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 Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:36 pm
The nature park was slowly filling up with eager starwatchers and astro-nerds; there were, of course, a large amount of regular people who had only come for the promise of food and maybe to make a wish on a shooting star. The park itself was situated near the outskirts of Destiny City. The area that the Destiny City Astronomy Club had chosen for their community picnic was a clearing somewhat close to the parking lot. The spot they had chosen was field that ran down a gently sloping hillside. The field was wide, large enough to suit the amount of people that were expected to show. On the edge of the field were paths that led down into the wild part of the park. The grass grew tall there and blended into the trees. Not that anyone was really there to admire the natural beauty of the nature park. The major event of the evening was the Aurigid meteor shower. Closest to the parking lot were picnic benches and small campfire barrels, which were ready for anyone who wanted to roast a hot dog or marshmallows. Not far from the picnic benches were red and white clothed tables that were set up especially for the event. They were covered with the basics of picnic goodies: chips, buns and topping for the hotdogs, coleslaw, cookies, and other typical foods. Two large orange coolers were perched on the end of one tables with paper signs attached. One sign read ‘PUNCH’ and the other was labeled ‘ORANGE JUICE’. The fruity drinks were free, but there was also hot chocolate and coffee available, which the DCAC were selling for 1$ each (they had to make a profit somewhere). A large clear plastic container sat near the tables, it’s sign read ‘DONATIONS’. In the clear field, a team from the DCAC were busy setting up telescopes. What better way to get the community interested in astronomy and the club than to show them the wonders of space through a telescope. A few other volunteers had sheets of star-shaped stickers ready to hand out to the young kids who were there. Others kept an eye on the food tables. One woman with stickers, Regina Wallace , also held a makeshift megaphone made from paper. It didn’t look like much, but it was enough to amplify her ordinary voice. “Welcome everybody! Thank you for coming to the Destiny City Astronomy Club’s first community event. Fill free to make yourselves comfortable on the grass and grab a bite to eat. If you’re brought anything to share there’s more than enough room on the tables.” Regina greeted everyone as they came down from the parking lot.
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OOC: This ORP is for civilian identities only, but it is open to everyone to play! If your character has a powered half and you're interested in participating in a powered ORP, please post in this thread if you haven't already.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:37 pm
******************************** There are little jobs for your characters to assume should you choose to! While everyone has a passing interest in astronomy, not everyone is as committed to it as others. As members of the DCAC, or extra volunteers for the event, some of you are bound to be helping out in what ways you can. Whether it’s selling the coffee and keeping an eye on the cash box, welcoming people as they come in with Regina, handing out stickers, controlling the fire pits, chatting up the club and trying to sign up new members, or showing people who to use the telescopes, there’s definitely things you can be doing! Those interested in joining the club can talk to Regina Wallace or a member of the DCAC to learn about joining. What are the rules for joining the club? A love of astronomy and a monthly 5$ membership fee.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:53 pm
The bookish museum director was crouched by a telescope, putting the finishing touches on the tripod setup. The rest of the tool was still in the case in front of him, but he would have it calibrated shortly. If anyone wanted to come ask him questions about how it worked, he'd be happy to explain to them while he finished with setup.
Iouri checked the level on the tripod and reached into the case for the body of the telescope. Nimbly, he began to secure it into place. This part of setup he knew by heart - it was his own, personal telescope, and he'd set it up a hundred times. Iouri let his eyes wander across the field, trying to make out who had arrived so far. In time, he was certain that someone would approach him and ask to be shown the wonders of the cosmos.
In the meantime, he finished tightening the bolts on his telescope and reached for the eyepiece. Hopefully someone who wasn't as nearsighted as he was would turn up soon to help him get the telescope focused - otherwise it was going to be a long night of adjusting and readjusting while patiently asking, "Does this look right now?"
