The Admiral can suppress gifts but usually does not suppress them completely to start. More often than not, they have a few abilities, or limited use of their abilities. It's why I wanted to let you know beforehand.
[ He settles back in his chair and leans back a little. His snake moves from around his neck to the chair beside him as a little ragdoll cat toddles up to Jon. There's a soft murmur to his sweet little darling before he draws her up into his lap to start petting her. Then he'll continue. ]
He's a man from the victorian era originally, and one from a background of privilege as well; his contemporaries include Robert Smirke, a prominent architect, along with a few others I could give you some notes on. As you might imagine, he likes to know things and not knowing them or being denied access to them is one way to make him upset. He likes to play games; one of his recent gambits involved a wager with an avatar of another power, known as the Lonely.
[ He swallows a little. ]
Which nearly destroyed the man I... love in the process.
[ His hands settle in Sasha's fur. ]
He also manipulated me for several years into getting involved in, facing, nearly dying from, being kidnapped by, and encountering a number of other forces and avatars in a gambit to bring the Eye into our world and trap everyone on earth, everyone on earth, in a nightmare existence of their worst fears or inflicting fear on others.
In his own words: [ and there's almost an overlay to his words, another voice, smoother and more smug and certainly more satisfied ] "I have dedicated my life to handing the world to these Dread Powers all for my own gain, and I feel… nothing but satisfaction in that choice. I am to be a king of a ruined world, and I shall never die."
[He stayed silent, a studious student and gave Jon all the proverbial room he needed to lay all this out. The Marshal's service didn't often deal with serial killers, but there were a stack of gruesome stories none the less. Some had Raylan's name on them. While Raylan wasn't really reacting much, the further Jon went on, the more his eyes narrowed and the more that fire in his gut flared.
Despite his best efforts, and unable to quite get his back hairs down, once Jon has finished Raylan blew out a breath and stood up with a rough rub at his salted goatee as he paced away and back again, one hand splaying fingers over his crookedly set hips.]
Okay. [Prioritization mode was still fully functioning. He met Jon's eye with a softer seriousness.]
First - I'm hoping that means your man came out of it alive. [Kinda hard to put someone on that power scale into the ground but that was still Raylan's gut instincts for this kind of situation. You don't fuck with loved ones. Especially not kids or partners. Even the attempt deserves the reward of negation.]
Second - Jesus fucking Christ. [Raylan sat back down, turned in his chair so an elbow could rest on the little table. There was too much in Raylan that could be used that way, and he hated Arlo a little harder.]
I-it does [ he says, hands starting up to pet the cat again, some of the life coming back into his face,] I was able to get him out. Though not without- not without leaving it's mark.
[ He breathes out slow. ]
And yes, it did work. Until I used my deal here to reverse what had happened and bring the world back to rights, as if it had never occurred. [ Because like hell was he leaving that in people's hearts and minds, nope, no way. There was no question there: the deal was to undo. Now? ] My current deal is something more... permanent.
I don't. I- I'll be honest: it's hard for me to imagine him being killed, being dead. It's one of the reasons I never thought he'd show up. Martin, my, um, my significant other, the man I mentioned, he's here, a-and he's from farther along than I am. He might have more information for you in regards to that. It's...
It's a sensitive subject, so I try not to pry p-purely for my own desire to Know. As you imagine, that could turn out poorly.
[The worsening stammer, however fraction, was enough for Raylan to lift a hand with a gentle nod.]
No, I can understand why.
Don't suppose anyone's tried to shoot him,[The words were given with a heavy sigh as he picked up the nearly forgotten cup, assuming that many had but when You Know, You know.]
[ Ah, here's another part, and his shoulders sink. ]
He tied all of our lives to the Institute and to him. He made it so that killing him would, effectively, kill all of us. And of course, when one of us tried regardless, it was just a matter of Knowing beforehand what she was about to try and circumventing it.
[Finally, with a sip of coffee and his little outburst over, Raylan's shoulders relaxed. He stayed stone still for a long second before bobbin his head and looking over with a wince as he righted himself in the chair.]
Anything I say right now is gonna be ignorant, so I won't say anythin' at all. That's a damned tough spot, no matter how it's spun.
I'll admit that this is.. a little over my head. [And No one was surprised.] I don't know if you know what a United States US Marshal is, but most of the guys I'm goin' after are running drugs, people, or guns. Not knowledge or Avatars. Hellva way for the Admiral to start me out.
