New(ish) Father Blues

[deadgirlslikeme]

Victor Brown (formerly Van Dort) looks a bit harried when he enters the Nexus -- or, perhaps more accurately, like he really needs a vacation. And about a full day's worth of sleep. He heads to a nearby plush sofa (apparently the place noted the darker-than-usual circles under his eyes and felt sorry for him) and collapses on it with a sigh. "Oh dear. . .does anyone have any tips on how to handle tantrums?" he asks, looking around with a grimace. "Because Chester. . .well, he's started getting grabby, and if you take whatever he's grabbed away from him, he just -- how do babies cry so loud?"

Comments

[deadgirlslikeme]

Heh, yes, that's exactly what I thought. So yes, I'd be happy to do that. Just -- before I do. . .would having my body just lying here be -- b-bad? I don't want to cause you any undue stress. . .or temptation.

[palmerthing]

I think I'd be too busy talking to you. I'll tell you if it starts to be too much.

[deadgirlslikeme]

All right then. [he takes a deep breath --

And just like that, goes limp against the couch, looking like a puppet with its strings cut. Well, except for the fact that a green, ghostly version of Victor is now standing before it. He gives Palmer a little wave as he slowly approaches] So -- yes. Hi.

[palmerthing]

*Palmer grins, because this is fucking cool and because this is someone he can't infect. Someone who can . . . well, not touch him exactly. But the next thing to it.* Hey there, man!

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor can't help but smile back] Nice to finally have a use for this that isn't "getting me unpossessed."

[palmerthing]

Glad I could help. *He reaches out a hand. Even the ghost of touch is a relief.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

Yes, same here. [Victor does the same, his green fingers passing through Palmer's more substantial ones. He doesn't really feel cold, like you might expect a ghost to -- more lukewarm]

[palmerthing]

*It feels nice, though not as warm as a living person.* I think this may be the first time that I, me, deliberately touched another person. There were a couple of times that I did it without thinking, and people bumped into me and stuff, but actually reaching out and . . . yeah, man, this is it. This is all.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Yeah, Victor's sort of on the edge in his current state] Glad I can help. Even if I'm not as solid as you might like.

[palmerthing]

Shit, man, it's fine. It's good. *He flexes his hand, turns it over.* It's great, man, thank you.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[That makes him smile] You're welcome! Didn't think I'd use this form again after faking my death back home. . .

[palmerthing]

Well now you have a use for it. You ever see me around, just do this and we can hang out without worrying about all the alien bullshit.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Exactly! Rather hard to infect a ghost with anything.

[palmerthing]

Is your body totally dead when you leave it? *There's probably no way to be sure, though, so he'll keep well away. Best to stay away even if it is, so the guy can't be infected afterwards.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

I -- I'm not sure. [he looks over at himself, still slumped on the couch] I'm a-afraid I can't really check because if I touch it again, I'll pop back inside. But I -- I don't think I'm d-dead dead. More -- suspended? [he grimaces] It's c-close enough to dead that I had a few n-nightmares about it being taken to the morgue when I first discovered I could do this.

[palmerthing]

I won't touch, don't worry. Even if I can't infect you now, if you come back to life with my cells still living on your skin . . . not a good thing to test. *He tears his eyes away from the worryingly unmoving lump.* For what it's worth you don't look interesting now.

[deadgirlslikeme]

No, not a good thing at all. [he tilts his head, raising a ghostly eyebrow] Really? Perhaps I'm, er, deader than I thought. . .though it is encouraging that your Thing-side doesn't have much interest in my body.

[palmerthing]

Either that or knowing you're dead intellectually is enough to make you less tempting. But the only way to find out would be for me to happen upon you while you're entirely helpless, so lets not test that either.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Let's not -- I'm a little interested, but not enough to attempt the scientific method. I think we should just be content with what we have.

[palmerthing]

It's better than what I had before, yeah. Gift horses and all that shit.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Heh, exactly. And I'm happy to just -- hang out for a bit. The little one's having a nap back at home, so I have a bit of free time.

[palmerthing]

That would be appreciated. *He relaxes slightly. Hanging out with someone is nice.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

It is nice to just have a moment to myself, honestly. Being a father is amazing, but. . . [he sighs, running a ghostly hand through his ghostly hair, however that works] It has its -- Moments.

[palmerthing]

I can only imagine. Like we said at the start of this whole thing, babies are fucking loud.

[deadgirlslikeme]

They really are! You don't expect that sort of -- of screaming to come out of someone so small! And it's so hard to g-get them to calm down! Sometimes I feel like screaming myself!