004 [Audio]

[ghostly_stutter]

D-Derek? Alex? S-Sollux?

Sh-Shepard?

Is... is something wrong? Something... d-doesn't quite f-feel right...

[There's a pause. If you pay close attention, light, panicked breathing can be heard.]

Is everyone all right?

[Then, there's a longer, heavier pause here.]

T-Talia?

[No, she has no idea Talia's back, and awake, and projecting, but she'

Comments

[Audio]

[sociopathicwolf]

[Hi, Chloe, have a very concerned werewolf.]

Where are you?

[Audio]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Hee, yay!]

Derek.

[All the relief in the world is in that one name.]

I-In my room.

[And she waits, knowing he'll be there, and feels a little bit easier for that fact.]

[Audio] --> [Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

Two seconds.

[And it really isn't much longer than that before he's outside her room. He doesn't bother knocking before he opens the door, assuming that telling her he was coming was enough of an announcement. Derek nudges the door shut behind him, looking at her with obvious worry.]

What happened?

[Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Chloe jumps when he enters, head jerking toward the door, then she's rising from the bed and walking toward him, her facial expression saying everything and nothing at once.]

I--I don't know. Something's wrong, Derek.

[She stares up at him, clearly spooked.]

I--I woke up and--

Wh-what if I t-trapped spirits in their dead bodies again?

[Her demeanor crumbles. She thought she was finally getting a handle on her powers. Not they are fluctuating even more so than they used to--seemed to not work quite the same way as they used to--and she couldn't tell what was going on any more.]

[Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

[He reaches for her immediately, folding her in to his arms and hugging her close.]

It's okay, Chloe. Just - tell me exactly what happened. What did you feel?

[There's a ton of things he could say - she would know if she'd done that, she'd be able to sense the bodies if they were close enough to put their spirits back in, he'd be able to smell them if they were that close, there were no bodies here for her to do that, and if there were they should find them - but he says none of it. Not until he knows exactly what happened, and which statement will be most relevant, will comfort her the most. Not until he has all the facts.]

[Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Chloe sinks into his embrace, burying her face in Derek's chest and hoping whatever she is sensing goes away.]

I--It's like I'm c-communicating to a bunch of different ghosts at once. B-but I don't hear any words, or see any spirits. I-it's like I c-can... feel them all around me, but no one's there.

[Panicked eyes rose to Derek's.] I d-don't know what's going on, but whatever it is... i-it feels awful, Derek. Like someone's in d-danger.

[Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

[Derek keeps himself calm, because he doesn't need to add to Chloe's distress. He strokes Chloe's hair soothingly, and considers the logical approach to the situation.]

Okay. Focus on how it feels. Does it feel like a ghost trying to contact you, like back at Lyle House, but not being able to get through? Or one teasing you, like at the first safe house? Does it feel like an echo?

[Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Taking deep breaths, Chloe tries to regain some semblance of calm--though it's exceedingly difficult. Her limbs are shaking and her grip is tight on Derek's baggy shirt, but she leans away a little to at least appear to have gotten a hold on her panic.]

O-okay...

[Deep breaths. She appears calm once more, and then all of a sudden her expression crumples and she shakes her head, her deep breathing going out the window. Ducking her head, she moves back into Derek's arms, angry with herself that it bothers her so much.]

I-It's like my fear is compounded by someone else's. Magnified. Someone is hurt, or in pain, o-or...

I--I can't tell if it's a ghost, o-or if I accidentally did something again. Wh-what if I--Derek...

[Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

[He lets her lean away a bit, though he's reluctant. You can't fool him, Chloe - not only can he still smell the panic, he knows her too well. When she moves completely back into his arms, Derek hugs her tighter, kissing the top of her head.]

You'd know, Chloe. Even when you accidentally put spirits back in their bodies, you always realize what you did once you've done it. And the way you've described that feeling doesn't sound anything like the one you're describing now.

This sounds like a ghost. Maybe a lot of ghosts. Maybe- We known when someone here dies, they get brought back to life. Maybe that confuses your powers, and you're feeling a ghost that should be there, but isn't.

[Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

But--

[So many thoughts and feelings were going through her right now that is was difficult to find words, let alone describe what she was feeling. She felt like her consciousness was being torn into fragments--only to realize some of that might not be her. Instead of focusing on what was going on inside her head, Chloe concentrated on Derek. The scent of him. His reassuring warmth. She tried to push everything else away. While it didn't work as perfectly as she had hoped, if she concentrated enough on Derek, everything else was just background noise. Finally her trembling was able to subside a little. Her muscles relaxed as her breathing eased.]

I-it's easier to handle if I don't focus on it. [Chloe inhaled lengthy, light breaths, as if she was afraid it would overpower her again. Her hold on Derek tightened as she forced her next words out.] I-I should probably try to find out what that was. Wh-what happened, so I'm more prepared next time. [So she didn't have a panic attack and make people needlessly worry. Still. The thought of

[Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

[Derek just holds her, occasionally stroking one hand through her hair, his other hand moving in slow, absent circles on her back. Even when she stopped trembling a bit and he could feel her relax, he didn't move.

At her suggestion, he shakes his head, arms tightening around her as well.]

That's a good idea. Eventually. Not right now, not right after you said it's easier to handle if you don't focus on it. We need to calm you down, focus on that first. Dealing with that now won't help anything.

You might have answers soon, anyway. Your post was public, someone else might know what was going on.

[Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

[A hint of a wry smile quirks the corners of her lips. She knew he'd say that. She also knew he was right. It would be like poking at a dead body again just because she could. She didn't want to cause added problems. So she nods, closing her eyes and focusing on the movement of Derek's hands. She deeply continues to breathe in his scent. It helps, and at the moment, that was all she wanted.]

[Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

[Even though it's only a small smile, seeing it on her lips makes Derek relax. So does her nodding in agreement, and he huffs out a soft, relieved sigh at that. She was calming down, at least - that was all he needed.]

[Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Chloe stays in his arms for a while, disinclined to leave any time soon. After a long while of holding him--being held--Chloe finally finds her voice.]

Thanks, Derek.

[Commentlog]

[sociopathicwolf]

[He's perfectly content to just stand there, holding her close. There's pretty much not any place he'd rather be, actually.]

Always, Chloe.