deercountry | (no subject)

[oh peter, truly no idea the scope here. though mob thinks peter is a good guy, to worry about something like that first.] No, it won't hurt. Here-

[he lifts a finger, pointing it at peter as it glows a blue-purple. it's an odd sensation, like a zap of energy running through him. he might feel a little stronger, like a good night's sleep. more importantly his perception is definitely going to be changed for a bit.

like the fact he can see mob's aura now, the blue-green-purple, kind of geometric. and while there aren't any spirits in this room there's tugs of something outside. a glance might even show some figures that weren't there before, vanishing if looked at too suddenly.]

How's that? [this is still pretty new to him to do like... with intent. he has pretty mixed feelings about using his powers at all but maybe this was useful, he'll admit.]

( He has absolutely no idea what to expect with this — and if this were any other circumstance, or with someone older than this kid, he'd probably be noping out fast. But.... Peter can't help but feel a certain trust, largely because Shigeo is so young. It's a certain softness, and it's probably not always wise (Peter, even young people could be potentially dangerous to you......)

But it's there, how it is. He can't turn away from someone that young. Not again.

So here he is and he'll do whatever the other boy says is okay, even if it's with a visibly nervous demeanour... Peter startles at the zap, flinching. It scares him, but it doesn't feel bad. Not painful, the way Paimon often does. Just... different. Like he's more.

And he's staring wide-eyed at Mob, taking in the sight of those colours around him. Trench's blood effects granted Peter a very similar ability to see "auras", or life forces, or something like that, so it's actually not completely foreign. Still, it's weird, and he's gaping at him for a long moment.

Before his head snaps to the side with a flicker of brief movement that comes from outside, eyes saucer-wide. In lieu of a proper response to Mob's question is Peter jumping closer to him and quickly reaching to hold onto his arm, as though for protection.... )

Are they out there? I think I saw something! Holy shit!

[mob doesn't seem to mind his arm grabbed, just blinks to follow where peter is looking.] Yup. There are some out there.

[sorry peter, he's not great at reading the room here. regardless he seems to register this is probably a lot so he offers,] It's okay, most of the spirits are pretty skittish. I think they're more afraid of us than anything.

I won't let them hurt you anyway. [words that should be a boast or a reassurance but is just. stated with the simplicity of fact. spirits have always been really easy to handle (mostly) and he wouldn't let one try to hurt his new karate senpai so... there it is.]

( The younger boy's sense of seeming calm is a good balm to counter Peter's anxiety.... Really, it's thanks to Mob having such a level head about everything that Peter's not panicking. But he definitely wasn't expecting to get a dose of supernatural power of his own. Paimon may be capable of a lot, but those abilities aren't anything Peter can really use, himself. He's more just the catalyst for the demon to work through.

But this? Seeing ghosts?? This is new and crazy and he's just continuing to stare wide-eyed in that direction for a moment, still latched onto the other boy. He does ultimately trust that Mob will be able to take care of things; clearly, he's used to this. Which admittedly sounds pretty scary, and presents another question. )

Do you have to.... turn this on? Or can you see ghosts like... all the time?

( Is he just constantly haunted by this kind of thing? )

I see them all the time. [again stated simply, just a fact. it doesn't seem to alarm him because it really doesn't, when you spend your whole life seeing things like this it's not particularly frightening.

well, sometimes the trench has a new, uneasy take on things but largely? just normal stuff.]

( All the time... god, it's so hard to wrap his head around. Peter's processing the thought as he keeps staring towards the doorframe, reluctant to move closer. At the same time, he's uncomfortably aware of a prickling sensation up under his skin, like his nerves are being touched by something, a ghost of his own moving through him. He knows it's Paimon, the demon no doubt extremely interested by the spirits that Peter's now able to perceive, wanting to observe them closer.

....But there's also Mob himself, the source of all of this, and Peter feels his hand tighten against the boy's arm suddenly and with intent, like it's trying to grab for his attention.

