[Dictated]

[schrodingersghost]

So, just out of curiosity...  What do people think of ghosts around here?  Potentially nice guys or odd manifestations of ectoplasmic energy and post-human consciousness whose only goal in afterlife is to make all the living miserable?

...Also, anyone willing to fill me in on this loss stuff?

Comments

[schrodingersghost]

....You know me?

[ectobabble]

I do, yeah! Or, well, I did the last time you were here. My name's Dr. Ray Stantz. And to answer your question? I think ghosts are terrific.

[Danny]

And it's okay ... I know why you're asking.

[schrodingersghost]

....I was here before? [This was news to Danny. He slumps down in his chair.]

I almost wish that this was Desiree's fault. But I think this might be a little beyond even her. [Tricking someone into wishing his ability to lie away? He could see that happening, although it was a little subtle for her. Doing that in addition to stranding him in this dimension with a freaky castle? He couldn't see it.]

[Filtered[

...You do?

Danny, to end

[ectobabble]

Yeah, only for a little while, though. You helped me take down a guy who was holding a lot of innocent souls hostage. And you told me about your parents, and how... [he takes a deep breath. if he keeps it from him it'll only make it worse.] … how different paranormal investigators are in your world. How cruel they are.

Re: Danny, to end

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny is silent for a long moment, before he managed a weak response.]

I guess there isn't much point in denying it. Considering what this dump of a castle did to me.

How many people know?

[His shoulders slump at that comment.]

They're not that bad? I mean, sure they take potshots at me. [And Val had just made a very serious effort at torturing him. He couldn't forget that.] But for most of the ghosts that show up in the human world, they need that reaction to protect themself. I'd rather let them hunt me than see one of them get hurt for trusting someone like Skulker.

[ectobabble]

I ... I'm sorry, I dunno who else knows. I kinda figured it out on my own and never told anyone else, since it was such a big secret for you... You could always filter to people who know your secret and see who you get?

And even if they have their reasons, it doesn't mean they should assume all ghosts are bad! That's just an asinine, bassackwards way of thinking.

[schrodingersghost]

...Can we meet in person?

That's a good idea, actually. I'd really kind of like to know how much I have to worry about here.

But the only people who know that some ghosts are pretty decent guys are other ghosts. They won't listen to a ghost.

[ectobabble]

Sure, absolutely! Where do you want me to meet you?

That's a really nasty Catch-22 you've got there. [and he's just as sorry to hear it now as he was the last time, too]

[schrodingersghost]

...I don't know? Don't really know this place that well yet.

Story of my life. Or half-life.

[ectobabble]

Why don't I come find your room, then. I can show you around! What floor are you on? [happy things. Ray is very good at making people focus on the happy things]

[schrodingersghost]

Ah, okay?

[Danny gives the floor number.]

[ectobabble]

[and soon enough, he'll be up there, knocking on his door and grinning] Hey, Danny? ... It's Ray.

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny quickly opens the door. The teen looks much the same from the last time Ray had met him, despite being older by a few months. Even the worry obvious in his expression is the same.]

...The ghost-hunter?

[ectobabble]

[he's very quick to make the distinction, gently and firmly] No. Your friend.

[schrodingersghost]

[He frowns unhappily, as he steps back to let Ray into the room.]

You know I can't remember anything about this place. Or anyone I knew.

[ectobabble]

Exactly why I'm helping you remember. [he smiles. he's not wearing any gear, not even his jumpsuit. just jeans and a faded t-shirt for some science expo at Columbia University] Just because something's what I do back home doesn't mean it's who I am. We played video games together, a lot, in the game room, and you helped me take down someone who was a massive threat to the castle at large. ... I didn't get to know you as much as I would've liked to before the castle sent you back, but ... I was trying to help you understand that.

[he gives him a hopeful smile] Would it be okay if I kept trying?

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny gives him a hesitant smile.] I know that ghost-hunters are just people. I mean, technically I'm one. And I know a lot of people who hunt back home. Some of them are pretty good friends.

It's just.... none of them know what I am. Every time a hunter has tried to be friends with my ghost side, it has always been a trap. Or with the understanding that we'd be going back to being enemies as soon as the crisis was over.

[He shrugs.] No offense, but I'm not that great at trusting people anymore. Even if I can't hide my secret here, that doesn't mean I can trust people here that easily. But I would like to try.

[ectobabble]

[Ray listens attentively, nodding every now and then, just letting Danny talk it out. it's more than the kid even said to him at one go, the last time he was there, and he's both pleasantly surprised, and saddened at -what- is being said. once Danny's said his piece, Ray clears his throat]

I think you'll have more luck here, honestly. ... I swear, the more I hear about your homeworld, the more I wanna follow you back and knock people's heads together until they stop being colossal dickwads.

[schrodingersghost]

The only luck I believe in is bad luck.

[He shrugs awkwardly, not really sure how to react to that.] It isn't that bad? I mean, parts of it suck, but it's still my home and my family.

[ectobabble]

See, that might even be part of the problem. The more you believe in something, the more likely it becomes. If you start believing a little more in good luck, more will come around. [haaaaad to talk to the optimistic Pagan, didn't you]

[schrodingersghost]

...You sound like my sister. She's always going on about the effect of negativity on the developing adolescent psyche, or some nonsense like that.

[ectobabble]

Well, I don't know about that. I'm hardly about to sit you down in a chair and pick your brain apart. ... Pete's the one with the psych degree.

[he smiles. joke? yes?]

[schrodingersghost]

I'll make a note to avoid him, then. I try to stay far away from psychologists.

...And sisters who think they're psychologists.

[ectobabble]

Actually, he doesn't really do that much in the way of practice, here. [ahaha, not yet. give it a couple days when he opens his office. oops] He's a good guy - we've been friends for a long time, since school.

[schrodingersghost]

...Please tell me you guys didn't go to the University of Wisconsin.