( text )

[optikon]

[ he's spent his time since arrival largely in a sort of traumatized fugue, locked in his bedroom in the housing he was provided, probably alarming and upsetting his housemates. if martin were here, he'd have probably already adjusted-- gently bullying jon into cleaning up, feeding him tea, making him sleep. holding him when the nightmares started. .. jon likes to think that he doesn't take martin for granted any longer, and hasn't in months, but.. god, it's so hard not having him here.

still, he'd begun slowly to get himself together, even to make a foray or two onto the network to learn what he could. and now.. now he needs to address the metaphorical elephant in the room. ]

My name is Jonathan Sims. At home, I was the head archivist of an organization called the Magnus Institute, which is an academic institution dedicated to researching the esoteric and paranormal. [ which is.. true, in that he was the archivist.. before the end of the world. ] With that said, the archives took, researched, and filed statements from those that had paranormal experiences they wished to unburden themselves of.

As it appears that I'll be working in a similar capacity here, I'd like to continue my work from home. Therefore, if you're interested in committing your personal experience(s) to paper or to email, I'd be glad to collect them. However, please don't record them in audio or video format.

If you'd like to discuss the details of what that entails, I'll answer any questions I can. Thank you.


[ ooc; anyone in maurtia falls 006 may also find their secretive hobo-gremlin housemate finally out of his room, showered and looking like he's in withdrawal as he attempts to make tea in the kitchen for himself without shaking to pieces. good luck with that. ]

Comments

Text

[lootsnshoots]

Wait, so why no audio/video? Are you of the opinion that text is spookier? 'Cause I beg to differ.

[optikon]

[ normally, he'd make up a reason, or just shut it down and insist. apparently he doesn't need to do so here, though, given what he's been told and what he's learned. ]

It's a complication with my [ ugh he hates this word. ] powers.

And it has nothing to do with being 'spooky'. Statements collected will be used for research purposes only. [ .. and to feed him. ]

Text;

[detectivedwloki]

I'd like to see those archives myself.

[optikon]

Well, they certainly didn't arrive with me. As I collect new statements for a new archive, you're welcome to access them with a legitimate statement of research.

[aeva]

( she'd seen the post go up, had heard the movement from his room and it had made her smile, glad that he was finally emerging. she'd read over his request, keeping her book in her hand in a pretense that her leaving her room wasn't because of him, pausing just outside of the kitchen when she speaks )

It's nice to properly meet you, Mr Sims. ( her book is held to her, gentleness in her expression ) My name's Mrs Sheringham.

( even if she'd already told him through the door )

[optikon]

[ he doesn't jump, but only because he'd sort of prepared himself to run into someone, and she's.. tried to speak to him several times. even so, he has to set the mug down hastily anyway, because he knows-- he Knows there's something more to her. she feels.. other. he can almost see the shape of it in her, so he keeps his eyes turned away and his focus turned inward.

he won't. he won't take it from her, no matter how hungry he is, no matter how the eye looms over him. .. he wonders how long that determination will last. ]

Yes, well. I-- I apologize, I had some trouble.. adjusting. [ that's certainly one way of putting it.

he doesn't offer out a hand--considering the burn-scarring, it would probably be off-putting anyway--in fact, doesn't move at all for a few moments, skinny shoulders hunched inward and glasses sliding down his nose. at last he dares a half-glance up, static pulsing briefly across the surface of his eyes, then turns away to carefully pick up the mug again. ]

I'll.. replace the tea when I've had my first check, Mrs Sheringham. [ it's not the way martin makes it, but it's.. enough. ] .. Thank you for leaving dinner. I'm sorry that I was too unwell to eat it.

permavid b/c grandma types bad

[killtime]

So, you're what — a ghost-hunting librarian?

he's been missing another granny in his life..

[optikon]

[ .. ugh. ]

No. It's up to other departments in the Institute to do that sort of legwork. In the archives, we verify the names, locations, and sometimes artifacts/etc in statements. I intend to do similar work here as I can.

text;

[constantdick]

paranormal, eh?

how do you feel about demons?

[optikon]

[ demons. demons. that.. sounds as impossible as it sounds interesting. religion has always seemed to be encompassed by the dark in his world, though there's a strong possibility of the stranger, as well, isn't there?

no, no. stop trying to classify by your own understanding, jon. it could be nothing at all. ]

I feel as if demons would be quite at home in such an archive. Why? Do you have a statement involving them?

[by_candlelight]

You may need to qualify what you mean by paranormal. Also whether you mean paranormal by your world's standards, this world's standards, or the standards of each person's own world.

By my own world's standards, gods are supernatural, but not paranormal. And I think supernatural studies in my world are taken way more seriously than in most, because it's a literal scientific field with actual evidence and stuff. Paranormal studies is a different thing that is taken a lot less seriously. Or, well, okay the terms used in my language are different, but a lot of English texts use supernatural one way, and paranormal another way, so I'm hoping I'm understanding the linguistic differences appropriately. Anyway, gods aren't even a confirmed thing in this world, so you can probably see how definitions would be useful? I've also seen the two words used interchangeably in this world, which leaves me even more unsure of what counts and what doesn't.

