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Erik Samuelson:
More often than not, working with the dead was not a glamorous job. It could take one to dark places, both literally and figuratively, and on this particular evening Erik found himself tucked into an alleyway in the Old City, not too far from where he'd met his own initial demise, crouched down as he carefully dug through an old backpack that had been stashed behind a set of trash cans by the shade that hovered over him, nervously biting at her fingernails as she watched him work.
"It has to be in there..." the ghost moaned, a frown carved into waxen features.
"I'm looking as fast as I can." Erik replied, glancing around now and again to make sure no one else was nearby.
Avery Frisk:
No one would have been able to hear the silent wings that flew in, or the silent feet that hit the fire escape and sat down to watch. How long had he been there? Only Avery knew.
"Looking for what? Who are you talking to?"
He was dressed in layers, a hat on his head and airpods in his ears. At least, to Erik's eyes.
Erik Samuelson:
The scent of ash hit the air as Avery made himself known, Erik's eyes snapping towards where the Beast appeared before he realized who it was and he visibly relaxed.
"Hey. Surprised me there." He offered, tilting his head towards the nearby shade whose gaze was still fixed to the bag. "Ghost of a girl who passed recently, she asked me to help find something of hers to give to her sister."
Avery Frisk:
While Avery's eyes and ears are good, his smell did not compare. Avery did not look threatening, although, his eyes did reflect the distant street light, much like a cat's.
"I do that."
Avery spent a second looking around.
"What are you looking for, is it a locket?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Yes, actually..." He replied with a curious quirk of the eyebrow, looking back down into the bag to give it a closer look, then gingerly pulled the gold chain and tarnished locket from the bag with the accompanying squee of excitement from the shade. "Good catch."
Avery Frisk:
"The rest of her things were stolen. Someone came through here...I want to say yesterday or the day before. They...likely he took all of the food and clothes and she is lucky that it was still here. He must not have seen it in the pocket."
Avery makes all these notes from about 15 feet up, just sitting there.
Erik Samuelson:
"I thought my eyes were good." He said with a light smirk, then looked to the shade. "Do you want me to give her the bag as well, or just this?"
"That's the important thing." She replied, gleeful in her exuberance. "I'mma go back to her now. Thank you!"
"Don't mention it. I'll head to her place later." He replied, nodding to the ghost before she flitted back to her anchor, then looking back up to Avery. "Thanks for the help."
Avery Frisk:
Avery quietly drops down, careful and supernaturally quiet.
"The dumpster was moved, and there are large shoeprints that don't match yours. If she was hiding things here, she was likely homeless, yes? Or hid from family, so it was likely food or clothes."
Avery looked to where the Sin Eater was talking to. A curious look on his face. "I am glad I could help. I am...good at finding details."
Erik Samuelson:
"Homeless, yeah. She was kicked out by her parents a while back but her sister did what she could to help her." He tucked the bag back behind the dumpster and stood, pocketing the locket before dusting himself off. "Much appreciated. I'm usually pretty solid on that front as well but you blew me out of the water spotting all of that from the fire escape."
Avery Frisk:
Avery smiled.
"I am glad her sister helped."
A look back to the fire escape.
"I see and hear too much. Sometimes, like this, it is helpful. A lot of the time it hurts."
Erik Samuelson:
"I can imagine." He nodded, looking Avery over. "Hence the airpods, I'm guessing?"
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods quietly.
"They help make things quieter. My girlfriend bought them for me."
Erik Samuelson:
"Maria, right? How's she doing, by the way? Haven't run into her since that night on the yacht."
Avery Frisk:
"Busy...a lot of meetings. But it is nice when she is home."
Avery looked out of the alleyway.
"Did she...die recently?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Couple nights ago. We tripped over each other when I was leaving work last night." He glanced around the alleyway, then tilted his head in a 'shall we?' manner to see about getting somewhere less trash-filled.
Avery Frisk:
"You can...trip over a ghost? That is interesting."
Avery nods, closing his eyes, and reopening them. Now significantly less reflective.
