When hinges creak in doorless chambers...

[omggirlonthenet]

GHOSTS

Guess what? You're dead. Or you can see dead people. Either way, there's some serious haunting going on.




1. I'm dead. You don't know why you're a ghost but this person can see you for some reason. Maybe they'll help you figure it out? So you aren't stuck here forever?

2. I'm not dead you're dead. You're in denial. You can't be dead, there's too much you haven't done yet.

3. What do you mean you're dead? They can see you and definitely don't realize you're a ghost.

4. Mistaken identity. This person looks just like someone you knew when you were alive. Maybe they'll recognize you?

5. Revenge haunting. They killed you (accidentally or on purpose) and now they're stuck with your ghost.

6. Summoning. They got drunk and tried to summon a demon but they got you instead. Or maybe you're who they were after the whole time.

7. Poltergeist. I hate you/have a lot of latent anger/just like throwing stuff.

8. Current occupant. I died in this house/basement/attic/apartment and now you're here, hope you like company because we're roommates now.

9. Haunted location. I'm the theatre ghost they keep talking about, hi. / I hated my work so much that I'm still here and this is your desk now but I keep sweeping things off it every night. / I was buried here. Yes I know it's a shopping mall now.

10. Haunted object. I'm haunting this object that was important to me, but now it's important to you too and you aren't getting rid of it and you want a compromise?

11. Tag along. I was haunting a particular place/wandering the earth aimlessly but you looked interesting, so now I'm haunting your messenger bag and you need to figure out what I want and how to get rid of me (assuming you want to get rid of me).

12. Age difference. I'm from 1406 and you aren't moving me from this spot.

13. Family. I'm your ancestor from a long time ago and I have dirt on the entire family tree.

14. Skills acquisition. I'm dead but I know how to make that souffle/play that piano/rebuild that engine/do that thing you're trying to do, do you want me to teach you? Because you are terrible at this.

15. Possession. Full possession: Let me do the talking / I can get you through this job interview / This song is my jam, just one dance / Let me just borrow your body real quick. Partial possession: I might only have control of this one leg but I say we walk this way.

16. Guardian. I was assigned to you when you were born and I was your imaginary friend but you grew up and stopped seeing me, but I'm still around and now you can see me again.

17. Reaper. I'm a reaper and you're the one who's going to die.

18. Mentor. You're dead now, but I've been dead for a while, let me show you the ropes.

19.Messenger. I've been sent to deliver a message to you Ebeneezer Scrooge.

20. Wild card. Do whatever!
*WARNING: Some of these could get dark. Of course, because someone's dead. Some of these could get smutty. Because you never know.
[Swiped in its entirety from right here]

Comments

Rey | Star Wars

[girlandherstaff]

for no-light: FAMILY [urban fantasy AU]

[girlandherstaff]

The day of The Visitations had arrived and quite frankly, Rey had not been looking forward to this in the slightest. She knew it was an important day on the magical calendar, but honestly it just made her feel uncomfortable. Not the idea of the dead loved ones making a visit to check in and see how things were, that sounded comforting in it's way, but that...

Everyone who went to the Visitations knew who was coming for them, knew someone would be coming for them. She didn't. In all likelihood, no one would come and she would just have to stand there. She was hopeful that someone would be there for her, but these was this annoying voice, a thought that...

But there was no skipping, and so she had to get up and get dressed. Formally, of course, with her best Cloak - that just so happened to be Anakin Skywalker's. He might make an appearance that day.

She tried not to think on it as she made her way to queue outside the hall, curling the Cloak in around her as if it would make her less noticed by the others. Today was one of those days she wished she could just disappear again. It would be a lot easier.

[no_light]

The day of Visitations, one of the highest holidays in the year for any magical person. The day on which the dead visited the living to share their wisdom, their love, or simply strengthen the ties of family, the acute sense of continuing a legacy far greater than yourself which drove the progeny of the great houses.

Kylo Ren checked himself in the mirror once more, making sure that the drape of his black Cloak was perfect, his hair neat, he even checked that he had remembered to shine his shoes. All of these things made a good distraction.

He could hear them before the gathering outside the great hall even got in sight, though the chatter was muted today, hushed. It wasn't a solemn affair as such, but an earnest one, to be treated with the respect their honorable ancestors deserved.

Despite the scorn he often showed for his living ancestors, even Kylo knew better than to disrespect the dead. Especially when the dead who would visit you often was Darth Vader. He inhaled deeply and braced himself as he joined the line. Vader, Anakin, had not been very pleased with him in past years. The harder he tried to match his greatness, the more frustrated his grandfather grew. There was no saying he would appear to Kylo at all.

He sighed heavily, glaring at the Cloak in front of him... which just so happened to be Anakin Skywalker's. He clenched his teeth, mind immediately going to the rumors that had been running wild ever since Rey had been seen coming out of his room with the Cloak. Today would only stir them up more, though it was a matter of course Rey would be wearing her Cloak to such an important event. The gossip mill didn't care whether their tall tales made any sense at all.

He exhaled. "Rey," he said, giving her a small nod in greeting, well aware of the eyes on them.

