The Ghost of Ohio

Indie OC inspired by the song 'Ghost of Ohio' | Multi-verse and crossover friendly

[exanimate]

grihm​:

𝕺𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝖘𝖎𝖝 𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖍𝖘 𝖔𝖗 𝖘𝖔, Shiloh had grown used to Ghost’s company. He’d been a nuisance to her at first, as most of the apparitions that haunted her tended to be, but it hadn’t taken her long to warm up to him and even appreciate his presence after she’d gotten to know him. His tragic situation pulled on her heart strings, and just as she always had, she found satisfaction in knowing that she could ease the pain of someone’s soul. It was simply in her nature, and while it was perhaps her greatest quality, it was also her greatest weakness.             Falling asleep with Ghost in the room with her had become a normal thing for Shiloh. It had been awkward at first, as their relationship had extended past that of a ghost and a medium, but after discovering that he was able to help keep the other, more malicious spirits than haunted her at bay, she’d welcomed his company with open arms. It was a double-edged sword, because while it would help her in terms of finding peace in an otherwise chaotic existence, sometimes he would keep her awake with his chattering. It seemed as though he would never grow used to being able to finally converse with someone, but it wasn’t as though she could really blame the guy after he’d spent so many years alone without a single other soul to comfort him.             Shiloh’s eyes had closed, the soft hum of the television background noise to her as she’d begun to slip off into a dream, and the sound of the apparition’s voice much the same as whatever program he was watching: more white noise. It was the shredding of fabric that had caused her dark eyes to flicker open, her tired gaze settling on the blue-eyed male that was looking at her with an expression on his face that was akin to that of a little kid who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

❝ You’re kidding me, ❞ Shiloh muttered, sitting up from beneath the warmth of her bedding to crawl over to where he sat. She looked at the tear in the fabric and then back up at his face, unable to hold back the soft laughter that spilled out from between her smiling lips. ❝ You couldn’t have picked something less destructive to practice with? ❞ She asked him in a tone that was nothing short of playful. As much as she didn’t want to have to buy a new blanket, she was proud of him, a soft nudge of her shoulder against his arm following the comment as a form of congratulations.

          Making physical contact with the frayed piece of fabric had been the goal, but Ghost hadn’t been expecting an accident to come of it, nor had he meant for the sound to awaken Shiloh. From the way her voice grew softer, her responses to him taking longer and longer, he could tell that she was close to falling asleep. The look of surprise on his face had faded, replaced by one that was slightly more apologetic. Had it been someone else, he wouldn’t have cared, but Shiloh was someone he actually cared about. It was a rare feeling for him, and one that he didn’t ever view himself experiencing during this in between he was caught in.

          ❝ You were bad mouthing me in your sleep, so I ripped your blanket. ❞ His voice, husky and monotone, poorly conveyed that he was joking. It would be something he would have to get used to again, otherwise he was going to keep on making people question whether he was pissed off at them or not. A smile curved at his lips, faint as it was, and he gave the brunette a gentle nudge in return. There was no reason for it, really. He just liked being able to touch again, and she was the easiest to touch, so it had become a bit of a habit. Eventually the novelty would probably wear off, and Shiloh wouldn’t have to put up with it anymore.

          ❝ Hm...I might be able to get away with getting you a new one. ❞ It was possible someone might see a blanket floating around in the store, but more than anything it would probably just freak people out. After all, there would be nobody to call the cops on, and he was dead anyway. Rules didn’t apply to him anymore, so it technically didn’t make him a criminal. ❝ Assuming I can hold onto it long enough. ❞ Turning his head to look over his shoulder, he frowned at seeing Mabel still standing there, her eyes never leaving Shiloh. He wondered if there was a way to move things with his mind, the way he’d seen done a few times on different supernatural movies. Those ghosts never seemed half as useless as he felt he was.

[exanimate]

devoutscreams​:

‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒  NORMALLY THE IDOL WOULDN’T CARE if it was someone who snuck up behind him. With relative ease, he could happily talk out a situation and leave it in good terms on both parties, even laughing the little encounter off ; however, his life growing up in Korea had given him enough to fear when it came to ghosts. America always spoke about little things that went bump in the night, but did they have a woman who would slice you in two or cut your mouth into a Glasgow grin? There were only other Asian nations that had that going on for it! Even though this one was unassuming, he could very easily turn malicious without Shiloh around just like the woman in the streets back home could do if there wasn’t candy thrown at her feet to give the person time to flee.

        Large gulping breaths were taken, one arm raising to press against his forehead, not exactly finding any ease in calming himself down. Why the HELL does every ghost have to just appear like that? It was only when a slight smile broke out across his face as he let his body stumble toward the kitchen table that he whispered, mimicking the little boy’s tone from the movie, ❝ I see hot people, ❞ that he felt the second round of SCREAMING die down in his throat. Was he calmed? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This man ghost just appeared behind him – hot or not – and made him throw his ENTIRE jar of salt at him! Now he’s being all sarcastic with him… Yanking the chair out and slapping himself down on it, he rubbed his temples to calm further before turning his head to peer over at the other, ready to finally address him.

        Nervous laughter filtered through him – as if trying to humor the little quip thrown his way. It was clear that fear still riddled him as he tried to push away from the counter, giving himself just a little bit more distance between himself and this…apparition. ❝ Force of habit! ❞ In truth, it didn’t matter who he begged that to ; if they wanted him hurt, they would attack him or take him or mug him or eat his eyeballs – whatever spirits and weirdos did! Truth be told, not that they would know this, he’d received the same pleas in his lifetime ; he just merely shushed them with comforting promises of making them into something beautiful. ❝ Is…is this the part where you…threaten to haunt me o-r, you know…say you need help? ❞ 

        Do ghosts like him even do that kind of stuff or do they float around like that one ghost who likes to help people? ❝ WAIT! ❞ Eyes squinted, keeping a trained eye on him, examining him closely. Tall, dark hair, American… He’d killed a couple of those in his past, but did this guy even remotely look like someone he knew? Hm, no, he couldn’t be because his voice would have caused his hairs to stand up on the back of his neck! Never before had he witnessed this guy in his life, nor heard his very pretty vocals before. What a shame! His little groans and moans of agony would have been perfect for a ballad about the crushing reality of the system around you – or heartbreak if Mightee One asked. ❝ Nope… Nope, I don’t recognize you at all. Your voice is very pretty, but I don’t recognize you! ❞

          I see hot people? Icy blue eyes narrowed questioningly, Ghost feeling genuinely conflicted about how to take that comment. It was normal to be afraid of seeing ghosts, but calling them hot most definitely wasn’t. Was that a...compliment? Sort of? There was no trace of a smile on his face, but he had to admit that the comment was comical. Observing the other stumble towards the kitchen table and pull out a seat, his feet remained planted in place while he waited; waited for him to continue a conversation, or waited to disappear and leave him either relieved or further confused. This skill of his was still very much so a work in progress.

          Before Ghost could begin to answer him, he was told to wait. It would appear the idol was studying him, as if to see if he recognized him. Years ago, he was always hopeful that he’d get hints about his life and who he was, but eventually he grew angry and then finally numb. He didn’t bother getting his hopes up anymore and expected that no results would turn up. This time was no different, so it didn’t come as a heavy disappointment when it was confirmed that he didn’t recognize him.

          ❝ I’m going to possess you, and I’m going to stick that fork through your eye and leave it on a plate as a nice little surprise for Shiloh to return to, ❞ Ghost explained, leaving it up to the living one to decide if he believed him or not. Wait--had his appearance and voice been complimented? This guy just got stranger and stranger.

[exanimate]

@grihm​

          In the dark of the night, the apartment cloaked in shadow and dimly illuminated only by the soft glow of the TV, Ghost sat atop the foot of Shiloh’s bed, his gaze fixated on the other deceased being that lingered in the doorway. A knife was clutched in her hand, and Ghost had come to discover pretty early on that she was the spirit that Shiloh feared the most; the one that had been following her around since she was little, no matter what location she moved to. The idea of Mabel learning to make contact and harm her with that knife probably crossed her mind frequently, but at least Ghost’s presence tended to keep them at bay.

           ❝ Hm...I find it strange that she communicates so little compared to someone like me, or someone like Edgar. ❞ Ghost thought out loud, not bothering to say it in the form of a question since he doubted Shiloh would have a solid answer for him. For someone who was dead, he didn’t have a whole lot of knowledge on the subject. He didn’t even know that he’d passed by other lost, wandering souls before. In time, he had become a lot less talkative himself, but Mabel seemed to be of a different breed entirely. She was outright evil.

