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

B!

[digophelia]

I know, it's a little ridiculous.

[ She's plugging her ears, just a bit, and hardly reacting to the loud thunderclaps whatsoever. After what felt like being outside all night, Alice found herself pretty tired and slightly irritated with the thunder. By now, she had given up on the telescope and was only standing outside, bundled up in a blanket to watch the thunder and lightening. ]

Strange, isn't it? I'm almost expecting a downpour, at this rate.

[satsujinki]

Well, hopefully that isn't the case.

[Though, it wasn't as if they could fully see it. Shiki imagined there were some people who could feel weird shifts of pressure in their bones, but it seemed outlandish no matter how one tailored a sixth sense like that.]

But, I think it's found something. It's not much, but it's definitely not perfect darkness--so, the sun isn't actually gone, I think. At least--that's what it's saying.

[Shiki tapped the screen for reference before averting the telescope to look through its scope, again.

He envied Alice and her blanket--even if he knew he had his own. Sadly, the presence of a blanket made quick motions with the telescope difficult. Since he had to check the whole sky as often as possible, it wasn't likely he'd be able to retreat to his blanket so soon.]

[digophelia]

[ Admittedly, after finding virtually nothing, her attention span waned and she resigned herself to not being able to find anything and enjoyed the silence and quiet of the night. When he says he found something, Alice's curiosity spikes and she tentatively approaches him. ]

Did it? How do you know?

[ Ignoring the clap of thunders, she was thankful for the bright light show to bring some light when she was just using the screen of the telescope and her device as makeshift lanterns. It was better than nothing and her fear of fire was very limiting. ]

Well, no, it can't be gone completely, it existed once. How else would there be life here if there was no sun?

[satsujinki]

That isn't really the case. [Shiki read over the data once again, noting as it said in the corner that it was sending Rick back all the information it collected. That much was fine--he could have done without talking to him for a bit, that day--maybe for the week, too.]

In theory, I've heard it may be possible for a planet to be warmed by another planet--not necessarily an entire sun. As long as there's heat from some source--life should be able to go on. That is--I don't know how big the planet would have to be, if a sun wasn't present.

Even then... [It was important to at least clarify his answer.]

What it's saying is that there's still thermal energy up there--like the sun's rays are hitting it and it isn't getting through by much.

[digophelia]

[ Alice actually finds herself slightly envious he was able to find some sort of data asked. She understands the concept of heavenly bodies as planets and telescopes do exist in her world. Obviously telescopes like these where one can collect data without writing on paper and easily transfer it, person to person, is a technology well beyond Victorian England's time.

Still, Alice is somehow presented with an image of something draped over the skyline. As she asks, she turns to look up to the sky without a telescope to visualize it. ]

When you say the sun's rays are not hitting it... do you mean like a shield is over this planet, possibly?

[satsujinki]

Yeah, probably like a shield. [It wasn't as if Shiki could tell it was a dome or a shield--or, even just a filter in the air. He just knew he could see death in the sky, which made it hurt his head immensely to just look up without his glasses on. Rubbing under his eyes, Shiki sat down in the grass, looking aside to Alice.

The fact that some heat was coming through that magic meant that it wasn't perfect. It could be destroyed.

Though, he didn't even need to confirm that with telescopes. Shiki knew there was nothing in any world that was invincible.]

It doesn't help us figure out how to get rid of it, but it might explain why we haven't been completely frozen solid, yet.

[digophelia]

Perhaps not, no, it's still the best explanation I've heard so far as to why the weather here is strange, why there are never any stars, and of course, the sun gone.

[ Just what was the Order of Chimera trying to do? Alice went back to looking up to the sky, with an impressed expression. She envisioned many things and something of this caliber belonged in the skies of the Pale Realm. ]

It's one step closer on finding out a way to bring back not only the sky, but the sun as well.

[satsujinki]

I don't think the sun was affected at all, so it must definitely be just something surrounding Chantes. [He added, tapping the little screen he had broadcasting to Rick. Shiki looked over the results.

It came with a readout describing the rate of thermal energy's creation and how it shifted.]

It looks like it's moving the same as one would expect. I guess it'd be easier to tell if we had any idea how long it takes the sun to go around this world.

[digophelia]

I wonder what's beyond the Chantes and if it holds us in, completely.

[ Alice is saying this more to herself than anything. Come to think of it, she hadn't gone further beyond the goblin territory, so it was easy for her to picture a giant, black box, trapping everyone in. ]

Well, no, I imagine that the sun hasn't been affected.

