snow means . . . ? (open)

[teradine]

Who: Argilla & anyone
When: Monday morning
Where: Snowy island.
Style: I will match.
Status: Open!

[It's been a few days now since Jinana's disappearance; and while Argilla hasn't exactly given up hope that she would return, it's still markedly different around the base without her. After she'd fallen asleep, it'd become routine for her to check each morning that she was still all right-- that she hadn't suddenly awoken. But without that, the only thing left to greet her was an empty room.

Rather than stay in it, Argilla decides to leave while everyone is still sleeping . . . and upon passing by the Plaza, she gives a cautious look around, just in case.

But there's . . . nothing. No one she recognizes at all. So there's a sigh, but rather than dwell, she soon finds herself on the island, having taken the elevator alone.

It's where she usually goes to think, but of course, what she expected wasn't what she got, when she stepped out. The warm sun didn't hit her face as it normally did, and when she looked up, there was only grey. Falling from it--

White.]

This . . . isn't rain.

[Is it? She holds out her hand, allowing some of it to accumulate, but then it all falls to dust when she rubs her fingers together a bit to feel it. Definitely more powdery than liquid; not to mention it's colder than she's used to as well.

Regardless, she continues walking with her eyes wide, leaving footsteps. At least it's beautiful . . .]

Comments

[lawesome]

It's called snow.

[Redglare had been close enough to hear Argilla's idle comment, and she hadn't been able to resist replying. Her voice is friendly though, showing that she doesn't mean to mock.

Right now, in her red and teal, she stands out from the snow like a sore thumb. She had come up here in a flight of nostalgia, really. Her wigglerhood hive had been in the mountains, and during the dim seasons, snow had not been unheard of. That said, being out during the day, even though she had been assured Vatheon's sun couldn't harm her, was still a bit of a strange thrill.]

[teradine]

Oh --

[The company is unexpected-- but to say it's unpleasant or unwelcome would probably be a lie. With the sky as grey as it was, things actually started to feel a bit dreary, the more she explored; and having another person there actually livened things a little.

She wonders if Jinana would have liked to see the beach, like this . . .]

I'll have to remember that. Though they do seem similar.

[She smiles just a bit at the stranger.]

[lawesome]

They are. Snow is the frozen form of rain.

[It is hard to see with the glasses covering her eyes, but she gives Argilla a curious look.]

No snow where you are from?

[teradine]

[Those glasses certainly are attention-grabbing; and the idea of frozen rain makes sense, considering how cold it is.

Argilla simply shakes her head to confirm her guess.]

No . . . none.

[It would take too long to explain that most people wouldn't even be able to go outside to enjoy the snow, even if it somehow fell in Karma City. Not to mention the dome that protects it--

So she just leaves it at that, staring down at her feet.]

It looks like it's already covered most of the sand.

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Word of the snow had reached Rinoa's ears. Normally she'd be super excited about it, but with recent events, her spirits are more dampened.

Still, she can't resist the snow, as she hasn't seen it in months. Decked out in full winter gear (boots, thick coat, mittens, wooly hat and scarf), she treks out onto the island. And even in a more subdued mood, she still can't help but smile as she reaches out her covered hands to catch the snowflakes.

In fact, she's so enamored that she doesn't even see Argilla there.]

[teradine]

[Argilla turning around to face her had been a bit unexpected. Perhaps she'd caught sight of Rinoa out of the corner of her eye, or perhaps something else had caught her attention entirely; but either way, she spots her first.

Decked out in all that winter gear, it's actually a bit hard to tell right away, but Argilla sees the familiar black hair, and the familiar smile beneath all that. So she gives one in return, even if her own spirits are dampened as well.]

Rinoa. I see you've come to join me.

[--Okay, not really. But that's okay: snow is a good enough reason for both of them. She does shiver a bit, though. Feels a bit like she's on the receiving end of a Bufudyne spell, jeez . . .]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[The voice draws her out of her reverie. With a startled blink, Rinoa glances around until she catches sight of that familiar pink hair.]

Oh, Argilla! Did you come to see the snow, too?

[For once, it fails to cross her mind that Argilla might now know what snow is.]

[teradine]

[She gives her a bit of a nod-- making the assumption, of course, that the white stuff is what she's referring to, even though it's not quite why she came up to the island.]

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting it. But yes . . . I suppose so.

[And just like that, her attention is up in the sky again, and her voice trails off a little.

She can see her own breath . . . that's certainly new.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

Me neither. I wasn't sure if it got cold enough here for it to snow. This island could be in a warmer climate for all we know.