          Beside him on the comforter, a funny looking piece of stray fabric had caught his interest. While he spoke to Shiloh to keep her company until she managed to fall asleep, he was toying with it to practice. It was easy to make physical contact with Shiloh now and she’d been basically his starting point for learning, and now gradually he was improving on interacting with the environment. It would make it so much easier when he was able to use a computer properly and flip through a newspaper. A few moments later, a tearing sound could be heard at the end of the bed, the raven-haired male looking over his shoulder at Shiloh to see if she’d noticed. Oops.

[exanimate]

devoutscreams​:

‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒  NEVER IN THE PROCESS OF expecting the unexpected in his life, Ji-Woon’s expectations of being around others was…always a little on the tamer side. They weren’t various television programs making him run around in inflatable unicorns or dancing to other idol songs ; these were normal people with normal lives…ish… Shiloh was the abnormal in the normal, which he’d not stated aloud since he didn’t want her to misunderstand the comment ; she could see…spirits ; he’d finally learned that one! A secret she’d kept from him for so long, but he wouldn’t hold it against her ; in fact, he liked to believe it was a total surprise meant just for him when Edgar appeared! Why wouldn’t she want her best friend to know about this and sympathize with her?  

      Today she’d left him on his own in her home while she went out to get something ; he assumed she was doing some grocery shopping or maybe getting some black candles – or whatever ghost people do – so he’d entered the home with a little surprise of his own: he was going to make her a whole meal for their lunch! Bulgogi and rice for the main course (not to mention the other various smaller sides he had waiting to be bowled: spicy cucumber salad, spinach, freshly prepared radish kimchi, and some rice cakes)! 

     Mmmm…! Shiloh…would…love it!

      Cheery idol would dump his supplies on to the countertop (this to include a rice cooker since he assumed most Americans probably didn’t own one), humming his own music as he did so, the beats of his raps flowing so smoothly through closed lips, even a little dance accompanying him as he prepared for her return. Her home would smell equivalent to heaven, he’d sum up as he bent down to grab hold of a pan for the beef and place it atop her counter. As he stood, a slight shiver ran down his spine, alerting him of something in his midst ; he wasn’t an idiot to not know when eyes were upon him – well, at least eyes that were…physical… After finding out from Shiloh that ghosts were…a thing, he realized just how little perception he had about the supernatural world ; it would seem that his senses were only heightened when one seemed to keep their eyes upon him in the physical realm.

      Oh, but it could be Shiloh!

      …or it could be danger… A deep breath, his head would slowly begin its turn to peer over his shoulder behind him, hoping to all his fame and fortune that it was just Shiloh trying to be SPOOOOOOKKKYYYY or something, but the face of some guy was there instead. He knew better than to assume that she wouldn’t tell him about a GUY being over at her house, so his reaction came as no surprise when he threw himself back against the counter, back slamming against uneven surface with eyes wide as the pan he would have used if this was some normal intruder!

      Hands were faster this time, the eyes on the man who’d appeared in front of him trained upon his every movement, though his mouth had already fallen open in a scream the apartment would rather not hear a second time ; however, luck was on everyone’s side since this one was shorter, his digits clasping the salt container he’d left on the counter top for his lunch he’d been preparing for the two of them – not the ghost! – a blessing in disguise! ❝ SHOO! ❞ In his hasty attempt, he’d only managed to threw the entire container instead of a large line of salt directly at the spirit, the feeble attempt just smashing against the opposite wall and landing with a THUD! on the counter.

      Realization in 3…2…1… ❝ DON’T HURT ME! ❞

                                                           〤. @exanimate​ starter.

Much of the time, when Shiloh would leave her apartment, Ghost would accompany her to wherever she had to be. Because she was the first to be able to see and talk to him in years, and because she’d agreed to help him figure out what he needed to do to pass on, he had a tendency to stick with her. Other times, he would either stay put and practice manifesting and making contact, or he would be wandering by himself like he’d done for years, looking for any signs that would jog his memory. Whether that was a name, a place or an object, he would take anything at this point. This time? He was staying in Shiloh’s apartment and practicing. He was getting a lot better at being able to touch things, and the next big step was allowing himself to be seen.

One of the friends Shiloh had made, Ji-Woon, was what Ghost thought to be one of her better friends. They seemed to hit it off pretty well, and today he had stopped by for a visit while Shiloh left to pick up a few things. For a while, Ghost was interacting with a rubik’s cube from another room, an object that he frequently practiced with. At first, he was only able to hold it for a short period of time and couldn’t do much else, but eventually he got to the point of being able to hold onto it and turn the pieces. Contact was pretty easy now. It was when Ghost heard objects clattering on a table or countertop that he put the cube down and left his place to go see what Ji-Woon was getting up to. It was food items that had been dumped onto the counter, only he didn’t know what exactly he planned on making with them. He didn’t particularly care either.

Concentrating, Ghost watched Ji-Woon hum and dance in the kitchen while he began the preparation process, only to see him soon pause. Had he forgotten a step, perhaps? Eyes narrowing slightly, he observed him take a deep breath before slowly turning his head. It was as if he knew someone or something was in the room with him, which was a bit comical considering this apartment had its fair share of ghosts roaming it. He managed to keep most of them at bay when they came around, allowing Shiloh to sleep without fear of Mable staring down at her menacingly. A few seconds later, the idol was stumbling back into the counter and scrambling to pick up the container of salt, which had failed to hit him and instead made contact with the wall.

“I take it that means you can see me,” Ghost spoke, head turning to look over his shoulder to make sure that Ji-Woon wasn’t seeing someone else. There were some pretty messed up looking spirits in this place. Anyone would be startled by the sight of them. “For the record, don’t hurt me isn’t going to stop us from hurting you. If we want to, we will.” The angry ones would find a way eventually, once they had figured out how to manifest. Ghost, meanwhile, wasn’t approaching Ji-Woon or doing anything that would hint at him being malicious. Maybe once he calmed himself down, he would realize he wasn’t in danger.

[exanimate]

bloodredfirework​:

It was hardly visible, but as Shiloh’s gaze navigated carefully through the features of Ghost’s face, she noticed the hint of a smile that was beginning to tug on his lips. It made her own smile grow a little wider, her attention settling soon on his pale blue eyes. Seeing anyone sad was never a good feeling, but there was something about Ghost’s tragic situation and his sweet face that made it so much harder to look at. Knowing that she could cheer him up, even just a little bit, felt nice.

Although her speech had been very genuine in its intent to cheer the spirit up, Shiloh hadn’t expected him to roast her for it. She’d simply picked the first object that she could think of, without really considering the fact that it was probably the worst object she could have chosen. Regardless, the fact that it had cheered him up made it completely worth it.

“You ungrateful little shit,” Shiloh gasped playfully. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t be thrilled to touch a fucking spoon. You’d touch a dirty sock if it meant that you could actually touch something.” She laughed. “What did you touch earlier anyways? It better be something cooler than a spoon.”

“I don’t have a reason to touch a spoon because I wouldn’t ever need to use one,” Ghost pointed out, his hand moving back and forth through Shiloh’s arm a few times in an almost mindless attempt to touch her. It was as if he was just expecting it to miraculously happen, despite him knowing that it actually took effort and concentration. “I could think of a million other things that would be more interesting to try to interact with.” The television was pretty high on that list, since it was the one thing that kept him entertained during the night and it would be nice to be able to change the channel. At least until he was able to interact with more stuff properly, like books and computers and other ways to access history.

“You’re right though. I probably would be thrilled even if it was something that dumb,” Ghost went on to admit, his gaze lingering a little longer on Shiloh’s arm before returning to her eyes. “I touched the cover of a book that was left open. I was supposed to close it, but I haven’t gotten that far yet.” He managed to touch it, but he kept breaking his concentration before he could get far enough to lift the hardcover and close it. He hoped that eventually, the concentration required would be much less and it would be more of a second nature thing.

“Maybe tonight, I’ll just sit in front of the TV for eight hours, or however long you guys sleep, and keep trying to push buttons.” To someone who was alive and capable of touch, that would be an absolutely awful and boring way to spend a night. In Ghost’s case, there wasn’t much else he could do besides keep himself occupied with practicing.

