acontritemess | Long Lovely Nights

Long Lovely Nights

[The moon hung unobtrusively in the sky over head casting long shadows along the ground where the familiar stones sat in their familiar pattern. As often as Terrance found himself working at the site it continued to amaze him. The infamous pattern is formed of bluestone or better known in the community as Dolerite, subvolcanic rock equivalent to volcanic basalt, created by volcanic activity and then slip by frost or glacial means. He finds himself staring at them as the laptop in his lap continues its latest compiling.

The wind tugs at his hair making it too messy to manage while clouds roll over head. It is usual to see rain this time of year however the forecast suggested that the site would be bypassed making tonight the best night for this particular test. There is a dense humidity that hangs heavily above Terrance’s head but he ignores it. As long as the equipment is unharmed they can keep going. Time continues to tick unmeasured as the moon drifts towards its mid-night hour.

Terrance pulls his gaze away from the rocks and digs his hand into his pocket. He pulls out a small tin of tobacco and a rolling paper which he balances expertly on his knee. He’s used to rolling his own tobacco and can usually do it without having to stop or put things down. With the dried leaves in place he licks his thumbs using the liquid to seal the paper. The tin quickly returns to his pocket and he pulls out a lighter all the while listening to the familiar voice in his head telling him not to leave anything at the site. The end of the paper roll flares to life and Terrance inhales tasting the intoxicating smoke as it fills and warms his lungs.

The computer beeps and he turns watching the graph on the screen as it spikes.]

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[The night was always a more active time for the site. They made their best progress on testing Terrance's new equipment during that time, the witching hour some legends called it. He stepped from his tent. Surely Terrance had the equipment set up by now, and from the smell coming from out on the green, tobacco with him as well.

Always dependable, that boy.

Corbin steps to his side, taking a seat on the low, improvised bench comprised of buckets and a weathered board, and pulls his pipe from his coat pocket, holding out a hand to Terrance expectantly.]

[Terrance looks from his computer to the professors out stretched hand and then up towards his teachers face.]

When are you going to blood well bring your own?

[Despite his complaints he digs into his pocket with his free hand and passes over the small tin. His own smoke rests on his lips as he pulls his attention towards the computer in front of him. A few quick strokes of the key's and the program is running smoothly. The only indication that anything is happening is the movement on the screen and the steady humming of the laptops fan.]

When you stop having enough for the two of us.

[So many years of smoking a pipe give someone the ability to pack it without looking at it. Instead, Corbin's eyes are focused on the screen.]

She's quiet tonight.

[Terrance chuckles and takes back his tobacco tin when his professor is done with it. There will never be a time that he doesn't have enough for himself and his teacher.]

Yeah.

[He looks over at his teacher.]

I'll keep the tests running. Who needs sleep.

Or you could trust me with your computer for once, if you're so knackered.

[A teasing smirk played at the corner of his mouth as he puffed on his pipe.]

How confident are you in this new sensor of yours?

Not to be rude professor but you don't even have Facebook.

[He points the two fingers that are holding his cigarette and then gestures back to his laptop. It isn't that he doesn't trust the professor with the sensor but if something goes wrong Terrance is the one who'll be best at fixing it. He doesn't want to loose their chance.]

92%

That is not due to to a lack of understanding.

[He raised an eyebrow at his assessment, impressed, as he takes a puff from his pipe.]

92% Are you certain?

I am 92% certain.

[Terrance smiles at his professor feeling a thrill of excitement. He probably couldn't sleep even if he wanted too.]

And I'm sure you have many reasons to shun the world wide web.

Which is far better than you have been.

[He raises an eyebrow and looks over to the younger man.]

And why do you think that is?

[Terrance looks back at the screen as he speaks, his tone even and his attention focused on the readings. He doesn't want the settings to slip away on his first possibly somewhat successful test.]

People.

[He drags the rolled tobacco from his lips and then exhales the warm smoke.]

[He raises an eyebrow at that assessment.]

People?

Do you really need me to elaborate?

[Terrance is smart which means he's smart enough to know that it's a bad idea to start telling his professor the tendencies he's noticed in his professor. It's like telling a bird how to fly, it's just silly.]

