ph_logs | September Mini - Ghost of the Past

September Mini - Ghost of the Past

GHOSTS

THE

PAST

The Visitor's Center

Just where the sands of Tawny Beach begin to fade into soil, grass, and cobbled roads, there is a new building. Much like the House of Cards, it seems to have appeared from nowhere overnight. A large and round structure of tastefully stacked stone, it seems to fit perfectly in between the town and the marina, with an exterior door facing each side and at both entrances. It reads, "VISITOR'S CENTER," in bold letters.

In mailboxes throughout town, there are flyers, advertising "offworlder visitation" running from September 6th to 19th. "Make appointment today!" it advertises cheerfully.

Regardless of which side you enter, the same receptionist sits at the desk on either side--- a pretty-faced young man with braided black hair, wearing dozens of pieces of delicate golden jewelry. He is working hard on some sort of paperwork or taking some phone call when you come in, but he quickly sets it aside to welcome you. "Hello! Welcome to the visitor's center! Would you like to make an appointment?"

Your host artfully dances around questions regarding the place, its abrupt construction, its purpose, and what your appointment actually entails, assuring you it's "self-explanatory." He'll gladly inform you that "people you know" are here for a visit, but won't say who or why or for how long. But you'll sign up for your appointment anyway, for one reason or another. Perhaps you don't even really know.

At the time of your appointment, you are sat down in a tasteful meeting space of your choosing (the options are listed below) and your guest is brought in. But it is not who you expect. In fact, in all likelihood, you do not know this person at all. But don't worry, they've been briefed, and they'll pass the information along to you if asked.

You see, you are not here to meet someone from your own past, at least not at first---- you're here to meet someone close to one of your friends or neighbors. And they're here to speak about that person to you.

Take as long as you need. The Visitor's Center does not close.

How It Works

Visitors.
Each offworlder on the island can have up to 2 "ghosts of their past." This is not meant to be literal, as these so-called ghosts will generally be no more dead than any other offworlder. Your ghost can be anyone who "haunts" you in some way, which can mean whatever makes sense to you. It does not necessarily need to be someone with a negative opinion of you--- it can be someone who loves you very much! This person can be from any point in your timeline, including after the incident that brought you to Pumpkin Hollow. It can also be a past version of yourself. Regardless, your own visitor is not actually the person you are here to meet. Your visitor will be meeting with one of your friends or loved ones from the island, and you will be meeting with someone else's "ghost."

When speaking to a "ghost", you will notice a few things about them. The first is that they do have a sense of where they are and what they're doing---- they know that they're here temporarily, and that they've been asked to speak about or on behalf of someone they know. They're aware of who the person is that they've come to speak about as well, and they seem to have all of their memories intact aside from being a little fuzzy on the actual process of getting here. The second is that in most cases, they seem to have regular needs like any living person. The upper floors of the visitor's center have hostel-like sleeping areas, bathrooms, a cafe, everything a person might need. The third is that they seem to be weirdly forthcoming when asked questions. Perhaps you're not familiar enough with the individual to notice such things at first, but it becomes evident that they're pretty open about the person they're there to speak about even when they don't seem to want to be.

Want to speak to your own visitor? That can be arranged--- but your ghost must speak to someone else first. But not to worry, there's plenty of time. (Despite the IC dates, OOCly this can be backtagged as long as desired!)

Locations.
There are plenty of places to meet with visitors within the Visitor's Center. If you'd prefer a more public meeting space, some lounge areas have been set up on the beach, or the cafe or recreation area within the center are all available. The beach meeting spaces consist of clusters of folding beach chairs or picnic blankets, and while swimming season is largely over, the view from the beach continues to be stunning this month. The cafe is a quaint bistro on the rooftop of the center with a round serving station in the middle and outdoor tables around the outer walls, which feels both spacious and intimate at the same time somehow. And the recreation room is an interior space on the second floor full of spaces for communal games, some of which are too modern to be there. (Not electronics, but definitely Cards Against Humanity.)

If you'd prefer a more private space, there are a number of tasteful meeting rooms, including those with tables as if for a more formal meeting or those with couches or chairs. One of the latter sort even has a fireplace!

However, visitors are not able to go further afield than the beach. If they attempt to go into town, their feet will plant themselves firmly to the ground outside. They will not be able to be pushed or lifted to get around this, and anyone who attempts to force it will be summarily accosted by the staff and their appointment will end immediately. They may not be eligible for another.

