theattic | PSL: You don't have to go home

Ginko finally gave up and dropped his now-damp lighter back into his pocket.

"Somehow, I doubt that they'll manage it before something else does." He headed back for the stairs, as if he hadn't just said something horribly depressing. "I should check out back before I go, just in case."

Maurice turned in place to watch him and pushed his hat back a little further on his head. Oh... Well. He didn't want to see that happen. Either of those things, actually. While he'd only known the guy a short time, Ginko seemed really into this helping others thing. He followed after giving the strange crackling basement one last look.

"Out back..." The ghost's whole form shuddered. "Okay."

Though largely oblivious to Maurice's concern at his comment, Ginko definitely picked up on that hesitation. He paused partway up the stairs, turning to look down at Maurice.

"...I'll come back and let you know if I find anything, alright?"

Once they were out of the basement, Maurice hovered near the back door. With a wave of his hand it unlocked and he shoved both into his pockets. While it was true he couldn't leave the building, there was one place out back he could reach and it was one he'd rather not go milling around.

"Alright. Just be careful out there."

"I will."

Ginko stepped outside, looking around carefully for anything noteworthy... or potentially dangerous. Just in case.

The back of the bar was gloomy and overgrown. The gravel was full of pits and deep tracks were worn into one spot as if someone had been parking there for years. At the end of the gravel was a slight drop off and then there were nothing but tall dark pines.

Maurice hadn't been able to help himself and poked halfway out of the back door. Those tire grooves weren't the ones from the past but they looked like it and it was enough to make him start dripping upwards again.

Ginko seemed largely unperturbed by the condition of the back of the building - though, then again, Ginko was very good at seeming unperturbed by most things. He crouched down by the tire tracks, running his fingers along the insides of them, checking for who-knew-what before he stood up and continued his inspection of the ground and the back wall.

The wall of the bar was covered in pipes and the old AC unit that had long since been replaced on the other side of the building. Ernie saw no reason to bother ripping it out. The popping energy that permeated the basement was not present there.

Maurice watched the strange man poke and prod around for a good five minutes.

"I think you should come back inside..."

Since there didn't seem to be much to see, Ginko finally headed back for the bar when Maurice asked him to.

"Alright. Not much out there, it seems; probably not much point to checking again."

Maurice moved out of Ginko's way and continued to float anxiously after him. He gave the back door a last look before latching it back and puffing out a chilly sigh of relief.

"I don't think anything weird has happened to anyone outside anyway...or if it has, I haven't heard about it."

"Yeah; not much in the way of evidence that there had been, anyway. So that's one less place to worry about examining."

He brushed gravel off his hands and took out his notebook again. "So, we know where the body is. I'll look into that lightning storm, see if I can dig anything up about any disappearances from before this bar was built... besides that, I guess I'll just keep waiting for any new information from the customers."

"Wait--we do?" Maurice picked up the pace to float around before him. "There's a body? For sure?"

Did he figure that out from touching the ground and playing in the dirt? He was so smart. He was so cool. Holy shit. He's like a weird-looking Sherlock Holmes!

"...Well. I'm assuming here is." He put his book away again, and started to reach for his cigarettes before stopping, because no way was he going through that crap again.

"Whatever the 'presence' here is, whatever it wants, it's definitely focused down there. Quite often, that's a sign that the body is nearby. But..." He thought for a few seconds, a slight frown tugging at his mouth. "It might just mean that that location is significant to the ghost in some other way."

Maurice's hopeful face deflated in an instant.

"But you just said--" He let out another gusty sigh. "I guess you're right. I still feel weird about where whats-her-face left me. But I'm not there anymore."

He nodded slightly, glancing at Maurice. What's-her-face, huh. He figured it might be better not to ask just yet.

"Anyway, it might not be a sure bet. But we know that area is important to the ghost, either way. Just a matter of figuring out why, and what to do about it."

"Well...I know where you can find a shovel for a good price." Maurice tapped his chin thoughtfully and slowly reclined again, sitting in the air.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather not if it could be avoided... kinda feel like if the owner finds his basement dug up he'll come straight to me."

Maurice opened his mouth. And then he shut it.

"You know, I'm starting tot hink there's a reason you're the paranormal investigator and I'm just the paranormal."

Ginko gave a quiet huff and a slight smile. "It was a good idea; getting used to this stuff takes practice, is all."

"I guess you've had tons of practice then. I mean. You came in here, found me right away. Like some kinda weirdness bloodhound or somethin'."

"Yeah, I'd... say I've got my fair share of experience with this work. Though it helped that you were actually trying to get my attention."

It was nice feeling helpful. He decided then and there he wanted to be more helpful. This Ginko was a good man and Maurice wanted to make his job as painless as possible. He could only imagine how hard it must be facing the dead so often. Maurice remembered his early days as a spirit.

He had not always been such a friendly ghost.

"Right! Well. If you do go t'do that nerdy research stuff, I'll pay extra close attention any time this other presence does anything! See if I can't find some kinda theme."

Ginko gave a quiet snort at 'nerdy research stuff', but he nodded, genuinely grateful. "Thanks; that would really help. I can come back tomorrow and let you know what I find, alright?"

The ghost nodded and took his hat off, making the grizzly head wound that put him in this position more visible.

"Alright. I'll lock up here. You should actually get goin'. A guy my old boss did business with has his garage across the way and he comes in early. If he sees your ride, he might tell Ernie."

It was kind of difficult not to stare at that wound, but Ginko was accustomed enough to things like that to manage it. He nodded back and tucked his hands into his pockets as he headed for the exit. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. See you later, then?"

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