xx. who you gonna call? [timothy]

[Deleted]

꧂ꕥ꧁ ❝ admidst the mists and coldest frosts; with stoutest wrists and loudest boasts; he thrusts his fists against the posts, and still insists he sees the ghosts.❞ ✄ coding and layout cadeparade song outfit wordcount 643 tag Timothy Smith wtf is he saying?

Normally, Ezra wasn't one to complain. He was pretty reasonable, most of the time. That is, when he wasn't high or pissed drunk; which was becoming more and more often how he managed to keep functioning despite all the inner turmoil that he was going through. But that wasn't something he was willing to discuss at the moment. However, in this instance, between the early mornings he'd been having and the gauntlet of night terrors, he was getting less and less sleep. So he was getting a little grumpy. Maybe even enough to complain.         After his meeting with Alexis the other day, he was resigned to the fact that he would probably never get the rest he was so desperately needing. Especially now, looking at his phone, seeing a text from an unknown number, telling him to come to Aegis HQ. He considered that yeah, it was possible for them to know of him. After the fiasco with his supposed bodyguard the other day, he'd gone home to research and with relative ease he was able to find a clip of Dr. Alistair Mournspire himself talking about his beloved son who was capable of seeing ghosts and rotting anything he touched (that bit wasn't entirely true, it was only organic matter; he should know, he'd tested it more than a few times). The whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth and a pit in his stomach. From there it wouldn't be too hard imagine they could track him down using public records. Mournspire wasn't exactly a common name, after all. This was a whole other level though. His phone number? Really? Was that even necessary? He shuddered to think what other shit they had in their records. There had to be some breach of privacy going on here.            With a cup of cheap gas station coffee in his hand, he groggily pushed through the grand entrance to the complex. Wasn't too hard to find, with the maps app and all. He was supposed to be meeting some guy named Tim, he wasn't sure what for however. He'd been too afraid to ask if he was being honest with himself. It had specified it was something to do with his powers. He didn't know what that could entail, but he took the initiative that morning and avoided anything that might mess with his powers. He made a mental note to tell this Tim that he owed him a wake and bake and maybe a counseling session for what he was about to put Ezra through. He'd ended up taking a cab to get here after all so he wouldn't be forced to deal with the figures that liked to come out of the woodwork when he was sober. Thankfully getting Jonah into the cab was the easy part, and he grounded Ezra throughout the drive, giving him something else to focus on than the ghostly figure in the passenger seat of the car. There was a pretty receptionist behind a desk who gave him a warm smile. He returned the smile, tilting his head to the side and looking over the brim of his sunglasses.             "How's yer sen? I'm 'ere for Tim. Does that sound right?" he asked, squinting at his phone. Jonah sat patiently next to him and the receptionist cooed at the canine. She looked at her computer momentarily and gave him an affirmative nod.             "You must be Mr. Mournspire! Tim's in the lab," she answered, standing to escort him there. He avoided squirming at the formality of how she said his name. Evidently it was a short walk. As soon as she was there, she was gone again and he stood outside the metal doors of the lab. Unsure what to do, he gingerly knocked, before opening the door and poking his head in.               "'ello? I'm 'ere for Tim?"

[Timothy Smith]

New. Powers. And he was going to get a chance to examine and observe them. SCIENCE. Oh how he loved it.

Ezra Mournspire. Currently under Aegis protection because of some.. cult... thing? Tim wasn't sure. What Tim was more interested in was the power description. It seemed he could induce necrosis in living tissue, and, reportedly, see spirits of the dead. Tim wasn't too sure about that last one, but he'd set up the full-spectrum analyzer he'd designed anyway, just in case.

Tim was never one to keep still. He found it helped him ignore the guilt he felt almost constantly about his parents. So, he'd found another project to do while he waited for him to arrive. When Ezra poked his head in the door, Tim was in the middle of testing a new variation of the portable ALISE holoroom system he'd made for the Aegis charity party back around Christmas. he was trying to make some sort of more portable interface, something Alice had suggested to him out of the blue.

