So then. I'm your temp warden for the month. The name's John Constantine. You interested in meeting or talking?
[After a day goes by with no response, John checks the cabin list and decides to come looking for Nokov. The name is totally unfamiliar, so he has no idea whatsoever who might answer when he shows up at 4:03 and knocks on the door.]
Nokov uses his cabin sparingly, which is still more than can be said for his use of his communicator, which is located... somewhere.
The knocking is an unusual enough occasion that he opens the door, revealing a teenager John may have notice standing in the shadows of the deck or deep in the library and a dark room behind him.
"If I wanted one, I would have it." He likes to speak with complete certainty. He also might not be a human teenager, but it can sometimes be very difficult to tell.
"I exist, you exist to work for the being who has trapped me here." He would fold his arms, but he's trying not to overly jostle his splinted fingers.
John's pretty good as a rule at reading below the surface; being able to tell there's something off, or there's more to a person than meets the eye. Generally that's pretty blatant when the person in question is possessed by a demon, for example, not that it seems to be the case at all here.
"Glad to hear it. Not quite, mate. I'm here because of that being, but I exist due to the sordid passions of my parents. Big difference."
For the most part, right now, Nokov looks human. His shadow is a little too dark, and if you look into his dark eyes there appear to be sparks of starlight deep within the shadows of his skull.
He rolls his eyes.
"I assume you also exist in the assumption that you have a sense of humor."
He grins, even though it's pretty obvious that Nokov didn't appreciate the joke much. But then, others seldom do. John's sense of humor is an acquired taste.
"That's me mate—inappropriate jokes for any occasion."
I've been thinking about our conversation a great deal, and I think there is at least one more thing I can do before our pairing comes to an end. If you can help me fully understand your abilities, I can petition the Admiral to have some of them restored.
[It's a while before Nokov responds, but after a few breaches and general observation, he does - reluctantly, occasionally check his communicator. There's very little that would get him to respond to any of the messages he finds there, but this, after all, was the point.
Even if he twitches a little at sharing information with someone who wants to understand.]
The night is my domain, I can’t walk there fully.
[The frustration is somewhat for himself, he’s never had to explain this, and he isn’t quite sure how.]
Before, all darkness was the same to me, I could move between them as I wanted. See what was there. Use the shadows as messages or protection. Bring people into my domain. It’s all connected.
I understand that you're not accustomed to breaking these things down, but--
Let me be very clear, Mr. Nokov: I'm not going to ask the Admiral to restore you to your full power. I don't think that's a good idea right now. Not for the Barge, and most importantly, not for you.
So if there's any way you can identify certain-- pieces, certain abilities, that would make you feel more comfortable without putting anyone at risk, I would ask that you do so. I certainly plan to make it so that you don't feel forced to eat, for example. And that you find it easier to move around the Barge, without being hindered by the lights.
[He’s of the firm opinion that restoring his full power would be the best for him, but he can’t argue it would be great for the barge.]
Generating darkness. In a limited range. I should be stronger, plenty of people here are walking around with weapons. Sending messages of shadows doesn’t hurt anyone.
That depends on the message, I find, but I'll add it to the list.
[After all, his big concern there -- thanks to Bill Cipher -- is conspiracy, and Nokov would have to have co-conspirators for that to be a problem. Frankly, that might actually be better for him than whatever he's doing now.]
I'm not against you being better-equipped to defend yourself, but how do you use the darkness you generate as a weapon?
Very well. So: the ability to generate darkness, to a range of one foot in any or all directions; the ability to send messages through shadows; physical strength comparable to... let's just say mine; the ability to subsist without having to eat or drink; and the ability to traverse the Barge without discomfort due to lighting.
[Nokov can make his silence impressively sulky, but he hadn't really been expecting that one. At least he can walk the halls in his own personal cloud of darkness, which is far more appealing than the present state of affairs, though he's not sure if it's pleasant enough to go through actually talking to a warden again.]
[He almost says something about not needing anything, but if he does get some of his powers back, that will be far more true. Which puts talking to wardens into a different category.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 03:36 pm (UTC)[After a day goes by with no response, John checks the cabin list and decides to come looking for Nokov. The name is totally unfamiliar, so he has no idea whatsoever who might answer when he shows up at 4:03 and knocks on the door.]
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 05:46 pm (UTC)The knocking is an unusual enough occasion that he opens the door, revealing a teenager John may have notice standing in the shadows of the deck or deep in the library and a dark room behind him.
"...Who are you?"
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 06:09 pm (UTC)"I'm John Constantine. I sent you a message, yeah? Provided you're Nokov, that is. I'm your warden for the month, temporary variety."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 06:12 pm (UTC)"I'm Nokov. If it was to the 'communicator', I don't have one. What are you doing here."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 06:37 pm (UTC)"Seeing if you exist, mostly. Do you want a communicator?"
