[ Jon certainly does that, and once it's done, he makes his way over to the small kitchen to continue his preparations for tea.
Ford might notice two very important things: the first is that there do not appear to be any photographs in the small flat. None. The other is that there is a paperback book on the kitchen table near where he's standing that has had the eyes cut out of the picture on the cover.
Jon gestured to it with his chin.]
I'm not sure if he works anything like what I'm used to, but my predecessor appears to have used this method to hide her activities from certain entities and I followed suit when it seemed... prudent.
Thankfully, it appears to be in place for this 'version' of my home.
[ The kettle is close but not yet boiling which is why he takes the time to walk over and pull something off the table, a small ash tray that has clearly been used not long ago. Then he looks to Stan.]
Please, take a seat.
[ He replaces the ashtray with a small plate of store-bought biscuits.]
[Ford notices the book. It has a kind of paranoid-verging-on-crazy look to it, which is very familiar and understandable and does not shake his impression of Jon's sanity at all.
He sits where he's directed, placing his hands on his knees. Ford lets out a slow, heavy breath.]
[ 'Paranoid-vergin-on-crazy' is exactly what he'd thought when he'd first seen Gertrude's apartment. Then he'd learned differently. ]
Hopefully. I'm not particularly keen on trusting any entity or representative thereof too far.
[ To be fair, his boss actually might give the Admiral a run for his money in the 'people who should never be allowed to own a 'Best Boss' mug' competition.
Regardless, what he puts down next is a tape recorder, one of many he's brought with him. Not to mention his tendency to apparently generate them out of nowhere. He presses 'play' and there's the soft shuffle of footsteps and an opening door before the entire encounter plays out. As the footsteps sound- ]
I thought you might want to hear the entire conversation.
[Ford's face is an open book through the entire thing. Surprise, confusion, furrowed-brow consideration -- and, of course, a flush of anger and embarrassment at discussion of his freakish birth defect. His six-fingered hands close into fists on his knees at that, but he successfully resists the impulse, ingrained from childhood, to hide them.
When it ends, Ford's first question to Jon is asked with disbelief and immediate, incredulous shock.]
Actually [ because he has actually been considering this, comparing matters between what he knows, how Bill has behaved and what people have said about him, and some of the things that he saw in Hilda's books and a few tomes in the library-] the more I've come to learn about him and about the different manners in which such cosmologies play out, I'd say it's more of a matter of convergent evolution.
He shares certain similarities to my patron. But there are also, I believe, great differences.
[ He tilts his head tiredly before sucking in a breath and letting it out.]
That said, when you're halfway down something's gullet, there's only so much concern one should have with the exact shape and size of the molars.
[ He rewinds and, with almost eerie precision, starts the player back on the section about the 'rustic' preparations.]
There was some manner of circle underneath the varnish. And I'm very interested to know if you know anything about what he might be up to.
[Well. The fact that there are things out there that are like Bill but also not like him....it is slightly comforting, but mostly not.
But the question about the circle...Ford blinks and rubs his chin.]
Hm. No, I'm afraid I don't. He can't cast magic that way -- usually, what he does is more...direct. The Admiral's taken that ability away, of course, so I can't imagine why he'd be drawing ritual circles in nail polish.
...though it is possible...
...can you think of any reason it might annoy you to catch him doing it? Does it get under your skin at all? Bother you? Anything?
It was my first meeting with him,[ he points out, ] and pretty much everything he does gets under my skin, but the circle was the least of my irritation.
[ He works on the tea for a moment before he looks over at Ford.]
[It's said like an afterthought. Ford's mind is turning over. What could Bill have been doing drawing circles in nail polish?]
What you should understand about Bill is, everything he does, he does for a reason. Sometimes, that reason is only to get a rise out of you because he thinks it's funny. Other times, it's not as simple. Maybe he was expecting you to tell me about it so that I'd wonder what he was up to. I wouldn't put it past him.
Nor would I. However, it's just as likely that, as he was chanced upon, he decided to forge along in the hopes we would assume just that.
[ He's talked to Bill a few times now, and he's worked under Elias Bouchard. Xanatos Gambit was the kind of word you tried not to think in order to keep from losing hope around the Institute.]
Do you think it would be worth the trouble to recover the circle and take a look?
Then I don't suppose you'd have some idea where else he might be putting circles?
