Question The Haunting of Jennifer Kelly!

Dreamer wrote: SPOILER ALERT
Below is a stream of conscious commentary I type up as I read the story. There will details from the story included in it. If you have not read the story yet and don't wish to have details of it spoiled, read no further.


The Haunting of Jennifer Kelly Part 1 comments

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Jennifer Kelly having those thoughts while reading a romance novel, blaming the book for her current dream, heh, if only she knew. Fear of the horse and its rider, is it Laneth I wonder. Though it sounds more like memories of Laneth once again with the battle scene and warriors. And the woman who looks like her demanding Jennifer give her back her life, oh boy. And ouch, dream within a dream, seeing Wicked or who she thinks is Wicked demanding she give her back her life. At least it wasn't a 10+ dreams within a dream before finally waking up.

Interesting song lyrics, never heard it before. Tansy looking in the side tunnel of Kane Three Twenty One, at least she hasn't given up hope they are still alive. *eyes bug out* Okay, what the what. Grizzly is bound to Tansy now, Tansy's mental powers allowed her and Lanie to trade their spirits for the ruse, that is major. And Kayda is there and wishes to speak to her, wonder if she found something new about Lanie.

A restored '34 Ford, whoa, now there is a great project for the Gearheads. And meeting in 'her' office, and how did Kayda f'up. And a charm to suspend the illusion on Tansy, this is huge for Kayda to go to such lengths. Ouch, a lot of pain to go around. Oh crud, Laneth was asleep or dormant and Kayda woke up her up, at least partially. Hope this doesn't do more damage than help.

And knew Lanie and Tansy were doing that, just not that deeply, it is a wonder Tansy didn't walk a mile in Laneth's boots. Oh crud, night terrors for poor Lanie aka 'Jennifer Kelly', they have to find her fast before she suffers a breakdown.

Abraham Stein and Sons, talk about highly secure and durable building, able to stand up to an Exemplar Five, scary. And Jennifer Kelly is there, to deliver an uncut emerald to Ferraro and Cohen Jewelers, wonder how much that thing is worth. Idiot tried to bait and switch her with a lab created stone, not smart. Boy, all those things that make it obvious as lab created, good eye and knowledge.

Wyatt Virgil Cody Junior on a castle themed gym set, sounds fun. 6 years old, already over 4'6" tall and 70 lbs, with very little fat, has he already manifested or does he just get a lot of exercise and is big for his age. Dad 6'6' and mom 5'11", wonder how big he will be when he finishes growing. And even inherited his mom's sharp, keen mind, pity the poor kids who try to bully him physically or intellectually. And his twin sister, Constance Elizabeth Cody, is as tall as him, dang.

Oh boy, wondering about Grandma Carson and why they can't go visit her, poor kids. Peregrine and Winnie, talking about their friends at school, curious. Oh boy, Junior wishing to find out more, to use their mom's tricorder and thinking if they break it their mom can just make another one, not good. Liam's Folly, wonder what kind of distraction that is, it is a wonder these two don't get in even more trouble.

Tansy having an instant dislike of the new headmaster, should have seen that coming. Details on the event which lead to this whole mess, Kayda saying it is Ty West's fault. Still using that Tonto nickname for Kayda, only a true friend can get away with that. All that data and Jennifer Kelly comes up, the name on the fake IDs, yet didn't come up till now because the MID was too badly burned at the time and took 8 months to figure out it was the Wicked MID, dang. And why they weren't alerted, if they had just been alerted this whole mess could have avoided!

'Jennifer Kelly' came out of the coma in 2014 but with Post Traumatic Stress Amnesia, another reason they didn't find anything out until now. No, just because she has been living a new life for 2 years doesn't mean the Elaine they knew is gone. Tansy sounds like she is ready to just give up, saying she will try and fix her, if 'Jennifer Kelly' lets her. To find out she is alive, yet gone for good would be too much.

