#halbermenschen / darby

[idiotheart]

@halbermenschen + darby / starter call.

Ezzie tilts her head to the side, absentmindedly packing away her nail polish; not the first time she’s seen a ghost, Echo notwithstanding, but she doesn’t recall seeing anyone who looked like a 50s guy. Yeah, Echo sure looks like the personification of the 70s himself, but that’s about as old as they’ve been. And she’s only seen like... five of ’em. Either way, novel.

She raises a hand in a lazy wave, a friendly smile on her face. “Hey. You alright?” Hm, youch? He’s dead. But so’s she, sort of. Vampirism is a weird sort of dead. “Apart from the whole... ‘being dead’ thing.”

[hacketted]

@halbermenschen sent: "i can’t fathom taking up space like that." from darby?

     The first time he’d met Darby, Travis hadn’t been entirely sure what he was seeing; sure, the death wound was something of a give-away, but perhaps it was some part of a strange gag, to go with the fact that the guy looked like he’d teleported from the 50s. But it had taken Travis a good five or more seconds to even start to lean into the option, the possibility, that this new companion of his was a ghost. Could’ve been an extra on a movie set if it weren’t for the fact that they weren’t anywhere near a movie set.

     Darby’s far from the worst kind of company, despite the initial shock.

     Travis had been... oh, reminiscing, he’s embarrassed to say, about home -- his ex-home, he guesses he should call it -- talking about how he misses it all. They’re only fresh acquaintances, barely a couple of weeks knowing each other, but he doesn’t feel that sense of self-reproach when he voices a feeling, and Darby’s been fine with that, so far.

     So he must’ve said something to set Darby off like that. A moment’s consideration: who did he leave behind, what kind of life it was, how much he misses it, how much he remembers (and how much may just be nostalgia, but Travis isn’t trying to be cruel, so he won’t voice that). A curl of smoke leaves his lips (better to smoke-drive than drink-drive) as he ponders a response, something that could be helpful. It’s been a long while since he’s had to comfort anyone.

     “Well I would hope not.” Only the slightest pause: he’s trying to be teasing, as a friend, maybe. “I hope someone let you take up more space than that.” Because yes, Travis misses it, but his life then was small. And maybe it always will be, but at least he has more of a choice. At the cost of some of his family’s lives, he thinks, and it’s a bitter aftertaste.

     “Did someone let you? Take up space, I mean. Family, friends...”

[spxnglr]

❝ Sir, with all due respect, you do realise you don’t actually have to continue your job, now that you’ve been dead for several years? ❞

@halbermenschen​ || 𝚂𝙲.​

[theundecider]

[ @halbermenschen​ / darby + zoe / randomized starter call. ]

Zoe can’t remember the last time she’d ever seen a door-to-door salesman -- although it’d been some time since she’d had any... normal contact with actual regular people who weren’t sick with mold -- but this fella certainly fits the part, with his little briefcase and everything. She starts wondering what kinda story he’d be spinning for her and Uncle Joe when she notices that he is, indeed, not normal. But he seems personable, not a shambling wreck of a once-was.

“Jesus,” she mutters, stepping onto the deck, lunchtime forgotten. “Uh, hello? You...” Panic is ratcheting up the longer she stares at the large, gaping hole in his stomach. He’s dead? Oh God, he’s dead? “You don’t look too good, right now.” It’s a miracle she can keep her voice calm, but she’s been through worse. Still, seeing a dead man is... upsetting.

[teletropic]

𝐝𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝   𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫   &   𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝   𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬   ╱   @halbermenschen⠀  ▬⠀  send   a   ♡ .

i.   FRIENDS   :   childhood friends  /  work friends  /  family friends  /  recently friends  /  turning antagonistic  /   turning into something romantic  /  stable  /  falling apart  /   friendship of need  /  friendship of circumstance  /  pen - pals or internet friends  /  coworkers  /  partners ( allies )  /  other . ii.   ROMANCE   :   childhood sweethearts  /  newly entered  /  soulmates  /  skinny love  /  unrequited from my muses side  /  unrequited from your muses side  /  friends with benefits  /  awkward  /  fading  /  turning toxic  /  toxic & destructive  /  other . iii.   FAMILIAL BOND   :   sibling bond  /  older sibling figure to your muse  /  younger sibling figure to your muse  /  parental figure to your muse  /  child figure to your muse  /  guardian figure  /  legal guardian  /  other . iv.   ENEMIES   :   dangerous to themselves  /  dangerous to others  /  unpredictable  /  passionate  /  rivals  /  petty  /  developing into a sexual tension  /  developing into a romantic tension  /  based off family matters  /  based off circumstance  /  based off professional matters  /  based off misunderstandings or lies  /  other .

