#eclipse ghosts

[contemporarybardess]

Remember Who You Are || Elora Solo

Parties: @contemporarybardess

Timing: Current, during the eclipse

Location: Elora’s Home

Triggers: Parental Death

Summary: Elora gets ready to enjoy the eclipse, but is visited by a familiar spirit instead

The fog was getting unbearable. All Elora wanted to do was go out and put up posters for the dog she found, but she couldn’t even see well enough to venture too far away from her house! At least, that was her excuse. In actuality, she really wanted an excuse to keep the dog as her own.

As the sky overhead darkened, she quickly grabbed her special eclipse glasses. She hadn’t realized it was already time! The phenomenon still fascinated her, even though she had seen several already. 

“It’s an oddly beautiful sight, isn’t it?” 

The voice came from behind her, just inside her home, and made her stand stock still. She turned around slowly, and saw…nothing. She had forgotten to take her eclipse glasses off. After she removed them, she saw something that flooded her with a complex mix of emotions. 

Her mother.

“M…mom?” She immediately felt herself burst into tears at the sight of her. Desperately, she reached out to try and pull her mother into an embrace, but could grab only the air in front of her. It hurt. It hurt that she couldn’t touch her but it also overjoyed her to at least see her and hear her voice again. 

“I want to hold you too, love, but right now this is all we can manage,” her mother said, tears welling up in her own eyes.

She had so many questions. So much she wanted to say. Eventually, one question emerged above all others. 

“Where’s Dad?”

“The eclipse is what’s allowing you to see me. Unfortunately your father and I weren’t sure if you could see both of us at once, so decided I should be the one here to see you.”

She couldn’t believe it. She was really here. She…she didn’t deserve to have her here. She didn’t deserve this level of love and compassion after what she had done. She was almost relieved her father wasn’t here so she wouldn’t have to face him. 

“Little dove, you know it isn’t your fault.” Elora’s mother’s words cut through her self loathing. Just as it always had, her voice had wrapped around her like a blanket and made her feel safe again.

“Your father and I both love you very much. I wish I could stay longer but…the power is only here for a short time.” 

“Your ring…” Elora began to say while looking down at her hand, confessing she had more or less pawned it to Alistair. 

“Your hand! Damn the ring, I’m glad your hand is back to normal! Awful thing that that brute did to you” her mother answered back immediately. 

“You don’t hate me for what happened?” Elora finally asked after a period of silence. She had always carried the weight with her that her parents may have cursed her name in their final moments.

“Elora…” her mother began, surprised and sounding somewhat hurt by the question. “You are our daughter no matter what. And we’re proud to call you our daughter. I mean, look at you now! Starting your own life, forging your own path. You have a very lovely home and were smart enough to get it for free! Not to mention a job and a girlfriend. What more can a parent ask for?” 

Before she could answer, the visage of Elora’s mother began to fade. 

“We love you, forever and always” were the last words she uttered before she faded away forever. She was gone…again. Just as she did, the sky brightened again. But to Elora, it was just as dull out as ever. 

Still, she felt the weight of her guilt completely lift from her shoulders. It was a heavy load, heavier than she thought it would be. She could do nothing but continue sobbing. Sobbing in joy, sadness, grief, and absolution. A cacophony emotion all released in one large torrent of tears. When she was done, however, she had never felt better.

[thenavysealkie]

Ghosts in the Water || Marcus Solo

Parties: @thenavysealkie

Timing: Current, during the eclipse totality

Location: Near the lighthouse

Triggers: Familial death

Summary: Marcus sees the ghost of a familiar face during the eclipse

It was a quiet day, relatively calm. The fog helped keep people away from the ocean for the most part, but Marcus also had to remain extra vigilant of ships that were disoriented. Mercifully, it seemed any ships out on the water were holding position until the fog passed, as there were no signs of any vessels as the lighthouses signal cut through the heavy cloud.

