Jonathan 'Eyebags' Sims (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
beholding_archivist) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
revivalproject2020-04-06 03:44 am
beholding_archivist) wrote in revivalproject2020-04-06 03:44 am
[ video ]
[ Unlike the last time Jon has appeared on this network, this time it's very intentional. And it's very obvious that it is intentional. Apparently he has found himself a usable desk (presumably in the hospital) and has taken the time to prop up his phone appropriately to address his fellow involuntary inhabitants of this lovely place.
It's also rather obvious that he has been using this desk for a few days now at least. There is a comparably neat stack of paper in front of him, two or three notebooks, an assortment of pens, two different types of tape recorders along with some tapes and an empty mug all rather present and no, he doesn't really care about the slight mess. He himself looks a little messy himself, though that's just his normal state of being perpetually tired. But... There are more important things right now, right? Like... How to even start. ]
Uhh... Good evening.
[ That's just remotely awkward. But okay. ]
I have- I mean. I already spoke to a few of you. Either through this network or at an actual encounter in person and... I suppose you might have noticed me at that little welcome home party the Agrii have set up, but... Let's not talk about that. That was... Dreadful.
[ He pauses a moment to sort his thoughts, then goes on. ]
To those I haven't met yet: Hello. I'm Jonathan Sims and I have agreed to help with the hospital.
[ Here he makes a short gesture with one hand to indicate his surroundings. He is indeed at the hospital. Maybe that's your clue to avoid needing medical help anytime soon?
He drops that hand back down. ]
Further, I have decided to take on the task of turning what is left of what appears to have been a library once back into an actual library. To be more precise: I plan to make recordings along with written pieces and store them there once the place is cleaned up. These may serve for our own reference, but also for the Agrii if they are so inclined. My hope is that by teaching them about ourselves, our worlds and our language, we can achieve a more successful way of communicating with them. Learn to understand what they want and need and- You get the idea.
Now what I need is to find a suitable format to record on. While I work with magnetic tapes a lot myself for certain reasons, I am not unfamiliar with digital recordings. Also I am well aware that some of you come from worlds that are technically far more advanced than my Earth happens to be, so I... I would be interested to know if there are more practical formats available. Preferably ones that allow for video as well as audio recordings and don't necessarily require additional hardware for playback. Your universe's version of the data points to be found across this city, for example, just possibly without that direct access to a person's mind. Given that we may soon have access to a functioning replicator... It should be possible.
[ He lets that hang there, then takes a moment to try and think what else he might have to add. He ends up with a short shrug and half a sigh. ]
I guess that's it. If you have a suggestion you believe might work, I would very much like to hear it. And before you ask: Yes, I am planning to keep a purely digital library along with a physically accessible one.
Thank you.
It's also rather obvious that he has been using this desk for a few days now at least. There is a comparably neat stack of paper in front of him, two or three notebooks, an assortment of pens, two different types of tape recorders along with some tapes and an empty mug all rather present and no, he doesn't really care about the slight mess. He himself looks a little messy himself, though that's just his normal state of being perpetually tired. But... There are more important things right now, right? Like... How to even start. ]
Uhh... Good evening.
[ That's just remotely awkward. But okay. ]
I have- I mean. I already spoke to a few of you. Either through this network or at an actual encounter in person and... I suppose you might have noticed me at that little welcome home party the Agrii have set up, but... Let's not talk about that. That was... Dreadful.
[ He pauses a moment to sort his thoughts, then goes on. ]
To those I haven't met yet: Hello. I'm Jonathan Sims and I have agreed to help with the hospital.
[ Here he makes a short gesture with one hand to indicate his surroundings. He is indeed at the hospital. Maybe that's your clue to avoid needing medical help anytime soon?
He drops that hand back down. ]
Further, I have decided to take on the task of turning what is left of what appears to have been a library once back into an actual library. To be more precise: I plan to make recordings along with written pieces and store them there once the place is cleaned up. These may serve for our own reference, but also for the Agrii if they are so inclined. My hope is that by teaching them about ourselves, our worlds and our language, we can achieve a more successful way of communicating with them. Learn to understand what they want and need and- You get the idea.
Now what I need is to find a suitable format to record on. While I work with magnetic tapes a lot myself for certain reasons, I am not unfamiliar with digital recordings. Also I am well aware that some of you come from worlds that are technically far more advanced than my Earth happens to be, so I... I would be interested to know if there are more practical formats available. Preferably ones that allow for video as well as audio recordings and don't necessarily require additional hardware for playback. Your universe's version of the data points to be found across this city, for example, just possibly without that direct access to a person's mind. Given that we may soon have access to a functioning replicator... It should be possible.
[ He lets that hang there, then takes a moment to try and think what else he might have to add. He ends up with a short shrug and half a sigh. ]
I guess that's it. If you have a suggestion you believe might work, I would very much like to hear it. And before you ask: Yes, I am planning to keep a purely digital library along with a physically accessible one.
Thank you.
Re: [ action ]
I do enjoy tea a great deal.
[He chuckled as he looked over at his area of building furniture.]
Yes, we are coming down to weeks.
[ action ]
[ His tone is thoughtful at the information. This means they have mere weeks left to prepare the rooms they will need - And themselves. Jon really wishes he had Altair's confidence in the matter.
But as the Archivist stands in the midst of this humble, yet functional living space, there is something else he just can't help but notice: The presence of fear. It's heavy, pressing and very much justified: The hovering fear of potential loss. It hides underneath the hope shown in the yet unfinished crib. The preparations made in anticipation of a new life.
And Jon loathes that he can't appreciate the anticipation as a sign of love promised to an unborn child, but that he rather sees it as the source of a very distinctive and terrible fear. Yes, he will do what he can to help preserve this little life when the time comes. Though at the same time he worries about his own intentions. For losing the child would only result in grief. A living child always comes with that lasting, underlying fear of losing it. And he doesn't thrive on grief...
It takes him a moment and some effort to shake himself out of his own damning thoughts and return to the present. ]
Ah- I know I am here for the books, but... If you know of any comforts we can try to arrange for your wife's time at the hospital, don't hesitate to let either of us know and we will see what we can arrange. Altair especially is very invested in her comfort.
[ Credit where credit is due, right? ]
Re: [ action ]
A warm bath would not go amiss. Not to mention anything you might have on-hand to read. She likes it when I read to her, and I have heard it will be good for the child as well.
no subject
[ And here the Archivist really lights up. ]
-Christ! I can understand that yearning for a good book. I still find it daunting that the Agrii appear to be lacking any written language at all!
[ You can't imagine how much that is still occupying his mind. Every time he walks any of these streets he finds himself looking out for graffiti or anything similar. Any form of nonverbal communication that doesn't involve those little spheres of data. ]
Should we ever manage to make actual contact with them... Jesus. I really wouldn't mind to teach them to write and keep notes in other forms than purely digital.
no subject
[A faint frown.] I seem to think that there was some sort of issue with their language translations ... or perhaps they had some sort of damage to their minds that correlated with the language centers of their brains.
no subject
[ He gives a woeful nod, then sighs. ]
Maybe. Or they could simply not be used to an actual language at all. Some sort of advanced, telepathic communication, perhaps. The data points hardly describe anything after all. They simply place the knowledge directly into our heads.
I have considered the possibility that attempting to emulate our language may well be their first attempt at communicating that way.
[ This is a matter he has a many theories on, but sadly not a single answer. ]