[dirtypaw]

@halbermenschen​ liked x. 

          “  listen,  i think i need to tell you this,  because i think you need to be aware.  “  shilah holds out his fingers,  pressing on each one for his points.  “  the only people that come knock on doors anymore are trying to sell you a religion;  a kid trying to obtain that apple watch by selling five thousand dollars worth of overpriced items you really don’t need;  the cops complaining about something or the other;  girl scouts selling their cookies,  which are the most welcome here.  so.  “  he waves his hand at darby.  “  you get the point.  “ 

[twosense]

@halbermenschen​​.

         ‘ forgive my bluntness, but you bear a— ’ suddenly dry-mouthed and diffident, (something about the atmosphere,) ozzie has to stop and swallow mid-sentence. ‘ —remarkable resemblance to an actor i rather admire. you must have heard this. ’

[metuere-now-exspiritment]

@halbermenschen​ // for darby

“You go door-to-door like that? And that’s just, like, fine? That works? Nobody asks questions?” 

Spirit rubs her eyes, inadvertently smearing eye makeup down her cheeks. “Maybe I’m seeing something I’m not supposed to.”

[terriblefool-a]

@halbermenschen. 

     ‘ gosh, what a clever set-up you have there. ’ 

     oblivious to the truth in his appearance, the look on tracy’s face is pure, (and only slightly) scandalized curiosity. truly, she only wonders if he’s a movie star. for there’s no other explanation for a pallor quite that dismal, much less the mess that’s been made of his stomach, is there? must be. and then -- she remembers the question she’s allowed to go on unanswered. she fans a hand, a physical counterpart for the apology she offers. 

     ‘ so very sorry -- you were saying something? ’ 

[cultheroine]

@halbermenschen / call

Donning a deep purple, floor-length robe, her hair all tied up amidst curlers, Faye answers the door. She smells sweetly of rose petals and perfume, the house behind her smells of thick incense smoke. 

     ‘ Sorry, ’  she’s been listening, really,  ‘ do you want to come inside? The sun’s in my eyes. I’ll make a pot of tea, if you drink that sort of thing. ’

[yxkanna-a]

@halbermenschen​

          “YEAH, I’M COMIN’, I’m comin’,” is his mildly irritated response to the knock on his door. He doesn’t get visitors all that often, especially not unannounced ones- might be one of his neighbors inquiring about the Internet connection again. It was always fine, the guy just didn’t know how to use a laptop-

          HE TUGS HIS shirt down as he answers the door, letting out a little huff as he speaks. “Yeah, can I h...”

          HE TRAILS OFF as he processes the man before him. The eyes were white- was he blind? It seemed a different kind of white than something like cataracts, though- there was a very obvious hole in the man’s stomach (looked like a point-blank blast with a shotgun, he’s seen them before). But that should’ve-

          “... OH,” IS THE only thing his mind can muster up in this situation. What else can you say when a dead guy shows up at your door?

[khaloymes-a]

@halbermenschen​  liked for a starter!

The ring of the doorbell alerted Johnnie, leaving him to set aside the newspaper he was reading. He quickly straightens out his shirt and slacks before approaching the door, curious as to who it could be. No one had said they were stopping by today! With the opening of the door came a friendly greeting from the journalist, who saw it was just a salesman. Perhaps he could use something new!

Any pondering of what products the man could be selling was soon halted at a second glance of the salesman. He was, quite frankly, something that looked otherworldly. In other words: dead, or at least quite near it. No, that couldn’t be right! Surely, surely the man was just ill, even if it didn’t explain the horrifying hole that was present in his stomach. Johnnie removed his glasses, wiped the lenses in rush, and replaced them—only to see the same result as before.

