Video

[shiningheart]

[Talking is going on, just off screen. It sounds like Lewis, it's the same oddly distorted, warped echoing it was before-]

I mean I can't really do anything about the eyes...

[It'd taken some time getting out of that locket. Thanks for nothing, again, Arthur. But it seems like he's put himself back together again. The background suggests some abandoned house, somewhere. Everglade, maybe, judging by what can be seen from the window the camera is near.]

That's as good as it gets, I guess.

[And then... Well. There's a man on screen.

A young man, early twenties at the very oldest, dressed in some pretty fancy duds. The effortless, fluid motion towards the camera suggests that while his feet remain unseen in this shot? He's probably floating. Up goes the camera, and cue one awkward, crooked grin]

Okay, so it's not the easiest thing in the world to do but, how do I look?

[Other than the eyes, of course, pitch black and illuminated by a glowing, brilliant purple iris in each.]

I don't think it'll be an all the time thing but like... y'know I feel a bit better about this.

Comments

Video

[untrueking]

[Arthur hears the video before he sees it. He has the phone screen down as he tries to look the thing over. He wants to know how it works. His mind is busy with thoughts of circuits and electrical wires before the voice crashes through his skull like a train. He freezes as he slowly turns the phone over. It can't be, can I? Lewis?! The face on the screen looks like Lewis...except the eyes. The way he smiles. That goofy crooked grin he used to wear when Vivi complimented him. The smile he wore when he was trying a new recipe for them to taste. That smile he wore when they first met. That Lewis smile. The emotions cascades over him. Fear. Shock. Anger. Sadness. It is like a slot machine, all of the emotions whirling around in an attempt to win. There is a winner. Anger. He doesn't think of hitting the button, but he does. He doesn't think of the words to say, but they spill out regardless.] No! No No No NO NO NO NO! YOU DON'T GET TO WEAR THAT FACE! STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

Re: Video

[shiningheart]

[Oh. And he'd just gotten that nice face look down too.

It's a combination of everything, really. The face on the screen. The tone of his voice. The words Arthur shrieks at him.

If there was any alarm or surprise, it's there and gone again, replaced with livid, inhuman rage as, all at once, the human appearance evaporates, the gleaming bone of the skull faced specter shining through once again.]

Are you that upset to see what you did to me? I didn't think you'd have enough of a conscience left to care!

Re: Video

[untrueking]

SHUT UP! [Arthur screams. What he did to him? He meant the rock. He has to. He shakes. This is payback for the fucking rock?!] YOU DON'T GET TO WEAR HIS FACE BECAUSE I HIT YOU WITH A ROCK! [He doesn't yell. Arthur screams in terror, sure but he doesn't yell. His voice cracks and he swallows. He doesn't care. This isn't right!] I'm not going to let you get away with that!

Re: Video

[shiningheart]

Hit me with a rock?! You pushed me off a fucking cliff! You fucking killed me, Arthur! This-

[That face, his face, flickers over the skull, just for the barest moment. He was far, far too upset to be able to maintain it for long now-]

Is my face. What's left of my face because of you, Arthur! I'm not ever, ever, for as long as you live, let you forget what you did to me!

Re: Video

[untrueking]

[Arthur shakes as he watches the face come back, for a moment, filled with rage. No. NO! He covers his ears and screams at the top of his lungs.]

YOU'RE LYING! YOU'RE LYING! LEWIS IS ALIVE! HE'S ALIVE!

[He quakes as tears stream down his face. This ghost is trying to hurt him. Trying to get to him. Trying to make him lose it. Lewis is alive. He's alive...]

I'M GOING TO FIND HIM! [He grabs the phone, pushing buttons desperately. He can't remember how to end the call. HOW DOES HE END THE CALL?!]

Re: Video

[shiningheart]

YOU KILLED ME, ARTHUR!

[The screen is starting to spark, as the spirit on the other side of the connection begins to try and force his way over, any nearby electronics reacting violently to the surge of energy, the temperature plummetting]

YOU KILLED ME, YOU KILLED ME! YOU'RE A MURDERER AND I'LL NEVER LET YOU EVER FORGET IT!

[Video]

[mother_of_monsters]

[It's not quite the same but it's the pink hair what makes it for Dray.]

Lewis!? Is that you?

Re: [Video]

[shiningheart]

[It takes a bit. He's... Distracted. For a bit.

