o2 | Dictation/Action

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie is silent for a moment, before sighing. ]

I give this place about twenty points just for not being too high on the bullshit meter.

And I get there's a price for making wishes, but still?

Here's the bullshit: I've got something to celebrate, and from what I've gathered in those "days of old" stories before the world ended? You get a cake when you've got something to party about. I already spent a wish on a pizza party, and since I'm basically trained to not trust anything, I won't let myself go any further.

So.

Baking. How does one accomplish it, and where the fuck does one start?

Comments

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

What? Belief in me?

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Yeah. Doesn't that make existing a bit annoying? Like half can't even acknowledge you and half are... What. Scared?

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Half? Hardly. These days, back on Earth... I come across a true believer once every few years.

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Well yeah, who believes in ghosts?

I mean, the only reason I believe in you at all is because I've seen other people talking to you. I can't be losing my mind that badly.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

That, and as soon as I find a believer, their parents are quick to run in an assure them. "Oh no, there's nothing to be afraid of. There's no such thing as the Boogeyman. Please, allow me to go to great pains to only expose you to the bright and cheery things in life, even though it won't actually do you any good in the long run."

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Uh, yeah?

Sounds about right. You scare the shit out of them and they go running to their mommies. I've heard about the boogeyman, but mostly as a joke. Hard to be afraid of something that doesn't exist.

There are real boogeymen where I'm from. Infected are a lot scarier.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Except I do exist, and I am the real Boogeyman.

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Okay.

[ Yeah, she can't help but be at least shaken by this guy, but... ]

So do you actually hurt the kids you scare?

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Only if you're the type to think that anything but rainbows and sunshine is irreparably damaging.

[And then there was that kid who was fighting with the Guardians, but he's not going to talk about that.]

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

So you're all talk.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

I don't have to kill or maim to be scary.

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

See, I don't get this boogeyman thing. If you're gonna kill children, then go fucking kill children.

All I'm getting out of this conversation is you're angry no one believes in you, but are surprised when mommy and daddy tell a kid they're just imagining things when he's scared because you purposefully scared them.

Not earning any sympathy here, man.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Why the fixation on killing? I don't kill mortals. I never claimed to kill mortals.

Parents shouldn't lie to their kids, and they shouldn't coddle them and hide them from the scary things in the world.

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Ah, well, hey, something we both agree on there.

No point in sugar-coating shit. The world sucks and the only way to make it is to not trust anyone or anything.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Then you should be able to understand my frustration.

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Yeah, I get ya. Especially when it decides whether or not people can fucking see you.

That really sucks.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

It does. I'm not fishing for sympathy, but it certainly does.

And it's why I like this place.

[dictated]

[nohalfway]

Well, I'm not giving you sympathy or anything, but it makes you seem like less of a douchebag.

But uh, yeah, if it helps? Totally believe in you, dude.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

And that's all I'm asking.