Tim was hunched over the device, tweaking some of the screws and wires. Ezra's words made Tim jump a little, which caused him to close the circuit and activate the device. A giant cartoon hand giving a thumbs up, part of the system's start-up sequence, slapped Tim in the face and knocked him to the floor, before flickering, flipping upside down into a thumbs down, and vanishing as the device sparked and let out a stream of smoke.

"HI! Hello!" Tim jumped up from the floor, holding his nose in one hand and waving with the other. He made his way to his new test subject. "Don't worry about that, it's still a work in progress, it'll be fine. You must be Ezra Mournspire. I'm Timothy Smith, most people know me as Surge, call me Tim."

He held a hand out for a friendly shake.

"So, thanks for coming by. Did they give you the waivers to sign? I'm real happy you agreed to this, I'm fascinated by what I've heard you can do with your powers and can't wait to run some tests. If you'd like, we might even come up with some clever ways for you to use them in a pinch, if you want. Self-defense of course, don't go just hurting people, then I'd have to arrest you."

Tim had already had far too many energy drinks and pulled a few hundred watts from the wall outlet that morning.

@ezra

[Deleted]

꧂ꕥ꧁ ❝ admidst the mists and coldest frosts; with stoutest wrists and loudest boasts; he thrusts his fists against the posts, and still insists he sees the ghosts.❞ ✄ coding and layout cadeparade song outfit wordcount 415 tag Timothy Smith wtf is he saying?

Watching Tim was sort of like watching a car crash happening. It was a disaster, but you couldn't look away out of sheer awe that it was happening right in front of you. Or at least, that's how it felt to Ezra. He immediately started questioning his life choices up to that point. I could've just skipped town. Maybe even moved out of the country. I've been meaning to visit Aunt Kris in Manchester. His thought process was cut short when he noticed Tim was suddenly in front of him, introducing himself. He flinched and nodded, shaking Tim's hand.         "Yeah, that's me. Just Ezra is fine." He answered, albeit mildly distracted. Withdrawing his hand, he took a drink of his coffee, willing himself to wake up enough for this. Motioning at the German Shepherd sitting dutifully next to him, he added:               "This is Jonah. My service dog. 'ope it's alright I brought 'im. He uh. He 'elps us." Tim seemed to be talking a mile a minute. Ezra thought he saw a flash of movement in the corner of his eye and he followed it, looking around the lab with a small, suspicious frown. Turning back to the other boy he shook his head,              "Don't remember any waivers, no. An' no worries there. I'm nah partial to my abilities if I'm 'onest. More like a curse." He replied. He saw the flash again and found the source, two shadowy figures in standing near the device where Tim had been just a few moments before. He couldn't make out much in the way of appearances, but one was slightly shorter than the other. Ezra's jaw clenched reflexively, and Jonah pawed at his leg with a small whine. Looking down at the canine he relaxed a little, reaching down just slightly to give him a reassuring pat on the head. He leveled a curious look at Tim, cocking his head to the side slightly.                "Uh. Not sure 'ow to say this mate. Not really into this whole medium shite, but. You've got some guests." Ezra wasn't really one for fanfare when it came to stuff like this. He took a long drink of his coffee, finishing it up and tossing it in the trash next to the door. Idly, he cracked his knuckles and took a step forward.                   "Well, let's get to it yeah? I've got a six pack and two joints calling my name at my flat and I'm gonna need them after this."

[Timothy Smith]

They didn't give him the waiver? Tim could fix that. He shook Ezra's hand enthusiastically, started to reach for the dog, then stopped himself.

"The dog is fine. Is it okay if I pet him? I'm a big fan of dogs."

Pet or not, he moved over to a mess of completely disorganized papers and began shuffling through them.

