Phantom - deal maker (created by the Author) - Protection Verse
Awareness is the last part to fall into place. An understanding of the world that until moments before functioned without him. Attitudes and human nature, means of manipulation and enticement, everything a good deal maker needs to convince someone to give up their world. Hands, strong and confident grip him by the elbows and keep him from falling to the ground. A black shirt, and a sly smirk, as the stranger looks at him with pride.
âOh Phantom.â he says. âThe plans I have for you.â
Except the plans never come. Things go wrong and the stranger abandons him. Leaves Phantom in the âcareâ of a man who sees the boy as a tool. Something created to serve his purpose and nothing more.
No ties. No family. Every day Phantom lives in fear of losing what little he has. All while nobody seems to care. After all heâs not what they want, but is exactly what Mark needs.
Increased intelligence, teleportation, perception alteration, low-level hypnosis, very low-level telepathy, Basic magic (bright red) - general things such as energy blasts and basic telekinesis, Dealer's magic (blood red) - able to grant any wish as long as the one making the wish agrees to give up something of value in sacrifice.
NAYKT Character Facts
Phantom wasn't born, he was made, written into existence by an arrogant Author who was both bored and determined to push the boundaries of what everyone told him he could do.
In his early years, Phantom took a lot of his guidance from the Author, learning quickly to be shrewd, smart, and to never reveal his hand until it's too late.
While Mark has asserted time and again that Phantom was 'made for him', he in fact wasn't. Mark merely took advantage of Phantom's naivity and fear after the Author lost both his eyes and his mind, essentially kidnapping the young man and trying to mould him to his own purposes. Phantom was repeatedly tormented and abused by Mark but given the nature of his creation, he was in no real position to fight back.
The more Phantom observed those who lived in the building, the more he grew; developing his own intents, his own loyalties, his own desires. In pursuing these, he developed himself beyond the Author's intent and was able to survive when the Author (in Bing's body) attempted to erase him.
Phantom was the key component in defeating Author 2.0. Without him it wouldn't have been possible.
Writer's Fave Fact
Phantom was designed to be a Faustian creature; to truly tempt the 'innocent' and righteously dish out punishment to the 'wicked'. Every deal offers you exactly what you want in exchange for something you need.
While there are strict rules on how this is supposed to work, Phantom is nothing if not adaptable and has found multiple ways to subvert his own limitations.
Phantom can feel that something about himself has changed and has no fucking clue what it is. Just a shift somewhere in his core that feels like he's been redefined. He currently attributes it to his partial erasure by the Author but he's worried that's not what it is
So I've set up my shop! Offering letters from some specific youtube ego characters and it's been terrifying but its out there now! No backing out.
Something I have considered but am not sure about whether it would be of any interest to anyone, letters from Protection Verse characters. So if you could answer this poll for me, whatever your response, it'd be a big help for me
If I added a listing to my shop for a handwritten letter from Protection Verse characters (e.g. Bing, Jim Twins, Madpat, Googles etc) would you be interested?
Phantom keeps finding himself drawn to check on Bing. He is not sure why, and despite repeatedly trying to distract himself keeps finding his way back to Bingâs apartment door. He has not yet knocked.
Phantom is a little more dishevelled than last time. Getting about in the Authorâs mind is a little trickier when your âall access passâ has been revoked. His hair is messy, his shirt is torn at the sleeve, and he may have a slight limp but itâs irrelevant. Heâs made it.
Bingâs room. Almost. The light seems weaker and somehow the few bright colours that were there have run for the hills. Everything is some kind of shade of black or grey. Bingâs laid down on the bed, curled on his side, his arms are wrapped around himself while he stares at the wall opposite his bed.
âBing?â
Phantom crosses the room but Bing doesnât react, not even as the dealmaker crouches directly in the cyborgâs eyeline. His black hair is scruffy and ragged, while dark bags weigh heavy on his glassy eyes. Thereâs no life in them; no focus.
The room is emptier somehow. The shelves are bare of even the most generic of detail, while the trinkets are missing. The only thing that remains is the photo frame on Bingâs bedside table. The one of Bing with his mother. Thereâs not a drop of colour left in it and the detail is badly bleached and faded.
Phantom picks up the photo to a very weak protest and stares at it. While the Author may have kept his distance, this small corner was never going to be immune to his presence forever. Itâs obvious that Bing is holding on by a very thin thread.
As he gently brushes his red glowing fingertips over the image, Phantom speaks to Bing.