[He took another deep breath.]
If I can ask another question, then..[He'd wait for confirmation before continuing.] Is there any kinda general Wardenin' advice you can give me? About Elias or otherwise. Somehow, I doubt this is like teaching, and I'm a shitty therapist.
I'm familiar with the idea. A-and no, I thought it might be a little outside of your usual experience. Hence the talk.
[ The last question is probably the hardest of all, and the one that makes him reach as far into his empathy as he thinks he has. The little snake slithers halfway over to rub at his hand with her head, flickering her tongue against his fingers. He lets out a sigh as he nods, ready to speak. ]
There was a time when he was... when there were people who loved him, depended on him. I have evidence of it, I've- I've read their letters, heard their stories. There was a time when- when the knowledge he sought was to help gain understanding. To help people who were in terrible trouble. W-when he felt kinship to others and he cared about them.
If he's here, then... then that man, however thin and broken he is, is still inside of the rat bastard who tried to end the world. There is redemption possible for him, I have to believe that, or I have no right to be here.
[ He looks away, because it's a little close to the bone as he continues. ]
Being... being an avatar of the Eye is- it holds with it an intrinsic loneliness. To watch... to watch is not to do. Watching is... it's something that puts you at a distance. A-and he's been at a distance from people, holding himself there, for 200 years.
I understand that this is- this is quite a lot. And I know there are wardens who see their temporary assignments as merely something to pass the time. But I- I hope you are not one of them. As awful as Elias- [ no, for this, he needs to be accurate ] as awful as Jonah has been to me, and to the people I care about, I know that- that all of it, at the heart of every avatar, is a fear. A fear that twists us into something else if we let it, and he- he has done just that.
Quite a bit. It's worth quite a bit. [Raylan took another deep breath.]
I don't take my job lightly and that is what this is to me; a job. Doesn't matter if it's for a month or a year. [He took his responsibilities seriously.]
Somehow, I'm not guessin' a Marshal from Kentucky is going to be overly affective but.. Maybe I'll find somethin' to drop into his head that'll take root. Make it easier for the next warden to handle him. Never thought that the adage 'It takes a village' would be set against somethin' like this..
Jonah, huh? What's with 'Elias' then? He doesn't sound like the type to go undercover.
[ He nods along and listens to what Raylan has to say and he clearly appreciates it. Pythia is the first to speak. ]
His daemon is named Victoria. She’s a moth and she’s very nice. We’re friends.
[ Jon’s lips are tight but he nods. He’s aware. And he doesn’t want to make a fuss about it. But Jon sighs at the last. ]
Elias Bouchard is the latest name he’s taken… and the latest body he’s used. Before he got here, his eyes were in the body of a former stoner who worked at the Institute.
The latest of many.
We’re all so used to calling him Elias it was just awkward to switch.
['We're friends' made Raylan's brow twitch into a furrow as he looked back at Jon. How?
But that was swept under again by the revelation of body-snatching and all for the better. It allowed him, later, to be oddly nonchalant about it.
Raylan could only pull a 'What the fuck' face and bury it into the bottom of his emptying coffee cup. He stared at it for a moment before shaking his head, setting the cup down and rubbing his face.]
His eyes were in - of course. [Why not.] I promise that I will do my best. Regardless of how successful I might be about it. If I were at home, I wouldn't believe a word of this but. Why else would he be here if it wasn't possible?
[ Jon gives a minute shake of his head; there’s no arguing with her on this. He’s tried. He doesn’t approve but he can’t do anything about it. Instead, he sighs. ]
That is what I try to remember.
Ultimately, this is… this is working at the source of the problem.
But… I get the feeling you at least take me seriously. So I can certainly do the same for you.
Many hands, light work, ect. [He took Jon deadly seriously.]
If you.. hear or get told anything you think I might need to know.. Trouble he's brewing that you or others might be made aware of. He seems like the type that needs to be gotten ahead of while the getting is good. I'm not lookin' to put a boot on his neck and I want to give him some room to exist in, but I know full well how quickly half an inch turns into a mile. Also pretty sure I'm gonna be a burr in his ass.
Thank you. I'll.. I'll take you up on that if I need to.
[Reaching over to grab and put on his hat, he stood up.]
