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Dakota C.A.P.S advertisement (Audio drama/ scripted podcast proof of concept)

[stuffedwriting]

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Art by my friend https://www.deviantart.com/shadowinsane92

[stuffedwriting]

My OC Erysich done by the amazing, talented, and might I add handsome @cacklingpumpkins as part of an art trade with my boyfriend for my birthday!

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Nia’s Diary: I’m alive. I don’t know how. I felt myself die. The bile of that creature’s blood mixing with my own and creating an entirely new kind of poison for my body to produce itself and kill me from the inside out with. I felt it invade my brain, taking control and destroying everything I was. Everything faded to black. Then I opened my eyes. I was on the ground, hard, rocky soil next to a river. It glowed a soft teal. I stood up and saw a figure in dark cloaked rags by the edge of the waters clutching a wooden oar. His face was a skull but inside his hollow sockets were lightly burning purple flaming dots. I should have been terrified. This thing looked like death itself but I wasn’t afraid. Looking at the figure gave me this feeling of comfort and safety. I slowly approached it, drawn to it by an overwhelming need for any type of connection. It didn’t move as I did but once I got close enough it took a hand off its oar and pulled me into a one-armed hug. It towered over me so my head only reached its abdomen but it held me so kindly and gently. It felt so natural, so right despite its lack of body heat the shivering cold around it was so soothing. Eventually I looked up into its skeletal face, it slowly shook its head and I felt myself slip away again, finding myself somewhere else.

Unlike the cool air of that dark, expansive shore now I was somewhere freezing and cramped. My palms pressed against the cold metal of my container. The calm trance I was in was replaced with panic as I struggled around in that freezing box. Theories rushed through my mind of where I could be, buried alive? Trapped underneath the floorboards? Bricked behind the wall? No, I would be able to tell by the texture of the material. I’ve just been reading too much Poe. I pushed against the ceiling of the chamber and noticed whatever I was laying on slid a little bit when I did. I moved more and more, harder and harder until with a bang I kicked the lock off and slid out. I sat up and realized I had been in a morgue locker. With a shiver I turned my cloth covered body to the side of the sled and touched my bare feet to cold ground. Again I wandered the halls of the asylum looking for the exit but this time they found me and greeted me calmly like nothing had happened, they didn’t ask why I was in a morgue cloth, why I was out of my cell, they just led me back with a soft smile. Now I’m back where I started in this padded room writing all this down. I suppose I feel better now. Physically at least. A nutcase like me can never be at a hundred percent. Still, it doesn’t make sense. I felt my heart pump venom and have it seep through my veins and yet here I am. I don’t understand.

First. Prev. Next.

[stuffedwriting]

Michigan Insane Hospital Autopsy protocol:

Name: Nia [No last name given or traceable]

Anatomical diagnosis: Neurotoxin found throughout the subject's nervous system. Origin of neurotoxin unknown as of time of report. Skin is a deathly pale color but staff that have interacted with the patient have said that this skin tone has been consistent throughout their time here. Little to no muscle mass, possibly atrophy. Blood has a PH level of zero.

Clinical note (Doctor Hacken): The patient had frequently complained about a stinging pain in her arm after a blood transfusion. I assumed it would go away in a day or two like the lingering pain of a vaccine but from then on she suffered the effect more and more. She prefered to stay in her room but recently she refused to leave, laying on her bed for hours of the day and screaming at anyone who entered to leave. I’ve been told that she rarely enters the cafeteria. I entered her room to bring this up with her but she simply scowled at me and whispered in a low, annoyed voice to leave because it wasn’t our appointment time.

Time of death - - - - - - - - - - 4PM

Autopsy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 hours post mortem

Cause of death- - - - - - - - - Neurotoxin poisoning, origin of substance: unknown.

First. Prev. Next.

[stuffedwriting]

Nia’s Diary: It hurts. Not just my arm anymore. Everything hurts. I feel like one of those caterpillars being eaten from the inside by wasp larvae. My head feels like it’s being crushed from all sides. I have the urge to kick my legs but when I do it feels like I’m snapping something. I coughed up blood yesterday. None of the staff seem to care. They walk by as I lay on the ground in agony, look through the window for a moment and keep walking. I don’t know what’s happening, that thing’s venomous blood flows through me, replacing my blood with its own, my heart beats poison now. I feel it throughout my veins, invading and replacing my anatomy. My eyes burn, my flesh stings, my stomach churns, my body is in revolt. It hurts.