âIâve come to show you your family.â the red sparks skitter across the image, infusing it with colour and shifting them around until it shows precisely what Phantom needs Bing to see.
He turns the frame showing a large group photo of everyone. Everyone who lives in the building, everyone theyâve encountered, everyone who has come together to fight the Author. Bingâs eyes slowly pass over the faces.
âIâŚâ his voice is quiet and rough from lack of use as he holds himself a little tighter, âI donât know most these people.â
âItâs grown a little,â Phantom agrees, holding the photo steady as he watches Bingâs eyes move around it a little faster. âAnd yet theyâre out there right now, fighting to bring you home.â
Bing frowns a little, eyes darting back and forth. That person he knows. And that one. And that one. That one too. And-
âEven Mad?â his voice finds a little strength and Phantom shrugs.
âGoogle seems to trust him.â
âGoog!â Bing pushes himself up, painful and slow, his limbs tight as he shifts but thereâs a spark in his eyes that wasnât there a moment before, âIs he-?â
âFixed.â Phantom nods, holding the photo out and Bing reaches to take it. âJust like I promised.â
âIs that a vampire?!â Bing jabs the glass, his familiar grin peeking through the pain that still sits heavily on him. He looks to Phantom. âThese people are trying to save me?â
He nods again. âEvery last one. Theyâre just waiting on you.â
Bingâs holds the photo to his chest, fear and confusion on his face.
âWhat if I canât do it?â Look in his eyes; Bing really doesnât believe he can do this, and can you blame him? After spending who knows how long held hostage in a corner of his own mind by a powerful psychic maniac?
Phantom places a hand on Bingâs shoulder and the boy looks up at him.
âIâm not psychic.â Siren mutters under his breath. Heâs stood a little further away from the others, clearly uncomfortable. He keeps looking across the room at Yancy, begging with all he has that the inmate will come over and stand with him. Standing to the end of the room with his four doppelgängers is more than unnerving.
âAndroids are actually immune to psychic attacks,â Rowan corrects, âSo if he was psychic I wouldnât be affected. Then thereâs the fact youâre dead.â
âKeep my death out of your mouth.â Natemare snaps at the droid.
âStill,â Daniel adds, âmost psychics require at least some prior knowledge of the people they connect to. I hadnât even been in this universe for an hour and none of you had met before.â
âSure, talk about me like Iâm not even here, thatâs not rude or anything.â Siren mutters again.
âThe details,â Phantom cuts across them before the spirit can argue again, âdonât matter. What matters is this actually gives us a fighting chance.â
Mare snorts.
Phantom turns to him. âWhat now?â
âItâs adorable that you think that these arrogant assholes,â he gestures to everyone around the warehouse, âwouldnât happily let the world burn before swallowing their pride and actually listening to us.â
âHeâs not wrong.â Rowan gives a half-shrug. He doesnât exactly want to be a pessimist about it but heâs not missed how many people here look like Yan. He also hasnât missed how many of them havenât even noticed heâs even there, especially when stood next to Yan. âWeâre kind of outnumbered. By a lot.â
âAnd stubborn people only get more so when they feel threatened.â Daniel agrees. Not that he can actually blame the egos for feeling threatened when a monster basically strolled into their home and kicked them out, killed one of their family, and took another one hostage.
âThen itâs a good thing weâre not asking their permission.â Phantom steps forward his fists clenched as he snaps at them, âThis isnât some disgruntled asshole! This is the Author! The dick so pissed and power-hungry that he tore out his own eyes because being the most powerful telepath in the universe wasnât good enough for him!â
Everyone flinches. While theyâd all heard rumours as to why the Host was blind, most of them from the Jims, none of them had known the truth. Phantom knew. Heâd been there when it had happened. Seen the horrific act and heard the terrified screams. Phantom had seen the birth of the Host and within too short a time been cast aside by him. The start of the end.
âNo one knows the Author better than I do!âhe continues, âNo one else could possibly guess what shit he may try and pull! Not even him!â he turns and points to the Host, his voice loud and carrying across the room.
The Host hears Phantomâs voice, and his hand calmly resting on the doctorâs arm beside him allows him to see the gathering as Iain turns to the shout.
âJulienâŚâ Iain sounds wary but the Host sends a wave of calm through his fingers as he shakes his head.
Lady Fate is right. Phantom has grown beyond his original intent and while part of him is desperate to grasp for that control, he is smart enough now to let that urge go.