Baby Girl, Junior is going to mess with Baby Girl, that kid is nuts! Love the detailed description of Baby Girl, now that is a car. Junior going through all those steps, spanking of his life doesn't cover this stunt. At least his parents are quick and get Baby Girl shut down fast before any damage can be done. And chewed out by mom, never scare you parents with a reckless stunt like this.

Wait, in the back of his mind Peregrine told Junior that rank, bitter smell from his mother was fear, don't tell me Junior is an avatar and has a spirit called Peregrine. Sent to bed and another warning from mom, hope Junior has learned his lesson. I don't want to think of the punishment 'Lanie' can come up with.

Another dream for 'Jennifer' from Laneth's time, Viking raid on their village and she is just acting without thinking, firing a bow before its string is cut by an enemy's sword, attacking with a dagger, this is just brutal. Impaled on a sword and pulls it closer so she could kill her attacker with her dagger before she goes down to her wound, now that is badass. And Laneth calling, saying to give her back her life again, what a way for a dream to end.

The March of Dreams, Junior thinking he heard something and being shown how to fly by Peregrine aka Perry for short. Ouch, heading towards the sound of his mother screaming only to be woken up by falling out of bed painfully. Constance comes in, knowing Junior fell out of bed and has the tricorder. And as they read the readout of the tricorder it reminds us despite their intelligence they are still kids, having trouble with some words, though ones some adults would have trouble with. Unknown electromagnetic pattern detected and they think it is Grandma Carson, oh boy.

'Lanie' having to go and help Kayda for a Nations thing, Wyatt wondering if there is any way he can convince her not to go. Great, extremists in the Nations talking about war and violence, no wonder Wyatt is concerned about 'Lanie' going. 3 months ago, Junior was caught playing with the cars 3 months ago and was warned his dad would tan his hide if he did it again and he still went for it, gutsy kid.

Given a choice like that, even my brother would have taken the spanking, no Playstation or television for a week would have been a nightmare. Next time, 4 lashes with the belt and a week grounding, Junior better never mess with the cars again. And Junior is more upset about how he scared their mom so bad than the spanking, good kid at heart.

Very nice shower set-up for 'Jennifer Kelly' and her lover. Traumatized by the dream, upset she caused Sarah pain by describing the dream in such detail, how much longer will this go on. Sarah so willing to do so much for 'Jennifer', but says her love has to face this fear. Find out who Wicked was, wonder what other details Carson put into that cover identity that could cause problems now. Great, distracting her lover so she won't have to look up who Wicked was just yet, sneaky.

The twins are down there in the Kane tunnels, not good. Green house stunt last winter, ooo, sounds fun. And detect an air tunnel with the tricorder only for the guard to hear it. Kids in the ducts and the guards know the Cody kids are around somewhere. Following a signal still, just what lab or room are they in to have such stuff and weird shadows. Human shaped shadows within a larger shadow, are Carson and the others trapped out of phase in another dimension closely overlapping the material plane.

Obsidian mirror standing in a structure of black iron or another dark metal alloy. All that stuff to analyze the artifact, just what is going on. Obsidian mirror makes me think of the Smoke Mirror. Winnie says they should leave, don't tell me the twins are both avatars and have spirits due to what was done to their mom years before they were born.

Unimaginable danger, you hear that, you high tail it out of there! A symbol burned into the wall and burning in deeper, combine with how the shadows in the room acted and the obsidian mirror, it is the Smoke Mirror or something equally as dangerous. Aztec artifacts and anything similar should be examined, from at least several miles away remotely.

Tansy packing for the trip, Wyatt hugging her from behind and saying she could never travel light. Didn't wish to spank their children past five unless they have to and it was needed this time, Baby Girl is a powerful machine and very dangerous.

"As our eldest two are off playing and young Stephan is spending the afternoon with the Bartons, I thought you might assist me in the field studies in biology." His massive hands came up from her hips and took hold of her chest. "Reproductive biology, specifically."

He definitely has a way with word.