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

There had been moments of peace and silence in Rylan’s life but they always seemed to be few and far between. There was always *something* that happened. Something to disrupt the peace that had settled around her little bubble. Between Melissa’s antics and how she just *knew* how Rylan would turn out to Max and trying to keep his head above water while helping her mother do the same. Her father was no use in that regard. He wouldn’t help even if Rylan had gotten on her knees and begged her. She knew she was lucky that he even gave her the job in his shop, but it was really because she wouldn’t leave him alone. How could she when no where else was hiring at the time and she had loved vehicles just as much as he did? That and she wanted to spend more time with the man. How dumb of a plan that had worked out to be. Still, looking at Ghost had been different. She had never expected anything like this to happen and perhaps once the night had ended and she had awoken to the sunset, all of this would be just a bad dream and he’d be gone. A figment of her wild imagination and a tale to tell Max at bedtime when he would be returning home tomorrow after the day with Melissa.

Yet, as Rylan sat at the table, she had thrown another glance to Addison who had sat across from her once more. The look in her eyes had made Rylan’s heart stutter a bit from sadness. She had felt bad. Almost guilty that she happened to get the enjoyment of having a ghost speak to her but was it really all that it was chalked up to be? If all ghosts acted like this guy, she was pretty sure she’d be happy to never see one again after this moment. Rylan takes a bite of the pizza then, looking back to her computer screen as she’s thankful that she turned her laptop off last night for once in a blue moon and hadn’t had anything strange or unusual left open on chrome. Then again, she wasn’t one to randomly leave something like that up. She had to be careful. Still, Ghost was a stranger and she didn’t really want to make this any more awkward than it already was. Especially when she realized he wasn’t going to be moving from looming over her shoulder. The chair beside her remaining empty. Did have something against her chairs or did he just want a better look at the screen?

Rylan waits then, until Ghost finishes speaking before she turns her head a little to look at him. Her mind consciously telling her to mind where his head is so they wouldn’t accidentally bump into each other and she pauses before speaking. “You’ve got a point. Though, I guess we’ll find out once I wake up in the morning and you’re gone.” She speaks as if it was true, even though she has zero idea if he really is just some bad dream that popped up in her mind. Rylan turns back to the laptop, listening as he speaks and typing in exactly the year he says. Deaths or disappearances in 2010 shouldn’t be too difficult to sort through on her personal computer. Though she didn’t have as much access to all the files the library could have, it was a good starting point and something she could easily work with. “Forgive me,” she pauses, pulling up the first article she finds in the database that seemed to possibly fit the bill. “I don’t really know how death works and I let that slip my mind. 2010 though? What a sucky year that was, but yeah, I understand what you’re saying. Do you…” She cuts herself off just then, gaze scanning the article for anything useful before moving on to open another one. Having a plan of sorting through a couple of tabs at a time.

“…Do you remember how old you were when you died?” Rylan questions lightly, not holding any negative emotion in her tone but genuine curiosity. “It might help narrow it down some more. I don’t mean it in a mean way.” She quickly adds in as she takes another bite of the pizza in front of her, chewing with her mouth closed before swallowing it. “Do you still still feel emotions and stuff like that?” She thinks back to his comment made earlier about her help and stops herself from asking something different even if she’s tempted to as she feels she’s already crossing a line with that question itself. “What’s it like? To be a ghost?” This time, Rylan stops reading the article as she turns to look at him again, letting her light blue gaze settle upon his features. “Sorry, I don’t mean to cross any lines. I’m just curious who I’m going to be working for, is all.”

“Are you always this indecisive?” Ghost sighed, already dreading the process of beginning an adventure with this young woman who had, by chance, summoned him with a Ouija board. Going back to wandering all by himself wasn’t an appealing idea either, and it would be foolish to ditch out just because Rylan managed to get under his skin without even trying, but he hadn’t expected his frustrations to have already extended quite so far.

“One minute you’re speaking to me as if you’ve spoken to a million other ghosts. The next you’re threatening to call the cops and run down the streets screaming like an absolute lunatic. And now you’re going back and forth between me being real or being a figment of your imagination. If I was capable of touching you, I would be smacking you across the back of your head to try to unscramble what little is left of your brains. Oh, but I don’t mean it in a mean way,” he added on, sarcastically referring to the way she kept apologizing and stating that she wasn’t trying to be mean.

“To answer your questions though, 2010 isn’t specifically the year I died in, which is why I said give or take a few years. It’s not gonna be easy and I won’t be surprised if we don’t get any closer with this method,” Ghost began to explain. This was easily the most he’d used his voice in years and it felt odd to him. “Yes, I can still feel emotions.” To a point, at least. After the years had passed him by, certain emotions were no longer felt -- happiness being one of them. Anger, frustration and a heavy, sinking feeling were the most present ones when he wasn’t just numb. Those were details he didn’t feel like getting into just yet. “I know you’re curious, Rylan, but please...Please stop asking so many questions at once. There will be plenty of chances for us to talk and discuss things.”

[exanimate]

bloodredfirework​:

It didn’t surprise Shiloh to see Ghost’s hand pass right through her own, as it had already done many dozen times, but the look of disappointment on his face never got easier to see. She wished that she could reach out to brush his arm or give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, as was her immediate instinct, but the phasing over their bodies between one another’s prohibited such a possibility from happening. Her own smile faded, but only for a moment, her mind quickly reminding her to put on a brave face for him. The last thing he needed was a pity party, after all. He needed hope. He needed to be inspired.

“Hey,” Shiloh spoke gently, her tone soft and nurturing while still remaining cheerful. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll get it.” She smiled, stepping closer to the tall, lanky male to stand beneath his hanging head. She would have tilted it to face her, but without the ability to touch him, she’d had to resort to forcing herself into his field of vision. “That’s amazing that you were able to touch anything at all, isn’t it? That’s huge,” she added, the smile on her face growing as her chocolate brown gaze met with the contrasting bright blues above her. “You need to celebrate the little things. You can’t touch me yet, but you can probably touch a spoon or something, right? Pfft, inarguably way cooler,” she said, her tone serious and playful all at the same time as she nodded her head.

Although she hadn’t heard any updates on the idea yet, Shiloh knew that Salem had been working on trying to locate an old psychic that he’d once been acquainted with. From what he’d told her, this woman would be able to help her with her own abilities, perhaps giving her some advice on how to better communicate with Ghost and on how to even make it easier for him to touch her, or even not touch her. The ability to turn her powers on and off, to allow apparitions to make contact with her or not make contact with her, seemed like an absolute godsend. It would do wonders in terms of handling angry spirits like Mabel, especially after Ghost finally passed on and she no longer had his protection to keep her safe.

The annoyance and frustration written across Ghost’s face had gradually begun to fade as he listened to the words Shiloh spoke. Part of him wanted to roll his eyes and argue at being told not to worry about it, but when Shiloh had stepped closer to stare up at him with her big brown eyes to ensure that she was seen by him, he found that it was a little difficult to stay mad. It was kind of her to attempt to keep him staying positive with her words of encouragement, even if he wasn’t sure how to go about celebrating the little things when he felt like he should be way past such small accomplishments by now. His patience for it was wearing thin, and sometimes he just wanted to call Shiloh out on what he thought to be bullshit.

The mention of being able to touch a spoon, of all things, had been an unexpected turn to the conversation. “I can probably touch a...spoon?” Ghost paused, the corners of his lips threatening to curve upward to form a smile. It was so easy to wipe one from his face and hard to even put one there in the first place, but Shiloh seemed to have a way with him. Even when he was convinced that he was completely drained of all emotion and hope, believing that he was cursed to wander the streets and cities of Ohio, unseen and unheard for an eternity, she’d proven that she was able to bring on feelings he thought he would never experience again.

“Of all the things you could’ve suggested touching, why that? I’ve seen a lot of people saying and doing dumb shit when they think nobody is around to watch them, but being overjoyed to touch a spoon is right up there,” Ghost finished saying, giving a shake of his head in feigned disappointment. “Thank you, Shiloh, from the bottom of my cold, dead heart. That’s exactly the motivational speech I needed.”

[exanimate]

bloodredfirework​:

The way that Ghost had described himself as being a ‘shit excuse for a ghost’ had made the smile on Shiloh’s face widen, a quiet giggle exhaling itself from her nose in the form of a soft breath. She could understand why he was so hard on himself all the time, being that he’d been wandering around aimlessly for god only knew how many years, feeling useless and helpless, but she knew better. She knew how special he was, and Jade and Salem had both taken her word for it. He might have been useless right now, but the potential he had was almost limitless. Honestly, she just counted herself lucky that he was on her side, because he was the sort of entity that could really make her life a living hell. If it could get any worse, that was.

