welcome aboard, Aera Cha, student #56. we are excited to set sail with you !  has anyone told you that you look like Park Shin-hye? according to our records, you hail from Seoul, Korea, prefer She/Her, are Female, and are here to study Fashion Design. we also see you received a spot on the ss university because of your MONEY — we won’t tell anyone. during your first few weeks here, other students said you were + Calm, + Approachable, but also - Naive. it sounds like you spend most of your time at the Pool Deck. upon checking your luggage, we noticed you packed Her mothers wedding ring FROM HOME. hopefully your roommates don’t steal it!

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“I did. I-I probably was holed in my room looking at my ph-photos or taking them. We sh-should have, it would be f-fun.” He said with a chuckle. “I-it is you’re right, w-we should see if we can f-find any on the sh-ship.” 

“Okay but where would we even start? Do you suppose there’s a more haunted spot on the ship versus anywhere else?” Aera asked with wonder. “I have a camera too, we should take come pictures together! Maybe we’ll even catch spirit orbs!”

“I-I don’t think you’re weird. I kinda m-miss trying to find o-one to befriend, but I am g-glad I have my room b-back.” 

“You tried to befriend one of them? Where were you my entire life, because I was trying to do the very same thing! We should of worked together. Two people working at it would of been better than one.”

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He doesn’t mean for his face to show the absolute skepticism that he’s been through for the past few days but he can’t help it after the comment of singing kids. “I wouldn’t say you’re weird, I guess if children ghosts were real their singing would be something you would miss,” he says with a shrug. “You didn’t really hear them, did you?”

Taking in his expression only showed just how much he was skeptical about the idea of the supernatural. It wasn’t anything new to her, she was long used to defending her beliefs with the man, enjoying the banter that would pass between the pair whenever the subject was brought up. “If anything, this last week has proved that I’ve been right all along! How else would you explain half the things that happened during our stay? You can’t deny it when there was so much proof.” Pausing for a moment with a smile, she nodded. “I did! It was a few times, but as far as I know, there shouldn’t of been any children around us.”

“Didn’t you know? The ship’s haunted, too. If you stay really quiet and listen closely, you’ll hear students moaning at, like, three in the morning. Especially after a party.”

“Oh, how could I ever forget?! I’ve been woken up so many times by those particular ghosts in the past. I’m impressed by the stamina they have if I’m being completely honest. I can only imagine the...energy that takes.”

    “did you actually hear them? i don’t think you’re weird. in fact, i think i would probably feel the same way if i actually experienced anything like that… sadly i didn’t. being ghosted by actual ghosts truly hits different.”

“I did! It was such an amazingly unique experience. I’ve always believed ghost had to be real, so the fact that we ended stranded in a haunted hotel was exactly what I needed to prove my beliefs correct. Which floor did you get assigned to?”

x

“you are most definitely not the only one. i swear, i could’ve just happily lived there!” she said with a laugh. “if we’re lucky, they followed us on. wouldn’t that be something?”

“I just didn’t find it as creepy as others did. Maybe it was because of the floor I was on? I mean what’s terrifying about musical ghosts?” Aera asked with a slight tilt of her head. “Could you imagine just chilling out on the pool deck, eyes closed as you reach for your drink, only for it to not be there?”

“ oh, let’s not remind me of all the things i’m trying so very desperately to forget. ” micah huffed as he jokingly put his hands over his ears. “ i could go another year without hearing the word ghost and even that might be too soon. i’m going to petition that there is no dressing up as ghosts or decorating with ghosts this halloween. ”

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“It’s not weird. I didn’t get to hear the ghost kids but my floor had musical ghosts and they were not that bad, so I kinda miss them,” she said with a smile.

“I was on the same floor, and I swear I could hear little kids singing. I’m not sure if others heard it, but it was--lighthearted. At least that’s how it came across.”

“We’re not even going to talk about how insanely weird that sounds. I’m down for ghosts just as much as the next person, but to be surrounded by them? No thank you, I would just rather leave them there.”

“Okay but what if those little ghost children sang you to sleep every night in exchange for being on the ship? I mean that sounds like a fair trade to me. Wouldn’t you just get used to them at some point? I mean surely you would.”

“That is some what similar to how I organize mine. So you must read a little bit of everything as well? We’ll have to go to the next bookshop together and browse, I’m always dying to add something new to my collection. Phantom of the Opera is suck a classic and one of my favorite reads.” 

“How do you like to organize them? I wouldn’t mind coming to help, I might have to do the same. You have first editions as well? I packed mind just in case and brought them with me.” 

“I for one agree with you completely. I do miss my library though. The books better not be damaged.”

cassidy: you must be the overeater, mystery solved. myth busted. we don't need scooby and the gang to figure this one out after all.

cassidy: i won't deny you any food. you know i'll feed you. i'm the best platonic boyfriend you got.

cassidy: aw, well i'm here and ready to give you my company. let's watch some trash t.v. too. i wanna make fun of people that make worse life decisions than me.

aera: so we don't need the help of the mythbusters? damn--i had their number on standby. jokes on you, cassidy, I AM scooby.

aera: the literal love of my life! what would I do without you? starve, that's what.

cassidy: it's possible, is it often? maybe not. but it's possible. listen, it was put in front of me at the right time i guess! ... i was hungry. also how can you say no to food being placed in front of you? i don't wanna be rude.

cassidy: i was about to say, this is sounding more and more like fast food, miss cha.

cassidy: but sounds great.

cassidy: so you're okay? you said you needed company which could just mean just that, that you need company but figured i'd ask if you were okay. i don't have to fight anyone or anything? please say no, my face is all i got. i can't afford a blackeye. no, kidding. you good?

Aera: I don't believe that! I feel like you're always hungry. Or am I just hungry, and you go along with it? Am I actually the over eater in this friendship?

aera: listen! i'm starving and I will not be denied food