[He smirks after a moment.]

Call it an academic interest.

[Terrance feels a smirk tug at his lips.]

So it'll be a chance for you to tell me I'm wrong. [His tone is dry but there is humor in his eyes as he glances away from the screen to look over at his professor.]

You consider most colleagues as people you have to deal with and most students as a troublesome task so you can work here. [He points a finger towards Corbin.] Logically it makes no sense for you to use social media which is, by nature and design, used to help strength and reinforce social relations.

[He uses it to stalk people and to find ways to get ahead. There is only so much a boy with no family and few relations can do on his own in society and he knows it. He'll use anyone he can if it helps further his research.]

How exceptionally perceptive of you.

[He smirks.]

Are you certain you're not a psychologist?

[Terrance looks back at his screen with a soft snort pulling through his nose.]

Yes, professor because I love talking with people and telling them what's wrong with them. [It's half true. Terrance does dislike talking to people but then he does take great pleasure in telling people what's wrong with them. Despite that he can't stand stupid people and refuses to explain what he considers simple concepts.]

My equipment is almost finished. [He waves his teacher at the screen.] I need a few more tests to verify that the sonic read out will pick up a weaker single. I need a small, very small, [He corrects himself.] push from you to make sure that I have the scales set appropriately.

[With this he should be able to finish his machine and then begin testing its read outs without Corbin's help. Assuming it works he'll be able to map the energy pulsing beneath their feet.

He has a few side projects he's working on in tandem to this, including a holographic projected model of what he hopes his readings will be. Step one is gathering the data and proving that his machine is accurate to a .0000001 margin of error.]

You do, son. There's no use denying it. [A fond smile touches his lips and he takes a puff from his pipe before holding it out to the boy.]

Very well, then. Hold this, if you would.

[He steps out onto the green, reaching out his senses casually, moving them through the grass, feeling the familiar tingling anticipation from the site. So much power slept beneath their feet and he often found himself wondering what he could accomplish if he ever woke the sleeping beast.

A part of him realized the channel would kill him. Too much, too quickly. His senses followed the natural arrangement of rock and stone, felt the thrumming energy coursing through the stones of the circle still standing.

And he caressed it, a slight tug, as one might run fingers through a lover's hair. She responded immediately, the stones beneath their feet trembling with energy just beyond human perception.]

[Terrance takes hold on his teachers pipe and balances it next to his rolled cigarette. He watches as the man steps forward though he knows he isn't going to see anything. His eyes then turn towards his screen which is picking up all of his professors probing.

He wonders what it feels like, it must be amazing to touch the earth like he does. Terrance doesn't voice his thoughts but his awe has always been evident.]

Got it!

[He almost shouts when the readings appear on the screen.]

Edited 2016-06-21 22:08 (UTC)

[Corbin's smile broadened at Terrance's call, but he didn't step his focus. There was nothing more comforting than the touch of Stonehenge, and it was one of the few places on Earth Corbin felt at home, and welcome.]

Good show, Terrance. [His voice carried across the fen, though he didn't raise it.] Very good show. How are your readings?

[Terrance looks over at him and he can't get rid of the stupid grin.]

Perfect. I think this will actually work.

[It's sad because it means that he doesn't need his professor but it's great because he can start the algorithm for mapping and analyzing the data he's going to be collecting.]

Brilliant.

[To most people, the comment is usually laced with sarcasm, but to Terrance, he meant it.]

Shall we proceed, then?

[Terrance begins quickly typing on the small keyboard. He sets the parameters of the test while continuing to balance both his professors pipe and his rolled cigarette in his hand. After a few minutes he looks up at his professor.]

Take your bloody pipe. Once this is set the test has to run for at least 72 hours.

[It's a little over kill time wise but he wants a good sample. The site acts differently when his professor is around and he needs a control group without that. That's what he hopes to achieve with this test. A basis of comparison for every future test and study.

This is by far the most important test.]

[Smirking, Corbin moves away from the site, returning to the boy's side and taking his pipe back, taking a slow puff from it before looking back over the misty moors and the stones around which the mist flowed lazily.]

