[ joint post / end of plot ]

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[They appear on the Plane looking rather worse for the wear. Chris, Hei and Henrietta are sopping wet, while Crowley and Aziraphale appear to be dry. Hei is moving forward as if he was charging at something, Henrietta is falling from about six feet in the air, and Aziraphale is slumped over, blood trickling from his head. Hei keeps going when he sees Henrietta falling and ninja-catches her, falling onto his back in the process with a thud.]

Wha– Wyatt was just– [Chris glances around in askance of the others.] What just happened?

[Crowley looks around as well, the relief on his face apparent. He drops the length of lead pipe he's been holding and turns, crouching down next to the dazed angel.] Aziraphale?

[Aziraphale looks as dazed as before, though he's slowly coming back to his senses. He's aware enough to feel the pain now, and can't help but wince and cradle his head.] That really was unnecessary of him...

[Henrietta twitches and rubs her eyes.] Si...signore?!

[Hei is finding it hard to breathe under Henrietta's weight.] Alright, Henrietta?

Yes, but... what happened? [She does not realize this.]

... Is it over? Just like that? [Before anyone can answer, Chris disappears from the Plane... and reappears mere moments later.] It's over. Whatever that was... it looks like things are back to normal.

[Crowley places his hands over Aziraphale's, focused more on healing the angel's injuries than what the others are up to at the moment.]

[Henrietta tries to sit up, and gives up after a moment.] I feel funny.

[Hei makes a vague "urgghk" sound.] Wyatt put you to sleep or something.

Probably temporarily sapped her energy. It'll come back.

[Henrietta almost falls asleep in the middle of Chris's explanation, but then jerks awake again.] Oh... so... what now?

Comments

[ghostlighter]

[What the—?! His first instinct is to start phasing, but then he pops off the Plane and reappears nearby.]

Are you nuts?!

[mercwamouth]

[Wait, confused, do you mean he let the sword phase through him and then popped off or that he resisted his first instinct in the split-second before the sword struck and popped off the Plane instead?]

[ghostlighter]

[The second one! Obviously, I am awesome at action scenes.]

[mercwamouth]

[OK, just checking]

[Wait, was that...]

[Hesitation?]

You're holding back, aren't you?

[Sheathes sword]

Well that rules out quirky normal sidekick. Especially with those reflexes. Damn. Most people can't react that quickly and STILL keep their cards hidden. You're even better than I thought.

[Scratches chin]

...I just don't know why.

[I feel like I've seen him before.]

[You can probably assume some nighttime show that you know about but never really watched. Probably sci-fi.]

[But he's apparently also involved with "Danny Phantom". We watch Nickelodeon, right?]

[Please don't make me admit to that...]

[What does that show have that's unique enough to require a crossover?]

[Ghosts?]

You don't look like a ghost.

[Ghost-hunters?]

Maybe, but that wouldn't explain the hesitation. A pro like you would have just dodged it or popped off without a second thought if you were just human.

[You could just be reading too much into it.]

I don't think so.

[Half-ghost?]

...You a half-ghost?

[ghostlighter]

[... stares.]

Wha— how...? What?

[mercwamouth]

...Was that a "What, how did you know?" or a "What the hell are you talking about?"

[ghostlighter]

[Oh hay. An out. Thanks, Deadpool.]

What the hell are you talking about?

[mercwamouth]

*laughs* Wow, you must really think I'm an idiot. A person of your ability in a town infested with ghosts not knowing what a half-ghost is? That would be like a middle-aged mom not knowing who Oprah is.

Can't believe you fell for that. Now I'm almost positive you're a half-ghost, given how quickly you played dumb. Thanks. I wasn't entirely sure until now.

[ghostlighter]

[... nnngh.]

Fine. Whatever. It was worth a shot. Now how the hell did you know? Last I checked, half-ghosts weren't exactly regular phenomena, even among the ghosts.

[mercwamouth]

I'm just that good.

[...At watching children's television.]

[ghostlighter]

No, I don't think so. You pulled that out of nowhere.

[mercwamouth]

Look, if I told you, you either wouldn't believe me or your grip on reality would shatter. I'm not even sure if I can tell you, what with Captain Canon looking over my shoulder.

[Hey, you might be willing to risk the other Shifters' sanity, but I'd rather not if there's not good reason]

Let's just leave it at "I know a lot about other realities". As to how? Some things are better left unknown.

[ghostlighter]

[Watches him carefully for a moment, then exhales.] Fine. Just... don't tell anyone, alright?

[mercwamouth]

...What, does no one else know?

[ghostlighter]

Like... three people do, but no one else. I'd like to keep it that way.

[mercwamouth]

...Well...OK, but you owe me.

[ghostlighter]

... Owe you?

[mercwamouth]

Since your money's probably no good to me, if you got any special trinkets or something a little more practical, you might make it worth my while. Otherwise, you could just owe me a favor whenever I feel like cashing it in.

[ghostlighter]

Any of the 'trinkets' I use don't actually belong to me. [Crosses his arms.] We'll see about a favor. Maybe.

[mercwamouth]

You'll just have to decide at the time whether you'd rather do the favor or keep your secret. And don't think for a second I wouldn't tell. No power in the multiverse can stop my mouth from runnin' except compensation.

[ghostlighter]

It'll depend on what it is, and when you ask. I could be busy with something else and not have the time to go on some wild goose chase.

[mercwamouth]

We'll just have to wait and see.

[ghostlighter]

Guess we will.