mun? obsessed? nah.... (ParaNorman spoilers)

[nomorebedtimestories]

You bought this, to go on your wall? ... it's... u-um...

Did you have to get the one that says "It's all fun and games until someone raises the dead"? I-I said I was sorry about that! I... I'm sorry.... I was...
... The Judge and the others, they're all okay now, right?
I.... I hope they were able to be at peace too...

... !! A-and a book? There's... a book?
It looks just like...

... I used to love that story. My mommy would read it to me all the time. 
It was my favorite... until...



Until those HoRRiBLe pEOpLe kept using it to try and pUT Me tO sLEeP, just because ThEY DiDN't waNT mE To WAkE uP!!

... !!!



Oh no, n-no, I'm sorry! I... I didn't...!
I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry...

Comments

[burning_brass]

[He kneels down so he can be on something like the same level. Possibly she could float up, but making her meet him is probably a bad idea.]

It sounded like you had a reason for it.

1/2

[nomorebedtimestories]

T-They...

thEY MaDE mE SuFFeR!!

2/2

[nomorebedtimestories]

[She gasps in fear, snapping back, suddenly covering her face, frightened and ashamed.]

[burning_brass]

[Morty jerks back a little, more startled than actually frightened. After all, he's got a lot of experience with ghosts, and he's seen them do a lot worse than put on a light show when they're angry - and he's seen them get angry for a lot worse reasons than what this girl's sounds like, too.

He reaches out a hand to her - if he could actually touch her, he'd probably put it on her shoulder.]

Shh, settle down, it's okay. I won't ask about it anymore, all right?

What's your name? Mine is Morty.

[nomorebedtimestories]

[For a moment she's still and silent... before speaking quietly, almost to a whisper, as she slowly starts to put her hands down and look at him.]

... A-Aggie...
My name is Aggie.

[burning_brass]

[He smiles, glad to see she's starting to hide less.]

It's nice to meet you, Aggie.

[nomorebedtimestories]

... I'm sorry, I got angry again.

[She shuffles her feet a little.]

[burning_brass]

[He shakes his head.]

It's okay. Everybody gets angry sometimes. [Though probably less electrically.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

When I get angry though, I...
I make people suffer... o-or I did...

[burning_brass]

Well... you know it was wrong, and you're sorry about it, so that's a good start.

[This is a bit more awkward, since this is shakier ground for Morty. Somehow he suspects this is a bit wider-ranging than the kid problems he usually has to deal with.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

But it's still happening! I-I'm... I'm scared, that I can't control it! Please, I don't wanna hurt anyone anymore!!

[burning_brass]

It's okay, it's okay... settle down, Aggie...

[And here Morty runs into a problem. He might be psychic, but the kids he teaches are perfectly normal. He doesn't actually know how to deal with power incontinence.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

...

[Sniff, sniff.
She's trying to calm down, but she's still on the verge of crying. At least you're there for her, Morty. It's nice not to be alone, and have someone who's trying to help you feel better.]

[burning_brass]

[That's what he's mostly working off of at this point, because honestly, it's about all he's got. He gives her an encouraging smile.]

There. Hm... how do you feel about other ghosts, Aggie?

[He's considering bringing one of his Pokemon out, but he doesn't know if she'll react badly to it.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

[She wipes her face, glancing up at him. She seems to be a bit better now, looks like your encouragement is helping at least a little, Morty.]

Other ghosts...?
Um...
I saw and talked to lots of them, when I was alive.
But that scared everyone...

[burning_brass]

Well, I know a few ghosts myself. They live in little balls like these...

[He pulls out a Pokeball and sends out Gengar. It's his oldest, after all, and probably the best with kids.

So Aggie will be greeted with a shadowy-looking critter with big red eyes and a toothy grin.]

Aggie, this is Gengar. Gengar, Aggie.

[nomorebedtimestories]

[Aggie gasps and staggers back, highly startled at the sight of the Gengar. WHAT IS THAT THAT'S NOT A GHOST THAT'S LIKE A SCARY MONSTER THAT WANTS TO EAT HER.
Not that she'd have to worry about being eaten, seeing as she's already dead and all, but STILL.]

[burning_brass]

[Morty's expression changes quickly when she jumps back, and even Gengar looks concerned, that grin, amazingly, disappearing for a moment. It mumbles something with an apologetic tone, even if it just sounds like Gengar gengar gen.

Meanwhile, Morty's about at the point of hitting himself. Of course she wouldn't know what Pokemon are.]

It's okay, he's not going to hurt you. Sorry, I forgot you probably wouldn't have seen anything like that before. He's harmless, really, I promise.

[He's going to pay for the 'harmless' remark later, but right now he's just trying to reassure Aggie.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

... H-He's really a ghost...?

[She slowly, carefully steps toward Morty and Gengar again. Morty seemed like a nice person, who wouldn't want to frighten her. Even his "ghost" friend seemed to look sorry that he caught her by surprise. So she tries not to be afraid, despite Gengar's shadowy appearance.]

[burning_brass]

He is. It's... a different kind of ghost, I guess, from what you're used to. It's hard to explain.

[Meanwhile, Gengar is attempting to give her a smile that isn't its normal giant toothy grin. How well it's working is a matter of opinion - besides, it's hard to look reassuring with big, red, glowing eyes.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

I... didn't know there were other kinds of ghosts.

[She can't deny, Gengar is pretty creepy looking, but he doesn't actually seem so bad. It's rather clear he's not trying to scare her. She does her best not to be worried, though it is rather strange to try and think of such a creature as harmless.]

[burning_brass]

Gengar's kind might only exist where I come from. We don't have very many human ghosts.

[Gengar holds up a stubby finger in front of its mouth and winks at her before creeping around behind Morty - and suddenly disappearing into his shadow. Morty either doesn't notice or pretends not to.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

Did he... used to be a person...?

[She wonders, if that's what Morty meant by that; that wherever he's from, not all humans stay looking like humans after they become ghosts. If they become like Gengar...]

...? Where'd he go?

[It looks like Gengar just vanished into Morty's shadow. Did he really...?]

[burning_brass]

No, that's one of the things that make the kind of ghost he is different. He was actually born a ghost. I know that makes no sense, but it's how his sort of ghost works.

[He blinks and looks around a little.]

He's gone? Hm. Well, he likes to hide in someone's shadow, then jump out and scare them. He thinks it's funny. But I'm not sure that would work with you...

[Does she even have a shadow? Meanwhile, there go Gengar's eyes opening in Morty's shadow, and a flash of a grin before they're gone again.]

[nomorebedtimestories]

[Aggie isn't sure what to say in response to that. It really doesn't make much sense.
All she can really think is these other kinds of ghosts must be very different. She has a difficult time trying to think of what it'd be like to have always been a ghost, though. It sounds so strange. Even though she's been dead for 300 years, she still remembers what life was like. More since Norman helped her.
A shadow is something she definitely doesn't have. Though other then that, you might think she was just a normal little girl in a Puritan dress, if it weren't for her constantly being surrounded by a bright green ghostly aura.]

That's a mean trick to play...