Back to 'Jennifer' and Sarah, website of Department of Paranormal Affairs, 30 minutes just to log in and such, government website alright. And the cover for Wicked, B&E of jewelry exchange in Atlanta, but plea bargain so nothing but the B&E on record, a thief and 32, if only there was more. Degree from Kennesaw State University, which is in Georgia, north of Atlanta, wonder if they will visit there now. And mention of attending Whateley Academy in New Hampshire, wonder if that will jog some memories.

She recalls the Crystal Hall, there is hope! Staff listing down for maintenance, or at least that is what the Whateley Academy site says, darn. Wicked as heroine and with the Sioux Falls League in a photograph, so Lanie did switch to using it after she graduated. And now they think Amelia Hartford will have all the answers, this is getting more complicated the more they find out. And the information is out of date, they think Amelia Hartford is still assistant headmistress at Whateley and playing a trip to visit there, oh boy. Tansy and Kayda in New York will these two head to Whateley, hope they get back before 'Jennifer' and Sarah leave.

Anne wrote: You name the wrong car...

Warning: Spoiler! [ Click to expand ] [ Click to hide ]

Not Baby Girl, Liam's Folley...

Anne wrote: Read carefully,

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procedure is for starting aircraft engine. Last I heard, Baby Girl was not nicknamed Liam's Folly (nor did it have a 12 cylinder aircraft engine) as well... Also description mentions Rolls Royce...

Here's the passage:

Warning: Spoiler! [ Click to expand ] [ Click to hide ]

His Mom's Mustang, Baby Girl was in an extra, canvas garage in front of the door of this bay to keep it from the weather. With a look at his watch, Junior took another mental brave pill and pulled the tarp from over the car. ]Underneath was a gleaming black 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The body was thick plates of steel, but it was the massive twelve cylinder Merlin engine under the hood that was going to serve him.[/u There were no mufflers for this car, nothing that was strong enough for the massive aviation engine that had been shoe horned into it, merely glass packs to deaden the concussive force of the exhaust underlines added by me for emphasis...

She had long ago gotten used to the dryly humorous spirit her mental powers had allowed her to trade with the real Elaine so their ruse would be complete.

E. E. Nalley wrote: Indeed, this is what is under the tarp, affectionately known as Liam's Folly. except, the folly is a hardtop, and is left-hand drive, but you get the idea…

Now, how this came into Elaine's possession, therein lies a tale…

Dreamer wrote:

E. E. Nalley wrote: Indeed, this is what is under the tarp, affectionately known as Liam's Folly. except, the folly is a hardtop, and is left-hand drive, but you get the idea…

Now, how this came into Elaine's possession, therein lies a tale…

Oh goodie, sounds like another story in the works from you, E.E. And I'm curious, did the original design of said vehicle have even close to that main steps to starting it up, because that was a lot just to start up a car.

pumpernickel wrote:
Uh, what? Is this a thing? Is spirit trading between avatars a thing that can happen and I just didn't know about it?

Kristin Darken wrote:

Dreamer wrote: because that was a lot just to start up a car.

Ah, but how does it compare to starting up a small jet plane? Because engine wise... Liam's Folly probably is more akin to the small jet than the original automobile that its exterior shows.

Kristin Darken wrote:

pumpernickel wrote: Uh, what? Is this a thing? Is spirit trading between avatars a thing that can happen and I just didn't know about it? Like, "I'll trade you my Iroquis deer spirit for a water elemental and a Charizard to be named later"? I know Tansy's telepathy is decent, but even if it were extremely powerful, why would that enable her to just swap spirits with another person? Aren't those two separate fields?

It has very little to do with her Telepathy and more to do with her mental discipline built up as a result of Telepath training. Also, Loophole is not an Avatar. That matters.

Kristin Darken wrote: Baseline humans (and non-Avatar humans) have no hallow at all. But it is possible through shamanic magick to create an artificial one.

.......

So, no. Kayda did not 'make' Loophole into an Avatar. To most common observations it might appear to be the same thing... but there is a distinct difference in how the interaction plays out. Part of that is that the spirit is bonded to the host with magick. And it is 'fed' via that magick. With an Avatar, the bond is symbiotic on the extra-planar levels.

