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Chapter Text

“10 points!”

“YES!” Ollie punches the air dramatically while Molly whoops to his side. Smugly brushing off his shoulder, the boy tilts his head nocholantly to the vendor and leans sideways against the stall. “One extra-large unicorn stuffy for the lady.”

“You only got enough points for the bottom row, kid.”

“Oh.” Deflating, Ollie turns his body to him fully. “Uh, just the bubble wand then.” He points sheepishly, all confidence drained from his voice.

The vendor hands it over with a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry.” Molly whispers, patting him on the shoulder as she takes the prize. “I love it.” That gets a smile out of Ollie as they walk down the line of stalls to the nearest bin.

“Ok, Scratch, we’re done!” Molly hits the top of the can to get his attention.

“Owwww!” A high pitched voice whines from inside. “I’d appreciate some consideration, thank you. People are eating here!”

“Yeah, well that’s your choice buddy.” Molly ignores him and keeps smiling as she drops the freshly-removed plastic of her bubble wand into the bin with him. He lets out an annoyed tut.

“What is that anyway, is that all you got? Swoopy hair’s been at that for like 15 minutes!”

As Ollie looks down at the ground, dejected, Molly gives him a firm (as she can make it) whack on the head with her wand.

“He tried and thats what counts!” She hisses quickly, before dipping her wand in the bottle and blowing a few bubbles. “Ooo, pretty!!!” Her severely overacted voice ‘ooo’s and ‘aah’s like a baby having their first bath. Ollie looks in equal measure awkward and grateful.

“Whatever. Does this mean we can head down to the food stands now? Im runnin’ out of scraps here.” Scratch poofs up a toothpick out of nowhere and begins the struggle of remove a stray popcorn kernel.

“You know, you could have just gone over there youself.” Ollie supplies, looking a little confused. “We’re not stopping you.”

“Sorry, how exactly do you expect that’ll play out?”” Stretching his form up into his scare form, Scratch points a claw tipped finger down at Ollie from where he towers above him. “Youuu, human…!” He wails, in a melodramatic (and frankly cliche) movie ghost voice. “I need 3 bags of cotton candy prontooooo. With a side of funnel caaaakke…ooooo!”

“Great performance, Scratch.” Molly comments fondly, though with the casualness of someone who’s seen this act a million times. She pokes him in the tummy and he busts like a balloon, before reforming into his usual squishy self.

“And what do you expect me to pay with?” He continues seamlessly, swooping up to Ollie’s eye level and waving translucent coins in front of his face. “Franc? Thaler? We only get currency when it’s dead!”

“Well-“ Ollie pauses between frantically rubbing ectoplasm out of his hair and mouth. “Maybe you could just possess someone?” He shrugs, unsure.

“Psh! Like that’s so easy! Never seen you try it, kid!”

“Ah, don’t listen to Scratch, Gummy Bear.” Molly leans against said ghost casually, squishing him in a side hug. Any disgusted comments he has about their couple nicknames get muffled as she smooshes their cheeks together. “He’s just feeling left out and doesn’t want to admit it.“

“I-I am not- you don’t know me!”

“Yesh I do!” Molly coos, leaning over him and nuzzling their noses together with her trademark manic grin. She pulls back and hugs him tight enough to nearly split him in half. “Because you’re my best frieeend!~” She sings the words in a poppy voice and Scratch is quick to yank his way out of her hold.

“Ok. If you’re gonna be like that, I just might go on my own!” With overacted disgust, he swoops into the sky towards the food stands. Molly chuckles.

“Knew he’d do that.” She nudges her boyfriend with a little grin. “Now we can go do the love meter!” With an excited giggle, from her, (and a flustered ‘eep!’ from Ollie) Molly grabs his hand and runs off laughing down the lines of stalls.
-

Scratch floats through the various food stands, stomach grumbling. “Alright, lets see… which of these chumps is least likely to notice if half their stock disappears…” His eyes fall on Mr Bates as he grips a mustard bottle hard enough to send the lid flying off and the condiment splashing everywhere. The little girl he’s serving begins crying.

