revivalproject | Strange Noises & Too Many Legs

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Strange Noises & Too Many Legs

WHO: Jon, Tony, Cal, Cayde & probably YOU? (some closed and an open prompt in here)
WHERE: Not!Library, Safehouse, Control Shed
WHAT: Giant spiders are invading the city and one Archivist doesn't have a good time.
WHEN: Spider Invasion Event thingie
WARNINGS: violence, injuries, idiocy, possibly huge spiders? No mothcats are being hurt.

Day 1 - Not!Library [ closed to Cal, later Tony ]

"Countess! S-stop it-- C-Countess!! I- OW!" Jon tries to duck from a set of clawed paws coming down on his head again, carried by a pair of fluttering wings before the winged feline with its long, feathered tail pushes away again with an agitated hiss and lands on the side of a nearby shelf, wings and feathers spread open wide while she hisses in a display of intimidation and fury. Jon looks up at the animal from where he has tried to crouch down in confusion, unsure what to make of the situation.

And he thought it would just be another, well... Day. But apparently the creature that has taken to live in the library as well has decided it doesn't agree with his presence or something. Haven't they been getting along just fine?

He carefully raises a hand towards the mothcat, attempting to calm her down again. "Look. I- I know you like to nap between these shelves, but I- W-well. Sometimes I have to walk between them? We both live he--AHHH!!" No, he doesn't even get to finish his sentence before the Countess pounces onto his hand and arm and sink claws as well as teeth into it viciously and tearing that scream of shock and pain from the Archivist.

Day 2 onward - Safehouse [ OPEN ]

When Jon wakes up, everything hurts. His head, his toes and everything between those parts. Heck, even his teeth hurt. It takes him a moment longer to realize another thing: He is alive. And that's the thought that really pushes itself into the foreground when he finally opens his eyes to figure out where exactly he is waking up.

The following days Jon remains at the safehouse. To recover and also gather information about what is going on, whether it be over the network by replying to people, or from those stepping by the safehouse themselves. Even though it quickly becomes obvious that its service is only really needed during the night. At the same time it's winter in Temba and the nights are clearly longer than the days and even the strongest among their group will need a night without having to deal with massive spiders every once in a while.

And so Jon will offer company for now. And maybe information. And maybe, maybe he can figure out what's the reason for all these spiders to suddenly attack the city...

Towards end of event - Control Shed [ closed to Tony & Cayde ]

It has been a quick audio message: 'I believe this is our fault. Has either of you noticed the countdown stopping? Meet me at the control room.'

Sending the message has been quicker than walking all the way back to the tower while still not fully recovered. Jon does his best to hide the limp, though, and he hopes they can get this fixed before it gets dark again and they end up getting attacked while stuck in that little shed that hardly offers any protection at all.

Jon makes a point to carefully avoid the nearby tower's area of effect when heading back to the hidden little building, pretty much expecting the other two to already be there by the time he arrives.

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Obi-Wan also recoils as he feels something, pulling his hand back as if he too had been stung. The Jedi blinking in astonishment and confusion, yet he puts his hands back on Jon's shoulders to hold him steady now that he was up and clearly confused.

"Easy there. You were attacked, but you're safe now. We pulled you out of there. However, you have been injured and need to rest."

He then put his hand to Jon's forehead and attempted to use his healing again. Hopefully to clear his mind and begin to repair any head injuries he had sustained. Whatever that was he felt could have just been some sort of defense mechanism that the man had upon waking up the way he did. Hopefully if he kept him calm it wouldn't happen again.

While the information he is given is slowly being unwrapped and made sense off, Jon connects the voice to a person he has spoken to before. Ben Kenobi. The Jedi Master. Telling him he has been... Oh. Right.

Right.

Jon closes his eyes again, blocking out the fuzziness of his vision for a moment when he feels the hand against his forehead again. But before he can try uttering a thanks in the man's direction, he feels another jab of pain, less severe this time, but very distinct. It has him flinch away with a small, distraught noise, opening one eye to glance up at the hand and reach up carefully to gently nudge it away. "P-please. Whatever you are doing- Don't." He inhales deeply, then adds with a lower, tired tone. "...I don't think it works on me the way it's meant to."

