Specter

Chapter 10 (Day 1): Titanic Tickets

We last read Chapter 9, in which Specter and T.J. attack a group of three thugs trying to spray-paint the back of the new and improved Beheaded Bengal Saloon. With the help of the establishment's mascot, Bengal, the duo manage to defeat them, with Specter killing one immediately, having Bengal withhold another for questioning, and T.J. keeping the third pinned to the ground with his flintlock pistol against their temple. Specter succeeds in getting Bengal's victim to crack, and deduces that someone with the name "Barrows" is responsible for the string of dissenter attacks around the Rusted Citadel. Though the spectral superheroine initially suggests she was going to let the other two go---and have the first one merely serve as an example---the goon that T.J. had pinned down instead insists on having them both die, as this "Barrows" person would likely kill them himself if he realized that they had spilled the beans on him. After T.J.'s victim kills both himself and his comrade, leaving our heroes as the only ones standing, Bengal then invites Specter and T.J. back inside the Saloon, rewarding them with game cards containing unlimited money that allow them to play the machines to their heart's content. T.J. then suggests to Specter that they talk about their next move over pizza now that they know that someone named "Barrows" is involved, to which the heroine agrees and allows Bengal to lead her and her sidekick back in.

This time, Specter and T.J. trace the "Barrows" surname to another company; this time, one that is seemingly unknown to them.....

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"Say.....what are your opinions on pineapple slices going on pizza?" T.J. inquired humorously, holding up two pizza slices---one with them and one without them---in front of Specter for comparison, who was sitting directly across from him in one of the cushioned booths; a smaller version meant for two people instead of four or six. "I see so many people arguing about it on the forums, but I really don't think it's that bad, to be honest. Gives it a little bit more flavor."

"You want to know what I think? I think people online make too much of a fuss over too many things," Specter answered. "You can like what you want to like, and you can dislike whatever you want to dislike."

".....That's not what I---"

"But where it actually starts to go wrong is when people throw mud at each other solely for their opinions," Specter continued excessively, passionately, and almost needlessly. "Like if they hate on someone just because they don't have a specific item or attribute. Or if you're looked down upon because you're not a fan of something or someone."

T.J. raised an eyebrow. ".....We just killed three people in the rear yard because they weren't supporting King Ryker."

Specter sat there and blinked, realizing the hypocrisy.

"Well.....technically, we only got one!" she defended punily. "And even then, I did all the work! That other guy just finished the job!"

"I guess so. It was....certainly something."

"Yeah. .....Anyway, so you were talking about pineapples on pizza?"

"Right. Yeah or nah?"

Specter thought about it for a few seconds. "I mean, I've heard of pineapple slices being on pizza for as long as I can remember. Usually, if pepperoni's there, pineapples are there, too. .....We're talking pineapple slices, right? Not the whole fruit? The big and spiky thing with the bumps?"

"Obviously," T.J. replied. "Who puts an entire pineapple on---"

"Heeeeere's our newest special!" Bengal exclaimed as he skated over to Specter and T.J.'s booth while holding a platter in his left paw. Said platter contained what basically amounted to a typical pepperoni pizza.....except with a full pineapple propped up directly in the center. "Anyone ask for this? Hyuh hyuh!"