Of Heart Breaks and other Intermissions

[beholding_archivist]

WHO: Jonathan Sims & you~
WHERE: Various
WHAT: May catch-all
WHEN: What remains of May
WARNINGS: He has cigarettes and feels terrible. Horror themes may pop up?

Cigarette Break [ hospital ]

A large slab of rubble a little away from the hospital's the emergency entrance has come to be Jon's preferred place to take a break. Or to just linger around to pass some time between cleaning up. Or to dwell on what sits on his mind.

It's that piece of rubble Jon can be found on. Sitting cross-legged and leaning against an even bigger piece of rock, a cup of tea next to him and a cigarette between trembling fingers. It's not lit and Jon makes no move to light it. Instead, he simply stares at it. He knows exactly who has left these anonymously for him and that... It still hurts.

Just another rejection, right? Those just seem to be happening to him... No one really wants him, no one needs him. Even here at the hospital. Not that he has any medical training to offer. Or any helpful magic. He's hardly even any use at cleaning this place up.

And he's getting tired of it. Tired of feeling useless. Tired of getting rejected. Tired of not knowing what to do.

Altair should arrive at the hospital soon, right? He has meant to talk to the Chiss. Though at this point Jon wouldn't mind any interaction that doesn't end with feeling rejected.

Reality Break [ around the city ]

Taking some time away from the hospital as well as the library feels necessary every now and then. There are still plenty of areas he hasn't explored yet and wandering about... Well. Aside from trying to fix things, what else really is there to do?

Jon spends a good amount of time in the Northern part of Temba. The gaping hole in the ground that used to be a mine is quite effectively keeping his attention for some time. Whatever has happened here to cause this damage... He wants to know. It has to have been dreadful. He also makes it to the hangar, wandering inside and instantly feeling just as lost as he has been on his first visit to this place.

He still can't believe these are actual space ships. But he doesn't enter the one he has been assigned to either. Just takes a moment to stare.

The entire North-Western area, not far from where he has claimed some small personal place for himself, is entirely peculiar. He will wander along the fenced-off structures thoughtfully. No one would stop him if he were to try and break into one of these, right? Has someone ever tried? All he needs is to find a way over or through these fences... Though as much as he contemplates the possibilities, Jon makes no move to try entering. If the tunnels have taught him one thing, then it's to at least attempt to prepare for such excursions.

Heading towards the forge..... Now that's a mistake Jon realizes once he draws near enough to spot the structure in the distance. And there he stops, guts twisting uncomfortably as his mind helpfully replays Tony's words to come by the forge for him to finally fix that broken front camera on Jon's phone.

A crack Tony remains responsible for in a way. Just as the man is responsible for invoking false hopes and false security and- Christ. The Archivist mutters something under his breath before he turns and makes to leave the area again before everything comes bubbling up yet again.

Lunch Break [ amphitheater ]

The large amphitheater is empty when Jon enters it. At least a center area at ground level is, and he doesn't bother to check thoroughly. At least he isn't walking into another training session and just may be able to distract himself and his mind for at least a short while. He crosses the entire area until he reaches one of the lowest benches and sets his satchel down on it before pulling out his tape recorder and the book Cayde has given him.

Right. It's about time he gets to read and record this. And as the library lacks a room that doesn't ruin any recording attempts through excessive echoing, one of the theaters will have to do. The acoustics in them has been the most acceptable during his testing.

He sets the recorder down at the bench and presses down the record button before stepping out into the center of the theater, opening the book once he has taken his place and opens it on the first page, muttering a little at being reminded just what the Exo has done to the book "...Jesus, this is a mess." But he still clears his throat.

"An account of Cayde-6, Hunter Vanguard of the Last City. Recorded by Jonathan Sims. ..." And he proceeds to read what Cayde has written between the actual text of the book, finding it easy and soothingly familiar to let himself drift off and let the written words carry him and his mind away at least for a little while.

God he really has missed doing this, hasn't he...