“Ok…” Scratch sucks his teeth, leaning away from that stall. “Not having hotdogs today then… Oo! What about funnel cakes!” His eyes light up as they land on the stall. After a second, he looks away, losing interest. “…Eh, maybe some other time.” Making a series of bored mouth noises, Scratch places his hands on his hips and scans the options. “There’s gotta be something here to feed a hungry ghost.” He and his stomach are just beginning to let out a whine in unison when the sensation of someone walking through him has it morphing into a rather unmanly squeal.

Yanking himself away from the human, Scratch shudders violently, cringing with his whole body. That’s easily the worst part of being a ghost, hands down.

“Ugh…” He hears a woman’s voice similarly shudder behind him. “Weird chill…” She sounds bewildered as she checks her arms for mildrew (there is some ectoplasm, not that she can see that), before shrugging and taking a bite of something. Scratch can’t see what it is around her puffy afro and has to swoop in front of the lady to be investigate. …And get his anger out.

“Alright, that counts as volunteering for feeding me.” He snaps, despite knowing it wasn’t really her fault. Molly’s turned him soft enough already, he reserves the right to some pettiness. “Whatcha got-“ His bitter tone trails off fast when he catches a glimpse of her.

She’s tall and lean with little dark freckles up her arms and legs. Her puffy hair looks bouncy and fun like a frizzy cloud he could lay and nap in- much more comfy than Molly’s slippery, sheeny hair he always just slides off of. Speaking of Molly, her eyes have this… this light behind them, that he’s only ever seen so intensely in hers. But it feels different, somehow. The light in Molly’s eyes makes him fond, but in a parental-uncle-older-brother-god-father type of way. He wants to pat her on her slippery head and watch her do well in school. This woman’s eyes shine in a way that makes his chest do weird contortions. There are cute little wrinkles under them too that show as she smiles. They tell the story of a woman with a full, happy life. He finds he wants her to tell him about that life. He wants to split that burger with her and listen fondly as she talks about all the things she’s excited about. He… wants those eyes to focus on him… 

Looking down a few seconds at her burger with a primal hunger, the woman leans down and takes a huge, messy bite, spilling ketchup down her shirt. Scratch gulps as his eyes turn to stars. Oh boy.
-

“That thing’s probably rigged.” Ollie thinks aloud, nervously twirling his candy floss cane in his hand.

“Well, yeah.” Molly agrees, her teeth coated in a thine cloud of pink and blue. “It’s just a machine.”

“Right! Right.”

“I mean, everyone knows the best couple dynamic is when you’re exactly the same.” She says like it’s obvious, gesturing between them with a grin. “…Hey, you gonna eat yours?”

“Oh! Right…” Ollie takes a small bite of his candy floss, chewing slowly. “Soo…where do you think Scratch went?”

“Ah, he should be around here somewhere. Mom made him promise not to train dad for food anymore, but between you and me, my dad is kiiiind of a pushover. And knowing Mom she’ll be so busy at the face painting booth they’ve probably already worked something out behind her back.”

“…Train?” Ollie questions, bewildered at every word she just said, but is interrupted before he can ask further.

“Oh look, there he is! SCRATCH!” Boyfriend quickly forgotten, Molly runs down the grass to see her buddy as he flies around. Despite waving her free arm at him frantically, he doesn’t seem to notice her. She slows to a jog and then a walk as she gets near enough to take in the full picture. “What uh…what’re ya doing there, pal?”

Her buddy is circling the body of a woman she’s never seen before like a shark, face expressionless aside from wide pupils that could rival an affectionate cat.

“…Scratch?” Growing worried, Molly tilts her head at him and silently makes a note to ask Geoff how to opperate ghost phones in case she needs to book him an appointment with a head doctor. Thankfully, her voice seems to snap him out of whatever he’s doing and he floats upright again. The woman also hears her, however, and as she looks around curiously, Molly is dive-tackled behind the stall she’s at.

