Holiday Ghost Event: Road Less Traveled

[shnpc]

WHO: Everyone, affected and not
TONE: Not of this world
RATING: PG
WHEN: December 11th through 12th
WHERE: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
WHAT: Due to visiting holiday ghosts, some students and staff find themselves living as they would have if something in their lives did or didn't happen. An alternate version who could be better or worse off!
NOTE: This signals the event start. Use any posting format you want, and feel free to post about this as well on the journals!

Comments

[3houseswatson]

[On one hand, John was feeling far from sociable. But on the other...]

Do you think whatever's going on is related to me appearing as a ghost here instead of where I actually died?

[3potionproblem]

I do, yes. It's been two years since that attack and my John Watson was alive and well last we spoke.

[3houseswatson]

[Well, that certainly gets John's attention.]

"Your" John Watson?

[3potionproblem]

From now--from my time in existence.

[3houseswatson]

Wait, so you seem to think there's another me - a not-dead me - running around whenever this is?

But I am... was the only me, aren't - damn it - wasn't I?

[Under his not-breath] Fucking tenses.

[3potionproblem]

You're not dead in the reality I know. Just stick to that for now.

[3houseswatson]

So you think if you uncover whatever's going on, your reality clicks back in place, the alive John shows back up, and I stop existing?

[3potionproblem]

In all probability, yes.

[3houseswatson]

[John doesn't even need to hesitate.]

Good.

If it's a choice between being a ghost and not existing at all, I'll take the nothing.

[3potionproblem]

[He nods. He expected as much.... he misses his John already, though.]

These things usually correct themselves. And sadly your predated self doesn't know the current issues we're investigating nor can you document what's different when everything is not as you remember.

[3houseswatson]

[John laughs bitterly. Ghostly laughter is pretty awful to hear as is, but it's especially rough with that tone.]

I have to wait it out. Of course, that'd be my luck.

[He's silent for a few seconds. There's a hint of wariness in his eye as he looks at Sherlock that he can't quite hide.]

So... this other me. The one who lived. He made friends with you?

[3potionproblem]

[Sherlock nods, feeling tight in his gut.]

So I have to wait as well it seems.

[3houseswatson]

I'd sympathize if I didn't objectively have it worse in this situation. Here's hoping things right themselves soon. You get the John you're used to back and I get to stop being trapped in this godawful half-existence.

How long has it been? Since I died and the other John didn't, I mean.

[3potionproblem]

Two years give or take a few months.

[3houseswatson]

[John nods.]

I've got a question. A lot of people might think it kind of flippant given what all's happening, but right now I'm finding it very hard to give a damn about any of that.

Did the me who didn't die ever get a growth spurt?

[3potionproblem]

[Sherlock pauses because.... oh good lord.... He smiles a little.]

Maybe an inch.

[3houseswatson]

Well, shit.

If he's still alive, maybe he's not done growing yet.

[3potionproblem]

No, you're done, I'm rather sure.

[3houseswatson]

[John crosses his arms over his chest, a sour expression on his ghostly face.]

And what makes you such an expert?

[3potionproblem]

I'm your age.

[3houseswatson]

So? Not everyone's done growing by age 16.

[3potionproblem]

Fine then. Your hands. You have small hands. They'd be disproportionate in an adult who was sized larger than you are now.

[Holds up his hand for comparison.]

And before you begin your next argument, hands and feet grow first leaving the body to catch up.

[3houseswatson]

[John looks at his hands, then buries his face in them in frustration. Even as a ghost, he can still do a good face-palm.]

And I thought my last girlfriend was just teasing when she said she used her own hands as models when she knitted me mittens for Christmas.

[3potionproblem]

Well, I'm not saying you have women's hands but they are proportionate to your size.

[3houseswatson]

Yeah, that's all well and good... unless people start asking if everything is proportionate.