"Okay, I'll need you to sign this thing. The legal department insists on having it. Long and short of it is that it's a legal document stating that you agreed to this of your own free will, that you're going to be rightfully compensated for your assistance, won't sue us, etc. etc. That sort of thing."

Tim pulled a page up from a stack, scattering everything on top of it onto the floor. "Shit! Um, they did tell you that we're going to pay you for this, right?"

He handed Ezra the form and a pen, then jumped in excitement when Ezra mentioned guests. "That's right that's right that's right! Your file said that you could see some manifestation of the deceased! Souls or spirits or ghosts or whatever you want to call 'em. Oh this is great. I've been trying to get Cassandra in here under the spectrometers but she refuses unless I have logged a week with at least 56 hours of sleep. Fifty-six! That's eight hours a day! I've got more important things to do with my time."

Tim ran over to a terminal he had set up and began typing away. "Go ahead and step into the center of the room. If there's "guests" as you put it, that's even better. We can... wait."

He leaned his head out from behind the terminal. "Wait. If they didn't give you the waiver, they probably didn't tell you about what's going on."

Tim adjusted one of the scanners and then started pulling out a few things in trays. "So, I know I started in energy physics, but after... well, the accident.. when I got powers and all, I started getting very interested in superhuman biology and the way physics interact with superpowers. So as much as possible, I've been trying to study powers and learn how they work, and help people learn how to use their powers more effectively. Do you remember Hyrdocity? I've managed to help him get his excess liquidation down by twenty percent! Turns out he just needed more fiber in his diet."

Tim walked back to behind the terminal. "So, um, whenever you're ready, we can start running tests. Let's start with telling me what you see and where you see these 'guests,' and I'll see what I can pick up. We'll move on to testing the other parts of your powers after that."

@ezra

[Deleted]

꧂ꕥ꧁ ❝ admidst the mists and coldest frosts; with stoutest wrists and loudest boasts; he thrusts his fists against the posts, and still insists he sees the ghosts.❞ ✄ coding and layout cadeparade song outfit wordcount 467 tag Timothy Smith wtf is he saying?

"Oh Jonah? Yeah I don't mind. I'm sure he won't either." He answered immediately. If he were a more reasonable man, he would've carefully read over the waivers Tim thrust upon him so eagerly. Thankfully, he wasn't, and quickly signed his name next to the "x", and did the initialing bits just for good measure and setting it on a table. At least Tim seemed excited by the 'ghosts'. Ezra quite frankly found them troubling from the day he started seeing them. Hence the excess in hedonism. He was slightly unsettled by the concept of there being an actual file on him. It was easier when he just assumed that they got his number from a registry after they saw the clip of he dear old dad, but hearing he had a legitimate file? It made all the paranoid alarms go off in his brain immediately. He made a mental note to ask Tim later what all they knew exactly.         He let go of Jonah's leash, stepping over to the area Tim had specified. He noticed very quickly that this lab was nothing like any of the ones he'd ever worked in or seen. There were a few stray machines, their uses indecipherable to Ezra. Though he was quickly realizing that the other guy was near genius level, if not past it by a mile. Even I know better than to go without sleep. I guess genius doesn't always equate with common sense. He thought to himself teasingly. He shook his head when Tim mentioned payment,           "I'll be 'onest, the text just said to come 'ere and go to you. I don't really need any kind of payment. Gets me outta my flat. S'nice." He replied, shrugging. Ezra fidgeted, this being about the time he'd light up a cigarette. Now he just settled for putting his hands in his pockets, and promptly taking them back out again when he found he didn't like that. Not that he would ever admit it but he zoned out for a moment, only coming back in at the Hydrocity bit and laughing quietly. Fiber. How ironic. Who would have thought.  Scanning the room once more he found the figures once more, slightly closer to Tim than where they had started at. He still couldn't quite make out their features, but he pointed them out to Tim. A moment later, he beckoned them over with a wave.             "Alright you lot, don't be cheeky. C'mon over here so we can take your pictures." He called. For a moment they didn't seem to move, writhing shadowy masses hovering in place. Once they seemed to register Ezra was talking to them, they began moving closer. Instinctively he took a step back, the old familiar panic knotting in his chest as they steadily moved towards him.

