Chapter Text
[CLICK]
ELIAS
No, I insist. After all, I’m sure if you manage to reveal any secrets, you’ll appreciate being able to look back on your success. Now, what were you itching to talk about?
ARCHIVIST
I wasn’t—
ELIAS
No, wait. I almost forgot.
[ELIAS CLEARS HIS THROAT DELICATELY. HE IS CLEARLY ENJOYING THIS.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Attempt by Jonothan Sims, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, to utilize his developing abilities, aided by Elias Bouchard.
[ARCHIVIST SCOFFS, AWARE THAT HE IS BEING MOCKED.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Attempt begins.
[A FAINTLY AUDIBLE INHALE AS THE ARCHIVIST PREPARES HIMSELF.]
ARCHIVIST
(firmly) What secrets are you hiding from us?
[ELIAS TUTS DISAPPROVINGLY.]
ELIAS
Oh, no. Certainly not. If you were stronger, perhaps, but even then it’s a terribly vague question. Try again with something a little more… direct.
ARCHIVIST
You— (Beat) Fine. Why did you let me get kidnapped?
ELIAS
I’ve already told you the answer to that.
ARCHIVIST
Well, I don’t believe you! Don’t think I haven’t noticed how your powers of sight only seem to desert you when it’s one of our well-being on the line. How is being held captive for a month in a wax museum meant to help me “further my development?”
ELIAS
If that one was an attempt as well, you’re going to need to slow down and focus harder than that.
[PAUSE WHILE THE ARCHIVIST REGISTERS THE COMMENT. WHEN HE SPEAKS, IT IS WITH GREAT CONCENTRATION.]
ARCHIVIST
Why did you allow Orsinov to kidnap me?
[STATIC BEGINS TO RISE, BUT QUICKLY FADES AGAIN BEFORE IT CAN GROW TOO LOUD.]
ELIAS
Better. Now, try again, but this time—
ARCHIVIST
(interrupting) Why are you— what is this?
ELIAS
It’s your training, Jon. And I suggest you make the most of it, as it may be all the help that you get. You came in here in the hope that you could force some kind of explanation out of me. I’ll admit it is tiresome for me to have to say the same thing over again – everything I am doing is for your own good. But I understand that it must be difficult to be left in the dark. (Pause. He laughs slightly to himself as if thinking of a joke.) So I am willing to help instruct you as much as I am able. But you’re the only one who can navigate your power, Jon. I can only do so much.
[BEAT. THE ARCHIVIST IS SILENT, CONSIDERING HIS WORDS.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Now. If you’re done trying to find something to argue with me about, then try again. And this time, focus.
ARCHIVIST
Is there any way to escape the Archives?
[FAINT WHISPER OF STATIC. ELIAS SPEAKS OVER IT]
ELIAS
Focus, Jon.
ARCHIVIST
I am focusing!
ELIAS
No, you’re thinking.
ARCHIVIST
What else am I supposed to do?
ELIAS
Use your mind to pull.
ARCHIVIST
(frustration mounting) I am! I’m using my mind– I-I’m thinking about the question and using it to pull the answers out, it’s just not—
ELIAS
It’s not working because you’re wondering if the question is phrased well enough, or if I’m going to lie to you about the answer, or whatever else. You’re trying to use your reasoning and intuition alongside the compulsion, hoping it’ll make the results more trustworthy. But all you’re really doing is weakening your own efforts.
ARCHIVIST
(sarcastic, under his breath) Great. Of course, that’s… (sigh) Why trust your own judgement when you could just rely on the all-consuming fear gods?
ELIAS
Think of it this way – I can’t hand you something if your hands are full. (Beat) You may want to sit down. We’re going to be at this for a while.
[QUIET SCRAPE OF A CHAIR AGAINST THE GROUND AS THE ARCHIVIST SITS.]
ELIAS (cont.)
You should try a lighter question, just to… shall we say, “lower the stakes” a little.
ARCHIVIST
(scoffs) You want me to ask your favorite color?
[PAUSE. ARCHIVIST TAKES ANOTHER PREPARATORY BREATH, THEN SEEMS TO HESITATE BEFORE USING IT.]
ARCHIVIST (cont.)
When did you first begin using the Eye to your advantage?
[STATIC RISES, THE STRONGEST SO FAR, THEN FADES OUT.]