The Grizzly's proposition to Lanie was very unusual and pretty direct. She would bond with Lanie in the same way spirits bonded with avatars - granting her protection, especially from the Kodiak's mind-messing. And then she told Lanie that a person's hallow, which held that person's own spirit, could be expanded through shaman rituals, that one didn't have to be an avatar to host another spirit. Lanie gawked at me.

E. E. Nalley wrote:

pumpernickel wrote:
Uh, what? Is this a thing? Is spirit trading between avatars a thing that can happen and I just didn't know about it?

Oh no, this is something completely different. But related. Kissing cousins, you might say. And you've seen it before. I'd say where, but that would be telling and I wouldn't want to deprive you of the fun...

Malady wrote:

I think this is the right story that you're talking about... [ Click to expand ] [ Click to hide ]

What, do you mean that plot in the tunnels, with Esoteric?

Sir Lee wrote: Now, that mechanic would be a problem for the setting, in meta terms. But it's solvable -- just postulate that, while survivable, the death of a host is a strong trauma for a (non-Force) spirit, which would be severely weakened for a long time afterwards. That would make acquiring a spirit by such simple means pretty much pointless -- you get a weak spirit taking space in your Hallow, absorbing mana from you, and it might be what, years? before the spirit heals enough to grant you any abilities.

The Boys of Summer wrote:
Again the stallion snorted his laughter. "Will I betray you is what you mean?" He managed around his mirth. "The answer to that question is no, because as intimate my sharing your body will be, my essence will be shared with your soul. That bonding will last until the end of time. And when you die I will suffer as well. The last human I was bonded with died decades before you were born, in the war your mind calls Vietnam. I am only just now coming to a place where I would consider bonding with a human again and over the pain of that loss. So you need not fear Tansy Walcutt. I will do everything in my power to keep you alive and whole and I am well motivated to do so."

Sir Lee wrote: Now, going back to the spirit-stealing scheme... it was said at the time that there was no known way to sever the avatar link. Thinking about it, that can't possibly be right.

Rose Bunny wrote: I'm still pondering whether "Winnie" is Winnihape... and if so, what's that mean for Danny?

The boy waved off her concerns with a dismissive gesture. “Ms. Tatum is over by the merry go round, she can't hear us. What does Winnie say?”

Connie sat down as well and curled her well-worn jeans under herself while straightening her Rainbow Dash T-shirt. “She says she doesn't like it when you call her Winnie,” Connie answered primly. Junior rolled his eyes and made a gesture of impatience at his sister.

Junior started as he thought he heard something. He was flying, not particularly high above the trees and Perry was showing him how to wheel and hover on the air currents. Flying was easily his favorite way to spend his dreams, but now he was certain he had heard his mother cry out. He banked sharply away from Perry and trimmed his wings to pick up speed. Below him, the landscape blurred as he flew as fast as he could in the sound of the scream. Below him he saw a horse and a rider, but as he dove down to further investigate he slipped off the bed and crashed to the floor in a lump.

“Ow,” he muttered as he picked himself up and rubbed the point of his chin that had taken the brunt of the fall. He looked up on cue as the door to the bathroom he shared with his sister opened and his twin came into the room.

Mister D wrote: That obsidian mirror that they found in the lab with the shadows, would that be the Mirror of Octozingo that appeared in Silent Nacht?

Sir Lee wrote: Nah. It's the Monolith from "2001".

Seriously, though... I thought it had been said before that Hartford had refused the job and quit, due to being distraught over the disappearance of her fiancé -- you know, Lord Paramount. Not to mention that, public image aside, she was quite close to Carson, and that had to have an impact too.

E. E. Nalley wrote: Oh no, this is something completely different. But related. Kissing cousins, you might say. And you've seen it before. I'd say where, but that would be telling and I wouldn't want to deprive you of the fun...

Ametros wrote:

E. E. Nalley wrote: Oh no, this is something completely different. But related. Kissing cousins, you might say. And you've seen it before. I'd say where, but that would be telling and I wouldn't want to deprive you of the fun...