[ She's been toting the telescope around here and only knowing how to work it so minimally. Listening to Shiki talk, Alice is... frankly jealous of his finding so far. Looking down at the device and back to him, Alice blurts it out- ]

Ah, how I wish I knew how to work this thing properly! How did you manage to find these things out? Can you show me?

[satsujinki]

[Intricacy in technology made for an abundance of convenience, but it made things much tougher to talk to others about. Shiki touched his chin, staring blankly at Alice came right at him with curiosity abound.]

I... [Well, it was tough to outline the basics. He just knew how to use telescopes. As a child from a rich home, he had seen them and used them, but he was never terribly fascinated with them.]

I guess I can? It really just amounts to making small changes to the lens.

[digophelia]

Even if it's small, I haven't the faintest idea of what I'm doing.

[ Before she could really overwhelm Shiki, Alice sheepishly held out her telescope before even thinking about approaching him. ]

Not only that, I'm not fortunate as some of you to come from a world filled with technology such as this. Telescopes this size cannot pick up on such crystal clear images.

[satsujinki]

Oh. [He hadn't really thought of it. As far as Shiki knew, English accents as thick and rustic as Alice's were just normal for everyone. The idea that she was further back in the past or even from an entirely different world never occurred to him.]

S-Sorry, I didn't mean to sound cryptic...

[He cleared his throat, lifting up the port of the telescope to show Alice the dials he used to make adjustments.]

I can explain a bit of it, I think.

[digophelia]

It's fine, I'm sure it's a lot to explain.

[ And she didn't mind in the least; there was only so much loitering she could take before she wanted to jump in and help others. ]

Anything helps, really, it wasn't as if... Mr. Sanchez, was it? Explained it well.

[satsujinki]

[Shiki may have interjected a little too quickly as Alice brought up 'Mr. Sanchez'.]

I'd rather not talk about Rick.

[He knew he sounded rude, but--]

Alright? I'm in a good mood at the moment and I'm not excited to change that.

[digophelia]

[ With the faintest raise of an eyebrow, Alice looked at Shiki, slightly confused, maybe even a little miffed. It's rude, but nothing Alice questions him over. ]

Very well.

[ If he's in a good mood, it's best not to ruin it, especially if he's showing her something. ]

Then, please, continue.

[satsujinki]

[Shiki cleared his throat. He showed Alice the dials that were most important to magnification.]

Okay, so--this controls magnification and this controls the scope. The scope handles how far you want to look and magnification helps you focus on different distances you're already looking at.

You know how, if you hold up a finger in front of your face and focus on it--everything else gets blurry? You can control how the telescope does that, when your own eyes do that naturally.

[digophelia]

I hadn't considered that.

[ Alice was pretty attentive to follow the dials, watching him carefully and mirroring every little detail. ]

I kept twisting and turning it... I suppose that's why I wasn't able to see much of anything. I thought if I could mess with it more, I could see something.

[satsujinki]

[In earnest, Shiki came up with an idea when Alice said that.]

Well, it's tough to calibrate it when you have no reference. That sky isn't really handy to let you know if it's focusing. Try focusing on something you can actually see.

[He had honest intentions.]

1/3 - no, sorry, still getting smacked

[digophelia]

Alright.

[ Just as innocent as hers; Alice was a good girl, she didn't get into that much trouble, outside of her adventures. So, she took it to heart and started to look around the Chantes for anything she could focus on.

But, unfortunately, that ended up being a window of a resident, who was already in the process of disrobing herself. ]

[digophelia]

[ Which is followed by a yelp from Alice, who promptly turns around and shoves her telescope at Shiki, so roughly, she could have knocked the wind out of him if she tried enough. ]

[digophelia]

[ But, for good measure, Alice ends up smacking Shiki in the arm, deciding she is going to blame him for this. ]

How could you?!

bahaha

[satsujinki]

[Shiki recoiled a little when Alice yelped--getting the breath knocked out of him when the telescope's weight did the work and hit him square in the stomach.

Then, she smacked him. It was all shaping up terribly. Fixing his glasses, Shiki glowered at Alice.]

Gah! What's the big deal!?

[digophelia]

I didn't want to see someone undressing!

[ Alice is already scolding him. Oh, god, it was true what Gintoki said, wasn't it? All of that nonsense how they didn't think about anything else but- ]

Gross.

[satsujinki]

Wh-- [Sputtering, Shiki held his hands up in protest.]

I wasn't telling you to do that! What about a street lamp or a store sign!?

[digophelia]

I was trying to!

[ Oh, well, at least she has it working? But Alice is flustered and angry. It's his fault, clearly. ]