hadriel_logs | Event Log: Beetlejuice

Entry tags:

Event Log: Beetlejuice

Who: Everyone participating in the event!
What: The event log for the Beetlejuice event!
Where: All around the city
When: August 13th-August 18th
Warnings: Scary stories to tell in the dark! Maybe a few goosebumps? Taking a walk or two down Fear Street.

When you wake up on the morning of August 13th - well, you'll notice that morning just doesn't really happen. The light that usually illuminates the cave doesn't start coming on, leaving things as dark as night. As if that's not enough, the light switches don't seem to work either. No matter how many times you flip them, the lights won't come on, although mysteriously the other appliances work as normal.

Afraid of the dark? Don't worry! You have oh-so-kindly been provided with lanterns, candles, and flashlights that sure do love to flicker just when you least want to be terrified. Hey, it's something, right?

Just as you begin to realize the artificial 'sun' isn't coming up, Fear appears to make an announcement to the network. What's not fun about scary stories when you're stuck in a dark cave surrounded by monsters? Nothing, that's what! So have fun, everyone - terrify your friends with that story about a cactus filled with spiders, try that classic scarecrow-falling-from-the-ceiling prank. It'll be a good time for everyone, especially Fear! We're sure no one will hold anything against you. On the morning of August 18th, the lights will finally come on as usual. Let's hope you don't have any nightmares!

► This log covers August 13th-August 18th.
► 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 you scare yourself to death, please let us know here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Foolish as it might be, Rey truly does want to believe that Bianca will hold true to her word. That perhaps Rey can help her strive to be a better person. Ironic, really, considering that she doesn't view herself as a very good person in the first place, regardless of Nick's impressions of her. Arguing that notion is a fruitless endeavor, though.

Her face gets hot at his offer, and it's probably a good thing that she can't see her own reddening complexion just then.

"What is there to even talk about?" It isn't like Rey has ever had to discuss relationships with anyone in depth before.

Rey might not be able to see her own face reddening, but Nick certainly can; he averts his eyes reflexively, as though it might help her sort out her thoughts to have some visual privacy.

Not that he knows exactly what it is they'd talk about, either. His own embarrassment isn't quite as obvious, given his skin can't flush, his blood unable to sear him from the inside out on account of his not having blood at all. It instead manifests itself in mannerisms: he rubs at the space between his shoulder and neck, fiddles with the can in his lap.

"You know, just... if something comes up," he says, not sure how to offer her a listening ear any more than he always has. Of course, the subjects in the past were never as tricky as matters of the heart.

Great, now she's making him feel awkward. This just keeps getting better. "Understood," she mutters.

Rey sighs, her shoulders slacking as her gaze returns to Nick, the redness in her expression not helping much. He doesn't have to have the capability to do the same for her to recognize the sort of body language he's putting out right now.

"Do you, um. Know anything, about this sort of thing?"

Of course, 'this sort of thing' couldn't possibly be vague enough, but Rey doesn't know how else to describe it.

As Rey's eyes shift to Nick, his own do the same, nearly meeting hers in transit. Nick the detective, the synth, doesn't know; Nick Valentine, the man with a beating heart of flesh rather than a mechanical facsimile, does.

His gaze remains on her another second, sincerity behind them, tugging at the rest of his features. Throughout his existence, he's had the occasional flashes from the original Nick's life, ones that told him of the man he's based on -- who he used to be. He can't remember how he met Jennifer Lands, but he can still feel her against him as they danced after she agreed to marry him. He can't remember what his own parents looked like, but the scent of her hair still lingers in his memory as a treasured possession. He can't think of his favorite song from before the bombs dropped, but Jenny's frightened tone as she begged him to be careful, to be safe during Operation Winter's End, is forever burned into his mind. All too clear is the desire to catch the infamous Eddie Winter for justice... and then for vengeance. For her.

But for as vivid as some memories are, others are faded, incomplete. How did they meet? What was it Jenny liked about Nick, about a man who couldn't put his work away long enough to realize he was putting them both in danger? Why did she stay?

And as much as Nick tells himself that was another life -- not his life, not his sins -- he can't help but feel the impact of those memories every second of every day. They influence his behavior, his judgment. Without them, he wouldn't be Nick. He wouldn't be alive. Wouldn't be here, with Rey.

So he answers as best he knows. He's had to handle his fair share of people on cases, knows what has earned their respect over the years. It's not love, but it's a start.

"Just be yourself," he says finally. "I know how you feel about that, but that's who she was attracted to in the first place. And if problems come up, you have to talk."

He knows how she feels about that, too.

Edited 2016-08-23 22:18 (UTC)

That deflection doesn't get past Rey's notice, as she's known Nick to do so on more than one occasion. It would seem that, when things start to get personal between them, his first inclination is to avoid the subject altogether. A sentiment that Rey is all too familiar with.

