watchful-victor

[watchful-victor]

It seems like you and I could be valuable allies. I have excellent resources for intelligent, informed powers such as yourself. If you’re interested in a partnership of sorts, I can get my associates to contact you.

- I.R.

Though your offer is interesting, I’d prefer you contact me through less public channels.

I imagine you’ll have no trouble finding me elsewhere, so I’ll leave you to do so.

[watchful-victor]

Hm, unfortunate.

One of the attendees had some soft of… panic attack I believe it’s called during the meeting. I do hope he’s well.

I’m speaking with a small selection of people tonight regarding recent events.

I find this sky utterly fascinating. I’ve seen skies shatter before but the dreadful power this holds is.. impressive.

[watchful-victor]

I’m speaking with a small selection of people tonight regarding recent events.

I find this sky utterly fascinating. I’ve seen skies shatter before but the dreadful power this holds is.. impressive.

[watchful-victor]

You’re frustratingly vague, you know.

I’m at the Taskforce Base again y’all want anything. I think they have merch stowed away somewhere. I WILL find it.

[watchful-victor]

Elaborate, please.

I’m at the Taskforce Base again y’all want anything. I think they have merch stowed away somewhere. I WILL find it.

[watchful-victor]

It’s so.. difficult to find anyone reliable here, you know.

[watchful-victor]

The mind forgets but the flesh remembers. Smoke weed old man.

I have no desire to partake in any recreational drug use, nor do I have the means. The man who inhabited this body previously may have had a drug problem however I do not.

[watchful-victor]

Hey maybe you should try weed again. It might help. With all the. You know. Issues.

I don’t smoke and I never have, anon.

[watchful-victor]

Your Pokémon have such unique names! How did you come up with them?

Oh yes, of course. The majority were simply names that appealed to me. Oleander, Lilith, Vinnini… they felt fitting for their personalities

Barnabas is an exception, named for a late friend of mine. What happened to him was a tragedy, though I feel he’d appreciate knowing his name wasn’t truly forsaken.

[watchful-victor]

Hello, Jonah Magnus.

Hello, anon.

You know… I’ve debating switching to that name entire but I’ve found far more people know me as simply Elias.

[watchful-victor]

They’re onto youuuuuuuuuuuu

I’ve been removed from the Taskforce server. Pity.. though I suppose I can finally drop this godforsaken pseudonym.

[watchful-victor]

[It’s a video file. Would you like to watch?]

//TW: Gun violence, injury, attempted murder

————

Just the barest slivers of evening light crept in through cracks in the window blinds, casting the archivist’s office in a dim, copper glow. His head rested on the desk, half-read papers tucked below hands forming a makeshift pillow, while his back slowly rose and fell with the rythmn of breath.

It was almost serene.

Slowly, the door behind him creaked open. Maybe one of his Pokémon, or Martin..?

The sharp silhouette certainly didn’t look like Martin, something rather unsettling in his grin. He wasn’t trailed by any of the creatures the pair kept as company, either.

..Wait, where were Jon’s Pokémon..? If this really was a stranger in his home, shouldn’t they have warned him?

But the man remained unopposed as he took slow, measured steps towards him, looming over the sleeping Archivist.

Even in the dim light you could effortlessly make out his emerald green suit and the stark white of a mask, one hand slowly lifting to remove it from his face.

..Those eyes. Those unmistakable, sterling silver eyes that even through a recording felt as though they started through your very soul. Maybe it was just a trick of the mind, but they somehow felt… far older than the body they belonged to.

He cast a glance to the camera recording, eyes narrowed before he softly sighed.

Turning back to the Archivist, one hand reached for something in his suit while the other carefully lifted a weathered page from Jon’s desk. He chuckled lowly, before setting it aside and replacing it with a passage of his own. His hand traced the side of Jon’s face, tucking a few stray hairs behind his ear before finally coming to rest on his shoulder.

Jon stirred and groaned, His hands shifting to better shield his eyes from the disturbance but he didn’t wake.

“Good morning, Jonathan.”

He jolted with a stuttering gasp, all dredges of exhaustion gone in an instant as he felt cold metal press against the back of his neck.