[girlandherstaff]

This was one of those times that Rey was beginning to wish that Kylo had just snatched the Cloak right out of her hands that night she had appeared at his room with it. Since then there had been persistent rumors, ones that were not at all to her liking and it seemed the more she made that clear, the more she was just 'covering up'. Wearing the Cloak on Visitation Day would probably only make things worse. Would very likely make things worse, but it was the best one she had to her name, and it would be an insult to not wear it.

At least, that's what she kept reminding herself of as she stood alone in the line. Nearly everyone else was joined by a family member, and she did her best to try not to draw any more attention to herself than the Cloak would already bring. She ran her hands along the material on the inside, trying to keep herself calm and keep in mind that this was her first Visitation, and even if no one came, it was still an experience she should be honoured to be able to go through at all.

The voice behind her did make her jump a little, but then again, considering the gossip that had been going round lately, she would have expected him not to talk to her at all. Something that did irritate her as he was the only person who understood how frustrating it all was.

"Kylo," she nodded in return, a tight lipped smile given in greeting. She was nervous. About the Visitations, about what would be expected. "It's my first," she nodded her head in the direction of the hall, before glancing around at all the people whispering. "...It always like this?"

[no_light]

"Not really," he responded quickly, before the whispers sank in again, and the acute feeling of so many curious eyes burning into them.

He straightened his shoulders, chin tilting up a little more - unconsciously trying to imitate the stubborn dignity he had seen in his mother when she felt uncomfortable and refused to let it show. There were too many eyes on them, too much hunger for more gossip, maybe hoping for some juicy new scandal at the Visitations.

Maybe he shouldn't have spoken to Rey, but it was too late now to pretend he hadn't seen her. Far too late.

"Usually," he said, voice quieter, "there aren't so many gossipmongers involved." It shouldn't be. "This is supposed to be a dignified affair," he added, this time in a distinct stage whisper meant to carry.

[girlandherstaff]

The constant noise of the whispering that was so obviously about them made Rey really want to find and hit whoever it was that had started the stupid rumour in the first place. Annoyingly, rumours tended to be how she found out any sort of tradition now - how had she been supposed to know that one person giving another their Family Cloak was seen as some ... declaration to the world? She was pissed at Kylo for not having said as much to her, but then again, she supposed that he didn't say anything because of all these whispers - people will suppose what they want to suppose.

So she tried to stand tall, to bear it with a sense of dry humour at how easily people could believe what was obviously made up to try to annoy them. She tried to mimic the pose she'd seen Leia wear, that kind of stubborn dignity no matter what was happening. She... just didn't realise what people would think to see them both doing that.

Still, didn't stop her eye-roll.

"Yeah, I think my own dignity forgot to check in today," she muttered, not looking forward to having to go inside the hall. "It's... Can people get a Visitation even if they're not expecting one?" Maybe, she thought, there was a chance. Maybe this was the way she could find her family again.

[no_light]

"Hmm..." He took in her stance, uncannily reminded of his own mother - a thought he quickly shoved away before it could get weird, considering what everyone thought Rey and him were to another, but she did have the same air of stubborn dignity in the face of adversity, and it suited her. It suited the Cloak she wore.

Around them, their visitors nudged another, taking note of the way they stood together, wearing the same family's Cloak, facing all these curious eyes and whispers together. For those who had still doubted it might as well have been proof, a confirmation of what half the Academy had been talking about for weeks.

Kylo's thoughts were far too much on Rey and her question, and the sudden sharp clenching guilt that was overtaking him at the realization why she would ask. After all, hadn't he mocked her often enough for having no family, no clan of her own? On any other day he would have rebuffed her coldly, but there was still that guilt... "I don't see why not," he offered instead, eyes averted. "The Dead do as they wish."

[girlandherstaff]

It wasn't that she was unaware of the whispers going on around them, it was more that she wasn't exactly sure what it was that they were going on about. Confirmation on the rumours, she had heard, but how had they confirmed anything? If anything they had been out-right denying the damn things since they started. She knew what they said about it being a declaration but how had her turning up in the only good Cloak she had confirmed anything?

Rey was pretty much convinced by this point that she was never going to understand what what through most people's minds. Especially not among the people on the course. Top of that list of people she was not able to understand? Kylo Ren, now being... nice? Sort of?

"So, they could come?" There was a strain of hope in the words, her mouth unable to stop quirking up into a smile at their corners. She could see her parents again, if they were... But if they were, it would explain why they didn't come back. They could have been waiting for her to show up here, so they could Visit.

"They could come," she breathed out, relaxing more. Somehow the day seemed a bit better now.

[no_light]

Hope. So much hope and a vulnerability that made something clench and squirm low in Kylo's belly. It felt wrong that he should be seeing her like this, made him feel downright guilty and strangely protective. He'd never given her any reason to trust him with any vulnerability, after all.

He looked down at his hands, folded in front of him. It would be the perfect opportunity for digs and jabs and other cruelties, yet he found himself very unwilling to even try. Just the thought intensified the guilt.

