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Network | Video

[From the first moment the video is on, it's clear Reeve hasn't had NEARLY enough sleep. But isn't that just his way? Still, he looks positively exhausted today, and the video includes Mini-C pushing a cup of something steaming to Reeve's hand. The man doesn't even seem to notice as he lifts it and takes a hearty sip before starting.]

Good afternoon all. I would like to let everyone know that through the diligent work of several individuals here, power has been restored to a larger portion of the city. Please extend your thanks to Tony, Echo, and Cal for all their hard work.

[Reeve himself does not wish thanks. He just wishes to keep working.]

There have been some issues, of course. There are, as always, issues with breaks in the power supply network. Therefore we ask for your help and feedback. If there are buildings you are finding have issues with power supply, please advise me, or drop a physical message at the Restoration Committee building, just south east of the fountain. There are likely areas we still need to work on power lines to, and it will take time for us to survey to figure out where they are.

Also, I would like to offer myself as assistance to anyone whose ship currently lacks an engineer. I've been trying to do what I can for the damage in our crash landing, however I've only been able to deal with external issues on the ships I cannot access.

[Another long sip of his water.]

Of course, with water and power in a better place now than it was when we arrived, my question becomes what projects of comfort we might turn to here in Temba. Yes, I know our greater goal of returning home, but I find myself in need of projects.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Who said Archivists should know everything? As Jon talks, Reeve goes to dig out the tea. No, this is important. The man could use something nice and warm to hold, even if he chose not to drink it.]

So I'm hearing Archivist with a capital there, correct? It's some sort of title, some role, perhaps one that endows you with that power you used to compel things from me. That seems a heavy enough burden, without the world attempting to tear itself apart. At least here I hope you are momentarily free of those stressors.

[He starts water boiling, and Mini comes in from the other room with a second mug and spoon. Helpful little guy.]

Are these avatars truly bound to the will of those forces they are tied to?

Feed your god or be fed on.

That’s how an avatar of the Desolation put it. In a way, I suppose, we truly are bound. But these entities.... They don’t exactly have a will of their own, or- I don’t think they have? They are fears. Any decisions made by their avatars are still their own, but.... Their priorities, their needs seem to be influenced. Some undergo very drastic changes, to the point where they lose all that is left of their humanity. It’s.... Disconcerting.

[ There is a small pause here. When exactly has he slumped down on this chair...?

Jon shrugs. ]

Tony suggests that those claimed, those... Chosen by the entities... That they were already leaning towards certain behaviors and that becoming an avatar really only amplifies them. And in many ways... He seems to have a point.

But... Yes. That’s the source of... Of my compulsion. Which, I admit... could have gone more painful for both of us.

[ He seems to shrink just a little. ]

...went pretty badly with the Graq.

[The water starts to heat and Reeve sets the rest of the fixings up, with Mini bringing back sugar to offer Jon. He considers all of what he's told quite seriously.]

I am glad it was not more painful. And I hope to avoid further pain. Do you... wish to speak fo the Graq?

[If not, he will move to talking about something else. Something to try and distract the man from the stress of his world.

[ Jon somewhat absently follows what|s going on, his attention more on the robot cat than on Reeve and taking the sugar from the doll and setting it on the table with a small nod more to prevent it from being dropped rather than make use of it. ]

The Graq? I hurt a few of them. Tried to forcefully pull information from their minds that was never there. Injured them as much as myself in the process - And that's why they attacked. That's why everything went wrong. They still hate me.

Ah.

[In a way he understands. They had all been desperate. Had all been trying to survive.]

You couldn't know that they didn't know. You didn't know what it would cause. Not that it forgives everything but I can understand the choice.

[Mini gives Jon a look, or tries to convey one with his posture. Not approving. Jon had been rude.]

You were trying to protect us all. Thank you.

[ Jon shakes his head, not paying Mini much mind. He can be rude, alright. That’s nothing new. He got plenty complaints for his behavior when he was simply doing his job. ]

No. I knew about the effects a forceful extraction can have on a person. And as much as I wish to claim my actions were made to... Protect anyone... No. All I wanted was answers to that growing pile of questions. I wasn’t satisfied with what information I had already drawn out.

[Mini was still upset, and the doll didn't much know how to forgive yet. Hadn't had to. Reeve was trying to focus on the pouring water and getting tea steeping to pass them over to Jon.]

Ah. I see. I suppose I can understand the frustration and fear. It was a bad situation. I've seen it before, desperation to try and know things. My friends have been like that before.

