#oc cody

We are a DID system. Expect memory issues, expect scattered tags. We do the best we can.

“Some people didn't leave the other day. And now they're claiming the studio is haunted. The studio crew group chat is blowing up,” Empress explained. “You don't think you could-”

The cat waved her paws around in the air and made a ghoul-like ‘oooooh’.

“Sure, I've got time to kill.”

“Tell us again what happened,” Empress said, arms crossed over her chest.

Owlice, Cody and Pinguini sat on a bench in front of the two of them.

“Well, all the lights went out in the owl side of the studio. Then we heard singing coming from one of the practice rooms. And after we left, the door wouldn't open again,” Pinguini repeated.

“The penguin side is fine though,” Cody added.

"I was going to continue working on the directors’ costumes but I can't get back in,” Owlice complained.

“Alright, I'll go check it out. Sounds like a lost spirit just having a few laughs. Or a newly deceased,” Snatcher agreed, taking off his hoodie and passing it to Empress.

“Don't do anything stupid,” she said, eyeing him.

To anyone else, it would be a cold statement accompanied by a glare.

But he could see through that facade.

To him, it was a worried friend who cared more than she wanted to show.

“No more stupid than absorbing an entire curse,” Snatcher promised, walking up to the door. “This one, right?”

“Yeah, it won't open.”

Snatcher took a deep breath as he placed one hand on the door.

Frost spread across it and through the cracks, before entirely wrenching the door off its hinges.

“That's new. Should've been shadows,” he muttered.

“Everything good?” Empress questioned.

He shot her a quick grin over one shoulder.

“Yeah. Just stay here.”

Snatcher held his hand up, a blue flame floating just above his palm as he walked along the dark hallway.

Sure enough, singing drifted down the hall towards him.

Slowly, he pieced together words.

Lyrics.

A love song, perhaps.

From a musical?

Something about an angel of music?

Snatcher pushed open a door, looking at the spirit who abruptly went quiet.

“An owl.”

“Yes..?” The spirit stepped towards him, her wings moving to rest at her sides. “You can see me?”

“Yeah, I'm dead too.” Snatcher shrugged, extinguishing the flame in his hand. “Why are you haunting the studio?”

“Oh, I was looking for my husband. I've been looking after my little girl for a long time now but I saw him the other week. So I thought I'd check up on how his latest movie is going,” the owl explained.

“He gets in over his head a lot. But he's made a friend or two again now, which is nice. I hope he's okay.”

Snatcher sat down cross-legged on the floor, looking intently at the owl.

She copied his motion, sitting down about a foot away from him. “Anyway, you said you were dead too? I'm sorry. It's terribly lonely.”

“No, it's- it's not that lonely. I'm sort of a- a special kind of ghost? Yeah, I guess. Living people can still see me.”

“That must be nice.”

“Yeah, I've got a couple friends…” he trailed off, watching the owl again. “Have we met before? I swear I recognise you from somewhere.”

“No, I think I'd remember if we'd met,” she laughed. “You must think I'm rude though, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Scarlett.”

Empress picked up a framed picture on the table beside the sofa, holding it out to Snatcher.

“That was us. Me, Claw, Trisha, and Scarlett. The 'Steel Rose' gang. I did management for their band,” she explained quietly. “Trisha made it big after the band split up. Claw worked for me when I started the Nyakuza. And Scarlett…”

She broke off with a shaky exhale.

“Scarlett was happy while she was alive.”

“I'm sorry.”

He rested his head on her shoulder.

“Don't be. I mean, I miss her. Everyone who knew her does. I looked after her kid. Well, not really. More like I kept an eye on her. Her dad wasn't in the right headspace to give her the attention she needed.”

“Poor kid.”

“Gold medallist swimmer now.”

“Nice.”

“You know her dad.”

“What?”

“Short, angry, yellow.”

“No way.”

“Yeah.”

“You're- you're Scarlett!” Snatcher gasped.

“Um, yes…? That's what I just said,” Scarlett chuckled.

“Conductor's wife…” Snatcher murmured, still trying to wrap his head around it.

“Yup. Together till the end,” she said, smiling weakly. “I wish I hadn't been so sick. Maybe we could have finished that movie. Apparently he never released it. Only one scene was left to film but he gave up.”

“How long have you been dead?” Snatcher asked.

Scarlett shrugged. “Roxie was about six when I died so… twenty years or so now.”

“Empress misses you. So does Conductor,” Snatcher blurted.

Scarlett’s eyes welled with tears. “Empress is still alive?”

“Yeah, she isn't dying anytime soon. Not on her terms. And definitely not now that I know her.”

Snatcher failed to ignore the chill that spread down his spine as frost curled near his feet on the floor.

He frantically moved, pacing the room.

“Empress is too stubborn to die. And Conductor's happy, so you know. His, uh, friend? They're sort of a thing now,” Snatcher told her.

“Good. That's so good,” Scarlett sobbed.

Snatcher turned and looked at her, stopping in his tracks.

He sighed before hoisting her up from the floor and hugging her.

“It wasn't easy but they should be happy together. They're a nice fit for one another.”

“Thank you for telling me,” Scarlett sniffed before wriggling out his grip and floating just in front of him. “Can you pass on some messages?”

“Of course.”

“Let Empress know I'm glad she's okay. And tell Roxie I'm proud of her.”

“No message for Conductor?”

“I don't think I could put it into words.”

“Do you…want to pass on?” Snatcher asked gently. Scarlett shook her head.

“No, I want to stay here a while longer.”

“Just don't haunt the studio too much,” Snatcher advised. “You spooked some of the kids here. I say kids, they are grown ups. But they're just so little, you know?”

“I promise to try and not muck up anything in the studio again,” Scarlett responded with a laugh.

“If you decide on any more messages or that it's time to pass, come find me.”

“Thank you… what was your name?”

“Snatcher.”

“Thank you Snatcher.”

“You're welcome.”

He twirled his wrist, the flame appearing just above his palm again as he trekked back to the lobby.

"Well?! Did you deal with the ghost?!” Cody squeaked as he walked back out.

Snatcher rolled his eyes and closed his hand, flame disappearing along with it.

“It's not like she meant to cause any problems.”

Snatcher beckoned Empress to follow him and walked to the opposite side of the room from the trio.

“What?”

“Scarlett’s happy you're alive.”

Empress’ ears pricked and she darted towards the hallway.

“No- no, don't!”

The cat's paws thudded down the hallway and Snatcher mentally cursed.

He turned to the trio again. “Stay here.”

His form shifted and he floated down the hallway, serpentine body slowly moving down the dark passage.

“Empress?”

He eventually arrived back at the room from before.

Empress was crumpled on her knees, a few sniffs filling the otherwise silent room.

Snatcher twisted his body around her, weaving his body into a tight hug.

“She's gone.”

“I know.”

Empress let out a shaky exhale before sitting up straighter and leaning back against him.

“She was like the sun. Everything went around her. Everything fell to pieces without her.”

“She seemed really nice.”

“I know I'll never have her back. But if you see her again, let her know how much I miss her.”

Snatcher spotted a faintly glowing figure out the corner of his eye.