[ open ] Calibrations of an Archive

[beholding_archivist]

WHO: Jonathan Sims & YOU
WHERE: Jon's Headspace
WHAT: Calibrations!
WHEN: Calibrations Event
WARNINGS: Eyes, Body Horror, Death, Talk of Death & Genocide, Apocalyptic Themes, Fears & Traumas - All the Good Stuff™

Mingle

Over here~

Calibrations

This room is hardly a room, it's a nightmare. Circular and certainly the rough dimensions of a room with an incredibly high ceiling, it lacks distinctive features such as walls, windows, furniture or even an obvious floor to walk on. Instead, the visitor of this room find themself walking on an eye, its pupil focused right on the visitor and thus always right underneath their feet. Kick it, if you like. Poke it. Aside from the pupil constricting briefly, it won't react. Though it sure will feel like poking an actual eye, and doing so may result in something else.

Once one has been able to look away from the eye under one's feet and instead directs their attention up, the visitor may be able to locate the Archivist. Suspended high above the ground, he sits on nothing in particular, one leg over the other and his chin resting in his hand. His posture is relaxed, his unblinking eyes glowing an eerie, yet soft green and his expression one of interest as he watches.

He awaits his visitor's decision.

The decision as of which part of the circular surroundings that aren't walls they end up approaching. As has already been established, there aren't any real walls. And yet, this room is surrounded by different reflections of different memories, each of which can be approached to trigger the respective memory. There is the flickering image of a small cottage, cozily nestled in a quite picturesque mountain landscape. Next to it, the image of a garden, its various flowers being the twisted bodies of what may have been regular people at some point. The glitching expressions on their faces may give away that these people are very much still alive.

Luckily, the following reflection is that of a merry-go-round. A close-up, most likely, for all the visitor actually sees of it are the wooden horses moving past, carrying their faceless riders. Following this comes the reflection of a large, burning building and the one next to it is a dark street, the image flickering and glitching. Then there is the reflection of a massive spider web made of the magnetic tape from spooled off cassettes. The entire web glistens as glowing symbols appear to run along it. The last of the reflections is that of a long corridor with numbered doors to either side. The entire corridor, however, is twisting notably around itself.

Which of these memories will the visitor approach, or will they, instead, address the owner of this gathering of nightmares?

Comments

[mutedsuspicions]

Lerith looks to Jon at the laugh, the smile starting to glimmer in his eyes. Okay, at least it wasn't rude then. [I would rather know where I come from, good or bad, than think I've only been a slave my whole life. I was a slave for seventeen years. I had to be someone else before that.] Someone that was worth more than the coin spent.

The elf wanted to know what he was robbed of before waking up in that cage in Tevinter. [I don't think it would work in here anyways. It is just... a dream, right?]

[beholding_archivist]

"No. Not here, but... When I am reconnected again. To the Watcher." The Eye that longs to observe and learn and uncover any secrets. And this may be one of the very few cases where Jon would willingly access his patron's powers without the goal to destroy something.

Jon frowns a little. "I understand- Wanting to know. I... I wasn't aware you have forgotten." Or maybe he had been forced to forget. Magically.

[mutedsuspicions]

A nod. Here wouldn't be good obviously. Maybe whenever they were released from the tunnels. In case Lerith had to run away because of terror. There wasn't any place to do that in the waiting rooms.

[I have tried to remember. It's like a hole where I can't reach. When I try too hard it hurts. It gives me a horrid headache.] So the elf had stopped trying to wrack his brain to figure out what he was missing. [But if you wanted to try after we are free, I want you to.]

[beholding_archivist]

Jon simply nods. "I will try what I can to help you remember, Lerith." Though even Jon doesn't know how far the Eye really can see. But- There may be a chance.

After these words are said, the light of the reflections around them starts to dim, and Jon looks up and around, and smiles softly. "Seems... You are allowed to leave soon."

[mutedsuspicions]

Lerith didn't know how things would work out with it, but what was the worse that could happen for him? That part of his memory would still just be an empty void, inaccessible for him. And good or bad, remembering anything would be nice.

As the lighting changes, Lerith looks around a bit wildly, thinking the worst immediately. When nothing came, the elf calmed again. Definitely looked sheepish at the reaction. [You are a very good man, Jon. I hope I remember this when we wake.] He gives a half-cocked grin and pats the man gently on the shoulder. [And I hope you get good memories soon to visit.]

[beholding_archivist]

Lerith's surprise in response to the sudden change around them isn't too surprising and not something Jon will hold against the elf. But he nods. "Last time we remembered." He notes and as the light fades even further until only the Archivists own glowing eyes remain to cast a small amount og light, he adds, with the smile clear in his tone alone: "Thank you."

With his words, a triangular shape is outlined on the floor in front of Lerith. A faint green glow indicating the position of the trap door leading him out of Jon's dream.

[mutedsuspicions]

In Lerith's defense, there was still some of that skittish nature that was lingering from his time in Thedas. And this place was pretty weird compared to what he knew. The elf's eyes glint as the light lowers and lowers, until all they do is reflect the light coming from Jon himself.

The human would see him nod, then look down at the trap door. With such low light, there was no point in signing. So the door opens and he starts down it, with only a lingering gaze cast to his friend before shutting it over him.