[ Ford has been here longer and might know better spots or have some idea how such things work in his world to guestimate based on location. At least, that's what he's thinking.]
Not unless I knew the kind of magic he was using. Setting up a barrier would require very different positioning than a spell to raise the dead, for instance. If only there were a way to tell what sort of spell he was trying to cast.
--ah! Wait a minute, of course there is!
[Ford grins and pulls a small scanner out of his pocket. It looks like the Ghostbusters props department got hold of a handheld barcode scanner.]
This can detect all kinds of energy, including most forms of magic. If Bill was doing a spell and there's any residue left in the area, this device will detect it.
No, no, that won't be necessary. This device can distinguish a phenomenon's universe of origin. Unless he's doing magic from your world -- which is unlikely, if your theory about convergent evolution is correct -- it should be able to tell the difference between whatever magic Bill was working and any you're giving off.
[Ford's mind is made up in a split second. He reaches into his coat and pulls out a thermos. He uncaps it, dumps the contents of the teapot inside, and closes it up.]
You can drink it on the way.
[He pushes the thermos into Jon's hands, gets to his feet, and heads for the door.]
That magic residue won't hang around in the air forever! Come on, there's not a moment to lose!
[ He actually just watches the tea go into the thermos before frowning a little and following after. He does make sure to lock the door on the way out.]
I would be very interested to know how long you think the, er, residue might maintain.
Ah. That would explain the music. And why I didn't recognize it. Haven't been down there much.
[He resents it, not entirely rationally, for, in his mind, replacing the library. Even now that the library is back, Ford has some sour feelings about it.]
[ To be fair, if Jon was aware of that change, he would have been similarly upset. One of those rooms was useful, after all. So far, he's largely been unimpressed with the spa.]
I did a full circuit of the ship upon my arrival. I thought it... prudent.
Now, tell me about that patron of yours, this -- cosmological convergent evolution. If there's anything else out there like Bill, I want to know about it.
It's known as... Beholding, the Ceaseless Watcher. Also as the Eye.
[ He keeps pace with Stan without issue. ]
It is the fear of being known, being seen, of your secrets being found out, your darkest truths being discovered, but also of what knowledge might nonetheless bring. Its realm is knowledge, knowing, and it... it apparently doesn't like to act much, if at all.
For the moment, yes. Or at least, so I've been told. The... person who told me wasn't terribly interested in unbiased reporting.
[ He breathes in and out and the out comes with a bit of a huff.]
My... superior, both within the Institute and in regards to... our patron is semi-omniscient. And he has used that to somewhat devastating effect before.
[ He turns to look over at Ford.]
But the Entity itself is- well, it's hard to describe and harder to explain. But there is more than enough horror to 'watching' something awful take place and know there's nothing you can do about it.
[ It's difficult, to talk about the Eye. It's like he'd told Iris: he can't really, viscerally, understand being afraid of knowledge. He's not sure if he could before, if he can remember what it'd be like when he was completely human. But now, and every time that he can think of before, all he's ever wanted is to know.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Ford might notice two very important things: the first is that there do not appear to be any photographs in the small flat. None. The other is that there is a paperback book on the kitchen table near where he's standing that has had the eyes cut out of the picture on the cover.
Jon gestured to it with his chin.]
I'm not sure if he works anything like what I'm used to, but my predecessor appears to have used this method to hide her activities from certain entities and I followed suit when it seemed... prudent.
Thankfully, it appears to be in place for this 'version' of my home.
[ The kettle is close but not yet boiling which is why he takes the time to walk over and pull something off the table, a small ash tray that has clearly been used not long ago. Then he looks to Stan.]
Please, take a seat.
[ He replaces the ashtray with a small plate of store-bought biscuits.]
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He sits where he's directed, placing his hands on his knees. Ford lets out a slow, heavy breath.]
The access filter should be enough, for now.
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Hopefully. I'm not particularly keen on trusting any entity or representative thereof too far.
[ To be fair, his boss actually might give the Admiral a run for his money in the 'people who should never be allowed to own a 'Best Boss' mug' competition.
Regardless, what he puts down next is a tape recorder, one of many he's brought with him.
Not to mention his tendency to apparently generate them out of nowhere. He presses 'play' and there's the soft shuffle of footsteps and an opening door before the entire encounter plays out. As the footsteps sound- ]I thought you might want to hear the entire conversation.
