epidemiology | 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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Levi's been away from whatever duties the resting majority of ALASTAIR have been assigned to for a short time, assigned elsewhere, but retaining access to the jewelry meant he'd kept the chance to see a few of their faces from time to time.

though now that he's back in time to be thrown wrist deep into this pile of shit, a telescope tucked away into a bag to avoid getting in the way of his mode of transportation for climbing, his memory is failing him on this wailing kid. hadn't he seen him somewhere before? speaking in human words?

needless to say, he has to stop to investigate, and that means the grapple of his gear digs hard into the bark of the tree beside Steven as Levi launches himself up next to him.

he says nothing, and yet his stare demands an explanation. ]

[Steven freezes as someone approaches. It looks like someone he's seen on the jewelry too, being all serious and all. He even looks cooler in person. Like an anime!

And he's standing there, looking unimpressed. It's both scary and awesome at the same time. But he knows that if this guy's an anime, he can be impressed even if he looks unimpressed. So maybe, just maybe, this guy's here because he's impressed by Steven's sick meowing skills. That's a theory that just has to be tested.

So he sets down his telescope for a moment to look at him, and he starts to sing at Levi.]

[ yes, somehow that possibility actually falls into question since, while it may not be immediately noticeable, Levi has seen the guard Steven was trying to warn him of and spends no extra time questioning his safety... granted, that possibility hasn't occurred to both parties.

all he was trying to do was see what the issue was. so one can imagine his surprise and confusion when his questioning stare is returned with more meows. singing ones. his serious expression screws up in his chagrin. ]

What are you doing?

[He quickly stops his song with an embarrassed blush. And he whispers back to the cool man.]

Sorry! I... I was trying to make up a code! We could call it, um... meow-orse code! What do you think - pretty neat, huh?

[ far be it for him to quash strange, childhood ambitions... well, okay, that's exactly something he'd do, but when he can't see the harm in it during a low-key mission like this, he'll stick to asking what he wants to know. ]

A code, huh? If that's the case, what were you trying to say?

Um... okay, lemme think... I was trying to sayyyy... [He tries to think of something other than the meow mix translation... but he still hums it to the tune.]

I love hiding, I love telescoping, cool cool guy is it safe now?

[ that's pretty annoying, you know. but he apparently accepts it, because rather than complaining, he takes a short glance below, where the guard seems to have passed them by. (did he stop and hear that sound? poor guy. he probably thought he was going out of his mind.) ]

It's all clear. [ though about that. ] Were you one of the ones they locked up?

[ he was part of the rescue operation, sure, but it was way too chaotic to know all of who was doing what. ]

All clear? Roger! [He snap a salute at that, and he shakes his head at the cool guy's other question.]

Nope! I just helped get rid of some of those runes.

[ Somehow that's what he was expecting to hear. ]

Hmph. They don't care about us. [ Of course, the implication is they care about the escapees, but Levi adds on a scoff of cynicism for good measure. ] For some reason I can't fathom.

Mayyybe... they don't know what we did? [He shrugs helplessly, not sure what to contribute.]

We killed their people to save our friends.

[ To emphasize this, he extends an arm to his side. The gesture is above the scabbard holding his many blades at the right, as if to speak for his personal involvement in that. So not kid friendly, but they all know what happened.

Levi shakes his head. ]

Well, whatever's running through their heads, we should be safe for now. You don't have to hide.

[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.

PLAYER EVENT ★ HELIOLOGY

but now are you sick of A

bring it on!!

this is more beautiful than i could have imagined

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