He feels it too, and pulls away with the gentle nudging. A concerned frown on his face.

"I'm sorry. I admit that's never happened before in my experience."

He was trying to help, but he gets the feeling that Jon knows that. Thus he puts his hands down and simply sits next to the fellow. Looking him over with a careful eye. He seems to be relatively alright at least. Nothing too serious.

"Y-yeah, I... I'm sorry about that." Jon responds, looking at least a little uncomfortable. "I suppose this usually works on... Well. People."

He pauses after that, then inhales, and nods, offering a small smile regardless. "I appreciate the attempt. I really do." It's the truth. A very simple truth. "Thank you."

Though Jon doesn't let them linger there. "You are like Cal. A Jedi. What you did was... It was something to do with the Force, I assume."

That was an odd thing to say, and Obi-Wan gave him an equally odd look.

“Yes, that’s right.”

It doesn’t surprise him to be compared to Cal. Those here seemed to have a basic knowledge of the Jedi thanks to him. It’s because of that, that Obi-Wan hasn’t hidden what he is. Only who he is. He still was unsure about giving out his real name.

“Though what about you? Are you saying you’re not a person?”

He looked perfectly human to Obi-Wan, but looks could be deceiving. Plus he didn’t feel quite right in the Force.

“Are you one of those... mutants?”

Edited 2021-01-31 03:56 (UTC)

The Archivist's head comes up in surprise, eyes blinking twice before his words stumble initially over his reply. "O-oh. N-no. I- I am not. I... I mean, yes. Yeah. I am a person? I mean. I suppose. I just..." He cuts himself off, then shakes his head lightly and tries again, shrinking back a little where has been settled. "...I don't think I'm entirely human anymore? That... May be interfering. I'm not one of the mutants, though. We don't have those in my world..."

He trails off and lets the matter sit for a moment, raising his eyes back up to regard the other man for a moment. He has meant to ask about this for a while. Well. Not ask, but... Ask. "Your... You username. On the network. It doesn't match with the name you have been introducing yourself with. I have been wondering if that's due to an error or..." He gives a short, non-descriptive gesture with one hand. He won't mention that he hasn't been the only one wondering, though.

Maybe neither topic is currently ideal, but what is left is talking about massive spiders invading the city. And sure no one wants to think about that.

Ben’s brow creases in confusion as Jon stumbles over his words. The mam didn’t seem to know what he was and he wasn’t sure what to make of that. There seemed to be quite a few people here who were human and yet not, according to them. It was all very strange to the Jedi.

Though as the other “man” changes the topic, Ben visibly stiffens.

“What username? What are you talking about?”

If he had been able to see it then he had apparently not noticed. Were people somehow seeing his real name on the network without him knowing it? That was a bit of a disturbing thought.

In all fairness, Jon isn't exactly certain anymore what he is at this point. Though he still wants to refuse to refer to himself as a monster. Helen may be fine with that and readily embrace her new role and powers, but Jon isn't too keen on causing anyone harm as far as he can prevent doing so.

His attention still rests on Kenobi, even as he shifts to pull out his phone and scroll through the network to show the man his own appearance on it, then tap a small symbol at the top. This opens up a small field with the name Obi-Wan Kenobi written in it. "Cal has been using that name as well when I asked him whether he knew a Ben Kenobi." Glancing away from the screen and back at the Jedi, not missing the uneasiness in him at the information. Right. So there is more. A secret... A terrible, terribly tempting secret.

Jon inhales, forcibly pushing the hunger aside. "I... I can tell there is a story behind this. But I won't force you to tell me. Kind of want to, though. Won't lie about that. It has... Been a while. Still think you might want to know about this. And that I can change this for you. If you need it changed. I have the data point for that."

Leaning over to look at the screen, Obi-Wan let out a long sigh as he saw his own name there.

“The Tooka is out of the bag isn’t it?”