First. Prev. Next.

[stuffedwriting]

Dakota CAPS: John’s Log

[Click]

John: Dakota Cryptid, Anomaly, and Paranormal Society audio log starting now.

[Inhale]

Mina, our colleague, has brought a possessed doll into our living space. I am hesitant to have something so volatile inhabiting somewhere I often sleep but this is also an opportunity to learn first hand about the supernatural. Plus Mina and the figure -who she has affectionately nicknamed “Jane Doll” as in Jane Doe- are very close. The spirit seems largely harmless though once upon accidently dropping the doll while I was inspecting it I subsequently had a mug hurled at me by an unseen force. Even if it missed and seemed more like a warning I believe this is noteworthy.

On a similar subject Lucy has reported that every new case of someone exploring the doll’s old site has not seen any paranormal activity. We can conclude that the doll was the source and has been removed. Due to this we have received the other half of our payment.

[Small laugh]

I admit it feels good to know we did our first job successfully.

Yet there are still so many unanswered questions. How did this Jane die? Why possess the doll? Can she leave the school? Maybe there’s only a certain distance her spirit can wander before it’s stopped and pulled back towards the doll. I’ll have Mina help me with that experiment. Later. For now I’ll-

[Sudden sounds of Lucy opening and crawling through the back window of the truck]

John!

John: Christ! Yes Lucy?

Lucy: Look outside! Those birch trees! Don’t they look like eyes?!

[John sighs and gets up to look out the window]

I suppose they do but many birch trees look like that. I assume they appear when they’re about to grow a new branch. Either way I will do some research on it I suppose.

Lucy: You mean five google searches?

John: Shut up. Lucy, have you had any interesting experiences with Mina’s doll and the spirit inhabiting it?

Lucy: I dunno, but Mina sure does like the thing. I’m trying to sleep and she’ll stay up for hours talking to it, while I only get to hear her side of the conversation. It’s creepy and annoying.

John: I understand but that doesn’t help me further my studies.

Lucy: Oh! Why not talk to it yourself?

John; What? How?

Lucy: A spirit box! You know. Those radio things!

John: I don’t know. I’ve always been skeptical of it.

Lucy: Couldn’t hurt to try. Plus we could have Mina there to make sure it’s right.

John: Fine. I’ll consider it.

[Laptop shuts, ending the recording.]

[Click]

John: Mina, are you ready?

Mina: Yeah.

[Spirit box is turned on, automatically cycling through frequencies]

John: Hello, Jane was it?

Mina, to Jane: Go on, mess with it a bit.

[Garbled static of random syllables through the spirit box]

Jane: Hel-lo, can- you- h-ear- me?

John: Loud and clear. Did it line up?

Mina: Yep.

John: Good. Would you mind leaving us for a moment?

[Silence]

Mina: Hey hey, it’s okay Jane. I’ll just be in the camper.

[Footsteps and a door opening]

Jane: Why- do you- want to- talk-

John: To learn more about you.

Jane: Me?

John: That’s right.

Jane: Why?

John: Because I’ve never spoken to a spirit before. You have info no one else does.

Jane: In-fo, about- what?

John: Anything. Like what do you think of Mina now?”

Jane: She-‘s… taller.

John: How do you feel? Physically and emotionally.

Jane: Cold. In- both- ways. But- I- al-ways- felt like this.

John: You don’t remember what it was like when you were alive?

Jane: Never was.

John: How do you know for sure?

Jane: I- don’t. But- I- feel it.

John: Then I have mis-classified you. You’re not a spirit. Or at least not the soul of a dead person. You are the doll, yes? That would fit Mina’s doll-like description of you and her cold impression of you.

Jane: She- thinks- I am- cold- to- her?

John: No. Just your tone.

Jane: May- I ask- something?

John: What is it?

Jane: Why- this? This- job?

John: The CAPS?

Jane: Yes. Why- stick- your- nose- in- pla-ces- it- doesn’t- belong?

John: Because I want to learn about the hidden world. There’s so much behind it and people just disregard it as myth.

Jane: But- you- can’t- even- see- me.

John: I don’t need to see you to learn about you.

Jane: In-deed.

