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

[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. ]

[Tony doesn't seem concerned about getting elbows and arms in Jon's way while he tried whatever he was doing to solve this dire crisis, taking his time tapping out a cigarette, lighting, replacing the lighter in Jon's breast pocket and generally being consumed in his own ghost fighting process.]

Light? How 'bout that. Will he solve the riddle of the basement fairies?

[Maybe it's about time to show some mercy. Tony pinches Jon's cheek then passes a hand through the nearest orb, making it flicker like a hologram and reform easily, unperturbed by the trail of smoke Tony leaves swirling around it.]

They're gifts from Billy.

[ It’s only when Tony draws attention to himself, then delivers his little demonstration and solved the riddle that Jon catches up with what’s going on and his first reaction? Is to cast a look of disapproving disbelief up at Tony.

The lights will have to wait for their turn of being properly acknowledged. ]

Are you- Smoking?! In a library?!

[ Someone has priorities. ]

[The place is about to come down around their ears and that's what Jon is worried about? The library already had every other kind of damage rip through it, a little smoke isn't going to be the breaking point. Tony takes another drag to leave curling over his tongue before handing Jon his cigarette that Tony had so thoughtfully prepared to calm his nerves.]

This is not the worst thing I have done in a library.

[ And Jon casts Tony a glare that turns into a noise of resigning frustration quickly enough as he accepts the cigarette and takes a long drag from it, stubbornly refusing to entirely shed his air of disapproval. ]

....let’s save the library stories for another time.

[ He lets his eyes drift back to the lights, leaning somewhat idly against Tony. ]

So.... Billy, eh?
...Jesus. Nearly gave me a heart attack.

[Tony raises his eyebrows, but it's pretty obvious that all of Jon's library stories are not safe to tell in the dark. Maybe another time, indeed.]

I'll have to send the kid a gift basket. I thought you had raised Cerberus down there, I was ready to throw down and you come running-- this little guy is here, just--

[Tony doesn't even know how to laugh.]

[ Tony would be surprised just how many libraries strewn across the globe are actually further temples dedicated to the Eye - And they all have their own share of tales, of course. And those tales don't even include the various questionable library-centric decisions Jon has made years before joining the Institute...

Though for now he settles with following Tony's brief observation. ]

You would have fought a three-headed, mythological hellhound for me?

[ He finds that... Hard to believe. And yet Tony has come here for him. ]

[Eyes still glittering with dangerous playfulness, Tony obviously hesitates, cutting off a flippant reply and considering Jon for plucking out that detail while Tony was laughing at him. He was trouble.]

I'm going to tell you a secret.

[Very serious now, he gets close, his nightlight dimming with the movement like it could provide cover.]

You can't tell anyone. It would put both of us in danger, there would be targets on our backs.

I'm...Captain America.

Outage

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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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