THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2020
- MAG151 - Case #0181408 - Simon Fairchild
Statement regarding Peter Lukas and The Extinction.
The Magnus Archives gets a personal visit from, and the story of, a long-lived man with a grand perspective on current affairs and a vastly underappreciated artistic talent.
Content Notes: Threats of violence
Starring: Simon Fairchild - Karim Kronfli; Martin Blackwood - Alexander J Newall; Basira Hussain - Frank Voss
Writer: Jonathan Sims
Director: Alexander J Newall
Producer: Lowri Ann Davies
Editors: Alexander J Newall, David Devereux, Brock Winstead
MERCH:
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Redbubble: www.redbubble.com/people/Rust... - Zábava
"Pandemics"
*sweats nervously*
Oh this actually aged interestingly
:(
"the only reason this one feels special is because it's happening to you" god im sure the extinction's having a field day with 2020
Maybe it's the birth year of the Extinction oO
@@luminanightfall4111 no doesn't quite seem that we're there yet. We pushed through the Corruption and the Lonely so far.
I am sure 2020 was a fun year if you are an avatar of fear
@@thiagoalencar3937no bc imagine being am avatar of the vast stuck quarantining that must be awful
Statistically though more people started doing outdoor activities (camping, hiking, rafting, etc) during the pandemic because you weren't around people. Easy pickings for the vast
Simon: I'm over 72, *jumps* and I feel great!
… well I mean technically..
simon fairchild: i’m here for a good time AND a long time
Sky grandpa is here to party! 😁
@@TheNitpickChick he's notorious for raising the roof at parties!!!!!!!! someone come and get peepaw!!!!!!
@@triciajanedomalanta1860 this comment doesn’t have enough likes 💀💀💀
He's 500 years old ._.
Some of the avatars: trying to manipulate each other, kidnappings, death treats
Simon, Peter and elias: probably founded a "horrible old men just having fun"club at some point to meet one time a month
I bet they go golfing at the edge of the universe a few times a year
@@hamburgerdog25 and I bet that Simon tried to push the others over the edge the one or other time
@@cae2212
Lukas: erm, Mr. Buschard, do I believe we're falling through a metaphysical chasm?
Elias: ugh. Yes, Peter. Damn it, Simon and his "jokes."
[Meanwhile, on the space green, Simon is laughing joyfully/maniacally]
Simon: oh, it never manages to shake them. No fun, those two.
Lol I put Jurgen Leitner instead of Peter Lukas by mistake
@@hamburgerdog25I kinda wanna draw that now... if it's okay I'll give credit (I'll update when I'm done too)
"I have a good time. And do my best to avoid the drama."
"EUUGH. Sounds horrible."
"I don't know."
"But without a certain knowledge of 1930s tax practices..."
"Statement ends, I suppose!"
"Well this HAS been fun!"
"bOlD. i lIkE iT."
"Either billions sUfFeR and life goes oN...or billons suffer and life DOESN'T go on!"
*You know, I actually like Simon... he's so...charmingly, cheerfully... apocalyptic.*
I mean that is a good mind set to avoid drama and needless stress
“How do you feel about…roller coasters?”
I get the feeling that Simon misses Mike.
He wants to adopt a new kid
I miss Mike tbh
"I'm pretty sure he was homeschooled"
I burst out laughing
"Because it wasn't a very good idea"
"I'll be dead, which will be fine."
"I think our experience of the Universe has meaning, even if it disappears forever." Thank you Martin for the inspiration
Simon Fairchild is really out here just living his best life I love him.
as someone who was homeschooled i find the idea of peter being a homeschool kid incredibly funny
God I love simon, he's literally just vibing, what an icon
"I have a good time. And do my best to avoid the drama." Tma Ep 151
Yep. He b VIBIN.
Your local vibin' murderous grandpa. I want to see the three of them (with Elias and Peter) just chill honestly
@@JinxSnowOctober Simon has no chill. Too busy jumping off of things and out of things.
Simon is an immortal done right
Dilly, dally.
Virgin John: “Simon’s scary, I don’t wanna meet him…”
Chad Martin: “Sit the fuck down, sky grandpa.”
I love how the entities reflect everyone's personalities: Elias is a know it all snob with no sense of privacy, Peter can't talk to anybody, Maxwell Raynar was blinded by his own hubris and Simon Fairchild doesn't give a shit about anything except having a good time because nothing matters in the grand scheme of things.
Simon has a certain point
I guess it makes sense that an avatar of The Vast comes across as such a big personality.
Nihilistic yet bubbly 500 years old ex-painter ocean-enthusiast murderer identity-thief tax-frauder sky grandpa is *a* *lot* for just one character. Damn
500 years is a long time, gotta keep it interesting!
@@Vi_Vi_1
Yeah I guess lol
At least he's living stress free unlike most
@@l.raphaelnery7299
True
He's living his best life
Who else misses the original four?
Sasha: I came out to have a great time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked.
Tim: I came out to attack people and I'm honestly having a great time.
Martin: I came out.
Jon: Congrats.
I'm imagining S1 Jon saying 'congrats' to Martin in the most annoyed, disdainful voice imaginable
Highkey was the only time i liked all the cast.