“What-“ Spitting grass out of her mouth, Molly swings herself up into a sit with an angry glare. “Ughh… Scratch! What was that for! Now my cotton candy is all muddy…” She watches on sadly as a racoon steals the remains and makes a point to look away from the tragic scene as it goes to wash them in the water fountain.

“Molly!” Scratch doesn’t seem to have comprehended anything she’s said, instead holding her jacket collar tight and staring intensely into her eyes. She leans back, growing unnerved.

“…Uh, yeah? Youuuu ok, buddy…?” Perhaps she shouldn’t have ruled out the head doctor so soon.

“I need your help with something!” That has her straightening up, her expression quickly turning serious.

“What is it? Jinx? Sobgoblins? A ghost attacking the town? I can have Libby and Ollie here in-“

“No, not that!” Scratch sounds exasperated. He points dramatically back where they’d just been. “I need to know that human’s name!”

“Her…” Mind blanking, Molly just blinks back and forth between him and where he’s pointing. “….Why?”

“It’s just important, ok.” He says quickly, getting out of her face and peaking around the corner again.

“Did she do something? Is she important to you?” Molly asks as she leans over his head and squashes his cutie bits with her chin. She gasps, suddenly excited. “Is she your family?!”

“What? No!” Scratch pushes her off, annoyed. “What is this, 20 questions? It doesn’t matter! Look, she’s leaving! Just-“ His expression becomes frustrated for a moment, then desperate. He turns to her with his sad, pathetic begging eyes. “C’mon, Moll, can’t you do this for me?

Despite being beyond confused, Molly softens at the sight. “I…Ok.”

She speed walks to catch up to the woman as she heads to a nearby bench with her donut. When Scratch hisses in her ear to act natural, she rolls her eyes but decides to question him about why he’s being so weird after.

“Hi, miss!” Molly greets as normally as she can, approaching where the woman is sitting.

“Oh!” Her voice is muffled around a bite of donut and she quickly swallows, smiling friendlily at her with crumbs around her mouth. “Hi!” Upon her shoulder, Molly feels the wet, goopy weight of Scratch’s chin land. His eyes have regained their loving kitty appearance and- is he wagging his weird ghost tail?

“I like your hair” Molly continues, trying her best to sound natural despite the amusing sight right next to her face. Scratch mumbles something agreeing against her shoulder.

“Aww, thank you.” The woman fluffs her curls, flattered. “I like yours, too!” She keeps looking around, as if searching for something. Molly sidesteps into her view.

“Youuu lookin’ for someone?”

“Oh! Just a friend. We were supposed to meet today and he hasn’t shown up yet…” Her face falls a little in worry as she glances around, before she hides it. “But I’m sure he’ll be here soon. My name’s Adia, by the way.” 

“That’s a pretty name! I’m Molly-“

“Ask about her friend.” Scratch hisses in her ear, voice suddenly dark.

“Uh…” Confused, she tries to subtly glance at him only to see him not even looking at her. His eyes stay on Adia. “Who’s your friend?” She asks, a little awkward. The woman’s eyes light up at the question and Scratch glowers further.

“His name’s Todd- you might know him.” Molly strains for a moment to place the name before coming up blank. She feels guilt settle in her stomach at the thought, as well as bewilderment. She’d met almost everyone in Brighton at least once…

“No…I don’t. Sorry.”

“Oh.” Adia’s smile falls. “I see.” For a moment Molly feels unbelievably awkward as an unreadable- but certainly unhappy- expression crosses the woman’s face. “That make sense.” She says, voice lightening up again, though a little forced sounding. “He can be shy.”

“Ooooh, that would explain it!”

“Sounds like a loser.” Scratch mumbles into her shoulder like a pouty toddler and Molly shrugs hard in response to his continued rudeness. He lets out a dramatic, whiney ‘owwww!’, even though she knows she didn’t hit him hard enough to hurt.

“I’m sure he’s very nice.” She says loudly. Despite seeming confused at the sudden exclamation, Adia nods. 

