- } ghost { -

2.

Playing: Great Balls of Fire
1:42 |——————•——————| 3:17
"Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!"
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– } The group is still gathered around, laughing and swapping stories when the sound of a bell rings out, loud and clear. Everyone stops mid-conversation before bursting into cheers. All eyes turn toward Maverick.

"Overboard! Overboard!" the chant begins, growing louder as Hangman, Coyote, and Payback exchange mischievous grins.

"Oh, come on, guys," Maverick protests, holding up his hands in mock surrender, but it's no use.

"Rules are rules, old man," Hangman quips as the three of them close in. With ease and plenty of laughter, they lift him off the ground and carry him toward the bar's swinging doors. The crowd is loving it, shouting and whistling as Maverick is unceremoniously tossed out into the sand. Got it! Here's a version where Ghost maintains a serious, grounded demeanor but still engages and enjoys the moment with a touch of subtle fun:

The laughter dies down, the noise of the bar returning to normal—until the jukebox cuts off suddenly pulling sounds of annoyance from everyone around.

A single piano riff rings out, deliberate and playful. Ghost turns her head, her brow furrowing slightly as she searches for the source of the sound.

There, seated at the piano, is Rooster. His aviators are still on, his fingers moving effortlessly across the keys, and a familiar smirk playing on his lips. He doesn't say anything, just glances up long enough to catch her eye before leaning into the opening chords of "Great Balls of Fire."

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain!" Rooster sings, his voice confident and clear.

The crowd immediately catches on, cheering and clapping along. Ghost stands rooted for a moment, arms crossed, her expression thoughtful.

Phoenix nudges her hard, grinning from ear to ear. "What are you waiting for? That's practically your cue!"

Ghost raises a brow. "You sure about that?"

"Absolutely," Phoenix says, already tugging her arm.

Rooster glances back over his shoulder, still singing, and gestures toward Ghost with his head, as if daring her to come closer.

Ghost sighs, allowing Phoenix to pull her forward. By the time they reach the piano, Rooster is fully in his element, grinning as he leans into the next line: "Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"

Phoenix gives Ghost one last shove, pushing her onto the stool beside him. Rooster doesn't miss a beat, his grin widening. "Well, look who decided to join the show," he says, just loud enough for her to hear over the noise.

Ghost smirks faintly, her hands resting lightly on her lap. "Don't get used to it."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he replies smoothly, fingers flying over the keys.

The crowd starts singing along, and despite herself, Ghost feels a small smile creeping onto her face. She leans forward, tapping her fingers against her knee in time with the music. As the energy builds, she eventually joins in, her voice steady and clear, blending easily with his.

When the song finally comes to a close, the crowd erupts into applause, their cheers echoing through the bar. Rooster turns toward Ghost, still grinning. "Not bad for someone who looked like they'd rather stay on the sidelines."

Ghost stands, shaking her head but smiling faintly. "Someone has to keep you grounded."

He laughs, leaning back into the piano. "Yeah, good luck with that."