He gazed off into the distance, wondering who from DCAC had already arrived - surely there was someone present who was younger and more clear-eyed than he was who would be more able to adjust the telescope to a universally useful focus.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:24 am
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy~ Meteor shower tonight!! It was going to be awesome, and Peter Gallo was totally prepared for anything that might happen! He even brought his own telescope that he got for his birthday a year ago. It was a nice telescope, too. Since his brother got a guitar for his birthday when he was ten, it was only fair that he got a nice present, too!
It had been boxed up for that very occasion, packed carefully away in a rolling suitcase with a hard shell to protect the contents. It was also locked, but the combination was his dad's birthday, so that was easy enough to remember. The problem was... he had to get a good spot before everyone else got there!! He had to make sure there were no trees in the way, definitely. And he would prefer not to be around a bunch of people who would get their greasy hands all over the lens. That would suck.
"Hey! Heyyy!" he called upon spotting Iouri, the dude who let him touch a moon rock. Okay, so he didn't let him actually touch the moon rock, but it was close enough, right?? He got to at least look at it! The dude had wanted to be an astronaut, too, but apparently his eyes sucked.
Peter struggled a little to get the large suitcase across the grass, but came to a stop once he reached the other member of the DCAC. "Wow, did you get that thing out of the museum, too?" he asked, staring at the telescope Iouri was working on setting. "That thing looks ancient. Jeez... they really don't give you that much funding, do they??"
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:15 am
Iouri beamed at the young boy coming towards him, although he did not have any hands free to wave in greeting. "Comrade Pietr," he said happily, watching him struggle with the suitcase. Grassy knolls weren't really made for wheeled luggage, but then you couldn't expect a ten-year-old to carry a proper case like Iouri did, could you?
"No, they certainly don't," he agreed, finishing the assembly of his aged telescope. "However, just because something is old doesn't mean that it's not still useful." It had been top of the line when he bought it, and he'd taken very good care of it since. Certainly that counted for something. "And I'll have you know - this isn't a museum piece, this is my own personal telescope."
Just because it looked like it had come from a Soviet rummage sale didn't mean it actually had. (The POCKOCMOC sticker on the side was all his.)
"NASA sent men to the moon and back with a computer with less processing power than your cell phone," he added with a hint of snideness. Iouri always got a kick out of pointing out how most of humanity's greatest accomplishments had occured prior to the invention of the smartphone.
"Anyways, Little Eagle," he continued, gesturing to Peter and then to the telescope he'd already assembled. "How would you like to help me set the focus on this to something pleasing for more people's eyes than just mine, and then we will put yours together?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:32 pm
Kathryn had come out in order to help the DCAC in anyway that she could. After her failed outing near Valentines it was nice to kick back and relax. The news about the event being hosted by the astronomy club though rekindled the excitement for Kathryn. Living as she did in Destiny City's downtown the chance to just look up and admire the night sky had dwindled. Light pollution made the task impossible. Tonight she'd get her fill of the meteor shower with others. If they just came for the celestial event it was fine. Kathryn stood to one side of the concession area watching two individuals "tune" a telescope.
She'd learned a little from reading articles online about how to use telescopes but she'd never really applied her learning. Maybe tonight she could change that. Unsure with her proficiency Kat had asked to head up the sales of coffee and hot chocolate. Now she stood behind the tables laden with food. Kat the cashier. It had a nice ring. Her hands rested on either side of the cash box entrusted to her. As long as she was able she would keep a close eye on the container. She wanted no mishaps on her shift. She'd switch off with someone else a little later in order to mingle a little with the citizens of Destiny City who had come out to attend.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:50 pm
Ainsley McMahon, although not a member of the DCAC, was absolutely excited for the Aurigid Meteor shower. Ever since she had heard about it, she had raved on and on about it. Well tonight was finally the night and she couldn't have been more prepared for it! She dressed up for the event, wearing a thick pair of winter tights and a dark navy dress to match the night sky. She had found the perfect accessories too! A star necklace and star earrings lit up the child's outfit and matched the star forehead sticker she had appropriately worn. It was golden, and it matched Cora's forehead star perfectly. Why did it matter if she had a star sticker on her forehead that matched Cora's perfectly? Well addition to the two blankets she had brought along with her, the child was also stowing a cream coloured guardian cat away in her jacket. Wonderful company and a great insulator all in one!
