revivalproject | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

WHO: Jon & You!
WHERE: Ren Fair
WHAT: REN FAIR!
WHEN: Ren Fair Event
WARNINGS: I dunno.

Research

Walking past those unmoving figures comes with an eerie sensation, one that isn't too unfamiliar to Jon, which results in him spending quite some time studying the projections or plain watching them. Where of course watching means he will outright stare at them, daring them to move or flicker.

They don't flicker.

Which is an interesting observation to make, given the effect his powers tend to have on electric devices. He isn't sure what he is looking at...

Of course he also gives the different food items a try. For science. And as he is looking at one of the still figures spread around the market and taking a bite of what at least looks like a flatbread covered with sour cream and some herbs, Jon can't help himself but make a small noise that is bordering disappointment at the person next to him. "And here I almost have forgotten about their weird endorsement of peanut butter."

Experiment

Well, making those candles hasn't been that bad, even if they turned out rather bland and uninspiring. They are functional and will do what a candle is supposed to do: Burn.

He has skipped the stands with the fabric and sewing materials, instead having moved on to the blacksmithing area and finds himself looking at the pile of colorful metal pieces before picking one up and contemplating this raw piece of- The Archivist has no idea what he is even looking at and that gives him pause.

Getting past that discovery of Not Knowing takes a moment and Jon turns his attention over to the fire before slowly and very carefully starting to work. No, he has no experience at all or any idea what he is even trying to make and the soft muttering is more directed at himself. "I had plenty of opportunity to have Tony show me how to do this, but have I ever asked him? Nooo, of course not..."

Evaluation Valentine's Special!

The bonfire is a nice place to relax and Jon can't help but wonder if the Agrii have added it in response to the little beach party their He-Rows had set up last summer. Not that he would mind. He does, however, frown a little at the piles of pink, purple and red glitter now setting the scene rather than the pink snow that had been present the previous day.

Scooping up a handful of it, Jon inspects the pieces as he lets them fall slowly back down to the ground. Sure they don't melt. Which will make cleaning up this mess even worse. It isn't like he hasn't still been finding glitter from last year in the library.

"At least the mothcats will have their fun with this..." He observes with a mild chuckle, letting the rest of the stuff drop and pulling a fortune cookie from his pocket. These have become a little ritual over the past few days: Every evening at the bonfire, Jon will open one - And then make fun of its prediction.

Wildcard

[[ Poke me if you want to do something else~ ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Could he? Teach him how and he'll do it, honest truth.

"Not efficient at all. So I probably wouldn't try. With less people around to cook and grow things, we're going to go through the pre-made supplies faster. So busier TOmmy."

But yeah, the theme was okay here, and he had been interested by that.

"Dude, don't send in the clowns. If you say it, they might do it."

"Not my domain, Tommy." Jon counters in a dutifully teasing way. "If I were to alter reality, it would have to be in a way that makes you feel observed. And I doubt the Agrii are yet capable to conceptualize unsettling clown dolls." Richie would be delighted about those.

But that aside, Jon looks over to the greenhouse, very much visible from the market. "Is anyone helping you out at the diner at the moment anyway?" He can't help but wonder. And Tony making a mess out of the kitchen obviously hardly counts.

"Wait... IS there someone like you, but for clowns?" Tommy asked, because that was an interesting idea. And scary.

"Dude, we're always being watched. A lot. But I guess I've gotten used to that. And no, not really. Tony doesn't count, if you're wondering. Noctis does bring fish pretty regular though."

Jon nods. "The Stranger sometimes uses clown themes, yes. Especially those connected to the Circus." Though, fortunately, Jon is by now well capable of handling any murderous clown mannequins.

In regards of Tommy's observation, the Archivist simply smirks. "You aren't wrong. And while we all have gotten used to it, it remains something one can't entirely stop to be at least a little unsettled by. And believe me, I would know." He has to eat something, right?

The Stranger? What the fuck. Jon how are there actual eldritch horrors in your world that literally use clowns and circuses?

"That's truly fucked up. Like, I can't even begin to say how fucked it is."

Honestly, when it comes down to it, Tommy's gotten a bit more relaxed about being watched.

