[network] @beyonce | night 392 | audio | Check on It [open]

[thewarningafter]

[As usual, Stephen doesn't show his face on the network. He sounds tired, but that isn't new, either.]

Good evening, Norfinbury.

As most of you will recall, two months ago we were able to contact the...remnants of the former residents of Norfinbury and of the people subjected to former sessions. We discovered that they had become a kind of digital hive mind; they were interested in helping us, though they were limited in the ways in which they could interact with us. Since then, particularly since we located Andromeda's body, the town has been going quiet--you may have noticed the feeling of emptiness in many of the houses, particularly those that formerly may have seemed to be haunted.

I propose that we attempt contact again. It's possible that the data ghosts are...dead...but if there's still some remnant of them residing in the recesses of the network I'd like to re-establish that contact, ask their advice, ask whether they have any additional assistance they can offer us at this time...and ask whether they have any final wishes we can still carry out on their behalf.

The seance will take place in three nights' time, on the evening of day three hundred and ninety-five. I have...some experience in spiritual matters, and can provide guidance for anyone who is unsure how to open themselves to that form of communication. Those who volunteer should be aware that the process was...unpleasant for some of us. You may have an out of body experience or undergo an upsetting vision. Those who participated before can share more details if you are concerned, but as far as I'm aware no one was injured in the last attempt.

...And thank you, in advance.

[The OOC post can be found here.]

Comments

[sleight_of_fate]

I mean, if someone wants to try and convince the cultists they're on the Prophet's side, that might work, but...be prepared for stabbing in any case.

I think if the town is running out of energy, the ghosts might be fading, but some might hold on more aggressively than the others. So a test is a good idea. I'm going to try and get back to somewhere near the bunker within the next few days, but I'm still in Residential 2, so it might be a bit.

I'm also still half-crazy from being dead so I have no idea how helpful I'll be, the only ghost I'm seeing at the moment is the most unhelpful thing ever. And is eating all my licorice.

[thewarningafter]

It might....

[Sorry, Rhys, you've given Stephen an idea. It's obviously a bad idea, but that won't stop him later.]

Wait, you've got a ghost with you? How long has that been going on? None of the others have been able to interact so directly with the physical plane; have you directly observed it eating your licorice?

[sleight_of_fate]

Well, I don't know. I mean, she's not leaving trash or anything, but she's definitely eating licorice.

But I'm used to hallucinating: I saw ghosts back home, too, and I've done pretty much every drug you can name to boot. So, I mean. I dunno. I might just be seeing her because I have unresolved relationship issues with her over secrets ikept from her and the guy I murdered and going to prison.

You know. Normal relationship stuff.

[thewarningafter]

[Yep, that's all normal relationship stuff in Stephen's world view now. Keeping secrets and murdering people and going to prison could happen to anyone, right?]

...Huh. Is this...someone from home? I assume this is someone from home.

[sleight_of_fate]

{Deep breath. Because Stephen's going to hear about Blue whether he wants the details or not.]

Yeah, she's the girlfriend who's not dead but who kicked me out for being a sad-ass felon junkie who couldn't get my shit together.

With love. And then when I got out of jail I still couldn't get my shit together even though I was clean so I ran to Boston rather than explain to her why she was too nice to me and I couldn't cope with it.

[THAT ACTUALLY WASN'T SO BAD.]

[thewarningafter]

...Oh.

Not to be crass, but it sounds more like a hallucination than a data ghost. Maybe this is your death price. Or maybe it's the way you've been telling me...everything.

[sleight_of_fate]

[He actually appreciates it, Stephen.]

Probably. It was part of my powers back home and I've been writing letters to her here for weeks now. I'm oversharing like hell, too, but...it's not bothering me as much as it should, weirdly. I think...I don't know. Maybe I'm just tired.

[If he takes a deep breath and concentrates, it's not quite so bad, but it's still there.]

Anyway, I will probably hang up in a minute, but I wanted to let you know I was in. I should be at the clinic in a day or two, that might be a good place to try to seance from. I've never heard or seen ghosts there before but there's the bloody mattress and everything, so something might have imprinted.

[thewarningafter]

Yeah, I'm not sure if those were from before our session or if someone...did something over there. I know the place you mean, though.

[It's where Bluestar died, after all. So long ago now, it seems.]

Yeah, I'm going to...let you do that. Hang up. That's probably for the best, for both of us.

[sleight_of_fate]

[He's totally okay with that. They've said what needed to be said, without too much disastrous rambling. Rhys will take that as a victory.]

I'm not sure, either. But it seems like as good a place as any to sit a seance and it has the bonus of not being the stabby sort of place. So I'm good with it. Then I can come back to the Bunker and wreak terrible Borax vengeance on some ants on all our behalfs.

[There's a faint smile there. May as well have a sense of humor, right?]

Just let me know when it's go time, and I'll see how soon I can get there. If anything changes in the meantime, I'll let you know but at the rate I'm going, I should be there tomorrow.

[thewarningafter]

Just don't get yourself killed in there.

There'll be a message about it when it happens in a few days -- I'm aiming for night three-ninety-five.

[sleight_of_fate]

Believe me, I'm picking my spot here based on what I think is the least likely to get me killed or maimed, I really want the break.

Plus, there's a hot shower here. But mostly "not getting killed here".

[He's being no more honest than he normally would.]

I'll check in when the time rolls around, then. Give me a heads up if anything changes, but otherwise, I'll talk to you then.

[thewarningafter]

Yeah. I'll let everyone know if there's a change.

Stay warm, Rhys.

[This was...a surprisingly non-awkward conversation for them, though??]