If anyone is to wander into this, they get the chance to test just how jumpy the Archivist can be. If they were in the theater from the very beginning, maybe enjoying a little nap on one of the upper ranks, they can either enjoy the reading, or yell at him to shut the hell up.

Mental Break(down) [ library ]

The shelves of the library remain depressingly empty, even as Jon slides Cayde's book onto one of them with the neatly labeled tape recording of its content sitting right on top of it. He sighs, shoulders slumping as he lets his hands drop to his sides.

It's just as empty as he feels, isn't it. How... fitting.

Why does he even still bother to try? It's not like anyone here needs or wants him around. Even the Agrii have gotten very quiet. Maybe their captors have been attacked and wiped out by now. That United Federation of Planets T'Pring spoke of doing away with this potential threat. It's possible, right? And they are not trapped on this planet for good.

So why does he still bother trying? Can't he just give in at last? Cast off whatever shreds of humanity tie him down and be the monster he can still hear Helen encourage him to be? Turn this city into a hunting ground. Draw out dark secrets and terrors and leave everyone with their own, personal nightmares until his actions get him hunted down by all these heroes.

A humorless, shallow laugh echoes through the empty library halls. Heroes do need monsters to hunt, right? Maybe that's his place after all.

Comments

[deal_me_in]

"That sounds tasty. Maybe we can find some substitutes!" Cayde supposes he can ask Tommy about that. He seems to be the greenhouse guy around here.

That Jon doesn't shoot down his party suggestion is just like silent encouragement. Oh, he will find a way, this Exo will. He doesn't think it should be too difficult. If that funny button on the tablet doesn't work, he'll just have to get some paint.

"Nice! Oh pff, you can probably just set up your communicator thing to do it, if you don't want to have someone doing it for you. Just like, prop it up and make sure it's not going to be recording some awkward angle and you're good."

[beholding_archivist]

“Right.” Jon says with a small sigh “Because no one wants a recording of my kneecaps, obviously.” Since that’s exactly what Cayde has been referring to, indeed. “I’d still rather avoid storing them on the network...” But that’s an issue he is still working on.

“So. Do you have any other drinks planned for your menu yet? I would be lying if I were to claim I haven’t had moments where I wished I could simply get drunk. Forget... At least for a moment.”

[deal_me_in]

Not that Jon doesn't have photogenic kneecaps or anything. "So people can't look them up when they're bored and be entertained by a learning experience? I don't see the problem."

Cayde sighs then, shaking his head. "Nothing super fancy, no. I have to see what we can do with what we have at the greenhouse, maybe see what all the replicator can provide and the best way to put that resource to use. Monthly specials, maybe. Otherwise it's that red stuff from that fruit like they had at the party. Now, if you're looking to get drunk quick, that's one way."

[beholding_archivist]

"I mean- Solely on the network. Without having a physical backup here." He gestures towards the empty library. Which still strikes him as a rather depressing sight "I... I finally got to record the book you gave me, by the way." So at least there is one book in this library now.

Cayde mentioning the red fruit and the matching drink earns him a small frown, however "Well..... Yes. I suppose I remember that one. Can you recreate that already? It could probably be mixed with other juices to get a few other tastes." A pause. "...Jesus. I already feel like I'm back in university. Plotting to test whatever dreadful brew each of us ended up throwing together... And I really want to say I'm much too old for that by now."

[deal_me_in]

Here's an Exo that's used to books being ancient and in shelves, and digital to be, well, digitally collected. He's finally following as Jon clarifies, nodding as he snap-points. Right. Archivist.

"Oh, you did? Cool. How'd that go for you?" He might be a little tickled to think that his book donation's the first in the library, but it's not a thought that lasts long when he has to wonder where all else they're going to get stock for the place. Even with a replicator and so many people, you probably couldn't fill a shelf if you somehow coerced everyone into donating books- and that's only if the replicator somehow had the same but specific data of those books to be able to spit them back out.

"I think that fruit is already like, pre-fermented or something. That green kid at the party was popping a few of 'em and then got all tipsy mid-conversation. Wonder what other kinds of crazy fruits they have here." Cayde grins. "But the point here is not to make them 'dreadful' because there are only so many of us here and eventually they'll all know where we live."