But would you believe that one of them even uses a person's desire to be loved while also being associated with insects, rot and disease? No? Then Jon may have a tale for you.

"It is what it is." Jon shrugs. "There are several aspects of my powers I haven't touched upon yet. Like being able to look out of any eye, be it real or not. Sometimes I feel tempted to, because I just want to know, but... It may turn out to be a door that's difficult to step back away from again once it's opened."

No, he wouldn't believe that. Tommy would absolutely literally not believe that. He'd believe it was just a story.

"Wait, you can look out of my eyes?" Tommy asked, shocked. And maybe a bit scared.

Jon simply nods. "You wouldn't even notice."

It's an idea Jon used to find difficult to picture even after learning that Elias had such a power and actively used it to keep track of everything going on in the Institute - and outside of it. "My abilities are dampened here, however. Which in many ways is a relief."

Huh, that's interesting. Now he has to know.

"Is there a distance that works up to? Like, that's something that could help us someday."

"Unless they take away all our powers again." Since that still is something their hosts are very well capable of. "They already limited how far I can see in general."

"Unless," Tommy agreed. That... was always horrid to feel. And he was so blaming Jon for the next storm just for saying it.

"Really? How far?"

Jon scowls. "I used to be able to see the edges of reality itself, Tommy. Gave me quite a headache, I'll admit that, but that was even before I- Well. Before I took my designated place. So, in theory, it should be easier for me now. But here? There are clear boundaries to what I can see. Like solid walls around what I am permitted to see." Which is a disturbing amount of control being portrayed as far as Jon is concerned.

Wait, that's even a thing someone can do? Fuck, that's horrible.

"That's scary, right? LIke, for whatever gives you power to be so limited? Fuck, these Atromas are serious dickwads."

"There have been artifacts and structures interfering with my powers before, so it's not impossible per se." Jon shrugs. "But it remains an inconvenience." Which is an understatement. Jon hates it.

"Well, does it mean you get to stay more yourself?"

Wouldn't that be a plus?

Jon falls silent for a few moments, then exhales. "Sort of, yes. But also... Not necessarily. It's complicated." He frowns. "I have never not been myself, Tommy. Any decision I made has been my own. I chose to become something else. Admittedly not without being manipulated at times, but... The Eye never controlled me. That's not a concept it is capable of understanding."

"Weren't you, like, scared of it earlier though? Before you came here? Like, you were talking like the magic won. Or was I reading that wrong? Fuck, I was probably reading that wrong. Sorry, man, I'm not great at this shit."

"I was scared, yes. Very much, in fact. But when I had to make the choice whether I wanted to die or- Well. Change... I was more afraid of dying." And from that moment on it had been pretty much inevitable for him to lose his humanity.

"The magic has won. But I nether regret or fear it anymore."

Oh. Tommy hesitated before reaching out to touch the other man's arm.

"Well, you're still you. That's what matters."

Jon looks over at Tommy with a smile and a nod. "And I'm glad for it even if that may have been the goal from the very beginning." Which is precisely what Jon assumes to be the case.

"At least I control it now rather than the other way around."

"Yeah, that's an upside. Being controlled by other shit is never good."

ANd Tommy would understand any desire to avoid shit like that.

"Then it might assure you that of all the fears only one is even capable of controlling a person and that one is literally the fear of being controlled. The rest don't possess the ability to think for themselves in such ways, being much more primal in nature."

"That's ironic," Tommy mumbled. He still didn't like the idea of being out of his own control. The fear was there, for just a moment. But he pushed it away.

"And yours is primal too?"

Jon closes his eyes for a moment and shrugs. "Kind of. All of Fear used to be one being, back when the only fear of living beings was to be chased and before an understanding of dying existed. Beings were afraid of the dark before they feared death. Being afraid of being seen roots in the fear of being hunted. With time, fear evolved. New fears emerged while others changed and adjusted. But at the core they are all connected still."

One being. A king of fear. Oh.

"I think, in my world, we have that. Or have instances of that. One of them is named Nightmare. I don't really know much about him. Billy probably does."

And the dude was a Prince of Hell. Or one of the Princes. The great powers, the ones that wanted to become the Lucifer.