I mean...there are a dozen different types of summoning spells you can use to command a spirit to do your dirty work, but people don't usually use human spirits for that. [Most of them aren't as, um, versatile as a demon. It's a possibility, but not a super likely one, she judges.
And it wouldn't explain why they disappeared here, of all places.] Not sure I like the sound of that.
[A snort of amusement.] I'm told they don't bite. It might roll across your feet and try to trip you up, that's about it.
[Charles hemmed at the idea, clicking his tongue against his teeth as he shook his head.] Nah. Like you're sayin, there's loads of better options. Takes a lot more juice than it's worth to press a ghost into service like that, unless they've got some specific skill you're looking to use. And none of these ones were anything like that. Pretty mundane bunch other than the hedge witch, Maryanne.
[Charles liked the idea even less than Courtney did, and it was something to think about, but he was also somewhat relieved that it was a highly unlikely thing in this case.]
Yeah? They get underfoot, well then he's got experience dealin' with me, [Charles chuckled, nodding at the thought.] Y'know, I think I will. The idea's growin' on me.
[And it would be an excellent in on chatting up the owner of this particular setup- he'd spotted her on the other side of the pen, smoking her pipe as she haggled with what looked to be a sprite of some sort over a small strawberry with a multitude of blinking eyes in a tiny glass jar.]
Charlie Row [As close to his actual name as he'd dare giving out- this wasn't the Fae, but there were enough around, let alone other sorts who could do some damage with a name, that he and Edwin just went by close alternatives here. Whatever the case his smile was genuine as he held a hand Courtney's way.] Of the Dead Boy Detectives at your service.
[Randomness is worse, in a way. To a witch, that suggests something is grabbing just anyone it can get, collecting energy or souls for some massive undertaking. Ominous.
Also, she can't help but notice a lone ghost boy is kind of sticking his neck out, here. That seems risky. Risky enough that she decides to just...stick around for a little while, as he haggles for his pumpkin.]
Caitlin Crumb. [She answers archly, taking his hand carefully. Her concerns about real names are the same as his, but also her uncle was a rather infamous hunter of wicked sorcerers and powerful vampires, and advertising her connection to him in places like this is like painting a target on her forehead.] Cait for short.
Dead Boy Detectives, huh? How many of you are there?
Cheers, Cait. [And like most ghosts who've been there a while? It's like shaking hands with anyone else. Maybe a touch under the normal body temperature but can't have it all!]
It's me and my best mate Edmund, [He can't help the way his grin brightens as he talks about them, fake names or no.] Normally it'd be the pair of us, he's proper brills at investigating, but he's got a ritual to babysit so it's down to me!
[If Courtney has any sense for people? How bad Charles has it for his partner is blindingly obvious.]
[Impressive. She hasn't known a whole lot of ghosts personally, but she's familiar enough with the lore to make a guess or two. She's also familiar enough with teenage boys in love that she picks up on the subtext right away. For a second, she gives a subtle smirk, but then she's back to business.]
So you're stuck doing the legwork, huh? You're not worried something's going to snatch you up while you're investigating?
Nah, I'll just give 'em a proper swat, really make 'em regret tryin'. [And an idle wriggle of a hand where a little charm bracelet flashes silver just under the edge of a leather glove.] And if that fails, got a tracking charm, so he'll know right where to go.
[Not that this was the only charmed tracker Charles carried, but he wasn't about to say that. And tracking charm or no, he had utter faith in Edwin to find him no matter where he wound up.]
What about you? What's got you hangin' around, aside from the adorable vegetation?
If you say so... [She begins, but then the glimmer of the bracelet catches her eye and she looks like she wants to laugh out loud. She twitches her sleeve aside subtly, and a similar piece of jewelry glistens on her own wrist.]
Ha! See, mine only goes one way. Tells me if my brother's in trouble but he doesn't get any news about me. [The last thing she needs is Will trying to come to her rescue again. He's getting better at looking after himself, but he shouldn't have to consider her in that equation.]
Ritual components for a spell. [She shrugs.] Phalaris grass is hard to come by, even in specialty stores.
[Charles can't help but laugh a little at that coincidence, expression brightening.]
Y'know, I tried to convince Edmund to do it as a two-way, but he just gave me this look yeah? [He does his best to mimic the level of 'really Charles?' that Edwin had managed, but he didn't quite have the stoicism for it, or the eyebrows to really sell it.] Nice though, that your brother's got you lookin' out for him.
[It always cheered Charles up to see families where the members cared about each other.]
Phalaris grass? [A soft little hum as he tilted his head, considering.] I think my partner had us harvestin' that a bit back- had to go back a bunch of times, so he could get some during the full moon, waning, waxing, new, all that. Something about the moon changing the properties? Would likely consider some of that a fair trade for helping me canvas the place for what's happenin' to our missing ghosts.
[Edwin would not, but he could hardly say no to Charles at the best of times.]
[She laughs again, softly and a little wryly. At least she doesn't get quite that level of sass from Will, most of the time. Big sister is a softer authority figure than a parent, but still authoritative enough to brook no arguments.] I try.
I'm shit at dealing with people in general, but I try.
[Not like her parents put forth a lot of effort to care for him, but that's...complicated. She thinks they like him at least as much as they ever did her, but it's a low bar.]
Yeah, it's--huh. Is your guy a sorcerer or something? That's a lot of work. [If he doesn't consider her tagging along with Charles a fair trade, she could probably share some of her books.] I'm curious what's up, anyway. I was trying to think of a way of following you without being creepy, so I think we have a deal.