[optikon]

I would suggest one refer to a dictionary for the official definition, ask questions about suitability, or if one is so inclined, present the statement in question with the understanding that it may or may not be included in the archives.

This is an informal request on a very informal imPort network. Statement questionnaires, which are available digitally upon request, have more in depth information.

[ text ] » ID: Wanda Maximoff

[divaricate]

Paranormal experiences here or in our original worlds'?Also, do you mean "paranormal experiences they wished to unburden themselves of" in a mind-wipe kind of way, or just a 'stop keeping it to yourself and spit it out' way?

[optikon]

Both. Obviously it's impossible to verify those experienced in other worlds, but even unverified accounts have merit.

I mean it in a cathartic way. Some people find the act of giving a statement to be therapeutic, though it's certainly not sanctioned therapy and I'm not any sort of counselor.

text;

[cantgetanyworse]

What a fascinating line of work! Would you mind if I asked you a little about it, in exchange for my own personal experiences?

I'd be interested in hearing more about what you want to know.

[optikon]

Thank you.

If you have specific questions, I can do my best to answer them.

action, hey roomie (both Knowing and compelling are 100% okay)

[crimsonunion]

[While Ryuko stumbles out of her room in Maurtia Falls #006 looking like she got run over with a truck just before noon, her disheveled appearance is due to the fashion-killing double threat of teenagerhood and vigilantism, not... whatever the hell Jon has going on, she wouldn't know.

She shuffles into the kitchen in boxers and a loose-fitting tee, yawning as she puts on a pot of coffee to boil. Ryuko doesn't even seem to process Jon's presence until she the pot is ready, and she takes it by the handle and starts chugging directly from it, sending a stream of scalding-hot coffee straight down her throat.

That's when she notices Jon.

Ryuko squints at him, as if issuing a challenge to question her life choices.] What.

[(He can practically smell the trauma coming off her in waves.)]

[optikon]

[ he.. stares as she shuffles into the kitchen, as she brews the coffee without ever so much as noticing him, as she drinks the scalding hot coffee as if it's nothing.

desolation is his kneejerk thought, but he's trying to train himself out of assuming. she doesn't feel like the lightless flame. but.. there's something there, he knows, and the eye knows it as well.

he blinks as she finally addresses him, static passing over his eyes briefly, a small frown tilting down the corners of his mouth. ] It doesn't burn? [ jon heals very nearly instantly in most ways, but he isn't in any way exempt from pain. his patron makes certain of that. ]

Text

[drivesadesk]

Sounds awesome! And you're in luck, there's plenty of paranormal stuff here! I don't have anything specific I want to share, but I'm sure someone will give you something to work with.

So did you have proof of the paranormal back home, then, or is it just an idea you're chasing down? Not that it makes it not real, there are some people who believe in alien abductions back in my world without proof, but they're definitely right.

[optikon]

[ 'awesome'.. sure. well, if one doesn't know what he is and why he's really asking for statements. ]

We did, yes. All verified supernatural activity in my world is due to one of the fourteen dread powers.

Alien abductions?

[choosetruth]

[If Georgia wrinkles her nose at the idea of paranormal experiences, well, the nice thing about text is that no one will ever see it. But she knows how different things are here. Just because there isn't anything paranormal about her world doesn't mean it isn't real for other people.]

I haven't had any experiences with the paranormal, unless you count the bullshit that happens here.

Though people who hear about my world might assume otherwise. We do have a lot of zombies around.

[optikon]

Zombies? [ the end. ] You're saying they're not?

voice

[measuringdicks]

Does it have to be our experiences? ‘Cause I can tell you a shitload of ghost stories.

[optikon]

[ is this... a.. kid? ]

I'm afraid that it's personal experiences I'm looking for. Ghost stories have their own value, but not for this particular project.

[ ...... when in doubt, just talk to a teen like you'd talk to an adult. ]

[ct_7567]

What's the purpose of collecting these stories here? Is your interest scientific or anthropological?

[ Anthropology, he can understand. Rex enjoys a good folk tale, every now and then. Scientific, now there's where things get a little tricky. ]

[optikon]

The Magnus Institute's interest was largely scientific. As the archivist, I don't have an opinion on what researchers use access to statements for so long as they have a valid reason for seeking that access.

Here, it's familiar, and it may lead to other employment opportunities.

text; housemate here, feel free to assume they've met in passing, or not if that works better /o/

[pullsheavendown]

What's 'paranormal'?

[optikon]

The occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation, as well as supernatural phenomena. Magic. Ghosts. Monsters.

[ the sheer number of people that need this explained here is... wild. ]

text

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Because humans that find themselves as less than so, and have floated about the end of the world, end up meeting each other. Or something like it. ]

A paranormal institute? Like ghosts and stuff?

[optikon]

[ 'ghosts and stuff'... ]

Yes, I suppose that would count. [ don't be a snob, jon. more things in heaven and earth, et cetera. ]