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

[beyourrock]

[After some more preening of twigs and leaves, she turns towards him. She looks around, as if he were addressing someone else. Just what on earth was this man up to? Too bad she had never caught his name when they met at the tavern.

Slowly, she points a gloved finger at herself.]

Me? Why are you looking for me? You're not looking for another drinking buddy, are you?

[Her hand falls, slapping against her side with a small groan.]

I already told you, I don't drink.

so sorry about the delay!! )8

[riastraid]

[ Yes. Clearly he trudged out here in the rain and miserable, wet cold and mud to go hunt down the most reluctant drinking buddy possible. That is his agenda.

Lancer stares flatly at her for a moment before shaking his head, droplets flinging here and there as he puffs out a sigh. ]

Man, you're clueless.

[ Especially since he doesn't sense Gilgamesh around—he doesn't actually mean any ill will by being here, but it's generally a bad idea to be caught separately like this. A novice error back home with far-reaching consequences.

But as it stands, he keeps things fairly casual. ]

You're Archer's Master, aren't you?

No worries!

[beyourrock]

[The Gem bristles right up, despite looking like a drowned bird.]

Clueless?! It might help if you were more straight for--

[Instinctively, she holds her branded hand at the word 'Master' and swallows thickly. She could almost feel the edience of her pact burn through her leather glove. However, Pearl stands tall, her shoulders back and her chest puffed ever so slightly.]

So what if I am? What difference does that make to you?

[riastraid]

A pretty big one.

[ His gaze flicks to her hand, settling there for a half-second before lifting back to her face. His smile doesn't falter, though there's a little slant to it. ]

It'd usually make us enemies. [ Even if he wasn't gunning to murder Gilgamesh and vice versa, that's just how things are. ] Nothing personal—I mean, yeah, you're a stick in the mud. [ almost literally right now ] But I don't dislike you.

[beyourrock]

[Soon, things begin to click. She glances from her hand and back up to the man. More importantly, that spear of his. Absentmindedly, she takes a simgle step back, bending her knees slightly.]

There's no reason to fight. [She states firmly as she lets her hands hang at her sides, in loose fists.] I took up this pact to help him survive, and so that no one else had to take it up.

[Pearl places her hand on her own chest, lips pursing in a thin line.]

I know the choice I made. I was foolish when I took it up in the first place, but I'm going to go through with it. There's no going back. And I'm not going to use up my Seals so foolishly in order to break the pact sooner.

[She needed to use the Seals wisely. Pearl knew of Gilgamesh's powers and tendencies.]

And if I have to defend myself against you or Archer... Then so be it.

[riastraid]

[ What a gallant response. For how grim she gets, Lancer watches patiently—clearly she's had to explain herself before. His gaze only drifts towards the end, letting out a low, disdainful hum. ]

Of course you wouldn't. Those Seals might be the only thing keeping you alive.

[ They're the one surefire way to control or dispose of an errant Servant, after all. To force their hand. His smile flattens for a moment, then he lifts his hands in a relenting gesture, spear fizzling away before it can fall. ]

Anyway, relax. I'm not here to try and take you out. If you want a fight, I'll all for it, but... [ He's not in the greatest position to be triggering a whole ton of conflict. ] I just thought I'd come see what you're made of.

[ It takes a special kind of person (or moron) to contract with any of them. ]

[beyourrock]

[Pearl narrows her eyes as his spear disappears. Despite being soaked to the bone, she stands up straighter, her chest puffing up as her gem glows brightly. She reaches into it to pull out an ornate spear of her own. She rests the butt of it on the ground, the corkscrew blade nearly reaching her height.

She rests her other hand on her hip.]

I can handle myself just fine. I have for thousands of years.

[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.

[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'.]

[riastraid]

[ He's really not cut from the same cloth as Archer; he could be equally derisive, but he usually saved his venom and lectures for worse crimes than a bad life decision or two. Like, say, being a traitorous asshole.

At the same time, his good humor turns a little incredulous, brow raised. ]

Not all of us were in it for the Grail to begin with.

[ He's not much of an optimist. With a one-shouldered shrug, ]

So I wouldn't expect that peace to hold forever. That's just how these things go.

[beyourrock]

[She frowns at the thought, tapping her foot against the muddy ground.]

I'll make sure of that, at least on my end. [She'd do her best to keep Gilgamesh in check. There was no need for more than one war going on at once. These beings, the Servants, needed to survive here. Fighting with one another wouldn't make matters any better.]

For as long as I can, we'll make sure things are peaceful among Servants and Masters. There's no need for fighting among us when we're all on the same side.

[riastraid]

[ Good luck with that, Pearl. But he and Gilgamesh are technically not out to rip each others throats out, so long as he doesn't cross the line with anybody he likes. Lancer smiles, slanted and sneaky, but not without some genuine amusement. ]

Yeah, all right—peace. We can go with that.

[ With a tiny, mock bow: ]

Looking forward to working together, [ Gil's Master ] Pearl.