You've given me a lot to think about. I won't search Elias out until tomorrow, give myself time to.. wrap my head even a quarter of the way around this.
You might see me in there for my own purposes. Got a feeling I'll be taking that back up as a hobby to pass the time.
[Raylan followed towards the door and tipped his hat once again. Hospitality was not what he'd been expecting, from anyone in this place, really, but he was pleasantly surprised.]
Have a good evening. [And with that, he'd vanish down the hall and thankfully, right into a much needed drink with Tim Stroker.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ He settles back in his chair and leans back a little. His snake moves from around his neck to the chair beside him as a little ragdoll cat toddles up to Jon. There's a soft murmur to his sweet little darling before he draws her up into his lap to start petting her. Then he'll continue. ]
He's a man from the victorian era originally, and one from a background of privilege as well; his contemporaries include Robert Smirke, a prominent architect, along with a few others I could give you some notes on. As you might imagine, he likes to know things and not knowing them or being denied access to them is one way to make him upset. He likes to play games; one of his recent gambits involved a wager with an avatar of another power, known as the Lonely.
[ He swallows a little. ]
Which nearly destroyed the man I... love in the process.
[ His hands settle in Sasha's fur. ]
He also manipulated me for several years into getting involved in, facing, nearly dying from, being kidnapped by, and encountering a number of other forces and avatars in a gambit to bring the Eye into our world and trap everyone on earth, everyone on earth, in a nightmare existence of their worst fears or inflicting fear on others.
In his own words: [ and there's almost an overlay to his words, another voice, smoother and more smug and certainly more satisfied ] "I have dedicated my life to handing the world to these Dread Powers all for my own gain, and I feel… nothing but satisfaction in that choice. I am to be a king of a ruined world, and I shall never die."
[ Before he shudders and shakes it off. ]
no subject
Despite his best efforts, and unable to quite get his back hairs down, once Jon has finished Raylan blew out a breath and stood up with a rough rub at his salted goatee as he paced away and back again, one hand splaying fingers over his crookedly set hips.]
Okay. [Prioritization mode was still fully functioning. He met Jon's eye with a softer seriousness.]
First - I'm hoping that means your man came out of it alive. [Kinda hard to put someone on that power scale into the ground but that was still Raylan's gut instincts for this kind of situation. You don't fuck with loved ones. Especially not kids or partners. Even the attempt deserves the reward of negation.]
Second - Jesus fucking Christ. [Raylan sat back down, turned in his chair so an elbow could rest on the little table. There was too much in Raylan that could be used that way, and he hated Arlo a little harder.]
Third - Did it work?
no subject
[ He breathes out slow. ]
And yes, it did work. Until I used my deal here to reverse what had happened and bring the world back to rights, as if it had never occurred. [ Because like hell was he leaving that in people's hearts and minds, nope, no way. There was no question there: the deal was to undo. Now? ] My current deal is something more... permanent.
no subject
Second answer: Significantly less good.
Jesus. Jon's world was damned lucky to have him, in that case.]
I've.. been made aware of time discrepancies between people, even from the same world. Do you know where he's at on that timeline?
no subject
I don't. I- I'll be honest: it's hard for me to imagine him being killed, being dead. It's one of the reasons I never thought he'd show up. Martin, my, um, my significant other, the man I mentioned, he's here, a-and he's from farther along than I am. He might have more information for you in regards to that. It's...
It's a sensitive subject, so I try not to pry p-purely for my own desire to Know. As you imagine, that could turn out poorly.
no subject
No, I can understand why.
Don't suppose anyone's tried to shoot him,[The words were given with a heavy sigh as he picked up the nearly forgotten cup, assuming that many had but when You Know, You know.]
no subject
[ Ah, here's another part, and his shoulders sink. ]
He tied all of our lives to the Institute and to him. He made it so that killing him would, effectively, kill all of us. And of course, when one of us tried regardless, it was just a matter of Knowing beforehand what she was about to try and circumventing it.
no subject
Anything I say right now is gonna be ignorant, so I won't say anythin' at all. That's a damned tough spot, no matter how it's spun.
I'll admit that this is.. a little over my head. [And No one was surprised.] I don't know if you know what a United States US Marshal is, but most of the guys I'm goin' after are running drugs, people, or guns. Not knowledge or Avatars. Hellva way for the Admiral to start me out.
[He took another deep breath.]