@@bluewolf619125 Not me, I liked everyone except Jon...
Oh, how the turn tables
The idea that all the rituals and everything are for naught because the entities don't actually care is such a good concept. Also Simon is the best avatar, hope he's living his best life
I don't think Simon is a full avatar, is he? The avatars are the ones who transform into monsters that hunger and feed on people, aren't they? Simon seems like he's still mostly human
@@AlteredNova04 how outwardly monstrous an avatar becomes depends a lot on the fear they serve, i think. as cheery as simon is in his conversation here, he DOES still feed on the fear he inflicts on his victims as he murders them just as cheerily. i think between that, and the fact that simon is 500+ years old places him firmly under the full avatar catagory.
I saw this idea in a comment a while back, and it's stuck in my mind until now. I keep thinking back to the thing that Lightener said, about how an ant wouldn't be able to conceptualize a boot from a hand, wouldn't think they were the same being. I always thought, what would happen if someone's ritual succeeded? Would the boot just come through, or the whole person?
@@notlurking2128 if you actually commented this before listening episode 160 I salute you
@@ineedmoresalmon2475Spoilers, I guess?
I did! I commented this on my first listen through of every ep without any ideas of spoilers lol. In the comments of ep 160 I was like YES I AM VALIDATED AND MY THEORY WAS CORRECT. It was great but also not great cause I wanted to hear about good cows :(
You think all the avatars have like- a group server, and Jon and Helen just aren’t considered cool enough to join yet?
They don't like Jon because he's such a self destructive, sarcastic little prick, who's dead set on avoiding any and all apocolypses, so they don't want him to join the chat and share all their deepest secrets while telling them off for causing destruction. Helen is friends with Jon so they don't want her to add him.
They probably don’t add anyone from the eye ngl
@@cherrisoda892 Elias is from the Eye and had VARIOUS contacts to others
Sending memes n shit
Jons that one kid like hey man we don't have to do this. And Helen is the wild child.
At least this old guy has fun
Okay, Power scaling is hard, but Simon seems to be at the same level as Peter or Reyner or Elias or Annabelle. Which means that Peter called in a favour with one of the 14 most powerful people in the world just to avoid an awkward conversation. He is the King of introverts
I can relate
That is accurate.... especially that part when Simon said he lost a bet
Simon Fairchild is my favorite Avatar.
THE Roller Coaster Tycoon?!?
This is Nikola erasure
idk, I think Aang still goes head strong for me
Y'all forgot Mike Crew
Mine too
Martin: What is Peter doing?
Simon: His best.
The massive exposition dump episode. Not sure if I can add anything to the discussion for this episode, it carries itself. Simon is the Sugar Grandpa we all want. Nuff sed.
I was joking about Evil Venn Diagrams being a thing, but I'm surprised how on the nose it kinda was.
Exposition ? Simon basically said he didn't know anything.
Martin: "I think we humans put a lot of meaning into the world"
Simon: *holds laughter in* "That's nice, kid"
Simon Fairchild has that sweet grandpa feel like you could have some tea with him
and then he'd turn you into a speck of dust so you'd drown in the now vast ocean (for you) that is the tea
he's the type of grandpa the grandkids all love but every time he babysits the kids nearly die because he just lets them do whatever they want and gives them dangerous things to play with
I love the episode description. Simon Fairchild has "a vastly under-appreciated artistic talent." I see what you did there lol
Basira: Jon found the tapes you made for him-
Martin (frantically): Shhh, shhhhhh
OH, CMMMMMOOON YOU EVIL CINNAMON ROLL, SAY THE "S" WORD, YOU CAN DO IT!!!
what 's' word are you referring to?? am i slow?
@@riotb4719 I think shut up?
No it’s [REDACTED]
mild spoilers for s5
fast foreward to mag 163 where the ep starts off with Martin yelling " SHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT"
Ah. Evil Good Time Bastard Grandad is so much fun!
Simon sounds like he could narrate nature documentaries lol, also 15:35 is making me question my sexuality and i dont know how to feel.
Holy shit?? I liked Simon already but his voice is amazing!! Time passed so fast while I heard him talk. He certainly got the charisma on check too.
Fun fact! His voice actor is also a professional fire-eater
"COULD YOU AT LEAST. TRY." Martin is such a mood. Also, trying to get a recipe out of your grandparents is exactly like this.
Why does Simon have such as charismatic voice pls help
Jon kind of has all the answers to your questions Martin 👀 Also, does anyone else love Simon Fairchild??
Simon is my favorite avatar apart from The Distortion (Helen and Michael are both great ☺️).
He’s just so fun! 😁
A fan club seems to have started spontaneously.
I swear to god if this all ends in gay love piercing through the veil of darkness to save the day I am going to hug that rouge Supernatural fan to death.
AKSLSL PLEASE THIS MADE ME SCREAM 😭😭😭
Well this definitely ended in gay love piercing SOMETHING ;-;
Do we maybe get an update?