[Spirit box suddenly turns off, stopping the noise]

[John sighs, annoyed and the laptop closes]

[stuffedwriting]

Shark Shank

What lies underneath the depths of The Crimson Sea are a mystery to all. Not that no one has ever tried, far from it, but any that go under never resurface. This has made it apparent that any exploration of the waters is suicide. Of course, completely illiterate of warnings William Scotch and his crew took it upon themselves to plunge into the waters.

This idea started with Quinn as he folded his arms over the railing of the ship and stared into the eldritch sea, wondering if it could sustain life. After all his interest included every part of biology, microscopic, marine and botanical. Not just wildlife. As these thoughts swam in his mind Czarveta had been walking by, he saw her from the corner of his eye and called out to her, “Aye! Lassie! Can I ask ya sometin’?” Czarveta turned and answered in her usual cold tone, “Yes? What is it?” Quinn jerked his head, motioning toward the water, “Ever wonder what’s down t’ere?” She raised her eyebrows a small bit in interest, “I suppose so. Though I haven’t been familiar with it long enough to seriously contemplate it.”

Quinn replied, trying to get her more interested. “Well, I know yer a smart lass, curious like me. What do ya say we have a look? I bet ya could build sometin’ ta help wit’ dat.” Czarveta looked at him for a second then responded. “I’ll give it some thought.” Then she left. Leaving Quinn to his own musings.

Later the ship stopped at a port, it was always a pain finding one due to the Crimson Sea’s chaoticness, William just sailed into a storm and hoped for the best. Luckily this was one of those times where they arrived in a universe with some supplies to pick up. They docked everyone went their separate ways except for William and Charlotte who stayed together. After a while they all regrouped on the ship, William had crates of alcohol and food for the crew, Charlotte held a stack of books in her hands, Quinn hadn’t gotten anything, he was too busy talking to everyone he came across. Czarveta brought back miscellaneous materials and tools.

The crew decided to stay at the port for the time being as they made sure everything was in order. Every so often Quinn would walk by Czarveta’s room, even from the outside he could tell it was like a furnace in there as she used some hot tool to work with metal. He didn’t find out what she was making until they had gone back out to sea. Czarveta called him over and he met her standing at the back of the ship next to a large cage made of poles. Quinn stared in awe and asked, “Fok me, is tis what I tink it is?” Czarveta, always one to enjoy praise for her work, smirked a bit as she spoke, “Yes. A diving cage connected to a fairly powerful winch to pull you up if things go sideways. Assuming you want to be the one to go down there.” Quinn smiled, “Ya damn roight I wanna go down! Tink of ta tings down tere! Who knows what’s living tere! We gotta find out!”

Czarveta nodded as she took a wetsuit out of a box, “I understand your curiosity. The Crimson Sea is beyond anyone’s understanding but that certainly won’t stop us from trying.” She handed the wetsuit to Quinn then checked the breathing equipment. “It may be a little tight. Also, do you know how to use the equipment?” Quinn nodded, “Yeah. Learned on the mining ship.” Czarveta replied as handed him the air tank, “Good.” There was a pause as he put it on, Czarveta was gathering the resolve to ask her question. She managed to ask as he finished, “Quinn?” He turned to look at her, “Yeah?” She leaned in a bit, “How did you join William?” Quinn’s eyes widened then he smiled, “Ah, well I didn’t really join per say, see I was down on me luck and dare was tis big focken ship full-a rich folks cruisin’ ta sea. I had ta idea ta take it over but William and Charlotte were dare and d’ay killed all me mates and kidnapped me. I was made a “honorary crew member”. It’s not all bad t’ough. I get ta look at animals from across every universe.”

Czarveta glared in confusion, “Do all of William’s recruiting methods go this way? Because if you remember mine wasn’t exactly standard either.” Quinn chuckled, “Guess tey do! From what I heard Charlotte just snuck on board and refused ta leave.” Czarveta let out a small “hmph” of a laugh, “Certainly sounds like her. Anyway, all set?”

