( there is a certain level of uncontrollable sympathy that he can exhibit for those that have shared statements with him, particularly those that have submitted them to him willingly. it's simply an aspect of who and what he is as the Archivist. the process is not him delivering the fear and handing it off to the Eye to consume — no, he would be so lucky that his involvement was so off-handed. instead, in inscribing others' fears onto himself and feeling them with the same fervency as their originator, he becomes the mediator — he becomes the very substitute that the Eye "feeds" from through their indelible bond. he had read link's experience, and, in doing so, he had felt the fear and pain and despair he had felt in it as if they were his own.
it's hard not to feel a sort of kinship to someone after something like that. and then there was the added similarity in link's world — one that was on the brink of total annihilation, though, rather than the one that john had left behind (which had already toppled over the edge).
john... is not a good liar. he considers giving it an attempt, but when link poses the question and looks to him so earnestly, he can't help but reflect it at least in part. but he at least attempts to answer in a way that doesn't single him out: ) We're all going through Hell, and we all look the part. I might be more concerned if you appeared otherwise.
( a feeble attempt at assuaging him accompanied with a similarly feeble smile, but it's the best he's got.
the request, though... his smile fades. it's not that he's against the idea — he still has Meridian to trade. ) Yes... I - I think I am able to help. ( he pauses, then gestures to a level portion of the cavern nearby. ) I have some questions to ask you first, though, if you wouldn't mind. Would you sit with me for a moment?
no subject
( there is a certain level of uncontrollable sympathy that he can exhibit for those that have shared statements with him, particularly those that have submitted them to him willingly. it's simply an aspect of who and what he is as the Archivist. the process is not him delivering the fear and handing it off to the Eye to consume — no, he would be so lucky that his involvement was so off-handed. instead, in inscribing others' fears onto himself and feeling them with the same fervency as their originator, he becomes the mediator — he becomes the very substitute that the Eye "feeds" from through their indelible bond. he had read link's experience, and, in doing so, he had felt the fear and pain and despair he had felt in it as if they were his own.
it's hard not to feel a sort of kinship to someone after something like that. and then there was the added similarity in link's world — one that was on the brink of total annihilation, though, rather than the one that john had left behind (which had already toppled over the edge).
john... is not a good liar. he considers giving it an attempt, but when link poses the question and looks to him so earnestly, he can't help but reflect it at least in part. but he at least attempts to answer in a way that doesn't single him out: ) We're all going through Hell, and we all look the part. I might be more concerned if you appeared otherwise.
( a feeble attempt at assuaging him accompanied with a similarly feeble smile, but it's the best he's got.
the request, though... his smile fades. it's not that he's against the idea — he still has Meridian to trade. ) Yes... I - I think I am able to help. ( he pauses, then gestures to a level portion of the cavern nearby. ) I have some questions to ask you first, though, if you wouldn't mind. Would you sit with me for a moment?