into each life some rain must fall.

[luft]

caught in the rain
it started out quietly, and then, quite suddenly, you're caught in a storm. time to find cover. nothing much to do but to wait it out.

scenarios listed below for those who want 'em.

i. WHERE;
001 PLAYGROUND - well, you can try to hide under the slide or maybe in the jungle gym... at least you're some place fun?
002 PARK - always happens, caught outside trying to take advantage of the weather... and it ends up pulling a fast one on you.
003 STORE FRONT - better hope they have an awning you can take advantage of.
004 THE BEACH - not exactly the best place to be during a rainstorm, however it is possible to get caught in a sudden storm.
005 WILD CARD - anyway you want it.

ii. HOW;
001 TREE - not the best cover, but it'll have to do, stay close to the roots and you won't get too wet.
002 UMBRELLA - most conventional... kinda boring. But it works.
003 NEWSPAPER - not permanent, but it'll have to do. good luck.
004 BAG - well... y'gotta do what you gotta do.
005 NONE - you know what. you're a rebel. you don't need cover. screw convention.
006 WILD CARD - that's the way you need it.

iii. WHY;
001 REJECTED - welp. rejection sucks. and no one will see you crying in the rain.
002 WAITING - for the bus? for someone else? for some revelation? what are you waiting for.
003 MELANCHOLY - sometimes the best place to feel a bit down is out in the rain.
004 HAPPINESS - is everything going your way? are you singing a refrain while walking down the lane? just singin. singin' in the rain.
005 ANGER - WELL YOU KNOW WHAT. SCREW YOU TOO RAIN.
006 WILD CARD - anyway you want it.

>> POST with your character
>> TAG others, use rng if you need to, or just make up your own scenario if you want!
>> HAVE FUN.

Comments

[hellolisteners]

Well, you know potholes, ((his words spaced out as he focuses on pulling out of the parallel park.))

One day here, next day gone, thanks to our diligent road maintenance team. ((The kind of ambiguity that means either maintenance fixes them, or makes them, or both.)) You just have to be careful about which ones are which. Hit the larger hole and risk a little damage to your car, or hit the smaller one and find that your judgement was gravely mistaken, and it is in fact, much larger than you imagined, and consequently, fall into a black ominous void for years unknown, time neither racing nor slowing until, eventually, you wake to find yourself lying on your back on the practice putting mat in the used & discount sporting goods store.

[accede]

...Ah.

[Carlos replies. There's not much he can say to that. Maybe, if this had been said to Carlos a year ago, he'd first ask "how is that even possible?" And maybe reason that the smaller potholes are really just sinkholes due to poor construction. Maybe he'd even say something about road maintence and "why don't they put up signs or warnings around the small holes that are actually tears in spacetime?" Or "why the used & discount sporting goods store? Why there, of all places?"

But at this point, he just nods solemnly.]

Yeah. Let's hope they don't.

[And with a throat clearing, Carlos tries to change the subject.]

Is there anywhere you'd like to go? After I get changed, I mean.

[hellolisteners]

Uh, hmmm. ((For once, this isn't his usual inarticulate hum of embarrassment, and he's actually thinking.))

Oh! I don't mean to impose, but I would like to see your lab. You did say you wished to test the rain, no? ((He casts a quick glance to Carlos. He did sincerely wish to see his lab, and after seeing Carlos at work on the trees, it was within his interest to learn more about what Carlos did. Carlos saw enough of the station, too....))

[accede]

Oh.

[Cecil wants to be invited inside his lab. Not that it was a particularly private place, but... Didn't they need to fill out paperwork for this sort of thing?]

Yes, I did.

[Wouldn't it be kind of boring? For Cecil, at least? But Cecil did say he was pretty interested in whatever it was Carlos was doing, so...]

Alright. I have some changes of clothes there, so we can just head over.

[hellolisteners]

Great!! ((YEAH, he's happy.

He changes course a bit, though fortunately it was early on enough to pretend any unnecessary detours. Having lived here so long, he's something of a navigation pro. He pulls in as close to the lab they can get (without violating any parking laws, of course) and takes the coat back into his arm.))

Let me get the door, ((he urges, out of the car quick as a mink, only belatedly pulling the coat over his shoulders as he wraps around to the other side of the car to open the door. ))

[accede]

You don't ha-

[It's too late, Cecil's already out of the car with his coat. Oh well. Carlos goes with it, stepping out of the car when the door is opened for him.]

Thank you,

[he says with a slightly embarrassed look, and begins fishing his keys out of his pants pocket as they head towards the door. It's a short walk, and Carlos unlocks the door, stepping inside and away from the door for Cecil to finally have to stop holding his coat over the two of them.]

It's kind of a mess...

