video | un: falcogrice

[grice]

[ on the feed and fixing the device's angle from his lap to hold just a half an arm's length in front of him is a young boy, definitely no more than twelve, with expressive, too-tender doe eyes and a certain amount of calm as he preps to speak. he's also incredibly tiny for the furs draped over his shoulders, now falling into a slant as he brings a hand up to give a little wave. for the most part, he tries for a smile, but the only thing his lips really feel like doing is subtly curving in one direction before he can't bring them to go all the way. the sorry excuse for a smile gets masked by pressing his lips quickly together in an awkward rush. talking to a camera to record these things is always weirder than text, or speaking to people in person. ]

Um, Hi. I'm Falco, and I woke up a few days ago. It's nice to meet everyone. I have a few questions? Not about The Trench, I think I'm all caught up with what's happening. [ at least close to what everyone else seems to know, by asking around, network snooping— it's no wonder that he's spent a few days just to let the information ruminate in his head and settle in. by staring at the ceiling.

either way, he clears his throat! ]

I know some Sleepers might have been in Deerington— but does anyone remember being to other places that aren't your home? Like, different worlds. Specifically South Sister, or California. Or the year 854, if that's familiar? The second thing is . . .

[ falco doesn't say anything and instead, signs: anyone understand? ]

Just curious. [ since if everyone can understand languages . . . ] And, for last. I'm looking for priests that don't use blood for their rituals. For, ah— Exorcism rituals. [ and after an inhale as if he was about to say something more, like an explanation, he shuts up and holds his breath. instead, he starts to scribble something down on spare notebook paper, ] —I can't talk about it if everyone is listening, but if someone can help— [ and then holds up the paper, showing what he's drawn: two "S" marks, put back to back. ] I'll let you know.

[ he supposes that's it, and nods— or more like bows his head. he's beyond polite and respectable as he says: ]

Thank you for watching, and stay safe.

Comments

Video; UN: Medicinal

[meds4sale]

[ Oh man. He's not exactly what anyone would call great with kids, but even then he knows any exorcism involving one is going to be a rough time. ]

To your initial inquiry, I cannot answer one way or another. But it does not seem unlikely others here have shared your experiences.

As for exorcisms...


...that is well within my capabilities.

[grice]

[ it's better than nothing! to be honest, falco can't help but to feel a jump of relief. ]

What kinds do you do, sir?

[meds4sale]

I have encountered all manner of cases in all shapes and forms. Living, dead, and things beyond such concepts.

The one consistent factor is that spiritual entities that come into this plane attach themselves to people's powerful emotions forming a sort of parasitic bond to their host.

There are endless terms for them, but I know such things as Mononoke; a disease of the soul, if you will.

[ There is a long pause, letting that all sink in. ]

In short, my methods involve drawing them out, severing them from the host, and purifying the entity. It is a painful process, but if you are not already dead, you would survive it.

[grice]

[ painful . . . he remembers the first time someone tried to exorcise him, so at least he hadn’t expected a painless procedure. ]

I think I’m ready for those. [ genuinely. no hesitation. he’d just have to endure. it wasn’t as if it would last, neither would he stay harmed for long. it was better than harming anyone. but, considering danger— ] Do you work alone, sir? It might be dangerous to.

text | un: levi.

[venatik]

( Falco is the first person he recognizes; he's not sure what to say, really. Like, hey, how ya been? That won't fly.

But he goes on to say something about exorcisms. He only barely knows what one is in the first place, as religion was rare in the walls, especially among the Survey Corps; just where the hell has this kid been? )

I can't help with your ritual, but Cassandra might have what you're looking for.

( There's a minute-or-so-long pause between messages. )

Can't say I've been anywhere you've been besides "home", in any case.

[grice]

[ levi. just "levi". how many levis were there in the universes? maybe too many, but . . . he could at least ask. ]

I'll check with her; thank you.
Also, would it be okay to ask for your last name? If you have a last name?