Rules.
As far as OOC rules go, there are a few perks and limitations worth knowing. Any "ghosts" that you write are eligible for AC bonuses for the characters they are attached to. If you are writing a ghost for another player's character, you may decide where the AC bonus goes, but please make a note on your activity check indicating what you're doing. You may write your ghost from your existing journal (with or without a unique icon for that ghost, just as long as you make it clear), or create an independent journal for the character. As mentioned before, you can absolutely play a ghost for someone else. If you would like to have a non-member friend drop by to play your ghost, you may absolutely do so if you clear it with a mod, preferably by having said friend send the mod journal a PM. Be aware that if you recruit an outside player to write a ghost for you, you are responsible for their behavior, and any AC-length threads on their end will not be eligible for transfer because that will just kill Drake probably.

Characters appearing from Ghosts of the Past can also appear in the Villain's Lounge or be apped in later as permanent characters (but not both, as the two are mutually exclusive) and will have some unique lore from entering the game this way!

Ghosts are not capable of lying and will generally feel more compelled to be forthcoming when speaking to anyone OTHER than the person they're here to represent. However, they cannot be forced to meet with anyone they do not want to see or to answer questions they adamantly do not wish to answer. The compulsions are relatively subtle. They also do not have to volunteer information they weren't asked for if they don't want to. None of these compulsions are present if they speak to the person they are there to see. Their memories are generally accurate to whatever point you bring them from, meaning that they can be whatever you want.

If you're visiting with your own ghost, please be aware that threads between two characters played by the same person are never eligible for AC and this is still the case in this instance.

Staff.
Last but not least, there's a chance that you may encounter the staff of the Visitor's Center around. There are two men and two women--- Daanon, Caspian, Reyelle, and Nephera, respectively. Those here in February may recognize them from Merrymeet. They look fairly normal, generally appearing as humans (or an elf, in Nephera's case), but in reality they are the members of the Court of Betrayal. Whenever they speak about their "Manager," they are referring to Eligos. However, this is not immediately obvious, especially to those not familiar with these particular demons. If you know, you know! [ I will be keeping my demon thread load super light, so please feel free to handwave interactions with them as you see fit! If you want a demon thread, please reach out to me for plotting. -Rose ]

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Tim perks up at the sound of his own name, scowl fading, and regards the woman with blank confusion. There is some dim part of him who knows who this is, that he can't quite fall to the surface. Not yet.

Who is this?

Why does the sight of her make his chest ache?

"Uh, hi, yeah, that's me," Tim says awkwardly. He goes to continue speaking, but words die on his lips.

The look on his face makes her grin falter. She knows what happened--- Martin told her, of course--- but Martin recognized her. He saw her, and he knew. Tim doesn't seem to.

She doesn't know if she's ever experienced anything quite so heartbreaking.

"I mean, if you're not sure if that's you, you can just tell me. I won't be angry," Sasha jokes, pushing past that ache in her chest. "Tell you what. We can even introduce ourselves and everything to keep it proper. You'll have to start, though."

Unfortunately, Martin had the benefit of Sasha blurting out her name to him as he entered the room, assuming he'd be a stranger. Tim is flying blind here. But not for long.

~~This feels familiar.~~

He snorts, offering his hand with gusto. "Dick Slutsky. Nice to meet you," he says confidently.

Sasha scrunches her face with delight. God, it's just like the old days.

She shakes his hand with equal vigor.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Slutsky. Justin Casey Feltersnatch." A beat, just long enough to let that one process. "My friends call me Sasha, though."

Tim barks a laugh at that, before she starts speaking again, and his face falls.

He looks back up at her. His heart shatters and rebuilds itself in his chest over and over in a fraction of a second as recognition reaches his eyes. Then anguish. Then relief.

~~And then love?~~

And for a long time he can't say anything. But finally he manages to speak. "...Sasha?"

Oh, god, there it is. That ache in her chest melts away in an instant. She feels like could cry, having him look at her that way.

When she speaks, her voice wavers, but she holds as level as she can.

"I'd say the one and only, but that's apparently been sort of a sticking point recently."

"That--- that thing wasn't you," Tim mutters, rising to hug her tightly. "There's only one Sasha James. You're irreplaceable."

Sasha's quick to hug him back, an unspoken desperation to how tight she holds onto him. As if, when she lets go, one of them is gone again. She can't help but let out a waterlogged laugh, even still.

"You remembered!"

"'Course I did." His voice is soft as he speaks into her shirt. "Of course. Just because some---- hah, some dumb jerk went and got herself body-swapped doesn't mean I..."

He trails off, unable to finish, too choked up. "Fuck, Sasha."

Sasha squeezes him, short and consoling, in their embrace. It's only after a few moments does she finally move to part, but it's incredibly reluctant; she drops her arms from around him, but moves her hands to his forearms, pulling him along.

"C'mon, sit with me for a minute. I think... we've got some really overdue catching up to do, yeah?"

"God, yeah." Almost a little numb, Tim sits. For a long time, he's quiet, before he meets her eyes and smiles just a little. "Hey."

"Hey."

Her own smile is just as small, but it is so, so very warm. She props her elbow up on the table, and tips her head gently into her hand.

