the_archive

 

— BASICS —

— FIRST IMPRESSIONS —

APPEARANCE Jon used to pride himself on presenting a tidy, professional image. That was some time ago. These days, shaving takes energy and having a haircut is a trust exercise. His dark brown hair and beard are white in streaks, mostly where he has scars. He's still a young man, but stress has prematurely aged him - he has harsh lines around his eyes and mouth, and deep shadows around those eyes. They're brown, and rarely catch the light. Except when they seem green but - no, they're certainly only brown. He's not tall, and while he hasn't always been scrawny, he finds it difficult to keep on weight these days. He chews his nails to the quick, and scowls whenever he catches himself at it.


And there are the scars. Jon looks like he's been involved in a terrible accident at a knives-and-fireworks factory. Most of his skin is pockmarked, especially his face and legs, some of the divots quite deep. One hand is wrapped in a deep, ugly burn scar. Something has tried unsuccessfully(?) to slit his throat three times, and it looks like they had a go at the back of his neck, right up along his spine, and his right eyelid too.

CLOTHING Given the choice, Jon likes comfortable jackets, warm scarves, lightweight sweaters in various darkly neutral shades. His weekend casual wear includes very ugly socks. But he hasn't had the bandwidth to spare on caring what he wears in some time. So these days, whatever he can get. He might care enough to choose something that doesn't show blood. He won't be a fan of the tarot clothes, however - not a fan of being marked.

DEMEANOR First, second, and third impressions will probably be that Jon Sims is curt, surly, sarcastic, and skeptical. The perceptive will recognize the coping mechanisms covering a great deal of what could charitably called anxiety. That doesn't explain the way he is often simply ominous, however. When his power is live, it feels like he's staring even if he's not. Even if he's asleep, or facing away, or otherwise busy. Just to be around Jon is to feel watched. Or maybe exposed.

AURAL Jon has one of those British accents that sounds judgemental all of the time. Normally a fairly rich voice, it grows harsh with unnatural resonance (spoilers season 5) when he uses his power intentionally. Also prone to talk to himself (he's not talking to himself).

OLFACTORY Why this.

— SKILLS —

PATRON The Eye is not one of Jon's powers, but it is the source of all of them, so it bears mention here. The Eye (aka Beholding, aka The Ceaseless Watcher, aka It Knows You) is a manifestation of the fear of being watched, followed, or exposed, and the drive to know and understand without safe limits. It is one of several entities of fear, reality-adjacent forces which act upon the world via avatars like the Archivist.

KNOWING As the Archivist, Avatar of the Eye, Jon is able to draw on all concrete knowledge. It frequently happens unbidden, though he can stop it with effort. He cannot unKnow anything he knows. Trying to purposefully Know a specific thing is sometimes painful, especially if it is something a greater power is planning. This power does not predict the future, though it can see which events are unavoidable. It cannot always account for the human element. It includes understanding of any language known on Earth / anywhere the Eye is present. (The Eye, a powerful entity made of the Fear of Being Watched, is always present where the Archivist is.)

COMPULSION The Archivist can compel others to give involved, coherent, true, and complete answers to his questioning, either specific or broad. People with power or connections to power of their own may be able to resist. Some who are compelled are aware of the compulsion, many are not. This power also works against himself. Many who have been compelled to recount events to Jon relive those events in their dreams afterwards, seeing him there. Jon may also see these dreams. (Tape recorders often appear just before Jon compels a statement. They are not of his own power, but inextricably linked.) Under certain circumstances, this compulsion can work on questions simply asked in his presence by anyone, even if he's unaware. He can be said to be addicted to using this power; going without can leave him weak and tired, and sudden urges can force him to stop what he's doing and read, recite, or compel a statement.

HEALING The Archivist rapidly heals from injuries, even lethal ones. He survived an explosion point blank, although afterwards he was physically dead except for brain activity for a time, then in a six-month coma. He heals faster if he has recently “fed” the Eye by either compelling a statement from someone, or reading aloud a previously given statement. "Feed [your god]... or it will feed on you."

FOCUSING THE EYE Unlikely to apply to Abraxas. Jon can force the focus of the Eye onto a person or creature. If their existence depends on fear, then being Known by the Eye can destroy them.