ioduanlogs | [June open] can your science explain why it rains?

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[June open] can your science explain why it rains?

Characters: Rutile, Padparadscha, and you!
Date: late May through the rest of June, it's vague and time is a construct
Location: Downtown Aifaran, the city outskirts
Situation: Exploring Aifaran
Warnings/Rating: None so far!

Note: you don't have to write as much as I do! I'll match whatever length you choose, as well as format.

A ▸ TOURIST TRAP | padparadscha

It's been several days now since Rutile's ignoble arrival in Aifaran. They've stayed close to the Dreaming Bridge up until this point, getting their bearings and learning a bit of local terminology before venturing far. They hate to admit it - it feels far too much like acting their age - but the rapid change of pace has been overwhelming, and at least the communal nature of the Bridge is a little more reminiscent of home.

They'd felt somewhat more prepared to take Padparadscha up on their offer to visit the scientific hub of the city, but now that they're back in the bustling city center, they're once again overwhelmed by the crush of people and bustle of activity.

But much as they long for solitary fields and the soft roar of the ocean, they refuse to leave. They've sworn to themselves that they will make something of their time here, and really, they could use the break.

Rutile leans against a nearby wall as several workers carrying Tourney paraphernalia rush by, but keeps an eye out for Padparadscha. They slip their hand into their pocket, brushing the yimo they're still becoming familiar with. They've agreed to meet near here, but in all this activity, will Padparadscha know where to look?

B ▸ THE EVENING COMMUTE | open

The Skyway is a feat of engineering unlike any Rutile has seen before. Moving faster even than Yellow Diamond, it's almost frightening the few times it pulls into the station, and then after that becomes exhilarating. They sit for hours watching trains pull in and out of the station, contemplating the rails they run on and the technology that suspends it so far in the air. It gets to the point where passengers who left this station for work early this morning pass by them again later in the afternoon, pausing only a moment to wonder about this Dreamfolk who can pose, unchanging, on a bench near a Tourney advertisement.

Eventually, though, Rutile stands up, and approaches one passenger as they step off the train. "Excuse me," they say - polite, brisk, and with the first appropriate local gesture they think of, "do you know who built this, or where they might be?"

It might be you they accost, or perhaps it's someone else nearby.

C ▸ INTO THE WOODS | open

Outside the city proper lies farmland and then wilderness, and eventually the barrier, which Rutile has heard of but had yet to experience. They set off early in the morning, making their way through quiet streets until eventually buildings become further apart and nature retakes the landscape. Rutile relaxes here in this solitude, with nothing but the birds and their thoughts.

Though the sun shines brightly as it rises, eventually it becomes covered by darkening clouds, threatening rain. As the first drops begin to drip and thunder rumbles overhead, Rutile spots an abandoned wooden structure tucked away in a clearing, almost invisible save for the hollow windows and doors. They make a mad dash for it, ducking in for shelter as the sky opens up.

They might find someone - or something - sharing their hideaway. But if they're alone, they would welcome some company. Despite the dense population, Aifaran is rather lonely.

D ▸ WILDCARD | open

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If there's one thing to be grateful for in this world of much stranger creatures than gems, it's that Rutile stands out even more than they did back at home. However bustling the crowd is, Padparadscha hasn't yet found any species that can replicate that telltale shimmer of light off a gem's form.

Navigating the activity is somewhat more difficult, but eventually, the telltale mountain of hair becomes visible through the bustle just before Padparadscha emerges, looking somewhat energised by the whole thing.

"Ah, it's making me feel a bit old seeing all of them running about like kids," they say, stretching their arms somewhat lazily over their head.

Rutile spies Padparadscha above the crowd seconds before they emerge, catching a glimpse of their curls glimmering in the sunlight before the full splendor of the lunar corundum in their chest comes into view. Their relief at Padparadscha's arrival is is tempered by a strange bitterness at the sight, though for what reason, they aren't sure.

"You feel old because you are old," they point out, tongue in cheek, as they straighten up and adjust their coat. "You can hardly keep up with me. I've been waiting for ages."

It's good Padparadscha brought up age. Now they can relish being younger by comparison.

"Details," Padparadscha says, waving a hand on the way down with some amusement. It was impossible not to think of themselves as old compared to the beings here anyway, since most of them wouldn't even live as long as the youngest gems have lived already. "I ran into some strangeness by the shore on my way here that held me up."