Gay love definitely does something :')
Came for the cosmic horror, stayed for the JonMar romantic subplot. I've never been a shipper but goddam if this isn't my otp
Hahaha, you're going to eat well in season five
@@AJ-pq5zx I already binged it. The only thing bad about this podcast is that none of my friends are into it so I can't talk about it more
"We're not. Sit back down." DAAAAAAAAAAAMN MARTIN
Also:
"I think you're feeding him what he needs to hear so he won't bother you." Basira's got him pegged alright. Martin is way more capable than anyone gave him credit for, and he's got everyone dancing to his tune right now. I'm glad someone cut through the BS for a second even if it didn't change much.
The Vast avatars are all just so likeable
"how do you feel about rollercoaster?"
"Erm, neutral"
"You're no fun"
Holy shit Simon is hilarious, he's the best, I automatically trust him more than like 98% of people.
Also, Martin's character development is really good, because it's sad as he's become so bitter and angsty compared to season 1+2 when he was sweet and shy, but it's also awesome cause every time he stands up for himself I'm like "you're doing amazing sweetie". God, I love him being assertive.
me: *trusts simon*
Simon: I might drop you off somethng for a joke. how do you feel about roller coasters
me: ...
That “roller coasters!” And then “aw you’re no fun” just hit me as the best thing ever and I don’t know why...
I love the airplane sound around mr fairchild it adds a lot with such a subtle detail
Sky Grandpa! How delightful.
Literally 20 minutes ago I hated Simon but I just. Did a 180. I stan now
Oh my God, I love Simon. He's just so chipper!
How come nobody in this show knows how to be a little sympathetic man like damn
Martin’s cutting himself off and might be getting himself in trouble but basira comes barging in angry and accusing instead of being understanding? Everyone does this, especially to Jon. But we all know about that already
Look, man. The whole Archives thing isn't exactly conductive to healthy relationships. If I was trapped in an office job from hell where eldritch horrors would try to kill me any time I left the building, and my co-worker was also an eldritch horror, and so was my boss, and so was my other co-worker, and so was my girlfriend (but she stopped), and the place's old boss (who's in jail for bashing a guy's head in with a pipe) was still fucking antagonizing me, and then I spotted my co-worker who's been working with our new boss (the one that has terrifying eldritch powers) and withdrawing from the group talking to ANOTHER eldritch horror who we BOTH KNOW has subjected several people to the Terrors of Open Space for funsies, I wouldn't be very rational in confronting him either.
@@spawnofheck504 Just wanted to point out you are probably also becoming an eldritch monster.
He may be a monster, but Simon Fairchild seems like he'd be a fun kinda guy. Assuming he didn't try to... eat you, or whatever.
God I haven't even listened yet and I want funky sky grandpa to show his love for me as his favorite grandchild by yeeting me off a building
this just gives off the vibes of every awesome grandpa ever, just yeeting the child
@@broblerone413 How else do they learn to fly?
Simon Fairchild is easily one of my favorite characters in the series. He's clearly a pragmatic, clever individual who quite literally always sees and understands the big picture. But at the same time he seems to have run out of fucks to give a few centuries ago, and recognizes the insignificance of his and everyone else's time and impact on the universe. But rather than succumbing to some grand existential crisis over the matter, he's made his peace with it and simply lives in the moment.
It probably helps that I've always felt that if I were to be "aligned" with any of the powers it would be The Vast. It's simultaneously terrifying and fascinating all at once.
That is a wonderful description
Well 2020 is really giving me extinction vibes
“Let’s start over; Simon. Simon Fairchild.” I feel like I just got beamed in the head with a discus, it’s *H I M*-
The fact that Simon Fairchild is originally italian fills me with joy 💓🇮🇹
getting self-sacrificial tim flashbacks and i do NOT like it. martin you better survive this or so help me god, i WILL... cry ;~;
2:29 wtf does he mean "peter was not exaggerating"??? i listened to this for the first time like a year ago and i still have no idea what that could allude to. is martin just a snack?
remember when jon was surprised to hear that basira said that martin was "not the hot one"
I think hes talking about how smart Martin is, and the amount of questions he asks
@@hermazingbartels2377 when wa sthis?
@@jonahyogman6282 52, about 8 mins in
Lot of people falling out of buildings in the 1930s, so I imagine it was a good cover.
This is an amazing comment holy shit.
I will NOT be h*rny for the sky grandpa. I refuse out-of-hand.
Assfffgghh this sent me
I love how amused Simon sounds throughout this episode
OOOOH GODS, the moment he said "Imagine you're deaf" my internet connection broke, the video stopped and my room became entirely silent. Wtf?!
"We're not [done]. Sit back down." is so hot tho 🥵
makes me want to sob how suicidal martin is being at the end with all this self sacrifice bollocks.. like basira, sweetie- comfort the bastard... he needs help
Finally the short king Simon Fairchild himself is here.
Also, you know who we haven't heard of in a good long while? John Amherst, the sweaty boi, like, where is he? What's he doing?
EDIT: Nevermind he's been doing AMAZING appearently.
as someone from years in the future... I think The Extinction had quite a good time during 2020
When basira said "I guess I'm just a bit burned out on the end of the world" i felt that 😭
We're fine.
"I do my best to have a good time," says Simon Fairchild, chucking an unsuspecting bystander into the void.
"I don't know."
"I can't help you."
"No clue"
"All the answers for those difficult questions" XD
Oh my word it's getting worse! How is that even possible???