Peter just as abruptly lets go of Mob's arm with a startled exhale, taking a step back. What the fuck, stop that. )

—Sorry. I uh— We can go out there now. I'm okay— I'm ready.

( ...Peter, you're so weird.... )

[there's a moment of mob glancing over- maybe he feels something a little odd? hm, no, or at least he looks away again to the doorway.

is peter weird? yes. he is nice though which is all that really matters to mob, so he doesn't bat an eye.] Okay. You can still hold my arm if you want.

[if it makes him feel better? sure. he's an older brother, he knows the deal. regardless he starts walking towards the door, waiting for peter until they get outside. a bit down the way he points to a pair of black, liquid figures standing forlornly under a street light, looking incredibly spooky.]

There's some. When they have a more human shape like that it's usually because they're just people who died without too much hatred or strong emotions. [it still feels weird to Teach but he's trying!] At least that's how it was in my world.

( He can still hold Mob's arm if he wants.... This kid is so nice. He manages a little smile, breathes out a quiet exhale. )

Thanks— I think I'm okay. ( ....In truth, he would very much like to keep ahold of somebody right now while facing those literal spirit outside the room, but Peter's nervous about getting too close to Mob. Not for the first time, he's wondered how Paimon might react to someone who deals with exorcising stuff.

He folds his arms across his chest, a little tightly. Everything's... fine! And follows Mob outside, movements quiet and cautious, staring in the direction of the figures the younger boy points out. It's absolutely spooky, but it's also... actually pretty interesting. He never thought about the way someone died having an effect on how their spirit might look after. )

What do spirits look like when they died with uh.... with strong emotions?

In my world they're usually bigger and stronger. [mob muses. it's actually kind of interesting to discuss this properly. usually master reigen just said vague things and waved off any deeper discussion about it. ritsu used to ask, when they were little, but then he stopped.

it's odd to think this thing that people always found so weird could be helping to talk about. and the fact peter seems scared of it but still wants to understand? mob thinks he's a pretty brave guy. not a lot of people would do that.]

It reflects on them too, I think. Like... someone who died really really angry might be scary and spiky, or someone who died sad is usually kind of droopy. [a beat, then with a small smile that probably doesn't fit the topic.] Oh, once I met a spirit who died when his motorcycle crashed and he had motorcycle parts. It was pretty weird.

Woah.... that's so wild. ( Peter almost seems a little impressed — as weird as all this is, it's.... kind of neat to learn about? Even the poor freaky motorcycle guy... oh buddy.

But it's also kind of... sad. Weird, in a different sort of way. He's aware that the rules of Mob's world, and the spirits there, might not necessarily match up to the ones of other worlds. His own world. But he can't help... wondering. What happened to his own family's... spirits, or souls.

And the ways they'd died.... it conjures up some less-than-pleasant images. Peter's swallowing against a sudden tight feeling at the hollow of his throat. )

What about people who died.... in pain? Like... a lot of pain? Has there ever been one like that?

[ah, that's a serious one. mob considers it solemnly, thinking of the spirits he met. pain, there was a lot of kinds of pain, weren't there? people died in pain often. it's horrible.]

Yeah... that happens. Mental or physical pain, it usually makes them lash out, I think.

[another beat where he looks to peter, makes the decision to be honest even if it's not really a topic he likes revisiting.] There was someone who wanted to become an evil spirit so he could punish the world. He was angry, but I think he was more in pain than anything else. He looked... dark, kind of warped. I think even without being able to see it people can sense that kind of thing.

( Peter forever making things depressing.... Why're you ruining the nice ghost-hunting mood??

But it's... rare that he has the chance to talk to someone who can offer these kinds of insights. So he's listening to Mob with just as much severity as before, and now a visibly more solemn. No, it's... not nice to think about. )

That's uh. Really sad. ( Quietly, and looking out to the black figures visible from where they are. )

I guess I've always been scared of stuff like that. Ghosts and... things. But it's actually pretty sad.

