text | un: kovacs

[kovach]

[ after attempting to follow some small footprints from the dining room, kovacs briefly hears some strange and suspicious laughter that echoes out for only a short time before it's gone.

— the fuck? ]

Has anyone heard some creepy fucking kids giggling in the hallways?

Or seen some tiny feet trailing around?

Comments

[kovach]

You're like the hundredth person to mention this thing. But no, I haven't.

Is it where the arrogant asshole who keeps rolling his eyes at warnings gets his soul swallowed by creepy tiny twins in a hallway?

[kovach]

No one's seen it, no one's heard it. Could've even just been in my head, for all we know.

You got experience talking with spirits?

[bossily]

There's also an elevator full of blood. And a hedge maze. A perfect date night movie.

[kovach]

Nothing says romance like a blood bath. I'll take notes.

[kovach]

It's called a power move. Can't back down and let it seize control. Gotta show your teeth.

I don't know Finn, so go ahead and pass my what the fuck message.

[bossily]

Awfully presumptuous of you to think I'd let you pay attention long enough to take notes.

[peasant]

go flex in a mirror to assert your dominance and tell me how that goes for you.
i'll be waiting on your results to try it myself.

oh, sure. i'll deliver it word for word.

[ narrative voice: she was not going to deliver it. ]

[kovach]

Guess that entirely depends on your strategy for distraction.

[bossily]

I'm a bit offended you're questioning exactly what my distraction technique would be.

Actually, you know what? Not the topic to be discussing in the middle of a mission. Are you in the mood to turn your solo exploration into a task for two?

[kovach]

[ oh, he knows exactly what it is. ]

What, you want to come join me on the ghost hunt? Think I might have hit a dead end with this one unless you're some kind of kid whisperer.

[bossily]

I was a teacher back on Earth. Before that, I was a nanny. I'm almost positive even ghost children would love me.

audio; un: doctor.disco

[attackbrows]

[Oh good. It just so happens the Doctor has Ghost Children on his Mystery Castle Bingo Card.]

I’d say that is about as normal as you’ll find yourself here. Besides, they’re only the disembodied voices of children milling about. And that could be anything: inter-dimensional audio transmissions, an encryption, someone’s mobile phone playing that same clip on a loop, a parasite slowly eating away at your cerebral cortex.

But just in case — do text me if it is ghosts or your brains being chewed out. I have an ointment for that.

[kovach]

Should've known. You do have that reprimanding authoritative parental thing about you.

[kovach]

What the hell was that last thing?

[ most of the rest of it, he could just nod and roll his eyes at the complication of suggestions, but that suddenly took a twist. ]

And pretty sure if my brains are eaten out, text isn't going to be left on my list of capable skills.

[attackbrows]

No. Guess not. Looks like your only option is voicemail.

[A little difficult to hear blood-curdling screams when this castle keeps tossing and turning on a whim. But that’s just a worst-case scenario.]

Nothing worse than meeting your demise at the end of a beep.

[kovach]

Sure, you'll be the first person I call off the contact list.

[ spoken sarcastically, but in the doctor's defense, he had been the one to help him out the last time kovacs had gotten himself into trouble. ]

So you really don't think hearing suspicious voices is something to look into?

[bossily]

I'm choosing to take that as a compliment.

[attackbrows]

Well, they aren’t something to skitter away from. Merely disembodied noises to keep you on your toes and to dig a little deeper.

[Even though he isn’t standing in front of Kovacs, the Doctor pretends he is pointing out that pink backpack Kovacs likes to carry around.]

Or is that backpack of yours solely for leisurely toiletries?

[kovach]

Well, the kind of things I keep in here aren't really to wave around at the kids.

[ mostly guns and the like. it's honestly probably a good thing he pulled out the drugs from inside before he left the station, too. ]

I heard it following a set of footprints that led to nothing. No hidden doors or passage. Where's there to dig from there?

[kovach]

You should. I like you bossing me around.

[bossily]

I'll be sure to remind you that you said that if you ever decide to change your mind.

[kovach]

I hope you do.

[ what was said about inappropriate topics during the mission? ]

So what would be your strategy with the ominous ghost kid?

[bossily]

Someone told me once that every lonely monster needs a companion. Something tells me even the angriest and most mischievous of ghosts won't refuse someone to play with. Especially when that someone comes with stories to tell.

[calmness]

For this place, I am afraid that would not be surprising.

Yes. In my world, Cultivators are able to do so. My sect specializes in doing so through musical instruments but some spirits are willing to talk without such means.

[kovach]

[ every lonely monster needs a companion. those words run deeper than he expects them to. ]

Yeah, I don't think I'm the play companion type, so this definitely sounds more like a job for teacher-nanny Clara.