Lmao how
haha this episode is totally fine in 2020 haha
Hi Alex!
The Entities are a lot like Azathoth. Just there doing their own thing, destroying anything they touch, completely mindless.
I don't know if I like Simon or Peter more with that cheerful evil vibe. Or Elias. Can't resist that smug asshole, especially when he gets punched. So many good villains.
“Tell me I’m wrong”
“You’re wrong”
I somehow knew I'd like Simon Fairchild. Not as a person, hell no, he's a horrible man. But I like him as a character, best avatar by far. Overall I've liked the Vast the most, probably because I mostly like wide open spaces. The ocean and the sky and the space. If I had to pick an entity to serve it'd be the Vast, or the Lonely. Being in a wide open field with endless horizon and sky all alone without anyone near for miles and miles? Sounds amazing
You're not just gonna die are you Martin?..... Right?
"Ice ages, PANDEMICS" i see what you did there Sims, I see
Pretty sure that's just a coincidence? This episode came out really early in COVID on the podcast feed, around August 2019 which I think was before it really hit pandemic levels if I remember right. It was just like a year late coming to CZcams.
@@Idran nahh man, you just don't see the big picture
fuck things are about to get real. im hoping jon is gonna be martins anchor to get him out of the Lonely jesusuuuuuss
Simon is actually so great! And, to be honest, the Vast is one of the fears I feel affected by the least, so I already saw him as less threatening; then it turns out he’s straight up VIBING through life like this? I love him.
Simon Fairchild: SPAAAAAACE
UNKNOWN
Oh! Hello.
Hmmm…
[CHAIR SCRAPING, PAPER SHUFFLING]
Mm-hm! [laugh]
[MORE PAPER SHUFFLING, CLANKING/BANGING, LIKE A LARGE OBJECT BEING SHIFTED OR A DOOR OPENING]
[laugh]
[SOUND OF SMALLER OBJECTS BEING SHIFTED AROUND]
MARTIN
Um, excuse me sir - uh, sorry, you - can’t actually be here?
UNKNOWN
Oh, not to worry! I seem to be doing all right so far.
MARTIN
No, I, I mean - this area is actually off limits to the public, so -
UNKNOWN
And quite right, too! Goodness, the things they could learn here! Turn your hair white, eh? (chuckles) Best to keep them out, I say.
[THE UNKNOWN MAN CONTINUES TURNING PAGES, ‘HMM’ING TO HIMSELF.]
MARTIN
(suspicious) …who are you? Did Peter send you?
UNKNOWN
Ah! You must be Martin. Goodness, he was not exaggerating.
MARTIN
What’s that supposed to mean?
UNKNOWN
Oh, come now, don’t be like that.
Let’s start over. Simon. Simon Fairchild. Peter asked me to look in on you and have a small chat. Well, a big chat, really. Answer all those… nagging questions.
MARTIN
Simon Fairchild.
…(nervous laugh) Wait, Simon Fairchild, as in -
SIMON
As in, all those people who said I did horrible things to them and their loved ones? Yes!
…They have been in, haven’t they? I’d hate to think I’m underrepresented in here - not when Peter tells me that that (derisive) bone fellow has at least half a dozen -
MARTIN
No, no! (nervous laugh) Not, not at all. You, you’ve sent plenty of people our way.
SIMON
Brilliant! So. Shall we get started?
MARTIN
S-sorry, (nervous laugh) I’m still not entirely clear what’s going on. What are you doing here?
SIMON
I see! I suppose it was a bit much to expect him to have filled you in on everything already. I mean - in many ways - that’s the point.
MARTIN
(resigned) …riiight.
SIMON
So. You’ve been working with Peter for a while now, correct?
MARTIN
Sure.
SIMON
And he’s been promising you answers to all those - difficult questions?
MARTIN
I, I mean, sort of.
SIMON
Well, that’s me.
MARTIN
What?
SIMON
Yes, well, you have to understand how it is with Peter. He finds talking to people directly very difficult. Especially explaining the more, um - esoteric side of things? Charming chap, I’m sure you agree - absolutely lovely - but even if you can convince him to actually give you a straight answer, he’s just not that good at actually putting these things into words.
Something to do with his upbringing, I think. (conspiratorial whisper) I’m pretty sure he was home-schooled, you know!
MARTIN
So - so, what, he sends you to answer questions because he doesn’t want to?
SIMON
Precisely!
MARTIN
And you do it? Why?
SIMON
Is that your first question?
MARTIN
(tense) …is there a limit?
SIMON
Only until I get bored. And that does tend to come more quickly these days.
MARTIN
O…okay, okay then, sure, sure. First question, then. Why are you helping Peter? Don’t you serve different, you know, fears?
SIMON
Well, now… See, that’s actually two questions. The answer to the first is simple. I lost a bet, and this is how the good Captain chooses to use that.
The second is… sort of? I mean - yes, if you want to get technical, he serves the One Alone and I serve the Falling Titan, but those two are a lot closer than you might imagine.
After all, the larger the space you find yourself alone in, the more isolated you feel.
MARTIN
And being aware of how lonely you are (dry laugh) can make anywhere feel more empty.
SIMON
Exactly.