[Which is a bit of an understatement, really. There are papers everywhere, all of which have varying degrees of scribbled writing on them, and (gasp) a mug filled with pens. Next to that, there are several racks of test tubes, rows of beakers, volumetric flasks and Bunsen burners. There are dozens of books laid open, with sticky notes sticking out of the pages. Among the collections of objects are: a metronome, about five disassembled clocks, and five petri dishes with some furry grey material growing out of them nearby.

In the corner, there's a seismograph that had clearly been running all day, the paper now running onto the floor, and still rapidly scribbling very violent lines onto the paper that still feeds into it. ]

Oh, I forgot-

[Carlos rushes over to seismograph, and unplugs it, and it finally slows to a stop. He steps over the graphed paper, lifting it up and browsing it before sighing heavily and dropping it back to the floor.]

Alright. I'm going to get changed before I collect the rain water, please don't touch anything. Especially not the petri dishes. I don't know if they are sentient or not.

[And he starts to head towards a door in the back of the laboratory.]

[hellolisteners]

My hands will remain in my pockets!!

((And he means it quite seriously, pointedly shoving each into his trousers. Still... he can't help but look around at each little thing, walking by the tables slowly as he eyes all the different instruments and experiments on his way.

Now, he tries not to get TOO flustered when he sees the pens. Carlos, oh rebellious Carlos, Cecil can only hope that the secret police never, ever come in for a surprise inspection, and that Cecil is never stolen away from inquisition on such matters. For a moment, he fears for Carlos, and for himself. Anxious, he scurries passed that fact. He'll pretend that they were mere not!pens, for Carlos's sake.

At least, it's certainly amazing to see all this science. He's not really sure he's seen anything like this. Maybe in a TV show once.))

[accede]

[Carlos dries off and changes in about six or seven minutes, and caught between casual and science-y clothes. A labcoat, of course, but with jeans and a rather plain t-shirt underneath. Good enough, at least.

He returns to the main laboratory room, and heads over straight to the table with the empty beakers. The scientist picks one up, and heads back to outside door, holding the beaker outside, until it's 3/4ths full of water. Carlos then steps back inside with the beaker of water, and brings it over to his work table, which is really just... any table space he has clean. Inside a drawer nearby, he has a few slips of paper.]

So the first thing I'm going to do is to test the PH levels. This is really simple stuff. It's when you take a liquid, and drop it on this special paper, and it tells you, by color, if it's acidic or basic. Water should be around seven or six, or even five. Closer to seven though, since that's neutral.

[He takes a strip of the paper, lays it down, and then takes an eyedropper, and holds it out to Cecil.]

Do you wanna try it?

[hellolisteners]

((Wow PH levels: blast from the past....))



((Admittedly, Cecil is something of a lost puppy in the lab, so when Carlos reappears and stands at the door, he casually follows him, watching him and the rain and mostly him but sort of pretending that the rain was interesting, too, even though Carlos is clearly the main attraction.

And he follows Carlos again to the work space, not trying to hover, but clearly curious to see what Carlos does. He nods, little 'uh-huhs' as he listens to Carlos's very intelligent explanation, and admittedly find himself fascinated. Like these "PH" strips are just short of magic. Except Cecil knows it is definitely science.

Cecil looks a little surprised, somewhat alarmed, when the eye dropper is offered to him.)) Uh, sure!! How hard could it be?

Does it need a lot? ((he hesitantly attempts to fill the eyedropper.))

[accede]

[Carlos takes a step back to observe. Cecil is rather cute when he's so unsure of himself.]

No, just a couple of drops is enough. Sometimes people like to dunk half the paper in the liquid, but that could contaminate our only sample, you know?

[Not that he couldn't just get more, but you know.]

It should turn a light green or stay yellow, if it works.

[And since Cecil seems capable enough, Carlos walks away a bit, to grab something that looks like a slightly bigger test tube and a burner, setting it up near where Cecil is dropping the water.]

How's it look?

[hellolisteners]

Yellow! ((He shrugs. Completely commonplace.))

[accede]

That's good.

[Average. Regular.

Carlos takes the remainder of the beaker of water, pouring it into the test tube about halfway, and setting it to be held above the burner. He turns the flame on, and explains as he does so.]

I'm going to boil the water. Since regular water should boil at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, if it does the same, then I think it's safe to say this is completely normal water.

This is pretty boring stuff. Are you sure you don't want to be doing anything else?

[If it sounds like there's implications, Carlos is oblivious to it.]

[hellolisteners]

Oh, noooo, it's fine. ((He turns in the chair a bit, leaning to his right as he answers.)) I mean, where else would I be now but at home doing, ultimately, nothing. ((He shrugs.))

Besides, it's interesting. I certainly didn't learn any of this in school. The only reason I'd ever boil just water is to make it sanitary for drinking... Well, or noodles. ((A sort of laugh.))

[accede]

That reminds me to ask you. What do the children here learn? If they don't learn basic things like this in their science classes?

[He replies, taking a seat on the counter near Cecil.]