ELIAS
Hm. Interesting. It was very soon after I became aware that such benefits were accessible to me.
ARCHIVIST
Why are you so invested in my doing the same?
[STATIC RISES, FADES.]
ELIAS
That you will find out in good time. For now, it’s enough to say that there are opportunities which may present themselves to some avatars and not others, even of the same patron. I am eager to see what you will be capable of with more… experience.
ARCHIVIST
Wouldn’t have guessed you’d be so eager to train up a contender.
ELIAS
There’s a lot that you wouldn’t guess. Pick a question and try again.
ARCHIVIST
This– I can’t just sit here and try over and over without rest. Compelling is… draining.
ELIAS
No, failing to compel is draining. If you were to succeed at drawing something from me, you would want nothing more than to do it again.
[ARCHIVIST MAKES A QUIET NOISE OF DISSENT, BUT ELECTS NOT TO PUT IT TO WORDS.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Now. Try again.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[ARCHIVIST’S BREATHES HEAVILY WHILE ELIAS MUTTERS SOMETHING INCOHERENT.]
ELIAS
(raising his voice slightly) Come on, Jon!
ARCHIVIST
(out of breath) S-Shut up!
ELIAS
Look at me, Archivist. Look at me and try again.
ARCHIVIST
I can’t– I-I can’t keep going, just– just give me a moment.
ELIAS
Yes, you can. You’ve barely exercised a fraction of your ability.
ARCHIVIST
(slightly strained) I am trying as hard as I can to–
ELIAS
(overlapping) You’re giving me a pathetic effort, and I know that you can do more than this!
ARCHIVIST
You can’t expect this to work with you the way it works with anyone else, it’s– it’s different!
[MUFFLED THUMP OF HANDS AGAINST THE DESK, CHAIR SCRAPES AGAINST THE FLOOR.]
ELIAS
Do you know what it feels like to me when you try to compel me, Jon? (Beat) I feel pleasantly light-headed. Like a weak suction tube tugging against my consciousness. Easy to brush away, and almost laughably comfortable.
ARCHIVIST
Alright, you’ve made your point.
ELIAS
I don’t think I have. You are timidly knocking at the door of my psyche. Resisting should not be an easy task, Jon. It should hurt. I want you to scrape it out of my brain. Why are you holding back?
ARCHIVIST
I’m not holding back.
ELIAS
Why are you holding back?
[STATIC RISES, UNRESTRAINED.]
ARCHIVIST
(unwillingly) Because I’m scared!
ELIAS
What are you afraid of?
ARCHIVIST
I’m scared of being like you, and– (struggling) I–I’m scared that I would– ngh– enjoy it.
[PAUSE. STATIC FADES. ARCHIVIST’S BREATH IS FAINT AND UNSTEADY.]
ELIAS
There. Is that better? You’ve said it out loud.
[FAINT CREAK. ELIAS’S VOICE IS CLOSER AS HE LEANS OVER THE DESK.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Now. Get. Over. It.
ARCHIVIST
Ah– I-I…
ELIAS
(voice retreating to its normal distance) Tell me, Jon– No, don’t. I already know. You want to know if there’s any way that you can access the power of the Eye without allowing it in turn to access you. No. There is not. It has already gazed into you, through you, and it will not look away now. What else? Oh, yes. You want to convince yourself that you’re not a monster. That you wouldn’t abandon your humanity without hesitation the moment you feel the first inklings of power shivering down your spine.
Well, I can’t tell you what you are. You alone make the choices that lead you to one place or another. But I can tell you that regardless of your nature, there is only one way that the others will ever see you. You can try to prove them wrong, but you will fail over and over. Do you know what they see in you, Jon?
ARCHIVIST
(bitterly) I’m sure you’re dying to tell me.
[A RUSTLE OF MOVEMENT. THE ARCHIVIST GRUNTS, AND THERE IS A SHUFFLE AS THOUGH HE IS TRYING — AND FAILING — TO PULL AWAY.]
[WHEN ELIAS SPEAKS, HIS VOICE ONCE AGAIN HOVERS CLOSE TO THE RECORDER.]
ELIAS
Why don’t I show you instead?
