[OTA & closed] At least the Venue is beautiful...

[beholding_archivist]

WHO: Jon, Tony for the closed thread & YOU
WHERE: Ivory Chapel
WHAT: Contemplations and other stuffs
WHEN: During the Eorzea event
WARNINGS: %
NOTES: Let's not forget that Jon has an outfit as well.

I - Lamenting [ closed to Tony ]

The chapel is beautiful. Large and open, white stone with big, colorful windows to let in as much sunlight as possible - All very much the opposite of most of the churches Jon remembers having visited in London. Not that he has ever been religious or a regular church goer, but he visited a few out of curiosity - Or while doing research. This chapel? Is simply beautiful. And quite possibly built to fulfill the purpose most people visit it for: To have a beautiful, a perfect, a memorable wedding. It's no wonder the place has their hands full and the waiting list is filled, but at least the place remains open unless a private ceremony is booked.

Jon has picked a time between ceremonies to sit in one of the back rows and simply take in the view and the atmosphere in the chapel while cleanup and redecorating are taking place in surprising silence. Professionals, indeed. He has sent Tony a message while he had been back on his ship, asking to meet him there. If only to show him the place.

II - Seagulls, the sea and and- A book? [ OTA ]

Having grown up at the ocean himself, Limsa Lominsa offers a certain familiarity to Jon and he can't deny that wandering the city and just taking in the seemingly endless waters around offers a certain kind of comfort and nostalgia. He even came across actual books in the market and picket one up despite the unfamiliar letters and language. The Eye and still having the communications expertise are two powerful tools to tear down such language barriers. Fortunately.

Having found himself a spot to sit near the water, accompanied by a couple of seagulls, Jon is flipping through the book, reading a few passages to himself before turning to one of the birds with a raised brow. "It's a collection of short stories." The seagull looks at him, uncomprehending. "I think I will record a few of these. And see what other books I can find here." A 'Squawk' from the seagull as it turns towards the sea and flies away, disturbed by the approaching presence of someone else. Jon turns his head to greet the person with a nod.

Comments

II - Sorry Jon...

[buildingitsir]

Okay, he did as Gladio asked in not going back to the restaurant, but there were still more seagulls around harassing people for food. So after getting half payment from someone (again, not from the restaurant), York busied himself getting gulls from teh ground and back into the air. And then there's this one guy, who seems so engrossed in whatever he's doing that he doesn't even realize that there's stupid birds hanging out on him.

The android swings the stick of driftwood he found, scaring the feathered fiends off. The person, he realizes almost too late, seems to be Jon of all people, and tries to pull back on his actions before he hits the man.

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[beholding_archivist]

The thing is that Jon doesn't necessarily mind the company of the birds. As a kid he often entertained them or let himself be entertained by their mischievous nature, watching as they pestered tourists for their snacks. He knows that the easiest way to not have them chase you is to simply not have any food they might want. And he hasn't brought any. So the birds are merely odd company as far as Jon is concerned.

What's more concerning is the piece of wood he sees swung at him the moment he turns around, the seagulls squawking in alarm as they take off while Jon manages a quick yelp of surprise before the improvised weapon hits his upper back and shoulder. "Ouch!" Though he is very quick to add an angry snap to the exclamation of surprised pain as he quickly pulls up his arm to shield his head from any further blows. "Hey!!"

FOR ONCE IT WAS AN ACCIDENT

[buildingitsir]

The moment he actually hits, York sucks in a breath to his cooling system and the stick gets dropped. It clatters against packed sand and the android takes a step back. "Shit!" Then the human yells and he recoils a little from it. Shit, shit, shit.

It was one thing when it had been a patron at the restaurant. It was worse this time being Jon of all people.

"I’m sorry!" He somewhat-yells back. "It was an actual accident! I thought they were fucking bothering you and you had given up!"

[beholding_archivist]

"York?!" Jon scowls in surprise and residual anger, grimacing as he lowers his arm and rubs his shoulder now that the piece of wood has been dropped. "Christ, that's not an excuse to hit someone!" He's willing to accept this as an accident, however.

After allowing both of them a moment to take a breath, Jon raises a brow at York, somehow managing to maintain his scowl. "Why are you attacking these birds, York?"

[buildingitsir]

"Jon?!" Hands go up to show he’s unarmed, with sand cling to the synthskin covering his chassis. "I wasn’t actually aiming to hit you, I just didn’t factor in your moving before I scared the bird off!"

