02. video; un: jsims

[itknowsyou]

[ It's been months since Jon Sims was on the network, and this time, he's in the frame alone. The alleviation of Corruption couldn't come a moment too soon for this guy, apparently: he still has the haggard, hollowed-out look of a man who hasn't had a real meal in months. There's something profoundly unsettling about his eyes, which are too deep and too green. He never seems to blink. ]

Good afternoon. My name is Jonathan Sims. I am a researcher of what might be called 'the paranormal,' and... a survivor of the place known as Deerington. I've been working with several others to maintain an archive of topics and artifacts relevant to Sleepers, kept beyond the control of the Pthumerian Never Mind.

[ He doesn't even try to mask his distrust: he clearly isn't a fan of the patrons. ]

We are developing a secure location to the north of Trench, though [ impatiently ] I cannot recommend visiting without the use of traveling Lamps. The walk back to town is... not ideal.

More to the point, I am making a request for information. [ This is where he gets cagey, tense in the way of a man hiding something. ] The Archive is now undertaking an effort to create a comprehensive catalogue— a bestiary, I suppose— of recurring threats in Trench. If you have had a particularly upsetting or perilous experience with any being in this city, we would like the written record of your experience. Please submit accounts via text to this network address.

[ It's the second time he's hit the network to ask for personal stories. Those who respond might find themselves writing (or speaking) more freely than they planned to, flashing back to the memory in detail— though in this low-Corruption month, the effect isn't too intense. ]

Thank you.

Comments

[itknowsyou]

That is an ongoing area of research. [ If he sounds exasperated and kind of defeated, no points for guessing why. ] Our attempts to ward against Pthumerian influence are, frankly, scattershot at best. But our location is well away from town, and associated with a figure detached from the central pantheon: she seems to be called Mother Mercy in her current iteration, but the site was dedicated to Mother Superior in her original form.

We do not do this in her honor, to be clear.

[ tone of: fuck her. ]

txt; @anonymous

[wrenchedup]

listen im new here and all but you might wanna stop alluding to where the location is if you wanna keep it an actual secret, dude. unless you figure your friend never mind isn't always watching.

[itknowsyou]

If he's always watching, surely there's little point in secrecy. We've simply constructed an alternative to the institutions he controls in Gaze.

Which, by the way, seem to be organized on a principle of 'whatever is most annoying to the user at any given time.'

[ does jon have reasons to hate eldritch patrons beyond their shitty archiving systems: yes

does he hate them for this anyway: also yes ]

[wrenchedup]

eh, i've seen things with worse organization. it's just why make it easy if your place is actually out of his purview is all. otherwise, power to ya.

[itknowsyou]

If you have relevant skills to contribute to the ongoing effort to ward anything against Pthumerian influence, by all means. They haven't proven simple to control in any capacity.

[ not least because remina seems to think he's her special little guy ]

[wrenchedup]

naaaaah. i'm more of the observe and point shit out type. [ kinda true, but also he's working on it bro. just landed here. sheesh! ]

[itknowsyou]

Your observations have been noted.

[ another stellar welcoming effort by jonathan sims. ]

[wrenchedup]

[ it's cool, man. it's not like wrench makes it easy for people sometimes, lmfao. Anyway, enjoy this important last statement: ]

~❤

[anbaric]

I've heard mention of that one, so I didn't think so.

[ he won't rehash his ongoing distrust of nuns and nun-adjacent entities right now, but his tone when he says that one is probably a hint. ]

I don't have much to offer you in terms of experiences with beings as I've only been here for a few months, but my research into materials and wards may interest you instead.

[ he had a purpose-built fortress intended to withstand angelic power; he's off to a good start with this. ]

[itknowsyou]

[ He perks up at this, this time without the undertone of tension. ]

I would be glad to find a more consistent method of warding against Pthumerian intrusion. What we have at the moment is... slapdash would be too kind a term. As it stands, we're likely to be at their whim no matter how far from their places of power we try to go.

[ remina just thinks he's neat ]

[anbaric]

I discovered several alloys in the past that I found useful for shielding and containment. Preliminary testing has been promising, but given the work involved, it takes time. Best kept to small projects for now.

[ he'll know for certain when he gets some pthumerian blood... ]

Wards will need to be periodically refreshed but are likely the best solution. You would require a reliable source of Darkblood, of course, but anyone could be taught to apply and repair them after that.

[itknowsyou]

I'd be interested to review your work. We don't have that sort of capacity as present, but... well, I imagine it could be done.

[ He suspects that Ford Pines would cut himself open at the first opportunity to do science about it. ]

You're welcome to our workspace, once the route isn't needlessly harrowing to traverse.

[ those hellhounds, man ]

[anbaric]

Irritating, isn't it? And yet most people seem to be just fine living like this.

[ just gonna throw shade since they're commiserating about this. ]

I'll gather things together in the meantime. It benefits us all to have a place we know they have no power over.

[ he won't take advantage of that offer in the worst possible way or anything nah. ]

[itknowsyou]

Very much so.

I'll reach out once things have... settled, insofar as they ever do. Thank you.

[ this will only go well ]