Chapter Twenty-Two

[thebestseller]

Kate Beckett left the castle this morning.

If anyone needs me, I'll be at the Death Match getting shit out of my head drunk.

Comments

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[fearbringer]

And thousands of years of experience tell me just what a normal human lifetime's of experience has told you.

Are you a psychologist?

[He said with law enforcement rather than as law enforcement, so...]

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[thebestseller]

Writer, actually. I just work with the New York police as a consultant. ... yeah, I know. It sounds weird, but it works.

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[fearbringer]

A writer.

[Pitch sounds pleased. He thinks writers are cool.]

What sorts of things do you write?

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[thebestseller]

[Castle notices the change in tone, and it helps him brighten a little himself.]

Mysteries- crime novels. It's been my forte for years.

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[fearbringer]

Do you write here too, or are you semi-retired?

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[thebestseller]

[He nods.]

I do try, but it's a little difficult to get published. At least I'm never short of interesting stories and inspiration here.

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[fearbringer]

You couldn't just write things and leave them in the library?

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[thebestseller]

[Castle nodded.]

I could, definitely. It wouldn't exactly be mass-produced, but then again... does that really matter here?

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[fearbringer]

Hm. I wonder if the Castle would make multiple copies for you.

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[thebestseller]

Might be worth a shot. I'm not eager to test the limits of wishing, but on the other hand... a few books isn't much.

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[fearbringer]

I'll be on the lookout for them, then.

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[thebestseller]

Cheers. ... And thanks for coming over, too.

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[fearbringer]

... You're thanking me?

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[thebestseller]

Well, yeah. You took the time to come talk to a stranger.

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[fearbringer]

I... see.

[He still seems pretty surprised.]

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[thebestseller]

And I do appreciate it. I mean... someone really close to me just vanished.

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[fearbringer]

I gathered that, but for your sake, you should hope that someone other than me shows up.

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[thebestseller]

I dunno, I don't think I could feel any worse than I do right now, frankly.

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[fearbringer]

Right. But someone else could make you feel better.

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[thebestseller]

They could, yeah- but the person I have in mind is the one who just left, so.

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[fearbringer]

You only have one person who makes you feel better?

[He doesn't sound disbelieving; he's seen plenty of people like that.]

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[thebestseller]

Well- admittedly, no. There are a few someones I really do wish would show up...

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[fearbringer]

So basically what you're saying is that you have no one who's here.

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[thebestseller]

Got it in one. I'm the only person left here from my world.

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[fearbringer]

Are you not the type to make friends from other places?