((Collab Post between Letter Bee as Ascot, Lucek as Omega, and Aqutanama as Jonathan))

[b][i]Flashback Two[/i][/b]

Mysterious happenings were, well, happening on-board the Alfred Nobel. Broken Magitech was suddenly repaired without it being taken to the workshops, Magical Materials were missing without any authorization from the quartermaster, and even broken screens and holographic projectors were suddenly being repaired. Some suspected a poltergiest, and thus Amelia, but, well, Amelia was often asleep when it was time to ask.

That, and the ship was warded against Ghosts, anyway. Same for most spirits. 

Even then the residents of the ship could sometime overhear hushed whispers from corridors with malfunctioning systems. “..so busy… so busy..” or “..so much to do…” were ones that they could make out albeit rarely. However the eerie moving shadows would sometimes make them have shivers, though most of those were believed to be tricks of light rather than something on the ship. This didn’t change the fact that some areas were repaired faster than others, especially those rarely gone to, whereas those often frequented to took more time. It’s as if the one or ones repairing it preferred not to be seen by others. Either that or there were areas which were prioritized.

Jonathan hadn’t been able to sleep for many nights now. His paranoia was in overdrive as to who the culprits were. Although fixing things within the ship didn’t really hurt, it was strange to him that it would be happening after he arrived on the ship. At first he thought that maybe it had been him who had fixed the broken magitech but after a few months of this… He began to wonder if he was losing his mind. Then again he had been on the brink of oblivion before, perhaps this would push him into the vortex. His usually clean, brushed hair was a mess and somewhat sticky. He didn’t really know what was going on with his hair but it looked like a giant spider web. He ran his hand through his hair and it stuck to the other strands making it look as if he had been wearing a helmet. His eyes were bloodshot and wide, he looked somewhat insane. 

Ascot, meanwhile, knew exactly who was repairing the ship and various Magitech pieces, but didn't pay it any mind, and in fact was glad for the repairs, until he noticed that Jonathan had been losing sleep over who was doing the fixing. So, he thought, he'd better ask the man to meet in a private place, so that, well, he can introduce him to the secret member of their misfit team.

Once the boy 'conicidentally' ran into Jonathan, he spoke:

"Unable to sleep? Sorry about that; perhaps some work at the Magitech Workshop would soothe your nerves?" The boy, meanwhile, sent a telepathic message:

[i]I have a secret to tell you; something big, in fact. Let's just say that it's partly my fault you're losing sleep, and, well, I'm sorry."[/i]

Jonathan jumped as his back was to Ascot. Slowly his head creaked as he looked at the young man. His eyes were a sight to see, the bags under his eyes were very dark. His skin was almost pale and very slimy looking. A small somewhat crooked smile crossed his face as he touched the young boy. As if he had been seeing things that made him think he was insane. His mind had wandered into the worst possible things to think about. Next would have been intense hallucinations. His eyebrow rose slightly as he thought that perhaps he was hallucinating. But he nodded after Ascot asked for them to go to the shop. It was all in Jonathan’s mind and if Ascot were a phantasm he would find out there. 

Ascot led Jonathan into the Magitech Workshop, a place filled with strange-looking tools and equipment that he was hard-pressed to name or even describe without magic. Once he had checked, through both magical and mundane means, that there was no one listening or setting electronic bugs so that they can listen, the boy then spoke:

"Before we started our trip, I recruited another person, one with a darker past than you have, but, strangely, with a more innocent heart. He is a master of Magitech, like you, but he's also experienced in the ways of Death as well as Fate. Omega," the boy spoke gently, "You can come out of my shadow now."

The shadows stirred slightly at Ascot’s words as if reacting to them. The room got a bit darker, but it was mostly around the boy’s feet. His shadow expanded behind him and is seemed a shape started slowly rising out of it. Though it lasted only a few seconds what appeared couldn't be called a man as it was… a cat. The little animal looked at both of those present and meowed happily. It walked past them right behind Jonathan. If they turned around they’d see the little one jumping up onto Omega’s lap to cuddle up with its counterpart, the fox that was already there. The man just sat there as if he was there all the time. However he couldn’t have as they’d see him, same as the chair he was on. Like before he wore his robe, with his mask on his chest, his hood down as he looked at the two before him, lightly petting the two animals. At his belt the pale light of his magic cloaking device indicated it was on, hiding his magic from being sensed as he used it. “You called?” He asked quietly, slightly smiling.

“And here I thought I was going even more insane.” Jonathan said as if everything was now explained and fine. He used his life magic to reduce the physical effects on his body from being sleep deprived. “I had been using all of my attention to try and figure out what was happening.” He clarified with a somewhat sleepy voice. He rubbed his eyes removing a few layers of unsightly eye goop that had formed.
 
“Hello.” He said mildly as he held out his hand to the shadow apparition. At this moment in time he was far too tired to be even a little mad. He just wanted to sleep.

"Sorry about this deception, but, well, Omega's presence would be more controversial than even yours, sadly," spoke Ascot. "Anyway, you two are guys I'd like to be friends, or at least, allies. Think you can manage that?" Ascot smiled.

Omega shook Jonathan’s hand and shook it briefly. “Sorry for making you loose sleep, I just can’t leave things alone, better they work than not.” He smiled, then went back to the two little ones on his lap. “Well I think there will be no problem since he knows that I exist.” He chuckled lightly. ”Though how this relationship goes only time will tell.” He moved his attention from Ascot to Jonathan. “Also if you need anything from me just call me, all shadows are connected and I am told when I am called.”

After finding out that there wasn’t any danger around his body went limp. As if the weeks or months that this strange occurrence had kept him awake the entire time. He fell forward landing onto Omega, rather roughly. All that could be heard from him was the slow breathing, his eyes closed. As the darkness took him over, deep sleep finally took him. 

As Jonathan started falling towards Omega, the latter wasn’t alarmed nor did he seem to move, after all the fall of the former was stopped by many shadowy tendrils, holding the former up. “He really was tired. Let’s let him rest.” He whispered as he moved Jonathan onto the bed pulling a blanket over him after doing so. “If you need me call me.” Were his words before he just faded away, returning to the shadows. [i]”More explanations can wait till he’s rested and wants to talk.”[/i] After that he said nothing more.

End of Flashback.