Well I dunno about all that! I mean I'm aces at people, and in my opinion you've been doin' good so far with me!
[And was he brightening a bit at the opportunity to talk up Edwin a bit more? Absolutely!]
He's a ghost like me- don't think he even really believed in magic when he was alive, but he practiced loads since then, and he's proper brills at it now!
[Which was... strange, to be sure, not that Charles especially knew- Ghosts tended only to get a little more power than they had in life magically if that, and aside from that, it was often dangerous for them to do things like spells and rituals, as it was so very easy to drain themselves and effectively erase themselves from existence.]
Right Cait! For now we've gotta to around and see if we can't find out where our ghosts liked to go here- if we can figure out a common spot, we might find a good lead.
[A hand in a pocket to dig out a few pictures he had of various ages and eras- photographs taken when the ghosts in question was alive, or copies of portraits, he offered them her way to take a look.]
Or we'll get really lucky and maybe spot one of 'em ourselves.
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And it wouldn't explain why they disappeared here, of all places.] Not sure I like the sound of that.
[A snort of amusement.] I'm told they don't bite. It might roll across your feet and try to trip you up, that's about it.
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[Charles liked the idea even less than Courtney did, and it was something to think about, but he was also somewhat relieved that it was a highly unlikely thing in this case.]
Yeah? They get underfoot, well then he's got experience dealin' with me, [Charles chuckled, nodding at the thought.] Y'know, I think I will. The idea's growin' on me.
[And it would be an excellent in on chatting up the owner of this particular setup- he'd spotted her on the other side of the pen, smoking her pipe as she haggled with what looked to be a sprite of some sort over a small strawberry with a multitude of blinking eyes in a tiny glass jar.]
Charlie Row [As close to his actual name as he'd dare giving out- this wasn't the Fae, but there were enough around, let alone other sorts who could do some damage with a name, that he and Edwin just went by close alternatives here. Whatever the case his smile was genuine as he held a hand Courtney's way.] Of the Dead Boy Detectives at your service.
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Also, she can't help but notice a lone ghost boy is kind of sticking his neck out, here. That seems risky. Risky enough that she decides to just...stick around for a little while, as he haggles for his pumpkin.]
Caitlin Crumb. [She answers archly, taking his hand carefully. Her concerns about real names are the same as his, but also her uncle was a rather infamous hunter of wicked sorcerers and powerful vampires, and advertising her connection to him in places like this is like painting a target on her forehead.] Cait for short.
Dead Boy Detectives, huh? How many of you are there?
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It's me and my best mate Edmund, [He can't help the way his grin brightens as he talks about them, fake names or no.] Normally it'd be the pair of us, he's proper brills at investigating, but he's got a ritual to babysit so it's down to me!
[If Courtney has any sense for people? How bad Charles has it for his partner is blindingly obvious.]
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So you're stuck doing the legwork, huh? You're not worried something's going to snatch you up while you're investigating?
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[Not that this was the only charmed tracker Charles carried, but he wasn't about to say that. And tracking charm or no, he had utter faith in Edwin to find him no matter where he wound up.]
What about you? What's got you hangin' around, aside from the adorable vegetation?
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Ha! See, mine only goes one way. Tells me if my brother's in trouble but he doesn't get any news about me. [The last thing she needs is Will trying to come to her rescue again. He's getting better at looking after himself, but he shouldn't have to consider her in that equation.]
Ritual components for a spell. [She shrugs.] Phalaris grass is hard to come by, even in specialty stores.
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Y'know, I tried to convince Edmund to do it as a two-way, but he just gave me this look yeah? [He does his best to mimic the level of 'really Charles?' that Edwin had managed, but he didn't quite have the stoicism for it, or the eyebrows to really sell it.] Nice though, that your brother's got you lookin' out for him.
[It always cheered Charles up to see families where the members cared about each other.]
Phalaris grass? [A soft little hum as he tilted his head, considering.] I think my partner had us harvestin' that a bit back- had to go back a bunch of times, so he could get some during the full moon, waning, waxing, new, all that. Something about the moon changing the properties? Would likely consider some of that a fair trade for helping me canvas the place for what's happenin' to our missing ghosts.
[Edwin would not, but he could hardly say no to Charles at the best of times.]
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I'm shit at dealing with people in general, but I try.
[Not like her parents put forth a lot of effort to care for him, but that's...complicated. She thinks they like him at least as much as they ever did her, but it's a low bar.]
Yeah, it's--huh. Is your guy a sorcerer or something? That's a lot of work. [If he doesn't consider her tagging along with Charles a fair trade, she could probably share some of her books.] I'm curious what's up, anyway. I was trying to think of a way of following you without being creepy, so I think we have a deal.
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[And was he brightening a bit at the opportunity to talk up Edwin a bit more? Absolutely!]
He's a ghost like me- don't think he even really believed in magic when he was alive, but he practiced loads since then, and he's proper brills at it now!
[Which was... strange, to be sure, not that Charles especially knew- Ghosts tended only to get a little more power than they had in life magically if that, and aside from that, it was often dangerous for them to do things like spells and rituals, as it was so very easy to drain themselves and effectively erase themselves from existence.]
Right Cait! For now we've gotta to around and see if we can't find out where our ghosts liked to go here- if we can figure out a common spot, we might find a good lead.
[A hand in a pocket to dig out a few pictures he had of various ages and eras- photographs taken when the ghosts in question was alive, or copies of portraits, he offered them her way to take a look.]
Or we'll get really lucky and maybe spot one of 'em ourselves.