"You shouldn't get your hopes up." Oh. He winced a little. Maybe he shouldn't have said that. It hadn't even been intended cruelly for once, but would she see it as such? He averted his eyes again and coughed. "I mean, you never know. These things just... happen. It's best not to expect much of anything. It hurts less then."

Like he, who never really got to hear what he wanted to hear on these Visitations...

[girlandherstaff]

The words were the kind that Rey would expect to hear from him, and her mouth opened automatically to offer some kind of retaliation. But the tone made her stop. It wasn't the usual mocking tone, the kind that came with this sense of smug superiority and vague impression that she should be ashamed of not knowing things.

(Maybe she read a little too much into his tone of voice...)

No, this time is was fairly neutral. She wanted to question him on it, on why he would say something like that. But the doors of the hall were opening and inviting everyone inside.

Visitation Day had started

[no_light]

Kylo's heartbeat sped up in anticipation as the great doors opened. The crowd fell silent as if a switch had been flicked, an anticipatory hush overtaking them. They moved at a sedate pace despite the impatience you could feel in the air, everyone doing their best to be appropriately respectful of the occasion.

When Kylo made it into the room, he took in the summoning circles that had been laid out all over the hall, and at the front Luke Skywalker, Snoke and Leia Organa stood in their best regalia to watch over the proceedings and receive their own Visitations.

His mother caught his eye, giving him a small nod, and Kylo reluctantly returned it. She looked tense, while his uncle looked eager. He usually received visits from Yoda, wise and ancient and in reality a lot more mischievous than the history books made him out to be - and Luke's teacher. Kylo hid his hands in the sleeves of his Cloak as he followed Rey, navigating towards the summoning circle next to hers.

What would it be like if nobody came for her? He felt a little cold as he imagined it, her standing all alone while everybody else enjoyed a joyous reunion.

"Good luck," he whispered to her before he could stop himself.

[girlandherstaff]

Stepping into the hall was something very different than what Rey had expected. On one level, she hadn't expected it to be different in the slightest, they were in the hall often and how could one day make so much of a difference? But it was different - something in the air that tingled down her spine as she glanced around at the summoning circles, looking as people took their places.

How did you know which one was yours, or was it random? She stepped over to one, hoping that she hadn't done the wrong thing here. Seeing Kylo step into the empty circle next to hers was... Interesting? It did confirm to her there was no real pattern to it, but she couldn't help but wonder why he chose to be near her? Okay, true, they were the only other person each could talk to right now - the rumour mill was unbearable - but wouldn't he want to be nearer his family?

"You too," she whispered back, a tight smile across her face. Under the long sleeves of her Cloak, she crossed her fingers. As the ghosts started to appear, she waited.

... And waited. And waited.

Around her, ghosts appeared to everyone. Family members, friends... the room was filled with the sounds of discussion.

Her circle remained empty. Just her.

... Did she have to stay?

[no_light]

For Kylo, Visitation Day was never exactly a joyful or proud occasion and yet at the same time, he would take pride in his most common visitor. Anakin Skywalker, his grandfather, would appear to him more often than not.

Their talks rarely went very well, usually degenerating into arguments which were humiliating to be witnessed by all other magic students and faculty - but he still would have preferred it to grandfather not appearing to him at all.

The summoning circles didn't need to be personalized, yet many wizards did so, half from custom half from a superstition that a personalized circle was more effective in drawing these closest to you. Kylo had thought long and hard what he would bring this year, finally settling on a broken calligraphy quill which still held his dried blood to it, from when he had cut himself on the tip. If his mother saw she would certainly disapprove and call his offering too macabre but he placed it proudly into the center of the symbols depicting the realm of the living.

And then he went back to waiting. While he waited, his thought kept straying to Rey, standing alone and nowhere near as self-assured as he did while around them, beloved ancestors and teachers made their presence known.

There was a cough, an amused, "Ben? Earth to Ben?" and Kylo's eyes returned to his circle. It was his grandfather, looking young and untouched by the dark magic that had wrecked him and torn their family apart - or so Mom and Uncle Luke said. Master Snoke told different tales. He swallowed hard and focused wholly on Anakin, Rey's grief momentarily forgotten.

And yet, if she was paying attention to his circle at all, she would notice that the man who had appeared in Kylo's circle wore the same Cloak that she was wearing - it the very same one, indeed.

[girlandherstaff]

Rey would have usually looked over. In any other circumstance, she would be looking all around, curious and delighted to discover something new. However, her cheeks burned and her eyes stung heavily, forcing her head downwards so that no one caught her gaze. It hadn't been explained, what you did if no one appeared to you. Had she not made her circle personalised enough? She hadn't added much - just a few scraps that she had been carrying around for years. Was it too impersonal a touch?

It had to be that she had done something wrong,didn't it? That's why no one was appearing to her. She needed to work out how to put it right. Staying here wouldn't let her do that, but she didn't think she was allowed to leave.

"You seem distracted today," Anakin said to his grandson. It was unusual for Ben. No matter how the Visitations went, he could at least say he always held the boy's full attention. Not so much this time. "Somewhere you'd rather be?"