Quinn nodded and got into the cage, he would have been smiling like an idiot if he hadn’t been wearing the breather. The cage slowly lowered into the water, it was oddly warm, very close to his body temperature, he couldn’t see very far due to the water’s color, it hadn’t been what he hoped for, he couldn’t see for miles like he wanted to, no schools of fish or coral reefs, just murky, red water. No matter how far he descended he didn’t see anything resembling life. He was about to pull on the line, signaling Czarveta to pull him back up but then he saw something strange, blue lights lit up the darkness of the water, they revealed human-like figures floating aimlessly, they slowly drifted by, allowing Quinn to fully see them. They were floating strands of nerves vaguely shaped like a person’s upper half encased in translucent skin leading up to what can be assumed to be the brain of the creature. Quinn stared, amazed as dozens and dozens of these creatures meandered by. One of the animals’ pseudo arms brushed against the pole of the cage, it went right through the metal. Cutting through it was some sort of acidic mucus coating its extremities. Quinn’s eyes widened and he yanked the wire to be brought back to the surface and it began to rise, but so did the creatures, they surrounded the cage, wrapping their clumps of strings around the bars, eating through them instantly. The cage fell apart around him, being cut from every direction. Quinn’s heart rate skyrocketed as the only thing separating him from these things was cut to pieces, without the wire connecting to the metal anymore he had to swim up to catch it as it ascended, he kicked the water beneath him in a desperate panic as the stringy beings reached up with their wiry hands for him. He caught the wire and held it as it pulled him up.

He breached the water’s surface and Czarveta’s eyes widened in surprise, seeing Quinn unaccompanied by the cage he was sent down in. She reached towards him and dragged him on the ship as the winch pulled him up. As he laid on his side she removed the heavy equipment from his body, “What happened down there?!” It came out more accusatory than worried despite her intention. Quinn laughed as soon as he got the breathing mask off, “Jellyfish, I tink.” Czarveta’s eye squinted in annoyed confusion, “Jellyfish?” Quinn sat up, “Aye, somtin’ like dat. Fink a torso with see-‘troo skin. Tare tentacle lookin’ tings cut ‘troo ta bars like a hot knife ‘troo butta!” Czarveta stood up, the slight tell of her worry disappearing, “You’re fine then, I assume?” Quinn nodded, “Aye.” Czarveta sighed and began putting the equipment back in the box, “Good. Having you die wouldn’t exactly put me in a good spot.” Quinn laughed, even if she wasn’t joking. Czarveta finished putting everything away, “Get out of that wet suit, put it in the box and bring it to me in my workout once you’ve changed.” She walked away suddenly with her blunt order hanging in the air.

Quinn complied and soon opened the door to Czarveta, setting the box of diving equipment on a counter. She turned as she heard him enter and asked, “Did you see anything else besides the things that ruined my work?” Quinn felt a shot of guilt go through him for losing the cage, “Sorry, no. Notin’ but red for miles and miles.” He paused then spoke again, unable to look her in the eye, “Sorry fur losing your hard work.” Czarveta looked at him, her cold, almost disinterested gaze unchanging, “It’s fine. It wasn’t that hard, didn’t take very long to do, it’s not a big loss, there’s infinite universes, I have unlimited amounts of material to work with.” Quinn smiled a bit, “Yeah I know, but I feel bad anyway.” Czarveta replied dryly, “I said don’t. I really don’t care.” Quinn was still a bit unsure of her meaning due to her tone, “Alright, I’ll be goin’ den.” He turned and left and Czarveta let out a simple “Goodbye.” Before he closed the door.

[stuffedwriting]

R&R: Russian Relaxing

There lies a vessel amidst the endless sea of red. Inside that ship is a group of four, drinking and laughing, all except one. A woman by the name of Czarveta Rain. While everyone was talking she sat there quietly thinking to herself. These people were so comfortable. How? She felt so tense, she didn’t have any interesting ideas to add to the conversation. Even when she did she could never find a good place to cut in. So she just sat in silence, half listening and half trapped in her own thoughts. Those thoughts that always rose up in her mind in these types of situations, they make her want to hide away, they tell her about how much better that would make her feel. It was getting overwhelming. It was either stay here and let those thoughts become steadily worse until she was finally excused or stand up and just leave. She picked the latter and made her excuses. “I’m sorry… I need to leave. Just to be on my own for a bit.” She left before any of them could respond.

The three left at the table, William, Charlotte, and Quinn sat there in stunned silence for a minute before Charlotte broke the silence, “Should we go after her?” William smiled in an effort to calm the others, “No. like she said she needs a break.” He gave a slight chuckle. “I bet she worked up all her courage to come sit with us, reached her social limit and had to go recharge. It’s best if we take turns seeing her and if she comes out of her shell then welcome her with open arms!”