A huff, and the stick was kicked away. And not in the direction of Jon. "A job. Someone wants the birds shooed away and I sort of did it for the restaurant so I figured I could do it again. Simple enough job." Slowly the android moves around to stand somewhat in front of the human so Jon doesn’t have to twist around to see him. "Do uh… you need me to get some ice if there’s any here?"

York rubs the back of his neck before noting what Jon had. "…is that an actual book?"

[beholding_archivist]

Jon still rubs his shoulder, but shakes his head. "I'll b fine, but... Thanks. For the offer." He can tell that the android is sorry and therefore won't needlessly press the matter. He looks over to where one of the seagulls has settled back down near them to curiously peck at the stick, testing it for edibility. "...you know, they would do better if they just figured out to live with these birds. They won't be going away regardless how much they are being chased." But this isn't an issue for them to solve. And if it makes York some money... well.

The inquiry about the book turns Jon's attention back to it and he picks it up to offer it over to York and see for himself. "It is. The language and letters are different, but with the communications expertise it's readable. There are plenty books being sold here. I will bring a few back to Temba." For the library.

[buildingitsir]

Interested now in the book, the seagulls get pushed down to a lower priority for York, who takes the offered book. The texture is strange under his sensors, picking up the makeup of it while he sits next to Jon. It was as the human said, as he couldn't read anything in it. He doesn't really know if he's holding it the correct way. "Oh, well, I have engineering so this doesn't mean anything to me."

He continues to flip through it, like someone who's never actually interacted with a book before. "What's the language? It's not related to what the Agrii use, is it?" He's trying to see if he can find any patterns, but York supposes this is what he gets for holing himself up in the diner for so long - he doesn't know of anything the Agrii use for texts.

[beholding_archivist]

"I haven't asked what the locals call their language." Jon admits, watching with a patient smile as York inspects the book. "Might have been suspicious to do, given we are meant to pose as natives of this planet. As for the Agrii... Well. They don't have a written language of any form, actually. They used smaller versions of the data points still around in the city in place of books. Unfortunately none of them were still intact enough to be reconstructed." Which is a shame. Considering the amount of shards he cleaned out from the library and the area around it, a lot of knowledge must have gotten lost.

"If you want to read it when we are back, you can temporarily pick up the other expertise." He suggests with a small tilt of his head. "I am considering picking up more books to bring back. And making audio recordings of them."

[buildingitsir]

"Right. Data points." The remarks is off-hand, only partially listening to Jon talk about the language. It's a rare sight, where York actually looks like a harmless teenager that's overly fascinated by the book. Not arguing with anyone, causing a ruckus, or hitting anyone with something.

"No, I'm just..." The android tilts his head before handing the book back over. "We don't use books really on my version of earth in the timeline. Or however the fuck that shit works." There's the York only some people know and are okay with. "We just have tablets and you scroll through for news articles and what not. That," he points at the book he's given back, "is the first time I've actually touched an actual, physical book."

He pulls his knees up to his chest, watching the stupid seagulls do seagull things. "I saw the tapes sitting on a shelf the day I went into the library. Do you have... a player for them? I mean, logically you must if you plan on making audio recordings." Audio recordings on antique technology.

I

[in_extremis]

A church wasn't exactly the kind of place Tony would choose to arrange a date. Maybe a confrontation with an ex-turned-supervillain, if he was feeling particularly romantic and thought a kiss at the altar could made for a change of heart. That would have to be at night, though, naturally, maybe even the cover of a storm for plenty of shadows to disappear into, making the church a very incidental setpiece which these gleaming white stones in the bright sun strongly demanded otherwise. Tony lingered outside, knowing there was no chance he wasn't fashionably late and Jon wasn't going to come up behind him to rescue him, squinting around at the inviting gardens in the sunlight. There was a wedding party taking pictures in the distance, all of them dressed in white and very sober looking, and eventually they were going to notice Tony staring at them. He took a breath and slipped through the doors.

Inside was just as grand as the facade, though it didn't feel so different from the churches Tony had been into on Earth; there was that strange hush, that made him feel guilty for letting the door clatter closed behind him and he raised a hand apologetically at the woman who looked up from stringing floral bunting along the pews. He made his search quick, and was relieved to spot Jon right away--he was hard to miss, a flare of red and glimmering in the light in those clothes. Tony slid into the seat beside him, pressed close hip to hip, with his arm draped along the pew behind him so Tony could whisper, "I don't know if I'm ready for confession, I've got a few more sins backed up on my to-do list, we might have to revisit this in a couple of days." The smirk that had started to tug at his lips softened quickly then, and he tried for another apology kissed to Jon's cheek, then gave a cough. They didn't really talk about religion, maybe that was why Jon wanted to come here, maybe Tony had made some miscalculations.

