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Nevermore Usher: Nevy's seated in a booth at Maddy's, looking at the journal - but where she'd been previously reading it with rapt enthusiasm, now she's just looking at the cover, seeming... perturbed.
Jeremiah Hamilton: The portal into the diner did what it did best while Nevy peered at her recent literary acquisition, with Jeremiah making his way inside humming quietly to himself as he went. Spotting the medium already present he smiled and gave a nod, although her expression led a note of concern to creep into his own. "Hey. Something up?"
Nevermore Usher: She blinks up at him. "Oh - hey. Just... trying to deal with some of the stuff in here."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Like what? If you feel like talking about it, that is." He made a 'may !?' motion to the booth as well, waiting for her say so before claiming a seat.
Nevermore Usher: She nods, gesturing to the seat. "So. How much did I tell you about this journal before?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "N...othing yet, actually." Jeremiah took the seat across the table, looking said book over curiously before turning his attention back to Nevy. "Think this is the first time I've seen you with it."
Nevermore Usher: She nods. "Okay. So... I found this at my job - the bookstore, you know. It's a journal. The author is a medium - like me."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Really...that's interesting. Guessing something they wrote about isn't settling right with you, though?"
Nevermore Usher: Another nod. "They... They were dating a ghost. But... the ghost - Emma - couldn't manifest. So the author was trying to figure out how to... manifest her, or to let themselves touch her. They... just found a way."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Ah...I'll admit I'm not as well-versed on ephemeral matters as some people are, and I deal more in goetia than ghosts anyway. What...method did they go for?"
Nevermore Usher: "They...ate other ghosts." Nevy looks sick.
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah looked like he was going to respond but paused, a uncomfortable look settling on his own features as he sat back in his seat and let that particular thought percolate. "...I did not know ghosts could do that. Take Essence from each other, sure, but not that."
Nevermore Usher: "It wasn't Emma doing it. The journal's author, the medium. He was... consuming ghosts. Using their power to let him touch Emma." She bites her lip "They wrote how they were doing it, but... I didn't read it. That's... horrific."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "That's even worse." He shook his head firmly, now looking fully disgusted. "The sheer hubris..."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy gives a shudder. "You can see them justifying it to themself. Emma must be different, not just a mindless echo like these ones, it will let them be together." They swallow. "It's... it goes against everything I believe in. Everything I thought they believed in!"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I've dealt with people like that, who justify every step downward to hell. Hell, dealing with someone like that is what got me working with my cadre in the first place. It goes against the reason we've been given the gifts we have, as I see it...causing pain like that to others for your own gain is inexcusable."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy puts her head in her hands. "It's not just pain. It's... Some people think ghosts are the souls of the dead, changed somehow. Eating them... it's completely destroying everything they are!"
Jeremiah Hamilton: Seeing how distraught Nevy was Jeremiah scooted around the booth to be in the proper place for her to lean against him if she so wished. "It's hard to see others fall like that, especially if you get to know them, and you have in a way through reading the journal so far. You're allowed to be disturbed by it, and I'd be worried if you weren't."
Nevermore Usher: She does indeed. "I'm... kind of not sure if I want to finish reading it. I'd been learning so much, but..."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "You'd still be learning something, if only to recognize the signs of someone else doing something similar now. And, with any luck, he got some kind of comeuppance from what he did and it may be in there." He nodded to the book, looping an arm around Nevy's shoulders in the meantime for a hug. "How much more do you have left?"
Nevermore Usher: "About a quarter, I think." She frowns down at the book. "I... really hope they figure out what they're doing is wrong."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Here's hoping. Maybe Emma gave him a proper 'the hell is wrong with you?' and left them." Jeremiah nodded, looking down to the book in kind. "The line between can and should can get hazy sometimes, no question of that. I've always been impressed at how much you put into keeping it sharp, for what that's worth."
Nevermore Usher: She gives him a lopsided smile. "Thanks. It's... I don't always know. I just... try not to hurt people."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Welcome." He smiled in return, giving a little nod. "That's an admirable thing to do, and a struggle worth undertaking."
Nevermore Usher: She nods, sighs, and packs the journal away. "Anyway. How are you?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I'm doing pretty well, all told. Met up with Polly again at her place and had a pretty solid heart-to-heart." He smiled softly, looking a little twitter-pattered. "Other than that, I've been working with Liezel to pick up some new tricks on the 'thunderbolts and lightning' front...although not quite that impressive yet. More in the 'can see in the dark' vein right now."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy chuckles. "It's more than I've got on that front." They side-eye him and smirk just a little. "So you and Polly are doing all right, huh?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "We are, yeah." He nodded, that same soft smile sliding back into place. "It's been a while since I've synced up with someone that quickly - and strongly, honestly. I'm always looking forward to spending more time with her."
Nevermore Usher: She smiles. "Well, I'm glad for you. She seems nice. Really talented, too."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Thanks, and she is, on both counts. Once her band has had some cool-down time from their last tour they're going to start working on some new stuff in the studio above the cafe, which should be pretty fun."
Nevermore Usher: "Let me guess - they'll be working with a new producer on that album?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "You would be correct." He couldn't help but smirk. "I've done work on a few EPs but not a full album, so it'll be something new for me as well. Looking forward to it, though."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy nods. "I believe it." They sigh. "I think I need a new project. Something bigger than character commissions for online roleplay. I love that work, but I need something to sink my teeth into, y'know?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I get you, yeah." He nodded quietly. "Still waiting for stuff to get settled for the Eastern State run, I'm guessing?"
Nevermore Usher: Nevy nods. "I'm thinking that might have fallen through." They look wry. "Easy come, easy go, I guess."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah tsk'd at that, shaking his head with a small frown. "Shame if it has. Their loss, as I see it."
"Do you have anything in particular in mind that you might want to work on?"
Nevermore Usher: She shrugs. "I've had some thoughts, but nothing really juicy."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "If I hear anything coming down the pipeline through folks I know on that side of the art scene I'll let you know."
Nevermore Usher: "Thanks. I'll keep trying to think of something good, too." She sighs. "I hate creative block. I can plow through it if I have a target, but when I don't have a project to work on..."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I feel ya. I've usually got bits and pieces of a song coming together up here," cue a light tap to the temple with his free hand, "but sometimes it's just...dead and I hate it."
Nevermore Usher: They nod. "What do you do when it happens?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Pull from outside sources to try and get a seed of something new started, usually. Video game soundtracks have worked pretty well on that front, overall, or going out to see a new performer to see what they've come up with."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy nods, frowning thoughtfully. "I wonder if Lux would be open to a collaboration. Or... there are other artists in town, too."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "It's worth a shot, I'd say. Having folks to bounce ideas off of until something sticks can defintiely help clear up a dry spell."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy nods. She smiles and stands. "I think I'll send some emails." Then, she glances at the bag and her smile flickers. "And... maybe try reading a little further."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Sounds like a plan." Jeremiah moved his arm to let Nevy get up from the booth, eyeing the bag in kind before looking back to her. "Feel free to give me a buzz if you need to talk about what you find."
Nevermore Usher: She nods and smiles. "Thanks. Talk to you later."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Welcome." He replied with a smile. "Have a good one."
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