During the lesson, Salem had done what he could to help Ghost out, although even his knowledge was limited. In truth, Shiloh was the real expert when it came to dealing with the spirits that were unfortunate enough to be caught in the grasp of this earthly plane, but he had learned a thing or two during the many years that he’d spent researching the occult. One thing that he’d learned was that Shiloh had the incredible ability to attract spirits, her abilities even extending past that to be able to even amplify their own ghostly capabilities. If Ghost was going to be able to touch anyone, Shiloh would certainly be the easiest, as her aura would be able to draw out and manifest those skills for him. So long as he paid attention and focused, of course, like Salem had taught him.

Shiloh’s dark brown eyes glanced upwards, her head tilting as Ghost approached her. It had been just over a week now since they’d arrived at the young witch’s shop, the lessons and trials with both Salem and Jade a daily occurrence. So far, they had yet to bare any fruit, but still she inquired every day as to his progress. Beneath the frustration that he quite obviously felt about it all, she could sense that there was hope too. There were four people that knew of his existence now, and that was a huge step in the right direction, physical contact or not.

“Okay. Go for it.” Shiloh smiled, holding her hand out just as Ghost had asked her to. She watched then, her gaze flickering back and forth between the two of them as she waited to see if he would finally get some results. So far, he’d yet to tell her the exciting news about how he’d finally made contact with something, and so she wasn’t expecting much. His hand would likely go right through hers as it usually did, but still she was hopeful, for his sake.

Already, Ghost could feel himself beginning to overthink the idea of touching someone and how much effort was required of him. The fact that, according to Shiloh, he was different than the other ghosts and more powerful only further went to frustrate him, because he didn’t feel anything of the sort. For so long, he’d done nothing but wander neighborhoods and cities and graveyards aimlessly, with no real way of interacting with people or the environment. Such a negative mindset wasn’t going to help him out in being able to make progress though, especially on top of the hatred he held for himself that he couldn’t seem to shake, so he was quick to try to push those thoughts away.

A few seconds later, after Ghost had taken a moment to collect himself, he lifted his hand and attempted to place it against Shiloh’s. Of course, like all his other attempts at touching people to get their attention, his hand had merely phased right through her own smaller one. “One second. I messed it up.” Well, that much was obvious, but he was a little more hopeful this time around compared to all the other times he’d tried, since he’d actually been able to make contact with something. If he’d done it five minutes ago, what was stopping him from being able to do it again? His own damn mind? Trying for the second time, Ghost attempted to touch Shiloh’s hand with his own. Once again, he was met with failure.

Beginning to frown, he looked down at his own hand as if it had personally wronged him in some way. In his eyes, it sort of had. “What the fuck? Why isn’t it working?” He questioned, though it was directed at himself rather than at Shiloh. For all the ghosts Shiloh had been around, she was certainly knowledgeable and could offer up useful tips and information, but even she didn’t even have all the answers. After all, she was still living and breathing and could only see and communicate with the dead. “Minutes before I came to see you, I was able to make physical contact.” It had been with the environment rather than a person, but did that even make a difference? He didn’t think so.

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

There’s a moment where she stops and closes her eyes. For the first time tonight, Rylan falls silent. In truth, she knows he’s right. She does talk too much for her own good but it’s only when she’s nervous and when she doesn’t quite understand what’s happening. Addison used to call it a tick of hers. Something that had been a part of her since she was young. And even then, Rylan had never really tried to stop it from happening. Talking too much was just a part of who she was and Max had made her feel normal with it since they could converse continuously even in a silent room. Ghost was different and she was starting to realize this wasn’t some prank. No one was going to start laughing randomly or come around the corner. This was actually happening. There was a being of the supernatural realm before her, telling her she talks too much, of course. Just her luck.

There’s a raise to an eyebrow at his words just then but she still chooses to listen, even despite the fact her body is angled between the two of them, her gaze settles back upon Ghost when he speaks. Addison may be helpful but his words seem to think otherwise for her. Rylan was smart. She was creative and able to come up with solutions when she needed to on the fly, but having two sets of eyes and hands instead of what would apparently just be hers, was better than nothing on day, no, night one with whatever was going to span out before them. “Listen, Adds. We’re going to help this guy. His name is Ghost.” She pauses and she finally tears her gaze from him when there’s a pause in his sentence, especially after what could be the harshness of his words towards Addison. “If I don’t help him, he said he’d make my life a living hell, so there’s that bit of information to keep going on. I just ask for you to help tonight. I won’t drag you into whatever supernatural stuff this ends up becoming.” Rylan sighs then as she sees the fear and confusion mixing together in Addison’s gaze. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The other replies and Rylan can feel herself ushering a sigh. “Not much of a choice.” Rylan replies, her tone low but a little bit of sarcasm hangs on the edge of her words as her gaze returns to Ghost. If Addison didn’t want to help, she wouldn’t force her to join, but Rylan wasn’t about to let some ghost make her life terrible with her baby brother here. She wouldn’t drag him into whatever a dumb as hell board game got her into.

Rylan darts her tongue between her lips before clicking it on the roof of her mouth as she thinks through his words. He has a point, starting with the computer would be the wise thing to do but that was years to go through and hundreds upon thousands of towns if he hadn’t died in this one. “Alright, yeah. It’ll be more difficult on my laptop to look all of that up but it’s better than nothing for now. We can go to the library and use their resources when they open in the morning.” She turns her back to them then, leaving Addison with the ghost she cannot see in the room for longer than a mere moment as Rylan snags her computer from her bedroom, bounding back into space the two were occupying when she left. “You know, you calling me weird isn’t exactly an insult if that’s what you were trying to go for. Plus I’m still not exactly sure if I’m going to run down the street yet but right now, I’d like to avoid anything to make my life hell.” She muses over her shoulder as she brushes between them, not really registering that she felt nothing where her shoulder would have met his arm as it did Addison’s. Rylan places the laptop on the kitchen table, opening it as she waits for it to load up. “Let’s start in this state. See what we can get out of it. Remember that offer I made of you sitting down at the table? Guess what, Ghost? Take a seat. Unless you want to pace all night.” She throws him a look over her shoulder before her features turn apologetically to Addison. It was up to her on staying or going but she trusted the girl with her life and knew that this would stay between them anyways. “By the looks of it, we may be around the same age, Ghost. So I’ll start there with articles.” She sighs a little, pulling up Google Chrome as she takes a seat at the table, grabbing a slice of pizza. “Strange question but can you feel anything at all?”

Truth be told, Ghost had expected Rylan to put up more of a fight or to ask more questions about what would be required of her to help him. Changing ones lifestyle to revolve around a complete stranger (not to mention a dead stranger) wasn’t exactly a small change to be made, considering they wouldn’t be staying in one place to figure it all out. It would require a lot of traveling and investigating to get to the bottom of it, because the internet wouldn’t be able to pull up all the answers for them. Why she was able to so easily accept the reality of the supernatural or the fact that she now had a ghost stuck with her was beyond him, but he figured that it maybe had something to do with her, in her words, fucked up life. Whatever the case, he didn’t care to ask her about the details.

After Rylan had returned with her laptop and set it up on the table, Ghost loomed behind her to turn his attention to the screen. He was long since used to assuming this position, as he’d seen many people reading up on different news articles and would stand behind them to see if there was anything of interest. Of course, there never was. There had also been some disturbing google searches he’d seen that he wished could be erased from his memory. This time, at least, he didn’t have to wait and see what kind of articles random strangers stumbled across on the web. With Rylan, he would be able to at least somewhat specify what they were searching for. A disappearance? A murder? A suicide? 

“I wasn’t trying to insult you, I just think you’re weird and mildly annoying,” Ghost plainly stated. “I would expect the feeling to be mutual.” Really, once the initial horror and shock wore off, anyone would be annoyed and frustrated at being stuck with a ghost. The invitation to take a seat had gone ignored, for he didn’t want to sit down and wait for her to pull up results. He preferred to stay where he was, standing behind her with his eyes on the screen. It was what he was used to, and he didn’t to spend a lot of time sitting in one place. He was always moving, wandering, searching.