If I can ask another question, then..[He'd wait for confirmation before continuing.] Is there any kinda general Wardenin' advice you can give me? About Elias or otherwise. Somehow, I doubt this is like teaching, and I'm a shitty therapist.
no subject
[ The last question is probably the hardest of all, and the one that makes him reach as far into his empathy as he thinks he has. The little snake slithers halfway over to rub at his hand with her head, flickering her tongue against his fingers. He lets out a sigh as he nods, ready to speak. ]
There was a time when he was... when there were people who loved him, depended on him. I have evidence of it, I've- I've read their letters, heard their stories. There was a time when- when the knowledge he sought was to help gain understanding. To help people who were in terrible trouble. W-when he felt kinship to others and he cared about them.
If he's here, then... then that man, however thin and broken he is, is still inside of the rat bastard who tried to end the world. There is redemption possible for him, I have to believe that, or I have no right to be here.
[ He looks away, because it's a little close to the bone as he continues. ]
Being... being an avatar of the Eye is- it holds with it an intrinsic loneliness. To watch... to watch is not to do. Watching is... it's something that puts you at a distance. A-and he's been at a distance from people, holding himself there, for 200 years.
I understand that this is- this is quite a lot. And I know there are wardens who see their temporary assignments as merely something to pass the time. But I- I hope you are not one of them. As awful as Elias- [ no, for this, he needs to be accurate ] as awful as Jonah has been to me, and to the people I care about, I know that- that all of it, at the heart of every avatar, is a fear. A fear that twists us into something else if we let it, and he- he has done just that.
[ A long breath out. ]
For whatever that's worth.
no subject
I don't take my job lightly and that is what this is to me; a job. Doesn't matter if it's for a month or a year. [He took his responsibilities seriously.]
Somehow, I'm not guessin' a Marshal from Kentucky is going to be overly affective but.. Maybe I'll find somethin' to drop into his head that'll take root. Make it easier for the next warden to handle him. Never thought that the adage 'It takes a village' would be set against somethin' like this..
Jonah, huh? What's with 'Elias' then? He doesn't sound like the type to go undercover.
no subject
His daemon is named Victoria. She’s a moth and she’s very nice. We’re friends.
[ Jon’s lips are tight but he nods. He’s aware. And he doesn’t want to make a fuss about it. But Jon sighs at the last. ]
Elias Bouchard is the latest name he’s taken… and the latest body he’s used. Before he got here, his eyes were in the body of a former stoner who worked at the Institute.
The latest of many.
We’re all so used to calling him Elias it was just awkward to switch.
no subject
But that was swept under again by the revelation of body-snatching and all for the better. It allowed him, later, to be oddly nonchalant about it.
Raylan could only pull a 'What the fuck' face and bury it into the bottom of his emptying coffee cup. He stared at it for a moment before shaking his head, setting the cup down and rubbing his face.]
His eyes were in - of course. [Why not.] I promise that I will do my best. Regardless of how successful I might be about it. If I were at home, I wouldn't believe a word of this but. Why else would he be here if it wasn't possible?
no subject
That is what I try to remember.
Ultimately, this is… this is working at the source of the problem.
But… I get the feeling you at least take me seriously. So I can certainly do the same for you.
no subject
If you.. hear or get told anything you think I might need to know.. Trouble he's brewing that you or others might be made aware of. He seems like the type that needs to be gotten ahead of while the getting is good. I'm not lookin' to put a boot on his neck and I want to give him some room to exist in, but I know full well how quickly half an inch turns into a mile. Also pretty sure I'm gonna be a burr in his ass.
no subject
If you can think of something that might require my knowledge or abilities, please don’t hesitate to ask.
no subject
Thank you. I'll.. I'll take you up on that if I need to.
[Reaching over to grab and put on his hat, he stood up.]
You've given me a lot to think about. I won't search Elias out until tomorrow, give myself time to.. wrap my head even a quarter of the way around this.
no subject
[ He'll push himself away from the table and head for the door. ]
Let me see you out.
thank u for blowing his miiiiiiind~~
[Raylan followed towards the door and tipped his hat once again. Hospitality was not what he'd been expecting, from anyone in this place, really, but he was pleasantly surprised.]
Have a good evening. [And with that, he'd vanish down the hall and thankfully, right into a much needed drink with Tim Stroker.]