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

[headlining]

I mean a better coat. The one you're wearing doesn't really work.

[This is the look of a man who is doing his best to quell the urge to just go and buy a coat for her right this minute, all while trying to hide the kind gesture by complaining about it.]

You'll catch a cold, you know.

[winces]

[ she sniffles once, reminiscent of the time he'd caught her standing outside his apartment door, trying to be sneaky... ]

I don't get sick, [ she claims simply, which is also. reminiscent of that time. ]

In any case, you're just as wet as I am.

[headlining]

I can survive. You - [he pauses, gesturing to her with a finger] - have already been sick, don't you remember? You're more likely to catch something bad than me.

[winces]

[ she turns towards that finger and gives it a lofty stare. ] I don't know what you're talking about.

[ a few sneezes doesn't make a cold, keats, gosh!! but of all the things to be stubborn about... seriously, this girl. ]

[headlining]

Hmmph. Don't come crying to me when you find yourself bedridden.

[It's a somewhat harsh statement, and he knows it - but it comes from a good place. Too bad he can't say a totally 100% nice thing to anyone without some effort on his part.]

At least stay indoors. It'll do you good.

[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.

[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?

[winces]

[ she heaves a heavy sigh, reaching up to push some of her bangs out of her face. they stick up awkwardly for a few seconds, held against her headband by lingering raindrops, but flop back down over her forehead before too long. ]

I made food, [ she answers simply. enough food for everyone out there, actually, and she's thankful she'd gotten most of the loaves out to people before the rain hit. she stares down at the basket she'd set down beside her feet, looking at the few that are left, a bit soggy from the rain. ]

And I was going to ask someone to explain the telly-scope thing.

[ see! a plan! ]

[headlining]

Oh. [Well, that's...actually kind of nice, making food for people, so he can't really say anything bad about that. He follows her gaze to the basket at her feet, having not even really noticed it before.]

And the telescope? [He tilts his head, leaning forward.] So, did someone explain it to you?

[winces]

[ olivia meets his gaze briefly, back still straight and stubborn...

and then she deflates a little, looking sheepish. ]

Sort of. [ lea had explained it to her, but she hadn't wanted to look like an idiot in front of him and sort of went along with things even though she'd gotten lost a fair few times. ]

[headlining]

[He stares at her for a moment, expression unreadable, before he finally lets out a short sigh.]

Would you like me to explain? I got mine right here.

[winces]

[ she purses her lips a little. ]

Not if you don't want to.

[ she's not going to bother him more than she already has, okay...! ]

[headlining]

[A frown.]

It's not a matter of what I want. It's a matter of if you want to know how to work with the thing if we ever have to go star searching again.

[winces]

[ she frowns at him in return! ]

Of course it matters if you want to or not! I'm the one bothering you about it.

[headlining]

[There's a long pause, before he reaches down at his side and pulls out the telescope, extending the tripod as he talks.]

Look, it's no skin off my back, alright? It's just an explanation. Better do it now instead of making a fool of yourself later.

[winces]

[ wait, does that mean he'd rather she make a fool of herself now? keats pls... ]

Only if you're sure...

[ but she's already scooting closer to get a better look. don't worry, she'll be a great student, okok. ]

[headlining]

[He's terrible, he knows.]

If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't be doing this right now. [He stands up, pushing the log back that he was sitting on so he can prop the telescope up on the ground in front of him.]

Okay, so, first things first, you know what this does, correct? I don't need to explain that to you, do I?

[winces]

It tells you the scope?

[ hahahahaha she's so funny what a riot ]

The loud, grumpy man on the network explained it well enough, yes.