[ The tea receives a small frown, but Jon still accepts it, if only out of politeness. He doesn't have to drink it. ]

Doesn't make my actions any more acceptable. All they did was showcase a lack of control. A control I should possess. This- Is what the entities I mentioned do to those they claim. Other cases are much more severe, much more gruesome than mine.

[Jon, please, be civil. This is all over Tony, who Reeve has not laid an untoward hand on in more than half a year. He has been a good boy for more than half of the time that Reeve and Tony have been guests of the Agrii. Just drink the damn tea.]

Were you a more self-controlled man before you became connected to the entities?

[ Look, he may try a sip once it has an acceptable drinking temperature, but for now he’ll just hold it. Trying not to wonder where it has lingered... ]

...unless I was drunk.

Or angry... or both.

[ Or frustrated. Don’t make him too aware of his temper. ]

[Warmth is good. And Reeve has often found sipping at a drink a good way to stall for time to answer things.]

I see. So it was through connection with them that what you were has been corrupted. There were no few men like that in my world. It was troublesome indeed. Still, you clearly have more control over yourself and your will than Sephiroth ever did.

Well, I try.

[ Which us said with a somewhat stubborn exhale, hands closing around the mug. ]

I may not always be successful, but I- I want to believe I am getting better at it. Because I refuse to become someone’s tool to destroy my world. I- I refuse to become an actual monster.

If I might ask, Jon... Is your greater power still in touch with you here, so to speak? Or are you more free?

[If it's the latter it's a situation where Jon can come to be in more control. Which could give him power control back home, make him stronger. Perhaps even help his world survive a bit longer.]

[ Jon glances up from his tea, and looks around for a moment, eyes searching until he spies the recorder on a nearby shelf, dutifully recording away and clearly not having been there a few minutes ago. ]

It... Keeps an eye on me, even here, yes. I assume it wants to make sure I don't die while away from the Archive.

[Oh Jon, you poor thing. Reeve, of course, doesn't even notice the thing.]

Does it feel closer, or more distant? Perhaps if it's more distant, you have hope. You deserve hope.

[Everyone needs hope.]

Oh, it never felt particularly close. It's just... A nagging. At the back of your mind. A distinct feeling of being watched.

[ He gets up from his seat, leaving his tea for a moment to head over to the shelf and pick up the recorder, almost carefully, then carry it back to the table and sit back down before putting the softly whirring device down between the hot mug and the gauntlet. Jon doesn't bother to turn it off, simply returns his hands to the tea. ]

That's what it is... The Eye. Beholding. The Ceaseless Watcher.

[Reeve looks at the recorder and makes a curious sound.]

How strange. Where did that come from? I don't remember any old devices like that here. I wouldn't even know how to make the cassette.

They show up because of me. Follow me around, in a way. Have been doing so for a few years now. Here? It's actually come in pretty handy.

[ And he reaches over at last to turn the recorder off, then remove the tape from the deck. ]

Kind of need these for my own recordings.

Intriguing...

[Reeve reaches for the recorder and then freezes. No. That would be rude.]

If there are those that you do not require the recording device of, Might I have them? The wires and other parts can be useful.

[ Jon simply nudges the recorder towards Reeve. Go ahead. Take it. ]

If you wish to scavenge anything from them, you will have to do so before they disappear again. The recorders never stay around for long. This world may be limiting the Eye's reach after all, just in its own way. Any tapes I took from them are sill around, however.

[ A small mercy. They contain the majority of his food. ]

Oh dear. Not long?

[That worries Reeve, and he's immediately going to grab some tools to start taking it apart.]

Have you ever tested to see if they stick around if they are in pieces? Or might they disappear too?

[ He shakes his head. ]

Never tried. Might be that this place lets us keep what we can gather in what time we have. We... Never checked if these have batteries, by the way. No one at the Archive ever dared to open the compartment to avoid that particular answer. But given that I never had to change the ones of the recorder I came here with, I... Doubt there are any.

So I might be crazy here.

[Which Reeve has no problem with taking an improvised screw driver to the device to start taking it apart. This is exciting.]

We can test it empirically. I can't wait to see what happens.

[Yes, Reeve might be a very stupid smart person.]

[ Well, Jon won't stop him. He will just take a slow sip of tea while watching, feeling a rather familiar curiosity setting in and raising a single brow at a crackle of electricity running over the recorder. Which is definitely more than a pair of batteries would be providing. Is the Eye being... Dramatic? ]

I feel like- If it were not fine with us looking, the recorder had already vanished by now.

Oh dear, if it approves, this almost feels horrible.

[And yet, scientific minds must know. He lifts the cover off, now that he has screws out. Please let the screws stay, those would be hard for even Tony to machine.

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