[Rinoa stares up with her, sticking out her tongue to catch a snowflake on it.]

[teradine]

[A warmer climate, huh?

Well, she certainly feels like it should be warmer. But the weather here obviously isn't as constant and unchanging as the Junkyard was -- or even Karma City. So she shrugs.

It's an interesting distinction, she supposes. And when Rinoa sticks her tongue out, Argilla does, too.

. . . Hm.]

It doesn't taste like anything.

[contemptibility]

[Tiir doesn't venture out to the island all that often, but once in a while, he does miss the sun, so.

It's rare that he runs into Argilla, but when he sees her, he approaches her.]

You've never seen snow before, then?

[There are a lot of things the Embryon don't seem to know about, after all.]

[teradine]

[Tiir . . .

Argilla turns to face him, recognizing his voice. At his question, she simply hakes her head. When she speaks, she can see her own breath.]

Not quite. But it does seem a little like rain.

[Just . . . lighter, softer. She can't decide whether it's a good thing yet.]

[contemptibility]

Well, they are fairly similar. When snow melts, it'll turn into water.

[teradine]

[She nods, as she reaches down to grab some of it.]

So I've heard.

[A pause. She manages to hold onto the snow for a couple seconds before she allows it all to fall through her bare fingers.]

It's a little hard to hold onto . . . [Since it's so cold.]

[contemptibility]

[He laughs lightly.]

Well, that's snow. It'll disappear soon enough.

[donotcomprehend]

I have not seen it before.

[Gale holds out a hand himself, watching as the snowflakes collect on his glove. He only got here in March, not quite early enough to really see a lot of snow falling. He glances at the sky, then examines the snow.]

The island is colder. Perhaps it was once rain.

[teradine]

[. . . Oh, hey. Looks like Gale has decided to join in on the fun.

When she hears his voice, she turns around to face him; and she'll watch, letting him examine the snow for a bit before responding. She'll even attempt to crack a bit of a smile.]

It's a good guess. Rinoa calls it snow.

[donotcomprehend]

[Not quite so fun for him, with the shorter sleeves and pants he wears, but he's not quite about to leave when there's this to investigate.]

Did she tell you how it was formed?

[teradine]

[Yeaaah, Argilla's outfit isn't all that much more appropriate either. She's a bit cold, too, but she continues to ignore it and addresses his question.

Now how did she say it again . . . ?]

She told me the rain freezes and falls as snow instead. It only happens when it's cold enough, so . . . you were right.

[donotcomprehend]

Perhaps Serph will enjoy it. I do not expect Heat will.

[He lapses into silence for a long while.]

Argilla... I believe I owe you an apology.

[dualbladewarrior]

[She isn't the only one lost in thought.

Hubert had heard about it snowing on the island, but he had only just now gotten away from work long enough to go see it.

Standing there underneath it, memories of Fendel, both good and bad come rushing back to him. The island looks nothing like the snow-heavy country to the North of Ephinea, but the recollection is still there. Likely because he had only ever seen snow briefly in his childhood, during the colder months in Lhant. It had been years since then, and all his time in the desert had dulled the memory of snow until he ventured in to Fendel for the first time.

So lost in his own thoughts, Hubert hadn't noticed he wasn't alone yet.]

[teradine]

[Argilla has, by now, spent some time up on the island, observing the snow and speaking with various people as they come up to do the same. She's actually thinking about heading back inside, since the distraction has been more of a help than she'd expected, and she'd like to tell the other Embryon about it; but then, she spots someone else apparently in need of a distraction as well.

Feeling her boots squish the snow beneath her feet, she walks over to Hubert. She's got to at least greet him before going anywhere.]

Hubert. You look lost.

[--in thought.

Though she doesn't say that last part, and just leaves it at that for now. She'll even crack a tiny smile, to show she's only teasing.]

[dualbladewarrior]

Hm?

[The voice gets his attention well enough, though it takes a moment for the actual words to register.]

... oh. Lost in thought, perhaps. I admit to letting my mind wander away from me for once.

[teradine]

[Argilla is . . . well, mostly a patient woman, so she waits until the words seem to register and he responds. She tilts her head, looking at him curiously; though she knows she'll have to ask more directly if she wants him to continue.]

The island is good for that. I come here quite often to think, actually.

[. . . a beat.]

Though I obviously wasn't expecting this.

[dualbladewarrior]

I always assumed we were far too tropical for such a thing as snow.

[Hubert lets out an amused sigh at that, reaching a hand out to let some of the white flakes fall in to his palm and melt away.]

Leave it to a place like Vatheon to defy all logic and reason.