âTrust him.â the Host says, carefully watching the group through the doctorâs eyes as they continue to talk.
Phantom turns back to the group
âSo theyâre going to listen to us or theyâre going to have their asses handed to them! Twice!â
Mare smirks. âFeel better?â
Taking a deep breath, Phantom lets it out slowly. He does actually.
âLook, we have one shot to take this asshole down,â he addresses the group, taking in their concerned looks and willing them to understand, âhe will not be stupid enough to give us another. And I need all of you to be on board or weâre fucked.â
Thereâs a moments silence as everyone takes that in. They exchange concerned glances, that slowly turn to determination. Eventually all of them are looking to Natemare, whoâs staring resolutely back at Phantom.
Eventually he speaks, âWhat do we need to do?â
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âOh Phantom,â comes a dangerously familiar voice, âWhat have you done?â
Phantom jumps having thought he was alone as he returened to the building, clutching his cane closer by instinct as he turns. Heart pounding in his chest, he feels like a teenager getting caught sneaking in after curfew.
The Author steps from the shadows, having shed Bingâs black tank top, replaced with a smart black shirt. Very Author 1.0, clearly very pleased with the change. The only remaining sign of his stolen body is the difference in colour between Bingâs bright blue robotic eye and his flecked blue human one.
âAuthor, I-â
âI want to say that Iâm disappointed...â
Heâs giving off a very weird vibe. Not anger, Phantom knows how that looks far more than he would care to admit, but itâs definitely something that screams of danger. Unconsciously, Phantom grips his cane even tighter and steps back.
âItâs not your fault.â The Author continues. He shakes his head, turning to pace, treading along a wide circle, movements slow. âI should have realised. Spending so much time playing second fiddle to a lesser being.â Pausing, the Author spits over his shoulder and down the corridor Thereâs a large amount of spite in his words as he speaks, barely restrained anger flitting across his face. âIt stands to reason that youâd develop a conscience.â
âI donât-â
The words just disappear as the Author snaps his fingers. Extending his left hand, he waits and Phantom can only watch, frozen as his cane is torn from his fingers and flies to the outstretched hand, catching it easily before twirling it and holding it in front of him.
âI know you developed a soft spot for those idiots.â he comments, gently passing his hand over the globe on the top as it begins to pulse with a soft white glow. âAnd I made sure you overheard me talking to Mark about Bim.â
Phantom is only half paying attention, eyes fixed on the light in his cane.
âIt was a test. To see where your loyalties truly lie.â the Authorâs hand comes down on the globe and he glances up with murderous eyes. âAnd you failed.â
Phantom tries to explain, to give reason, to make excuses but he still canât speak, or move, forced to just watch at the white light grows brighter, peeking between the gaps in Authorâs fingers.
âI wanted to be wrong.â he continues. âI wanted you to be exactly as I wrote you. But you failed. And now...â
The light is impossibly bright now and the Author lifts his hand, the light following, exiting the globe and rising upwards. The slow little white ball of light, Silverâs soul, rising up as the Author moves the hand beneath it, cradling it softly and looking at it with such a look of awe and admiration.
âYou may not have done what I wanted, but youâve brought me exactly what I need.â
Thereâs a sickening moment of silence, the Author glancing up and watching as the sickening realisation of whatâs going on pass over Phantomâs face. It was a set up. All of it? Of course all of it! This is the fucking Author! Bim, Silver, all of it is Phantomâs fault, literal pawns in the Authorâs game because Phantom went off script and tried to do something noble. It cuts deep and he canât keep the devastation from his face. He was a dick and life stuck him with Mark as punishment. He tried to do good, and this is where it lead.
âI had so many plans for you Phantom.â The Author says, raising the dealmakerâs cane up. âBut now youâre not worth the paper I wrote you on.â
The cane drops, the base of it slammed with force into the ground, making a loud âclackâ that strangely echoes all through the hallway the two of them stand in. As soon as it strikes the floor, the entire thing bursts, exploding into a billion tiny pieces that just disappear into nothing and nowhere. The cane is destroyed.
Phantom cries out, feeling the destruction rip straight through him, like heâs been sliced through with a rusty scythe, catching and tearing, ripping him at the very seams of his being. Itâs more than just the cane thatâs been destroyed.
