beholding_archivist: (The Archive - Finds you)
Jonathan 'Eyebags' Sims ([personal profile] beholding_archivist) wrote in [community profile] revivalproject2020-06-03 04:35 am

Make your Statement, face your fear.

WHO: Jonathan Sims & YOU
WHERE: Jon's Calibration Room
WHAT: Explore the Archivist's mind
WHEN: During the Calibration Event [ June 3rd - July 10th ]
WARNINGS: EYES - Body horror, possible mentions of unsettling events including kidnapping, death and dreadful monsters

The Archivist's office is a mess. Most offices are. Especially offices located in basements. Offices that belong to equally chaotic archives. And the archives of the Magnus Institute are incredibly chaotic. Gertrude Robinson has seen to that. And yet the mess in this office isn't hers. It's the mess of the current Archivist, right now seated behind his cluttered desk, appearing even smaller than he actually is, the small lamp on the table serving as the only actual source of light in this room. In front of the Archivist sits a small pile of statement files on a dining plate, but his attention isn't on the files, it's on his visitor.

There are more of these files spread all over the room. Cardboard boxes full of them stacked high and pushed into whatever free corner has once existed in it. Further boxes are stacked less high or are plain lying around, some closed, some opened, some rummaged through. Other, smaller boxes that aren't filled with files join the previous ones. There are also a few metal shelves covering part of the walls. And file cabinets. There are more files in these as well as more boxes and books. Most of them scientific in nature, some deal with the arcane, myths and legends. Various types of tape recorders and boxes of tapes are also widely strewn about as well as loose pages of paper, the occasional tea mug and cobwebs. For some reason or another there are at least a dozen fire extinguishers to be spotted throughout the room, and it likely isn't due to the clearly used ashtray or the golden lighter with a cobweb design engraved onto it on the desk near the Archivist's dust-covered laptop, untouched cup of tea and the sole human rib. Aside from more stray sheets of paper and some writing equipment, a single book also resides on the desk, its title introducing it as A Guest for Mr. Spider.

Though there is more to be found in the various shelves as well. A knife as well as a cleaver, an unsuspecting whistle that seems to be surrounded by an odd fog and will vanish should one try to reach for it. Underneath one of the shelves, there even is a plain cardboard box filled with C-4 plastic explosives. Further up, a roughly football-sized dark sun dares the visitor to look at it to plunge them into utter and complete darkness. The frisbee some may recognize as a certain someone's shield seems a little out of place as it lays unassuming on one of the higher shelves, covering an odd little action figure from view.

But maybe one feels more compelled to look out of the window, suspiciously present in this basement office. Outside lies the vastness of space, set to incite the feeling of falling right into it unless one pulls away from the sight in time. Or the human-sized mannequin standing motionless in one of the corners, wearing an ancient gorilla skin along with its top hat and a wide, leery, painted-on grin. It has no eyes. The pulsing, black and red veins creeping along the walls of the office and present themselves in varying sizes and thicknesses may also draw the visitor's attention. Or the seemingly harmless and somewhat misplaced looking yellow door draws them in, just there on the wall behind that coffin lying on the floor as if it belongs there. Thick chains are wrapped around it with a padlock holding them close, key stuck inside and inviting the visitor to unlock it. Just ignore the large letters carved into its wood imploring you to 'DO NOT OPEN' the casket. It'll be fine.

Yet... How tempting all of these things may be, the visitor may be unable to entirely ignore the MASSIVE EYE taking up the entire ceiling of the room, glowing an eerie green and watching their every move. Or any of the other eyes scattered around the room. The walls, the cabinets, the shelves, the side of the Archivist's desk, the corners, the floor, the Archivist's forehead. All shapes and sizes and colors and all of them watching the visitor unblinking, unjudging. Just following their every move around the room - Just as the Archivist himself does.

Maybe you want to look around, and maybe you just want to take a seat in that single empty chair before the Archivist's desk. There is just enough room between it and the casket to not feel too cramped in. As for the trap door next to the Archivist's desk... Now that one won't open just yet.
deal_me_in: (That's good right?)

what's in the box what's in the box what's in the box -ooh c4- wait no

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-03 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Well this is...cozy."

It's the nicest thing he can think of to say as he walks around, or tries to navigate the cramped space. Cayde feels like one misstep will cause a domino effect of an avalanche. He also has a nagging feeling that he's missing some important detail, but even so he takes it in stride as with everything else around the cluttered room.

Besides, there's so much to look at. Disturbing things, sure, and apparently he's not the only one doing the looking, but there's STUFF.
deal_me_in: (That moment when you think...)

Hey you're the one with the C4 just -sitting- there

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-03 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
The only reason he hasn't touched anything yet is because he can't make up his mind on what to poke at first. The fact that there are things that look like weapons are highly curious, unusual even, for someone like Jon to have. He eventually circles closer by the desk, if only to have a closer look at the stuff there.