"Love what you did with your hair today."

It's a joke, of course; she can tell Tim's gotten up in a temper and let it fall all over the place, just from one look at him. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't actually think it's a good look on him. He could always make that sort of thing work.

Tim laughs hollowly. "No you don't. It looks like shit. I've looked like hell for a year now." He smiles at her though. His eyes are fighting for permission to weep, but he won't let them. Tears would only blur his vision of the only thing he's wanted to see since he found out she was gone.

"...M'sorry I didn't recognize you. It's--- it's not personal, it's just--- There was---"

"I know it took my spot, Tim. It's okay."

Sasha's quick to cut in, not keen to make him relive that to any degree she's able to. Her smile fades. It's hard to think about, much less talk about - but she's thankful Martin was able to loop her in, at least.

"It changed the face that was in your head, too. I... got up to speed, just the other day. I'm not upset. I should've reintroduced myself, like I did for Martin, but--- I just got too caught up in seeing you again to think of it."

Ugh, thank god for Martin. Tim still winces. "Still. I hate it. I'm sorry."

He swallows roughly. "...Good to have you back, though."

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I hate it, too. It's like it was perfectly crafted to pick at one of my worst fears, and I wasn't even around long enough to know that it happened."

She's never admitted that in so many words, but considering they only have so long to be back, it's worth saying what they need to while they're here.

"I'm glad to be back, though." She hesitates, guilt creasing her brows gently. "...I'm sorry that I didn't come running in, missing you like mad or anything. It's not that I didn't. It just... feels like it's only been a couple days since I saw you last."

"I--- yeah, no, I understand. That makes sense. I..."

Tim trails off, and buries his face in his hands.

"I'm so fucking sorry."

Sasha frowns. It's hard to see him like this, left so ragged and miserable by the passage of time she never saw. She doesn't know if she's ever seen him this upset - though, all things considered, maybe she should be more upset about all of it. She can only push it to the corners of her mind for so long.

Even still, she offers a hand across the table, a small, consoling gesture.

"I'm... I can't say that it's okay, but it's not something you have to be sorry for. It was a shitty thing that happened. That doesn't make it your fault, Tim."

"Jesus, Sasha, I--- I know it's not my fault about the monster, but--- I never should've separated from you after you stopped me getting eaten. I never should've let you go without me. There's a million things I should have fucking done. I should have been more careful, I should have paid more attention, I should have carried a fire extinguisher, I should have told you I loved you before--- Before she---"

Tim can't help it. He takes the hand offered him, and he breaks down.

There's a million things she wants to try to say--- reassurances, arguing, desperate questions--- but her words catch in her throat as Sasha watches him come undone. She stands, and for a mere moment, she takes her hand back, as much as it hurts to have to do so.

With both hands free, however, she can bring her chair so much faster to his side of the table. Thank goodness the cafe chairs don't have arms on them, because as soon as she's close and sitting, she hugs him fiercely once more, holding him as close as she can possibly manage.

Questions can come later. For now, all she wants to do, all she needs to do right now, is hold him and get him through the worst of this storm.

Tim can only lean into her, and let himself cry quietly. He takes her hand back, clutching it to his chest. "I'm so fucking sorry, I'm so sorry, Sasha, I should have... I should... I thought--- I thought you were just--- just getting. Tired of me, but. You were already gone."

Sasha lets him have her hand easily, curling her fingers softly where it settled. The other arm moves around his back, and keeps him as close as she's able to. The grief weighs so heavily on her chest, she can't even find it in herself to weep. It's something that will likely hit her the second she gets a moment of relief, but at least she can take that time to come undone by herself.

"There's nothing you could have done. I mean it," She insists quietly, frowning deeply. "I--- I was with Elias, for a while, but he disappeared on me. I don't know why. But you were trying to avoid getting eaten, and--- it was a panic. You can't blame yourself for it."

A moment of quiet, and she lets out a shaky sigh, leaning a bit more heavily into him.

"I never could've gotten tired of you. Trust me, I... hah, I tried, a couple of times, when I was in my feelings. But I couldn't. I never even got the chance to try do follow through with my plan for some... intervention-type get-together with you to try to get you to leave the Institute with me, if that says anything."

Tim sniffs stiffly. "...That why you didn't text me for like half of April that one time?"

"...Yeah, maybe a little bit," Sasha reluctantly admits. "Wasn't actually on a trip with my sister, I was just pissed off. And I wanted to stay mad! So badly! But..."

She sighs, and squeezes him a bit closer, leaning her head against his own.

"You're my best friend, and I had it bad, so. I never did manage to stick to it."

Tim starts laughing, still crying. Tears roll down his face as he cackles hollowly. "Christ, Sasha. We're so dumb."

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I don't have a shocked icon but like, he's looking at her like she's the sun

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