I’ve actually been toying with the idea of trying to do something with the scale of humanity itself - you know, emphasize all that overpopulation nonsense - but honestly, it just doesn’t ring true for me. We’re all just so tiny and pointless, you see, it’s hard to really get past it.
Also, I worry it might be straying into territory that emboldens our potential new rival.
MARTIN
The Extinction.
SIMON
The very same. Peter said you’d have a lot of questions about that one.
MARTIN
I do.
How are new powers born?
SIMON
Hmm… Don’t know.
MARTIN
How soon could it attempt this ritual?
SIMON
(cheerily) No clue.
MARTIN
How do we stop it?
SIMON
Can’t help you.
MARTIN
(teeth gritted) Could you at least try?
SIMON
No, no, no, you’re right, of course. The thing you have to remember is that no one actually knows how these things work - not really.
There’s always been plenty of theories, of course, and over a century or two you do start to get an intuitive feel for it, but… there’s really no hard-and-fast rules.
The powers, or entities, or fears, or whatever you want to call them, are bound up in emotion. In feeling. How they exist, what they can do, how they interact with the world… it all makes about as much logical sense as a nightmare.
[MARTIN INHALES]
Which is to say, there is a certain sort of emotional logic to it all: things feel like they flow together in a way that makes sense, but if you try to stop and do the maths, then it all comes apart. At least, in my experience.
When is a new power born? Well, when does it feel like its birth would be right? When enough creatures suffer a terror of it that feels distinct, that feels truly its own? Then it would probably feel right for it to emerge into its own.
Or perhaps there’s a ritual. If it feels right to enact some sort of birthing ceremony, some… apocalyptic midwifery -
MARTIN
(interrupting) And how close is it, do you think?
SIMON
Hard to be sure. Peter thinks very close indeed, what with all the current hubbub, and I’m inclined to agree.
MARTIN
You don’t sound worried.
SIMON
That’s because we disagree on exactly how bad it will be. Peter seems convinced that the Extinction is different, that its actual birth will be as bad - or worse - as another power fully manifesting. He believes its advent will be heralded by all sorts of disasters, and catastrophes, and global upheavals, and whatnot. That kind of thing.
MARTIN
Sounds like a rich feeding ground.
SIMON
Well, exactly! Peter, however, seems to think that it will upset the balance that we all have an awful lot invested in. And he’s not at all certain the world as we understand will come out the other side.
MARTIN
And let me guess: you think he can’t see the big picture.
SIMON
(exhale) I see why he likes you.
[MARTIN SIGHS]
It’s all a matter of perspective, you see. My patron has gifted me with, quite frankly, an absurdly long life. An appropriate gift, and one that serves to provide a certain distance from things. Of course, a paltry few centuries is nothing, really, but it’s more than most get. And even in that brief time, I’ve seen all sorts of ebbs and flows to the balance of things.
Do you know when the last ritual I attempted was?
MARTIN
- I - I don’t know, that space station…?
SIMON
Oh, goodness, no, that’s the future, my boy! No. It was 1853! The height of the aquarium mania! All over the empire, people were starting to understand the depths of the terrible unknown below the ocean. And I thought that was a rich vein to be tapped. Even bothered old Halley1 into helping me design a special diving bell for the ritual. I called it the Awful Deep, and between you and me, I was rather proud of myself.
MARTIN
So why didn’t it work?
SIMON
Because it wasn’t a very good idea…? The fear wasn’t out there - not like I hoped it was. It all sort of… fizzled.
Also, a Hunter broke in and destroyed the mechanism. Sent me and all my sacrifices plummeting to the bottom of the ocean.
MARTIN
I don’t see your point.
SIMON
(inhale) My point is…
…you know, I’ve quite forgotten!
[MARTIN SIGHS IN FRUSTRATION]
SIMON
Hey, I’ve just not been doing much recently. It’s not a good time for perspective, you see. The world all feels too small these days.
I used to do a lot with religion, but it’s just not got the same conceptual scope as it used to. Honestly, I’m pinning most of my long-term hopes on space. But that’s at least a hundred years away.
MARTIN
(tense) Assuming the Extinction doesn’t derail everything…!
SIMON
Which is why I’m happy helping Peter.
But, if it does, then I’ll either be dead, which will be fine, or… I’ll adjust.
MARTIN
It doesn’t scare you…?
SIMON
Martin. Taken on a cosmic scale, we’ve never even been alive - not in any way that might register. I mean, if this dreadful little planet had a fractionally different orbit, and life had never even started here, then ultimately nothing of any real importance would have changed.
MARTIN
…
I think our experience of the universe has value. Even if it disappears forever.
SIMON
What a lonely way to look at things. Which makes sense, I suppose.
MARTIN
So what do you do, then, if - if the world is pointless, and your god is so weak right now?
SIMON
I have a good time. And do my best to avoid the drama.
It’s all been getting a bit much over the last few decades. I blame the number of people. From a raw numbers point of view, it’s getting very busy. More minds equals more fear, after all.
MARTIN
(pouncing) I thought you said that the maths doesn’t work.
SIMON
Oh, you are a quick one!
So, maybe I’m wrong! But, crucially, I suspect a lot of the other servants and creatures out there have a similar idea. Probably why they’re all in such a rush to make their own attempts.
