epidemiology | PLAYER EVENT ★ HELIOLOGY

PLAYER EVENT ★ HELIOLOGY

INTRODUCTION.

It's difficult to tell time without the presence of a sun or moon. There are no stars. The world is in constant blackness, the heavens barely visible from below and the only light artificial. It's been like this for months.

Suddenly, those who expressed interest in observing the sun (or lack thereof) will all at once receive a text message on their ALASTAIR jewellery from 82736775:

Get your shit and go look at the sky. Now's the time. If you need me, I'm around.

It's time to get to work.

OBSERVATION.

Find the highest point you can and point the telescopes at the sky. Should be easy, right?

Be mindful that there are still guards patrolling the city, looking for escaped prisoners, and some citizens would be very happy to tip them off to your presence. There are still animals in the forests to contend with, and there are still nosey citizens who may ask you too many questions. There are also your fellow ALASTAIR agents, who may not be very willing to share the spot they already staked out before you just showed up.

People and animals aren't all you need to look out for, either. Seven hours after the observation starts, there is a lightning storm. It lasts for 30 minutes, bolts of electricity arcing across the sky. It might be a good idea to scurry down someplace lower when this happens -- you know what they say about lightning and height.

82736775 doesn't contact anyone after the initial text, so observers are free to give up whenever they decide they've been sitting out in the freezing dark for long enough.

[ note: even if you didn't sign up, feel free to tag in! your character won't have a telescope but that doesn't mean they can't mingle. ]

[ previously: ic info | ooc info ]
[ direct questions here! ]

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Wow, good for you!

[Sarcasm tinges every word from his mouth, and he doesn't even look back at him as he makes quick work on unlacing his other boot.]

What's next, are you going to write a book on it?

Toss it down?
_{[ Gintoki is reckless, but he's not exactly that reckless. He remembers this girl form the jailbreak and she seems like somebody trustworthy— somebody he could possibly build a bond with. ]}

It's one of those moments that need to be shared together, you know.
I might even make a wish— it's so glorious.
_{[ no, you should really join him. He knows this thing costs a lot (not really, it's made out of garbage?) ]}

[ ?! steven no??? it just sounds like the kitty is in even more distress! starting to panic now, olivia hastily sets her basket aside, wandering about to try and pinpoint which tree the sound is coming from. ]

D-Don't worry, kitty — I'm coming...!

[ These are the same children Alice has frequent contact with, from Ban dropping them off in October. It's good to see them happy and with new clothes, but more importantly- ]

You again? What are you doing here?

[ Slowly, she makes her way through rowdy children, having to deal with one familiar freckled-face boy coming up and hugging her. After a few gently reassurances, Alice makes her way over to Ban with a heavy distance in mind, crossing her arms waiting for some sort of response. ]

[ oh... ]

Um!
I'm not really sure, heh!
My grandmother used to say it was the gods dueling in the sky — the loud sounds would be their battle cries, and the lights would be from their clashing swords...

[ ??? haha what is science ]

...

[ There's no way they can actually...

Yep. This sure is her being outnumbered AGAIN. And once again, Peridot is running away from something that is threatening her- HER! THE GREAT AND LOVABLE PERIDOT!! The snowballs continue to be thrown at her as she makes a break for it, gathering up her telescope and Robonoid and activating helicopter-mode. She doesn't escape soon enough to entirely avoid the "attack," and winds up getting hit by several snowballs on her way off this forsaken roof. ]

YOU'RE THE WORST. AT EVERYTHING! FOREVER!!

A little ill is still ill. [ —he half teases, half chides, golden eyes softening as he regards her with a look, thoroughly unwilling to veil his concern. Now that they've stopped, he sets about clearing a space so they might be able to sit comfortably, in full view of the storm and all its ruckus. And though he is uncertain if she'll take it, he extends his hand to her for it is a gesture which he wishes to make. ] Please, take a seat, lest you take the great and terrible risk of collapsing were you stand.

[ His voice is playfully hushed, then: ] You realize I would have to catch you, after that.

[ And she would wake in the safety of his arms, her rescuer the Hero King...! Truly, that would be the most foolish path to take (if only because Sion would do it, to laugh, to smile, and hopefully bring some measure of ease to Alice in turn!). For a King, he really is much too gentle; too kind when he is absent of a country to rule. And here, in Chantes, he is obliging, curious as he is to know the hopes and dreams of those who surround him. ]

It isn't too late, you know. To grow used to something other than the dreary cold of your home.

