Howdy Y’all

Trusty considered the idea for a few moments before answering. “Well… we’d have to be pretty stealthy ‘bout it… the odds ain’t in our favor… but, I’m sure there’s some kinda way we could pull it off. I mean, the worst that’ll happen is we’ll end up on the news and be the punchline of some new joke, but it’s not the worse outcome.” He chuckled. “But really, there has to be someone back home who can make it just like this so we don’t miss it too much.”

“Stealth is not my middle name, but you can definitely count on me to confuse them into convincing them it’s our emotional support dish. Constant hunger is the true struggle we’re facing every waking moment.” She giggled, not really sure whether it was her or the sugar in the dessert speaking. “Oh dear, well, isn’t laughter all we strive for?” Ari hummed in thought, tapping the spoon on her mouth. “You might me on to something… we could always try to make it ourselves!”

“Well…” He tried thinking of a way to describe what he was after without sounding completely insane. “‘Kay, get this: there’s this old buildin’ where folks used to do exorcisms and stuff like that but, as ya can guess, half the folks weren’t actually possessed or nothin’ and ended up passin’. It’s said that they might still be there.” He bit his lip and smiled. “Ya would really help me out?”

“Oh, it’s better than good.” He laughed. “Oh trust me, it’s comin’. I’m just a ‘lil better at hidin’ my sugar rushes than you are.” He sat back in his chair with a grin. “How have ya been? Feels like forever… and I swear ya change every time I see ya.”

“I guess I’d be the first.” Trusty chuckled and picked up his own menu. He was relieved when Atticus was the first to admit it, because he was having a difficult time making out the words as well. “Hey, I ain’t too much better than ya are. ‘Scuse me?” He stopped a passing waitress, praying she understood English. “Could me and my pal have… English menus?” From her kid and look of amusement he guessed she understood. Turning back to Atticus, Trusty chuckled. “Guess I should’ve brought a dictionary or somethin’”

Trusty chuckled. “If there’s a haunted place within a two hundred mile radius of where I am, I’m gonna know ‘bout it.” He raised a brow. He hadn’t been meaning to ask for a companion. “I mean, stuff like this gets pretty… crazy. I wouldn’t wanna put ya in harm’s way or anythin’.” He couldn’t help getting excited at her interest, of course. “I couldn’t find anythin’ for sure, but apparently there’s a really angry ghost that doesn’t really… well, he’s not known for bein’ nice to gals.”

“Oh trust me, I’m from New York, so I’m used to people not being nice to ‘gals’.” Kiara laughed. “I love a good adventure, plus it would be bad if you went all alone without any backup. I might as well introduce myself if we’re going to be ghost-hunting partners. I’m Kiara,” she grinned, holding out a hand. “So are there ghost sites in Santa Monica too?”

“I don’t think they’d add somethin’ like this.” He scratched his chin and took a minute to examine the girl’s face before continuing. She seemed nice enough to not laugh in his face if what he was about to say sounded absolutely ridiculous. “How do ya feel ‘bout ghosts?”

Elena thought for a minute. “Not the weirdest thing I’ve ever had to deal with honestly. What do you have in mind?”

“Eh…” He scratched his chin, “‘Bout five? But they’re good! You’ll see!”

“Well if ya must ruin the moment, cousin, I guess so. But, that’s not what’s it’s called here so be respectful of the culture.” He smiled, offering her the dessert again. “C’mon, stop stallin’ and try the deliciousness. Ya won’t regret it.”

She raised her hands in surrender before picking up a spoon from the table and trying it. “Alright, I’ll admit it’s pretty good–didn’t ya say ya had four of these already? It’s a surprise ya ain’t bouncin’ off the walls already.”

@elenaaavalor

“Have ya ever heard the story of El Font De Canaletes?” Trusty was speaking more to himself than the girl beside him, but he continued on anyway. “Apparently there’s a ghost there that’s been scarin’ folks for a pretty long time… I wouldn’t mind catchin’ somethin’ like that on video.” He chuckled to himself before going back to silently reading the story that had caught his eye. “Ya know, there’s a lot of place ‘round here that’re said to have lots of activity. I’m itchin’ to go see if it’s true.”

@kiaralyon

Kiara looked up from her book immediately after hearing the word ‘ghost.’ “I didn’t know there were a lot of haunted places around here. If you wanna go check one out I’d be dying to tag along. What’s the story about?” She asked the boy next to her, closing her book and looking up at him.

@ellie-vanhelsing

Trusty slowly pushed the dessert toward the man with a smirk, knowing that once he’d taken a bite he wouldn’t be able to resist. He chuckled when he saw that his predictions were right, and sat back in his chair with a smug grin. “I don’t know, maybe it’d be better if I at least try to save some room for whatever’s next on the menu… then again, ya only live once.” He shrugged, shoveling more into his mouth.

“You’re probably right…” Atticus mumbled as he savored the treat, finally letting out a chuckle of his own as he saw Trusty go back on what he just had said. “Well, look at it this way, I’m sure no one has ever regretted having too much dessert.” He looked over the menu, cocking his head to the side as he read over the dishes; looking at Trusty with a blank face. “I…have now remembered I cannot read a word written on here.” 

“I insist! I don’t know if I could take another bite right now without blowin’ up anyway.”

After a moment of hesitation, she shrugged. Taking the desert, she looked up at the man. “You said you’d had how many of these?”