There's not much indication of it but that the soles of Padparadscha's shoes are a bit damp, but it wasn't the bad kind of oddity anyway, just...odd, so it's fine.

"So, you wanted to look around here, huh?"

"I did. I was hoping you'd introduce me to these scientists you speak of; I have things I'd like to consult them on," they say, as they step away into the crowd and gesture for Padparadscha to take the lead.

Their second, secret desire is to assess who Padparadscha found to replace them. Which isn't very charitable, and they remind themselves rather harshly that in this situation there is no blame to be assigned, but feelings do as feelings will, and they are difficult to quash.

Rutile does note that Padparadscha's shoes are damp, and the corners of their mouth dip into a frown. "Some strangeness? You didn't go too close to the water, did you? I don't have anything to protect your skin," they chastise. Padparadscha would never do anything too reckless. That knowledge fails to quell their anxiety.

Padparadscha can guess well enough where at least part of Rutile's intent lies here, but how can they refuse? One way or another, they'll desire the information, and refusing will only place a small roadblock in the way of the same happening in the end.

In answer to Rutile's concern, Padparadscha raises one arm, drawing fingers across it in a rather particular way. No powder loosens from their surface - if they hadn't had something to replace their powder, that incident with the tiny creatures would have been much more trying.

"I'm afraid I had to find another solution from those very scientists while I was here. They have waterproof materials beyond our resin in this place."

And on the moon, but they're certainly not mentioning that right now, considering the circumstances.

Rutile has put the moon out of their head. The moon may as well not even exist for all the consideration they are giving it. In fact, they may never mention the moon again, or anything on it. Just watch them.

Their eyebrows rise when Padparadscha doesn't so much as smear their powder. Certainly a well-applied coat will hold up to friction and even to moisture, for a time, but the material was never hardy enough to hold up to deliberate scratches. Rutile reaches out to take Padparadscha's hand with the intent of looking at it more closely. It hardly matters - if something was that different they would have noticed by now - but old habits die hard.

"Do you know what it is, or how it's made? I'd love to do a comparison. I suppose the technology for it here is beyond us, but perhaps there's an analogous way to synthesize it... "

They can't keep the excitement from their voice, though they give it a good shot. Their gaze flicks back to Padparadscha.

"What are you waiting for? Lead the way."

"It's liquid, but I think you'd be better served asking them about it than me," Padparadscha says, with a slight smile. They did get an explanation back when they got it, but it's not their area of expertise, and that particular habit of not stepping on someone else's toes as regards work certainly hasn't faded.

At Rutile's impatient urging, Padparadscha laughs softly, withdrawing their hand and beckoning. It's a little nice to see them so interested already, since this is certainly something Padparadscha had thought more than once they'd like to show Rutile.

"It's not too much further from here, but hopefully with all this excitement going on further down, the scientific sorts will be getting left in peace, huh?"

The sheer busy motion of the parts of the city that are preparing for this tournament is a bit much for Padparadscha as well, even though they've been here longer.

Rutile rolls their eyes at Padparadscha's refusal to speak. They almost certainly know more than they're letting on, they always do. But on the other hand, it's true that perhaps their explanation wouldn't be up to snuff. It would be wiser to wait. "Yes, of course," they dismiss.

They follow Padparadscha through the streets, staying close and keeping their head down as they navigate the throng. Chaos is not the problem; Rutile is quite used to chaos, to the heat of battle and the hypervigilance of the aftermath, but this is something else entirely. "I hope so," they confess. "I could use a little peace."

And sure enough, the amount of activity dies as they leave the city center. In fact, the scientific areas are thinner even than Rutile expect. The Tourney must have drawn attention from more than just the laymen.

Padparadscha lets out another laugh, this one deep in their throat and familiar. "I certainly know that feeling. I think this may be the busiest I've seen things since I arrived here."

But thankfully, as things thin out and quiet down around them, the areas they're actually aiming for become more peaceful. It's around the time they'll have to decide where it is they're heading specifically, and Padparadscha slows down slightly to take some stock of the area.

"There are a few places we could go from here, but Aifaran Tower is well away and more private than the others. Ioduan Academy or the Opara Core may serve us better to start with."

