[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/SR52k84p/54b4e63d635603b22d80f72a4ba2be54.png[/img][hr][img]https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Agatha-All-Along-105-02.gif?w=640[/img][hr][@Achronum][@Blizz][@Forsythe][@Kirah][@PatientBean][@Trainerblue192][hr][h3][color=AC3EFF][b]7:50 PM - Sun. December 12th, 2038 - New Orleans, Louisiana[/b][/color][/h3][/center][hr]	[color=DBA1DE]"Aww, thaaaanks baaaaabe,"[/color] Casper cooed, before pressing a quick kiss to his husband's cheek. James was always there to catch him, always ready to put him back together. He loved that feeling of connection, of warmth, as his husband instructed his body on how to put itself back together. If he could permanently tie his being to him, he would. Even now, he felt like the luckiest man in the world whenever James walked into a room. [color=DBA1DE]"Wait there's gonna be milkshakes?!"[/color] Casper gasped, flailing his limbs outward and nearly sliding out of his seat. [color=DBA1DE]"[i]I[/i] want a milkshake Ben!!! C'mon!!!"[/color]

	Percy was momentarily distracted from his unease with James by his astonishment with Casper. It became abundantly clear to him which parent Danni took after. He was loud, careless, and vibrant - not even phased at all by his fall, as if the concept of pain or injury was foreign to him. And maybe it was - maybe it was to all of the Kingston-Grays, as James could take it away before the memory could even form. When was the last time Dorian had been sick? Was his immune system more robust because of James' powers - or was it actually weaker, unable to develop the defenses it needed if there was always someone else on hand to fight off the disease?

	[color=42A9FF]"That's so cool!"[/color] April's eyes were wide, completely in awe. A fall like that could have been nasty - definitely could have needed stitches - but it wasn't a huge deal here. Dorian's and Danni's family was completely magical. The way that they used their powers to ensure that everyone's needs were met... It was inspiring. It was nothing like the home that April came from - nothing like her family of origin. She'd thought a lot about what she could do to help the ocean with her powers, once she was strong enough. But she'd never thought much about what else she could use it for. And looking at the family, and everything they could... She found herself wondering if there was something more. 

	Her phone buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket, and glanced at the screen, instinctively tensing. There was a text from her mother. She ignored it. Or at least, she tried to. But there were other texts beneath it - ones from hours ago - and she gasped, reading them in reverse order. Her heart was beating thunderously fast now. She re-read the texts over and over again, guilt filling her up and practically suffocating her. How had she missed these? Leah... Leah thought her dad had been here, thought he'd been trying to kill everyone, and April was just seeing these [i]now[/i]. Hours later. Leah must have hated her. And Sabine... April swallowed again, reading the texts one last time. Sabine hadn't said a word. She was never going to talk to April again, certainly not after this. 

[hider=The eight texts April missed from Leah...][color=FFCB00]ignore everything i sent earlier. we were fucked with, it was an illusion or something. sorry april.

im going to find vision.

sorry for using this chat. i guess it was ignored for a reason. sorry if i scared you too april. its dad. hes here. either i finish this shit with the contest or the school is gone. i was worried he got to you and sabine before me. glad he didnt.

i k oe you can see this vicosn

where is he

are you hutr

imhere

where are you[/color][/hider]

	The happy bubble had fully burst. With trembling hands, April texted back a reply - even though Leah was in the same room as her. She didn't know what else to do. 

[hider=@Sabine + Leah][color=42A9FF]OMG i am so so so so so sorry!!!! i just saw this!!!![/color]

and

[color=42A9FF]i am really sorry i fucked up[/color]

and 

[color=42A9FF]who the actual fuck would do this???[/color]

and 

[color=42A9FF]was it the fucking young avengers??? ill fucking kill them[/color][/hider]

	Oblivious to the text-related drama unfolding in front of him, Ben instead focused on the absolutely horrifying song that came out of his son's mouth - and the various pleas for milkshakes. He'd already intended that they'd be ready for the kids after the seance, so he didn't have any issue with Max's ruling. However... [color=silver]"Dorian, just for that, no milkshake for you - as punishment for making your poor appa's ears bleed,"[/color] Ben said, shaking his head. He wasn't serious.

	Led by Casper, those who were interested in participating in the seance were led out of the kitchen and through the house to the descriptively-named seance room. The predominate feature was a large circular table, covered with a white cloth and a crystal ball in the dead center. Candles illuminated as they entered the space, some of them suspended from the ceiling in a grand candelabra, others strategically placed around the room. Most of the furniture was covered in white sheets, and the storm visible through the window did not match the weather of the French Quarter - it must have been enchanted. 

