ᴊᴇssᴇ ғᴀᴅᴇɴ | ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᶦʳᵉᶜᵗᵒʳ. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
outlierdirector) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
synthneon2023-11-01 01:57 am
outlierdirector) wrote in synthneon2023-11-01 01:57 am
oceanview || ❝ i must guide my love through the night. ❞
I cannot feel her by my side
Even in this placе inside my mind
no subject
[ She smirks. ] Well, a different dimension, but, sure. Another planet.
[ « Because that's entirely normal to say. Good, Jesse. Good job. » ]
From everything we've gathered? It's hostile, but not fatal. You can't use a dead artist to dream you into reality. It needs you alive and your mind. But not what makes you who you are.
[ Her head tilts at the leading statement.
Then, she asks the question.
« There it is. I was waiting for that question. Or, implication. I knew she'd start to wonder or figure it out. Even if I didn't make it obvious... it's probably obvious to normal people. People who have relationships and aren't a magnet for paranormal entities or whatever. » ]
Yeah. [ A short semi-guarded answer. She can't help it. ] I do. Is that going to be a problem?
no subject
I'm going to be honest with you, that's not at all how I thought this worked. [ Is it possible that Wake's as much a victim of all this as the rest of us are? ]
I never thought of Wake as anything but someone dragging people into his crazy story just because he could, and not even thinking for a second about how he's impacting those people and their lives.
[ It's not until Jesse goes on to talk more about the hostile nature of the Dark Place that Saga's opinion really shifts and changes. ]
So what you're saying is that the last thirteen years haven't been a walk in the park for him. I mean, I didn't really think that, but- I guess I didn't know just how bad it was. And I kind of still don't, but you paint a really grim picture even with the little you've told me.
[ But a smile that wants to become a grin takes Saga's face then. She's not some cold agent who doesn't smile or doesn't like seeing people making connections. Building relationships. If Jesse's doing that with Wake, well, more power to her, really. ]
No, not a problem. I just- Well... It must not be that easy for you, being on this side of things while he's dealing with hostile realities and who knows what else.
no subject
He's complicated.
[ « And definitely in need of a good shake. »
Jesse nods once more. She doesn't expect Saga to see the whole picture. The profiler doesn't work on the scope of the world that she does. All Saga needs to know is that Alan is as human as the rest of them and the newest in a long line of the people used and destroyed by the Dark Presence. Alan may have facilitated the cause of the horror story, but, he isn't an evil megalomaniac that everyone thinks him to be. ]
No. It's not easy. But, I focus on what I can. Stopping the story, fighting it in different ways. Maybe he'll come home this time.
[ « I can't shake the feeling that in order to change the story... I need to be in less control. I need to be more hands off. Take a step back and, I don't know, guide things. I don't like it. » ]
no subject
Alright. So what can I do to help? From what I can tell, there needs to be more people helping Wake by fighting back against the story, so I'm ready to do that. [ Maybe the shift seems sudden, but that's how Saga works sometimes. She knows how to be decisive, and now seems like a time for decisiveness. ]
I might not really agree with Wake or his methods, but I can put that aside. There's more important things going on here. Perspective, right?
[ She slides her hands onto her hips. ]
So, what are these different ways of fighting the story?
no subject
« Better to work with her and solve this than fight with each other. That's probably what the Dark Presence wants anyways. The more we fight, the more we seperate, and the easier it wins.
...that's what happened before, isn't it? Alan and I got close. We were winning. So, it pulled us apart and used that against him. Keeping him in a loop more and more. »
Jesse turns and looks at the case board. ]
What have you found out about the story so far? It changes every time, I think. Or at least little parts here and there. We need to figure out what is familiar and go from there. [ She sighs, rubbing her shoulder out of a habit. ] Like I said, I don't know how many loops there has been. But, you picked up on and know that it's just repeating several things. I'm guessing you've made notes to yourself... because I found a way to remind myself.
[ The wounds disappear and she stands there in the same outfit. ] When you try to change the way things go, it starts fighting back. It tried go turn us on one another using the fact you wanted to get this Clicker to Alan. So, finding out what hasn't changed will give us an idea of what we can try to do this time around differently.
Then, we go from there.
no subject
Well, it probably seems like nothing, but it has to all mean something, right? Like pieces of a picture sliding into place.