[hellolisteners]

Hmm, well it's certainly been a while since I was in school, but I remember we had... y'know, True science with all the astrology and subliminal advertising, little bit of psychology in there. Lots of infuriated yelling in regards to other sciences, as I recall. Then we had biology, and that was mostly dissecting unnamed specimens and studying the migration habits of locusts in summer. Third year was alchemy, and that was definitely not my year, I tell you. I only needed those three to pass high school.

After that was AP Transmigration. ((He crosses his arms tight over his abdomen.)) I don't really know whatever became of any of those students either. Though, I do know it was quite an honour to be accepted, and the eyes of parents often welled with pride and despair to learn their child had been accepted into such a prestigious course. ((he nods a bit, frowning thoughtfully.))

[accede]

And I'm guessing by "accepted" you mean, "chosen, and having no choice."

[Since that's what it usually meant in Night Vale.]

I still don't... just understand how Night Vale's education system even works. If children aren't fully educated in school, then how do they even know enough to succeed as adults? I almost don't want to ask about math or english or other classes, because it would just boggle my mind even more.

[hellolisteners]

((Oh... Cecil shifts awkwardly in his seat, crossing his legs tightly and pressing his fingers together.)) Well, I know we don't have the best schools, but we've had plenty of successful students over the years.

((A quick, awkward nod. Cecil was born and raised here, so the education system was his own as well. He'd LIKE to think he was successful enough, he had a job he enjoyed!! But... Well, radio broadcaster certainly paled against the prestigious shine of a scientist.))

as i try to find a coherent icon set...

[accede]

[Oh. Right, yes. What he said was unintentionally insulting, wasn't it? He hadn't meant to insult Cecil's intelligence, but... Well. He'd rather admit that it was more probable that dinosaurs knew how to tapdance than admit Night Vale schooling was decent.]

RIght- I didn't mean it... like that.

[He's not very perfect right now, is he?]

I just mean... Well. If a child here did want to be an oceanographer, I don't even know if they'd pass the tests required to do that, since I'm pretty sure Night Vale is the only city in the US to go straight from dissection to alchemy, and completely skip Earth Science and basic biology. It's just not the ideal learning environment for impressionable minds.

coherent icon sets are literally a lie; specially in this fandom.....

[hellolisteners]

The rest of the states do it differently? ((He looks... surprised?))

i know right... sigh...

[accede]

... Yes. Night Vale is the only place I've seen that does that sort of thing. Alchemy is not taught in schools, and "AP Transmigration" doesn't happen anywhere else either.

Cecil, Night Vale is very ... off the beaten path.

[hellolisteners]

I'm.. afraid I'm not following, Carlos. Alchemy is vitally important, ((his hands move as he speaks,)) I mean, how else are we supposed to create librarian ward or understand the diverse purposes of nightshade, or even delve into the steps involved in opening and closing inter-dimensional portals using what...even that iridescent and chalky smelling stone was. If Night Vale is the only one teaching our youth for preparation of such things, well... I fear for the rest of our country.

((One could suppose he's in denial. After all, he'd always just ASSUMED it was the case. There was never any reason to question it.))

[accede]

But you don't...

[Is this even a conversation worth having? Usually not. It just winds up confusing for everyone, and upsetting Cecil. And this was supposed to kind of be a date. Carlos at least has the sense when to drop something before it gets worse.]

You're right. More places should teach high school level Alchemy. I've never learned it myself.

[hellolisteners]

((A pause... His stiff back relaxes a bit, though he can't quite seem to let the issue go. Not that he's upset with Carlos, but he's confused and curious. Maybe he'll hop on the internet later and check it out; he'd like to be able to keep up with Carlos.))

Well, I'm sure you could always ask Ms. Bertsworth about it. She's quite good, even if she seems a bit... soulless now and then.

((It hurts how literal soulless is in this sense.))

[accede]

...Maybe I'll ask one of my colleagues instead. They might be able to explain it in a way that makes sense to me.

[And you know. His scientist colleagues aren't soulless. As far as he knows, at least.]

[hellolisteners]

Hah, can't say I blame you. I did do terrible in her class.

But, this is all really quite neat, ((he gestures to the beaker, though he means everything in general.)) You know, I'm not sure if you heard it, but a while back I tried to do a report on the weather and, uh, clouds and half the thing was bleeped out. ((As he says clouds, his voice lowers like he said an unbecoming word; but it was science talk, and he knew he was safe to remember such things in Carlos's presence. His hands raise up, palms out, laughing just slightly when he continues.)) Oh, I think on it now and it's really quite silly; I should have known better to discuss it but, eh, simple mistakes. Still, that it would rain today is stunning.

((his fingers run through his hair with the low chuckle, his spirits lifted again, and hoping in turn the air was lightened once more. His elbow falls onto the table besides him and he rests his hand on its smooth surface. He watches the beaker.))