Chapter eighteen

[thebestseller]

Oh, dear me, so many new faces around the island lately! To introduce myself to all of you, I'm Richard Castle, mystery author. Yes, the island felt it appropriate to bring me here and tell me YO MR. CASTLE, WE HEARD YOU WRITE FICTION SO WE PUT SOME FICTION IN YOUR FICTION SO YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT THINGS THAT AREN'T REAL BECAUSE YOU ALLEGEDLY AREN'T REAL.

I work at the book store, so please, do stop by. You'll at least find pleasant conversation if nothing else, and I'd appreciate the company.

[Text to Kate Beckett]

Poke. Poke. Poke poke poke. Hey. I just texted to say "I love you". And "poke".

Comments

[thebestseller]

A person after my own heart. I would be happy to have you.

[animator]

[Sounds like she should ask Kate about him. At least if she's ever in the mood for gossip.]

I see. Well, I have enough evidence to assume that you're a stand-up gent, at least for the time being.

[private audio]

[themuse]

That or the power of take-out.

[video]

[thatsawiggle]

Hehehehe well if yer curious, I'd be willing ta give you a firsthand demonstration! Haven't gotten the opportunity ta do much more than a few laps 'round the island. Didja know that barrier's a right pain ta be smackin' inta headfirst? Whoo-ee, ain't had a rattler like that in a while! Like runnin full force into a wall o' pure energy, it is.

[Behind him, there's nothing but blue sky. He's floating a fair height up in the air.]

[you_have_heart]

What kinds of books do you have?

[thebestseller]

All kinds, fiction and non.

[you_have_heart]

Do you have any of these 'source materials' I have heard of?

[thebestseller]

That's kind of you. I'll try my best to live up to that impression.

[private audio]

[thebestseller]

And that strange quirk of the senses that always makes food taste better when you're sharing with someone else.

[video]

[thebestseller]

Some day when I'm bored, I'll take you up on that. [He's trying hard not to laugh.] And no, I've never actually tried going up to it, now that you've mentioned it.

[thebestseller]

Alas, no- well, not very often, anyway. It's only happened once since I got here, and then only briefly.

[private audio]

[themuse]

Would you rather we share Chinese or pizza?

[animator]

[She grins, teasingly.]

I sure hope so. Kate's my partner, that means I have to look out for her.

[you_have_heart]

I see. Any spell books or histories?

[brotimaeus]

Heh, yeah. Didn't expect to see him again at all, but I reckon he got more of a shock at seein' me than I did at findin' him.

[Beat. Awkward topic is awkward.]

I'll be headin' out to that store of yours, then.

[video]

[thatsawiggle]

Well it goes out a bit in all directions, so I wouldn' recommend goin' out and tryin'! Specially if yer just a human. No offense, but I dunno if a regular human could take that kinda hit an' stay up.

[thebestseller]

I'm sure you could dig some up. I myself am not magically inclined, though, so I can't make guarantees about the latter.

[video]

[thebestseller]

[This time, a small chuckle does escape.]

None taken- believe me, I learned pretty quickly that I tend to be in the minority, being a completely normal human, so I have to be extra careful. I have no intention of hurting myself- on purpose, anyway.

[private audio]

[thebestseller]

I think today is a shrimp lo mein kinda day.

[thebestseller]

[Castle can feel the awkwardness, so he simply nods, not pressing further.]

I'll be here all afternoon.

[thebestseller]

Good. I'm glad someone will be.

[you_have_heart]

Whatever you could find would be greatly appreciated.

[video]

[thatsawiggle]

Ain't nothin' wrong with being a normal human. Way I see it, so long as yer alive, there's gotta be some reason to it, human or demon or spirit. Aye? There's a few times I oughta've been ferried off by now, and I come through it all A-OK!

Course, there ain't nothin wrong with takin' a little risk every now and again either. Doin' the same thing over and over's gotta get pretty boring.

[private audio]

[themuse]

I couldn't agree more. I'll be by in say... a half an hour? Gotta few things to wrap up here.

[brotimaeus]

[It's an hour or so, but he does find his way to the store, a slight hesitation as he enters it. Aside from the fact he's not used to this situation in general, he's not really used to book stores.]

Yo. Castle, right?