Erik Samuelson:
"Mmhmm, although it wasn't a literal trip-over in this case." He smirked a touch, leading the way out of the alley. "Those like myself can interact with them fully without any extra effort put into it. Part of straddling the line like we do."
Avery Frisk:
Avery sticks nearby, tightening up his movements slightly as people are able to see them both. Can't show off that supernatural movement after all.
"Oh...that's interesting. I know...some of us, like Vo- just some of us...can interact with them fully..."
Erik Samuelson:
His eyebrow quirked up at the half-mentioned name but he nodded, keeping pace with Avery as they walked. "It took some getting used to when I first took up this role, but it feels natural at this point. It's kind of interesting thinking back to before and realizing how much I didn't realize was all around me."
Avery Frisk:
Avery looked around, the passing faces across the mostly abandoned street, the nearby cameras. Not trusting of any of it.
"I am...glad you have found a calling doing that. I don't remember Before, but people do not tend to notice things they are not looking for."
Erik Samuelson:
"True enough. You always hear the stories and the like, especially in a city as old as Philadelphia, but it's not something you really think about until you come face to face with it yourself."
Avery Frisk:
"I...think they don't want to think about it. Too much to worry about already."
Erik Samuelson:
"Most likely, yeah. I know I was that way myself, focused on my career and the little day to day things that take up everyone's time." He looked around them briefly as they walked. "As rough as what happened to me was I'm happy it happened on some level. It made me really look at the world around me and see what I'd been missing."
Avery Frisk:
He frowns, considering.
"I don't think I would have...ever wanted this to happen to me. I am...taking the chance I have been given, and I have found Vincent and Maria and I am happy with them...but no...I hate that...this happened to any of us."
A look at him.
"I am glad...your story has been happier."
Erik Samuelson:
"I haven't heard much about you and yours, I'll admit. I'm sorry you had a rough go at it, though, and glad that you've made the best out of it as you can."
Avery Frisk:
Avery keeps his hands by his sides, looking away for a minute, seemingly after hearing something, then looks back.
"Most...most of us did. If not all. But...that's all we can do. Try to reclaim our lives. Try to live happy with what we have, and protect each other."
Erik Samuelson:
"I applaud you for that. So many people end up just existing rather than living, and seeing that always tears at me." He shook his head quietly. "You get a new perspective on life after losing your old one, I've noticed. Makes you hold onto what you regain that much harder."
Avery Frisk:
"Sometimes...it is hard to do more than exist. I...think I was just existing until I met Vincent...then...I felt safer...and could live."
A small loving smile.
"But...yes. We don't want to lose it again."
Erik Samuelson:
He smiled softly in return, familiar with that stirring of the heart even if it had been a while since he'd felt it himself. "Indeed. I'm glad you were able to find someone to connect with on that level, too. Having that kind of support tends to make things easier."
Avery Frisk:
Avery who had been so hard and focused up to this point, relaxed and looked happy.
"I...do love him a lot. He makes me happy and makes me feel safe. I feel...more supported, yes."
Erik Samuelson:
"Good to hear. I haven't been with anyone myself for a while, but my last partner and I did that for each other."
Avery Frisk:
"I am...glad you could do that for each other too. Is your...last partner in the area?"
Erik Samuelson:
"He is, yes. We're still friends, just not romantically involved."
Avery Frisk:
"That is good. I am glad. Having friends...I was worried but now that I have tried...I'm happy."
Erik Samuelson:
"Why were you worried, out of curiosity?"
Avery Frisk:
Avery frowns, and looks around, no one near enough to hear.
"Because I did not trust anyone..."
Erik Samuelson:
"Ah...understandable, considering." He nodded quietly. "Rebuilding trust is always an interesting process."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"I have....amnesia. He took all of my memories...and I only have had a few return...so I had even less reason to trust."
Erik Samuelson:
"Damn...that's rough." He gave Avery a sympathetic look, although there was no pity within it. "Sorry you've had to deal with that."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods slowly, watching around, a little on edge now.