[Ban reached up with his free hand--lifting his index finger to the air in a 'shush' gesture to Alice as he hefted up a fresh bottle to drink.

He was nearing the end of his night and the last of his supply for the day. He drank overtime if only because of the lightning storm and all the noisy people running around.

When he was done, Ban smacked his lips and huffed.]

Your room's a good place to gather 'em up, ain't it? That oughta explain iiiit~.

Gods.

[ This is the second time they have been dubbed the cause of a thunderstorm... ]

Gods, in the sky, moving furniture, and screaming??

[It was to be expected--though, Shiki simply hunched his shoulders when he saw Keats empty his boots.]

Are you serious? Do you even know how to lace your boots?

[He looks up and gives Shiki the most deadpan of looks.]

Clearly I do, because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to wear them in the first place.

[ What once had been a graceful wave of his hand melds into another gesture entirely: a slender forefinger pointing up, to the sky above, accented with a small flourish of wrist. ]

And why should you not be? To my ears, you've just made the offer yourself. [ And if Sion's companion should do precisely as he's been bid, he'll be able to see the several platforms of light which Sion had constructed as a stairwell ascending higher and higher into the sky. ] My telescope is on the highest level; I'm afraid I left it behind.

[ He has his reasons, of course, though they will very much remain his own! ]

Should you venture up, you will also have the best view of the sky in Chantes.

[ Surely, that far outweighs any and all measure of risk, right? ]

I'm surprised you're even bothering with me.

[ She won't dare be too confrontational around the children, doing what she can to keep an even tone. Moreover, Alice is reluctant to do anything, period, lest Gintoki involve himself with Ban, again. He makes her nervous, there's really no telling what he'll do around here. She would have thanked him for clothing the children, at least, and is secretly grateful that they look happy and warm. It's still not enough space for Alice to care for them. ]

Especially everything that has happened.

[ a sniffle, but she looks hesitant. ]

You really don't mind?

[ she eyes that fire a little longingly. just a few minutes, maybe, she'll feel better after a few minutes. ]

Well — I don't think that was what grandmother had in mind when she mentioned fights, but.

[ a pause as she thinks it over. ]

Gosh, now that you mention it — decorating would cause some pretty nasty fights!

[ she flinches when he wakes, realizing she hadn't been as gentle as she'd hoped to be. or perhaps he was just a lighter sleeper than she remembers, but in any case she feels a suitable amount of guilty for having woken him. that's why when she speaks, she takes care to keep her voice a soothing, gentle tone, practically mimicking a lullaby.

she'll tell him about the telescope later, after he's had some rest. ]

Ninth, I think... But don't worry about that for now.

[ gingerly, she brushes some of those silver curls off his brow, much like her mother would when she were having a fitful sleep as a child. ]

Good night, Mr. Fruit.

Nobody's stopping you.

[He says, almost offhandedly, as he moves to unlace his other boot to take it off. She can do whatever she likes.]

I am not that ill to where I will collapse.

[ Possibly, in a few more hours if her hallucinations persist enough to where she'll have a blinding headache. But Alice isn't too far from the inn that it's a worry of hers. She does sit, at least, because standing seems to make her even more tired. As tired as she is, Alice looks up at him, with a frown. Oh, he is not catching her. She will sit there firmly and as still as possible, even more determined to stick it out than before. ]

I haven't had a home in a long time.

[ There's a bit of irritation crawling up in her voice. She never once considered London her home -- she had no home. Her home had burned down eleven years ago, along with her beloved family. London was a pit and she despised it. After leaving it, Alice's hatred of it has seem to multiply. She glances around and adds- ]

The Chantes are not that dissimilar in some ways to where I come from. It's almost just as terrible, just as littered and disheveled.

[ The bigger difference, thankfully, was the lack of murders and prostitution. Settling herself with a little sigh, Alice went back to watching the thunder and lightning. The more she thought about it, the more content she was with being here. Her past wasn't an affliction and a problem for her in the Chantes; no one called her mad or knew of her past. It was a clean slate for her. ]

But I can grow used to it, it's not my home, but at least it isn't as terrible as Whitechapel.