MARTIN
You make it sound like the - the entities don’t even know what they’re doing.
SIMON
I have no idea if they’re “doing” anything at all. If they’re even capable of “doing” things. I know that most of their servants are simply doing their best to interpret and serve something that is almost definitively inconceivable.
MARTIN
You can’t be serious!
SIMON
All right. Let’s try one of those analogies Peter finds so annoying. Erm… imagine you are deaf. But every night you hear the most beautiful music in your dreams, and your every waking thought is consumed by trying to reproduce that music. - oh, you’re mute, as well, in this analogy, or at least, you can’t sing. And you need to invent the idea of a musical instrument from scratch. Everyone else is also deaf and mute, and, um -
MARTIN
(impatient) Yes, yes, I think I get it.
SIMON
Yes, well the point is: most of us are trying so desperately to recreate our own dream symphony that we bring an awful lot of our own baggage into the mix.
MARTIN
…What about the monsters?
SIMON
What monsters?
MARTIN
Things like Mi- erm, uh, the Distortion. I thought they were part of the entities themselves - like, extensions. Surely they know what’s going on.
SIMON
Honestly, I think they have it a lot worse than we do. Imagine being a hand that can conceive of itself - having impulses shot through you, being moved and clinched by some unseen mind - but never knowing the reasoning behind your own actions. Or even if you’re just some thoughtless reflex. (noise of disgust) Sounds horrid.
MARTIN
(agitated) So - so, if no one’s ever actually communicated with their patron, how do you know they even want rituals? How - h-how does anyone know if they could ever even work?
SIMON
We don’t!
[MARTIN SCOFFS]
SIMON
And honestly? The idea that this is all some grand cosmic joke - thousands of us running around spreading horror and sabotaging each other pointlessly, while these impossible, unknowable things just lurk out there, feeding off the misery we cause?
I find that interpretation quite appealing.
But, I still hear the music in my dreams.
[MARTIN MAKES A SOUND OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. SEVERAL MOMENTS OF SILENCE PASS.]
MARTIN
Who are you? No, no - who were you?
SIMON
Originally? No one you would have heard of. No great historical figure or atrocity-monger.
I’ve been Simon Fairchild about, um, eighty or ninety years, maybe? For business purposes, mainly. By which I mean I was bored at not being wealthy, so I made some arrangements and sent Mr. Fairchild on a very long fall. I could go into details, but without a certain amount of knowledge of 1930s tax practices, it wouldn’t mean very much to you.
MARTIN
And - and how did you get started with it all? Did you - did - did you just look up at the sky one day and fall head-over-heels in love?
SIMON
Sort of, actually.
Except it wasn’t the actual sky, it was a painting. I was apprenticed, you see, under Tintoretto. Dreadful man, but a decent artist. He was fascinated, you see, with the human figure. He found most of the rest of the work dreadfully dull, so he’d always delegate a lot of it to us.
He had a particular distaste for painting the sky, and I was always the one he called on to do them. Days, weeks I would spend, focusing so intently on these patches of clear sky or swirling cloud at the top of his latest self-proclaimed masterpiece. And gradually it sort of, um, drew me in, until it seemed to dwarf the rest of the work. Every stroke of the brush felt larger than my entire existence. And when I finally lost my footing, well…
I should, of course, have fallen to the floor of the church, broken my neck. But that blue-painted sky welcomed me with open arms. And I never looked back.
I try to share it with others - not just as sacrifices - but they often find it difficult to keep up with the, um… velocity I tend to live at. They tend to get left behind, and I suppose it doesn’t help that I can’t bring myself to see any of them as anything other than trivial.
MARTIN
Mm.
SIMON
No wonder I’m so sympathetic to the Lonely!
You know, this really is a place for self-discovery, isn’t it? (chuckles) Statement ends, I suppose.
MARTIN
Er - I’m sorry?
SIMON
Oh, nothing, just my own hubris.
I should have known. When I came here, I said to myself, “Simon,” I said, “You’re going to answer this young man’s questions, but you’re not going to give the Watcher a statement. You’re better than that.” But it’s a hard one to resist, isn’t it? You get in the flow of talking about yourself, and it all just… tumbles out!
MARTIN
It does seem like it.
SIMON
(laughs) Well, this has been fun. Now, if we’re about done -
[CHAIR SCRAPES]
MARTIN
We’re not.
Sit back down.
SIMON
Bold! (chuckles)
[CHAIR SCRAPES]
I like it.
MARTIN
You said you were here to answer my questions for Peter, but so far you’ve told me basically nothing of any use.
SIMON
The big answers are rarely helpful.
MARTIN
Then let’s try some smaller ones.
Is Peter attempting a ritual?
SIMON
Not in the sense that you’re used to. Him and his family made their play a few years ago, and they failed. I’m sure he’d like me to explain it, but I think he can do that one himself.
MARTIN
How honest has he been with me?
SIMON
About which part?
MARTIN
Protecting the others.
SIMON
I think he tried. I suspect he may have slightly exaggerated his abilities when you first made the deal, but he certainly expended a reasonable amount of influence and resources to follow through.
MARTIN
But - but that was never the endgame, was it? He just wanted me on his side long enough to rope me into his, his plans for the Extinction.