“The same age, hm? I may appear that way, but allow me to remind you that what I look like now is the same way I looked when I died. It’s how I will continue to look even as the years drag on and on. Understand? You would have no real way of knowing how long I’ve been dead for.” Luckily, he at least had a rough idea for a timeframe. His memories of his first few years as a ghost were hazy, and time moved differently than it did for the living, but he could remember a few minor details. “Researching for deaths or disappearances taking place in 2010, give or take a few years, would be a good place to start. As for your question, you’re going to have to be more specific.”

[exanimate]

bloodredfirework​:

Starter for @exanimate​​ The last week had been rainy in the quiet ocean town, the scent of wet sidewalks and dewy grass mixing with the smell of sea salt from the ocean spray that carried over the shores. It was a pleasant smell, even if Shiloh wasn’t the biggest fan of stormy weather. Lately, the grey skies and the soft rolling of distant thunder hadn’t bothered her like it usually did though, and she was fully aware that it was all in thanks to the new company that she’d found herself with. She’d known Salem for nearly five years now, his existence in her life varying between active and inactive as he traveled the world, and she’d always found comfort in his presence. That was mainly due to the fact that him and Rosalie had such a vast understanding of the supernatural world. It made her feel safe. She was able to find that same reassurance in Jade, who had helped her to keep her malicious apparitions at bay through the use of various enchantments and concoctions. It wasn’t fool-proof, but it certainly had lessened the impact and the occurrences of their hauntings.

Shiloh had found a brand-new sense of comfort with Ghost though. He was an enigma to her; different than every other ghostly entity that she’d ever come across, as he was easily able to linger in her presence without ever needing to dissipate. He had yet to be able to make physical contact with her or his surroundings, but she had high hopes that he would soon be able to. With the educated guidance of Jade and Salem, it wasn’t much of a stretch to imagine seeing some sort of progress within the week. It gave her hope for her own predicament too, even though she knew that it would be a temporary fix. When he was around, her own ghosts tended to stay away. He was a little safety blanket for her, and she appreciated that more than she could say. It was part of the reason that she’d grown so fond of his company so quickly, although it wasn’t the entire reason… He was kind of funny sometimes too, when he wasn’t being a bitter dickhead.

It was early in the afternoon and Shiloh was in her bedroom on the top floor of the multi-leveled shop, looking out of the old wood-framed window at the cobblestone paths that winded through the town below. It was quieter than usual today due to the weather, but there was always something to watch. Her attention was only pulled away when she’d heard the sound of familiar footsteps coming from behind her, her head tilting to gaze over her shoulder at the tattooed apparition that had just entered the room. She could remember a very short time ago when seeing his face would cause her instant annoyance, but now it just made her smile.

“Hello, Mr. Silver,” Shiloh spoke softly, a playful note to her tone as she breathed a barely-audible giggle. “How’d the lesson go?”

Had it not been for Ghost deciding to go into the record shop to listen to whatever music was playing, he likely would’ve still been at square one: Wandering aimlessly with no real idea of where to start looking, and having more and more time pass him by. As bitter as he was and despite how he and Shiloh had butted heads at first, he was appreciative of her efforts and even her company. For the first time in a long time, a sliver of hope had been returned to him, even if there were numerous doubts and what-ifs that clouded his mind and tried to overtake that feeling. There was a chance that, at last, that he would be able to just stop existing altogether.

With the help of Salem and Jade, two people who were experienced in witchcraft and the supernatural (one of them being a shapeshifter, which he hadn’t even known existed until recently), he’d been able to begin learning how interact with objects and people. There had been no progress made up until today, and the goal was to eventually be able to walk among the living like he was one of them. Someone they could see, hear and touch. It was a pretty far off goal to be met, but every day, he was just going to have to continue practicing and stop letting his frustrations hold him back.

After finishing up a lesson with Salem and Jade, Ghost had followed the pull he felt towards Shiloh to easily track her down. Like all the other members of the dead that could feel her presence and followed her around, he was here to stay too until he figured out how to pass on. He still had a habit of wandering off on his own without a word, as well as talking to himself because it was something he was so used to doing now, but gradually he was seeking out Shiloh’s company more and more. After all, she was the only one who could see and hear him, and simply getting a hello in return to hearing his voice was oddly satisfying.

“Mr. Silver?” Ghost repeated after her, a smile creeping onto his pierced lips as he recalled the somewhat recent memory. It irked him that Shiloh was still holding that over him, yet he could find the humor in it all the same. It had, admittedly, been a pretty stupid answer for him to have given in response to her question. “You’re lucky I’m a shit excuse for a ghost. Just wait until these lessons pay off.” Coming to stand in front of Shiloh, his gaze dropped to look at one of her hands. He’d finally been able to touch things for the first time today, and although those moments had been far and few in between during the lesson and it was never for very long, it was a start. With it still fresh in his mind, maybe there was a chance of him being able to do it again. Maybe. “Hold your hand out,” he instructed her.

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

There’s a moment when he talks that she purses her lips together, thoughts swimming through her mind of how exactly to handle this situation from here on forward. She knew to weigh the basics in front of her. He was a ghost who went by Ghost. The irony was definitely not lost on her but she wasn’t going to press the matter of if that happened to be his actual name or if he just….wanted to be ironic. Addison was scared. Worried, probably, for Rylan and the way she just kept carrying on this conversation as if it was completely normal. As if everyone in the room could hear both sides instead of just being stuck in the middle, concerned for the girl who could actually see the guy. “You’ve got a point there. I guess they really are right in saying you don’t know the guts you have until you’re in the situation.” She half laughs, a bit nervously as she reaches up to move her hair again. A small tick she has when it comes to feel a bit weird. “At least now I can add nutty to my resume as a person. Thanks for that, Ghost.” For once, she offers him a small smile. Something that was sweet, a little warm. She wants to lighten the mood, even as she reaches back for Addison’s hand again, giving it a small squeeze to let her know that it’s okay. Everything would be okay.

She chooses to listen instead of speak. Knowing that he’d probably explain himself if there happened to be something he wanted from this interaction. Maybe she should’ve read the instructions on the back of the box before agreeing with Addison to play it. Had it said that a ghost would attach to them if they did something different or off? Was this normal or was she still living a life of a Ghost Adventures episode? Though, if Zak Bagins came around the corner, she’s not sure if she’d punch him or ask for a hug, but Ghost’s smile, that was something she hadn’t been expecting. Even if it was just from her mention of the cops, it was still a smile that she had created. Maybe they got off on the wrong food and he wasn’t a bad ghost at all. Maybe this little interaction was already wrote in the stars. Wait, when did Rylan Upsur start believing in destiny’s bullshit? That wasn’t like her at all but she also knew better than to reply to his comment, instead, she just gave Addison’s hand another squeeze and nodded when she asked if everything was okay in a hushed, whispered voice.

“Oh yeah? You’re not giving me the right to *choose* to help or run down the road screaming?” Rylan questions easily, raising an eyebrow at him. Though, her voice remains as soft as the light smile upon her lips now. She’s not trying to offend him or make him angry. Just simply is curious at this point. Still questioning if this was real, not knowing if she was dreaming something vivid or actually going through this. “When I say that, I don’t mean it as like…mean or anything but I get where you’re coming from. Wrong choice of words there.” She throws her hands up before shaking her head a little, meaning her apology as her light blues stay resting upon his striking ones. They were pretty, even if he was not exactly a solid entity to her and she was still holding back the desire to reach out and touch him. To make sure that this was all actually reality for her. “But I don’t exactly *want* my already fucked up things to be more fucked up. So I guess this is me saying yes. Even if I didn’t have the choice in the matter.”

Rylan looks at him then with a little bit of a narrowed gaze as he speaks. She’s not remembering the basics of many ghost movies she’s seen. She simply just hasn’t accepted what’s happening as truth so she’s treating him like a whole being that isn’t technically dead and not making her look absolutely mental. “Those aren’t questions I was going to ask right off the bat, but when you put that way, it does make me want to help you more than just not giving me the choice. I didn’t realize you probably don’t remember shit.” Her voice tapers off a little just then. A pang of guilt punctures her chest as she’s allowing things to settle. He really *was* dead and Addison really *was* right about all of this. The whole shabang was true and yet, she still didn’t feel like running away. She still didn’t want to call the cops or have her neighbors do it for her. “Make my life a living hell, huh?” Tongue darts out to wet lips after she speaks, shaking her head then as she nods, more to herself than either of them. “Fine. I’ll help you. Even though I already said yes but Addison is stuck with me for the night so you’re going to have both of us until morning. I’m not just going to leave her on the side of the road.” A pause and she turns, angling her body so she can look between him and her, giving her best friend a nod that this was really happening and that this was where there night was going to lead. No chick flicks for them. “Where do we even start though? If you don’t remember anything then I doubt you even remember the year.”