[ she squints at him through the darkness, tempted to point out he definitely could stop her if she wanted...

but she realizes this might just be his way of conceding. she's beginning to realize he has quite a lot of ways of saying yes without actually saying the word.

she has to wonder if he realizes he's allowed the things that he wants.

...heck — that he's allowed to want things, period. ]

...Thank you.

[ she takes care to sit as far away from him as possible, at least, to give him his space. perching herself right at the edge of the log, she huddles up so that she practically curls into a little ball, save for her hands that she stretches out towards the fire. ]

_{[ his imagination is going to go wild, nonetheless.. this is fun. ]}
it is the dangerous

DIO BEAR-DO
he can regenerate— blasting him will do no good! don't let him get some of your blood! watch for his eyes!

_{[ maybe the bear can be saved now if Peridot decides to just run. The question, though— will she actually run?
Probably not. ]}

Yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda—
Ran-saaan, are you growing up already into a nagging woman? I thought knew you better than that.

It's a celestial being— possibly from as high as heaven itself by the look of it.
She just needs to bend over and I'll know for sure.
_{[ horrible.. put this man to rest.. ]}

_{[ this is really nice .. ? Why is she saying goodbye like that? She's messing with his hair, too. That is also nice. Her voice? That's nice too. Everything about this scenario is nice for him.. especially if she has food.

In any case, he sputters a bit: ]}

Goodnight? Goodnight? Oi, it hasn't been a good night at all. It's been a pain. All of this is a pain, you know.
_{[ Gintoki folds his arms behind his head and finally breathes easily, as if he is trying to relax. ]}

You— though. It's been a good night for you, I'm sure.
_{[ She looks exhausted. ]}

Good enough where you could sleep, aaa? Do I need to put Oli-san to bed?
_{[ He knows she will continue to care for others and not for herself— he'll put her to bed by force if he has to.
—which he wouldn't mind doing. ]}

[He knows exactly what he's doing. There's a sort of reporter's impartiality that he's ingrained into his own personality. A sort of mechanism to distance himself from the things he learns and the topics he investigates. None of what he does has to do with what he wants. It's hard for him to think of it in any other way.]

[He places his boots near the log he's sitting on, and starts to remove his coat so he can dry that off too. His glasses catch the light of the fire, obscuring the eyes behind them.]

What were you doing out and about? You weren't one of the people getting some stargazing done, were you?

Edited 2016-01-10 20:47 (UTC)

[ Between the darkness and erratic sleeping habits of Alice, she couldn't say she knew of any distinction between night and day anymore, aside from the exception that was this evening. The sight of Saber catches her by surprise; she was sure that after the jailbreak, approaching her may have been the last thing to cross her mind. But truth be told, Alice knew what she did and did what she could to try and block it out. Gintoki was safe and free from the king's jailhouse and that's all that mattered to Alice.

Despite herself, hesitant eyes dropped to the lantern. She wouldn't mention her unease with lanterns, but there was a reason why Alice chose to sit in the dark. ]

Hello.

[ That's the only thing she manages to say before turning away back to what she's looking at. She had seen Alice at her worst and Alice isn't proud of it. But, most times, Alice is surprisingly level-headed and collected. ]

It's been very dull; I haven't seen a change in anything, aside from the usual.

[ Despite her lack of findings, Alice was content with the silence and the distance from others. ]

Edited 2016-01-11 02:06 (UTC)

[ proof of cosmic humor: she hastens to stifle a yawn with her hand at just the right moment, right when he oh so casually offers to "put her to bed." she blushes — of course she does — when her mind automatically drags his intention away from the innocent one she's sure it is — of course it is, why would he ever think of it any other way — and so she's left caught between refusing and greedily basking in his attention.

in the end, she defaults to what she knows. ]

I'm okay. [ she could fall asleep where she sits if she dared to let her blinks last longer. ]

I was just on my way back when I happened to see you. [ she'd spent the last half-hour searching for him. ]

I have an extra roll of bread, actually. I can leave it with you, if you want. [ hopefully he won't notice the slivers of strawberry carefully wedged within the loaf. ]

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PLAYER EVENT ★ HELIOLOGY

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