[ video ]

[beholding_archivist]

...aight.

[ The video comes to life with Jon giving the camera a weary look. Though aside from his usual appearance of disheveled restlessness, he actually looks... Healthy? Like he's been having a very good meal? None of that makes him look any less concerned, however. Or less stressed. He may have gone even more grey over his own birthday. ]

So- The storm is over. And... I can't help but notice we have lost- A few of us.

[ He presses his lips into a thin line for a moment before going on. ]

No actual victims to the crash or the storm, just... [ A small gesture with his hand. ] Vanished. Their names are no longer on the network.

[ He checked. He freaking went and picked up the Communication data point to check especially for certain people but he's not going to admit how much his hands have been shaking and how long it took him to pull himself back together after seeing those names still present.

Especially one name.

A deep breath. ]

Some of those that- Left. They had information on the Atroma. And I... I never got any of that on record. I believe it might do us well to get what information is still present recorded. I ask those of you who know anything about them to find me at the former library. Yes, former. I don't think it's quite accurate anymore to refer to it that way. It's just...

[ And he shakes his head, waving the matter off dismissively before muttering. ]

...hope everyone's alright.

[ A pause, and another deep breath and he turns the video off with a soft click. ]


[ PRIVATE to Tony ]

[ -but he's really just setting the feed to a locked frequency before losing his nerves on a public broadcast. ]

Talk to me, please. I couldn't find you in the storm, I-- I... I was worried... Still am. Please tell me you're okay!

Comments

[Audio]

[out_of_order]

...Jon?

[His voice sounds a little hoarse, and he's not sure if it's from the yelling or just not having had something to drink, much less eat in... He's not sure. He's lost track. Even now he's hesitant about the voices he hears, except this one is not only familiar, but lacking in the relentless accusations. It brings sad news, but it's an odd comfort all the same.]

[Audio]

[beholding_archivist]

Cal, how-

Are you alright...?

[ Echo as said he has left Cal with the shuttle, but Jon hasn't been able to find his way back there. ]

[Audio]

[out_of_order]

[There's a sigh in relief.]

I'm-

...I've been better. But it's over now, like you said.

[Will it ever really be though? He sounds like he's trying to convince himself.]

[text text text]

[in_extremis]

[This response doesn't come as quickly as his usual texts, and maybe he could have used that time to actually answer, but]

Library?

[text]

[beholding_archivist]

[ As much as he hates using text, Jon has little motivation to change the setting. Instead he's just glad about the response. ]

that's where i am

[ As much as he wants to argue that he just said he doesn't think it's a fitting name for it anymore, he's not in the mood to type that. ]

basement

[text]

[in_extremis]

[Much faster this time, before Jon can even send the follow up, nothing to deliberate over:]

On my way.

[That part is going to take him a while, though. Try not to fall asleep before he gets across town. He hasn't been in the basement yet, and today he is not eager to test his limits of new experiences.]

[ video ] »

[geomagnetically]

Greaaaaat, so still the same routine of even when everything is going to shit in one way, we still don't get a break in another way. I might not have known who's missing now, but damn, we're all still at least similar by the fact we were brought here, if nothing else. I'm leaving this place a questionable review on Yelp, I swear to god.

[a beat, then:]

Anyway. Are you — okay?

[ video ]

[beholding_archivist]

Ah- I... I'm fine. It's been... Exhausting for all of us.

[ But he still thinks he's been faring better than others due to what he is.

He gives a little sigh. ]

Still the same, yeah. Just... Now we know it's not the Agrii doing any of this, I suppose. They... They try to help.

[geomagnetically]

"Exhausting" is probably an understatement, but yeah, for surrrre it is. I guess I never really thought to think the Agrii were responsible for it; like, I always got a confused accidental-middle-man kinda vibe from them, if that makes sense?

[Video]

[deal_me_in]

[It's the question he doesn't want to ask, but he has to know.]

...who'd we lose.

[But then he already knows one's gone, given that there ship had been without a pilot when that silent siren song brought them aboard, but they'd had little time to think about it.]

[Video]

[beholding_archivist]

Cloud is gone.

...so is Sansa. And her son...

[ And while he is glad to hear mother and son weren't separated, Jon is yet wondering about what happened to the child and if it was actually sent back with his mother or just... Disappeared. Entirely. ]

Also Chikai...

[ Some others he hasn't spoken to himself. ]

[Video]

[deal_me_in]

[The Exo's eyes shutter just slightly at the names. He knows two more than the one and her son, but it still leaves an empty feeling. Cloud and Chikai, he'd gotten along well with them. Cloud reminded him of people he knew back home, and Chikai managed to have a sense of humor despite the things that were going on.]

...oh.

Text [Because it's damn faster]

[doubled_speed]

Yo nerd. Where are you. I need paper and a pen. Promised to give ya stories, didn't I?

Text [which takes him a lot longer]

[beholding_archivist]

[ After some delay because ugh, typing... ]

where would i be but the place that used to be a library?

[doubled_speed]

dude just audio back you
why is it used to be?

[Video]

[wearingthestars]

[Billy, conversely, is not looking too great, but he looks relieved to see Jon.]

Who's missing?

[Video]

[beholding_archivist]

Cloud, Sansa, Chikai...

[ There may be names he isn't acutely missing simply to not having met those people. But... Yeah.

A pause. ]

It's nice to see you, Billy.

[Video]

[wearingthestars]

Oh... [Billy winces a little, making a note to check in with Wanda and Tommy when he can.]

Yeah, it's...been a bit. You okay? I kind of...lost track of everyone during the storm.

[Audio]

[heeeyadora]

Glad you're not one of the people who went missing or...whatever.

[Audio]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Well, this brings a small smile to his face. ]

I'd miss you as well, Catra.

[Audio]

[heeeyadora]

Don't read into it or anything.

[It's not like she likes you or anything.]

[action?]

[seeingscarlet]

[He has a point, but Wanda would really rather just hide away. He'd seen her at such a low point...it's kind of embarrassing to have to face a relative stranger afterwards.

But she could disappear tomorrow too, so...this isn't about her.

She jams her hands in her pockets so she can't fidget, takes a deep breath, and heads in side.]

Hey. You wanted to talk?

[action!]

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon is somewhere between those tall and empty shelves, going through a stack of tapes and setting certain ones aside for reasons that may only make sense to him at this point when he hear the telltale sound of footsteps entering the library. It's a sound that is bound to draw his attention and lure him out from between those shelves, which he manages in time to spot Wanda the very moment she speaks up, apparently calling for him. ]

Oh. H-hey!

[ For a moment he looks concerned, clearly picking up on her anxiety and Jon steps forward. Rather than answering her question right away, he inclines his head at her. Oh, he remembers how they have met. It hasn't been an easy situation for her. ]

Are you alright?

text;

[sinistral]

[...a definitely, very conspicuously, late text.]

What did you want to know?

Jon sticks with voice because he's an old man and takes ages to do texts

[beholding_archivist]

Anything you can share, if possible.

[ It's not like they really have any gathered information to speak of at all. ]