Marcus was just about to head back into the lighthouse to gather his things and end his watch early for the day when he spotted a small mass floating in the water, about 50 feet from the shore. It was far too large to be a person, but also smaller than a boat. Perhaps a kayak or canoe or something, but who would take a vessel like that into the ocean during thick fog? Someone with a death wish, certainly. He tried to get a closer look, when suddenly it began moving towards him quickly. It was almost as if it had a motor attached. No…Marcus realized it was swimming at him.

As the figure came closer, Marcus’s blood ran ice cold. It was a large elephant seal, with a thick, dark hide, and blue eyes that shimmered with recognition and familiarity. As it drew closer, he could barely make a large white scar running down its upper chest. He knew what was coming as the gossamer figure made landfall and suddenly stood on two legs, becoming human once again before his very eyes.

“Archer…” Was all he could say as he looked upon the visage of his cousin. The one who had been murdered in front of him almost 20 years ago now.

“Been a while, Marcus. You’ve had one hell of a year, haven’t you?” his cousin asked, taking in the scenery around him. “Guess we’re both dead now in one sense or another, eh? At least as far as the Navy is concerned…”

“What are you-” Marcus had so many questions, but didn’t know how to ask any of them. “How are you-”

“It’s the eclipse. Apparently it allows you to see me, which I think is crazy! This place is pretty neat, gives spirits a lot of avenues to communicate with everyone.”

While Marcus was thankful for the reunion, he couldn’t help but think of whatever dead souls might be looking for him; with less than well meaning intentions.

As if reading his mind, and maybe he was, Archer chimed in “Don’t worry about…him. I’ve seen and talked to him since he passed on. Congratulations, by the way. Apparently you’re not at the top of his list of people he has an ax to grind with, so he’s harassing other people right now. Besides,” he continued, giving a little flex for emphasis. “He may be bigger than you, but he knows I’m bigger than him and not to mess with you”

“I didn’t mean to…” To do what exactly? Kill him? Marcus stabbed him in the back when he was fighting with a rather powerful siren. Could he really say he didn’t mean to kill William? That would, of course, be a lie. Yet still, he certainly didn’t want to kill him either.

“You did what needed to be done. You stood your ground and made the world a better place. That is what a Fremont does.” Archie replied simply. “Grandpa’s been watching you with me. We’re both so proud of you, Marcus. You got dealt a very shitty hand, but you rose to the occasion and manned up without a CO hovering over your shoulder telling you to do so. You’re doing what’s right even if it flies in the face of authority.”

The words seemed almost foreign coming from another Fremont. His father had always emphasized status and image above all else. The “Fremont name” had always been tied to things such as his military accolades and how he was viewed. He always he felt he was a failure for leaving all of those things behind. Then, finally, his cousin said something that made Marcus certain he could read his thoughts to some extent.

“Listen, I don’t have much more time so I’ll just get to it.Your place is here, Marcus. This is where you belong, as chaotic and dangerous as it may be. Think of the lives you’ve saved, the people you’ve met, the course of events here that have changed since you came to town! I know you can’t go back home, but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe staying off the grid in the town shrouded in mystery won’t be so bad for you.”

Marcus had thought about leaving more times than he could count. It only made sense to him. The town had actively tried to kill him enough times that he figured he’d take his chances with the military instead. But then he always thought of Elias, who was now off on his own journey with no real hint of a return. He thought of those he had met and his duties here along the beach. Maybe his home was here after all. Sure, it was by no means stable or peaceful. But as time went on, Marcus felt more at ease with that fact. Perhaps his cousin was right after all.

“Archer…” he then turned towards his cousin, trying not to make eye contact with the scar that now ran across his chest. “Thank you. I think I really did need to hear that. Tell Pop Pop I said hi too.”

“I sure will. Take it easy Marcus,” and with that, his translucent form faded even further until Marcus was greeted with nothing in front of him yet again. Swallowing hard, he resumed his trek back to the lighthouse. While it may be turbulent, dangerous, and wild, this was home. And for the first time since he arrived, Marcus was perfectly fine with that.