[beholding_archivist]

"We might as well just ask for volunteers to figure out their effects." Jon suggests with a shrug. That's generally how one learns about unknown things, right? Well. Unless some of that knowledge randomly pops into his mind, but so far there has been remarkably little useful Knowing happening.

The question comes a little unexpected, but it's not necessarily one Jon feels unwilling to answer. So he slowly walks back around his desk and towards the shelf that now stores Cayde's book.

"It was... Different. But certainly an experience. I think I learned a little more about you - Or rather... I understood a little more." He pauses, both in his words and in his steps "I just hope we won't have to deal with such fighting here." So far Temba has been a peaceful place - aside from the storms. But do they really know what else might be out there?

[deal_me_in]

"Like guinea pigs. I think that's basically how it went with whoever was here before us- that's probably the only reason that kid was able to point out the effects of that blue stuff."

Aw, his book's got a whole shelf to itself. Of course, that's because it's the only book in the library but shhh, let him have this moment.

"Hah! Different. Yeah, that's a way to par it down." Cayde nods, his roguish grin fading as he won't disagree with Jon's hopes on the matter. "Wouldn't wish any'a that on anyone." He can't really see any valid reason for it happening here at least. Unless the Agrii are harboring some secret sort of power source or treasure, there doesn't seem to be much that any outside forces would find interest in. Unless they found out about the strange technology or whatever it was the Agrii used to reel 'He Rows' in. Hm. Now that'd do it.

...not something Cayde decides he'll tell Jon. He wouldn't be surprised if the Archivist comes to such conclusions himself at some point if he hasn't already, but the guy already seems to have enough on his mind.

[beholding_archivist]

Jon all but offers an open shrug "No one wants a war." - It's a simple truth, isn't it? And yet at the same time they still know far too little as to have any real idea what they should be prepared for. And that remains troublesome.

"I'm glad you won, though." Just a small, added thought.

"Is there anything else I can help you with? Aside from the paper and- Well. Names for drinks that don't even exist yet?"

[deal_me_in]

Cayde chuckles quietly at that. "So'm I," he says, and that's the truth of it.

It wasn't without heavy losses, but maybe in some way, it was a slap in the face that they couldn't be complacent with how things were. It's why even though the Vanguard for the most part resumed their duties in the wake of rebuilding the Last City, Cayde snuck out for any fair reason he could operate back on the field. Zavala may think that the Exo's time has been wasted, helping the remnants of the Awoken fill up their Prison of Elders with dangerous, dirty Fallen criminals. Cayde would rather make sure any threats that might eventually cross their paths were neutralized before they caused trouble where it might hurt.

"Nah, I think that'll do it," he says after some thought, truly trying to scrounge up some other reason to loiter about but coming up short. "How about on the flip-side? Anything you need from me while I'm here? More book recommendations?" The latter is suggested with a waggle of his brows.

[beholding_archivist]

"You know that I would appreciate little more than having more books around. Or access to certain databases." Neither sounds to be accessible any time soon, unfortunately.

"At any rate, I did appreciate your visit. Company can be hard to encounter in this city." Especially when you spend most of your time dwelling in an empty library. "Maybe stop by again some time. And I will... I will see about that still"

[deal_me_in]

That's enough of an excuse for him to pay a visit to the replicator and put in a book order. He figures at least those will go through, unlike his attempt at making more bullets.

His expression brightens then, the Exo grinning at Jon. "Yeah, it's a pain. Being a loner should be a choice, not a default." He's speaking for himself anyway. Having lived in a city for so long, one can't help but kind of miss the ambiance. At least things were alive. Around here it took effort and probably no small amount of luck to run into someone else. Good thing he's wearing his lucky pants.

"Heh! No maybe's about it. And thanks- about the whole still business." Cayde reaches over, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Don't be a stranger, Jon. You need anything, just give a holler." With parting fingerguns, he turns and takes a moment to figure out which way's the exit.