ii. video.

[thanatophobias]

[You can tell something about this message has been a long time coming when it first clicks on, revealing the bust of a young boy with uncertainty in his eyes. The moment he confirms it's recording is the moment he places down the communicator with small hands, before settling back and sitting down. His eyes are downcast, debating - until he gathers some more courage and starts talking.]

Someone died.

[There's a lengthy pause after the announcement. He just... doesn't want this to make him a freak. He has to remind himself he's not the only one with an ability no one else has. That's the only reason he's brought himself to reach out.]

I can see her sometimes. She wants my help, [As all the benevolent spirits who visit him do, in the end,] But she won't say anything.

I don't know what to do.

[Dr Malcolm isn't here to help him. They'd said goodbye once he'd helped that little girl back home, but - he wishes he were here to give him more advice, now.]

Comments

[heartstings]

Well, I hope you figure it out or she decides to talk soon. That sounds a little unnerving. [Not that she wouldn't kill to have the chance to use that power to talk to someone she's lost.]

[thanatophobias]

It's not so bad when they're quiet.

[And don't look like they've gone through a meat-grinder.]

[heartstings]

Easier to just ignore them in that case?

[thanatophobias]

Yeah.

I don't like to ignore them anymore, though.

[He was taught to help them. That makes them go away.]

[heartstings]

[She really just means when they don't seem to be ready to ask for the help they want. She imagines ignoring them all the time would be hard anyway.]

So, um, when you see the ghosts, what do they look like?

[thanatophobias]

[He doesn't really know what she means - how would they look like?]

Like normal people. Sometimes they're hurt. Sometimes they don't know they're dead.

[heartstings]

So they aren't like see-through or anything?

[thanatophobias]

No. They're just like you and me.

[heartstings]

[Except dead. But she manages to keep that in.] Well, that's kinda neat.

[thanatophobias]

[No, it's not. but Cole doesn't say that. He doesn't say anything, actually. Call it a 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all'.]

[heartstings]

[She was just trying to be supportive or something. It's not something she's that great at. Unsure what else to say she just hangs up on her end.]