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

[rutility]

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

Comments

[corundrum]

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.

[rutility]

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?"

[corundrum]

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?"

[rutility]

"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.

[corundrum]

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.

[rutility]

"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.

[corundrum]

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.

[rutility]

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.

[corundrum]

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.