[Video]

[chenqing_player]

[There are dark circles under his eyes as he turns on the phone, looking like he is ready to punch something.]

Okay...so...I know we are all kind of getting used to the fact that we have these powers. And I admit I was kind of hoping I would be left out of getting too many of them.

[He sighs and pokes at a stuffed animal that has decided to jump up on the bed beside him. Yes...that teddy bear is moving by itself.]

Well...is there anyone out there that isn't afraid of ghosts and might be willing to be a chaperone while I make sure I don't summon a 100 foot marshmallow man?

[That teddy bear suddenly smacks the phone out of his hand and there is a black out for a moment and a small scuffle while he tosses the bear off the bed and reaches down to get the phone. His face comes back into view.]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to need some help before my whole apartment gets overrun by angry stuffed animals. So if there are any takers...let me know.

Comments

[scotch_egg]

[right. he's fucked. He'll try not to have a heart attack but already he can feel a certain anxiety in the lining of his stomach]

Forget it. I'll go hunt it down. [though he's less like a hunter and more like a spooked deer ready to bolt]

[chenqing_player]

[He sees this and suppresses a laugh as he follows. He closes doors as they pass them to make sure it doesn't squirt into any other rooms. He watches as it scurries into the bedroom.]

Hurry! There is our chance!

[scotch_egg]

[why the bedroom, for fuck's sake. Alec hurries in with the net and tries to pin the thing in a corner. It comes flying at him making him yelp and dance back, nearly tripping over his own two feet and disappears under the bed]

Close the door. Close the door.

[chenqing_player]

[He slams the door shut behind him and locks it. He turns and puts his back against it just as the thing scampers under the bed.]

Not a good place to go...please don't look under the bed.

[Please come back out...please...should have grabbed something to lure it out with.]

[scotch_egg]

[he's already looking under the bed and startles, banging his head against the underside as the creature grabs his face. He lurches, dizzy and heart racing as he scrambles to get it off. Yes, it's just a doll but for some reason he can't seem to get a good grip on the blasted thing]

[chenqing_player]

[He flinches as the man hits his head. He knows that had to have hurt. He rushes over and grabs at the bear to try and get it off Alec's face while at the same time trying to get enough of his hands on it to wipe off some of the design on it's back.]

Are you possessed by a damn leech...

[all he needs to do is get a part of the talisman erased or rubbed off...]

[scotch_egg]

[he pulls back at the same time, gasping as it tried to shove its paw into his mouth. Small it may be but it doesn't take much for someone to suffocate on sodden cloth. Heart still racing he fumbles for the net and tries to slap it over the thing's head]

[chenqing_player]

[Seeing the opportunity he snatches the cage and shoves it towards it.]

Please get in the cage...

[Except there is nothing polite about this exchange as he helps shove that thing inside and closes the door.]

[scotch_egg]

[he slumps against the wall, breathing hard, flinching a bit at the thing scuffling around]

What -- the hell--

Burn it.

[chenqing_player]

I'd rather not burn the apartment down if this thing somehow escapes...

[He picks the carrier up and goes into the bathroom. There is running water and he drops the whole carrier into the bathtub as it fills up. The whole case shakes and rattles as the water goes into it. But as soon as it washes away the seal the bear goes limp. Not taking any chances he leave it there but turns the water off.

He heads back out of the bathroom with a sigh of relief.]

I think it is gone. Thanks for the help...how is your head?

[scotch_egg]

It's fine. [it hurts. Throbs even. But he's always leery about pain medication.] You sure that thing is taken care of? I don't like that: "I think"

[chenqing_player]

Once the seal is broken that I drew on his back it should release the spirit. I'm leaving it to soak for awhile just to make sure.

[He walks over and reaches out to check for a bump.]

I could get you some ice for it if you want. You helped me catch a ghost so I might as well play nurse for you.

[scotch_egg]

That sounds like absolute bullshit. [not that he disbelieves him but that's what it sounds like. He hisses as those fingers find the bruise.]

Fine...so long as you don't put on the outfit. [a weak attempt at a joke]

[chenqing_player]

[He pouts playfully and gives a little wink as he goes to head to the kitchen to get the ice.]

That's too bad. I look really cute in a nurse outfit. It shows off my legs.

[And as a dancer he has nice strong legs. whether the part about the design is bullshit or not...well he is hoping it works that way at least. It seemed to in his memories.]

[scotch_egg]

Save it for someone you like.

[he is a little uncomfortable being left in the dark bedroom so he stumbles his way out into the sitting room, flopping ungracefully into a chair and wincing]

Christ, what a night.

[chenqing_player]

[He shakes his head at him stumbling out of the bedroom. So much for not moving the wounded. He brings the ice pack over and hands it to him. He then goes back and brings some bottled water for both of them as well before sitting down.]

Thanks for all the help with that thing. I'd probably still be chasing it around.

[scotch_egg]

It's nothing. [he sips from the water] We have to stick together in this bloody place.

[chenqing_player]

Yeah...This place and every other place that seems to be opening up to us lately.

[Since it seems new worlds are going to be a regular occurrence or at least have been lately.]

[scotch_egg]

Don't remind me.

[he doesn't want to think about it-- only he has to.

After a moment's pause he asks]

Which... do you think is real? [this life or that one?]

[chenqing_player]

Why can't all of it be real?

[he tilts his head as he thinks of everything that has happened over the past nine months.]

That other life...took place hundreds of years ago probably. Not entirely sure I believed in reincarnation until now but I don't see why it can't be possible. You always hear about people and their past lives...just they don't usually gain weird powers and things. The more I see of his life, the harder it is to deny it wasn't real.

And these other worlds popping up...I don't know how it relates to those lives but maybe there is a Different around that it does belong to. Or maybe what we are seeing isn't a past life...but the life of someone living in a parallel universe then ours and it's happening right now. Maybe he is seeing what my life is like in his dreams....though admittedly not as exciting as his has been.

[Has he spent a little too much time thinking about the possibilities? Yes...but he has a lot more time on his hands then he used to.]

I'd prefer to think they are real and not just some mind trick of a big company that is using us for some crazy experiment.

[scotch_egg]

Yours did. Mine didn't. It took place... I don't know. Yesterday maybe. Today. It feels like it's running side by side. It doesn't make sense. [he shakes his head] I don't understand it. I don't even know why it's happening. Why us?

I don't know what I think... I don't know what to believe anymore... But I ... Almost want to believe they're real...for my cousin. He seems happier that it exists, barmy as that is. He's met...someone...

[he sighs]

I don't know...

[chenqing_player]

[He rests his head back against the couch and stares up at the ceiling.]

Maybe all of this is meant to make things better. Clearly it's working out for some people so, maybe eventually we all find that one memory that changes everything.

[He turns his head slightly to look at Alec.]

We maybe not have all met our soulmates or something like he did...but we've all at least made some new friends and acquaintances because of this. That also makes it worthwhile in a way, right?

[scotch_egg]

[he gives the lad a wry look]

Are you saying the real benefit to this is the friends we've made along the way?

[chenqing_player]

[He makes a tsking noise and looks back up at the ceiling with an amused smile on his lips.]

Don't make it sound so cliche but maybe it is true. I know my life has changed a lot because of it.

[He lifts his hand and waves it around at the apartment.] I sure as hell wouldn't be living in a place like this without your cousin's help.

[scotch_egg]

[he makes a face]

I don't even want to think about how he managed to get it. He's lucky I'm not a cop in this life.

[and what did it say that he just went along with it? Nothing good. But things were complicated enough]

You also have Satanic teddy bears in the bath, don't forget about that.