"I...am angry more than anything else. That...it happened. At Him. But...that anger can be used to protect my friends and family."
Erik Samuelson:
"Best way to go about it." He nodded, smirking a touch. "Some of our folks work along similar lines, having come back due to the anger felt at whatever brought them to that moment. Anger is a potent force, but when put to good purposes it can do a lot."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"I used to work....with Sorrow. I still do sometimes, my mentor still works with Sorrow. I changed to work with Wrath. It is strong, and gives that strength too. It is heat and focus and energy. It...can help, but also hurt if unfocused. That is anger versus Wrath."
Erik Samuelson:
"True." He gave a nod, thinking a moment. "I guess you could say that I came back due to regret. There was something I was working towards in my career that I hadn't reached when things happened, and when given the option to be able to complete that goal I agreed. Beyond that I do my best to remind others that the joys in life are there for the living, and that there's too much good in the world to just let pass you by until it's too late."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"That...makes some sense. Regret is powerful too. All emotions are powerful...and they can often linger. We... work heavily with emotions too..."
Erik Samuelson:
"We do to an extent, although it's more in helping others to express them. For us it's more about the bonds that are forged in life and remain in place after, helping others to resolve what keeps them here." He patted the spot on his jeans where the locket was resting. "It can be little things sometimes, like a gift that was never given or a keepsake they want to pass on."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"Those things...draw us too. Help us get back. For me...it was art."
Erik Samuelson:
"Feel you there, although on my end it's more in the culinary sense rather than pen and paper. If I can give someone a meal they'll remember then I feel accomplished."
Avery Frisk:
Avery smiles.
"I do like food. Food is good. I'm... glad you can give them that. My art has been... private... mostly. But... soon I want to get into online art... and share it. Give... back to the community."
Erik Samuelson:
"You'll have to come by where I work sometime. I can have a private room set aside so it's not too loud for you." He said with a small smile, nodding. "Look forward to seeing it when you're ready."
Avery Frisk:
"I... can. Sure. I would like that."
He puts his thumbs in his pockets.
"It... may be a bit... but ok."
Erik Samuelson:
"It's a place called Fork not too far from here." He motioned in the general direction of the restaurant some blocks away. "Sounds good."
Avery Frisk:
"Fork...like...what you eat with?" Avery looks at Erik. "That...is an interesting name. But...I guess it does make sense...cause...you eat with a fork ...and its a place to eat."
Erik Samuelson:
"Mmhmm. I didn't come up with it, but it works." He nodded with a small chuckle. "It's been open for twenty-five years, and I've been the head chef there for the last four years."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"That... is a long time...I think. I've... been here for one year, four months...and 24 days..."
Avery looks at their phone.
"25 days."
Erik Samuelson:
"Do you know how long you were gone," he inquired, "or is that tied up what happened?"
Avery Frisk:
"I don't know...my Fetch is 27...but I have no idea what that means for me...and time doesn't...matter much There."
Erik Samuelson:
"Ah...that has to be rough." He went quiet, mulling for a moment. "Have you wanted to look into your last life much, or are you leaving it be and making something new?"
Avery Frisk:
"It is...the...few memories I have left are nice."
Avery looks down, kicking a rock gently, then looks like they were upset they hurt the rock, before looking back at Erik.
"I don't know. I...that has been on my mind a lot. I...I think I'm okay leaving it alone. My...my Fetch...that Avery...they have their life. I don't know enough to...really care about their family. Like...care about them like family. And...Vincent and Maria are my family....it is hard to think about."
Erik Samuelson:
Erik eyed the rock briefly as Avery looked at it before turning his attention back to the Courser, listening intently before nodding. "That's a valid choice to make. You have people you care about and a community worth working with now, and there's nothing wrong with moving forward instead of looking back."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods slowly.
"I think... eventually... I will be ok with them being Avery Frisk, and I can be Avery Drake."
