good thing there's at least one other thing in this yard she can throw this new magic at.

Lup turns back to Taako, her grin too wide, and that's all the warning the man gets before his feet are no longer making contact with the ground. Think fast, boy.]

[He just rolls his eyes, crossing his arms in a full-on huff. Instructions unclear, got toaster caught in sex tentacles. It happens to the best of us. Him, he means. Because he is the best.

Unfortunately, Lup sees him as the best in another way, and he's only got a moment for his eyes to widen before his feet aren't touching the ground and he's tipping forward, pushing himself back with his hands against nothing and therefore utterly failing at doing much other than letting out a little shriek.]

What the fuck! Don't-- put me down, put me down, don't drop me!!!!

[He is so many limbs and so much anger. It's no wonder he thought of tentacles, right now he is so wriggly.]

Event Log: Stepford Summer

CLOSED to lup ; late in the event

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