[Timothy Smith]

This was Tim's element now. He watched the readings as Ezra called his "guests" over to him.

"Okay, okay. I see your heart rate kicking up a bit. Take a deep breath, Cassandra tells me they can't hurt you. I think. Besides, I could punch a ghost. I think. Anyway! I'm getting a slight drop in temperature, and some other scattered readings..."

Tim looked up where Ezra was and where he was looking. For a second, just a second, he thought he saw a flicker of something, but he couldn't be sure.

"Um. Can you tell me what you're seeing? Are they doing anything? Do they have any identifiable features? If you can start to describe what you're seeing, I'll try and dial in what is specifically being picked up by you. If I can't, I can't, but I refuse to say that I can't until I've tried everything and then some."

Tim reached out and picked up another energy drink, popping it open. "I wasn't expecting ghosts today. Pleasant surprise."

@ezra

[Deleted]

꧂ꕥ꧁ ❝ admidst the mists and coldest frosts; with stoutest wrists and loudest boasts; he thrusts his fists against the posts, and still insists he sees the ghosts.❞ ✄ coding and layout cadeparade song outfit wordcount 535 tag Timothy Smith wtf is he saying?

Ever since he found out he had powers, and this power specifically, he always wondered how it felt to know a ghost was there but not see it. Most people? Probably terrified, which was fair to say the least, Ezra was a little freaked out whenever it happened. Tim however? Totally stoked. Ezra bit back snarky barb, and backed up a step further, letting the humanoid shadows come closer to him. He had planned to voice his doubts about Tim being able to punch a ghost when on of the figures came within range. It laid a cold hand on his shoulder, cold enough that it seemed to seep through Ezra's clothes and down to the flesh and bone. He did his best to remain as calm as he could. Thankfully whoever they are, they weren't hostile. He tried squinting to get a clearer picture of their faces but every time he thought he had it, they'd change once more.        Ezra looked over at Tim when he was hit with the barrage of questions. His expression was one of abject displeasure mixed with confusion. Glancing back to the figures, he began rattling off answers one by one, "Uh, well, they're not as clearly defined as most. I can't quite get a look at their faces, they keep shifting around too much. Oh and one of them has a hand on my right shoulder and it is fuckin' cold." There was note of panic in his voice, and Jonah whined from where he was. Ezra motioned for him to stay where he was, as much as he really didn't want to do that. "I'll...try get a handle on it, see if I can at least make something out." He added as an afterthought.       Carefully he returned the gesture extended to him, putting a hand on the figure's shoulder, or what looked like a shoulder. Immediately his hand went cold, like he'd just touched ice. The interaction seemed to do something at least. He could discern the features of the taller one slightly more. As he looked, he got vague impressions of the facial structure. He removed his hand, and the figure stepped back almost solemnly. Ezra held an almost shaky hand out to the other spirit, and it seemed to accept. He was able to make the features better, noting the slight impression of a feminine figure. With the data he'd collected from the two, he glanced back at Tim, arching an eyebrow. "They...kinda look like you? Vaguely. Dare I say, sorta." He explained, ever so clear as mud.        Upon his saying that, he turned to look at them only to find them gone. That was typical, they usually didn't hang around that long, but it didn't stop him from looking surprised. Ezra turned, scanning the room to see if they might've moved, only instead finding a flutter of black-brown curls and yellow sun dress. He froze up for a moment, looking away quickly with an almost tormented expression on his face. His brows knitted together in the sad frown. He did his best to ignore the third visitor, even with the bright yellow in his peripherals, focusing on Tim instead. "Oh...they just left."