It was pointless to deny anything now and he sat back with a grim expression on his face.

“Knowing Cal as you do, and about the Jedi, then you’re surely aware of the situation in our galaxy. I changed my name to protect myself, not to deceive anyone. Unlike a young Padawan, anyone who knows anything about the Jedi would recognize my name as I was a part of the leading council. One of only two members left.”

"Tooka...?" Jon asks out of pure reflex, a small, yet notable amount of his compulsion trickling along his words, resulting in a small wince upon realization before Jon quickly attempts to wave his own words off. This world is just full of things unknown to him he would love to learn more about.

Then he nods, expression turning grim. "I am aware, yes. I... Saw. Some of his memories... Projections of them. It's been a while ago, but it taught me about the war your people were made to fight in - And how it ended." Jon still assumes that the only reason Cal didn't get any nightmares from this is due to him not having told Jon any of these events directly, but that he instead witnessed them in those replays.

"I'm sorry all of that happened. And as I already said, I can change your name on the network if that helps you."

“Well if you have seen it, I’m sure others have as well.”

Thus there may not be any point to it.

“I have no concern with anyone here currently. Though if anyone from our galaxy can be brought here, including Sith Lords, that may not last. I will simply have to face that. Though I would prefer they not know I am here before I have the chance to know they are and prepare myself.”

Jon gives a small nod. "A few probably have. Myself, I was curious. Due to Cal's words." Little things such as that can make an Archivist curious, indeed. But so does part of what the Jedi Master says next, earning a small frown from Jon.

"We had a Sith Lord around until a while ago. He used to take care of the hospital." But the Ciss has returned to being an emperor as it seems.

“So I’ve heard. Also that he wasn’t ‘that bad’.”

There was definitely skepticism in the Jedi’s voice as he said the last part.

“The Jedi and Sith have a history going back thousands of years, though they had been thought extinct for a long time until my generation when they revealed themselves again. One of them kept himself hidden and appeared to be a good man and a great leader. Until he destroyed everything I held dear. So I’m sure you can understand that I can’t trust a single one of them.”

"...right. I... Believe he mentioned something about those differences. Though he genuinely appeared to care." In his own way, at least. Now what Jon has known about Altair and the Sith is admittedly not much and there is still the matter of that little dispute he had with the Force user. And now? He has to weigh the words of this man against what he recalls from the Sith Lord.

Letting out a slow breath, Jon closes his eyes and leans back, suddenly feeling tired. He remains unwilling to submit to that exhaustion just now, though.

Instead, he nods. "I can understand that, yes. And... I will contact you. In case I come across another Sith being brought here. just as I let Cal know about your presence."

“I would appreciate that, thank you. I have no wish to bring any of our disputes here. Quite the opposite. However, I will defend myself and Cal should the need arise.”

Obi-Wan then pauses as he clearly sees how tired Jon is. It is to be expected after his ordeal. Plus the topic wasn’t exactly an easy one.

“Anyhow, you should rest. You have been through quite a bit today and will need to regain your strength. Is there anything I can bring you?”

Jon gives a nod, along with a small smile. "I won't let Cal come to harm, either. But... It's reassuring to know someone is here now he recognizes and can trust."

At the Jedi's request, the Archivist pauses. But it only lasts briefly before he tries to look around the room a little more closely. "Ah... A- Tape recorder? I had mine with me and... I hope it's alright? Aside from that one there may be another around? Maybe?" He definitely sounds hopeful.

Obi-Wan mirrors that small smile, glad to see that Cal has formed some friendships among those here. Hopefully he could manage to do the same. "It's reassuring to have another of my kind here as well. I never thought I would have that opportunity again."

He then blinks at Jon's request, not one that he had expected. "A what recorder?" Obi-Wan isn't really sure what that is. But he then reaches down to unhook something from his belt and holds it up. "Would this be it? It was found next to you."

"I believe it must be a relief." Jon nods slowly, but his expression lights up at the sight of his recorder. Sure, it may have a few new bumps and scratches, but he already knows that it will work just fine. Or at least he has hopes. These things don't break easily. "That's it! That's my recorder. Thank god it's not lost."