"Oh, I can see people now," she whispered to Cora carefully so the cat would be aware of the situation as well. She wanted Cora to enjoy the meteor shower as much as she was going to but she was also aware of the dangers Cora, as well as herself, might face if anyone actually heard a cat talking. Either way, the child had no qualms about using her free arm to wrap around her torso in a half hug.
She looked around for a bit, and then she settled on a good spot. With the two blankets, it was rather cozy despite it being February. She wondered if there was anyone here she knew? Did any of her friends like the stars as much as she did? Peter's name certain came to mind but she hadn't seen him since King Arthur. It wouldn't surprise her if she seen him here, although she wouldn't have expected to see him helping out. Unfortunately, Ainsley didn't see him on her way in. Fortunately, Cora was here with her!
LittleLilyKitty <3 Just so you remember when you wake up!
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:40 pm
"Grrrrr, you cheating... !!!"
Gwendolyn Caspian wasn't completely ignorant to her surroundings, but she felt that she wasn't missing that much yet, so what was the harm in finding a nice, comfortable spot to lay down and play her handheld video game? She had found a great spot, just short of the hot chocolate stand, and moments after laying out her blanket, she got comfortable and wiped out her handheld while there was still some lamp lights lit.
Expect the game was starting to beat her, and Gwen, not wanting to feel anyone's eyes staring at her, she quickly turned off the device and slipped it back into her pack, and she rolled onto her back to stare up at the stars. She had a much bigger appreciation for the night sky than she really let on, and though she was against leaving the nice, warm apartment in the first place, she had to admit that coming out here was a good idea.
'Too bad Maddy can't come... she's always working these strange hours.'
Which meant that she, once again, was on her own, but Gwen was determined that it would not remain that way for long. She was tired of being alone, and even though she was laying flat on her back, arms crossed behind her head and one leg lazily resting over the other, she was looking around for someone that looked familiar, or friendly. 'I wonder if that guy from the rave will be here... doubtful, but it couldn't hurt to hope, right?'
Her nose caught the sweet scent of chocolate and it took much for her to resist the temptation to snake her way over there. She had to save her money for the arcade and the fair home... but it smelled so GOOD.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:21 pm
Astronomy wasn't one of Anming's biggest subjects, but she had heard about the meteor shower, something she hadn't gotten a chance to witness before, so she was out here tonight, having found a nice enough spot to set down the blanket that she had brought with her. Bundled up for the weather, she had also paid for a cup of hot chocolate earlier, wanting to help support the Astronomy club.
The extra warmth was an added bonus, too.
Glancing around, the young girl wondered if anyone she knew had cone as well. Outside of her classmates and friends of her parents, Anming didn't have a great deal of people she could definitively consider to be 'friends', despite her helpful nature. Still, she had been meeting new people lately, so there was always the chance she would recognize someone.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:50 am
It wasn’t every day that you got to see a meteor shower – definitely one of the more interesting ways to spend an evening, which is why the dark-haired teen had come to the park with a medium-sized grey and green checked blanket stuffed in his school rucksack. Arian hadn’t been the first arrival to the park, there were a few others around by the time the teen managed to get there.
