OCTale: Pacifist [Editing]

8) Hangout Start! * [Edited]

"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, Castellar. Can we be friends? Like, best friends?" I ask, Luke frowing next to me.

"But I thought I was your best frie-"

"OF COURSE WE CAN! ACTUALLY, LET'S HANG OUT RIGHT NOW! YOU CAN COME OVER MY HOUSE!" Castellar answers excitably, and I giggle.

"Okay, but one ground rule. Could you try to be a little quieter? You're hurting my ears from all your shouting." I laugh, and Castellar nods vigorously.

"Oh, of course, Tyler! Anything for my new best friend!"

"Hmm...anything, you say? Could you make me some of your famous spaghetti?" I smile, and Castellar's eyes light up. I look towards Impact to see him gesturing "DON'T" very viciously.

"Of course! I'll make some as soon as we get in!" She chirps. Impact facepalms.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Here it is! The Revenant Siblings abode! Also known as our house!" Castellar introduces, before running off into the kitchen. I walk into the living room, which has a large green sofa, a lightstand, a coffee table, and a TV on the opposite wall.

I sit down on the sofa, and hear it jangle. A 10G piece pops out. Aw nice, couch money!

I notice on the coffee table there is a half finished cup of coffee next to a thick book open to a page with a red bookmark.

I pick up the book and carefully read the title.

"A Brief History of Time? Man, how old is this book now? I wonder who's been reading it?" Luke comments, and I nod.

"Probably Impact, but yeah, this book is nearly 100 years old now. I'm surprised by how good of a condition this one is in! You could sell this online for a ton of money!" I reply, Luke looking at the book in surprise as I place it back down the way it was.

"HEY TYLER, WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK?" Castellar yells, and I look at Luke.

"Does she have golden flower tea? I love that stuff!" He smiles.

"CAN I HAVE SOME GOLDEN FLOWER TEA AND A GLASS OF ORANGE JUICE PLEASE?" I yell back, wait a minute, amd sigh in relief.

"No-one is questioning me getting two items, so that's good." I laugh, and Luke goes quiet.

"Huh? What's the matter, Luke?" I ask, and he blushes, not realising he had gone quiet.

"Sorry, I was just thinking. What's the point of me appearing only to you? It would make you look less like you have an imaginary friend, for one." Luke suggests.

"Wait, you can do that?! Why haven't you done it before?" I ask, and he sighs.

"Well, mainly because I don't want people thinking TWO humans are on the loose. Get them even more riled up, y'know? And...some people wouldn't take very politely to seeing me again." He explains, before we're cut off by the delicious smell of spaghetti. Castellar brings out two bowls, one for herself and one for me, and nearly sits on Luke. Luke frowns, now sitting on the arm of the sofa.

"It smells great! Thanks Castellar!" I beam, as she goes back to fetch the drinks. I look up to the second floor of the house, and I notice Impact watching us. He looks kind of...serious. I shrug, and take a bite of the spaghetti.

...This...

...How the hell is this even spaghetti? It tastes horrible! I don't think I can even swallow this...

I look up again to see Impact holding up a sign.

EAT IT

Jeeze man, okay...but I'm gonna get revenge later.

I squint, and swallow the spaghetti. I shiver as it goes down.

"Actually, Castellar, I'm not actually that hungry. You can have the rest." I lie, passing her the bowl.

"Okay..." She replies, frowning slighlty. At least that kind of worked. I look up again to see Impact's gone back to his room.

"Yeah, I don't think I'm really that hungry either." Castellar admits, using her magic to levitate them into the kitchen.

"Anyway, Tyler, why did you ask for tea and orange juice? And how did you know about golden flower tea when you've never been in the underground before?" Castellar asks, and I immediately start to sweat. Straight to the point, I see.

"Uh...I'm just really thirsty! And I heard about the tea in a book, and I wanted to try it?" I stammer, Castellar raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Tyler, although those sound like perfectly good reasons, I'm still doubtful. I'm not as naive as you may think." She frowns, and I sigh.

"Alright, I'll tell you. Well, basically, I have... a friend. He's kinda shy, so he's invisible! His name is Luke, he's a human like me, and he's a ghost. I met him when I first fell here." I explain, Castellar now listening.

"Ooh! A shy ghost, you say? Come out little ghostie! I don't bite!" Castellar smiles, looking around for Luke.

"Uh, Castellar, he's literally right here, sitting on the arm of the sofa." I point.

"Hey." Luke says, and Castellar is taken aback. I'm assuming he made himself visible to her by that reaction.

"WOAH! Wow, for a second there I thought Tyler had an imaginary friend! You...you're real!" She exclaims, Luke blushing.

"Yeah, like they said, I was invisible to everyone but Tyler until now. My name's Luke. Luke Tatcka. Nice to finally meet you, Castellar!" He waves, Castellar waving back.

"Wow, what's it like being a ghost and all? And why do you follow Tyler around all the time?"

"It's pretty fun. You get to do a load of sh-I mean, stuff, like go through walls. And I don't really have a choice, me and Tyler are kinda...linked in some way." They shrug, and Castellar nods.

"Okay, it was nice meeting you, Luke!" Castellar chirps, and I assume Luke fades from her view.

"Anyway...I should probably get going now. What's the next area like?" I ask, standing up. Castellar stands up alongside me.

"The next area is called Waterfall, it's full of, well... waterfalls. Hey, I know! I'll come along with you! That way, if Crimson fights you, I can protect you!" She grins, and I nod.

"Okay! Let's go!"