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

[heavyhitter]

[ guess who is oblivious to any issues! this lady!! She just looks delighted, apparent even in the darkness. Pretty close is good enough for her! ]

Nope, no idea. Is it as cool as it sounds?

[bougy]

Well, it depends: how hungry are you? ( she raises a brow at him and places one hand on a knee and leans against it. growing up on a farm and living a year in abject poverty have given her an understanding of what true hunger is. that kind that sticks to your stomach and would have one eating stones if only they could be chewed. ) When I was younger, hunger was a great motivator to work hard. And hardly working hardly builds an appetite.

[bougy]

That's absolutely atrocious. It will be a pleasure to see it rectified, my friend. ( a laugh at that. she smiles, too, and gives him her full attention now. so much for the telescope. )

Absolutely, I'll even teach you two thing rights now: never bet less than three silvers to start and make sure you're never the drunkest one at the table. Think of it as my way of saying thanks for teaching me... how to do basic science, I guess.

[jamminshield]

[Steven's attachment is of its own Rosy nature. He nods as she speaks.]

Yeah! Sorry, I forgot you might not know what that is. It's a message alright! Like... when your jewelry makes images, that's what video looks like! Except video tapes are a lot less advanced and you need a bunch of different things to play the message.

But... That's what it was. A message for me.

[alphatar]

Oh, fine. I guess I won't.

I still want to know what you'll think of it.

[runningjoke]

Uh.

[ "It's a pleasure"? What is being nice... ]

Same.

[runningjoke]

I'll probably be repulsed, since there's nothing for me to overall gain from the experience. I don't have any taste receptors, internal organs, or anything like that.

WOW I JUST DISCOVERED THIS NOTIF i'm sorry!

[headlining]

[UFOS ARE NOT LAUGHING MATTERS, SIGMA!]

That is rather strange. And they're not moving, right? They haven't changed position? If they haven't, then they're stars...perhaps. Though I have the hunch that they aren't.

[viscontree]

I heard you loud and clear.

We're better off attempting another method if your current one doesn't work. I'll agree with your plan. [He's doing his best on his end too.]

[heavyhitter]

[ She drops her head onto his shoulder, hands folding themselves under her arms as soon as they get past that handshake business. Armpits will always be warmer than a handshake, it's just facts. And since the sky above them remains as boring as ever, she closes her eyes rather than stare wistfully upward. This is almost cozy. ]

You mean Luna? Yeah, it's not too scenic. Never actually been, myself, but I hear the casinos made it tolerable.

[nicearms]

[ As she puts her head down, he lets his own lean up against the top of hers... This is nice. First dates don't usually get this far, let alone first encounters. ]

[ The peace doesn't quite last over her next statement, because after a second of recognition—he means who?—he straightens a little where he sits. Lets the gears turn. Then he's stifling an amused noise down to a snort. ] —Sorry, didn't really hit me til just now. I met a girl named Luna while I was there... On the moon.

[ (Not that the concept of casinos isn't just as funny.) His brow had quickly furrowed while spelling it out, as if the irony was causing him the kind of physical pain devastating puns tended to inspire. Real original... Moving on. ]

So they tourist-trapped the dark side, huh? Research in the front, party in the back...

[ He says as if they share the same moon. But Luna is the good honest Latin word for it, so it's probably close enough to joke about... ]

[jamminshield]

[He winces at the brutal truth. And even if it wasn't meant to include him, the 'we' is a frightening reminder that he's still part of a side that's taken lives. He wonders if Mom ever felt that way... How hard could it have been for her to face that part of conflict?

Steven tentatively crawls forward then while gripping his telescope.]

I... I guess that makes sense. So... I guess we should put an end to Operation Kittycat? I mean, at least for now.

[jamminshield]

That's right! [He nods along with her assessment. She's good at guessing stuff like this!]

Well, no stars yet! But... I think I've been seeing some kind of a light!

[heavyhitter]

[ She snorts that that, the bit about Luna. Yeah, real creative. She's willing to bet every fifth girl is named Luna over there.

(Also, while she's at it, how about she just slides an arm around his waist? That seems even cozier.) ]

Nah, just the front. The real estate's too shitty on the back, I guess. [ Except, what, research on the front? She doesn't remember anything like that. This warrants a sigh. ] This is a different universes thing, huh?