Rutile immediately resolves to find a way inside Aifaran Tower, and sooner rather than later, but for now they will humor Padparadscha. All they know about the Opara Core is that it's a center of technology in Khu Ioduan, and they know even less about the Ioduan Academy. They narrow their eyes, considering each destination, weighing curiosity versus familiarity.

"The Opara Core, I think," Rutile says carefully as curiosity wins the day. They slip their yimo from their pocket. "Perhaps they can tell me more about this. It's a shame to be so unfamiliar with so ubiquitous a tool."

Certainly the basics were explained to them at the Dreaming Bridge, but that was about as helpful as being handed a code and being expected to decipher it with a few hints alone.

There's no doubt in Padparadscha's mind that Rutile plans to investigate the Aifaran Tower further in their time here, but that's something to be set aside for now, they think. The Tower does occasionally invite people for studies or visits, so there's at least a chance Rutile may have the opportunity in future without them having to risk making enemies of those there.

"I think they would. I believe they might have more information about things like the transport systems here, as well. It's their assigned purpose."

Or at least, that's how Padparadscha sees it. Even if someone gets skilled at something and then chooses it as their role, it's still an assigned purpose of sorts.

It's their assigned purpose.

Rutile lets the words hang in the air. The remark is innocent, but they've been trying not to think about the fact that their skills are hardly in demand in the rest of Aifaran. Certainly Padparadscha will need a check-up on occasion, but they've fared this long without Rutile, and if the world is kind, will continue to do so.

Hopefully the drop in conversation is subtle, because the Opara Core appears as they round a corner and Rutile has an excuse to halt in their tracks. The Core gleams like mother-of-pearl, and though its design is simpler than most other buildings in the city, that doesn't stop it from being impressive in sheer magnitude. They spend a moment gazing at it, and then shake themselves from their reverie.

After that, Rutile's curiosity takes over, and they half-forget that Padparadscha is technically accompanying them as they hurry toward the edifice.

Padparadscha is but a sentry, so they've been setting problems of economy aside for much of the time they've been here in favour of learning the lay of the land. The structure of the designated "sentry" here gives them no real interest in joining it, so then the question becomes what, exactly, their role is in this world.

Should they designate something for themselves? Is there anything else they can designate for themselves? Questions that haven't yet become pressing, courtesy of the economy of living things largely covering items they don't require to survive.

In any case, Rutile's hastened pace towards the Core, impressive thing that it is, isn't a surprise to Padparadscha. With only a slight smile on their lips, they follow, at a more leisurely but still prompt pace.

"They build out of unusual things here, but I'm sure you've noticed that already."

If Padparadscha is quiet during their ruminations, it is lost on Rutile; they nod at their words, but the gesture is vague, hardly paying attention. "Some stone," they say as they enter the Core. "Wood. Other things too, that I haven't had time to analyze. The technology is made of metal. The windows in the shops are glass; I can't imagine who thought that was a good idea."

The interior of the Core is not busy at this time of day; most people are out at the Tourney, and the few that may be at work are nowhere to be seen. This does not bother Rutile, who takes a quick look around the lobby before heading off down a hallway - any hallway. They do pause to read signs and posters as they go, systematically taking in the unfamiliar jargon, but they're more interested in finding someone to talk to. Thus they duly check each door they pass, looking for signs of life, until they finally find someone sneaking around on their yimo during a break.

"I've been wondering that myself, though living things must have a harder time breaking it..." Padparadscha sounds faintly amused in their musing on who would've thought to use glass as part of construction. Maybe they've found some way to strengthen it, but it's definitely not something they would have thought to attempt considering its fragility.

They drift after Rutile as they soldier their way through the Core, though it's mostly out of the courtesy of knowing where they're inevitably going to stop. It's hard not to pity the first poor technician who ends up party to Rutile's questioning...then again, maybe they'll be just as much of a quack.

Once Rutile zeroes in on someone, Padparadscha takes a half-step back and starts to turn back down the corridor.

"I'll come back when you finish exchanging notes, shall I?"

Rutile is already deep in probing the unfortunate technician for answers, directions, names - anything they can get. Their interrogation technique is honed from centuries of dragging information out of reluctant patients, and even the drastic change in context is not enough to hinder their ability.

