The Spirit of Things

[Hadrian]

I suppose we should take things slowly, he thought to the ghost within him. Walk to the door, then walk to the end of the street, and then we can see from there. You don't have to worry about the return trip. If for some reason you can't get us back, I can. It felt strange; he could still feel his limbs, could even feel the impulses of Noaru's thoughts controlling them, but all he could do was focus on not telling his body to do anything, else it might conflict with the ghost's impulses. And so he tried to remain calm, almost meditative, while Noaru learned again how to control a fleshly vessel. Just how old are you? he asked. He was curious as to what he could learn from a truly ancient spirit, and he was already wondering if, when he became more adept at animation, he might be able to craft a body for Noaru, albeit out of other materials than flesh. Although, perhaps a body where the spirit had fled... Well, time would tell on that.

[Noaru]

Noaru: As you say... I'll be careful and walk that short distance with caution as overexertion is something I want to avoid as well.''


'' He opens the door and sun hits his eyes! It was bright, the light of the sun! An experience he's always felt in his spirit form was quite different in an actual body! Though, one shouldn't celebrate about pain but this was an experience totally new to him! One of which, he would try out in another body when nobodies looking just for some mischievous pranks. He steps out of the doorway and closes the door behind him, he begins to walk as he converses with Hadrian.''


Noaru: Many years have passed. I'm not sure of my own age at times! If I had to guess... I should be around or at least over nine hundred years old.''

[Hadrian]

Well, you don't look a day over fifty, he assured him. Except when you look like some hellhound, and then I can't really say. Thankfully Hadrian's eyes were quick to adjust to the light, and so he didn't have to step in and help Noaru when his blinking reaction overwhelmed the ghost's fragile control of his earthly vessel. For his part, he was running a calming litany through a corner of his mind that was utterly private from the invasive presence of the ghost. He wondered about shamans who might live years indwelt by the dead, but his knowledge had come from books, and his experiences were limited to what he learned from ghosts he fed with his barely adequate soulmist. The calmness kept him from reacting to what his body did, to the stimuli he too felt, letting Noaru deal with them. Hopefully if he decided to be funny and whip out his privates or something, Hadrian would be fast enough to stop him. It was a rather sweet deal being a professor, and now with the orphanage... I'm going to try to be unobtrusive here so you can concentrate. But I will be here if you need me.

[Noaru]

'' He wasn't quite fluent in the arts of ''moving a body''. The bodies movement was still sluggish and limited his movements to a ''waltz'' rather than a ''run'' like he wanted to. The idea of being able to move about in sunlight with someone was quite peaceful; people waved in his direction and he waved back enjoying the peaceful day time walk.''


''I thank you for the compliment! Though you, took my appearance very well; the first living being in fact to see my ghostly form would be you!''


''The towns folk of Zeltiva passes him by as he walks down the street. He could see the corner approaching. It was sad that this walk had come to an end and just when he was enjoying things! He stops suddenly, as a strange cloaked in black steps around the corner; his facial features were obscured by the hood upon his head but Noaru knew exactly who it was, widening his eyes to the thought! .''


''Impossible....''


'' The dark figure approaches, revealing his appearance! Noaru couldn't forget such a face, as the stranger walked closer, allowing himself to be seen from a better view. Noaru in that moment remembered a crucial part of himself: for how can one forget their former self? The past haunted him before but this time it was different! It passes him by and disappears from view but just before it does he could hear its spoken words, piercing his thoughts.''

You can deny the thought of my existence and battle the darkness that dwells within but you can not escape yourself! Eventually, you will come to realize the significance of my existence.

'' Noaru's power waned after hearing those words! The focus he had was disrupted from the experience. Though, Hadrian wouldn't have seen what Noaru saw or heard; he probably would have felt something was wrong, as the connection Noaru had with his body felt weaker than before. ''

[Hadrian]

ERMEGERD!So sorry! I could've sworn I had answered this, and when I looked to see whether you had abandoned me, I saw it was all my fault. Mea culpa. Actually... I think I asked if Anselm was joining this thread. I can't even remember if I got an answer. Whups. Feel free to PM me if I seem to ignore you for that long again!

Was I really? he asked. I have not met a great number of ghosts, but I know that they are not often as they seem, and I have learned somewhat to protect myself, so... He felt Noaru's sudden fear. What? What is it? Alarm rushed through him, and he had to struggle not to take over his body right away, a natural, knee jerk sort of reaction. He didn't want to harm Noaru in his fear, but it was difficult to allow another the reins to his body in the best of circumstances, and a ghost's fear hardly made for the best of circumstances.

[Noaru]

''It's nothing really.. Nothing at all.''

He had to keep moving, as he walked away from the corner and back to Hadrian's home, his focus returns and his power stabilizes, becoming normal like it originally was. He couldn't think about the past, it was the only way to defeat ''himself'' but someday he would he to face what he has been running from all this time because you can run all your life but you can never truly escape yourself! He refrained from worrying his companion, unwilling to let his worries to get the best of him, he pushes forward to home!

[Hadrian]

He wasn't sure he believed Noaru, but didn't see the point in pushing it. The possession was delicate business for both of them, and he could always ask questions later. As they neared his cottage, the home he had kept during his student days, he tried to retain that meditative calm that allowed him to detach from the control of his body so the ghost could do it, and he waited to see how well he managed the fine motor skills, whether he would be able to open the door or just paw at it like some recently raised revenant.

[Noaru]

Alright! I'm back to home base!''

He had finally reached the cottage! Noaru carefully reached out a hand and placed it upon the doorknob, his gripping tightens as he turns the doorknob. The door finally opens, he strains a bit to pull it fully open, it was odd... he was easily able to open it before! He didn't let it bother him and when the door was fully open, he steps inside and sigh's deeply.

''What a day! I' am literally and completely exhausted.''

Despite his little episode, he had a nice day! He was able to go outside and meet a few of his ''neighbors'' if only days were like this always, full of peace and tranquility!

[Hadrian]

If you don't mind, then, he thought to the ghost-in-residence. As he did so, he began to rise from within, pushing the foreign spirit out. He was trying to be gentle, but he was no master in this discipline and so the expelling might not have been entirely comfortable for the ghost. In fact, it wasn't for Hadrian either. He sat down on the bed in a cold sweat, his knees and hands shaking, his head beginning to ache. It didn't feel like overgiving, but it didn't feel good. He hoped it was something he could avoid in the future. "I'm sorry," he said. "Practice will, I hope, make perfect. If you just give me a minute to recover, I'll make you some soulmist..." It would help Noaru remain present and sentient, and Hadrian certainly didn't want the one ghost he had a working rapport with to disperse from lack of energy. Hadrian would likely be the more giving partner in this relationship, but he did not mind. The cost of knowledge was often higher than expected, but ultimately worthwhile to his mind.

[Noaru]

Noaru was exhausted and seeing that ''thing'' from before disturbed him! He couldn't understand what that was, why it had appeared and spoken to him: maybe, it was something or a ''piece'' of him he had forgotten or discarded long ago... he quickly places the thought in the back of his mind; he had other things to do, people to punish, minds to consume and power to obtain. The spirit, now fatigued kept silent while Hadrian spoke to him, it wasn't that he was ignoring him but he was just too tired to respond.

''I'll have to be more cautious when possessing or attempting to possess a living being, it becomes too strenuous for me at times....''

He could see his companion tired and aching, he couldn't help but feel sad; he didn't want to lose any more friends. The loss of a companion isn't something he wants to experience again... he just floats quietly in the air: the focus that allowed him to touch the ground was now being used to recover his lost strength and energy.