Explain It Like I'm Tree

Chat Log 2

Lewis paused. He snapped his fingers, delighted. He knew he'd forgotten something. He nodded several times and was rewarded with an enthusiastic smile from Arthur. "Great! Could you print out the details and..." Arthur's smile fell for a minute and his brows drew together. "Hmmm. Actually. Could you print it out and put it by Vivi's door?"

Lewis tilted his head.

Arthur shrugged. "Seems like as good an opening as any to start peace negotiations."

Finally. Lewis reached out and ruffled Arthur's already frazzled hair.

"Hey!" Arthur grinned. "Shoo, I've got a dog to wash."

"I could wash myself, you know," Mystery grumbled from behind him.

"Yeah, but you never do. Pampered pooch."

Lewis backed away from the door before he could ruin the moment with his laughter. He felt lighter as Arthur shut the door. There was a case to work with. Arthur aimed to talk to Vivi soon. The good times weren't all over. There was still something to work with and work toward.

Still, he couldn't help wishing he could speak directly to his friends. It was ridiculous how much he missed even simple exchanges. He'd trade any part of the ghostly state for the chance to talk with them about how the day had gone...

Maybe he'd been too quick to turn down Mothman's help. Arthur and Vivi hadn't shown any signs of putting their heads together to help him figure out his issues yet, and he was tired of sitting on his hands. He had networked his own connection with someone who seemed pretty knowledgeable—or at least, knew who to go to for good information. Maybe he could figure out a way to decrease the risk of getting an in-person assessment from Mothman.

He drifted back toward the office. He hadn't applied any paint to the walls yet, so if there was a time to shoot off a quick message, now would be best. He closed the door behind him and had the Deadbeats boot up the laptop and log in.

..................................................

Mod Skull: Hey, you around?

Mothman: Lucky! Just got back. Thought any more about letting me in on your ghost issue?

Mod Skull: *is typing*

Mod Skull: *is typing*

Mod Skull: *is typing*

Mothman: Fine. I can take a hint.

Mod Skull: No, wait

Mod Skull: It's just... we need to know more about you. Can you give us any credentials? Any history? Anything to the effect of a track record of your dealings with ghosts?

Mothman: I don't have any track record with ghosts. Wish I did. Like I said, it's out of my field since I'm usually working the alien angle. Cross-training would be nice.

Mothman: Why do you need my info?

Mod Skull: It's kind of important to the team that this ghost doesn't get exorcised by over-enthusiastic ghost hunters.

Mothman: Ohhhhh. Yeah. Okay this is making more sense now.

Mothman: Look, to be honest, if I tell you who I am, I'm worried you won't take me seriously. For several reasons.

Mod Skull: Can't move forward if you can't give us anything at all. Besides, we'd learn a lot of that stuff once we met you, right?