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

[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?

[thebestseller]

[Castle is spinning in his chair by this point, trying to see how fast he can go without making himself dizzy.]

Castle it is, and oh, I am bored out of my mind, to tell you the truth.

[brotimaeus]

Really.

[He approaches, a small smirk tilting one corner of his mouth upwards.]

You're hidin' it like a pro.

[thebestseller]

What can I say? I am a master at disguising my emotions.

[Castle stops himself by gripping the edge of the desk- then nearly falls out of his chair as it jerks abruptly when he does so.]

I also have a great sense of balance.

[brotimaeus]

Undoubtedly.

[Bro grins, leaning lightly against the front of the desk.]

Bro Strider, at your service.

[thebestseller]

Bro, eh? Got another first name, if you don't mind me asking? "Bro" just sounds like one of those cases where you got a nickname and it stuck.

[brotimaeus]

Yeah, I got another name. Purely for legal documentation. 'Strider' works fine if you ain't comfortable calling me anything else.

[thebestseller]

Bro's fine with me- and, you know, you just seem like the type who'd be a "bro". So- enjoying your stay here so far?

[brotimaeus]

[He flashes the quickest quirk of a smile. Then snorts slightly.]

Wow, you actually bein' serious with that question?

[Once he's assured himself that yes, Castle is in fact being serious, he shrugs one shoulder.]

Hell, it's a step up from the alternative. I'm supposed to be dead.