As he reaches to take the device from the Jedi, Jon inclines his head a little. "I take it you don't use magnetic tape in your world. Admittedly, they are a little outdated on my Earth as well. But I... Kind of rely on them." And there actually may be a stray one tucked away in a corner in this room, dutifully recording away as this conversation takes place.

"No, we make recordings in other ways. Usually in the form of holograms."

The Jedi smiled lightly though at Jon's relief that his recorder was not lost. It was clearly important to him, and Obi-Wan was glad that they didn't leave it behind.

"Rely on them? In what way? What is it that you record?"

He can't imagine it being of a whole lot of use out here, with all of the broken technology and all. Plus what would there be worth recording?

Jon gives a small nod while making a small noise of being appropriately impressed. "H-huh. Quite advanced technology, I take it. I probably shouldn't be surprised? Given that I have met BD-1 and... Well. Saw some of Cal's memories." He falls silent at the reminder, fingers tapping pensively against the small device in his lap, eyes dropping down on it as well before he gives a small shrug.

"I record.... Many things, these days. Observations, thoughts, experiences... Though much more significantly I rely on this outdated piece of technology to avoid starving while not having access to my Archive." Right. He had wanted to be honest about these things.

It was all making sense until the part about not starving. That earns Jon an odd look. Here he thought this man was a scientist or something. But the mention of an Archive and not starving without it makes his mental gears grind to a hault.

“What do you mean?”

That’s all he can think to ask in that moment.

It's a justified question and Jon simply nods while his hands never let go of his recorder.

"In my home world there are... Beings- Entities. Evil entities feeding on the fears and trauma of those living on my Earth. Some liken them to gods and- W-well. They don't exactly exist in my world, but rather... Next to it. Lingering just outside of reality and unable to fully manifest in it. These beings, they... They have their avatars to help feed them. People that somehow got too close to them. Some willingly, others entirely unprepared."

Jon pauses there, keeping his eyes on the other man despite the lacking glasses leaving him with a somewhat blurry image. He continues after a soft exhale. "I am one of these avatars - Or rather still in the process of fully becoming one. Specifically I serve the one known as the Eye, also called Beholding or the Ceaseless Watcher. It thrives on watching, learning and knowing too much. What this means for me is, I feed on other people's traumatic experiences. Relive them, to a degree. And to prevent having to hurt anyone here?" He raises the recorder. "I listen to prerecorded accounts."

Listening quietly, Obi-Wan keeps his expression carefully neutral. Though inwardly hearing these things gives him chills. Anything that fed off of fears and trauma could only be described as evil in his book. Yet this man didn’t quite strike him as that. It’s very peculiar. But then, he had seen evil men disguise themselves as someone who only had good intentions in mind.

“I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but that sounds horrific.”

The Jedi sat back and frowned thoughtfully at Jon.

“That must be what I feel in you. I assume you didn’t come to this fate by your own choice.”

"It is horrific." Jon replies with a short nod and a sigh before adding, voice weary. "But- That's pretty much the point, isn't it. They're... Fears. Brought into existence due to living beings being afraid. There's nothing good about any of them." at the last couple of words, his eyes fall back on the recorder.

"And I'm afraid I can't exactly claim none of what I became has been my choice. Not anymore. My choices have always been my own and ultimately they set me on this path. No, initially I didn't know what is going on, but I always had the choice to turn away rather than to keep pursuing answers. But at one point I... I made a conscious choice. Or- Well. As conscious as a choice can be when you're in a coma, I suppose. But I know I made the choice to not die, but become something else." A monster, by lack of better description.

“I can agree with that. Fear leads to terrible things, and preying on the fears of others is only worse.”

Obi-Wan went quiet though as Jon elaborated. A lot of this was difficult for him to understand, but the talk of choice struck a bit of a chord with and he nodded slowly.

“I see. If you don’t mind my asking, why did you make those choices? Do you regret it?”

Strange Noises & Too Many Legs

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