002 - Video/Action Curse: Ghost World (backdated to Saturday)

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[Video]

[ In his frantic attempts to reach Lydia, he forgot to lock the entry. His terrified face was lit only by device itself. And when it started, he was staring at something out of view of the camera.

He looked like he was going to be sick. ]

Lydia, you said he wasn't here!

[ He spoke in a harsh whispers, as if afraid he'd be heard. ]

I don't know how he got in, but Matt's. HERE!

[ He suddenly froze, his eyes going wide in terror. There was a frantic blur of movement before the video cut out. ]

[ Action ]

[ Sometime later, he burst out of the apartment building at a full sprint, wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers. Only when he hit the cold air did he seem to come to his senses.

He'd been struggling to stay in control for days. And now that he actually needed his anger, it seemed to have abandoned him. So for the first time, he actually reached for it, instead of fighting it. Eyes glowing and claws out, he twisted to face the doors.

There was no one there. ]

[ "What? Is that supposed to scare me?" Said the apparition. "That's nothing compared to what you were before. And before, you were mine." ]

You can't control me! Not anymore!

[ "Oh, can't I?" Matt put a finger to his temple. "All it took was a thought." ]

[ Much to Jackson's horror, the claws retracted. He fought to keep them out, but it was a futile battle. Shaking, he fell to his knees, staring at his all too human fingers. Unaware that the illusion before him was not what forced him to change, but the fear it inspired in him. ]

[ "You see? You still belong to me." ]

Comments

Video... I'm sorry I couldn't resist

[trenchknives]

You, uh, you okay there?

[Obviously not, but he's working on this whole not jumping to conclusions thing, so. Better to ask.]

Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ He had his back pressed to a wall, out in the main corridor of the apartment building. He didn't even bother asking how this guy got the message. ]

Do I LOOK okay?!

[ He tensed again. ]

[ "Why don't you put the phone down? They can't stop me this time. And neither can you." ]

[ Jackson glared at the source that could be neither seen nor heard by anyone else. ]

Stay. AWAY. FROM ME!

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

No, you sure as fuck don't look okay, but...

[Who is this guy talking to, anyway? Maybe that'd be something useful to find out. Maybe]

Look, is someone there? Someone trynna hurt you?

Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ "Why would I do that? You belong to me, don't you remember? Oh, that's right, I didn't want you to. It made things so much easier. Imagine what I could do to your memory now." ]

What the hell do you think?!

[ He looked utterly terrified, to him he was talking over Matt. Trying to ignore what was being said. He twisted the camera around to show that just around the corner from him was...nothing. He saw a slightly damn and rather irritated teenager slowly moving down the hall. But on camera, the hall was empty.

Another blur as Jackson bolted again. ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

I think there ain't anythin' there. I think maybe...

[How to say this without implying the guy's crazy... that's always a tough balance. But Jimmy's not so good at being polite, not really, and bluntness is going to have to work for now.]

Look, I don't see anythin'. I don't see anyone. All I can see is you.

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ He stopped again, in the stair well. Back pressed to the wall, eyes shut tight. Trying to get control over the fear. He was too freaked out to even try and hide just how terrified he was. Then he flinched. ]

[ "You didn't think he could actually see me, did you? No, only you can. I can still make you do exactly what I want. What do you say we pay Allison a little visit? I do owe her after all she did." ]

[ Jackson grit his teeth hard as he felt a hand on his cheek. He yanked his head away, trying so hard to ignore the thing beside him. ]

I don't care if you can't see him! [ Aggression started to creep into his tone. An excellent shield against the fear ] Find Allison! Allison Argent. Tell her that Matt's here!

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Look, you need to...

['Calm down' is a really stupid thing to say to anyone. He knows it just pisses him off more when someone says it to him. Something else, then.]

There's nobody there, okay? There's nobody there. Sometimes there're curses where we... shit, where we see things that aren't real, okay? But it ain't real.

[Unless... unless whatever's coming after him is actually invisible, but that doesn't bear mentioning.]

Allison... Allison... Okay, I don't know her, but I can try.

[Maybe, at the very least, this Allison can calm the guy down just a little.]

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ "Should we go after Stiles or Derek, after her? They're both just as irritating. But I do know we'll save your precious Lydia for last. That's one I want you to remember. " ]

[ Jackson looked like he was going to be sick. ]

Tell her to stay as far away from me as she can!

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

I'll try, but you gotta know...

[Tread lightly? Hell no, he's never been good at that.]

This is probably just in your head, okay?

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ "Maybe we will go after Derek first. Just think of what you could do if you were an alpha. What WE could do." ]

[ He gripped the device tighter, trying so hard to block out Matt's voice. ]

Do you think that's going to stop him from killing everyone?!

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Yeah, actually, yeah, I'm pretty fuckin' convinced hallucinations, even if they're caused by a curse, can't kill anybody, much less everyone.