As Ghost listened to Rylan ramble on about different things, he breathed a soft, nearly silent sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. All of this talking and explaining was more than he was prepared for, considering just how little he’d spoken to people during the time he’d been dead. Time seemed to move differently in the afterlife, and often he didn’t even realize how much time had actually passed. “You talk too much,” he bluntly stated, which came as a surprise to even him. He had thought that he would be happier to finally see the day that he was able to communicate with people, but instead he was just frustrated.

“You’re really weird and make no sense, but my goal isn’t to try to understand you. It’s to use you.” Sure, Rylan was strange and unusual in the way that she didn’t seem to react at all to talking to a ghost, but all that mattered was that she was capable of helping him. He hoped she could at least do that much. “Your friend’s presence doesn’t matter to me. She can stay here, she can leave, or she can go walk in front of a speeding car for all I care.” Harsh? Maybe, but he was just trying to get his point across. Rylan’s life mattered not to him, and neither did the people she hung around. As long as she didn’t talk to him too openly and make people think she was crazy, thus resulting in her getting thrown into a mental hospital and rendering herself useless to him, then he was content.

“Anyway. I don’t remember anything, which, yes, makes it difficult to know where to start,” Ghost confirmed with a nod of his head. “You have the advantage of being able to interact with people and objects. We could start with the computer by searching up deaths and narrowing the results down by including the state and year.” It wasn’t a foolproof plan, but it was at least worth looking into to see if anything could jog his memory. Whether it was the name of a place, a picture, or a name, it definitely beat wandering around from graveyard to graveyard in hopes of reading a name that he recognized. Besides, there was always a chance that nobody even knew he was dead. What if he was never found or buried? Then what did he do? Even with a person to help him, connecting the dots wasn’t going to be easy.

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

Ghosts and spirits. Mythic beings and possessions. They had been things that felt like a fantasy. Something that couldn’t possibly be real. Something that felt so strange and unhuman that she would read about in a book or see in a movie or TV show. She had never expected any of it to become a reality. Rylan hadn’t given herself the chance to be anything else aside from who she was when he appeared because in her mind, this wasn’t happening. How could it be? Life wasn’t a movie. This was simply just a dream, right? This Addison’s reality, not her own. So when she looked at him, actually looked at him, she could feel the gooseflesh rise a little. What was it like to be a ghost? To be a member of the undead, free to go wherever you wanted? How long had he been this way? Why was it here he chose to answer to? Was it the call? Had they done something different in a silly parlor trick of a game? Too many questions flashed through her mind.

Rylan pauses then. Arms crossing over her chest and she can feel Addison moving up behind her, a hand touching her shoulder. “Ry?” She whispers in her ear and it’s the concern in Addison’s voice that makes her pause for a little longer then. “When you put it that way.” She doesn’t continue her sentence as she lets one arm fall to her side, the other, reaching up to place her hand gently over Addison’s then, giving it a soft squeeze of reassurance. Perhaps she had approached this wrong. Perhaps this wasn’t a dream at all but a form of reality she was living through. “Slumber party and chick flicks, huh? Can’t say that I’m type of partier but I do love a good chick flick.” Rylan raises an eyebrow just then, a hint of a smile crossing her features at the idea of such a thing. This hadn’t been a slumber party at all but at the rate it seemed to be going, Rylan doubted Addison would want to leave her alone when it looked like she was probably insane talking to a corner in the dining room. “Sorry if I said something wrong. Not every day a silly board game calls someone into house.”

“They definitely did cross my mind but what are the chances of it actually happening?” Rylan stops them, realizing that the chances of being killed or possessed were about as high as the ones of a random ghost showing up in her house and here she was, talking to one as if he was just another living, breathing person in the same room with her and Addison. Not as if he had died some way to become like this. Hell, she didn’t even know what had killed him and maybe that should’ve scared her. Maybe his presence should’ve caused her leave, left alone in a place she was meant to feel safe in. Maybe this was all some fat joke that she missed the punchline too and any given moment Addison was going to start laughing behind her and call this guy out to stop fucking with Rylan then. “I could just walk away, you know? Leave you in my house to do whatever the fuck you pleased as I ran down the street yelling so my neighbors will call the cops.”

Taken aback by his words, she drops Addison’s hand and she has half a mind to scold him for the harshness but she doesn’t. Instead she simply listens to him. Let’s it settle in. Let’s herself take the time for the first time tonight to really listen to this stranger in front of her. “Ghost.” She turns it carefully on her tongue, tasting it, weighing it out. Finding irony in calling him what she would have assumed he was. A ghost. A non-living being but he was here, talking to her like any other person could’ve. “Well, forgive me for offending you. I didn’t plan on boring you with my fucked up life.” She pauses, shaking her head then as she looks up to help, really looking up to see the color of his eyes. “So Ghost, say I’m willing to give you hand. What exactly am I signing myself up for if I say yes to giving you help?” She knows this game, at least. Something familiar to her. A product of Addison working in an industry that involves bargaining. “But if I do help you, I want my questions answered too.”

Despite Ghost’s confusion and frustration towards Rylan and some of the words she spoke, he could at least appreciate that she realized she’d said something wrong and had apologized for it. Had circumstances been different and they’d already gotten past introductions when she made such an offensive comment, then it would’ve likely gone a lot differently. Right now though, he didn’t need to waste time chewing her out for making light of being stuck as a ghost. “What are the chances? Substantially increased. And you’re nutty enough to stick around for that gamble.” Alas, he wasn’t capable of such powers. He couldn’t possess anyone nor harm them. In fact, for being someone who was dead, he knew very little about the subject.

At the statement of simply walking away to leave him alone in her house while she ran down the street screaming, Ghost cracked a fleeting smile that felt unnatural. It wasn’t a genuine one that conveyed happiness, but rather amusement towards the lunacy of it all. "The cops? You’re dealing with a dead guy and you’re threatening to call the cops?” There wouldn’t be any evidence whatsoever to point to someone being in her house. He was a ghost, leaving behind no trails or fingerprints or any sort of DNA. It was a rhetorical question, so rather than waiting for an answer from her, he simply continued on to respond to the rest of her questions and statements.

“My mistake. I left you with the impression that you have a choice in the matter.” For Ghost, there was no negotiating, and he didn’t care in the slightest if he came across as rude or offensive. He was sick and tired of being stuck without any answers and having nobody to turn to for them, and he was sick of having nobody but himself as company all while holding a loathing for himself that he couldn’t make sense of or understand why. “You’re signing up for me potentially making your oh-so fucked up life worse.” Frankly, he didn’t tend to pity anyone who had a messed up life. It had its ups and downs and it was hard, but at least they had one at all and had a chance to turn it around or make the most of it.

“I told you I don’t have the answers. I know that I’m dead, and that’s it. I need you to help me figure out those answers. My abilities, if you will, are limited.” That was an understatement. They were practically nonexistent. With the help of a person who could communicate with him and touch things, he could make them act as a sort of puppet for them and maybe, just maybe, he could discover ways to hone his abilities and become capable of doing some things on his own. “I’m not asking. Know that you brought this upon yourself by summoning me here, and I will not hesitate to make your life a living hell if you don’t cooperate.” How he would do that, he wasn’t sure, but Rylan didn’t need to know the details of just how limited his abilities were.

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

There’s a pang of an emotion that jolts through Rylan’s chest just then. The idea that this was meant for Addison. For her to quill her thirst of the supernatural and what lay beyond. The fact that to Rylan, this was just a parlor trick. A game sold at a store to scare each other with like what she had seen in all those bad horror movies that included them with the teenagers and whatnot. A part of her, a large and strong part of her, wished it was Addison asking this man questions and speaking, not her. She was the non-believer after all, so why was she one that got chosen for this? It’s a moment of time passing, yes, but that doesn’t stop Rylan from looking to Addison and seeing the glimmer of sadness in her gaze. She wants to reach over and give her best friend’s hand a squeeze. To apologize for it not being her but what was the point? It wasn’t like either of them could control who got to see what in this world. Rylan didn’t count it as luck, but instead, just coincidence in a harsh reality. “Do you think this is okay, Ry? If you really are talking to a spirit or ghost, what makes you think that they won’t stick around and haunt you?” Addison’s voice has tones of concern in it but Rylan simply shakes her head, a small smile drifting over soft lips. “What’s the worst that can happen? He’s gonna kill me and I’ll join him in the afterlife to haunt you?”