[beholding_archivist]

"From what understanding I managed to glean about this planet, religion doesn't quite work that way here, Tony." Jon responds matter-of-factly before greeting Tony with a warm smile. "But I'm glad you've decided to join me here. This place is beautiful. They only conduct weddings here. From how I came to understand it, it's the only place on the entire continent to do so." Which in itself sounds wild, but at the same time underlines the importance this chapel must have to the people living in this world.

Jon puts a calming hand on Tony's closest leg. "But don't worry. We're not here to get married. It just... It is a beautiful place." And in a way he felt reminded again of Steve- The other Steve. The one that told Jon about his regrets of never having proposed to Bucky while they were on Agra 10. Back then Jon had sworn to himself to avoid that very same pitfall. And while this chapel is, indeed, gorgeous... It doesn't really feel right for them.

[in_extremis]

That left Tony with plenty of questions about how religion did work, if they weren't coming to church to feel guilty, though Jon's smile made them seem a lot less important and Tony managed to relax with its reassurance, propping his head in his hand and stretching his legs out underneath the seat in front of them where he crossed his ankles. The position didn't seem nearly so carelessly languid when he froze up again as Jon left him drifting briefly with the information that he had invited Tony to the exclusively-weddings place, eyes wide and slow to roll from where Jon had directed them to consider the aesthetics of the polished stone back to Jon.

He didn't expect it to feel worse to be told Jon wasn't springing a wedding on him when he hadn't even shaved. Tony's attention snapped to him then, lifting his head back up so he could twist his hand with the thousand questions he had now, maybe a few of them he should have been asking a while ago. They hadn't really talked about it, and now Tony didn't know how to sound less pathetic when he asked, "You don't want to?"

[beholding_archivist]

The tone in Tony's voice isn't lost to Jon and he struggles a moment to figure out where that question may have come from. "Ah- N-no. That's not what I'm saying!" He flails verbally for a moment, then makes a quick grasp for the hand that isn't behind him to give it a reassuring squeeze while he seeks to lock his eyes to Tony's. "I do, Tony. I do! But-" And he trails off for a moment to nod towards the front of the chapel. "Believe me if I tell you that I am feeling incredibly out of place here." Everything is beautiful and perfect and he? He is still a mess.

"We- We will find the right place. But until then we... We can still visit other nice and unique places."

[in_extremis]

The clutch at his hand told Tony to stop worrying, so he tried so smooth it off of his features, leaving him with a concerned pinch of his brow that he tried to play off as squinting in the colourful dapple of the sun through the grand windows. The right place, of course. They could probably look for that forever. Tony had certainly invested a lot into that excuse already.

He let Jon keep hold of his hand, tugging it into his lap to trace his thumb over Jon's knuckles restlessly. "You don't look that out of place," didn't have the usual lilt of his teasing, but when Tony dropped his head back into his hand to look Jon's way, his smirk was back. "Don't get me wrong, the red is excruciatingly hot, and the gold brings out your--it's a good colour for you, we should work it into the rotation, it's just, really, you're doing a lot, you could tone it down, no one needs that much attention." Tony wouldn't know anything about that kind of thing.

[beholding_archivist]

Hearing a compliment for his admittedly rather bright attire is not what Jon has expected and he blinks at Tony a few times as a result, flustered. "...you want me to wear more red, or are you talking about this outfit?" He has seen himself in a mirror. It has been an unfamiliar sight. Especially those incredibly high boots have not only taken some getting used to, but also have a pretty particular effect on how Jon looks.

He tilts his head towards Tony, curious. "I'm surprised they didn't give you something more... Extravagant. It seems to be a very common way to dress on this planet." He swears he has seen a few people positively glowing.

[in_extremis]

"Some parts aren't so bad," Tony mused, gaze back on the glass, like he hadn't put that much thought into it, and definitely wasn't lifting a finger out of their hold to curl around that strap on Jon's thigh to give an experimental tug. His eyes narrowed more attentively at the suggestion that his own costume hadn't been so eye-catching, which he hadn't quite figured out how to feel about, either. There had to be a reason, and so far Tony had determined that the Agrii felt he deserved to be humbled, because he had been having a hard time feeling anywhere near worth looking at. And what did he have without that?