[BRIEF STATIC. ARCHIVIST DRAWS IN A SHARP BREATH, BUT IS OTHERWISE NONREACTIVE.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Of course, you expected that much from Daisy and Melanie. What reason could either of them possibly have for thinking of you as anything other than a wretched monstrosity? You may look human from the outside, but so do most of the other vile freaks that Daisy reliably disposes of. There is nothing that separates you from them in her mind. And although Melanie met you before she knew what you were turning into, she’s seen plenty enough to think it would be worth giving up on you if it meant ridding the rest of the world of another servant of evil.
Even Tim – oh, you didn’t think that Tim’s history with you instilled enough trust for him to ignore your recent changes, did you? Well, perhaps it will be a comfort to you to know that he’s not afraid of you at all. He simply hates you, more and more each day.
Basira, though; surely she’s more reasonable than any of them, don’t you agree, Jon? You’ve always respected her intelligence. Her rational judgement.
ARCHIVIST
(failing to hide apprehension) Enough, I-I– rrg– mh– let go of me!
ELIAS
Look.
[BRIEF STATIC.]
ELIAS (cont.)
Look at the way she scans you every moment, as if you’ll turn on her if she lets her guard down. You knew she didn’t trust you, but the depth of it... You grate on her. She keeps a list in the back of her mind of all the active threats against her goals and well-being, and your name sits comfortably on that list. Not moving anytime soon. If Daisy decided to shoot you tomorrow, Basira would help her bury your body without an ounce of remorse.
ARCHIVIST
I get it, alright? I-I…
ELIAS
I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. Martin. He’s as kind as ever – that is, as blind as ever to whatever flaws in you he prefers not to name – but what does that really say about you? About what he has learned to expect from you?
[STATIC LINGERS A LITTLE LONGER THIS TIME. ARCHIVIST’S BREATH HITCHES.]
ARCHIVIST
N-no, no, that’s– mh– that’s not… that can’t be…
ELIAS
Oh, but it could be. And it is. He’s so used to the poor treatment he’s always received at your hands that he’s resigned himself to it. What good would your humanity do him? It has never made you kinder, better. There has always been something singularly harsh in you. Perhaps monstrosity would suit you better – perhaps that explains why you are so adamant in pushing away and looking down upon the only person who still has any faith in you. (Beat) Funny, that the only one who doesn’t consider you a monster is the man whose competence and judgement you have been doubting ever since you met.
[ARCHIVIST’S BREATH IS SHAKY, TEETERING JUST ON THE EDGE OF A WHIMPER.]
[A QUICK SHUFFLE AS HE IS RELEASED, AND HE EXHALES SHARPLY. ELIAS’S VOICE ONCE AGAIN RETREATS TO ITS USUAL DISTANCE FROM THE RECORDER.]
ELIAS (cont.)
I’m not trying to demoralize you, Jon—
[ARCHIVIST BARKS OUT A SHORT, HUMORLESS LAUGH. NEITHER SARCASM NOR OUTRIGHT VENOM CAN DISGUISE THE TUMULTUOUS EMOTIONS BEHIND HIS VOICE, BUT HE TRIES BOTH ANYWAY.]
ARCHIVIST
No, no, of course not. I’m sure you showed me that to cheer me up. You would never dream of hurting my feelings.
ELIAS
(firmly) I am not trying to demoralize you. I am simply illustrating—
[ARCHIVIST SCOFFS.]
ELIAS (cont.)
—how pointless it is for you to continue restraining yourself. Nobody is going to think better of you for it. You’re actively hindering your own capabilities in your attempts to salvage a perception of yourself that is long gone. Let it go. Stop ignoring the power that sits at the tip of your tongue. Use it. Channel it through you and feel the magnetic pull of the questions themselves calling out for answers. The compulsion will flow naturally when you let them. (Beat) After all, you are so very curious, aren’t you?
[LONG PAUSE. THEN THE ARCHIVIST SIGHS, TIRED AND DEFEATED.]
]A QUIET SHIFTING AS HE LEANS FORWARD.]
[WHEN HE SPEAKS, HE DOES NOT SOUND STRAINED IN THE SLIGHTEST.]
ARCHIVIST
Tell me how to free the others from their ties to the Archives.
[STATIC RISES POWERFULLY, UNRESTRAINED.]
ELIAS
(slow-spreading smile is audible in his voice) Beautiful, Jon. That was beautiful.
[CLICK]