[venatik]

... Ackerman.

I'd say we know one another but it seems like you've been busy elsewhere.

[grice]

[ ‼️ ]

Mister Levi!

[ ohhhh my god that was a jackpot hit?! but also— ]

You don’t remember Santa Rosita?

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ There sure is a lot going on in this message, huh. Especially since the person who's speaking looks so young. Sure, that sort of look can be deceiving, Ange is well aware, but even so..

Sheesh. ]

I know a little about that kind of interdimensional travel. [ .. a little bit, though, but Ange figures anything is probably better than nothing, right? ]

I've heard of California. It's a place in my world-- My original world, I mean.

[grice]

[ immediately, falco looks intrigued enough to pull the omni up close to her face. ]

Really? What year was it, Miss?

[entreats]

What year?

[ It's slightly surprising, that question, though she supposes to makes sense considering what he mentioned in his message. Something about.. 8-- Somewhere in the eighthunderds, right..? ]

It was 1998. If we're talking about that year you mentioned.. That was so long ago. I'm not even sure California existed back then. [ Ange does sound a little uncertain about it. History isn't exactly her strongest suit, especially not for an entirely different country. ]

[grice]

Oh— [ he scrambles, just a little, ] Oh, no, It was 1961 in the California I was in! All the time, actually— 854 is the year I'm from.

[ and after a short pause: ]

I know that's a really long time ago, compared to a lot of people . . . I just wanted to make sure if anyone else was close to that year, wherever they were.

text | un: klapbak

[klussy]

yea, i've been to a lot of different worlds now. i can't really remember it exactly right anymore.
california is familiar though i've never actually been there but it existed where i come from

& i dont know about priests specifically but theres people here who know how to do that shit.

[grice]

Thank you. Having more than one option helps.

Would you know someplace called Santa Rosita? It was always closed off so I never saw the rest of California.

[klussy]

no, sorry man. i pretty much only know the basics like los angeles and san francisco

but i bet we could find some maps or something in the archives of old-california

[grice]

[ old archives— wait, ]

we can find those here?

video

[ghostharasser]

[The feed shows a kid no older than fourteen, though definitely pretty baby-faced.]

Oh huh. I'm from California. I grew up in Piedmont, though it was the year 2012 and the California I know definitely wasn't called California in the year 845.

[A pause.]

I'm also not a priest, but I have done ghost exorcisms and stuff in the past without blood. I haven't tried to do that here since blood is such an easy component to come by, but I could try depending on what you need?

video

[grice]

[ the world needs more baby-faced kiddos! at long last a place where he isn't the only child-looking arrival. falco takes note of the california mention, and will certainly go back to it soon. just need to fix this little thing he gave the impression of— ]

I'm— actually the one from the 800s. It was 1961 in the California I was in. [ advanced, for him. but at least south sister was more advanced than that, and showed him computers! ] And, about the ghost— it can spread through blood. I didn't want to leave any openings.

video

[ghostharasser]

[There is, in fact, an entire gaggle of kids 12-15 in this place which is pretty hilarious considering its a horror game.]

Oh! Got it! That makes more sense- so you were in another place before this that was set in 60's California, just like a lot of us where in this nightmare realm that took place in a bizarro 1950's Maine.

[Dipper considers for a moment that this kid from the 800's might not be up on US Geography and-]

Which is another location in the same country California's apart of. What a weird correlation.

[Sorry Falco, you've grabbed the attention of an extremely chatty paranormal investigator.]

Blood ghosts. That makes sense. I would have to make some changes to my current ritual but I could probably give it a shot. Do you want to meet up anywhere to talk it over? I can give you a consultation.

(private) video | un: P.G.

[possessum]

( Seeing younger people show up here isn't too abnormal, and yet it always causes something to prickle uncomfortably inside of Peter's gut — where his guilty conscience lives, but also... his empathy, his worry.

