New kid on the block

[ezra_of_lothal]

WHO: Ezra and anyone, shipmates especially welcome
WHERE: Network and hangar
WHAT: Introductions and settling in
WHEN: Mid Feb/first few days after Ezra arrives
WARNINGS: Some discussion of violence and body horror

.
A. Network [Video]

So, I'm new. My name's Ezra Bridger. I'm from Lothal, if you know where that is.

Mr. Vanth recommended I go by the hangar, so I'll be doing that in a little while, if you want to say hello face to face. It looks like I'm assigned to the Vanquish. Whatever that means, in a practical sense.

I guess my first question is - what needs doing around here? I have some experience scavenging and setting up base in only sort of habitable spots, but this situation doesn't quite fit anything I've done before.

How are we doing on, oh, food?

B. Hangar

He can see why people might congregate here. It's a relatively enclosed, defendable space, and the ships have systems that are probably easier to maintain than the entire infrastructure of a mostly abandoned city. And it's familiar to him, too, sharing ships about this size with a handful of people.

On the other hand, before he joined the crew of the Ghost, he'd had an entire communications tower to himself. It had taken him a while to get used to sharing a cabin with Zeb, and adjusting to all the demands of being part of a crew.

He hasn't made up his mind, which living situation he's leaning towards, here and now. He plans to pitch in, regardless, that's nothing wrong with having some space to himself again.

Once he actually lets himself onto the Vanquish, he's very open about looking around, and a little more cautious about touching than he'd been years ago, the first time he really was on a ship. Years of Hera being particular about her ship have made their mark.

Anyone he come across, he tries to shoot them a friendly smile.

Comments

[ezra_of_lothal]

You say that like coordination is a shiny new concept.

[beholding_archivist]

I say this like many tasks in this city having been handled by single individuals for the past few months. Deciding who takes care of which parts only makes sense when further people are getting involved.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ok, fair point.

Can I ask what you've been up to here, Mr. Sims?

[beholding_archivist]

[ He sighs. ]

...sometimes I am wondering that myself. At least I want to believe I'm gathering what information there is for us to acquire. That I'm bringing back some use to this old library. But a lot of the time... I have no idea.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Have a slightly worried look aimed your way, Jon.]

Collecting intel's good.

[beholding_archivist]

Which, generally, I agree with. And yet as of now knowing anything hasn't done us any good. In some cases this place even actively tries to hinder us from leaning anything new about it.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He ponders the way Jon seems personally affronted for a couple of seconds.]

Were you...some kind of investigator before you got here?

[beholding_archivist]

...in a way? I... Worked as a paranormal researcher and archivist for the past years. A lot of it came down to investigative work and information gathering.

[ Not much in the way of practical skills here required to actually rebuild a city. ]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Paranormal. What does that mean?

[beholding_archivist]

Anything that can't be explained by conventional scientific means is considered paranormal where I'm from. Things like ghosts, magical artifacts or unexplainable events.

[ezra_of_lothal]

It sounds like you study Force stuff. To me. That's just my- [He searches for the right word. Academia and intellectual rigor are not his natural wheelhouse.]

Perspective?

[beholding_archivist]

Fundamentally, that would fall under paranormal as well, yes. At least based on what I have learned about it so far.

[ No one has mentioned Midichlorians to him yet. ]

[ezra_of_lothal]

[No one's mentioned midichlorians to Ezra, either.]

You study the paranormal because you're curious? Or-

It's ok if you can't explain or don't want to. But for me, the Force simply is. Even before I knew about it, I had weird hunches and dreams that bits of would come true.

[beholding_archivist]

Oh, well. It-- It always used to fascinate me, I suppose. But I also saw another boy being devoured by an evil book when I was eight, so at the same time... I knew. I knew there is more to it and... My work only delivered more proof to a barely visible and yet very harrowing part of the world I live in.

Kind of wish I could compare it to the Force. From what Cal has told me about it... I would rather study that than actual monsters.

If I may ask... Are you a Jedi as well?

[ezra_of_lothal]

Talk of children being devoured by books makes him visibly jerk back from the communicator. He can certainly see why someone might be driven to understand more, though, having lived through that sort of experience.

"The Force can be used to make monsters, too. To seek power. To act monstrously," Ezra replies, in a hushed tone. Not evading the question, but still...he thinks that warning should be said. The Force is all things, after all.

"I am. A Jedi. I don't have the sort of training the others you've probably met to, though. There were traditions. A whole culture. By those standards, I started learning very late."

[beholding_archivist]

Well, it can, but generally it's neutral. Which means those wielding it... They have a choice.

Everything supernatural in my world is evil. Bent on bringing about one apocalypse or another. And those that find themselves marked...

[ Jon's voice drops a little, becoming a bit of a soft whisper. ]

We don't get a choice.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Ezra frowns a little.]

That seems...wrong. [He doesn't want to say Jon's understanding is wrong - whole other world, right? But it's certainly contrary to how Ezra understands how everything works, and he can't help but wonder if being 'marked', whatever that means, has skewed Jon's perspective.]

I'm sorry.

[beholding_archivist]

[ Well, Jon agrees with that assessment. Though there|s little he can do about it.

So he simply gives a slow nod in response. ]

Thanks. But... Please. Try not to worry too much about it. I am fine.

[ezra_of_lothal]

If you say so, Mr. Sims. [He does not sound completely convinced.]