A spirited meeting. ( Jonny/Casper.)

[indeath]

The park was busy today, the sounds of kids laughing and people talking mingling together with the sounds of birds. The afternoon sun was harsh against Casper’s skin as he leaned against a tree. He blew air out grumpily and took a drag from his cigarette. His countenance was entirely unfriendly from his studded jacket, piercings and bleached blonde hair. It was his favorite form, he’d spent the most time in it. It was comfortable but not useful for luring mortals. At least the kind his mistress wanted. She had let a few vagrants through but she was getting tetchy and demanded a higher quality perhaps even one such untainted as a child.

Casper was not about that. He was looking for some foolish rich kid or blue-collar chump down on his luck. Music pumped into his through his walkman which got a few weird looks. It was fine. He glanced off at a group of kids, trying to figure out the surest bet. That was if he could lure them away from their friends.

[beastly]

The ghost's wanderings had taken him to the park today, a place with lots of activity, plenty of people. It was nice enough, Jonny decided as he walked down the sidewalk, looking down to inspect a child's chalk drawing, but the unfamiliarity bothered him. It wasn't one of his parks. Still, there were people to watch, it was something to occupy his time. He could listen to people talk about their lives, their mundane problems.

He cracked a smile as he glanced over at a gathering of children off to the side trying to work out a game. One of them held a baseball bat and was clearly trying to lead things, but several of the kids were significantly younger and obviously not listening to their self appointed leader. It brought to mind his own long dead siblings and his childhood. Humanity changed, yes, but the same stories played out generation after generation.

He kept walking, absorbing the park, and his eyes landed on a fellow under a tree. The man looked entirely unapproachable, scowling out at the world and smoking. There was also some kind of magical aura the ghost could see, but he was quickly learning that a high percentage of the population in Wathais had something magical about them. Jonny would never understand modern fashion- all the piercings and strange clothing. A good suit had gone out of everyday use, something that irked him. The smoking man had some sort of machine he was using, a device for music, and that Jonny had more appreciation for. The ability to listen to music as you moved about was something he quite liked the idea of. The ghost walked a bit closer, digesting the strange number. He wasn't the first person Jonny had seen dressed in that manner, but he did stick out in the park.
Something Jonny himself was doing more and more as the years passed by, he'd been told.

[indeath]

Casper watched as the ball flew closer and closer to a group of bushes. He thought about setting up the old fairy circle and get them in that way, but that relied on the blighters not kicking the toadstools over first. Kids these days had no respect for tradition. He missed the days when he could just trick a few gullible fisherman by pretending to be a talking fish. Swap a mortal life for a full harvest. The fairy world wasn’t that bad, a bit dreary and dark at times but they’d get used to it eventually and stop missing their friends and family. Serving the duchess for eternity wasn’t as terrible as death surely. It’s not like eternal torture or anything… well. That was beside the point.

His attention was caught by what was clearly a pretty ballsy ghost, completely out of date with the world. Maebri might find such a being amusing enough to give him a break, leave him alone and stop telling him to do his job for a few months, maybe even years.If they weren’t careful they’d be more people than fae. That’s what he tried to tell them but they just removed their ears and ignored him. He stubbed the cigarette on the tree and attempted a smile or at least what felt like a smile on his face. It could be a grimace, who knows?

“Oi! Nice suit! Did you die at a funeral or something?”

He smirked. Hmmm. He really needed to work on his pitch. Maybe it’d work.

[beastly]

Jonny raised both his eyebrows at the man, surprised at being identified as a ghost. His sharp eyes narrowed, and he stalked closer, trying to figure out if the punk was making fun of him. Whatever the case, the conversation was not one to be shouted from the sidewalk to the tree. He fitted his face with an appropriate cocky grin.

"Might've, pal, what about it?"

His tone was friendly, but didn't match the expression or glint in his eye as he was trying to determine what the guy wanted from him. Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. It was intriguing, at least.