Erik Samuelson:
"I wish you the best. Finding the path ahead after going through a major event can be rough, but you seem to have a good grasp on it."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"I...hope so. It's hard...because there is not really an answer. Or...not an easy one. But...I can get closer to the answer? Slowly..."
Erik Samuelson:
"If we knew the answer to everything in life it wouldn't be worth living." He said with a small smirk. "Finding that answer is part of the journey, and it's the most important part as I see it."
Avery Frisk:
Avery't head tilts, considering that for a few steps.
"That's smart. It's...hard to not want to know more. I feel like I don't know much of...anything. So...I get to learn a lot..."
Erik Samuelson:
"Not a bad thing, that. Sometimes getting to see the world with fresh eyes is a good thing; you don't have any preconceived notions of how it's supposed to be, and can see ways to make it better that others might miss."
Avery Frisk:
Avery smiles widely.
"I hope so...that would make me happy. To make the world a better place for people."
A slightly embarassed look.
"But...it means I miss a lot too. Everything is...so wrapped up in references. References I don't get."
Erik Samuelson:
"Between you and me, I'm enough of a workaholic that I miss some of the more recent references since I haven't had time to watch them." He gave an amused chuckle. "I'm honestly more of a old movies kind of guy anyway."
Avery Frisk:
Avery chuckles too.
"We...are watching Disney movies. I don't remember...any movies or shows...so Vincent and Maria get to show me their favorites."
Erik Samuelson:
"Sounds nice." He replied with a small smile. "Are there any particular ones you've liked so far?"
Avery Frisk:
"Mulan is my favorite. Frozen...is my least favorite."
Erik Samuelson:
"Mulan's pretty good, yeah. Only saw Frozen since I was watching some of my nieces and nephews, wasn't too bad." He watched Avery for a moment. "Take it that one hits a little too close to home?"
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods. "I....I like Mulan because... Mulan reminds me of me. In...in a few ways."
Erik Samuelson:
"Oh? Do tell. If you feel comfortable saying so, anyway."
Avery Frisk:
Avery considers.
"Mulan...is a warrior because Mulan wants to protect her family. I want to protect my family. Mulan...is....crafty. They fight smart, I fight...less than ethically. Because its what I'm good at. And...and Maria says that Mulan is transmasculine. I am...too...a little. I...am...I feel more than one gender. But..."
Avery shrugs, struggling to finish the sentence.
Erik Samuelson:
"That definitely tracks, then." He nodded quietly. "As long as you feel comfortable in your own skin, or are able to do the best you can there, that's what matters."
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods.
"The... the community here is very accepting. Which is nice. I... only learned recently what homophobia was. It confused me. That... people would hate for love."
Erik Samuelson:
"Yeah. It's a shame, honestly." He gave another nod. "I've gotten some flak for it over the years myself since I've had male partners. The people who matter will stand beside you, though."
Avery Frisk:
"I have...a few partners. And...I relearned things mostly in the community...so it surprised me. My mentor...he has male partners. So I didn't understand that...people could hate when people are so happy. I still don't understand. But...I'm happy and thats what matters...I think."
Avery nods, looking at a nearby full sized office window, then around at the abandoned street.
"How...far away is her home? Do you need some help getting there?"
Erik Samuelson:
"That is the important thing, yeah." He smiled quietly, glancing around. "It's a few blocks from here. I should be alright if you need to head out."
Avery Frisk:
"I...I should. I was heading home before I stopped and saw you. Please, travel safe."
Avery takes a half step towards the mirror...like they were planning on walking into it? Into the building? Well...they are a bird, birds run into windows a lot.
Erik Samuelson:
"You as well." Erik nodded, watching curiously as Avery headed for the window.
Avery Frisk:
Avery nods, stepping up to the window, looking around for any late night walkers... and then quickly pulls out a knife from seemingly nowhere. Avery cuts his finger and steps...into the mirror...and disappears. Only a small smidge of blood left on the window in the corner.
Erik Samuelson:
Cue a curious tilt of the head, followed by a small smirk. "...huh." He chuckled, then headed off into the night to make a rather special delivery.
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