[ And just like that, the case board changes, with all the pieces of evidence Saga has found so far sliding into place so that Jesse can peruse it. It's all there, the information gained about Nightingale, the Bookers, the Koskelas, and of course, Alan himself.
She startles just a bit when she sees how the wounds disappear from Jesse just like that, but it's one more thing she chalks off to the weirdness of dream logic. ]
Well, if it fights back, I'll fight back too. And maybe between the two of us, we can make something happen. Obviously, changing the story and saving my daughter is important; but what about saving everyone?
[ Saga knows she has moments of being distracted because of her duty as a mother and that protective mother bear instinct, but when she's not feeling so emotionally charged, she can still see the bigger picture. Sometimes, anyway. And the bigger picture is that changing the story and fighting it when necessary will eventually save all of them. ]
I think the basic framework of the story hasn't changed. Cultists, rituals, deaths... [ Saga's eyes seem to darken briefly as her daughter comes to mind. ] I don't know if you and I striking a kind of partnership was factored into it, though.
no subject
[ « I wouldn't be surprised if she thinks we're doing a shit job. »
Jesse steps forward to inspect the Case Board as it changes. Her head tilts slightly at each little note. She can tell how the story has almost drastically changed in some regards. Though, certain things always stay the same. Casey goes missing at some point. The FBC is present almost too late. The FBI doesn't trust Alan. Some details--like the relationship she has with the Writer--aren't present. At least not yet. She's sure Saga will put it together. ]
Alan would say he doesn't deserved to be saved. [ Her tone is flat and factual. ] He's going to try and change things so he gets the brunt of the damage and everyone else gets out with as little damage possible. It's not all his fault, but he blames himself for it anyways.
I don't think it counted on the FBI and FBC being in on it together, no. You'd have every reason not to get along with us or trust us. [ Jesse glances over her shoulder with a smile. ] I tend to be the outlier.
no subject
Between the two of us, I wouldn't mind the chance to study some of that.. the strange and unexplained, or what people think of as unexplained. Maybe I'm naive, but I still believe that the more something is studied, the less unexplained and unknowable it becomes.
[ As for what she thinks about the FBC and the job they're doing, Saga hasn't fully developed an opinion as yet. The preliminary feeling she has is that the odds are stacked against them, or maybe they're stacked against Jesse who has a lot on her plate. That doesn't mean she's doing a bad job; it just means she's doing the best that she can. But if Jesse's anything at all like Saga, she might want to do more than the best she can. Still, it feels like one of those things that's done one step at a time.
She watches Jesse inspecting the Board, and as she does, Saga re-reads the notes as well. ]
I don't know whether to call that admirable or futile in the long run. Self-sacrifice might be honorable or respectable, but it's not always necessary. Perhaps I misjudged him. Perhaps.
[ She turns her gaze back to Jesse, giving her a considering gaze. ] If the shoe is on the other foot, you have every reason to not get along with us or trust us. [ She smiles back at the other agent, hoping to try and extend an olive branch of sorts. ]
no subject
I'm pretty sure there's always going to be something to be studied, Saga. One AWE is never the end of them. [ Jesse pauses, glancing to the side. Polaris shimmers and she nods. ] I was part of one as a kid. It came back eighteen years later in a different way. There's always more.
[ « "Perhaps" is better than nothing for now, I guess. » ]
Then the one common factor is if both of us can trust each other over Alan Wake. What do you think?
no subject
[ She chuckles and then smiles. ] If there is, I'm all over it. The more I can learn about these AWEs and what goes on in and around them, the better. I- Well, I don't see a point in not admitting how curious I am. But don't get me wrong, I won't be running headlong into danger. [ Maybe. It depends on what's going on and how dangerous it is. If I can get answers... Well, I know I have to be careful. ]
Wait, you were? And it came back eighteen years later? Wow. [ So maybe she's not at the center of events, because it sounds like these events just happen, but she's got a pretty strong connection, from what it sounds like. I don't want to pry, but that's not just a coincidence. ]
Yes, I agree. That seems to be a good starting point for both of us. So, what now? What do you need me to do?
[ It's going to be an adjustment, but I've worked alongside other partners before. I can learn to work with her. ]