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When it ends, Ford's first question to Jon is asked with disbelief and immediate, incredulous shock.]
There are more like him?!
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He shares certain similarities to my patron. But there are also, I believe, great differences.
[ He tilts his head tiredly before sucking in a breath and letting it out.]
That said, when you're halfway down something's gullet, there's only so much concern one should have with the exact shape and size of the molars.
[ He rewinds and, with almost eerie precision, starts the player back on the section about the 'rustic' preparations.]
There was some manner of circle underneath the varnish. And I'm very interested to know if you know anything about what he might be up to.
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But the question about the circle...Ford blinks and rubs his chin.]
Hm. No, I'm afraid I don't. He can't cast magic that way -- usually, what he does is more...direct. The Admiral's taken that ability away, of course, so I can't imagine why he'd be drawing ritual circles in nail polish.
...though it is possible...
...can you think of any reason it might annoy you to catch him doing it? Does it get under your skin at all? Bother you? Anything?
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[ He works on the tea for a moment before he looks over at Ford.]
If you could tell me how you like your tea...
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[It's said like an afterthought. Ford's mind is turning over. What could Bill have been doing drawing circles in nail polish?]
What you should understand about Bill is, everything he does, he does for a reason. Sometimes, that reason is only to get a rise out of you because he thinks it's funny. Other times, it's not as simple. Maybe he was expecting you to tell me about it so that I'd wonder what he was up to. I wouldn't put it past him.
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[ He's talked to Bill a few times now, and he's worked under Elias Bouchard. Xanatos Gambit was the kind of word you tried not to think in order to keep from losing hope around the Institute.]
Do you think it would be worth the trouble to recover the circle and take a look?
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Unlikely. If it was important enough that Bill doesn't want us to know about it, there won't be anything left to find.
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[ Ford has been here longer and might know better spots or have some idea how such things work in his world to guestimate based on location. At least, that's what he's thinking.]
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Not unless I knew the kind of magic he was using. Setting up a barrier would require very different positioning than a spell to raise the dead, for instance. If only there were a way to tell what sort of spell he was trying to cast.
--ah! Wait a minute, of course there is!
[Ford grins and pulls a small scanner out of his pocket. It looks like the Ghostbusters props department got hold of a handheld barcode scanner.]
This can detect all kinds of energy, including most forms of magic. If Bill was doing a spell and there's any residue left in the area, this device will detect it.
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Will... that is, I may set that off, to be honest. Should I let you go out and do your readings on your own?
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...do you think we ought to take those readings right now, or should we finish up here?
[ Look, he's rather driven, but, he had gone to the trouble.]
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You can drink it on the way.
[He pushes the thermos into Jon's hands, gets to his feet, and heads for the door.]
That magic residue won't hang around in the air forever! Come on, there's not a moment to lose!
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I would be very interested to know how long you think the, er, residue might maintain.
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Now, where exactly did you have this conversation?
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Down in the spa of all places. I'll show you.
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[He resents it, not entirely rationally, for, in his mind, replacing the library. Even now that the library is back, Ford has some sour feelings about it.]
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I did a full circuit of the ship upon my arrival. I thought it... prudent.
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Now, tell me about that patron of yours, this -- cosmological convergent evolution. If there's anything else out there like Bill, I want to know about it.
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[ He keeps pace with Stan without issue. ]
It is the fear of being known, being seen, of your secrets being found out, your darkest truths being discovered, but also of what knowledge might nonetheless bring. Its realm is knowledge, knowing, and it... it apparently doesn't like to act much, if at all.
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[Ford sounds a little surprised, like he's less impressed than he expected to be.]
All it does is watch?
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[ He breathes in and out and the out comes with a bit of a huff.]
My... superior, both within the Institute and in regards to... our patron is semi-omniscient. And he has used that to somewhat devastating effect before.
[ He turns to look over at Ford.]
But the Entity itself is- well, it's hard to describe and harder to explain. But there is more than enough horror to 'watching' something awful take place and know there's nothing you can do about it.
[ It's difficult, to talk about the Eye. It's like he'd told Iris: he can't really, viscerally, understand being afraid of knowledge. He's not sure if he could before, if he can remember what it'd be like when he was completely human. But now, and every time that he can think of before, all he's ever wanted is to know.]
I... may not be the best person to speak on it.
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