video; un: v | cw for creepy dolls i guess?

[mehanizovati]

[the video starts focused on a shelf, and on that shelf is a doll. absolutely the kind that just exudes 'listed on ebay for having the spirit of an angry victorian child in it' vibes with its dead eyes.

when viktor speaks his tone could not be more dry.] Some of you might have noticed the unpleasant dolls that, when ignored instead of bought, come to life violently. This is a matter our household is not entirely aware of because Palamedes continues to gladly buy any unpleasant doll he sets his sights upon.

[offscreen, but not like, very far offscreen (it is not a big living space), palamedes chimes in with a pointed, 'While I respect your aesthetic tastes, you're wrong, they're delightful,' that viktor will pointedly ignore as he continues.]

He will not stop bringing them. Some of them vanish after a week or two. He calls this one Sensible Bethany.

['She calls herself that, actually, I explained this already,' from the peanut gallery. the camera shifts as viktor turns to address him back]

Is this entire place not haunted enough without ugly dolls, I ask again? There is a limit, Palamedes.

[in the unfocused corner of the camera the doll absolutely turns its head to stare directly at the screen.]

Comments

[everyrosehasits]

I suppose I ought to question how exactly spirits got into dolls, but I've been here long enough not to question such things.

What is to be done with them?

[megatheorem]

A soul with a strong enough will can cling to something here in this world instead of immediately passing over to the next upon death, scientifically speaking. A doll is a familiar shape, if nothing else; I imagine—

[mnh.] Well, the stress of death could easily push someone into the familiar, before something like - a chair. For example. And I know you specifically didn't ask, so I'll leave it at that.

[Ahaha... anyway!]

Viktor says he managed to soothe one of the upset ones turning up in the market, so there's that option for handling them; if they're not going to attack, I can find a place for them.

[everyrosehasits]

My goodness!

Well, when you put it in those parameters, I suppose that a doll would be the next best thing. A head, two arms, too legs, and so on.

I don't want a spirit inhabiting my chair. Or anyone's chair. It sounds as though that the one with a spirit in one's chair would never be able to sit comfortably in it again.

[and she's too protective of her little cottage in Gaze to let mad doll-spirits take any of them over]

Very well. You may have all of the bizarre doll-spirits your heart desires.

[and she steps out of frame long enough to show the myriad of red-haired dolls with curly hair, all of whom wearing dresses she knew had been hers on the Titanic]

Shall I send them to you or would you rather pick them up yourself?

[megatheorem]

[Oh, that's pretty distinctive hair—]

Are they— you? That's novel; I'd love to figure out the reasoning behind that. [but focus, ahem] Don't worry about sending them anywhere, I can come get them. Where do I meet you?

[everyrosehasits]

[brilliantly red hair in a long mass of curls, even though it generally went braided or in a ponytail in Trench]

I believe so, yes. Though, very fancy-dressed versions of me. And I have a house in Gaze. The sooner you take these off my hands, the better.

[megatheorem]

Well, now I'd kind of like a little one of me. [Would it end badly, most likely, but still...]

But you're in Gaze, great— so am I. I can come by in maybe an hour? I have to find a big enough box.

[everyrosehasits]

They're far more trouble than they're worth. [she may or may not have spent hours screaming at them what more they wanted from her]

Wonderful, wonderful. Please take these things off of my hands, I can hardly bear to look at them any longer.

[megatheorem]

I'll take your word for it. And I'll— handle them respectfully.

[Like, since they look like her? Even if they're little menaces, nobody wants something in their image handled without mercy, he thinks.]

I'm Palamedes, by the way.

[everyrosehasits]

I'd appreciate that. It's very kind of you.

[they do they all do. she wonders if her mother had set them up as some kind of odd test of her resolve]

Lovely to meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances. I'm Rose Dawson.

[megatheorem]

We'll have better circumstances as soon as I take care of those dolls for you, don't worry. I'll owe you a cup of tea.

[everyrosehasits]

Oh, thank goodness. I would appreciate a cup of tea. This all has been so unsettling.