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

[winces]

[ olivia pauses at that, alice's words striking a distant chord within her.

vaguely, she can hear his voice, low and rumbling but as gentle as an evening wind...

could it be, that everyone is someone else's sun? ]

...A very kind man once told me something, Alice. I think, if he were here, he would say the same thing to you.

[ very gently, she gives the girl's hands a squeeze. ]

People should appreciate what they have because it is equally as beautiful as the sun— even if it doesn't shine as bright and radiant. It is still marvelous and important.

Maybe you don't shine like me... but know that no one shines like you, either.

[digophelia]

Maybe.

[ She wonders to herself if, by chance, she would know who that person is. Certainly, it could sound like a few she knows. Nonetheless- ]

I feel as if I told you to have more faith in yourself that I would be more of a hypocrite than I care to admit.

[ Olivia didn't seemed to be plagued by madness, not like her. She wasn't limited by her fears and regrets... that Alice knew of, anyway. Even so, Alice thought very highly of her, just in part of her disposition.

It reminds her a little of her older sister, Alice realizes. Holding hands like this takes her back to her older sister, encouraging Alice at every turn and guiding her through, until the last days of her life. Struck with that thought, Alice withdrew her hands gently, and went back to huddling in her blanket. ]

You remind me of someone. Someone who deserved so much more than what she had.

[winces]

[ when alice draws her hands away, olivia doesn't fight it. instead, she draws her own hands back, letting them hang limp at her sides while her expression takes on something softer, sadder. she thinks back to the time those words she'd uttered had been first said to her, how quickly her spirits had been lifted and turned around. she knows, of course, that she is not nearly as good at this as gintoki, but she had hoped, quite earnestly, that the words would have had some effect on the young girl... admittedly, olivia isn't too sure what else she had left to offer.

still, she doesn't turn or step away, instead letting alice reclaim her space herself. ]

I'm sorry.

[ for stepping out of line. for not doing enough. for igniting a memory that clearly pained her. for that someone's unfortunate fate. ]

[digophelia]

There is no need to apologize.

[ Firmly and gently.

Alice is almost tempted to scold her for even offering up an apology to her. ]

You did nothing wrong.

[ "And neither did she." Lizzie was just as gentle, but far more of a spitfire than Olivia. The little things reminded her of Lizzie, the way she moved and held her hands. ]

My sister was a good soul, much like you. You should never feel guilty for that.

[winces]

[ there is an odd twist to olivia's lips, and for a moment she looks ready to refute.

but this isn't really about her, and so she strives to swallow the words back down. ]

What about you? [ she asks instead. the way alice spoke of her sister, it was like she were speaking from the perspective of the opposite end. ]

Do you not think you are?

[digophelia]

[ For Alice, it was about Olivia; she didn't want the attention on her. Positive attention was just still too strange for her. In Alice's eyes, Lizzie wouldn't have been so blind and careless; she would have done more and she would have been more credible. Her sister was someone she put up on a pedestal, an ideal lady.

The lack of action she took in London is still very unforgivable. ]

Those who are ignorant to the suffering of others aren't very good people. [ An insane, raving lunatic like her? Hardly. Alice was ready to move on; she glanced around awkwardly, around the slight downpour and back to her. ]

It's getting late, you need the rest.

[winces]

[ it's clear from the furrow in olivia's brow that she, unlike alice, would have liked to meander on the subject. there is something about the sharpness — the finality — in alice's tone that she can't say she likes; it speaks of something far worse than the usual self-deprecation that olivia tends to wallow in.

but she doesn't know how much of her worry is warranted. despite their pleasant conversations, despite the intimacy they had just recently shared — they are still virtually strangers, aren't they? and olivia doesn't necessarily want to make a habit of intruding where she may not be wanted.

and so she swallows back her urge to press, and instead fixes the younger girl with a small, if not melancholy smile. ]

I suppose I do, [ she concedes, though there is a tone to her voice that suggests that i is more of a you. a soft sigh, and an idle run of her hand over her hair, pushing her fringe back. ] Will you be alright on your own out here, Alice?

[digophelia]

[ Self-hatred aside, Alice was likely going to be subtly pushing Olivia along and continue her role as a caregiver. The finality of her statement didn't do anything to hamper her cordial and gentleness with Olivia. It wasn't her fault, Alice brought it on herself.

Even after her discomfort, Alice offers up a hand for Olivia to take. Holding hands with another woman is so much more comfortable for her, especially when she strives to comfort another. ]

I'll be fine, I have to find someone, first. I haven't seen him all night and I would like to before I go back inside.

[ It was friendship with Sion, she didn't think anything else beyond that. Like a switch, Alice returns a smile -- a genuine smile to Olivia. It's as if to say no harm done; she doesn't want her to worry about her, but the truth is, Olivia will. ]

He gets a little too quiet for my liking.

[winces]

[ the smile is comforting, almost as much as the offer of her hand. it's one that olivia doesn't hesitate to take, stepping forward just to bridge that faint gap. their hands clasp, and though the rain persists, their palms are warm when they touch. ]

Good luck, Alice. [ the man alice refers to reminds olivia of another she should attend to. best to get to him soon, she thinks, before his strawberry bread becomes ruined. ]

I'll see you around?

[digophelia]

[ A soft smile ghosts her lips as she slowly takes her hand back. ]

Of course you will, I promise. Please enjoy your night, Miss Olivia. I had a good time with you.

[ She means it, too. Alice lingers for a moment, studying her features. She pulls up her hood and slowly ventures off, hoping to find Sion. ]