Finding a nice spot to set up his blanket, Arian gave an appreciative glance at the table with the hot chocolate, glad that he had remembered to bring his wallet along with him. A cup of hot chocolate would go really well with the brownies he’d brought to munch on and the dark-haired teen made a note to go buy a cup before others got the same idea and a queue formed.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:12 pm
Paris didn’t have any particular interest in space beyond exploring his moon and others orbiting the same planet, and so coming out into the cold to observe a meteor shower wasn’t exactly the way he’d typically choose to spend a Friday night, but he couldn’t just say “no” when Chris’s mother asked he and his boyfriend to look after Peter while she was otherwise occupied. He liked Momma Gallo, he liked Peter, and he especially liked Chris, so between getting his way or causing a lot of disappointment, he’d chosen to sacrifice his own comforts for the sake of pleasing others, as he knew this would ultimately lead to praise, appreciation and attention from some of the people he liked receiving it from most.
Besides, someone had to keep Chris and Peter from killing each other. Luckily, Peter had gone off to set up his telescope the moment they’d arrived—and had, even more fortunately, found an adult in the process—and though Paris knew they couldn’t go the whole night without checking up on him seeing as Peter was eleven years old and had the habit of getting himself into trouble, having both brothers at a distance from one another would go a long way in preventing any explosions.
And so he went about setting up one of the many blankets he’d brought with him, spreading it out on the ground some distance away from the food tables to avoid any crowds and trampling feet, though picking a spot in clear view of the telescopes being set up so as to be able to keep an eye on Chris’s little brother. He had blankets to sit on, blankets to wrap around them and curl up under, even a blanket for the dog, plus a cooler full of his own food and thermoses of hot chocolate to drink. Not only was he cheap and unwilling to pay for something he could easily make himself, he also wasn’t in the mood to stand in line, nor was he particularly fond of the idea of eating hotdogs or willing to force his companions to do the same, even if he was pretty sure Chris wouldn’t care either way.
“Sit close to me. I’m freezing,” Paris said. He’d bundled up the best he could, and though the cold wasn’t unbearable he fully planned on using it as an excuse to snuggle. He plopped himself down on the blanket as soon as everything was settled, grabbed another blanket to shake out and wrap around him, and looked expectantly at Chris.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:05 pm
The temptation could no longer be ignored, and Gwen reluctantly gave up her warm spot, grabbing her bag and blanket and tucking them under her arm. That hot chocolate smelled wonderful and she was getting cold just sitting on her own- standing in a crowd would probably make her warmer, and give her a chance to get a better look around. She placed a dollar down on the table and grabbed her cup, not even bothering with blowing away the steam and moving it up to her nose to warm herself. It smelled so damn good! "Thank you!" Gwen said, pulling away from the table and going back to finding another spot since hers was already taken. That's when her eyes caught a familiar face, and she nearly dropped her hot chocolate as she waved a mitted hand in the air and gave a shout. "Anming, Anming! Over here!" She'd recognize her from anywhere, and she was relieved to see that she was okay, considering their last encounter. Without even being invited, she moved towards Anming, thankful to see another familiar face in this crowd. "Remember me?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:53 pm
Lian had no interest in astronomy. Actually, he would have preferred to be in some low key club and leaning over a pool table or spending his time at an indoor tennis court. But last night he had received a call from a friend urging the college student to head to the park to watch the meteor shower. Even over the phone he could imagine her gesticulating with her arms as she explained what a rare opportunity it was for a myriad of reasons. He had agreed to accompany her before her failure of an attempt at persuasion could continue any further.
Sighing, the man took out his phone to check the time, the screen’s glow lighting up his face. He scowled and promptly put away the phone. Admittedly, Lian was a couple minutes early of their meeting time, but usually she was eager and excited about anything and everything related to astronomy. He had figured she would be here by now, but she was still nowhere in sight. One of the members, Regina Wallace, spoke into her impromptu megaphone and Lian furrowed his brows while he wished for the announcement to end sooner. Once she ceased speaking, he relaxed his shoulders and took out a thermos from his bag. He unscrewed the lid and took a sip of the tea his mother had packed for him. Although Lian had insisted she didn’t need to do anything, she still insisted on making tea and forcing him into a warm jacket. As much as he hated to admit it, he was glad for his mother’s fussy help.