Czarveta quickly strode back to back to her workshop. Her sanctuary. A place to distract herself from her own problems and fix others but today it seemed she couldn’t do that. This problem had to be solved now, the shame of just leaving these people she was indebted to was too much. She had to repay their kindness somehow. But how? She couldn’t just go up to them and ask what they needed. There must be a way to get their requests and not talk to them. Like a suggestion box, yes. Exactly that. A way to do engineering and benefit her crew at the same time without interacting with anyone.

With that the metal bound Russian woman took her electrical saw to cut then nail together a small wooden box. Why wood? She just preferred cutting it instead of making it out of cardboard. Making it like this took longer and let her use the bigger machines. The teeth of the saw slicing through the chunk of wood was so satisfying. It was small things like this that she reveled in. After it was all together she took a small knife and cut “Czarveta’s project box” onto its side and screwed it into the wall in the outside hallway.

William sat up from his seat, turning over to his companions before he left, “I’m gonna go check on the Russki.” He went down into the hull, making his way to the maintenance room of which right outside he saw the wooden box on the wall. Reading its text made him give a small smile. Seemed Czarv had found her solution. He walked back to his quarters and wrote a small note on a piece of paper then returned to put it on the box.

Later in the day Czarveta reached inside the box and pulled out a note with “Gun closet vending machine” written on it. Seeing this made her smile, this was the captain’s doing without a doubt. With her new task in her mind she strode over to the captain’s weapon’s closet to map it out. As she studied its interior she noticed firearms and weapons she’s never seen before. Some futuristic, some completely barbaric. Still, the project shouldn’t be difficult, make a robotic arm to grab and present whatever was imputed. Like the captain had said. “A vending machine”. Simple but useful.

In her quarters Charlotte sat on her bed, mind swirling with thoughts of her new companion. She had barely known anything about her but William’s constant empathy was extremely contagious. Soon enough these thoughts overwhelmed her and she stood up to find her captain. She opened the door to his room but found it empty but she did notice the weapons closet was open. She approached, calling out to him “Willy? What are you doing in there?” Her questions doubled when she met eyes with Czarveta installing some machine inside. Charlotte spoke, trying to hide her surprise, “Miss Rain? What are you doing here? William is very protective of his weapons. He won’t be pleased that you’re snooping around in here.” Czarveta turned her attention to Charlotte with a blank expression on her face and responded in a monotone manner. “I have clearance to be here, Lady Peacock. This was requested anonymously in a suggestion box I set up. I apologize if I surprised you while you were looking for the captain.” Charlotte gave a smile in an attempt to calm her tone. “Oh, I see! And please dear, just call Charlotte.” She sat on her knees to match Czarveta’s eyes level who was similarly on the floor. “So what are you working on?” Czarveta responded in turn, “To put it simply it’s a weapons vending machine. Simply press which one you want and a robotic arm will hand you the selected weapon. I’m considering adding automated maintenance.”

Charlotte nodded, following along as she listened. “My my, that sounds very complex, tell me, where did you learn all this?” Czarveta answered as she inserted a screw, “As I child I had access to the largest library in the country due to being a royal. Growing up I spent uncountable hours there. Most things there were non-fiction. Manuals, guides, and the history of things. Seeing all these amazing inventions inspired me to create and maintain my own. I fell in love with machines, tools and problem solving. It was like solving physical riddles.” Charlotte giggled suddenly provoking Czarveta to ask; “What? Why are you laughing?” in a shocked and annoyed tone. Charlotte calmed her laughter and responded, “My apologies dear, I just find it enjoyable to see you be so passionate about your interests.” Czarveta blinked rapidly in her confusion, if she still had the ability to, she most likely would have blushed, “Alright.”

