"There's no easy way to say this... I'm dead."

“Well, you still have rights, as far as I’m concerned. If you can communicate with them, they can represent you.” Shuri smirked. “You still wouldn’t win against Wakandan lawyers, though, no matter how groundbreaking it was. It’s the best scientific theory I have so far. Hope you don’t mind being a guinea pig.”

“I would LOVE to meet some other ghosts. We could discuss our legal representation and other ghostly things. And non-ghost things. It doesn’t have to be all ‘ghost’ stuff.” Hector laughed, waving off Shuri’s joking concern. “I don’t mind at all. Honestly, I’m pretty stoked.” 

“It, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Well, it wasn’t fine. But he also seemed genuinely apologetic, so she’d let it slide. “Are you?”

“Mhm, yeah. No big deal-- I just feel bad when I freak someone out.” 

“I’m sorry, darling, did you say undead?”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess I didn’t specify before-- I’m sort of a ghost. Or spirit... A manifestation of human consciousness. Dead, either way.”

“- I’m fine! Just, a bit jumpy.”

“I mean... fair. I did just sneak up on you-- Sorry about that, by the way. Super didn’t mean to. Are you okay...?”

“Well you’re here, aren’t you.” Tony reached out but retracted his hand, obviously, he wouldn’t be able to touch the guy. “I’d say you’re worth it. Don’t sell yourself so short”

“And honestly... it feels crazy to be here. With all of you.”

“Seriously? I am putting you down for every other party I’m throwing, kid!”

“The entertainment and the guest of honour.”

“Oh man, I don’t think I’m worth all that trouble--”

Emma smirked to herself as the boy hushed his thoughts. Poor thing had no idea how this sort of thing worked, but at least he was being considerate about it.

“That’s better,” she purred, if somewhat jokingly.

Okay wow, actually talking while trying to simultaneously tell himself to keep his thoughts quiet? That’s hard. But gosh, Hector really continued to try. 

“No problem! Just trying to help out. Now I just need to do this for... the rest of my undead life, I guess.”

“Not to everyone, no,” Emma admitted. “When I was younger and my powers were newer, sometimes I could not help it. People think so loudly, I heard many things I should not have.”

She sighed. “Many things I wish I had not have. About myself, about private affairs, about the vilest secrets people keep in their minds.” The blonde examined the young man. “Your head, though easily accessible, is not wholly unpleasant, thankfully.”

“I’ll try to think...quieter, around you.” Hector wasn’t sure exactly how to think quieter or if it was at all working, but boy did he put some effort into it. His attempt mostly consisted of several moments of ‘Think quieter. Think quieter. Think quieter’ type thoughts.

“As I said, this is a new scenario, but I suppose there are a few shared principles. I’ll see what I can come up with. Can you affect the world around you in any way? Flickering lights, moving objects, stereotypical ghost things? Maybe I’ve seen too many American movies for that to be the case, but if it is, that’s energy that can be used to power or operate other things.”

“Totally! Moving things is a little harder to do, but electricity-- Anything with it, I can affect. TVs, lights, your phone... I can short circuit it all. My best guess would have to be that now I’m made up of some sort of energy, similar enough to electricity. But I’m not a scientist or anything. I don’t really know what I’m talking about--”

          “You’d be surprised, this city’s full of bewildering things.” There’s a moment in which the man considers offering his hand for the other to shake, but his wavering knowledge on Hector’s condition sees him opting not to - Beck gives a curt nod instead, letting a smile play on his lips. “Quentin, nice to meet you.”

The lack of a handshake was so welcoming! Often times, people offered their hand and Hector didn’t hold it against them in the slightest, but it was... awkward. He was certainly glad when the situation was entirely avoided by Quentin’s foresight. “Hector! It’s nice to meet you too, Quentin!”

“All I’m hearing at this point is that you are up for the idea regardless. But we should do the bed sheet with eyes cut out thing. Really sell it.”

Hector started laughing. “Yes! That would be perfect! I don’t know if I can actually interact with a real life bed sheet, but I can sure change my appearance to look like I’m wearing one!” 

          “Hey, company’s company, right?”Beck was tempted to maintain the ruse of the notorious Count being present at the party but the younger of the pair had caught onto the joke, the man instinctively reflecting his mirthful laughter. ”At least there wouldn’t be the risk of him wanting your blood. A positive spin on your predicament.”

“Good point! Gotta admit, I’ve never took into consideration the whole vampire thing. I’m Hector by the way.” There weren’t many positive things that could be drawn from his situation, and though Hector knew this man was only teasing, hey, he’ll lean into that-- Let the party’s good mood wash over him. 

“Are you telling me you want to scare Thor? I will do anything to see that. I swear. Please. I will get down on my knees and beg.” Tony chuckled.

“I don’t know if I want to, but...” Hector laughed, “Would he even be scared of ghosts? The stuff you guys see as Avengers--”

“Yes, darling. They’re not particularly well guarded,” she mused. “I am a very powerful telepath, am quite wealthy, and yes, am a mutant. I hope that answers any remaining questions on your mind.”

“...um, I think you got all of them, yeah.” Give Hector a moment to shake himself from the surprise and shock of having his private thoughts read as though he was holding a poster with them written over his head. “Do you always do that to everyone? What if you hear something you really shouldn’t have?”

“Yeah? You’d like that? I mean, I’d do it… but where the hell am I supposed to start?” Tony shrugged. “I’m not exactly the poster boy for following my own rules.”

“I guess you’re right. It’s more of a “you gotta be there” type of thing... And dying is kind of a big step to take. Maybe wait on that one, in my opinion.”

          “Sure, I’ll keep you in mind although I think you may be in some luck…”Unmoved eyes remain poised on the ghoul, a lack of empathy kept under wraps as the engineer ruminates on how the other was the sole entity of his kind ( if Beck knew otherwise, he certainly wouldn’t willingly offer that piece of information… ). A breathy chuckle accompanies his response. “I think I saw Dracula somewhere avoiding the overly garlic-seasoned hors d'oeuvres.”

There was just the briefest moment where Hector wasn’t sure if it was a joke or not, but then he was laughing. “Well, hey, y’know... I’ll keep an eye out for him. It’d be nice to discuss all this supernatural stuff with someone. Even Dracula.”