She recalls certain things that Nick has told her over the time that they have known each other. How something had happened to him that resulted in him wanting a man dead. Surely that is not an risk that someone with something to lose would do, even the original Nick Valentine.

It isn't a wound that she is about to open up right now. Not when they both already have other things occupying their minds, and the question alone seemed to have inspired some knee-jerk reaction out of her roommate.

"Sound enough advice, if I ever heard any." If nothing else, she can help by just rolling with it. "And if anything does come up, you'll be the first to know."

Most likely. Considering that they live together and all.

That gets a smile out of him -- a tentative attempt at encouragement, but ultimately doleful. Nick knows he's doing that thing he tells her not to do, shying away from what's bothering him, and yet, he does nothing about it. There are some demons he isn't ready to face. Not here, not now.

"Good," he returns, his eyes falling to the cane in his hands, his computerized mind churning up memories, filing through them as fast as his processor will allow. What would she think if she saw him now? If she was what he was rather than who he was?

He tries to shut those thoughts out. Figuring Rey is ready to stop talking about her newfound relationship and the insecurities that come with it, and given Nick himself is trying to stop his own mind from replaying moments of what one he had in another life, he turns to other topics.

"Speaking of something coming up, I was wondering if you could do me a favor, since you're home. I'm not going to be able to get much work done in the dark, but if it's not too much trouble, I wanted to see if you'd move my desk downstairs. Thought maybe I could take the room next to yours for now."

Like Rey, she figures that Nick will face some of that darkness when it's time. No use in trying to force it all out of him. Seeing what the knowledge of his brother had done to him was bad enough that they don't need to be digging any more skeletons out of the closet anytime soon.

As one can expect, Rey is actually relieved by Nick's decisive change of subject. Seems that he understands her well enough now to figure out perfect opportunities to do such a thing, which is as daunting as it is heartening.

"No, it's no trouble at all." Her mouth curls into a small smile, knowing at least that she would feel better not having to worry about Nick tripping and falling down the stairs anytime soon. It's actually encouraging to know that he is starting to acknowledge his limits. "Is the room cleared out for it already at least, or do you need me to do the rearranging, too?"

Limits, indeed. Ellie had taken the upper lot in Diamond City -- Nick had insisted, just in case someone came looking for him in the night. When cases often had him dealing with some shady characters, it was better to play it safe and put himself closer to the door. They'd reach him first, maybe never even know she was up there, if she played her cards right.

Then came moving into the house with Rey, when he'd taken the upper floor. His leg and the loose wiring in it had constantly given him trouble. Wiring gets fixed courtesy of Rey, and now his leg is damaged again, making those stairs as difficult a trek as before, if not more so. It seems he's just not meant to live upstairs.

"I haven't been in there but once or twice," he admits. "Figured you might be using it as a spare room. I'll let you do the rearranging, so long as you promise everything will be in one piece when you're done."

Very funny, Nick.

"I'll try, but I'm not making any promises," she jokes right back. "Try not to break any more limbs while I'm busy."

With that, she vanishes for a while into the second downstairs bedroom. Not having made much use of it for herself, it doesn't take much to move things around in order to create enough desk space. And, being used to working in conditions with low visibility, it isn't that difficult to get to work, either.

A few minutes later, she reemerges into the living area after some creaks and whines. "Well, it wasn't easy, but I managed not to blow anything up."

Aren't you proud, dad?

Nick watches as Rey vanishes into the second bedroom, taking a moment to try to sort out his thoughts. They'd been on an old, painful topic for far too long, his processor digging too far into ghosts of the past. It's not as though he can change what happened, not any more than he can change who he is -- or how her death made him who he is, rather.

He remains on the couch for the few minutes she's gone, easing to his feet once she reappears -- he even uses his new cane to help him up. "All limbs still accounted for," he quips back. "At least if I'm living downstairs and something falls off, you're only a room away."

Rey takes a moment, as though scanning Nick for any scratches or dents that would contradict his report.

Eventually, she nods in mock-approval. "There's even a connecting balcony."

You know. In case you lock her out for some reason or another. Or vice versa.

"I'll go grab the desk now. Is there anything you need upstairs?" Because hell if she's going to let Nick make the climb up to do it himself.

He's thinking the same thing about that connected balcony, though it'd be if Rey locked him out. They do have a history with doors.

"Just a box of reports I've been filing away," he replies. "It's next to the desk. You might bring Charlie down here, too."

That'd be his plant, located on the second-floor balcony. They don't get actual sunlight down in Hadriel, but he seems to be doing well enough.

That they do.

"Got it. Wouldn't want to deprive you of your little friend. Charlie can keep the fish company, anyway."

How sad is it that the cactus gets a name, but the goldfish Hope had given to her a few months back still remains devoid of any sort of designation? Rey is pretty hopeless when it comes to pet care, as Nick can probably tell.