Somehow heâs still standing, though heâs not sure how long that can possibly last, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him as his arms curl tight around his stomach, trying desperately to hold himself together. An unseen force lifts him from the floor, throwing him until he collides with a wall. Something in his chest cracks and he drops to the floor, desperately gasping, spasming in pain. Everything hurts and feels as though itâs dripping away. Wavering on the edge of consciousness, alone and afraid, Phantom feels a part of himself...erased.
Silver is perched on the end of a random table, Mad is apparently not a tidy or organised person, there being several of these around the warehouse. Bim is still on the floor out cold and Phantom is between them, slowly walking back and forth, softly but nervously swinging his cane through the air beside him as he steps. Theyâre otherwise silent, the low temperature and poor heating only partially responsible for the crisp chill in the air between them.
âYou know what taking this deal will do to you.â
âYeah.â Silverâs head is bowed, arms folded and eyes fixed on a point on the floor.
âSo youâre not going to take it.â Itâs more of a direction than a question because Phantom knows that Silver is considering it, and knows that itâs possibly the worst thing to do right now.
See usually, a soul is wholly inessential to life. Your average human can easily continue on without one, fundamentally changed from who they were as a person but still alive and able to continue. But Silverâs a special case, and giving his soul is a far steeper price.
âThey need Bim.â his voice is low, barely above a mutter and Phantom rounds on the hero.
âDo they? Or do you? If you-â
âThey donât trust me!â The words snap through the air and silence Phantom in a second. Silver looks up, a fiery look in his eyes that could be anger or maybe just pain. âNone of them trust me because theyâre waiting for me to turn into him.â His eyes dart over to the doorway, towards his doppleganger, the proven asshole, the liar, the cheater, the deceiver. âWhen they find out I had a chance to save Bim and didnât, theyâll never forgive me.â His eyes fall to the ground again, defeated. âThey need Bim.â
Itâs hardly something Phantom can argue with. Heâs seen the looks, the glances, the hushed whispers, all pretty prominent inside Silverâs memories and though everyoneâs amicable, the truth, the lack of trust is there, plain as day to see.
With a weary sigh, Phantom steps forward, taking a seat next to the hero and watching him carefully, but they both remain silent for a few minutes.
Silver reaches up and runs a hand down his face, frustrated and afraid as he speaks.
âIt work like a contract, right?â
âI guess.â Phantom inclines his head. Heâs never used an actual contract before but the basic premise is the same.
âSo could I set some terms?â
âIf you donât give your soul then yo-â Phantom begins, but Silver cuts across him.
âNo I, I get that. I meant likeâŚ..â his hands fidget as he thinks how best to word this, âCan I tighten the deal, so it doesnât come back to screw anyone over?â
âWhat are you thinking?â
âI give up myâŚ.â he canât say it, but he continues on, âand Bim is him again. Completely him. No lingering urges. I want him to look at a slightly undercooked burger and feel queasy.â
âThatâsâŚ.actually pretty smart.â Phantom tilts his head.
âAnd he canât remember.â Phantom grimaces, gesturing for the hero to elaborate. It is never good to be vague when negotiating. Silver looks between Bim and the dealmaker beside him, âBim needs to remember why Matthias isnât around, but he canât remember anything of the actualâŚ..eating.â Silver counts off a few examples on his fingers. âNo flashbacks, no nightmares, no triggers. For now and forever more, the details have to be gone from his mind.â
Phantom nods. Much better. Much more precise and distinct. âAnything else?â
âI want to say goodbye.â
The dealmaker waits, honestly expecting there to be more, but Silver doesnât continue, his gaze focused on Bim. Did Silver learn nothing from the last term, though this time, maybe a little vagueness can work to their advantage
Phantom nods. âI think I can swing that.â
The deal and the terms set out, there is little more that Phantom can do at this point. He canât rescind it, once a deal is offered, the mark must either accept or reject it and that is not something that Phantom can control. Even so, he makes one last plea.
âIs there anything I can say to convince you not to do this?â
Giving a tired sigh, Phantom reluctantly pushes himself to his feet and turns towards the hero. Â He offers out his hand, waiting patiently as Silver continues to watch Bim. When he finally reaches to take the hand, Phantom pulls away at the last moment, finally drawing Silverâs attention to him.
âOnly do this, if youâre sure.â
He lowers his hand again. Thereâs a moment, though brief where he sees the hero question himself, where he asks if this is really what he wants. But the resolve doesnât leave, it doesnât lessen or weaken.
Silver reaches forward and takes the dealmakerâs hand.