	[color=DBA1DE]"Okay, kids, here's how it's going to work - everyone is going to take a seat, you can join hands or not join hands, it doesn't actually suuuuper matter... Like I'm gonna level with you, since Maxie Max isn't here and can't complain, this is 99% for him. He [i]loves[/i] this shit. Boy is a theater kid and we love him for it. I could summon a ghost at a lemonade stand and it would work just as well. But the atmosphere is important for the vibes aaaand for whatever reason, people looove a spooky vibe,"[/color] Casper chattered, as he took a seat at the table - and hooked his leg around the chair next to him, ensuring his husband would sit there. He wouldn't do this without James. 

	[color=DBA1DE]"So what's the name of this guy we're bringing back? Oh and quick ghost etiquette - they're usually cranky and mean, just like Ben. If you do anything to piss the ghost off, seance is over. I'm also not going to just summon the ghost of every person you can think of, so if you want to talk to your grandma... sucks to suck, I guess?"[/color] he shrugged a bit. [color=DBA1DE]"So yeah, what's his name again - Ser Goldfish?"[/color]

	[color=ed1c24]"Ser Nemo,"[/color] Percy answered, as a chill went down his spine. The meaning of the name suddenly clicked for him. It was the same alias that Odysseus had used. He took his seat at the table, sitting as far from James as he could. He didn't like that. The thought made him feel strange - like his skin was buzzing and alive. At least after this, he'd never have to see the old man again. 

	April took a seat next to Danni, hoping Dorian would sit on either side of them. Her face was a bit pale in the candlelight, as she leaned forward with anticipation. She'd never seen a ghost before. And if her parents knew she was currently at the Kingston-Gray house during a seance, they'd probably disown her. But she didn't care. Fuck them. She wanted to talk to Nemo - she wanted to make sure that he was okay, that he was happy, that he was safe - she wanted to both tell him thank you and sorry - and a small part of her wanted to tell him to go to hell for having made that call, for not leaving her alone that night. [color=42A9FF]"Will we be able to see him? Or... or is he going to go inside you, like Dori does?"[/color]

	Casper snorted. [color=DBA1DE]"I don't think my husband would love it if he did that,"[/color] he teased gently, grinning at James. His eyes then glowed a soft shade of blue, the same strange energy emanating from his fingertips. A breeze kicked up in the room, threatening to blow out the candles. [color=DBA1DE]"He's a little possessive. But gotcha! One old man with a goldfish name coming up in three... two... one?"[/color]

	The color faded away. 

	The energy dissipated. 

	The seance room was still, quiet, void of ghostly visitors. 

	Sheer panic colored Casper's face. [color=DBA1DE]"Uh uh babes? Um I'm not - you know - I promise - when would I have? Unless - in my sleep? Do I sleep walk? Babes?"[/color] 

	Percy tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. What was Danni's father talking about?

	[color=42A9FF]"Is... is something supposed to be happening?"[/color]

[hr]	Meanwhile, Leah had elected to remain behind during the seance, staying downstairs with Max and Ben Gray. In addition to the texts from April, she would receive the following messages: 

[hider=From She-Hulk]Been in court all day, sorry kiddo! Couldn't have my phone. Need me to help you crack some skulls? (For legal purposes, this is 100% serious). I'll be in first thing tomorrow to see you! <3[/hider]

[hider=From Vision]DO NOT APOLOGIZE. YOU DID THE RIGHT THING, LEAH. I WILL KEEP MYSELF APPRISED OF ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO YOUR FATHER AND ALERT YOU SHOULD I UNCOVER ANYTHING AS TO HIS ACTIVITIES. SLEEP WELL TONIGHT.[/hider]

[hider=From UNKNOWN]Honestly so embarrassing you believed that farce, dear. I raised you better.[/hider]

	[color=silver]"Leah? Would you help me with the milkshakes?"[/color] Ben asked, stepping from the dining room and into the kitchen, a tentacle shooting out from his stomach to wrap around the freezer door, and pull it open. [color=silver]"Do you know what flavors everyone likes? We've got birthday cake, vanilla, mint chip, chocolate, strawberry, pistachio... If none of those are right, Max, babe, would you mind? We need to get the pie slice for James anyways,"[/color] he then peered into a cabinet near the fridge, [color=silver]"I think we have plenty of toppings for Casper."[/color]