Polite as ever, Rutile doesn't interrupt the technician once they've got her talking, only making small gesture to acknowledge Padparadscha's departure. As Padparadscha's footsteps fade into the background, so does their presence in Rutile's mind, leaving room only for the Opara Core.

Unfortunately, the technician is a low-ranking employee, and doesn't have much to offer Rutile except a rough idea of the laboratories in the building and directions to the visitor's center. Rutile thanks them for their time and bids them farewell, and sets off toward the center - only to divert from the pathway at the first opportunity. After a bit of wandering, they find themselves in engineering centers marked by signs: this way to Skyway operations, another toward Lae Shunjai operations, one more toward Xunutane processing. This last, as an unfamiliar word, catches Rutile's attention, and they set off to discover what it could be. Down this hallway there is far more activity; whatever the Xunutane is, it's something that requires constant monitoring.

Padparadscha ends up drifting around the Core with much less intent - it's useful to pick up what information they can, but this isn't their area of expertise and interest the way it is for Rutile. Instead, they begin to head upwards, to see the kind of view they can get of the surrounding area. There must be some benefit to building with glass to the extent the people here seem to, and one they can think of is being able to survey one's surroundings easily.

In that sense, they're probably more of a visitor, but in the end, they go in the direction that will get them where they want to be the most easily. It doesn't seem like the engineers have much time to spare for troubling themselves with people who are in the wrong place.

No one bothers Rutile as they duck down hallways and through doors marked AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES ONLY, and why should they? Everyone's eyes are down as they hurry along their way, and Rutile's lab coat blends them in with the populace as well as anything, though they're lacking a conspicuous Opara badge. Occasionally there are posters about the Xunutane: graphs and figures and equations Euclase would adore, but very little to hint at what it actually is. Eventually, even these give way to bulletin boards with unhelpful memos, and finally nothing at all.

Rutile finds a door at the end of the hallway with another warning on it and a jagged arrow symbol on a sign just to the right. PROCESSING CENTER, it reads. It is locked.

They huff with annoyance; things had been going so very smoothly up til this point, but there is nothing for it but to keep going. They turn back the way they came, and run into another technician. This one is either in a worse mood or just better at his job, because he gives Rutile an irritated look as he demands how they got down there. Arms crossed, Rutile replies that no one stopped them, and really, they were only interested in knowing what the Xunutane was.

"It's a shard of crystal," the technician retorts. "The one powering the entire city."

"Crystal? What sort of crystal?" A gem, for powering the city? Their eyes narrow.

And then, Rutile's least favorite words since they've come to Konryu: "Look, let me show you out. You can learn all about it at the visitor's center."

Padparadscha's journey is much less eventful in comparison. Though there are some half-hearted attempts to redirect them to the visitor's center, they're not really doing anything or trying to get into anywhere obtrusive enough to be escorted there, so they're largely left to their own devices as they peruse the views and various departments of the upper floors of the building.

Simply casing the joint takes a much shorter time than questioning, though, and eventually, Padparadscha begins to descend once more to the main floor of the Core. They don't imagine they'll find Rutile again at the visitor's center, but it might make a useful place to ask if anyone's seen them, so that's where they end up heading for the moment.

On the contrary, Rutile has been quite sternly escorted into public-friendly areas of the Core, and hovers near the door of the visitor's center oblivious to the low levels of activity surrounding them. They are not quite pacing, but it is clear that they are incapable of standing still, preoccupied as they are with their own internal monologue.

Because of this they hear Padparadscha enter before they see them - their heavy footfall, the clink of their hair - and glance up in haste. In the half-second that they pause to meet Padparadscha's eyes, distress is hidden in their narrowed eyes and the curl of their lips. Then they rush over to meet the other gem.

"Padparadscha," they say - and to their credit, their tone is clipped and clinical. "The thing that powers this city. It's a gem. Did you know that?"

Rutile already being in the center saves Padparadscha having to try and seek them out themselves, but their brows draw a little at what they can see of Rutile's expression as they hurry over. It's not what they expected them to look like when they met up again, and all they can assume is that they discovered something they didn't expect to.

It's easily explained with just those words, though, and though Padparadscha doesn't quite look troubled in the same way Rutile does by it, their expression goes flat remarkably quickly.