[headlining]

[He doesn't answer that for a moment, instead breaking his gaze with her to glance up at the dark sky. It's weird, how long he's been here, and how normal the darkness seems, now.]

No. I wouldn't. [He sighs.] I may practically be a hermit at times, but I couldn't survive without a little warm light every now and then.

[kamiizumi]

[It's a few long minutes before whoever's below passes on - and despite the fact that being patient on stakeouts is his thing, those minutes feel far too long to Leo.

But then, finally he breathes. Audibly, which he hasn't been doing. And if that didn't drive the point home -]

They're gone.

[kamiizumi]

I'm leaving the line open.

[So someone knows to come scrape him off the ground if he messes up?

Because he'd rather not spare the attention to turn it off, more like. A turtle's got an ego to protect, here.]

[riastraid]

Yeah, yeah. Of course.

[ You're big and tough and stuff, Pearl. He gets it. He laughs, a soundless puff, eyeing the spear with a slow grin. The best choice of weapon, naturally. ]

We should duel sometime. Y'know, a friendly bout. [ Just because they may have to kill each other some day doesn't mean they can't spar in good spirits. In truth, he gives zero fucks as to why Pearl made the decision she did; giving people a hard time is just what he does. He waves a bit, not bothering to draw his spear back up to match. ] Don't get hung up on this—I just wanted to introduce myself properly. Get off on the right foot and all.

[ That is to say, he doesn't want her to get the wrong impression. That he's harmless, that he might not fight her someday, that he isn't a Servant of his own right. If worse comes to worst, she should know he'd be coming for her and what he is.

But today, he just winks. ]

So. I'm Lancer.

[invisiblade]

['some kind of light']

Would you mind explaining it in detail? This light you've come across...

[everyone else she'd spoken to before this had only expressed seeing endless darkness.]

[viscontree]

Less than three silvers? Alright. [Not that he understands the meaning behind it but he nods.]
It's no problem.

We have to start somewhere. You've been managing this quite well I'm sure you would have figured it out even without my assistance.

[It's simplistic enough, it wouldn't exactly take a genius to figure out how to operate a telescope anyways.]

[beyourrock]

You're the one who came here to see what I'm made of. [She retorts with a small huff as she rests her hand on her hip, tapping her fingers against it. But her spear disappears soon after, sparkles and all before she lifts her gaze.

Well, he was certainly different than Archer. He certainly wanted to see what the Gem was made of just a week or so back. She was told she had much to learn, which probably set up her sour mood in general towards this whole ordeal. Lancer here took a different spin on it. It was nice, and it causes a small smile to tug into view on her face through the rain.]

I would like that, actually.

[Pearl rolls her eyes at the wink, shoulders slumping.]

A pleasure, Lancer. I didn't think this many Servants would show up in one place. [Her branded hand flexes absentmindedly.] Then again, we have no Grail to worry about, and there's no reason to fight in the first place.

[At least, she tries to be optimistic about it, shrugging her shoulders casually like 'it's no big deal'.]

[adlantisag]

[ She nods. There's some kind of logical explanation to all this, but it seems incredibly magical to her now. He's not wrong in assuming it frightens her--it does--but she'd be loath to admit it.

She sits back down, drawing up her knees. A moment passes before she tilts her head at him: ]

Is this common, in your world?

[viscontree]

I'll be able to find out where you are based on your transmission should you fail.

Keeping the line open is a good idea.

[He's got you backed up bro.]

[viscontree]

It was. The rain itself was a threat to humans on occasion. I realize that this isn't common in other worlds.

[Rain doesn't normally kill people. Julius frowns at that thought. Perhaps it's something unique to his world, but if it is then he doesn't like it.]

To me storms are deadly. It can make even living difficult.

[naturallywavy]

Guess that makes sense.
<sub>[ Gin isn't rich. That's why he's a freelancer. He'll take any job to give him pay so he can get food to eat.
Or, unfortunately, use it to gamble with. Maybe this is also why he is always broke.

Ah well.

When Gintoki was younger, he had to be a scavenger and pick food off of dead soldiers to survive, so he gets it. ]</sub>

It works differently if you're buying. Somehow, you saying you'll pay for it just made me even hungrier.
_{[ so now he can freeload. ]}