PLAYER EVENT ★ HELIOLOGY

[ricksybusiness]

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! ]

Comments

gets out the juice pouches for this occasion

[hideyourself]

[wow, such cruel brackets!! is getting laid even close to a good thing in her mind.]

[he contemplates pointing out he wasn't teenaged - he was twenty, jeez! he had a job! - but the number was close enough she'd undoubtedly laugh at him. right. better to not. anyway, magic is definitely the answer he had, so:]

It's all a government conspiracy. [mock seriously, hand raised in a listen here gesture.] Michel's a red herring. The King's actually got a spaceship capable of dragging the sun into a pocket dimension, you see...

[obviously.]

[twinpeak]

[ Yeah, but you don't want a unicorn to prance by. Did you know they're actually huge jerks? Neither did Dipper until recently. ]

That's kind of our job to figure out, right? Aaand why we're even out here. [ Whether he's shuddering at his next thought or the cold weather is hard to tell, but— ] This world's kinda neat, but I don't wanna be stuck here forever if no one can get to the bottom of this.

[hideyourself]

[it hadn't been his first time in the arms of another man, but it was the first with Sigma, so that made it worth remembering. maybe. Hideyoshi would more readily recall the relief on not having to land entirely on his own, though the grip knocked the wind out of him; further, the urge to kick out the ladder (accomplished) and subsequent dashing to follow, the guards' yelling following the two trespassers.]

[Sigma's stride gives him a lead. Hideyoshi's panic shortens the distance, though just barely - his legs were still wobbly from sitting cramped up on a tower for the better part of twelve hours.]

[which was, amusingly, a relevant topic.]

That tower was the best place for potential sun-spotting!

[what more explanation do you need? --- lightning, at that moment, lit up their world as it struck the very tower he had been on: Hideyoshi's wide eyes whipped back to stare at the miniature explosion, his relief compounding and stride stretching longer as they dashed into the woods. yeah, uh. good timing all around.]

Private property's a form of oppression, too, according to this one guy I met in the tavern-- the noble wasn't using her tower at the time, what was the harm? [with sarcasm and good humor. mostly.] Not my fault the guards disagreed!

[runningjoke]

HA! HAHAH!! I'll do it, if you hold him down!

[ THIS IS HORRIBLE, THIS IS THE MOST SHE'S AGREED WITH SOMEONE WHILE HERE, GIN YOU'RE THE WORST INFLUENCE. ]

[runningjoke]

[ Poor Korra hasn't even heard about the space-racism she has yet!!! ]

No. I plan to try it with a human here named Steven. You've probably seen him around. He's too cheerfully obnoxious to miss for too long.

[runningjoke]

Because it was our first mission, and I STUPIDLY thought completing a mission would send us back "home."

I'll summerize anything important about myself, so you don't ask me the obvious questions.

One. I am a Gem. A Peridot. That's my name, and type. There are other Peridots, but I'm the only one who SOMEHOW managed to get pulled into THIS.

Two. I don't follow your organic standards, so if I don't do something a human considers "normal" that's because I am not human. DUH.

Three. I am better than you. Factually.

ooh la la

[lumberpuncture]

[If she wants it, sure. Johanna's only twenty one herself, but that will not stop her from mocking him mercilessly. Especially if he were to get defensive about his age.]

[Regardless, she narrows her eyes a little at the kid, as if trying to discern whether this sassing was endearing or annoying. As much as she appreciates sarcasm (a lot), getting lip is another thing entirely.]

[Still, if he were to sass her, she'd have to admire his balls.]

And, what, we're off on a wild goose chase trying to figure out where the hell the sun disappeared to, and rescuing brother dearest, who's actually just a useless crybaby?

[And a snort. If this were true, she wouldn't be surprised, regardless.]

[keystaff]

N-no, it's okay! I'm sure you weren't expecting someone able to fly or anything! But Sielginde-chan is right! You must be really fit to get up the tree, and while carrying her too!

[Then again, Sakura herself is getting more used to people being so impressive, or not necessarily human for that matter.]

But yes, it is a really good view! That's why I came up here, this way the trees aren't blocking the sky so much.

[Or rather, at all.]

[headlining]

Tsk, tsk, you're that lazy? Pity. The rain shouldn't stop you.

[He does take notice of that strange, momentary glow, but the feeling he has is not exactly curious - there's a slight uncomfortable twinge at the back of his mind, mostly because, somehow, it reminds him of what happens to his own eyes when he uses his powers.]