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

You don't get it!

[ Why couldn't this guy just know what he was talking about? ]

He'll make ME kill them! He's done it before!

[ "And we'll do it again. And again. And again. Until anyone who could ever stop us is taken care of." ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Okay. Okay, I get that. But...

[And shit, he does get it. Better than he'd like to. How's he supposed to calm this guy down? Why'd he get involved, anyway?]

Look, when he made you kill people, he was real, right? He wasn't just a fuckin'... phantom in your head, right? He was a real person other people could see.

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

Of course he was! And he's supposed to be dead! But--

[ "But!" Matt interrupted with a smirk. "But what? Our connection was far stronger than anything you ever had with Gerard. You saved me without my even have to command you. You didn't really think death would keep me away, did you?" ]

--it's a long story! Just find Allison. Or Derek. Or ANYONE! Tell them it's going to again!

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

It's not fuckin' goin' to happen again, okay?

[All the same, he'll... try to find these people. They can take care of their friend. They probably can't convince him that this is all in his head, but maybe they can do better than Jimmy can.]

He's dead. He's in your mind. Nobody can see him except you 'cause he ain't fuckin' real.

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP HIM!

[ The shout was loud enough to ring through the stair well and to distort the sound through the device. ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

[Ooh, raised voices? Shouting? He can do that, too. And now he is.]

Where the fuck are you? You want me to come down there 'n shoot your goddamned ghost? 'cause I can do that, but it probably ain't gonna help.

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ He rattled off the apartment building number. ]

You're going to need to shoot ME in about ten fucking MINUTES!

[ His chin lifted, neck tense as unseen fingers traced down it. ]

[ "Bullets didn't stop you before. Why would they, now?" ]

Re: Video

[trenchknives]

Yeah, well, just save that thought, 'n I'll decide who I'm gonna shoot when I get there, okay?

[And yes, he totally is heading in that direction. Hey, he never was known for making great judgements. At least he's got a gun -- and a knife, not that he expects he'll need to use either, since none of this is real. Supposedly.]

Re: Video

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ There were a few shouts of of angry and terrified insults, aimed at the unseen entity, before the video just cut off.

Jimmy wouldn't have to look very far to find Jackson and his little hallucination. He'd run outside, and there was a great deal of shouting on his part. And when Jimmy did get there, Jackson was on his knees. One hand raised in the air, fingers splayed, like it was meant to be pressed against something.

His head was bowed and his shoulders shook with tremors of fear. Wide eyes stared at the pavement under his bare knees, just muttering a desperate "No..." under his breath. ]

Re: Action

[trenchknives]

Hey!

[If Jackson looks up at the sound of Jimmy's voice, he'll see him limping towards him at a brisk pace, gun drawn -- but not raised. Just as he'd thought, there's nothing here to see, except the very distressed guy in front of him.]

Hey, you're okay. There ain't anythin' here, kid.

Re: Action

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ "Isn't that nice. Someone decided to volunteer for a little practice. KILL HIM." ]

[ It was more than just words. A command that his subconscious knew all too well. And for a moment, accepted it as real. He twisted to face Jimmy, still more or less kneeling in nothing but his boxers. Eyes glowing and a mouth full of fangs. He growled, but didn't move to attack.

It may have been an automatic reaction, but that compulsion wasn't there. The only power at hand here was his fear. ]

Re: Action

[trenchknives]

[He can recognize a movement like that, clearly perceives it as a threat, is getting ready to raise his gun to warn the guy off, but... he's not being attacked. Hold steady, then. Don't make any quick moves. This guy's clearly being influenced by whatever he thinks he's seeing.]

Kid, you need to calm down now. It's not real. It's not fuckin' real. Whatever you think you see, that shit can't make you do a goddamn thing.

Re: Action

[bigkanimaoncampus]

[ "What are you waiting for?! KILL HIM!" Matt was getting furious, standing beside Jackson. He gestured at Jimmy, screaming the command again. There were visible scales creeping up his arm. ]

[ Jackson stood up, slowly. Almost seeming to unfold as he did. Hands at his sides, wicked claws extended. He didn't seem to hear Jimmy at all. ]

[ "KILL HIM!" ]

[ With a roar, he rushed at the gun wielding human. He obviously wasn't afraid of the weapon. ]

Re: Action

[trenchknives]

[Aw, shit. He really doesn't want to have to kill this guy -- he's been pretty good at avoiding killing people around here, and he'd hate to break the streak.]

Back the fuck off!

[A warning shot's not going to do it, though. A warning shot doesn't work on someone like this, not someone who has -- are those goddamned claws? -- he's learned that well enough. A nonfatal shot, though... He raises the gun and fires, aiming at his kneecap, his shin, anything that'll knock him to the ground without hitting an artery.]