Cue Rose Bunny asking about Spirit-chan?

Sir Lee wrote: Really, pretty much anybody Jennifer meets at Whateley would greet her with "Hi, Elaine, did you dye your hair?" or "Good afternoon, Mrs. Cody." "Elaine" IS a teacher, after all. The real question is how will she react to that. Will she attempt to play along? Will she wonder if she has a twin sister? Will she explain that they are mistaken?

Hardric wrote: Kayda already looks like she's one bad day away of definitively breaking down.

Hardric wrote: Kayda already looks like she's one bad day away of definitively breaking down.

E. E. Nalley wrote:

Hardric wrote: Kayda already looks like she's one bad day away of definitively breaking down.

Heh, if you think Kayda looks bad wait till you see...

E. E. Nalley wrote:

Hardric wrote: Kayda already looks like she's one bad day away of definitively breaking down.

Heh, if you think Kayda looks bad wait till you see... oh wait, that would be spoiling...

Katssun wrote: Jennifer facing that her entire life is a lie?

E. E. Nalley wrote:

pumpernickel wrote:
Uh, what? Is this a thing? Is spirit trading between avatars a thing that can happen and I just didn't know about it?

Oh no, this is something completely different. But related. Kissing cousins, you might say. And you've seen it before. I'd say where, but that would be telling and I wouldn't want to deprive you of the fun...

Dreamer wrote:

Kristin Darken wrote:

Dreamer wrote: because that was a lot just to start up a car.

Ah, but how does it compare to starting up a small jet plane? Because engine wise... Liam's Folly probably is more akin to the small jet than the original automobile that its exterior shows.

Seeing the video below that E.E. posted of the WW2 Spitfire startup and recalling what Junior did to start up Liam's Folly, it is definitely more akin to a small jet. That is some scary amount of power to put into a car frame.

Sir Lee wrote: Now, going back to the spirit-stealing scheme... it was said at the time that there was no known way to sever the avatar link. Thinking about it, that can't possibly be right. I mean, it's said that an avatar bond is beneficial for both parts, but it can't possibly be beneficial for a potentially immortal spirit to bond with a mortal human, unless the spirit can survive the death of the host (which we know that at least Forces are capable of doing). So there is a way to sever the bond: kill the host. Which is something that Sebastiano's accomplices wouldn't have a problem with doing.

Valentine wrote: Perry teaching Junior how to fly, and below a horse and rider, just then his sister walks in. Coincidence?

E. E. Nalley wrote:

pumpernickel wrote:
Uh, what? Is this a thing? Is spirit trading between avatars a thing that can happen and I just didn't know about it?

Oh no, this is something completely different. But related. Kissing cousins, you might say. And you've seen it before. I'd say where, but that would be telling and I wouldn't want to deprive you of the fun...

Schol-R-LEA wrote: Really? Huh, I didn't know that. I thought it meant an unbroken young stallion.

Sir Lee wrote: "Ruggedized" means squat when a bull stomps on it.

Iwasforger03 wrote: The fact we got confirmation the Bastard was defeated? Now that's cool, but annoying. Annoying, because we didn't get to see it happen suspensefully. Cool, because it's nice to know.

Iwasforger03 wrote: The kids having spirits? Bodes poorly in a lot of ways.

Katssun wrote: Frazzled, lost, desperate, miserable, paranoid and suffering woman against her own protégé who'd reached her emotional and physical potential? Yes please!

Katssun wrote: Kayda has grown very powerful, and her magic has always been a bit of a counter to Five Fold court magics and stuff.

Katssun wrote: Very interesting that Doyle is so well known by the medical community outside, though it isn't known exactly where it is, just that it is a leading research facility. If they only knew it spent most of its time patching up boo-boos from martial arts classes.

Iwasforger03 wrote: There is a strong trend in the WU of early manifestation tending towards ridiculous amounts of power.