SIMON
Do you really need me to answer that one?
MARTIN
Fine. So, why me? What’s his plan? Why not get the others involved?
SIMON
He is what he is, Martin. For a creature of the Lonely, the urge is always to isolate, never to communicate or connect.
I suspect that’s why he’s so keen on wagers. It allows him a framework for cooperation that doesn’t risk any sort of intimacy.
As for his plan… I don’t know the details! But I believe there is something in the Institute that he thinks can help his cause.
MARTIN
And he needs me to use it…?
SIMON
Presumably. From what he said, it must be powerfully aligned to the Watcher. If he wishes to use it, it would need someone already touched by the Eye. And if he wants to control that someone -
MARTIN
They need to serve the Lonely.
SIMON
Quite right.
[MARTIN EXHALES]
Anything else?
MARTIN
How do you feel about this?
SIMON
You might need to be a tad more specific.
MARTIN
All of it. Peter’s plan, the Extinction, me…?
SIMON
I think…(inhale) I think Peter is taking a rather large but calculated gamble. Not just on you, but on a lot of things. If it works, he’ll be in a very strong position. And if he fails, it won’t be all that bad.
MARTIN
(tense) You don’t think it’ll be the end of the world?
SIMON
Oh, it very well might be, but… (sigh) life has continued through dozens of apocalypses already. Ice ages, pandemics, calamities, extinctions. The only reason this one feels special is because, well - it’s happening to you. And that’s the sort of solipsism that tends to come with loneliness, in my experience.
So, my feeling is that I’ll help out where I can, but ultimately, if this Armageddon comes off, then - so be it. Either billions suffer and life goes on, or billions suffer and life doesn’t. In the grand scheme of things, it’s all much of a muchness.
MARTIN
…Right.
SIMON
Sorry. Too big-picture? I get that a lot.
MARTIN
No, it’s… (inhale) Thank you. This has… actually been quite helpful.
SIMON
I’d say, “any time,” but honestly, if you see me again… I may just throw you off something for a joke.
How do you feel about - roller coasters?
MARTIN
Um… Neutral.
SIMON
(disappointed) Oh. You’re no fun.
[FOOTSTEPS WALK AWAY]
[MARTIN SIGHS]
BASIRA
Who was that?
MARTIN
Basira, please, I don’t have time -
BASIRA
(interrupting) Oh, no, you don’t.
MARTIN
(warning) Basira, let go.
BASIRA
I don’t think so. Three weeks I’ve been waiting to catch sight of you, and now I find you chatting with Simon Fairchild. No, you’re not pulling your little vanishing act on me.
MARTIN
How did you know about -
BASIRA
Yeah, John’s not the only one who listens to statements.
MARTIN
…
It’s none of your business.
BASIRA
No? Because it seems to me like you’re palling around with two very dangerous people, right around the time you’re cutting all of us out.
[MARTIN INHALES]
That makes me worried. It makes me suspicious.
…
Tell me I’m wrong.
MARTIN
You’re wrong.
BASIRA
So what’s going on, then?
Talk to me.
MARTIN
It’s. Complicated.
BASIRA
What, they’re just here out of the goodness of their hearts? Helping you save the world from Extinction?
MARTIN
You know about that?
BASIRA
Yeah, John found the tapes you made for him -
MARTIN
(frantically) Shh, shh!
BASIRA
Found a stash of them a while ago. I made sure he shared with the club -
MARTIN
(frustrated) Well, there you go, then!
BASIRA
John may be going through a whole “we have to trust Martin” thing, but I’m not. As far as I can see, you’re either compromised, or you’re being played. And I want to know which.
MARTIN
I didn’t know John had listened to them already.
BASIRA
Well, he has. He seems to think you’ll come to him when you need him. I think you’re feeding him what he needs to hear, so he doesn’t bother you.
MARTIN
Look, I don’t have time for this. I don’t like that I have to work with Peter any more than you do, and I didn’t know that Simon was involved until today.
But I would hope that you and John understood the importance of preventing an apocalypse.
BASIRA
…I guess I’m just a bit burned out on the end of the world.
MARTIN
Yeah, well, that’s your problem.
BASIRA
And if you really think this whole Extinction thing is it - why not come to us for help?
MARTIN
I can’t. Peter’s the one with the plan, and… it needs me to be alone.
BASIRA
And you don’t see anything suspicious about that -
MARTIN
(overlapping) Of course I do, but it - might be the only way, and… so far at least he’s been honest with me. Awful, but… honest.
I need to do this.
For everyone.
[LONG PAUSE]
BASIRA
You’re not expecting to come out of this, are you?
MARTIN
I’ll do what I have to. If I’m right, no one else needs to get hurt.
BASIRA
…
(sigh) Okay.
[MARTIN EXHALES]
You want to do whatever grand sacrifice you think is going to save everyone, go ahead. But you’d best be sure you’re not just playing their game.
MARTIN
I know what I’m doing.
BASIRA
We’ll see.
Don’t make me regret this.
MARTIN
Yeah.
Don’t… tell John.
Please.
BASIRA
Fine. I can’t promise you he won’t just Know it, though.
MARTIN
…
How is he?
BASIRA
Hungry.
