Chapter Twenty-Three

[thebestseller]

Hey. Hey. Hey. Paradisa. Do you know what today is?

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.

No foolin'.

Come to the Death Match. Drinks and cake are on me.

[However, anybody coming to the Death March may have at least one of the following happen: 1. They will get drenched with beer (water for underage patrons) as they walk in the door; 2. They will get a pie in the face as they walk in the door; 3. Their stool will have a pie or whoopee cushion on it; 4. The normally benign peanuts and potato chips at the bar will be coated with sriracha.]

Comments

[dictated]

[thebestseller]

Absolutely. Can't have a party without cake, of course.

[dictated]

[fearbringer]

Then maybe I will stop by after all.

[dictated]

[thebestseller]

I'll have a seat on the bar and a glass of beer saved for you.

[action]

[fearbringer]

[And here he comes, popping into a darkened corner opposite the actual door.]

[action]

[thebestseller]

[And since Castle was waiting for the inevitable groan from a dumped bucket of liquid, he didn't notice at first. Instead, he was placing whoopee cushions on various chairs.]

[action]

[fearbringer]

[Pitch watches from the corner, barely visible even to a believer.]

Enjoying yourself?

[action]

[thebestseller]

[Castle jumped and looked wildly around, squinting into the shadows.]

... Pitch? That you?

[action]

[fearbringer]

[He steps out of the darkness.]

It is.

[action]

[thebestseller]

So, you got in without getting a bucket dumped on your head. Pretty impressive.

[action]

[fearbringer]

It gets a lot easier when you don't have to use doors.

[action]

[thebestseller]

[Castle stopped dead in his tracks and simply gave Pitch a confused look.]

[action]

[fearbringer]

[He steps back into that same corner... and then, seconds later, steps out of another darkened part of the room (still not anywhere near the door; he's not taking chances). ]

[action]

[thebestseller]

Whoa. Whoooooa. So- does that make you a ghost?

[action]

[fearbringer]

Just a spirit.

[action]

[thebestseller]

... hmm, is there much of a difference? I never really thought about that before.

[action]

[fearbringer]

I'm not a human that died. I have always been what I am now.

[action]

[thebestseller]

... Hunh. I learn something new every day- and that makes a weird amount of sense. And you said you were immortal, right?

[action]

[fearbringer]

That's right. I'm older than humanity.

[action]

[thebestseller]

Damn. [He sounds genuinely impressed.] I'm not sure I'd like to live that long, honestly.

[action]

[fearbringer]

Most mortals feel that way. You aren't really made for it, mentally and emotionally.

[action]

[thebestseller]

Ain't that the truth. Guess you learn how to deal with it after a while, hmm?

[action]

[fearbringer]

Of course. I wouldn't want to be anything else.

[action]

[thebestseller]

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, no doubt. [Castle moves behind the bar.] While we're here and possibly headed toward deep discussions again, want a beer? Peanuts? Potato chips?

[action]

[fearbringer]

... All of the above.

[He doesn't eat much.]

[action]

[thebestseller]

[Castle quickly pours Pitch a glass of house ale and slides it toward him, then pushes bowls of peanuts and potato chips forward.]

I think I'll be a good sport and warn you that I spiked the snacks. They're covered in hot sauce, if you're into that sort of thing.