Iwasforger03 wrote: So those kids being avatars already spells trouble to me, no matter how sensible and wise and guiding and protective their spirits try to be.

jmhyp wrote: But, my first thought was the hint given by EE. It could just be an offshoot of ayla's brand. The English language is vast. You cannot trademark every variation.

“I thought the Chicago Goodkinds had that big lawsuit going on with some retired company people, and then that thing with the Goodkind lady in New Orleans…” Jinn wondered aloud.

[details about other branches of the family elided...]

Billie asked, “But what about that Abigail Goodkind in New Orleans?”

Toni snorted with amusement. “Hey, you know she’s an old black lady? I don’t think Goodkinds do black.” She looked at me and said, “Not countin’ you, Ayles.”

I overlooked the whole Vanessa issue and said, “We’re not sure, but we believe Abigail Goodkind is the granddaughter of an Abigail Goodkind who was born in the 1800’s and may in fact have been descended from slaves who may have worked in part for some Goodkinds in the early 1800’s. As such, the family has a hands-off policy on her and her companies, because it’s generally felt that some members of the family made some bad judgment errors in the first half of the 1800’s, and there’s not much else the family can do to atone for those sorts of activities anymore.”

“Wow, was that a direct quote from your lawyers?” Toni teased.

Nikki said, “I thought your family was all northern U.S. and anti-slavery in the Civil War.” Toni gave her a raised eyebrow, and she said, “What? I googled the Goodkinds when we met Ayla last year. There was a lot of historical stuff.”

I frowned, “We were staunch abolitionists and fought for the North in the Civil War. Still, it’s not a matter of public consumption, but in the first half of the 1800’s, the Goodkind family did also have some investments in southern plantations. And Colonel Edgar Gabriel Goodkind, who’s one of my direct ancestors, made a small fortune as a slave-catcher in the years around 1830. We’re not exactly blameless on the subject. On the other hand, he opposed the South in the Civil War and managed to fight in the war even though he was getting on in years.”

Ametros wrote: But this makes the mess of things all the more interesting. When Tansy is revealed, that will be one hell of a storm. Wyatt will be furious, because he gets like that. He'll be conflicted but relieved, most likely. Hartford will have a rare breakdown I think, given her current state.

konzill wrote:
**EDIT** And I forgot apparently Spirits are pretty good at hiding their presence if they want to, even from mutants who are sensitive to that sort of thing. And the Twins must actually be pretty high-level avatars seeing as Wyatt isn't growing feathers and Constance isn't visibly a cat girl.

elrodw wrote: There is one line in a story which gives a hint as to what happened to them, but so far, no-one has picked it up.

Malady wrote:

elrodw wrote: There is one line in a story which gives a hint as to what happened to them, but so far, no-one has picked it up.

You mean what happened to the Disappeared Faculty, right? Not Constance and Wyatt? 'Cause as far as I know, nothing has happened to them other than the usual?

konzill wrote:

Malady wrote:

elrodw wrote: There is one line in a story which gives a hint as to what happened to them, but so far, no-one has picked it up.

You mean what happened to the Disappeared Faculty, right? Not Constance and Wyatt? 'Cause as far as I know, nothing has happened to them other than the usual?

Elrodw could also be referring to what happened to the various spirits and why so many of them seem to have switched to different hosts.

konzill wrote: Ok. so there is a hint in there on how the twins came to be avatars at such a young age.

• The Twins
• Tansy and Elaine's Spirits
• Danny and Winhinape
• Peccary and his spirit
• Cody and Tansy/Elaine
• Jennifer and Tansy's Spirit
• random spirit/host combinations

konzill wrote: We now know that spirts can play musical chairs with their hosts.

konzill wrote: That the Cody twins are functional Avatars at age 6, and have presumably been that way for quite some time. Either they where born avatars or they are the youngest emerged mutants we have heard of so far.

konzill wrote: Constance is hosting Wihinape, meaning that Danny isn't, and we still don't know where Tansy's stallion spirit has gotten too.

null0trooper wrote:

konzill wrote: Ok. so there is a hint in there on how the twins came to be avatars at such a young age.

There's a hint somewhere.