revivalproject

Entry tags:

Outage

WHO: Tony and fellow 10s exclusively.
WHERE: Heading to the power plant, open to suggestions
WHAT: Tony gets into the civil engineering game, for his own purposes. He has disrupted the grid. Sorry.
WHEN: Now? Whenever you're ready?
WARNINGS: Thread is horny.
SOME NOTES: This is a blackout that I didn't really intend to last very long, but that's up to you. If you want to use it to do some power outage shenanigans, let me and/or Hux know and we'll stay distracted from fixing the problem.

network
[Shortly after all of the power seems to cut abruptly, whether or not anyone noticed or were peacefully asleep in the dark, absolutely everyone receives a direct, private text message at the same time.]
I will fix it. Not a problem.

problem solving
It was inevitable that this would become a problem, but Tony didn't anticipate it happening this fast. There was a whole city out there that, presumably, had been run on this very same grid when fully populated. How was he supposed to know that the entire alien power load was only built to anticipate a single Gamecube and a dinky water display? D.A.T.A. was still smoking in the dark from the surge when Tony wandered dejectedly back into the workshop, no luck fixing the outage locally-- this wasn't a fuse problem. It was everyone's problem.

At least one thing was obviously not part of the same grid; the network hadn't gone down for Tony, and while that was further bad news in the long run, he could take the blessing to try to address the issue before anyone got hysterical about it. He sent out the mass text as he tore the data spheres down from their suspension and meticulously worked in the low light from the simmering forge to feel for the heat and melted warp, and gut the most damaged pieces, leaving them spread blindly on the workbench. That was really going to fuck up his schedule.

He knew where the power plant was, kind of, in theory, and it wasn't a trek he was eager to take without the full light of day on his side, but it wasn't like he was getting anything else done here. It would be faster than it looked, he could run, there was probably a generator up there and the way was going to be brightly lit and not an dark, creepy forest at all. Deep breath. Tony grabbed his jacket and his tool belt and started across town.

Elsewhere, the hum of power had gone silent, lights winked out, and the steady bubbling of the fountain at the centre of the city murmured to a stop, until the surface of the water was still as glass.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Have a small sigh. ]

...right. I won’t ask what happened.
Just tell me... did you get hurt?

[ His compulsion doesn’t work over the network, so he can ask. ]

[This response is slower than texting, but Tony supposes he can deign to actually use the microphone to defend himself]

Do you have someone in mind to kiss it better? [Okay, that's one, behave.] I'm still mobile, it was nothing. The mob might hurt more.

[ Jon is bad at texting. Also still mobile sounds hardly reassuring. Which is why he is pointedly dismissing that first comment. ]

I will take a look at this nothing.

[ He still works at the hospital, remember...? ]

Please try not to break anything else while I’m on my way.

What? No, it's-- [He already said it was nothing.] Have I told you yet that you're bossy?

Only to discourage people from blowing themselves up.

I can see if I can reach Altair, should that be more to your liking. He's faster at crossing the city than I am.

[ This is either a trap, or a genuine offer. ]

Actually, you know what, I died. He's not the coroner, too, is he? Don't worry about it, it's all biodegradable, it's what I would have wanted.

[ That? Is a strong reaction. And Jon isn't sure if it's due to him mentioning Altair or if Tony just really wants Jon to get off his case.

He is silent for several moments. Then he exhales. ]

We both know you aren't dead, Tony. But... Very well.

[ He's keeping his voice calm, yet the resignation gets obvious. Don't tell him not to worry, Tony. It will only make him worry more. ]

Just promise me you tell me should you need-

[ -me. ]

-help.

[Why was that resignation so disappointing now?]

The fire is still on. If you need to...read, or whatever it is that you...do.

[ Silence. Then an exhale. ]

Right.

...right.

...maybe I will. I can't-
I can't see in the Dark.

[ Yes, he's not comfortable in complete darkness. The Eye and the Dark just have this antagonistic relationship for reasons. Not seeing... He doesn't like it. ]

Me...neither? [Was Tony supposed to assume that he did? Oh--] Do you need me to come get you now? You didn't even mean to come over here, you were just going to let me suffer.

That- Is not true!

[ Hearing that accusation hurts, you know? ]

I.... I wanted to help. I may not be comfortable with this darkness, but had you been hurt...! I... Christ, why do you have to make this difficult.

.....fine. You want me to stay put and do nothing, then.

[ He knows his presence isn’t one easy to endure, but... That still hurt. ]

[Tony is already laughing and might not have heard most of that]

I'm coming, jeez, do you tell people that you're this high maintenance in interviews? Or is it me you save it all up for?

[ You’re just here for his exasperation, are you? ]

You- That’s not funny either!

[ Maybe it is. Just not for Jon. He has dreadful memories of being trapped in a pitch dark place. ]

You are impossible, Tony!

[ At least being frustrated with Tony is distracting him from the darkness. ]

And you're predictable. Which is it, library or hospital?

...you weren’t exactly fond of the last time I was unpredictable.

........

Library. In the basement. Staircase in the back between the shelves...