Eventually though, he's back, the human facade flickering as the sheer white of that toothy skull glimmers just under the surface]

Yeah... Yeah it's me. Hi, Dray.

[Video]

[mother_of_monsters]

Oh, hello! Is this how you looked before?

And are you okay? [Lewis looks a bit stressed, so the kitty worries.]

Re: [Video]

[shiningheart]

Yeah. Mostly, anyway.

[His eyes weren't... y'know, all fucked up, but it's close!]

I'm fine, don't worry about it, just kinda hit a low mood, no big deal.

How's everything over there?

[Video]

[mother_of_monsters]

You look nice like this too.

[He doesn't mind of the eyes. Dray think it gives you personality, man.]

I'm sorry. Do you need distractions? Or what to talk about it?

[Video]

[notfrommysteryinc]

[Well...that's a thing. Mystery isn't sure if he should be glad to see Lewis here or not since he wasn't in the best mood when they last met.

But he can't pretend he doesn't see this, so he activates the video so they can talk.]

It's nice to see you more composed, Lewis. You look much better.

Re: [Video]

[shiningheart]

[He gets back to this very fast, the skull still flickering in and out of visibility after that little tiff with Arthur.]

Mystery! Y- Is Vivi here too?

[Well... Yeah, ghost. Most were one track, Lewis had two: kill Arthur, find Vivi. It takes a second but-]

Yeah... I... I'm trying.

[Video]

[notfrommysteryinc]

I haven't seen her yet. I just got here. How long have you been here alone?

[Both of those goals are obvious. One of them is admirable. And it's probably a good thing he missed that latest "situation" between them.]

It's a start.

Re: [Video]

[shiningheart]

Oh... Okay uh... Well like maybe she'll be here soon?

[That is filled with so much hope]

I was only alone for a day. Arthur is...

[Here. The reminder that he's here blasted across whatever counted as a brain for him, the illusion of life almost entirely dropping as he leaves a massive, unnecessary breath]

Here. He's... Here.

[Stated through what sounded like gritted teeth as the spirit struggled for a moment to maintain calm]

[Video]

[notfrommysteryinc]

[Arthur and Lewis are here together. And Vivi isn't...this won't end well. Mystery is quite for a moment, trying to pick his response carefully.] I see. It sounds as though you've run into him directly. [He'll need to track down Arthur fast. But also to see to Lewis.] Are you alright after that?

[Video/Private]

[youfool]

[Ted eventually muscles through his disappointment to check up on the now-fleshy-faced rage ghost.]

It's fine, I suppose. How'd you manage the alteration?

[ngl he kinda dug the skull.]

Do you mind talking about you know what?

Re: [Video/Private]

[shiningheart]

A lot of concentration, mostly. It's... pretty easy to screw up, as it turns out.

[ARTHUR.

Speaking of which, the skull flickers behind the human face, Lewis becoming... visibly uncomfortable]

Uh... yeah kinda.

Re: [Video/Private]

[youfool]

[He resists the urge to make a make-up joke. Maybe a little sympathy might go a long way.]

You, heh, weren't kidding about the difficulty of anger management.

Re: [Video/Private]

[shiningheart]

Yeah... Yeah I was uh... That was pretty serious, man.

Re: [Video/Private]

[youfool]

Yes, I ah, saw firsthand, aheh...

[Gonna try and avoid any mention of Arthur]

So in spite of all...that...do you still hold the wish?

[Video]

[scarlet_devil]

[ And the vampire shows up again. Though... kinda late. ]

Hmm, honestly your eyes make you look a bit more striking. I assume this is close to your appearance in life?

Re: [Video]

[shiningheart]

Yeah but people are gonna ask questions.

[He could eventually get the hang of walking everywhere again, sure... But the voice and those eyes are gonna be an issue]

A lot closer than the skull, that's for sure. Really the only thing different are the eyes.

[Video]

[scarlet_devil]

I wouldn't worry about that, many of us here aren't even human. [ She's a member of the glowing eyes club herself, as a vampire. ] Or formally human, in our case.

Re: [Video]

[shiningheart]

I learned about that, the whole... a lot of us here aren't human or aren't human anymore thing.

I mean I was human for twenty one years, and I've been a ghost for like... two? Three? Man I forget.

It's just kinda... not something I thought I'd ever have to get used to.