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 06:44 pm (UTC)"I exist, you exist to work for the being who has trapped me here." He would fold his arms, but he's trying not to overly jostle his splinted fingers.
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 06:54 pm (UTC)John's pretty good as a rule at reading below the surface; being able to tell there's something off, or there's more to a person than meets the eye. Generally that's pretty blatant when the person in question is possessed by a demon, for example, not that it seems to be the case at all here.
"Glad to hear it. Not quite, mate. I'm here because of that being, but I exist due to the sordid passions of my parents. Big difference."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 06:59 pm (UTC)He rolls his eyes.
"I assume you also exist in the assumption that you have a sense of humor."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-02 02:03 pm (UTC)"That's me mate—inappropriate jokes for any occasion."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-02 03:27 pm (UTC)"Some people say that every human has a purpose in life."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-02 07:05 pm (UTC)"Some a bit less noble than others, I'm sure."
Getting drunk and watching porn might qualify as a purpose after all.
"Anyway, let me know if you need anything, yeah?"
no subject
Date: 2019-03-02 07:09 pm (UTC)So John fits right on.
"I need nothing from you."
no subject
Date: 2019-03-02 07:15 pm (UTC)"Right you are, squire. See you around, then."
And he'll turn to leave.
no subject
Date: 2019-03-02 07:17 pm (UTC)He retreats into his room again, firmly closing the door.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 06:51 pm (UTC)I've been thinking about our conversation a great deal, and I think there is at least one more thing I can do before our pairing comes to an end. If you can help me fully understand your abilities, I can petition the Admiral to have some of them restored.
Is that something you would want?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 07:00 pm (UTC)Even if he twitches a little at sharing information with someone who wants to understand.]
I would... like to be more myself.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 07:06 pm (UTC)But I'll need to understand what that means, first, and to what degree it's advisable.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 07:16 pm (UTC)[The frustration is somewhat for himself, he’s never had to explain this, and he isn’t quite sure how.]
Before, all darkness was the same to me, I could move between them as I wanted. See what was there. Use the shadows as messages or protection. Bring people into my domain. It’s all connected.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 07:27 pm (UTC)Let me be very clear, Mr. Nokov: I'm not going to ask the Admiral to restore you to your full power. I don't think that's a good idea right now. Not for the Barge, and most importantly, not for you.
So if there's any way you can identify certain-- pieces, certain abilities, that would make you feel more comfortable without putting anyone at risk, I would ask that you do so. I certainly plan to make it so that you don't feel forced to eat, for example. And that you find it easier to move around the Barge, without being hindered by the lights.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 07:41 pm (UTC)Generating darkness. In a limited range. I should be stronger, plenty of people here are walking around with weapons. Sending messages of shadows doesn’t hurt anyone.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 07:47 pm (UTC)That depends on the message, I find, but I'll add it to the list.
[After all, his big concern there -- thanks to Bill Cipher -- is conspiracy, and Nokov would have to have co-conspirators for that to be a problem. Frankly, that might actually be better for him than whatever he's doing now.]
I'm not against you being better-equipped to defend yourself, but how do you use the darkness you generate as a weapon?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:21 pm (UTC)[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:22 pm (UTC)[Yeah, he's... he's a little guy.]
What do you do with the darkness you generate, then?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:26 pm (UTC)What I really am, when the Admiral isn't trapping me in this form. I exist in it.
...I turn off lights?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:28 pm (UTC)[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:31 pm (UTC)['30' sounds promising, but he has no idea what the measuring system is.]
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:31 pm (UTC)About one foot?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:33 pm (UTC)...Fine.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:38 pm (UTC)Very well. So: the ability to generate darkness, to a range of one foot in any or all directions; the ability to send messages through shadows; physical strength comparable to... let's just say mine; the ability to subsist without having to eat or drink; and the ability to traverse the Barge without discomfort due to lighting.
Is there anything else?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:42 pm (UTC)[Perhaps the first sign that he does have any sort of self-awareness.]
Being able to travel through shadows?
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:51 pm (UTC)Though I do think you should practice self-advocacy with your next warden, and perhaps they'll disagree with me on that one.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 08:55 pm (UTC)Perhaps, if I get one.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 09:07 pm (UTC)Hopefully they'll be less inattentive than my predecessors were, but if not, you're well within your rights to reach out to them.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 09:12 pm (UTC)[He almost says something about not needing anything, but if he does get some of his powers back, that will be far more true. Which puts talking to wardens into a different category.]
Perhaps I will.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 09:13 pm (UTC)I hope you do. I'll let you know what the Admiral says, although I suppose you'll find out soon enough, as well.
[voice, before the port]
Date: 2019-07-23 09:15 pm (UTC)[Now he just has to go start working on even more extensive revenge plans in case the Admiral doesn't agree.]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-03 07:55 pm (UTC)