( And then there's another thought. )

Can you... communicate with them in a normal way? Like make friends?

[really peter, making this trip to look at dead people who haven't moved on a real bummer? unbelievable.

but yes, honestly it is nice to discuss even the depressing aspects seriously. he rarely has for a very long time, people didn't want to hear about this sort of thing. it was abnormal, or scary in ways mob himself didn't really get for a long time.

in fact:] I used to wonder why people were so scared of spirits. I guess I still do.

[ah, a slightly less depressing question. he nods.] Some, yeah. There's an evil spirit back home that haunts me. We talk a lot. [they're friends, it's a whole thing.] The ones here can too, mostly. A lot are shy though.

We could try talking to some, if you want.

( Wait.... Mob did say something about being friends with a spirit back home, didn't he? Memory's always strange in Peter, who tends to forget little details of conversation eerily fast (...it's the demonic possession) but this is ringing a bell.

An evil spirit, though? Once again, Peter is quietly marveling at how brave Mob just is. Even if he grew up with this kind of stuff, still. )

You're really not scared of any of them?

( It... might be okay to tell him about Paimon. Though Peter's aware demons are not the same thing as ghosts, but... )

Oh— I guess we could.. could try that. ( Although Peter says it like someone's holding a gun to his head. But he wanted the experience, didn't he... he should indulge as much as he can..... ) Do we just walk up to them and say hey, or is there like.. a ritual or something?

[(it's usually the demonic possession to blame) but that question has mob consider for a long moment. there's only one spirit he might be afraid of, but mogami was... complicated. after a beat he decides,] Not really.

I think some can probably be scary and dangerous, but not more than people can be scary and dangerous.

[yeah, that about covered it, he thinks.]

We can just walk up and talk to them. They're usually pretty shy, so they might run away. [not even because of any demon stuff! though that. probably doesn't help.] Or we could look around for haunted stuff. The shops here have a lot of that. [mob, not helping the spooky factor.]

( God, being around this kind of perspective sure is a thing. It reminds him a bit of Ange, so comfortable around demons — in her case, more comfortable around them than people. Because... yeah, Mob's right. People can be pretty darn scary, dangerous.

It's just... weird. Eye-opening. A shift in his own perception. Peter's still looking all nauseous and nervous — especially when Mob says there's a lot of Haunted Stuff at the shops around here.... See, this is why Peter doesn't leave the house. But he's still nodding, even as he's simultaneously sort of shrinking back towards the other boy again. )

Maybe... you can talk to one, and I can watch? Would that be okay? I uh. I'd like to see how it happens.

I can do that. [no problem, bud. hilariously his older brother instincts are already kicking in a bit when it comes to peter, despite the age difference, so he doesn't even bat an eye at the request.

especially since there isn't much to it, thankfully. glancing around until he sees a dark figure lingering, vaguely human shaped with a pair of wide, white eyes. he walks over, stopping a good distance away.] Hello.

[the figure shivers like a candle in the wind for a moment, and mob offers,] We won't hurt you. We just want to say hello.

[that has the figure calm, slowly, back to a black stain in the air. when it speaks it sounds like a whisper right behind the ear despite being far away, a simple 'hello' in the voice of a young man.]

( Peter's all too happy to let Mob take the charge, here. And when the other starts making his way over to the figure nearby, Peter stays where he is so he can watch from a bit more distance.

There's a soft shudder when the voice sounds, but what mostly surprises him is the way it sounds... much like a person would. It sounds a bit young, and Peter's eyes are widening further. Oh... it doesn't seem too scary, really.

After a moment's hesitation, he's slowly walking forwards, but very carefully and quietly, body language docile, coming to stand behind Mob so he can watch. He doesn't want to interrupt, so he stays silent, but he will slowly lift a hand and give a soft wave. )

[the spirit shudders a little bit but calms when peter stays near mob. closer there's some more details, a hint of a face in the gloom, fingers that look frozen stiff with ice forming at the tips. a general misty cold.]