[indeath]

Casper matched the cocky grin of the ghost with one of his own. It seemed like it’d been the right pitch after all. How this ghost hadn’t already been caught was beyond him.

“It was that or a math’s teacher convention… Must suck being stuck in that suit. I could give you a look with a bit more flair? Help you fit in better…”

Not that Casper felt like he fitted in but that was besides the point. It worked for him. Fashion had come back around and now kids kept asking him if he was in a K-pop band. Which was flattering but also annoying, he was clearly Japanese. He got less notice with some of his other forms.

[beastly]

" teacher," the ghost squinted, then frowned.

The guy was clearly some kind of magical being, could see the aura, and offering something like that when he apparently could tell Jonny was a ghost. His entire being recoiled at the idea of his appearance changing. Sure, he sometimes wished he blended in better, but everything here was different. He couldn't be one of those things. If he looked in the mirror and saw one hair out of its usual place, he was pretty sure it'd break him.

Besides. Nobody did anything for free. He sure as hell didn't.

"No. I like the suit. It's," he looked the man over, " 'rad'."

[indeath]

Casper made a face of mock sadness, it was almost believable. He liked to think he was a decent actor. He reached out a hand and patted the space just above Jonny’s shoulder.

“There there Mr. teacher! It’s totally tubular… Man I miss the old slag. Gotta keep up with the youth though… it’s Cheugy! You should use that word a LOT. Moood. Soo… how have you floated around so long? Did the doorman not let you in?”

Casper lit another cigarette and blew it towards the ghost. The smoke took the form of the grim reaper looking disgusted as it floated away. He studied the ghost wondering if he should change his shoes or tie. It was tempting just to mess with the fellow. A mother and her kid glared Casper down as they walked past, making exaggerated coughing sounds. Casper flicked a finger and a sliver of toilet paper appeared trailing from each of their shoes.

He missed the good old days when people were less educated on the dangers of smoking. Now there were so many rules it was hard to keep up. He wanted to be able to eat and smoke dammit.

[beastly]

Respect for the man dwindled very quickly. Jonny wasn't sure what half the words coming out of his mouth meant, but he was fairly confident he was being mocked. His tone and sad face didn't match with the mocking smoke magic reaper. The smaller man scowled at the smoke, moving to swat away the guy's hand with his own cold dead digits.

"Unfinished business. What do you want?"

He saw the man flick a finger, and he was aware some magic was happening, but, turning his head, he couldn't identify what had happened. This guy was playing liberally with magic, and it was starting to make the ghost uneasy. Maybe, he should just leave him be.

[indeath]

Casper spun dramatically on his foot at the ghost’s question ending with a flourish. The smoke of his cigarette creating a perfect ring around him. He could only pull so many teeth. This ghost was grumpier than he was. He hadn’t answered a single question Casper had asked and it was getting his goat. Something under his skin itched like a mad dog to get a reaction.

“What do I want? Where do I begin? A donut and coffee would be a great start. What I reeeally want right now is for you to spill your beans. Just a little bull session. No applesauce. You’re clammed. Maybe some new glad rags will fix that right up? Real hotsy-totsy!””

Casper waggled his fingers. There was no need for the magic to work but it was fun to do anyway. Jonny’s entire outfit became modernized. Grey ripped skinny jeans with a loose white shirt over the top. His hat was gone and his hair became messy on top. It was all pure illusion and would wear off eventually but this guy didn’t need to know that. Casper thought it was an improvement and smirked at his handy work.

Some guy passing seemed to approve also because he gave Jonny what Casper could only assume was a gang sign.

[beastly]

Jonny made a startled noise as he looked down, brown eyes going wide. No, no, no. He grasped at his shirt, and then looked at Casper with an expression of pure rage. Something snapped.

His face flickered skeletal for a moment and he growled as he reached for the man's heart, intending to grip it and drain some of his life force. He wasn't thinking logically about what Casper could be or what other magic he had up his sleeve. He was tired of being the butt of the joke.