He staggers back slightly, aghast at the sight before him. A hand ran through his hair in an attempt to settle his nerves as a shaky smile overtook any horror that was present on his features. Approaching the door once more, he gives an apologetic look towards the ghostly figure. “Gosh, I am rather easily spooked today, aren’t I! Pardon me, mister. Gee, I’d still enjoy a look through your catalogue if you have one. Oh! And do come in.” The quick change in attitude came from a place of respect, as the dead deserved. It was rude to refuse someone who seemed so benevolent!

Johnnie holds the door open wider, inviting the other to make himself at home. There certainly was a residual fear in him, but he tried to swallow it down in order to be a hospitable host. Perhaps the salesman had quality items! It wouldn’t hurt to find out, right?

[theundecider]

[ @halbermenschen​ / starter. ]

Rarely is Echo drawn to other ghosts -- in fact, it’s more like a crossing of wires, which tends to happen more often than actually being drawn to them, although there’s been the odd occasion where has just bumped into others on pure coincidence -- but it seems that this salesman fella’s got some pull. Perhaps it’s the whole ‘keep doing your thing even in death’ thing (which is kinda scary to think about because what if you end up lost in it forever?) that’s tugged on Echo’s strings. At least the dude’s lucid enough.

“Mind if I walk with you?” he asks, supposing he can just leave the Q&A session for later if this guy ever asks anything, although Echo isn’t keen on the typical interrogations, the who-are-yous and why-are-you-heres, and so on. “You look a bit on the glum-chum side, which I can understand.”

[aspirinqs]

@halbermenschen​​ / call: darby.

    “you’ll have to excuse my friends. you see, what may seem like thoughtless gossip on their part is truly more flattering speculation. it would appear that they have, in fact, wagered you as a movie star. and just to, well, to lay the matter to rest ... ”

[eurosleazarchive]

@halbermenschen​ (darby)    ( track: fade away [ft. nina], futurecop! )

“ -- something's holding me back. ”  not that sadie can really say anything.  she’s not the one who’s dead (though she’s a dead woman in another sense).  there’s a gentle wave of her hand.  “ -- ah, i ramble.  how are you doing?  you’re doing-- okay, right? ”

[believedtruly-a]

–––– oliver was always the one to close . everyone else had families to go home to and responsibilities to uphold , and , well , OLIVER DIDN’T . there was always a strange energy after closing — was it the emptiness ? the dimly lit backroom ? the humming of the freezer ? the way the parking lot becomes fully eaten by darkness once the neon lights are shut off ? and it’s always worse when it rains , like it is now . it’s STORMING out there , with absolutely no signs of it stopping . the napkins are all folded . the trash has been taken out . and now , oliver is just waiting for it to slow down enough that she can comfortably walk home ; it wasn’t that she hated the rain , SHE HATES WALKING ALONE DURING STORMS , or at all , for that matter . this is how most horror movies start , and she’s not sure if she’s equipped enough to be the final person . the creeping feeling of electricity starts to perk her up — something is nearby .  something not right . the ringing of ears , the tensing of muscles .         A CRACK OF THUNDER . the pull - up is lit up for a single second , and she sees a figure , who seems to disappear .    “ WHAT IN THE HELL ? ” she’s perched in a booth , hands pressed against the foggy glass as she fixates outside . eyes strain through the darkness , trying to pick apart any shapes , BUT NOTHING . the feeling has only gotten stronger , and it’s making her skin crawl . she wants to find out where it’s coming from . she needs to get this feeling out of her body .         in exasperation , oliver gets up from her cozy , warm spot in the corner booth , and heads for the door . oh . she forgot to turn the open sign . maybe someone saw the sign and her still seated and thought it was open . “ not anymore , bucko , ” she mumbles , flipping the sign to the CLOSED side . but the feeling hasn’t gone away . the humming of the freezer in the back seems to get louder , like static , and SHE’S ABOUT READY TO JUMP OUT OF HER SKIN . “ fine . ” the door unlocks , and she flings it open . “ HELLO ? anyone out here ? we’re closed ! ” yeah , oliver . that’ll show whatever nearby entity who’s boss !

@halbermenschen​ liked for a starter for darby !