Charlotte stood up, “Well, I’ll leave you to your work, show me and Willy when you’re done, okay?” Czarveta regained her composure, “Of course.” She continued with her work, imputing code, assembling the arm, and mapping out the dimensions of the closet. Soon enough everything was completed. She got up to gather William and Charlotte. They stood in front of the closet in amazement, Czarveta let a smirk slip, pride filling her as they admired her craftsmanship. William suddenly placed his hand on her shoulder, the action causing her tense a bit, “Nice job Czarv! Mind showing us how it works?” She walked over to the machine, motioning him to follow. “Simply say the weapon you want selected or press the corresponding incon on the screen.” William did as asked and leaned in front of the screen to make his request. “Sadie.” The machine took in his words and did nothing. Charlotte giggled, “The actual name. William.” William huffed in annoyance and spoke to it again, “Double barrel sawed-off shotgun.” The robotic arm responded to his words and reached to grab then hand him his gun. William admired the weapon in his hands then redirected his gaze to Czarveta. “Pretty nice! Though it’d be better if it knew what I called them.” Czarveta responded, the pride that was in her tone had been replaced by her monotone, flat one, “It can’t read minds and neither can I. You’ll have to tell me your silly nicknames for your weapons later. I shall be returning to my chambers.” Noticing her chance leaving, Charlotte called out to Czarveta, causing her to turn her to turn head as she was leaving, “Wait!” Her voice returning to a calm and soft tone, “I’m very glad you did this, it will make William very happy.” William joined in as he realized Charlotte’s intention. “Yeah! You did great Czarv! Thanks!” A small but warm smile crossed Czarveta’s lips, “You’re welcome.”

[stuffedwriting]

Dakota CAPS: The Doll.

[Phone tap]

Right… Do you believe in the occult? Do you think there’s a hidden world running parallel to ours? What about our actions changing that reality and vice versa, as above so below, as they say.

[Annoyed scoff]

God that sounds pretentious. Whatever. This is an audio record of the Dakota CAPS’ goings on from here on for future reference and analysis. Recording by Mina Hasselbrook.

[Readying breath]

Today’s job and in fact our first ever job was checking out some doll said to move from place to place in an abandoned school, my school… we had other options but I was avid about this. I had seen that doll before. I spoke with its owner. I must’ve been only nine or ten, our school was suddenly abandoned for a reason I was never told. Next thing I know I’m taking an hour long bus ride every day to go to some school in a larger town but during the summer I went to that old, empty school and found my way in. I wandered around with a small flashlight for a little while when suddenly I saw a girl around my age sitting on the stairs holding a doll in her lap that looked very similar to herself. We stared at each other for a moment, I was confused and scared but happy to see someone else in somewhere so dark and quiet. Her face though… it was blank and emotionless with black, hollow eyes. She wasn’t unconsciously studying me like I was, she just saw me and accepted me as fact. I went over and sat by her and introduced myself and called her doll pretty then in a quiet and almost dull voice she simply said “Thank you…” I asked her name and she said “Jane…” in that same restrained voice.

I started talking about how I have never had a doll like her’s, the pretty, fragile ones made of glass, she corrected me saying “Porcelain… not glass. Similar. But not the same.” She then held her doll out to me, asking; “Would… you like to hold her?” I was hesitant, afraid that I would drop it by accident but she reassured me by saying “No… it’s okay… I trust you…” with that she put it in my arms. I still remember the feeling, like I was holding a vintage, million dollar vase. I looked to her and stuttered out something to get rid of the silence, I asked her why she was there. She replied with “I don’t know where else to go. And I like it here. I go unnoticed… until you came.” she paused longer than usual before she spoke, finally she said “There’s more dolls… would you like to see?” I nodded and followed her as she got up. Eventually we arrived at a classroom, I told her it was my kindergarten classroom. She echoed my words, “Your classroom…” I remember that was a habit of her’s. Repeating my words back to me like she had to say it herself to fully understand. As odd as it was I never minded it, her voice was so soft and quiet, hearing my words in her voice made me feel good in a way.