"I didn't, no. I'd thought I'd do better understanding the world before its technology," Padparadscha admits, looking rather thoughtful. As a sentry, the natural and existing world is of more relevance to them, but this is unusual news. "Is it one you're familiar with?"

"I wasn't allowed to see it," Rutile bitterly notes, recalling the technician who had quite firmly insisted on escorting them back. "Nor find much technical information on it, other than that it's a large reserve of some sort of crystal. I can't imagine it has inclusions or anything of the sort, that would be obvious. Still, I..."

They trail off, searching Padparadscha's face for some reflection of their own distress. But though their expression changed almost imperceptibly, it is impossible to tell what they're feeling.

Rutile closes their eyes and draws themselves up to their full height. It takes a moment, but they regain their composure. "It is not what I expected," they say. "I don't know what I expected. But it wasn't this."

And though it is just the two of them, Rutile feels as strangled and overwhelmed as if they are once again in the center of the Tourney square.

That's not very helpful, nor very reassuring, and Padparadscha continues to consider it. They doubt, given the specific circumstances, that it presents any risk to themselves, but the fact of a body of gemstone being put to work by other creatures puts them too much in mind of Lunarian tactics to be entirely comfortable.

"No, I don't think any of our kind would have," Padparadscha says, tone musing. "It's something we would hardly consider in our own world. Still, to make any actions on only partial information would be hasty at best."

It goes against Padparadscha's nature to get too riled about something they ultimately know very little about. Perhaps there are some strange circumstances behind it...perhaps, more likely, the living things here simply aren't familiar with the idea of living stone.

"That's why I've yet to do anything," Rutile says, though they chafe at the prospect of biding their time. "It could be something else entirely. It's not unheard of for stone to have certain properties, and of course synthetic varieties exist. It is likely within the capabilities of Aifaran to develop them..."

Though Rutile does not suspect Lunarian activity, they're still filled with dread. Along with the simple notion of a crystal being used as energy, they are devastated by the realization that they have no idea how such a thing could occur.

They rub their forehead, and then cross their arms. "I think we should leave," they finally decide. "The building, at least."

It is not realistic to leave the city; this much they know, as Padparadscha would certainly have attempted it. Still, the thought enters their mind.

Rutile is probably better at rationalising themselves out of their train of thought than Padparadscha is in this situation. They may be a good advisor, but this area is, as they've said many a time before, Rutile's much more than theirs, so what they can offer here is limited.

They don't hesitate to respond to the notion of leaving the building, though. "Let's. It seems as if we've learnt all we're likely to learn from it, in any case."

It would be best not to dwell, though they can't help but feel somewhat ill at ease with their own suggestion to come here. Maybe the Tower would have been safer in the end, if only because they'd have less chance of being able to wander unchecked.

But they begin to head at a lax pace towards the door, glancing back to ensure Rutile is following.

All safety is relative, anyway. If they'd gone to the Tower, they would simply have been safe in ignorance. Rutile would rather this situation than that, in the end. It simply means they'll need to put forward more effort toward understanding the nature of minerals in this world, and what exactly they are capable of.

Padparadscha's quick reply comes as a surprise, though not an unwelcome one. Rutile simply nods in agreement, and follows them a few paces behind. They are not quite lost in thought - in fact, their thoughts are rather eerily silent, and reflecting this, they say nothing on the way out.

When they emerge back into the streets of Aifaran, Rutile is glad for the sunlight after the dark and twisting halls of the Core. Still, the magnificence of the city and the push of the crowd seem alien to them now, providing little solace.

"I'm going for a walk," they announce suddenly. "Outside city limits. You're welcome to join me," they say - and to their surprise, rather hope Padparadscha doesn't.

Padparadscha stretches their arms high above their head as they step back out into the sunshine, only glancing aside when Rutile makes that remark. They hesitate, briefly, but after a moment, drop their arms and shrug.

"I get the feeling it's the kind of walk you'd prefer to take alone," Padparadscha says, a somewhat knowing smile on their face. Rutile probably needs more time to process what they just discovered, and while Padparadscha will need to think about it too, Rutile has a greater understanding of the ramifications of it with their interest in science. For Padparadscha, it's something to factor in, but likely not to understand deeply.

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[June open] can your science explain why it rains?

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