When he steps from the shadows, confusions washes over her. It’s a strange sensation to  understand something but not feel it. To not see it but to expect what is there. Her imagination is nothing short of being good, at least, that’s what she thinks due to playing random, silly little games with her baby brother when he was younger and there wasn’t much for him to do when he was at the house. Entertainment came in all forms, after all. Instead, she stands, her body leading her to where the voice is sounding from and she shows just a small hint of fear behind a façade of cool, calm and collected. Maybe Addison was right, after all. “Is it really that shocking? You showed up in my house so I think it’s only right for me to have a conversation with you, right?” She questions a little, hand reaching up to shift long locks of hair around her head, running her fingers through it, a little nervously but not letting it show. “Besides, were you really summoned with that board or did you just poof in here to check things out?”

Rylan pauses at his question, a smirk taking the place of the smile before she laughs a little then. “Weird. Definitely weird.” She nods with her words. She not stupid but she also doesn’t really doesn’t feel as if she should be afraid right now. There were hairs standing at the back of her neck and she was cautious but nothing said to run. To leave or set the house on fire. The movies didn’t say that a ghost would sound so…human or natural in sound. In reality, it was curiosity that beckoned her reaction and her draw forward. “What do I even call you? I told you my name.” She doesn’t want to call him a spirit or anything like that, feeling as if she doesn’t want to offend him but he is a stranger even if he isn’t technically living. “Not stupid, thanks.” She states easily, shaking her head as she stays her ground in front of him, no longer at the table but also feeling Addison’s gaze upon her as the girl had gone quiet. The room filling with some time of emotion she can’t quite place. “I’ve seen the movies and the shows. What’s to say you’re not evil? Besides, what would you do to me? Kill me? Scratch me like they do in Ghost Adventures? Possess me?” A pause and there’s a raise to an eyebrow with her questions just then. “Is this the part where I ask what are you after and what happened to you?”

As puzzled as Ghost was by Rylan’s response, he didn’t bother questioning her on it further. It was simply bizarre to him that she would so casually talk of being murdered and stuck haunting her friend for eternity, as if it wasn’t a big deal. It irked him a little, because being stuck as a ghost was a big deal and if she was in his shoes, he knew that she would be just as miserable as he was. Not knowing who he was, what he’d done, and not being able to be seen or heard by anyone for years was beyond frustrating. It was an indescribable, crushing loneliness.

“Yes, it is shocking to me. Correct me if I’m wrong, which I’m not, but typically you don’t just start talking to a spirit that suddenly shows up as if they’re expected company,” he explained, arms crossing over his chest before he gave a roll of his eyes. “You caught me. I came here to join in on the slumber party and watch chick flicks.” His patience was wearing thin, and while he wanted so badly to be able to talk to someone for so long, right now he only wanted to cut to the chase. He needed her help, and he’d do whatever was required to get it.

“Death and possession should’ve crossed your mind, yes, and still you chose to just sit there and--you know what, forget it. It doesn’t matter.” Ghost didn’t have the patience to try to explain to her that she was foolish, and this was not how he expected his first interaction with a living, breathing person to go. The fact remained that she was able to see and speak to him, and that was all that mattered. Hell, as strange as it was, maybe he should’ve even been more appreciative that she wasn’t running away screaming like any sane person would’ve done.

“I don’t know my name and I don’t know my story. Frankly, I don’t give a shit about your story or your best friend that’s like a sister either. I’m gonna cut to the chase. You’re the only person who can see and hear me, so I need your help.” Really, it didn’t matter if she agreed to help him or not. Now that Rylan had unintentionally summoned him and he discovered that she could both see and hear him, he wouldn’t be leaving her alone anytime soon. “You can call me Ghost.”

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

          In truth, Rylan was not expecting anything from the silent room that her and Addison had been sitting in, surrounded by the flickering lights of the candles upon the table and cabinets that surround them in the dining room. She hadn’t expected the chill that trickled up her spine like a feather being ran along her flesh. She hadn’t expected to hear a male’s voice that she hadn’t recognized. After all, it wasn’t the voice of Brax, nor the one of Max or her father. None of the men that wandered through her life had ever been at the house aside from the few friends or the ex-boyfriend. So when her steely blues looked over to her best friend, her body froze in place. Rylan had seen the movies about ghosts coming into the house and hell freezing over as they caused havoc and chaos to those around them or to those who summoned them. Horror movies were one of Rylan’s favorite genres aside from old Hollywood and dumb action ones. She had watched those stupid shows like Ghost Adventures, only because Zac was a little nice to look at and her and Addison loved to stuff popcorn in their face as they talked about how build his body was. She had seen how they tried to so damn desperately to capture ghosts on camera, even just the noises they made. How they offered some form of electric device for the ghost to suck the power from to use to manifest itself in some form or fashion. Had the voice she heard just been nothing short of her own imagination? Had it been the mind playing a trick because the alcohol and the thought of actually hearing an undead member? Had the wine been that strong and she hadn’t realized how many glasses she had had in comparison to Addison? “Ry, you okay?” It was Ad’s voice that broke the girl from her trainwreck of thoughts as she looked over to her, shaking her head a little, sending dark colored curls tossing around her shoulders. “You…You didn’t hear that?” Eyebrow raising as her gaze settles easily upon the other across from her. “No, Ry. It’s just you and me.” Addison paused, reaching for her wine glass but never tearing her gaze off of Rylan. “And I’m pretty sure you’re just pulling my leg here.” Another pause but this time, her best friend let’s a laugh fall from her lips, albeit a bit anxious in sound. “You know I’ve always wanted this dumb thing to work and this is your type of joke, so I wouldn’t be surprised.” Rylan’s gaze narrows a little but she laughs at the end, maybe Addison was right. Maybe Rylan’s subconscious had decided this when she hadn’t realized.           “If I couldn’t hear you, who do you think I’d be asking why they were in my house?” Rylan replies with a hint of sarcasm on her tongue as a small smirk trails over her soft lips. Though, after she speaks, and her gaze catches the woman at her side, that smirk disappears and she’s left looking a little sheepish. Of course, Rylan can figure out how this probably looks to Addison. Her best friend has officially snapped and is now talking to thin air. Of course, that and the fact that this would happen to the one person in this room who was a skeptic because she hadn’t actually seen or heard anything from a ghost before, whereas Ads had always been so desperate in her plea for a ghost to have a conversation with her. “You mean to tell me, Ads, you don’t hear him?” She questions, a little bewildered when her best friend shakes her head. Rylan had been expecting what the movies had portrayed, after all. A sense of fear. A cold rush of air. Her breathing becoming visible like on a cold winter’s day, as if the windows of her home were open but they weren’t and the heat was keeping the two nice and warm inside as the snow danced around the house outside. “Considering I don’t know where you’re talking from, no. I can only hear you.” A pause and an idea strikes, Rylan turns to her right, the empty chair sitting there and she pushes it out enough for a person to sit down, with her foot. “Why not take that seat to my right. You can join us at the table.” She shoots a look over to Addison who only nods and Rylan can feel a twinge of pain for her. This should’ve been Ads with this conversation and Rylan looking confused to hell and back. “I’m Rylan. This is my best friend and basically sister without the blood share part, Addison. She’s the one into ghosts though. I’m just here for the thrill.” Then she smirks, this time, it doesn’t fall away from her lips. “She’s the non-believer.” Addison rolls her eyes, her own smile forming just then as the two look to the chair that still looks empty.

Confusion became prominent on Ghost’s features, as he was still trying to process the whole thing and also understand why this woman was so casual about talking to a ghost. As far as he was aware, this wasn’t a regular occurrence and people didn’t just randomly start talking to the dead and inviting them to sit at the table with them. His icy gaze flitted between the two women at the table while they discussed his presence. Only one, who he discovered was named Rylan, was able to hear him while the other was under the impression that it was all just a big joke. The offer to join her at the table had gone completely ignored. He did, however, emerge from the shadows to present himself to the blue-eyed brunette. He didn’t look like a dead person in any sense of the word, but if she were to try to touch him, she would find that she’d go right through him.

