socrowdedinhere | (no subject)

Who: Sam, Noemi, Rick, and Hellboy
What: Something terrible is happening, and Sam ends up with two (of the three) best paranormal investigators on the case to help her out.
Where: Various
When: Late spring 2022

Sam had decided to take Noemi on a little vacation. So long as she keeps Noemi's anchor item, a lovely little paperweight, bundled safely in her backpack, Sam can take her friend to places, and, at a signal, let the spirit of the young lady take control to see things for herself. They're two days into things.

Noemi is in control of Sam's body, enjoying the sights and sounds around her as she chats quietly with Sam in her head (in English! She wants to practice as much as possible!). She's having so much fun, and will cherish the memory forever for sure!

The good feelings don't last, though. A low rumble trembles in the air. No one else seems to notice or react, but Noemi stops, hands coming up to grip her head. Sam will sense the sharp pain Noemi feels just before the girl let's out a blood curdling shriek. This tattooed woman stopping in the middle of everything, hands to her head, screaming at the top of her lungs, has the crowed moving away from her, staring, startled, and unsure of what to do or what the problem is.

(No, no, no, no.) Noemi's voice is full of panic and pain, and plenty of confusion. She doesn't know what's happening, but it hurts! (S-sam....h-help!) The scream stops as her hold on Sam slips, leaving Sam in control of her body once more.

Sam will see Noemi's spirit for the first time outside of a dream. The ethereal image is faint, and will disappear from view quickly, but in that moment she looks like some stuntman in a movie being yanked backwards by a harness. Sam will be able to follow Noemi's aura as it disappears, not into her anchor item, but away through the crowd.

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Nodding at Rick, Sam mouthed 'oh, yeah,' while she waited... and waited... and waited... and started to wonder, though the pick-up came a second later. Sam straightened, now intent on the call. "Hi. I don't know you, and you don't know me, but I want you to know I'm sorry for cold-calling, and wouldn't if this wasn't serious. My friend and I are at a loss dealing with what's definitely a dangerous problem, so I'm sorta sorry to be so blunt but: you know anything about a ghost-snatching shadow thing dickin' about Quebec?"

Sam might catch the soft "huh..." from Rick but, again, he didn't want to risk fouling up the ritual by breaking her concentration or something. Then the line was picked up. Rick waved eagerly for her attention with a 'come on/ come here' gesture and a hoarse whisper of "Sam! Speakerphone..."

"...you call me on my personal phone and you don't know who I am?" Yep, that incredulous question is her first response. For what it's worth, there's no hint of offense. The tone is just the same level of shock she'd likely get if she'd somehow bypassed all telephonic security measures to call the phone in the Oval Office directly, untapped, and NOT know that she'd just reached the President of the United States.

But then the voice on the other end of the line seems to get down to business. "Name's Hellboy. I'm with the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense."

Rick couldn't help his flabbergasted outburst. "H-Hellboy!? Sam, YOU CALLED HELLBOY!?"

A chuff of humor sounded from the other end of the line. "The one and only, kid. And to answer your question . . . I know something about a soul-snatching shadow thing that might have fled as far as Quebec by now." There are some sounds and a grunt and some more sounds - he's shifted his cell phone to his stone hand so he can dig out some notes from one of his belt pouches. "What city are you in? And have you tried to engage the thing? If not, don't."

That whisper prompted Sam into a sort of apologetic flinch---the sort of silent 'sorry, sorry!' someone might manage after accidentally forcing a fellow driver to brake, though she mouthed the words as well while switching to speakerphone.

"Long story," was what she managed, before Hellboy introduced himself; after, she managed to tamp down an audible reaction but mouthed JACKPOT to Rick, holding her free hand up, fisted, in triumph.

"We're in Quebec City. I've seen the thing---it snatched my friend---and my other friend and I have been trying to narrow down where it's at, but no, we've not tried to engage." Lucky for IT.

"Hmn. Sorry about your friend. I'm currently in Denver, Colorado. Gonna take me a couple hours to get up there. How do I get a hold of you once I'm in town? Your number's showing as Unlisted."

Rick had already pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and was tossing Sam a business card. "Here, give him mine. It's my cell."

"Thank you. And yeah, s---one sec. Thanks," That last was in response to Rick; Sam read the information on his card off, and added, "And since I should introduce myself at some point, Sam Patchowski. I'm staying at Chateau Frontenac. Rick's got a pretty decent dossier on the thing's recent activity, I've got probably the best eyewitness statement and a great desire to do this thing harm, I guess we'll talk more once you get here?"

"Sam Pachowskee, Shattoh Frontinknack." Tone of voice was that he's writing what he's saying. "Your buddy's Rick and the number you gave is his cell?" Tone of double-checking this time.

"Yeah, Rick Rogers, Paranormal Files Detective Agency."

"Paranormal Files . . . you're based out of Reno, right?"

The surprise on Rick's face was clear. "Yeah, that's right!"

"You're a long way from home, kid."

"I've been hired by a guy in the local law enforcement. Apparently, he has family in Reno who suggested he call me."

"Huh. Good call, sounds like. All right, I'll make arrangements as soon as we hang up. Should be there in 3-4 hours, tops. Stay put." And he hung up.

Rick stared at Sam, flabbergasted. "Hellboy's familiar with my agency!?" Not that he expected her to answer. The question was rhetorical, but he still had to say it aloud in his astonishment.

((I'm kinda figuring it's not actually that surprising. I'd imagine the BPRD would keep tabs on any other outfits that deal with the paranormal, whether or not they interfere. Hell, they and MCF probably covertly cooperate from time to time. Info exchange if nothing else.))

"Hellboy's familiar with your agency!" Rick deserved to hear it from someone else, but that wasn't all he deserved; hand up for a high-five, a grinning Sam came over. "Hellboy's familiar with your agency... and on his way to help after being cold-called. I--man, I don't know if I'm just onto something with my lucky charms or what, but I kinda don't care as long as this luck lasts. Shit. This has taken a turn. We might actually get Noemi out okay."

She wanted to stop there, but couldn't in good conscience---that felt too much like she'd jinx things, and, anyways, ~~as it so often did~~ her mouth wanted to add more.

"...if we don't, got good odds on getting her avenged."

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Still signed in here, turns out, so just gonna tag both here

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I'm changing where he's at - he's in New York rather than Denver

o7