We entered and she led me to the closet, she opened it to reveal about a dozen or so porcelain dolls, she said “Pretty aren’t they? Pick your favorite… let’s play…” I reached into the closet, my hand hovering over the dolls and analyzing them when one hidden in the back caught my eye, I reached over and pulled out a beaten up and dirty rag doll. Jane stared at me and asked “Why that one..? The others are prettier.” I told her that I thought the doll looked just as good and that it was pretty in its own way even if it was different. She repeated the words back to me, “Pretty in her own way…” I nodded, saying that I liked rag dolls because they were durable “they can survive being kicked around” I said. She of course repeated that back as she thought about it. I said I admired the idea of being able to take a beating and still keep going. She paused and looked down, “I like that too… She's like you. Different, durable. Not like me, I’m fragile, fragile like my dolly.” I responded “You don’t have to worry, you have me around. I’ll keep you safe.” She looked at me in silence then replied; “You will keep me safe… does that mean you are my friend?” I smiled, saying “Sure!” And she did the same but much more subdued as she said “Thank you… you are… my first friend.” At that my smile dropped a bit and I told her she was mine too. Then suddenly she got up, still holding the doll and said, “I don’t want to be here anymore. Let’s go to the library…” I got excited hearing that. The school’s library was the biggest and only library in town so students and everyone else were free to come in and check out books, it had whole separate doors so people could come in just for the books. I told Jane that I would love to go, that there was a book I wanted to read before the school suddenly closed.

We walked together down the hall, our respective dolls in one hand and each other’s hands in the other. Eventually we reached the library and I told her to sit as I looked for the book I wanted. She did and I browsed the shelves with my vague memory of its location among them. I found it and returned to sit next to her on the large beanbag chair. She glanced at the book and was curious about why I had picked it. I answered by telling her about my great grandmother, explaining how she was a witch and I wanted to learn why my family was so cagey about her. I had to start somewhere and this was it. After I had finished my explanation she said “You had a witch ancestor. That’s why… would you like to read this together? Taking turns… reading aloud?” I smiled and nodded and we began reading. We read about rituals, creatures, history and finally… witchcraft. It claimed that anyone who practiced magic would have their blood become a sort of supernatural magnet, making them and all their descendants more able to find and be found by the paranormal.

As I finished the page I was struck dumb with the new knowledge of my fate. I turned to Jane, scared and confused, she just sat there and mumbled to herself again, “To find and be found… that’s why you could see me. Why we were drawn together… magnetism, gravity…” I didn’t understand what she meant, I said just that and she continued. “Others before… only saw my dolly but you do. You see me, you are… my friend.” I asked why other people couldn’t see her, I asked if she was really some kind of ghost or something similar. She said “Don’t know… maybe. It doesn’t matter… only you matter.” I sighed my way out of my panicked confusion and said alright. Like she said, in that moment what she was didn’t matter. All that did was that we were friends.

The sun’s warm, dimmed colors shone through the windows alerting me to the time. I told Jane that I had to get home and promised I would come back when I could. I felt her grab and squeeze my wrist tight in pure terror of abandonment but like always her face never showed it. I put my hand on her’s and increased the sincerity of my promise. With that she slowly let go and we said our goodbyes. I kept my promise. I saw her almost every day. We would play dolls and read together, we practically read every book there. This continued for years and years, until in the seventh grade a cop saw me sneaking into the school. He followed me inside and found me sitting alone with a porcelain and ragdoll. They couldn’t see Jane. From then on I was never allowed to go back. They boarded up the school and put locks on all the doors. I never got the chance to come back…

[scoffing laugh]

Until today that is. We got a call from some urban explorer, apparently the school had become a hot spot on the forum of people who shared their hobby. Everytime anyone would come there would be a doll watching them, when they weren’t looking it would disappear and reappear somewhere else in the building. If anyone treated it unkindly such as attacking it or mocking it then objects would rise and be thrown at the aggressor. Anyone who had been there noticed how it would suddenly move when not observed but there were only a couple cases of threatening occurrences. One more oddity is that if someone visited after the doll had been damaged then it wouldn’t be there. Instead replaced by a ragdoll. If this doll was damaged however objects would hit the person instead of nearly missing them when the porcelain doll was assaulted. All this info was of course gathered by our clients and Lucy’s lurking in the forums.

With all this swirling inside my mind I entered. The school had become even more disheveled and decrepit than my last visit a decade ago. Paint had decayed and so had the carpets, once a dark blue had turned to a dull gray and dust littered every inch of the building. Eventually I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up, I was filled with the overwhelming feeling that I was being watched, I turned my head and noticed it. Or rather… her. Jane and her doll sitting by her side. Despite the building’s rotting appearance she looked exactly as I remembered. We stared into each other’s eyes for a moment before she broke the silence. She asked, “You’re not looking at my dolly… can you… see me..?” I smiled softly and said “I can. But it’s been a while since you’ve seen me hasn’t it?” Her eyes lifted slightly, probably as much as they could. Then she simply said “Mina…?” in that hushed voice that I hadn’t heard in so long. As the sound of my name in her voice entered my ears my eyes stung with tears. I said yes, I said I was, my voice cracking with emotion. Hearing my confirmation she opened her arms out to me and I rushed into them. I was so much taller than her now, she hugged my waist and I hugged her back. The feeling of her cold skin touching mine was what finally let my tears fall.