[Timothy Smith]

Tim noted down what was going on. He could get the temperature difference, and a few weird energy readings he couldn't quite nail down.

That's when he heard that they resembled him.

Tim's face fell immediately. Two ghosts. Resembling him.

"Figures."

He slammed down his energy drink, probably a little too hard, and then violently punched a few keys on his terminal.

"Figures they'd haunt me." he mumbled. "Anyway! Let's move on then. Do you need a break? We've got a great break room. Or if you don't want to go to the break room I've got a mini-fridge down here. It's mostly energy drinks right now, but I think I've got some cheese sticks in there. Maybe. We can take a break, or we can just move on to recording some of the effects of the rest of your powers. Don't worry, I don't have any live specimens. I like to avoid doing animal testing if I can. A lot of times it just isn't humane."

He pointedly did not bring up his reaction to the description of the ghosts. He knew they were probably his parents. It made sense that they'd haunt him. Fun, he thought. I can't even escape my nightmares when I'm awake.

He moved over and patted Jonah on the head before moving some trays into the testing area.

"...Maybe I need a break. Yeah, let's take a break. Break room or here? Your choice. What do you do for a living?"

He was desperately trying not to focus on the "guests" anymore.

@ezra

[Deleted]

꧂ꕥ꧁ ❝ admidst the mists and coldest frosts; with stoutest wrists and loudest boasts; he thrusts his fists against the posts, and still insists he sees the ghosts.❞ ✄ coding and layout cadeparade song outfit wordcount 300 tag Timothy Smith wtf is he saying?

Not that he had any prior experience  regarding whiplash, but the seemingly night and day shift of Tim's mood. What was it with these Aegis brats and their attitudes? Except for Icarus. He seemed like a good kid. It took Ezra and embarrassing amount of time to connect the dots, not that he'd admit that to anyone. His face fell with the realization, watching Tim as he started to spiral a little bit, nearly begging for a distraction. Lucky for him, Ezra was practically the king of distractions. As the other man settled on them taking a break from science-ing for the moment, he got a bright idea.        "Actually, do you mind if we take a break outside? I'd like a smoke, and I'm pretty sure Jonah needs to go out." He asked casually, smoothing over the situation best as he could and avoided mentioning the reaction he'd just witnessed. As if he was backing up Ezra's claims, Jonah's tail started wagging. Good boy. Fishing his pack of cigarettes out of his coat pocket preemptively, he retrieved a spliff from the box and posed it between his lips.         Moving over to Jonah, he gathered up the leash and waited just by the door for Tim to follow, half confident that he'd follow behind if he was desperate enough to ask what Ezra did for a living. The Englishman humored him though, opening the lab door, "I'm a Chemical Engineer. In a nutshell, it's mostly developing and designing manufacturing processes for chemicals." He waited for the double take, which a lot of people seemed to do when he told them he did science. He'd been miffed at first but now he'd grown used to it. Though, Tim was a man of science. He'd probably be more receptive than the average person.

[Timothy Smith]

He wanted to go outside. Good, that was good. He could get away from the lab his parents were apparently haunting. “Cool. Cool. Yeah, we can go outside. There’s a great little break area in the courtyard that we can chill in.

Tim led Ezra down through the halls of Aegis HQ. Ezra said he was a chemical engineer, which Tim thought was pretty great. “Oh sweet. I’ll have to share some of the results of the tests I’m doing with you. Like I said, my former expertise is energy physics, but I’ve only just started getting into superhuman biology. I’ll have to talk with you about the chemical side of things and see what you think. Wanna stop by the cafeteria and get some food? I’m going to get some food.”

He continued to lead Ezra, detouring to the break room and grabbed another energy drink and a protein muffin, shoved a bite of it into his mouth, and finished leading to the courtyard.

“So wut haff you done lately that wush inereshtin?” He asked, his mouth full of muffin. He was really avoiding talking about what happened in there, desperately searching for any other topic.

@ezra