Second Paper Crane [Video]

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

[Hanna appears on the screen with Noibat on his shoulder, as usual. They're unseparable, except...unfortunately so are he and Conrad at the moment. Conrad being the person floating behind him with an expression on his face like he's being paid to be there but obviously not enough.]

Hi! My name is Hanna Cross and I will be your ghost expert for today!

Ghosts, [He points to the one behind him, silent and still as usual.] just like this one here, happen when someone dies and has regret or a strong emotion chaining them to the world of the living. Usually it's regret. Or anger.

The only problem is I can't seem to get a rise out of any of the ghosts i've encountered, including my own. They don't speak, they don't react, they just watch. And that's weird. So, i've thought of a few ideas on how to try and get rid of them. Nicely, that is. Don't be a dick and attack the ghost no matter how hard the feelings are. They aren't hurting you, they're existing and they at least have that right. [He's looking at you, who ever you are.]

Firstly, most people seem to know the apparition that is following them. Now, if you know how they died, perhaps think of anything that might have been going wrong in their life or they might have strong feelings about. The key is Negotiation. Talk to them, maybe try and ease what ever worries they might have. I'm sure they'd like to move on and stop bothering you just as much as you'd like them too, so be strong and think about topics to cover.

Second...well? Since that didn't work for mine...maybe think about what you might have done wrong. This one is more difficult...and I know I'm still working on it myself, but maybe all they want is an apology? I'm not saying every apparition is blaming you for their death, but...I'm all out of options. Nothing I would usually do is working, and I've got no more magic up my sleeves, so. Just try...

I'm sorry I couldn't help more, but that's my advice to all of you. Good luck! I...I know I'm going to need it.

Comments

[Video]

[mttbrandlegs]

[While the explanation is...appreciated??? Noted?!

There's someone with a few complaints to air.]

So I am expected to apologize to a ghost impersonating someone I care about for something they couldn't possibly understand? I can assure you, this ghost is not who they are insisting they are!! Therefore, there's absolutely no reason for me to apologize!!

[Hi Hanna. Meet Mettaton, the stubborn-ass former robot superstar who ignores his problems until they literally manifest into a negative apparition.]

[Video]

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

[Hanna is not sure what to say to that.]

They...they might not be real, but they are here for a reason. We just need to figure out what that is.

[He makes a face, unsure what to say.] What if you wanted to apologize and they died? Here's your chance? that's at least nice...

[mttbrandlegs]

Blooky is already a ghost, and even if I apologized to this one, what sort of absolution would it lead to anyway?

...It's not him. It can't speak! And it cannot change anything!!

[Mettaton gives a loud sigh of frustration, before letting out an aggravated huff into his long bangs, causing them to flutter. It's childish. This is actually just an exercise in childishness.

To escalate the childishness, he decides to change the subject.]

At any rate, how are you so sure about all this? Do you have past experience? I mean, I can see that you're currently being haunted, but this all sounds like something out of a human horror movie, and those are all fictional, aren't they?

[A former monster. And he's calling the supernatural into question.]

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

What kind of name is Blooky? [Look who's talking, Hanna.] Anyways, maybe it's not for them. You sure seem hung up about it anyways. I mean, you sure as hell sound like you want absolution. So why not try and get it?

What harm is there in that? Doesn't hurt to try.

[He'll take his own advice....shortly. Probably never.] And yes, yes I do. Besides, for someone who's shown up in some weird world with animals that fight each other where ghosts legit do exist and Faeries exist, you are questioning this a lot. Or at least, my ability in figuring this out anyways. I'm a paranormal investigator back home. I have my card in my wallet if you really want some proof, though I guess if you didn't want to believe me, it wouldn't help much anyways.

[mttbrandlegs]

[Whoa there, buddy. Do not make fun of his cousin.]

That's just a nickname. His name is Napstablook, is this a problem?

[Haha, someone sure is hung up on something. Knowing that this small, red-haired human is right doesn't make him any more accepting of the fact, however.]

I'm not looking for absolution!! I never was! I've already sorted my feelings out on this, and I apologized to them in person!! SO why would I have to do it again?! We're on tour together, isn't that enough?

[...He knows it's not. It kind of stings, because Mettaton knows he let the excitement of being free from the barrier sweep him away. He pulled Shyren and Napstablook with him into his showbusiness, but had his hasty apology really meant anything?

This ghost doesn't think so, because it's now positioned right in front of him, out of sight from the 'Gear. But there.

Judging.]

Ugh, anyway!! These Pokemon creatures are not the most outlandish thing I've seen, the battle system is probably the strangest part--as for paranormal investigators, I suppose I can take that title at face value; I mean, I was from a world of monsters! So you would be looking for people like me!! Or people I know!

[Mettaton has a very obvious habit of putting more attention on unimportant details when he's avoiding the problem at hand. It does make for stilted conversation though.]

video;

[modulatingphases]

It's kind of difficult to negotiate when they don't talk back.

[Then again, if his ghost could talk back, it'd probably give a two hour lecture about dreams and honor and how Zack had lost sight of his and where is the sword I gave you did you seriously lose it already?]

video;

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

One sided conversations are okay. I mean, maybe you need the closure just as much a they do?