During our embrace she quietly admitted that she missed me. This made my heart feel like it was being squeezed and made my tears all the harder. In my pained voice I confessed feeling the same as well as why I never returned, explaining how my parents forbade me from ever returning, how the school was made so getting in was much more difficult to enter, impossible for a child like me to get in. I pulled away and looked in her black and hollow eyes once more and said that I was here now, thanks to the help of some friends. I asked if we were still friends and she said “Yes… always… like we promised…” She paused for a little while then began again with “You look so different… older… Do you still live with your parents?” I said no, I didn’t. I told her that I lived with the two friends I mentioned earlier and planned to travel with them, never staying in one place. I mentioned that we were paranormal investigators, that they let me join because of the occultism in my blood.

She stared at me, blank faced but with a slight hint of worry, she asked “Will you be leaving again?” I nodded and said “Most likely.” But I offered for her to join us, to be with me again, to see all the things we saw in that occult book we read together when we first met. She didn’t speak for a bit but then she answered in her usual whisper, “Yes… I would like that… to be with you. To see and experience those things with you. But… let me do something first.” She got up and I followed. She led me back to that same classroom and opened the closet full of her dolls. She let out a small “goodbye…” to them and reached inside to pull out that same old ragdoll. She turned and handed me it as well as the porcelain she was holding too. She said “Take them… then I will be able to join you.” I nodded solemnly then stood up to exit the school.

I left the building, approached our trailer and entered. There I saw John sitting and reading on the couch. He looked up and said in a calm and cool voice “You certainly took your time. Did you find the source of the occurrences?” I said I did. In fact I always knew. I briefly explained my past with Jane and what happened inside. He nodded, told me, “Nice work.” and returned his attention back to his book. I said thanks and left the trailer to enter the truck-bed camper. As I did I noticed Lucy was asleep already. I laid on the couch under her and placed the dolls on the table. John didn’t notice Jane following me when I came and left but I could still see her. She sat across from me.

She’s sitting there right now as a matter of fact.

[Small laugh and phone tap]

[stuffedwriting]

Woman of woes, suffers the future twice

Cassandra's vision

Gift for @stuffedgamer @stuffedwriting

[stuffedwriting]

I love the girlies

Czarveta and Charlotte for @stuffedgamer

[stuffedwriting]

There she is! The gal herself! Excellent job!

@stuffedgamer asked me to design his character Czarveta so, here she is

My sketches

Also, to clear up confusion, I don't do comissions. And I design characters only for close friends and when I want to lol :]

[stuffedwriting]

Lookin’ sick! (Extra under cut)

Purple gal by the artist (my bf) Bile. Other gals by @cacklingpumpkins

https://b1le.newgrounds.com

[stuffedwriting]

There is a beautiful woman with smooth, white, elegant skin, but not of flesh, rather marble. That rock is the origin of her namesake: “she who is milk-white”, Galatea. A woman given life by Aphrodite for the purpose of the goddess’s most beloved thing, love. The love of her creator Pygmalion. A brilliant sculptor who found all women dull so he crafted his own. Falling for the beauty of the stone bound womanly image. He asked the goddess to give his love life and she agreed. Thus Galatea could move, think and love.

Woefully, flesh rots, that thing the marble woman did not have but her love certainly did, years and years she watched him lessen with age until he died. Her very purpose, loving this man beyond anything, has been fairied to the halls of Hades. Without skin and bone to shrivel and die she could not join him.

She would cry if she could, instead she faked the action, chest heaving with pained, uneven, mimicked cries of utter grief and sorrow. Without direction she wandered, praying to the goddess that had created her, but with no soul her words were never heard.

[stuffedwriting]

Dynamite Ery

[stuffedwriting]

Captain William Scotch and Lady Charlotte Peacock done by the wonderful, talented, amazing @kaifougere666

(Characters originally created by @callmelemu but I stole them cuz he wasn’t doing anything with them)