Why are you in the basement? [Could Tony have done this at a worse time? By the time he gets to the library, he's out of breath]

...please don’t ask.

[ And that’s the last transmission Tony receives prior to reaching the library. Which presents itself quietly looming in the utter dark. It’s appropriately quiet inside - Until the sudden crash from somewhere deep within.

Followed by a second crash.

And that’s when the screaming start. Followed by the frantic sound of footsteps, also from somewhere deep within the dark. More screaming, now closer and quickly getting more so.

And that’s when one screaming Archivist darts out between the darkness of the library’s high shelves, illuminated from behind by one small, blue light dutifully following his frantic form.

Please, Tony. Step aside. He’s charging straight for that door you stand inside. ]

Shit shit SHIT shit Shit- run. RUN!

[Tony's heart is still pounding from his final sprint to the library and it just about leaps out of him at the sound of the crash. He freezes in the hall, hand on the wall to steady himself, trying to listen over the thudding in his ears as his own nightlight bobs erratically around his head. It's the screaming that gets him moving again, but not nearly at the terror flight speed of Jon, so he barely makes it to the double doors of the hall with the stacks when he spots Jon on the collision course.]

Boss...? [He has a split second to decide to comply or let Jon dart by and put himself between the Archivist and whatever he had dug up in the basement, but it's just long enough for Tony to realize what Jon is actually running from. Third option, he shoots an arm out to catch Jon around the middle and haul him off of the ground and flight path, his ominous stalker whizzing past at speed before coming bumbling back in the wake, bonking into Tony's light and sending them both wobbling out of their respective orbits.]

[ Whatever it is that Jon wants to shout next is cut off by that arm he runs right into. Along with what air he has had in his lungs. Yes, breathing may be something Jon can easily do without these days, but it’s still a habit. A habit he is rather fond of in his search to retain some of his humanity.

So for a moment he is sufficiently stunned. The next? He’s clawing at Tony’s arm frantically just as the small, blue orb zips past only to return.

And then there are two?

It’s that sight that returns Jon’s frantic voice to him. ]

Look out! They- They’re coming from the basement! I don’t know what I disturbed down there, but— We need to get out of here!

[Had this been the wrong choice? Was Tony just depriving himself of a unique experience, a rare beauty in this ruined world?

Yes.

He steps away from Jon, giving him an encouraging nudge and hissing.] Run! I'll hold them off!

[The lights bobbled mindlessly.]

[ And for a moment Jon seems to be just about to do exactly that: Run.

But then the rest of the message registers as well. ]

W-wait! I can't leave you with... With these! We don't know what they are!

[ Aside from peacefully floating orbs of light, yes. ]

[That isn't what Tony expected out of the hysterics and he might have been touched if he didn't have to improvise]

Don't worry, I'm immune to ghosts. My mom raised me Rational.

[ And it's this improvisation that hits a certain mark located somewhere at the lower spine of Jon's inner researcher of the supernatural that sends a not necessarily pleasant shudder up his spine and for exactly four moments he falls entirely still. Just looking up at Tony's face with this very particular look of 'you didn't just say that.' written over his face.

And for those four moments the wobbling lights are entirely forgotten. ]

Tony.

[ Jon says in a suddenly calm and very patient voice. ]

There exists no such thing as... Ghost immunity.

[ The four moments are over and a fifth passes before Jon becomes suddenly aware of the glowing orbs again and gives an undignified noise of being startled while making a grasp for Tony's arm, just short of attempting to hide behind it.

Only then does he realize that neither of the lights seem to be doing anything. ]

Wait. These... These aren't aggressive!

[ Does he let go of Tony's arm after this conclusion, though? Nope. That's his security arm now. And he will squint at those glowing orbs distrustfully from the safety of its proximity. ]

W-what are you?!

[ Is he trying to compel those floating lights? Yes. Sorry, Tony. This might send a soft tingle up your spine as well. ]

[What a disappointingly short-lived performance. It was a shame, there was something special there, there was--]

What? [The game is still afoot.] She lied to me?

[It isn't clear what Jon thinks he will accomplish with Tony's arm because the lights certainly aren't threatened by it, and eventually the pawing is irritating enough that Tony takes the opportunity away from Jon to wrap him against Tony's side in a protective, leading man hug. Only, he's patting Jon's pockets down while he has him vulnerable, producing the cigarettes and lighter he knew had to be close, all casual ease while Jon practically vibrated next to him.

The lights don't seem interested in Jon's interrogation.]

Did you just try your magic? Oh boy, they must be really powerful.

[ Since He is busy glaring at the unresponsive lights, Jon doesn’t react to being pulled close or to having his pockets raided. He does, however, take note of the familiar and very welcome warmth. Though as much as he could get very comfortable like this, the lack of a response is a little worrisome.. ]

Ah- I tried. But... I don’t think I can reach them. I.... Let me just...

[ He narrows his eyes, concentrates. Not on compelling the lights, but to see. What he finds that way? Is.... well. ]

They are.... Just light? What? But how...?

[ That’s less scary, but certainly several times more confusing. ]

voice - private

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do you want Billy's lights?

Oh, I know what to do.

i'm cry

He is grace~

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