[MARTIN EXHALES]
But… he’s keeping it together.
MARTIN
(exhales) That’s good.
Can I go now?
BASIRA
Sure.
[MARTIN SIGHS]
[CLICK]
Steven [Redacted] thank youu
Petra ivan U have competition
Listening to the end of the episode makes me think Basira is being hard on Jon because she knows being soft isn't effective with him. He has to feel guilt or like he has a purpose. But she seems to be worried about him, about Martin, and a bit proud of how he's keeping it together despite clearly being hungry.
I don't know. We get so much from Jon it's hard to catch more than a mere glimpse into the other archive assistants' psyches. Basira is clearly the more level-headed out of them all and, despite having been harsh af to Jon lately, she's still talking to him, helping him out, and working with him. I think she doesn't hate him nearly as much as it might seem from how brutal some of her remarks sound to us.
God, _thank_ you. I thought I was going crazy with how it seemed like literally everyone in the comments was turning against everyone who wasn't Jon or Martin.
Simon Fairchild is a Rick Sanchez kinnie
oh i hate this ahaha
Once Martin Blackwood dies you'll find out that this was all just one elaborate setup for Jonathan Sim's own harem anime.
"I've been thinking about doing something with the scale of humanity itself but ... Also I am worried that might embolden out new rival."
That could fit this "extinction" into the framework I built up back in S2. Basically, I noticed that Aloneness and Slaughter were missing their anathemas and predicted that those already existed and were simply too weak to manifest. Doom due to the excessive growth of humanity does fit neatly into the hole opposite The Lonely when seen from that angle, doesn't it? And this so called Extinction is very clearly a *human* apocalypse. Nukes and pollution are *ours* in the end. Number stations are bleeding totems to the dark corruptive horror of too many people working together.
Also, it would explain the Lucas's keen interest, it is *ANATHEMA* to them. Check out Tom Lehrer's song "we will all go together".
AFLGLSSKFHDDSFKDFS In the closed campions for Mr Fairchild’s name it says “Simon Hedgehog” and I LOVE that-
I love the contrast between Mike Crew’s grumpy hot temper and Simon’s nonchalant “it is what it is” attitude
Oh joy! Another avatar for me to enjoy. I like Simon.
i was feeling so proud of martin this whole episode, he handled that so well omg
The end of all life is looming.
Simon Fairchild: "We do a little trolling."
simon getting upset that martin doesnt like roller coasters, hes me fr i love him
no I think he was upset that Martin didn't love them _or_ hate them
with all Simon's past episodes he was all about exploiting things on one side or the other, messing with people using either things they loved or things they hated, so Martin saying he didn't have any strong feelings either way ruined it for Simon
@@Idran I can see that
“No one actually knows how these things work” Yh mate we learnt from the DIY burnt baby Messiah
'How do you feel about rollercoasters? ~~'
...
' *NEUTRAL* .'
:D :D :D kay Martin, you nearly convinced me there.
I really like the Elaborate Names for the entities and hope we hear all of them. "The One Alone", "The Falling Titan", "The Ceaseless Watcher", "Too Close I Cannot Breathe" are the only ones I can remember off the top of ny head but I love how esoteric they sound compared to just Lonely, Vast, Eye and Buried.
"I would say 'any time' but honestly if you see me again I may just throw you off something for a joke. How do you feel about... rOlLrCoAsTeRs??"
Sky grandpa is a great part of the chill sky family. I love the vast.
SIT DOWN // BOLD! I LIKE IT :) - hellu babes this gave me life
Never got the manipulating Martin vibe until this ep. But at least he’s doing it from a place of love.
The tape hiss gets a bit louder when Martin asks about the Extinction…
God this episode is so good, the personalities make it both fun to listen to and is just hilarious to hear about these eldritch avatars placing bets, hating another's analogies, joking with each other and giving passive aggressive threats; like it makes some sense for something so unopposed to be so carefree and whimsical as well, and it's just a great dynamic to see the terror of the main characters by comparison. On my second listen to TMA and it really just doesn't get old tbh
Simon is such an icon, I love him. He seems so cheerful and fun
God, Simon Fairchild is to The Magnus Archives what Sheogorath is to The Elder Scrolls. Absolutely horrifying in concept yet charming company in person. And for that I love them both equally
Martin. Have you learned nothing from jon's attempts to throw his life away for a good cause? What makes you so special, huh? Truly a Lonely curse to think so, as Simon says.
I...love Simon. But I'd piss my pants if he threw me off somewhere. No thanks. I prefer to align with The Eye.
SIMON SOUNDS LIKE THE VOICEACTOR FROM OLD RUSSIAN AUDIOBOOKS I USED TO LISTEN TO AS A CHILD
THIS IS SO COMFORTING I DON'T THINK I CAN BE SPOOKED ANYMORE
Please, I'm crying. I love, love, looooooove everything so much just oh my goodness, SIMON.
I love Simon Fairchild's demeanor so much. awful man, lovely roaring static noises
may be my sleep deprivation but karim kronfli's voice sounds close to ben meredith's and so Simon Fairchild sounds like elias in a cheap wig and a hat
I didn't expect Simon to be such a likeble and cool character. One of my favorites I think.