Edited 2016-08-25 13:10 (UTC)

Charlie would probably like that. As it is, the fish only has Nick for company most days, as he's the one who usually feeds it. In his time as Rey's roommate, he's noticed that she must have never been a pet owner in a past life; however, given he's the one at home most of the time these days, he really doesn't mind taking care of it. A fish isn't a useful pet, like a dog, but it's good for company.

"You ever gonna give that little guy a name?"

He's noticed that little detail, too.

For that deplorable goldfish, Nick is probably the best damned thing that's ever happened to it since it fell into Rey's care. She understands the basics of what it needs, knows where to find it it's food in the store. But with her, she either tends to feed it too much or too little, and certainly not enough to the point where her roommate's presence could be considered a divine intervention.

She starts to head up the stairs, then stops at what she perceives to be a rather odd question.

"Why, does it need one?" Rey wonders, squinting an eye.

Nick leans on his cane as he looks up the stairs to Rey, an eyebrow raised as the corner of his mouth crooks into a half-smile.

"He doesn't need one any more than you or I do. Just thought maybe he could use one."

Names are a strange thing for Rey. Calling a fish something is about the equivalent of giving a pencil or a desk a name -- it just seems unnecessary.

But, she can also get Nick's point. Hell, her own name is a rather complicated subject in itself.

"Fine." She crossed her arms, shifting her weight to the side. "Got any suggestions?"

What sort of things do people call fish, anyway?

Getting the feeling creativity isn't exactly Rey's strongest suit, Nick thinks a minute. To be fair, the fish doesn't particularly need a name, but he feels the little fella ought to have one. A name gives it character, marks that fish as her own, sets it apart from all the other fish out there, even if in name only.

And a name seems like an important thing to have. Calling it 'just a fish' is like saying Nick is 'just a synth,' and they both know better than that.

"Well, I named the plant after a Mister Handy I know. We can name the fish after another one, so long as you don't mind the name 'Wellingham.'"

Hey, she can be plenty creative. Just not in the sense that most people tend to apply their creativity to.

It figures, however, that Nick would offer such a name. Rey suppresses a snort, though not because of the name itself.

"Wellingham sounds fine. Doubt that the fish will file any formal complaints." Better than anything she could come up with. What are people even supposed to name fish, anyway?

Nick doesn't know what to name animals, either -- the only one he really associates with is a hound named Dogmeat, after all.

"Guess that settles it," he replies with a nod, letting her get to work. She'll never get that desk downstairs if he keeps barraging her with all the nuances of pet care.

He calls to her after a moment or two."You sure you can see up there with how dark it is?"

Hey, at least he didn't suggest that they call the fish 'Bait'.

Rey starts to head up the stairs, only to pause briefly when Nick speaks up again. She glances down. "No worries. Lived here long enough to know my way around, and I've worked in darker conditions."

While she's never applied her training in night combat for more mundane situations like redecorating, it does make the situation easier.

There's some shuffling for a while, along with the occasional thud and pattering steps of Rey's heavy footfalls.

Eventually, she returns to the living area, carefully navigating down the stairs with Nick's desk over her head. It's almost more like she's carrying a footstool rather than a hefty piece of furniture.

Though he was worried for a moment about all the thudding going on upstairs, Nick looks suitably impressed as Rey makes her way down, carrying the desk over her head as easily as one might a single chair. He sometimes forgets she's a lot stronger than she looks -- not that she doesn't look strong as it is, but given how human she appears, it sometimes slips his mind that she's got metal beneath her skin. He's still adjusting to life around other synthetics; he's still used to being the only one in town.

"Hopefully, any guests we may have over don't mind taking the upstairs."

The hardest part was maneuvering such a bulky object around corners. Otherwise, Rey descends the spiraling steps with all the ease of a backhoe moving dirt.

Making her way across the room, while watching not to bump into any obstacles along the way, she casts Nick a brief glance.

"What, you've got sleepover plans you haven't told me about?" she teases.

"Hey, I'm not the one with a kid following me around," he cuts back, his tone light. "All my guests are scientists, other machines, or Maketh dropping off paperwork, so unless she's real lonely, I don't think any of them will be staying over."

That does bring him around to a topic he's been meaning to bring up, though. "Speaking of 'other machines,' you met Oscar yet?"

Edited 2016-08-30 07:09 (UTC)

Touché, Valentine. Though, with Muscovy living close by, Rey can't imagine that he would have any need to sleep over. Not that that would stop him, now that she thinks about it.

Sigh. How do you do children?

Rey blinks when Nick changes the subject, as she heads towards the second bedroom, desk over her head presenting little trouble.

"No? Don't believe I have." Probably good to give her a heads up on these things, even if Rey has improved on the matter somewhat. She did meet EDI a few times without feeling inclined to punch a hole through her chassis.

Event Log: Beetlejuice

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