He didn’t turn around, he knew that smug- slimy voice better than anyone.

“E- Elias”

The hand on his shoulder held firm, fingers gripping hard enough to leave bruises.

“You know, I was wondering what it’d take for you to confront me.” He let out another low, threatening chuckle. “I have to give you some credit. You were so very close, you just didn’t want to admit it. You were afraid.”

Jon felt bile rise his throat, a sickening terror settling in his gut and paralyzing him. He didn’t even glance at the paper.

“You- you were dead” Jon croaked out through shuddering gasps, only to earn another dreadful laugh in response.

“And so were you, Jon”

Jon opened his mouth to speak but all that came out through gasping breaths was a strangled, terrified noise.

He wanted to desperately to curl in on himself- hide and pretend this was just a particularly bad nightmare. Maybe- that’s what this all was. Just another night terror that’d be gone the moment he opened his eyes and he’d be safe in Martin’s arms-

The hand on his shoulder pinned him in place. His trembling fingers dug into the wood of the desk as the gun pressed harder against his spine, his breaths catching in his throat as he desperately searched his surroundings for something- anything.

“None of that.” Elias tutted, releasing his grip on Jon’s shoulder to tap the paper before him. “I’m not going to harm you, Jon. I’m only curious.”

Slowly, Jon’s gaze drifted to the page, and he felt his blood turn to ice.

‘I suppose there’s no reason for me to deceive you this time, Jon. You’ve run rather low on options and..’ It continued, but Jon froze right then and there.

Oh, oh god.

“You’re already quite familiar with what it reads” No he- he couldn’t do this again-

“I only need you to speak it.”

Jon fell utterly silent, his gaze locked in absolute terror. He had nowhere to go, pinned beneath those silver eyes like a moth to a board.

Elias wrapped his finger around the trigger of the gun. “Jon”

He couldn’t do this again. He couldn’t watch another world fall because of him. He couldn’t- he wouldn’t-

The barrel pressed harder against his spine. “Jon”

He snapped.

His head whirled around to face Elias, jostling the weapon’s aim and shifting it to his shoulder.

Jon reeled back his fist for a swing as Elias gasped and gripped the trigger.

Recording ends.

————

[watchful-victor]

…Pity.

[watchful-victor]

ZZT. ROTO LEAK

----- #unknown channel > Jon S: I found something. > ???: ??? > Jon S: I ah.. I was digging through old records. > Jon S: There is nothing to suggest he existed at all before... > ???: ??? > Jon S: He ah.. applied for a trainer ID through Kalos' faller program on July 17th, 2024. > ???: ??? > Jon S.: Yes. > Jon S.: I fell July 16th as well, only in the year 18xx due to Hisui. > Jon S.: Meaning not only is he a faller, he's one that happened to fall at the exact same time me and Martin did. > Jon S.: Which ah… leaves uncomfortably few options in regards to his identity. > ???: ??? > ???: ??? > Jon S.: ..You think it's Elias, don't you. > ???: ??? > Martin B: And Peter wouldn't go anywhere near social media. > ???: ??? > Jon S.: Yes I don't… ah… > Jon S.: If we're right I don't… > Jon S.: I don't want to risk provoking him until we know. ---- DIRECT MESSAGES. JON @ MARTIN > Jon S.: I don't want to lose anyone else to him > Martin B: I- I know, Jon. > Martin B: I'm scared too.

----

[watchful-victor]

How odd. I was almost certain Jon was meant to be challenging Nessa in Hulbury stadium today. I was rather looking forward to spectating that match.

He is fascinating to watch battle, you know.

[watchful-victor]

△ What do you know about a man named "Jonathan Sims"?

I- know that he's an idiot. I know that he is very, very afraid, and has been for a long time.

And I doubt that'll change anytime soon.

[watchful-victor]

Pelipper mail!

Five hundred pounds of coffee flavoured ice cream.

Note attached reads…

“We have too much ice cream due to dairy overproduction. Have fun.”

- @the-infernal-promo-page

...I need to find somewhere to dispose of this. Preferably before it all spoils.