"Change it back or I'm gonna show you exactly why I'm still around, punk."

He no longer cared about what Casper was after. What he wanted was his damn clothes back.

[indeath]

Despite the obvious goading Casper had not been expecting the attack, his eyes became impossibly wide taking up far too much face. His mouth a little o of surprise. His human face seemed to melt back as Jonny took hold of his heart, revealing a blueish white skinned being with silvery white hair. Large white pupil-less eyes stared angrily into Jonny’s. Small sliver of Casper’s life-force went to Jonny like a jolt from a livewire. Then it stopped. Or rather Casper stopped it. Taking someone’s life force was just rude. He placed a illusion around the pair of them with a grunt. This was definitely too much for human eyes. Then the heart slipped from Jonny’s reach as Casper became incorporeal. He dusted himself off and moved beyond arm’s reach.

“Really? You could just ask you know. Try asking politely ya follow? Getting angry will get you nowhere fast. I wouldn’t mess with me. A pretty big wig in the fae world considers me hers and she doesn’t like people breaking what’s hers. You get me? Nod if you understand.”

Casper crossed his arms then made an exaggerated sigh.

“Fine.”

He wiggled his fingers and Jonny’s clothes went back to the way they were except that his laces were tied together tightly.

[beastly]

The thing in front of him changing startled the spirit, his own brown eyes blinking. Then they narrowed. He had spent plenty of time around the fae. He was not deterred. His icy hand remained around Casper's heart as the fae creature tried to pull back. Nice of him to provide magical cover. He gave a squeeze.

"I don't care who you are, you don't want beef with me, you don't fucking know who I am," Jonny snarled, "you like standing in the park casting magic on people? That's how you get beef, see. Nod if you understand."

With the return of his attire, he released the heart.He didn't notice the shoes. Guy that loiters in the park using magic on random individuals? Important? Still, you didn't go around invoking the power of strong fae if you didn't have it. He didn't know all the business ties of his new employer, he wasn't going to push his luck.

[indeath]

Casper’s face became twisted with rage as his trick didn’t work, eyes flaring red and teeth sharpening for a moment. He wasn’t used to not being in control at least when it came to anyone other than her. It was the only thing that kept him sane. His white hair bristled and sharpened. Instead of nodding he threw up two one-fingered salutes. He grimaced slightly at the squeeze trying not to cry out.

When he was released he verbally exploded . His face going tomato red and smoke rising from his hair. His form shifted and twisted with emotion.

“As if! Most humans prefer living in ignorance, they’ll explain it away even if they bother noticing in the first place. I’ve been around long enough… You only notice because you are supernatural!”

Then he moved forward and launched a fist into the spirit’s face.

“Alright! How do you like that bit of not-magic? Does that not cause beef?”

[beastly]

Jonny wasn't some bleeding heart, he wasn't terribly concerned if Casper wanted to run around doing minor magical pranks on people. What he couldn't abide was the mug casting spells on him.

"You knew I was a ghost, that I'd notice-," Jonny was cut off by an unexpected fist to the face. The ghost started to stumble back, but for some reason he couldn't get his feet under him. In a growl of frustration and confusion he went down.

Oh, he was gonna haunt this bastard.

[indeath]

Casper stood over the ghost with the shittiest shit eating grin, he hadn’t considered the laces when he’d punched Jonny. It almost tickled him more than if he’d planned it out.

“Oh? I was sure your laces were tied like that before. My bad. Yeah I’m an expert on human ignorance… Thought I was one for twenty odd years. You’re all the same. It’s important to be grounded though, right? Ain’t it just a kick in the pants?”


He gave a sharp kick to the ghost’s middle still grinning. He’d given up any notion of this going any differently. Still if he was honest with himself he’d been itching for a fight. This smarmy ghost needing putting down a peg or two. He’d find her a mortal tomorrow. This punk was far too uppity.