Dexter was unintentionally making the same case to Ghastly. And it was helping, in an odd way. It was helping Ghastly realise just how badly things would have gone to Hell if he'd been told about the possibility back when Skulduggery first reappeared. He... wouldn't have taken it well. The tailor could manage something close to normalcy now because the man who'd dared him into doublecrossing and backstabbing a murderous group of pirates just for the chance to say they'd sailed a pirate ship was back. Obviously and unequivocally back, same sense of humour and all. He hadn't been the same since Serpine killed him, and if Ghastly discovered so early on in the recovery process that Skulduggery was Vile, he wouldn't have hesitated in telling Corrival.
Corrival probably wouldn't have hesitated in carrying out one of the backup plans. Skulduggery the skeleton would be gone, and Ghastly wouldn't have mourned him. Because back then, Skulduggery the skeleton wasn't Skulduggery Pleasant.
Now he was. Now, there was context. Now there was evidence, and history. Dexter was right. The last thing Skulduggery needed back then was accusations. He'd needed his family, and he'd gotten the next best thing, and that was only possible because no one knew for sure.
Skulduggery shook his head. "You're all foolhardy idiots." His tone hadn't softened, exactly - or at least, it didn't until his next words. "And better friends than I deserve."
On that, Ghastly could agree. But there was something Skulduggery used to say that he thought was particularly appropriate here, and so he turned around to remind them while his fist remained stubbornly inside the wall. "Life isn't about what you deserve. It's about playing the hand you're dealt, and hoping for the best."
A beat passed, and Skulduggery's head tilted in recognition. "I was more implying that life is never fair, or easy, and that bad things happen to good people."
"I know. But it works the other way around, too. Skul - "
He broke off with a short noise of pain as Tanith, without warning, pulled his fist the rest of the way out. It was red, raw, some of the skin torn, and a few new wounds were bleeding, but that was easily cleared up. Ghastly would be back to normal by the end of the day.
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Corrival probably wouldn't have hesitated in carrying out one of the backup plans. Skulduggery the skeleton would be gone, and Ghastly wouldn't have mourned him. Because back then, Skulduggery the skeleton wasn't Skulduggery Pleasant.
Now he was. Now, there was context. Now there was evidence, and history. Dexter was right. The last thing Skulduggery needed back then was accusations. He'd needed his family, and he'd gotten the next best thing, and that was only possible because no one knew for sure.
Skulduggery shook his head. "You're all foolhardy idiots." His tone hadn't softened, exactly - or at least, it didn't until his next words. "And better friends than I deserve."
On that, Ghastly could agree. But there was something Skulduggery used to say that he thought was particularly appropriate here, and so he turned around to remind them while his fist remained stubbornly inside the wall. "Life isn't about what you deserve. It's about playing the hand you're dealt, and hoping for the best."
A beat passed, and Skulduggery's head tilted in recognition. "I was more implying that life is never fair, or easy, and that bad things happen to good people."
"I know. But it works the other way around, too. Skul - "
He broke off with a short noise of pain as Tanith, without warning, pulled his fist the rest of the way out. It was red, raw, some of the skin torn, and a few new wounds were bleeding, but that was easily cleared up. Ghastly would be back to normal by the end of the day.