[Video]

[runboyrun]

H-hey, has anyone-

[Stiles has to swallow a few times before he can keep talking. His voice is thick, rough, and although he's not crying any more, there are still tear-tracks down his cheeks, red where he's been scrubbing at them.]

Has anyone else been... hallucinating dead people? They're hallucinations, right? They've gotta be...

Ellen? I tried the salt. She didn't- it didn't work.

Comments

[Video]

[lightgunhustler]

[Jo doesn't have to ask who he saw. Whoever it was, they were obviously close -- that seems to be the running theme this week, and she can certainly relate. The details don't necessarily matter, but letting him know he's not alone in this does.]

It's not just you. I promise.

[She pauses, hesitant to disprove his theory, but-- it's cruel to let him think they're just hallucinations, isn't it?]

I'm not sure what they are. They're not normal ghosts, but multiple people can see and hear the same things from them, which means they're not hallucinations, either.

Re: [Video]

[runboyrun]

Oh, great. Wonderful.

[He sniffs, scrubs at his face again.]

Have they- y'know, attacked anyone?

[Video]

[lightgunhustler]

Not that I know of.

[She's sure there would have been a public report of that by now, if so.]

Mostly just talked at people. Though, you know -- words hurt sometimes.

Re: [Video]

[runboyrun]

Yeah, no kidding.

[And sometimes, just seeing someone you've lost hurts enough.]

They seem... I dunno. Harmless? But maybe that's just me. Like, she's softening me up before she makes with the psychological crushing, you know?

[Video]

[lightgunhustler]

I haven't seen them do any real damage, honestly. If they really are harmless, then I'd say we got lucky.

[She offers him a sympathetic smile, however. His initial message gives every indication that he's having a rough time of it. She can relate. This hasn't been easy on her, either.]

If she is softening you up... maybe it's best if we all brace ourselves for what's next, just in case.

[video]

[wolfofmidgard]

[Meja offers him a gentle smile.]

Ja, I think most of us are. They're not quite the spirits of the Dead that I'm used to, but they seem... ghostly enough. Are you all right?

Re: [video]

[runboyrun]

[He smiles back, weak and watery.]

Me? Oh, sure. I'm fine. Except for the dead folks walking around.

[video]

[wolfofmidgard]

[She's seen her own fair share, but there aren't too many deaths that she feels guilty or upset over anymore. Time heals many things. Fortunately, the one death she still feels guilty over... well, so far, so good.]

I wish I could offer you some advice, but nothing I've tried seems to deter them.

[Not that Meja is an expert. Back home, the Dead either stay in their places of resting — Hel and its like — or return as Draugr, who are very different from ghosts.]

If you would like some company, though, I'd be glad to provide it.

Re: [video]

[runboyrun]

[He chuckles, shaky and more than a little abashed.]

I'm kinda... well, I've been crying like a sissy girl. So, if you promise not to emasculate me with a look? Sure, I could use company.

[video]

[wolfofmidgard]

You have my word that I'll do nothing of the kind.

[And she means it. Meja's word is serious business.]

[hung_garian]

In your dreams? When you're awake? -- dead people, like in graves?

[Sorrynotsorry. The Sixth Sense reference was just too tempting not to make.]

[runboyrun]

[He chokes out a congested little laugh. He gets that reference.]

Dead people, like in my room, just... there.

[hung_garian]

Didja move into the morgue? Cause that might go some way towards explaining it.

[runboyrun]

Oh, really? Do dead people in your local morgue get up and start talking to you?

[hung_garian]

You'd be surprised how often.

video;

[heart_of_a_witch]

[Courtney can sympathize with the emotional reaction, which is why her response is slow and stilted. When the video feed clicks on, there's a hint of something silvery and translucent behind her, which is a hint she's not alone just now, herself.]

Yeah. They can't be real. They don't even feel cold, to me.

Re: video;

[runboyrun]

I can't say I've seen a whole load of ghosts.

[He huffs out a trembly sigh, and the camera shifts angle slightly as he leans back.]

So, not ghosts. But nt hallucinations. Is something screwing with us?

video;

[heart_of_a_witch]

I've seen a couple. They're not so tough.

[She manages a humorless smile.] Isn't something always screwing with us, here?

Re: video;

[runboyrun]

I dunno, I've gotten off pretty lightly, really. Aside from being ass-dropped here in the first place.

video;

[heart_of_a_witch]

Well, yeah, ditto actually. But I think getting abducted and shunted through a bunch of dirty tunnels counts as screwing-with.

D'you want to talk about your ghost? Mine is...kind of staring at me, anyway, and it's making me nervous.

[servingmichael]

It's going around.

[ He sees the face though, and can't really be selfish about it. ]

You want some company?

[runboyrun]

[The face is now sniffling just a little and generally trying to look less like he's been crying.]

That... would be cool. If you don't have things going on, you don't have to go out on a limb or anything.

[servingmichael]

[ Oh poor kid. ]

If I offer, I'm free.

[runboyrun]

[He smiles, just a little.]

That would be cool, then.

[servingmichael]

I'll be there soon.

[ As in, a couple minutes. ]