"Heh. I know a Mister Spider. Well, there's no 'mister' about him, really," he chuckled, his eyes already roving to another thing, tugging his attention elsewhere. "This place is like some twisted museum." He turns, shoving aside that feeling again, because surely there's a reason why he's suddenly in...

The Exo slows to a stop, a scowl tugging at his metal brow. "Actually, yeah. That is a good question," he muses to himself before beginning to turn towards the Archivist behind the desk. "How'd we-"

His cloak flutters and falls again as he suddenly halts from his pivot, glowing eyes settling upon the coffin sitting there. "...you seriously need a new decorator," Cayde mutters, inching his way over to eye the words of warning carved on its lid.
theladyofwinterfell: (by your favorite song)

of course she's touching bones because death is her life

[personal profile] theladyofwinterfell 2020-06-03 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Sansa hates wandering into these rooms, hates seeing snippets of people's lives that they might never reveal otherwise. It isn't fair, to take something that should be given. This messy room seems to be Jon's and while it's packed to the brim with things of all sorts of interest, it's the rib bone that draws her interest.

Bones are no stranger to her. Death has been her life since she was a girl, starting with her lord father, and she'd been through a battle against the dead before the light came again. She'd used a dagger against wights. She'd destroyed bones come to life again.

As she draws her fingers along the curve of this bone, however, she wonders what memory it holds.
backoff: (pic#14039665)

So much clutter

[personal profile] backoff 2020-06-03 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Cloud froze in his spot as soon as he entered the room. The feeling of all eyes on you is instant and he shirks back almost instantly but tries to not bump into anything. He notices that his exit isn't behind him any longer. How could that be? He had just fallen asleep too. Was this a dream? Was he in someone else's dream? It's an odd familiar feeling that he couldn't quite place his finger on it.

The many eyes on everything seemed extreme. Cloud starts walking around the office. It's very messy and different from offices he's used to seeing. He tries to round a corner and immediately whacks against some of the cardboard boxes. "Shit!" He grabs hold of them before they start tumbling forward into anything. It takes a moment to get them rebalanced. His eyes scan the room again and this time he sees something. He spots the Archivist but he's not entirely sure what he's seeing. Cloud's mouth is partly opened and his eyes drift downward to focus on that single empty chair.

He carefully maneuvers his way around everything. It now became a goal. As Cloud gets near, he reaches out to touch and grab the empty chair ignoring the rest of the room.
deal_me_in: (We were in a meeting about something)

Can I just sign up for the blowing stuff up part

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-03 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
The Exo pauses and looks back towards Jon, grimacing. "And you kept it since then?" The book. Why would you keep a book that you saw had eaten someone. "Why don't you just burn it?"

He straightens from studying the coffin, arms akimbo as he eyes the rest of the room. "I like my trophies but this is super weird. ...sleep? I do that every now and then. Maybe that's why I can't remember how I got here. Also you've got a little..."

A hand gestures vaguely towards his own forehead. "...something...extra. Actually, a lot of extras. Did you know you have an eye problem?" He squints up at the one up top, having the immense urge to want to poke it.
backoff: (pic#14039615)

[personal profile] backoff 2020-06-04 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Cloud's fingers tighten on the back of the chair as he sees the flashes of memories. It's fuzzy and hazy on what the people were talking about to the Archivist at first. The feeling of dread sinks into him, slowly weaving its way to his gut.

There's something coming over him. Cloud's felt a similar compulsion before but it was meant to be used against his will in a different matter. He can't help but slide immediately into the chair.

"I want forgiveness from someone that's not possible anymore. I couldn't protect her. I had no control over myself." He clenches his hands into fists as they rest against his knees. Why was he giving this encounter away to the Archivist? It's fresh, it's been on his mind.
backoff: (pic#14039651)

[personal profile] backoff 2020-06-04 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Is it a dream? Cloud's been thinking that for a while. He's been in dreams that seem so real. A place where even the subconscious mind would show memories that were yours and maybe not yours depending on how split you are. Cloud's not sure why he's sharing a story with the Archivist. An encounter that he could feel that flesh burning emotion creep up to the center of his chest.

He hasn't spoken to anyone else about this matter. Not even Tifa. But that seems to be something that he does. He doesn't tell people certain things. Even friends that should be close. Cloud never told Tifa about his crush on her but being told to not come around her again burned deeply. His guilt runs deeper than this moment.

The compulsion hits and he finds himself speaking once more. Cloud could feel the sting of tears in his eyes. "I had been nothing but a puppet. Being controlled to strike down a friend. I was able to fight back. I didn't strike her down." He resisted the command. "But, she ended up dying in front of me, in my arms. There wasn't anything I could do. He still got what he wanted, even by his own hand."