[He turns away, reaching up a hand to scratch the back of his neck.]

Besides, I would've liked to write about the thrilling adventures about me escaping an ill-thought witch hunt.

[winces]

—I have?! But how!

[winces]

[ she bristles a bit, sitting up that much straighter as if that might somehow prove her point. ]

I can't stay inside all useless while everyone else is out here doing something to help.

[alphatar]

You thought right. [But now she can stop messing around with the telescope.] Even Tenzin's meditations lessons had at least something going on.

[Korra takes the wet coat and curls a hook of stone from her "roof" to hang it right next to the lantern. Her mood's improved tenfold and Korra crosses her legs so she can lean over; easier to let her eyes get a chance to devour the food a little. And if it means she's a little closer to Asami, well she didn't find anything wrong with that.]

Let me take care of the tea. [It takes a few moments of holding the small teapot to get the warm aroma in the air.] This is really thoughtful of you.

[Now if she can just tear her smiling face away from looking at Asami before the teapot begins to steam a little too much...]

[viscontree]

Notice anything different? For me the storm has more intensity up at this angle.

[Probably too low to see anything significant anyways. This location is much better. It's great to coordinate with someone as dedicated as Leonardo. Julius finds it easy to work when they think similarly.]

I never saw that before from my previous location.

[headlining]

An admirable reason, but you're sort of acting on it in a way that's probably going to backfire on you.

[He reaches up to start loosening his tie - it's wet and heavy and it's starting to annoy him.]

Did you have any plans? On how to help. Or did you just run out here without a clue on what you were doing?

[showmeyourwreath]

[Flora is a fighter and as she listens she must admit those are fair and fine applications, but it's when he speaks of beauty that she feels very compelled to answer after taking her seat. Her voice is at first slightly confused, but quickly stalwart and reassured, even if it is still gentle.] Why ever would you think that? Beauty is something worth seeing, pursuing, treasuring, and protecting. Wanting it doesn't make you or anyone weak.

[Not inherently, but she always assumes the best of others, and doesn't take him for someone frivolous or superficial. Besides, beauty is something incredibly important to her.

He wants a clue though, and though she taps her finger to her lip rather dramatically, she is somewhat a bit at an honest loss.]

Hmmm, truth be told, I'd have thought the wings would have given me away. Though, I suppose we might not exist where you're from, or perhaps in another form.

[respired]

[Koltira, both hands still tightly gripping Ramir's shoulders, tries to bodily toss her away from him.]

Only by sheer bloody luck.

[kamiizumi]

[The Quiet Game should've started a few minutes ago, but Steven is truly a tiny Mikey.

So Leo just nods rather than pressing the point further, and turns his attention down below. There's not much to see with the leaves in the way, but he can hear footsteps still - mostly around the same spot, like someone's milling around, deciding whether whatever they just heard is worth the effort...

Come on, just give up and go already.]

[kamiizumi]

It does look a little brighter from up here, so maybe - hang on, I'm gonna try something.

[Audio is still running, but he moves his hand away from his face to reach back for the telescope that's still tied to his shell. Free it one-handed, see if he can either tie it to the tree one-handed or just hold it for a bit and get a little data before he heads down. It's worth a shot.

Without dropping it or himself, of course.]

[satsujinki]

[Ow. Don't let it look like it hurt even slightly.]

That's barely an answer to my question.

[satsujinki]

[The thought of Keats finding even a slight amount of satisfaction in that didn't feel as surprising as it should have. Shiki seemed to believe him when he said it would be thrilling--but, for whom?]

You've a colorful imagination, sir. Though, I wonder if it would even be practical to attempt a witch-hunt in a country where goblins can freely use magic?

[of_her_own_accord]

So it seems.

[She watches the sky.]

Not even a good day for stargazing. A pity, that. In a low-tech world such as this, the stars must be amazing.

[headlining]

Magic?

[Don't mind him just letting out a laugh at that.]

Don't make me laugh. [YOU JUST DID, KEATS?] What, you call their parlor tricks and such "magic"?

[of_her_own_accord]

[She chuckles.]

As are you, Steven. Much more than me, to be sure.

[satsujinki]

[Did Keats just--]

You know--there's a real difference between a card trick and blocking out the sun, right?

[headlining]

Tell me you don't seriously believe they just somehow blocked out the sun through impossible means. [He's staring at Shiki like he's crazy.] Nobody can wave a wand and magically make an entire star disappear. For one, if they did, we'd be dead right now. Logically, it doesn't make sense.