What he suggested instead was, "No sense gilding the lily," as though he had ever shown such restraint in his life, and flicked his teasing finger to indicate vaguely around them. "Whole industry must have been built up around this place, if this is really the only place to have a wedding. Bet we could scrounge up some extravagance," he suggested. Maybe not to fix how worthwhile Tony was, but to get them closer to putting together the 'right' wedding of their own, or just some indulgence that was sorely lacking in Temba. One bottle of bubble bath didn't make for a thrilling honeymoon. "Do they do honeymoons here? They have to. That's the best part."

[beholding_archivist]

"Hrm." Jon comments on Tony's observation in regards of his costume before Tony's own comment earns him a small chuckle and a nod. "Also true. You could wear about anything and make it look good. Not many can claim that." But he also inclines his head at the suggestion Tony brings up. "They may do those, but I haven't asked. Acquiring certain supplies, however, is a good idea. I already picked up a few things myself." Especially books. Books he can record since hardly anyone will be able to read them. But he wouldn't mind some additional new clothes, obviously. A few treats, obviously. And a gift for Tony, of course. Since he isn't as crafty as the other man, he will have to fall back to the more common ways of acquiring presents.

"Let's head into Gridania and check the market. We should be able to find a few things we can use for when we get married in Cayde's bar." He says with a small smirk and a chuckle underlining his words. As much as it may sound like a joke, the bar at least doesn't make Jon feel out of place entirely.

II - Books Are Good

[plate_builder]

Reeve wasn't one who had come here as often, but sometimes he wanted to enjoy quite a few things. A beach wasn't so bad, and a day to relax was something he was happy to do, especially with the food available. What he was pleased to see as he moved along the beach with his 'minion' Mini, was Jon.

"Have you considered buying some?" Reeve asked. "To try and bring back with us? Coruscant didn't seem to have as many physical ones, but you could build out the library a bit here."

[beholding_archivist]

"Already bought one." Jon replies with a smile, raising his book to demonstrate. "And I have just been thinking the same. Hello, Reeve. How are you doing? Finding your way around this place?" He turns his attention towards Mini to greet the cat-shaped robot as well. "And you, Mini, how are you? This world can be... Overwhelming." But the same could be said about Coruscant. They have been sent to some incredibly different worlds.

[plate_builder]

"Perhaps when you're done you would be willing to share with a man who hasn't had a good read in a long time," Reeve moved to sit next to him. Mini just moved to stand at his side.

"We're continuing under the polite fiction that Mini is a unique 'minion' as they are called. No speech. I can relay that he finds this annoying, to have to take such a serious step back. But we are both finding our way around, and I'm relieved to be in a place with materia and chocobos again."

[beholding_archivist]

Jon shrugs once. "Everything I bring back here will find its way into the library, Reeve. Reading a book more than once has always been tedious to me, even when I was a child."

Materia and chocobos are certainly very present on this planet and Jon nods while placing a sympathetic hand on Mini's shoulder for a moment. "So you're familiar with certain parts of this culture, but it's not the same world you're from. That's intriguing. I have seen people ride and even do races on these chocobos. Never thought I'd ever see someone ride a bird of all things." He knows how a bird works. They tend to be 90% feathers.

[plate_builder]

"Wonderful to hear. I should visit more, to enjoy them," Reeve answered with a smile. That was something he should really do, for both their sakes. Their friendship deserved more time from him.

"Yes, this is not Gaia, that much I am certain of. And it's truly simple to ride a chocobo once it's saddle broken. They're lovely creatures. Good for farm work as well. Or pulling carriages. There are stories of chocobo mounted knights in world history as well."

[beholding_archivist]

"It's not the nature of the animals I am concerned about, Reeve..." Jon says, unable to entirely hold back a frown. But at the same time there can easily be things here he simply doesn't know. Maybe these chocobos are a lot more solid than any bird one may encounter on Earth. Their feathers may be more akin to scales or something. He has seen a few of them strut around wearing full armor pieces, including helmets.

"Have you been to the casino already?"

[plate_builder]

Is it not? Reeve looked shocked by that. Surely the people not used to things would worry over temperament.

"Yes. There is a casino by a similar name, and design, back home. I went to watch the races. I quite enjoyed watching the races. Cloud was a great jockey you know. And a breeder."

[beholding_archivist]

A similar casino with a similar design and name and even the same type of races... Even shared species. "I am aware that there are similarities between the different types of Earth some of us come from, but these are all... Earth. This is not a different version of your home planet and yet... All these similarities must be incredibly daunting."

He raises a brow, then holds the book out towards Reeve. "Do you recognize their language as well? Or can spot similarities there as well?"