72 hours? That's quite an extensive test.

It's the most important one.

[He looks over at his professor.]

Can you last that long without touching things?

[Terrance smirks at his teacher before taking a long drag of his smoke.]

[Corbin quirks an eyebrow at the remark.]

Just what are you suggesting, Terrance?

I thought it was obvious?

[Terrance’s expression is a little cocky and only a little suggestive.]

[Corbin shakes his head, clapping the boy on the shoulder with a gentle smirk.]

Come along, then. Unless you mean to stay with your equipment for the next 72 hours.

[Terrance sighs and then stands.]

If I could I would.

[Except he knows that he has to sleep at some point.]

No one's going to bugger with it, lad.

[He motions back toward the tent.]

Come along.

[Terrance grunts but follows along at Corbin's request. He takes one past pull of his rolled paper and then rubs the last bit of paper between his fingers for the embers to extinguish.

Tension is high and even with the help of his tobacco he doesn't think he'll be able to sleep. He might just stay up and play with cards or programming on his laptop, anything that might provide an adequate distraction.]

[Corbin watches Terrance for a while as they make their way back to the collection of tents. Instead of moving toward the boy's first, he heads straight to his own, holding back the flap and looking back at the boy.]

Do you fancy a game of cards?

[Thank fucking god.

Terrance smiles and makes his way towards Corbin's tent. It's always interesting playing games with the man. He's one of the few people that offers Terrance some sort of challenge. Unless it's games of luck, Terrance is horribly unlucky.]

What game?

You're the one with an itch, son. [He smirks.] Your choice.

Scabby Queen then or would you rather be in a gambling mood?

[Terrance grins at his professor before taking a seat at the small table in his tent. He’s fine with poker, blackjack or any other sort of card game like that but they were usually too easy for him. Scabby Queen or Old Maid is biased more on wits and trickery which between the two of them they come up even.]

[He smirks, taking a seat at his make-shift table.]

Scabby Queen it is.

[Terrance reaches for the cards and begins to shuffle through them. His fingers work quickly before dealing out the appropriate amount of cards to each of them.]

[As they're playing, Corbin begins searching for a bottle of something for them to share.]

How's your thesis coming?

It's coming.

[He isn't too worried about it.]

Once I present this I don't think it'll be hard to receive funding to go to other sites to collect data. [He's already started to map the path he'd take. It'd only take him a few months.]

[He smiles, pride shining in his eyes, even if the expression is also hinted with a bit of sadness. He'll miss the boy, much to his chagrin, but he's proud of everything Terrance has accomplished. If anyone can change the world, it's him.]

I look forward to seeing your work come to fruition.

[Terrance never thought to do something amazing with himself. He'd simply wanted to learn and to prove everyone wrong: every parent that told he wasn't worth it, every advisor who told him to play to his strengths. He's fucking done with it and he'll show them all.

That got him started down his path but it's the care he's gotten from his professor that will help him shape the science of the world. To make it so everyone can feel the pulse beneath their feet.]

So you plan to be there?

[His voice is light as he plucks another card from Corbin's hand.]

Edited 2016-07-21 20:54 (UTC)

[He raises an eyebrow, still proud and not exactly working to show otherwise. He smiles at the young man and inclines his head.]

Certainly. How much longer would this have taken you without me?

[Terrance snorts though he can't fight the smile tugging at his lips. He's happy that Corbin wants to be there, that he's interested in his work and plans though he doesn't recognize the emotion for what it is.]

I would have found a way to do it.

[Having a Druids help certainly made it easier.]

[A smile of pride tugs at the corners of his mouth, but he reins it in.]

I'm certain, if anyone could, it would be you.

You think highly of me.

[Terrance doesn't think he can make that much of a difference. He wants to try and he isn't interested in giving up anytime soon. He at least has that going for him.]

I don't know how much longer I can play cards.

[He's going to most likely lose against his professor and that annoys him.]

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Long Lovely Nights

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I dont actually know all the rules to this game

Neither do I so we can just say they play for a while

Good Plan!

Good Plan!

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