Fletcher tried to hide his face falling as Gabe called the taxi for them. Spare change? That was it? Sure, that might work, especially if Gabe didn't need to actively search for any. And the result would definitely be worth it! But... still. Spare change?
Of course, anything more and Skulduggery would start getting suspicious. Fletcher had an even better reason now for avoiding the detective's anger. He didn't want to die.
With a grimace and a resigned sigh, Fletcher got down on all fours and reached under the bus-seat, grumbling as he tried to avoid touching anything disgusting. Or letting his hair touch anything disgusting. A few moments of cautious and spine-tingling searching later, his fist closed around an unmistakable twenty-cent piece, and Fletcher was back on his feet as soon as possible. "Got it!" he called out triumphantly, drawing a strange look from a man in a business suit hurrying by.
~~
That... that was true. Technically. Ghastly very much did not want to think about what might have happened if Gabe wasn't there to stop Skulduggery. And it gave Ghastly endless amounts of relief that wherever the two of them were now, they were undoubtedly together. No chance of Vile reappearing for a while.
That did, however, negate one of Ghastly's most powerful arguments for not going and spending a day at the carnival. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea. A relaxing idea. And that scared the living daylights out of Ghastly, because even if Dad was somehow making the change of heart happen, it still meant Ghastly was sort of comparing himself to an Archangel. Almost taking an Archangel's place. It didn't matter what story you were reading, that had to count as some sort of blasphemy.
The world was spinning out of control and Ghastly could almost calmly watch it go, separate and adrift and, very suddenly, no longer caring.
Fine. With a heavy effort, Ghastly raised his gaze to meet the man's look, steadying himself with one shuddering breath. "You made it that way. Presumably. Am I allowed to ask questions? Why isn't Gabriel getting any help? Where were you last night, when he collapsed and Skulduggery had to spend all night with him?" Each question grew slightly more demanding than the last, Ghastly's tone strengthening with every word, until - as long as he didn't think too hard - he could almost pass for normal. "Why are you suddenly trying to help me, and why, for the love of all that is good, do you think that's best served at a carnival?"
no subject
Of course, anything more and Skulduggery would start getting suspicious. Fletcher had an even better reason now for avoiding the detective's anger. He didn't want to die.
With a grimace and a resigned sigh, Fletcher got down on all fours and reached under the bus-seat, grumbling as he tried to avoid touching anything disgusting. Or letting his hair touch anything disgusting. A few moments of cautious and spine-tingling searching later, his fist closed around an unmistakable twenty-cent piece, and Fletcher was back on his feet as soon as possible. "Got it!" he called out triumphantly, drawing a strange look from a man in a business suit hurrying by.
~~
That... that was true. Technically. Ghastly very much did not want to think about what might have happened if Gabe wasn't there to stop Skulduggery. And it gave Ghastly endless amounts of relief that wherever the two of them were now, they were undoubtedly together. No chance of Vile reappearing for a while.
That did, however, negate one of Ghastly's most powerful arguments for not going and spending a day at the carnival. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea. A relaxing idea. And that scared the living daylights out of Ghastly, because even if Dad was somehow making the change of heart happen, it still meant Ghastly was sort of comparing himself to an Archangel. Almost taking an Archangel's place. It didn't matter what story you were reading, that had to count as some sort of blasphemy.
The world was spinning out of control and Ghastly could almost calmly watch it go, separate and adrift and, very suddenly, no longer caring.
Fine. With a heavy effort, Ghastly raised his gaze to meet the man's look, steadying himself with one shuddering breath. "You made it that way. Presumably. Am I allowed to ask questions? Why isn't Gabriel getting any help? Where were you last night, when he collapsed and Skulduggery had to spend all night with him?" Each question grew slightly more demanding than the last, Ghastly's tone strengthening with every word, until - as long as he didn't think too hard - he could almost pass for normal. "Why are you suddenly trying to help me, and why, for the love of all that is good, do you think that's best served at a carnival?"