All of that simply deepens as the boy on his feed continues.

By the end, Peter takes a few long moments to decide whether he should respond — and then realises that of course, he has to. If he can possibly help this boy with the soft, forced attempt at a smile... his own discomforts shouldn't matter. Still, when he turns on his own feed (set to private, because he wants to be... careful, here), he's visibly unsettled, nervous: a young man with dark circles beneath his eyes and a perpetually wounded expression. He seems incredibly uneasy in his own skin. But his voice is soft, gentle. )

Hey there. It's— nice to meet you, too. I'm Peter. ( He smiles a little, but then it falters. He meant to start out casually answering the other questions, but... )

...I don't know those symbols, the ones you drew, but.... I've seen other ones. ( There's the sigil of something ancient carved into Peter's very soul. It's drawn on the walls of his bedroom too, here and there, though he's currently sitting where they can't be seen. Even after all this time, it still scares him. )

Is it something... really powerful? ( 'Dangerous', he almost says, but that's still a word that aches to form associations with for himself, and he can't seem to bring himself to say it out loud to this boy, either. )

[grice]

[ a private line brings the same relief to falco, visibly, that meeting in person did. not because he didn’t trust anyone (to be honest, he was possibly the most trusting thing in existence), it was that very power that peter describes that he was afraid of. danger. falco’s expression softens considerably at the greeting— peter, even. not the peter parker he became attached to in santa rosita, but the name itself brings a sense of calm and good feeling. he quickly knows how to discern a tired man when his own eyelids would grow heavy if he didn’t watch himself. but luckily for peter, he brings falco to show a bit more of his smile, palpably a touch more at ease. ]

Hi, Mister Peter.

[ that would short lived. question asked, the boy’s eyes give a widen— and they dart left and right, as if he needs to be very cautious of what he says, as if he’s being watched or listened to by eyes and ears nowhere actually on screen. it was more direct, the possible answer. his fingers tap nervously against his knees until he’s curling them, and that nervous energy transfers to the little constant jumping of his leg.

he can only be sure to nod, quick, and swallow dry. and just how powerful—? ]

If I say its name, it can spread.

[possessum]

( Peter doesn't miss that little shift to the younger boy's smile — and it immediately makes his heart feel warmer in a way he's not used to, like maybe he's helping. ...Because he isn't used to this. Reaching out— being the one to offer assistance. For so long, he's been the one trembling in the corner, desperate for guidance and help....

But maybe he can help others too, now.

Being called "mister" is definitely new, and elicits a bit of a bigger smile from him, too. He's only just turned nineteen — some weird age where the childness of him is starting to shed more, where he's tipped closer to adulthood.

But the smile wavers again at what Falco says next. Peter knows there's a certain power in names; his own burden can't be spread the same way as that, but saying Paimon's name is how he's summoned, and it gives the demon a power... It's something Peter hardly dares to say aloud. To hear that this entity is so capable, so... contagious..? The older teen swallows. )

Spread.... to other people? ( He hesitates again, worrying his bottom lip for a moment. )

Is it hurting you? Does it... hurt?

text; username: grollschwert

[hauntedsavior]

I mean, I've been back in time in the place I came from. Don't think I hit 854, but, like, I've definitely been pretty far back.
Never visited California, but I know where it is. Haven't heard of South Sister, but it sounds like a place that would be in California.

Wonder if maybe you're asking the wrong question, though.
'Cause the place I'm from, Recolle? It was a normal everyday city for me until one day it wasn't.
That sounds more like it fits with what you're looking for.

[grice]

How did it stop being normal?

[hauntedsavior]

Extra areas appearing out of nowhere.
Giant dome fell over the city and blocked out the outside world, that part was cool.
One time everything just went white all over the place and we had to paint the city back the way it was supposed to go.

Plus time travel and journeys through different layers of reality.
You know, regular everyday weird stuff.