He didn't know what had been lurking above. He had felt powerless to do anything but only to catch her in his arms after the fact.
deal_me_in: (I did a lot of shooting that day)

see, people know where the fun is

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-04 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's unfortunate." To everything said, really. Cayde continues to eye the big eye, but he nods as Jon responds about the eyes in question. "I mean...it's not completely weird. Knew a gal who had three eyes, one on the forehead just like you, all of 'em glowing green. I think I mentioned her before- Eris Morn? She'd be all over all this creepy stuff."

And then he looks back at Jon. "...really? How much of a headache is that? Are you checking out my butt right now? Also, if I throw something at the big one up there, will it blink?" he asks as he points up.
theladyofwinterfell: (ready for a fight)

oh boy

[personal profile] theladyofwinterfell 2020-06-05 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
"By the Old Gods and New, that's terrible," Sansa says, taking her hand from the bone. She's no stranger to pain or seeing horrible things but she's never going to be used to seeing them happen to innocent people. What she knows of Jon is a kind man, someone who doesn't want to hurt people. This isn't a person who's martial or cruel. He's someone who helps, so far as she knows.

"I've seen such things before," she admits, turning to look at him. "My...my second husband was fond of flaying people alive. I bear the scars of it but not where you'd see in my clothes normally. I'm no stranger to pain or gore but I do wonder what the purpose of it was. Why did you allow him to do such a thing?"

Sansa cannot see why it would be voluntary unless he had to do it to help someone else as a selfless act. She's keen to know the answer.
deal_me_in: (Don't know don't care)

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-05 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Now I really wanna try it," Cayde says, his own optics roving the room, perhaps for something to throw.

He pauses at the confirmation of the question he'd made in jest, glancing at the nearest eyes, and then down behind him. Then he flips the tattered end of his cloak up, giving his metal behind in its charmingly weathered chaps a smack.

"So if I poke any of those would you feel it?" Not that he's going to try. Maybe not on purpose. He begins to nose about the shelves, perhaps still in his quest to find something to throw. His head tilts back as he catches a glimpse of that strange blackness, and he can't help but begin to feel just a bit unsettled at the sensation as he stares on up at it.
deal_me_in: (I did a lot of shooting that day)

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-05 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Usually he wouldn't object to having all the attention. What makes it weird, awkward, even, is that it's so many eyes and only one person on the other end.

But all that thought's far away now, and the darkness is closing in. It's like how you can't turn away from some horrible sight no matter how much you might want to. There's just that sick need to know, as though maybe, just maybe if you do turn away, that you might miss something important. And then it's just too late.

It's familiar, and in that familiarity are a mix of emotions. There is that vein of fear, thin and running through uncertainty and resentment that he might've sprung a trap, but it's only himself to blame, and then it's nothing new. A spark of boldness, and even if he can't see himself smirking, he knows he is. Is it just darkness? He's confident he's been to worse, and nothing can snuff out his Light.
deal_me_in: (That moment when you think...)

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2020-06-06 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
Even in whatever weird dreamspace this is, he's without his partner, his Light in physical form and presence. He knows what it is to be without it, to be cut off. It's only a mild consolation that he hasn't felt like that even when brought to an unknown planet by the Agrii. But here? Seeing whatever this darkness is? It comes unsettlingly close.

Cayde may very well be trying to initiate a staring contest with the endless blackness, if only because the thought in its ridiculousness is what keeps that spark of boldness from being tamped down by the fear that maybe, just maybe he's gotten in over his head.

And then Jon's voice breaks through, giving him something else to focus on, a reminder that he's not all by himself here. The Exo forces a laugh. "See it? Ain't that all I'm seeing already? It's dark, I get it!"
backoff: (pic#14039651)

[personal profile] backoff 2020-06-06 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
"That time is a little confusing. I wasn't quite myself and myself. I felt pain, my eyes were burning, my fingers were tingling. I wasn't going to see her laugh, cry or get angry again. I was angry and upset. I couldn't protect her." Cloud knows that wasn't the first or last time. There's a lot of other times where he feels that way. But he lost someone that had been very close to Zack. He's not sure which were his actual true feelings at first. If he had known it were to happen, would he have enough time to stop it?
theladyofwinterfell: (if you fall asleep)

[personal profile] theladyofwinterfell 2020-06-06 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
"You gave of yourself to save someone you cared about. That's...that's a noble thing to do. It's a difficult thing to do, I think, and while most would say they'd do it when faced with the situation, I don't know that they'd be able to."

Sansa knows she'd endure Ramsay's knives as long as she had to as long as it meant her family was safe. She would give her body and her sanity for House Stark, if need be, and damn nearly had. She's touched that Jon would sacrifice so much for someone he cared about.

"My brother's name is Jon too, you know. He'd do something like that - he's always been excessively good."

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