[Of course the answer is right there, but it's not like Hanna's realized he's figured it out. Even if he's been wracking his brains since his ghost arrived because the guilt is even worse when the dead man is following him silently around.]

video;

[modulatingphases]

[SIGH. Hanna please stop being right.]

And if getting closure doesn't work? Because I already tried the apologizing thing and he just smiled at me.

[That warm, knowing Angeal smile and honestly it wasn't half as comforting in ghost form as it had been when he was younger.]

video;

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

Then you tried your best and you're out of options. That happens sometimes...this isn't exactly a perfect science or anything. Ghosts are just as complicated as the people they were. Just...usually way more angry than this.

Be thankful he isn't angry cause that happens a lot and it's so not fun.

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

I've tried to apologize, so many times, but it won't work. Nothing works!

[Oh dear. Ashley sounds...frustrated. At her wit's end, honestly.]

[Audio]

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

So no apologizing, no talking...well.

What did you talk about? I mean, someones gotta find the answer. It's got to be there. loved ones don't appear to haunt you for no reason...

[He's stumped. Needs more investigating.]

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[She hesitates, like, a split-second before mentally declaring screw it and plowing ahead:]

Mostly the apologizing, since I doubt she'd want to hear more from me than "Oh sorry, Hannah, that I'm here and alive and you're dead 'cause I went along with that stupid prank!"

[A short, forceful breath.]

Whatever it is, it's long overdue.

[Audio]

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

[Oh. Jesus. This poor girl.]

Wow...that's a lot to shoulder. Um. You want to talk about it? She might not want to hear it, but I'm sure you'd rather get it out. I...I know what that's like, yanno? A mistake and then suddenly someone's dead.

[He's glad it's audio, because he feels so uncomfortable right now, but. Ladies. Can't let down the ladies.]

videoe;

[ruinimpendent]

...If I knew of the deeds which caused her to-- pass, then I could make up for it.

[ His voice is quiet. His ghost, Ashe, is sort of watching the screen with a slightly grumpy look. ]

But I've no clues.

video;

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

[Maybe that's the problem, Basch. You don't have to make up for it.]

Wow, remember that part where I said don't blame yourself for their deaths? Aren't you being a little hard on yourself if you don't even know how she died?

video;

[ruinimpendent]

[ Plz Basch is a king of guilt. But his expression sharpens. ]

If not for me, she would not be in danger of death. Her father would still live, and her fiancee both.

[ And so many others. Unlike later in canon, Basch still is haunted by those deaths so clearly. Taunted almost daily. He tries not to show it, but... ]

video;

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

[Okay, blaming himself for more than one death. Okay.[

Well, it's not like you literally stabbed them in the back, is it? Everyone's got short comings...Human's fail sometimes.

[He's really hoping that Basch didn't literally stab them in the back or this would be awkward.]

Video

[anexcitableboy]

Yeah, man, I dunno. I've...already been through this. I dunno what there's left to say...

[Jimmy rakes a hand through his curled pompadour and glances to the side, where a stately looking bearded lady is sitting.]

...I guess maybe I'm still kinda ticked that she...I guess I might still be kinda angry. But the real thing kinda did this, back home, and I got it all out...

Or I thought I did...

[Maybe drunkenly wailing and screaming on his mom's ghost hadn't exactly done much in the closure department...]

Video

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

[That's new.] So your ghost already appeared to you as a ghost before?

That's odd...well, what didn't you do last time that you might want to do now? [He's slowly getting to the conclusion that this might not be for the ghosts but perhaps for the people they appear for.]

I mean, there shouldn't be anything left of it if it already left once...at least in my experience.

Video

[anexcitableboy]

Oh...uh...

Well, I was really drunk. And ma...she didn't like me drinking. Was always real proud that I stayed away for so long...

Video

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

Oh. [That was a heavy hitting answer.] So you dealt with your ghost last time drunk.

Okay. Well, there's something different already. Have you tried telling her you're sober? [He hopes he's sober or else he'd feel kinda douchey.]

[sneezelikeakitten]

Just sounds like a residual haunting to me. Leave them alone and they'll go away on their own eventually.

[Seriously. What is it with all the ghosts and people freaking out over them? Come to Gravity Falls. You'll see much worse.]

They probably don't even understand English.

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

They might go away eventually but the guilt floating around right behind me makes me want to try and get rid of them of my own accord. [He isn't freaking out, dude. Just, man. This guilt. If Conrad needed to breathe he would have felt him breathing down his neck he swears.] And I'm pretty sure they do. Why wouldn't they?

Even if they can't speak, doesn't mean they can't listen.

[sneezelikeakitten]

You tried talking to them, right? And there's no response? They either don't understand English, or they can't hear you. Oooooor they don't care. If this place is as weird as I think it is they'll go away on their own in a day or so.

[This kid has no ghosts haunting him.]

It's probably the festival doing this.

[thelittlegingerthatcould]

Man, you're jaded. It's not like they aren't at least a little expressive in the face. And sure, they might go away, but usually stuff like this happens for a reason, at least back home it does.

[He's gonna level with you kid, just because you think it's a nuisance doesn't mean everyone else does.] I might be shitty at my job, but I don't turn down learning opportunities.