I'm Mob, this is Peter. [mob offers, and the spirit after a long beat raises his icy hand in something like a return wave. it's probably a little unpleasant, how the more he comes into focus the more bits of his human shape look blackened and ready to fall off, even if they move fluidly enough.] Peter's not used to ghosts.

[which like fair. it's definitely after a delayed beat but hey, they get another answer. just 'antony' said very quietly again.]

( Now that he's closer, Peter's watching those details reveal themselves, eyes fixed on the fingers to begin with, and then slowly taking in more of the blackened look to the spirit.

There's a jolt of his heart, quick and frantic, and he's seeing his dad's body in his head again. It wasn't the cold, though. Heat can make a thing look black like that, too.

But Peter's swallowing, tries to stay focused as a soft shudder ripples through him. Then comes the word, and his eyes are widening, and he feels more sad than nervous, now. But he coaxes a little smile onto his face, even if it kind of shakes at the corners. Piping up very softly from behind Mob— )

Hey, Antony. It's... it's nice to meet you.

[mob offers peter a tiny, barely there smile. hey, a lot of people who were afraid of spirits used that fear to lash out, so he remains impressed by peter making the effort.]

Is there anything you need? [they're making small talk here, of course, but it is ghosts. the whole 'sometimes needing a push to move on' was probably universal, he thinks. hopes? it'd just be nice to be able to help, especially if the ghost was helping peter learn something in a way.

their new friend goes quiet, a rattling breath that sounds like the wind whistling by before he simply says warm. not a very chatty spirit, mob thinks, which didn't seem too odd around here.

way better than the rude ones in the new city, they had plenty of nasty things to say.]

( The younger's smile may be a subtle thing, but Peter sees it all the same. As oblivious as he may be to... a lot of things, there's a sensitivity there to the small things, too. Tiny gestures of kindness, or encouragement. Peter doesn't miss those things.

It does help. And later he'll be quietly stunned by himself for going from "I'll wait over here, stay out of the way, watch" to doing this, which is standing near a ghost and speaking to them, and.... wanting to help. Because he does, he realises, as Mob asks the spirit if he needs anything and that wisp of a reply comes. Warm.

Peter blinks, looking down at Mob with realisation. ) Oh yeah— makes sense, he's— he's cold.

( For a dumb moment Peter considers asking if he should give the spirit his jacket— )

Maybe we can take him inside somewhere? Let him warm up?

[peter nearly offering a ghost his jacket is incredible, thank you peter you are the best. said spirit just flickers like a candle in the wind as mob nods and looks to peter.]

That's a good idea. Maybe we can make him some tea. [a pause.] Well, I guess he can't drink it but maybe he'll like it anyway.

[it's ghosts, who knows. then a pause as he asks,] Do you think sensei would mind us bringing a ghost into the dojo?

[poor daniel, his life.]

Good idea! You know what, I totally don't think he'd mind, he's always super nice about letting people in.

( That... probably has never included a ghost, before.... Sorry, Daniel.

Peter looks back up to the ghost — Antony — and smiles at him. He's still standing a teensy bit behind Mob, but he's no longer looking frightened, just kind of politely cautious. )

You want to come with us, dude? We'll get you some warm.

[this may end with the dojo being haunted by a chilly young man, just a normal day at miyagi-do. mob nods though, of course daniel would want to help someone, ghost or not. he's just a good guy like that, their sensei.

mob points the way for the spirit, starting to move and only glancing back to see their new friend sort of floating like a mist behind them. all the way back to the dojo, where mob opens the door for everyone.]

This is where we study karate. [he informs their new friend. hopefully no one else is around or peter and mob are just talking to the air.

said new friend looks around, a little less jittery around the edges which is probably a good sign? he seems to gravitate over to the bonsai around, making their tiny leave rattle]

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possessum - 2023-03-04 00:54 (UTC) - Expand

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centile - 2023-03-09 08:25 (UTC) - Expand

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cw: frostbite sort of gore

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