“Strange how I’m more shocked to be speaking to you than you are to be speaking to me,” Ghost spoke, still half expecting to get no reply in return. He was so used to the radio silence that actually being heard and responded to was just surreal to him. Had he been capable of sleeping, then he would’ve been expecting to wake up from a dream at any given moment.

“Do you talk to the dead often, or are you just really weird?” He simply couldn’t imagine why else Rylan would greet a ghost so casually, but he also didn’t care to wait around and make small talk with her. More than anything, he just wanted to figure out who he was, what happened to him, and why he wasn’t able to pass on. It was difficult to do when he couldn’t interact with people or objects (minus a few times that his emotions ran high and enabled him to make contact), and also had no idea of where to start. He didn’t even know his own name, and all he could rely on was little things to hopefully jog his memory or bring on a sense of déjà vu. “Or perhaps stupid? You could’ve summoned something evil and you’re inviting it to sit at a table with you.” Luckily, that wasn’t the case, but even so.

[exanimate]

mechbeaut​:

-

          The day had been long. Far longer than any day that week had seemed to be. There’s a small sigh that wants to pass her lips at the thought but she’s glad that Addison had been free that night and with pizza to boot. A mood lifter and Rylan found herself downstairs in her mother’s wine fridge, one thing that the woman had splurged on. The woman had refused to go a day without a glass of the good red and a cold bottle sitting next to her. A smirk dances over her lips as she grabs the glasses, making her way for the kitchen. The blinds were open on the setting sun. The drifting snow in the wind was a welcoming view but she was glad that the heat was keeping inside warm. She could walk around in short shorts and a band tee that seemed far too large for her frame. Addison was already settled into a chair, a plate of pizza in front of her as she talked away about how her day had gone. Rylan listened intently. Content on hearing her best friend’s voice. Happy to just have the company of the other on a chilly, snowy night. Max had been at Melissa’s and was going to stay the night. Her mother was at her nightshift at the hospital and she wouldn’t have to worry about a father who wasn’t going to come home. The petty part of her had hoped he would freeze in his office with his new lover but the part that cared, the good daughter, the child that loved her father, hoped that he at least found warmth in  the other woman’s arms that her own mother couldn’t provide for him.           As the hours ticked by and the two held conversation that ranged from their days to their lives to Addison in school. She draws a breath, taking a long drink of the red wine as she offers the idea of playing a Ouija Board. The smirk on Addison’s face was all telling. Rylan didn’t need her best friend to speak an answer as the girl hopped up from the chair and skipped down the hall to Melissa’s old room, grabbed the game set as she returned to the table. It was meant to be meaningless after all. None of them had ever really believed in ghosts, but none of them ever had a reason to believe in them anyways. Rylan had definitely never seen nor spoke to one, so why fear a piece of card board with a pointer that let them goof off for hours in a fun way? The game started simple enough, after Addison had lit the candles and turned the light off. They had asked a series of dumb questions, nothing that anyone would have ever answered seriously. Then when the ambiance kicked in and things started to get a bit more spooky, it was Rylan who asked about colors and food, things labeled in the favorites category that only friends seemed to ask each other.           “If they’re bullshit, why are you talking?” The answer came without Rylan even realizing she had replied. Perhaps it was because she had thought Addison had said it, not recognizing that the voice definitely didn’t match the person sitting beside her. Nor had she noticed that the same voice had come from a different part of the room. Rylan freezes just then. Her hands still on the pointer as striking blue orbs look up at the woman at her side. Fear strikes through her like a match set aflame. If that wasn’t one of them, then had they really conjured a ghost? And if so, why would it happen to be her luck that it seemed to be a sarcastic one? “You didn’t say that, did you?” She questions Addison just then, not wanting to believe her own ears, knowing for a fact that it was a male’s voice. “Alright, if these are bullshit then why are you here? Surely it wasn’t the smell of pizza or the thirst for red wine.”

Ghost had been fully prepared to leave the house, figuring that this wasn’t going to lead to anything that would help him, when suddenly one of the women had spoken up in what seemed like response to his question. There was no way, Ghost thought. He’d been invisible in both body and sound for years, (though he was still under the impression that it had been one year, albeit a very long one that seemed to have no end) trying again and again to get somebody to listen to him, but nothing ever worked. He could yell as loud as he could and he wouldn’t even earn as much as a flinch from the people nearby. After so many failed attempts at communicating with people, he was downright stubborn in thinking this time would be any different. It just seemed foolish. On the other hand, why would she have brought up the topic of it being bullshit? It seemed too specific to say out of the blue when he knew the other girl hadn’t said anything to get that sort of response. Frowning faintly, and after what looked like a moment of panic from the blue eyed beauty sitting at the table, Ghost watched her interact with her friend before once again speaking up and asking that if it was bullshit, why was he here? That was twice now, and he definitely didn’t see anyone else in the room that she could be talking to. Truly, he hadn’t even meant to talk to them, nor had his words been directed at them. He’d simply developed a habit of occasionally talking to himself since he had nobody else to talk to.

“You can hear me?” Came Ghost’s somewhat hesitant voice again from the corner, that same sliver of hope that he’d felt earlier returning to him. He’d come to hate that feeling, as rare as it was. Hope only ever led him to a dead end and disappointment, and he would once again return to feeling empty. Emerging from the shadows, he stood near the table where the two young women sat. In the off chance that it was true and they really could hear him, or at least one of them could, then what were the odds that they were able to see him too? The question of why he was here would seem to fall upon deaf ears. He’d heard her, sure, but he didn’t want to answer without knowing for sure that it was him she was talking to. “Can you see me?” If he were to get no response to either of his questions, he would know that he’d just been fooling himself and would carry on with his original plan to leave the house.

[exanimate]

@mechbeaut​

Hands in his pockets, Ghost made his way down the snow covered sidewalk after spending hours in yet another cemetery. He would spend days sometimes reading gravestones in hopes that a name would jog his memory, but he would always leave with nothing; not even a single hint of an idea of who he was or how he died. This time was no different. The sun had set and everything in the far distance were mere shadows against the streetlights, the trees that had lost their leaves while the wind howled making for a rather eerie setting near the cemetery. His gaze had been downcast while he walked, but an unexplainable sensation soon had him lifting his head in curiosity. He felt a certain pull, which had never happened before, so he decided to follow it. Maybe this was finally it--a clue that would help him remember his past.

As the minutes passed and he drew closer to the source, the pull got stronger and he soon came to discover that it was coming from inside a house. He was no stranger to trespassing, because what did it even matter at this point? He was dead and nobody could see or hear him. He was his own company and had been for longer than he was even aware. Phasing through the walls of the house, Ghost found himself standing in the corner behind two girls who were sitting in front of a Ouija board with candles lit around them. They had their fingers on the pointer and, it seemed, were waiting for a response from the dead. Maybe if he actually knew how to touch things, he would give them a response, but he was shit out of luck. Besides, was this seriously all he’d been drawn to? A goddamn Ouija board? An unamused expression crossed his features and a sigh passed his lips. The sliver of hope he’d felt had been fleeting, and he was once again left feeling a combination of defeated and numb.

“Really? These things are bullshit,” Ghost said aloud to himself from where he stood in the shadows, giving a roll of his eyes. It still didn’t explain what the strange pull he felt was, but if these boards really were that legit, then wouldn’t more people have stories of encounters with the dead? Wouldn’t it be making the news and influencing more people to try it out?

[exanimate]

@vampyrea​

     It wasn’t Ghost’s first time visiting this particular graveyard. He made rounds to multiple around the area, always checking for names that might jog his memory to give him so much as an inkling of an idea about his own identity. It was tough trying to discover his past and why he died when he didn’t even know so much as his own name--hence why he called himself Ghost. But like every other visit to the graveyards, this one wasn’t turning out any different. Another day spent roaming, unseen and unheard, had come and gone.

     ----Or so Ghost thought. It was when he spotted a young woman standing in front of a grave that he suddenly paused, the gaze of his blue eyes settling upon her face. Why did she look so familiar? She was pretty, no doubt. Maybe he’d seen her in a magazine or on TV or something? “No, no, that couldn’t be it,” he spoke to himself out loud in answer to his own speculations. Since being dead, talking to himself was a habit he’d gradually developed. Ghost gave a quiet hum of thought, his arms crossing over his front as he continued to study the strangers features.