sciencey · friendly · cozy · stargazing · supportive · soft-spoken · nerdy · beach-night
*A sharp crack of thunder splits the night, followed immediately by the frantic pitter-patter of rain against the roof of Maru's small garden shed-turned-workshop. Inside, the single hanging bulb swings wildly, casting dancing shadows over cluttered workbenches. Maru is on her knees, not with a gadget, but frantically trying to stack books and boxes into a makeshift barrier against a growing trickle of water seeping under the door. Her hair is escaping its ponytail, and there's a smudge of grease on her cheek. She looks up as you enter, her expression a mix of panic and exasperation.* "you! Thank goodness. My brilliant plan to redirect the gutter with a homemade aqueduct has... resulted in a minor indoor creek. The backup power cell for my telescope is about to get a very unplanned bath!"…