4th case

[not_nikkiheat]

[Kate has long since given up on the blood stain over her heart. She had panicked at first, but once she couldn't find a wound, she gave up, putting on a shirt and walking to the mirror.

That's when she notices it. Black letters spelling LIAR perfectly across her lips, almost like grotesque stitching. She tries scrubbing, then lipstick, then concealer and lipstick. The black letters don't even fade. With a sigh, she reaches for her journal.]

I think I'm going to lay low for a few days, and hope this blood and freaky word phenomena passes quickly.

Comments

Filtered to Kate

[thebestseller]

We need to talk. If this is about a strange marking suddenly appearing on your body that won't wash off, I mean. I have one, too.

[schrodingersghost]

That sounds like the best advice anyone has given so far.

[Danny was more than a little shaken by the whole thing.]

Filtered to Rick

[not_nikkiheat]

You have it too? Like blood and words on your skin?

[not_nikkiheat]

[Kate's shaken too, if by shaken you mean breaking out completely.]

Yeah, I'm not really keen on anyone seeing me right now.

[schrodingersghost]

Like I said, awesome plan. Meeting other people is the last thing I want to happen right now.

[Because he did not want to even think about what was on his hands. Danny was doing his very best to employ denial as a coping strategy. If he didn't look at his hands they weren't covered with blood and ectoplasm, right?]

[thebestseller]

Yeah. It's... let's just say it knew right where to hit me hardest.

[not_nikkiheat]

Believe me, I know what you mean.

So uh...want to talk about it?

[not_nikkiheat]

I know exactly what you mean. Somehow I think it's not going to be that easy though.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Freaky word phenomena? What's wrong?

[not_nikkiheat]

I've got...a word...imprinted on my skin. I can't get it to come off. It didn't happen to you?

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Nope. I've been hearing people complain about it in the journals. I'm just here wondering what could be happening.

[not_nikkiheat]

I'm glad it hasn't affected you, Chie. It's not a pleasant experience at all.

[schrodingersghost]

With my luck? You're probably right. Doesn't mean I can't give it a try.

[not_nikkiheat]

Sounds like your luck is about like mine. I'm not getting my hopes up.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

That's too bad. I actually want to ask if you want to go to town today.

[not_nikkiheat]

[Kate really doesn't want to Chie to see her like this, but she doesn't want to discourage her either. She sighs softly.]

Sure. I just...I don't want you to be alarmed when you see me.

[schrodingersghost]

If by that you mean do I have the kind of luck that sucks? Then yes.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

It's okay! There's still people who could use a hand in town, I thought I could help out until nighttime.

[Chie really did sound like she doesn't mind whatever it is that happened to Kate. Facing her Shadow and seeing others' Shadows might have helped her understand what it's like to have your secrets spilled out like this]

[not_nikkiheat]

Pretty much. I feel your pain there.

[not_nikkiheat]

[Kate breathes an audible sigh of relief at Chie's quick acceptance.]

That's a great idea, Chie. I'd love to come along.

[thebestseller]

I do, but... I don't...

[A pause as he tries to figure out how to word it without sounding like he's insinuating she can't handle it.]

It's a pretty blatant reminder of some pretty nasty things. If you get my drift.

[not_nikkiheat]

I get your drift. I have the same kind of marks.

[She sighs.]

I don't know if I want you to see me right now.

[schrodingersghost]

And the castle really does not help in the bad luck area of things.

[not_nikkiheat]

That's...not very encouraging to hear.

[schrodingersghost]

Honesty is better, right? Also, I can't lie here. So there's that.

[not_nikkiheat]

Wait. Are you typically a liar?

[schrodingersghost]

Not by choice.

[not_nikkiheat]

Oh. [Well, Kate can sympathize with that a little bit.] Not even little fibs? Like, how are you today, oh I'm fine, that kind of thing?

[thebestseller]

Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean. It would help if I could cover it up or wash it off, but... the ink or whatever it is goes right through my clothes and towels and everything.

[not_nikkiheat]

Me too.

[A pause as Kate considers. If she and Castle have any chance of a future, she's eventually going to have to tell him the truth.]

Can you...I mean, do you want to come over?

[schrodingersghost]

No. Its all truth, all the time. [The only good thing about all this was that no one else from his world was here. Especially his parents. He didn't even want to think of their reactions to the revelation of everything he had been lying to them about.]

[not_nikkiheat]

[Ouch. That's got to suck.]

Ew. You have my sympathies. Seriously. The white lie thing would drive me crazy.

[schrodingersghost]

...Thanks for that?

[thebestseller]

I want to. But at the same time... I don't want to hurt you, either. And this will.

[not_nikkiheat]

This isn't going to be easy for either of us, Rick. Just come on over.

[thebestseller]

No. No, it's not. ... I'm on my way.