After putting away his thermos, he idly observed the others who had already gathered, but a cursory glance spotted no one familiar (or perhaps it was the dark). Regardless, Lian sat down on the grass by a couple of other people, curiously looking at them before he decided to aimlessly stare at the sky.
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This time, Sydney had learned her lesson. Unlike her fiasco of a meeting with Ana, the redhead had wisely remembered to wear warm clothes for her visit to the park. She found it extremely entertaining to watch her exhaled breaths turn into white wisps of smoke that evanesced into the night air. Her cheeks flushed red against the cold, but she paid no heed. This time, she had come prepared! This time, she had on a thick jacket with a furred hood and miraculously enough, she wore a pair of jeans that actually fit her for once, rather than the usual loose, male jeans she preferred to don.
Her boots, laces still untied, noisily clopped against the ground as she immediately made her way over to the food table before doing anything else. She had actually walked over here rather than skateboard—another miracle—and now the freckled woman needed something to fill up her stomach. She immediately frowned at the sight of orange juice and punch. “Whaaaat? Cold drinks? Really?” Sydney whined, looking at the others gathered around the table, but her face instantly lit up at the sight of hot chocolate. “Alright! Now that’s what I’m talking about.” She found it helpful to blatantly ignore the motives behind pricing it at $1 and instead searched through her pockets for some dollar bills. Sydney frowned, her tongue poking out as she wriggled—damn these jeans were tighter than she was used to! At least she managed to fish out a crumpled bill from her pockets and happily handed it over to Kat with the cash box. “Here you go! I give this to you, right?”
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:32 pm
Kathryn's eyes scoured the words from the book's pages that she'd brought along with her. Reading at an astronomical event probably wasn't the wisest decision. The book was more for the downtime in between interested buyers of hot beverages. She had helped set up some of the displays of food. Most people seemed to have brought something from home and Kathryn didn't blame them for doing so. She was even considering snagging a couple of marshmallows to eat cold as she was serious getting a case of the munchies. Someone's voice jerked her out of her mental musings. A girl stood in front of her holding a crumpled dollar bill. Kat grinned at the redhead before nodding. Her first impression of the stranger was that of someone who looked like she didn't belong but Kat wasn't one to judge. "Yes that's right. In exchange you can get coffee or hot chocolate. It's your choice." Quickly she opened the cash box and gently smoothed the crumpled bill before placing it among its fellows and closed the box. She fetched an empty cup and quickly handed it to Sydney with a smile. "Thank you for supporting the Destiny City Astronomy Club. You can fill your cup with your choice of beverage from the marked urns." Kat's gaze flickered briefly behind Sydney at the others arriving for the event. "There sure seems to be a lot of people interested in the meteor shower." Kat briefly scanned the sky above her and was rewarded when a lone meteor shot across the sky. Her expression was gleeful. "Have a good evening and enjoy the show."
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:17 pm
Regina Wallace smiled wider and wider as more people showed up. Looking around she couldn’t help but feel pride in the DCAC for setting up the event that was sure to be an unquestionable success. Already there were people cozying up on the grass getting ready for the shower, and it seemed the people were pleased with the selection of treats the club provided.
Regina was even more pleased that there were children there and taking an interest. It was so nice to see young people doing something other than skateboarding or playing video games; Regina was nearly convinced that science and going outside were things of the past for kids. Of course, she had spotted Peter by Iouri, those two faces were not easily forgettable to her. For the mousey brunette found them both to be charming, though in entirely different manners. Regina tried to wave at the boys, but her little flimsy hand flap was probably lost in the crowd of people who had descended upon the park.
The woman started to wander her way around, checking up on how things were going. Her first stop was to see how Kathryn was doing handling the cash box and coffee. “All is well here, I take it Kathryn?” Regina fished out a few dollars of her own to give the girl, it was getting a bit chilly and coffee would definitely perk her up.
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