“Yeah, he is… Actually, you know, I should probably go and find him. The crowds might be getting to him.” She gets to her feet again and shoots her a small smile. “It was nice to meet you, Molly.”

“You too…” She waves her off until the woman is out of earshot, before dropping her shoulder, causing Scratch to slide off. He lands on the ground with a splat. “Did you get what you were looking for, Buddy?” Leaning forward, she places her hands on her knees to make eye contact. His face swirls in the puddle of his ectoplasm until it settles into the right position. Expression still bitter, he yanks on his nose to pull himself off the ground.

“Gyeeah.” He says nasally, still pouting. 

Usually Molly would laugh but she can’t help but be distracted by his tone. With a couple glances between Scratch and the retreating Adia, she asks. “What was that about anyway?”

“Nothin’. Doesn’t matter now.” He begins to float past her, hunched over with his hands shoved in invisible pockets. A startled yelp escapes him as she yanks him back by the arm and turns him to look at her.

“Nu-uuuh. It is something. I know that look. What’s wrong?” The forced eye contact causes Scratch’s facade to begin to crack and he looks away.

“It’s nothing important. I just thought… I don’t know. I was being dumb.” He shakes his head to clear his mind, before putting on a fake smile. “Hey, wanna go spin your dad in the teacups ride and see how much we can make him throw up?”

“Scraaatch.” Her voice is pointed and by the way she crosses her arms and taps her foot, he can tell she’s being serious. With a melodramatic sigh, he runs a hand through his cutie bits and looks away.

“Look, it’s nothing. I just. Maybe… as in, y’know a hypothetical- I might’ve thought she was…kinda…” He seems to lose his confidence more with each word and begins to tap his fingers together shyly. “…Pretty?” The word makes his voice crack with embarassment. Molly lets out an ecstatic gasp and he’s quick to whirl on her with his finger raised in objection. “BUT-“ He rolls his eyes, sour. “She’s here to see her ‘friend’ so it doesn’t matter.”

“Scraatch!” Molly squeals, and runs in front of him as he turns away to leave. “It does mater! Are you kidding me?!” Yanking him down to her level, she presses their noses together so all he can see is her huge excited eyes. “You have a crush?!”

Scratch makes a noise like he’s just touched wet food in the sink. “I knew you’d do this.”

“Oh my cob this is so CUTE!” She lets go of him to stomp her feet in place, squealing.

“Yeah, yeah, hold your horses, Moll, ‘cause it ain’t gonna be cute when she goes and makes out with her frieeend~” He mocks.

“Psh- Scratch, you’re being ridiculous! Friend just means friend! I mean- what?” She scoffs. “Are me and Libby secretly in love too?”

“…You want me to answer that honestly?”

“And what about you and Geoff? Are you two suddenly dating?”

Scratch rolls his eyes, a touch annoyed. “That depends which one of us you ask.”

“Oh, ok, FINE, these are all bad examples,” Molly waves her hands about as she dismisses the thoughts. “BUT that doesn’t mean Adia necessarily likes her friend! I mean, it’s not like we know her. You can’t know that!”

“I can take an educated guess.” Scratch spits. Once again, he’s held back from storming off and Molly yanks his arm back. When he tries to prolong the inevitable by lengthening it so it swirls up on the floor she just gathers the excess in her arms.

“Don’t be so negative! I mean-“ When she finally gets him close enough, she turns him around to face her. “What if I just gave up on Ollie because I decided he didn’t like me?”

“I’d have to listen to a lot less shmaltzy talk?”

“Ugh! YES!” She yells exasperatedly. “And you-“ A poke in the nose. “-deserve your-“ Another poke. “-shmaltzy talk with Adia! …At least try!” Her eyes turn pleading towards the end, as if watching him just try and run away is actually upsetting her…

It makes Scratch’s stomach turns in a way that leaves him feeling unbelievably sick and he has to avert his eyes. There’s this awful sense of deja vu he can’t place.

He scratches at his arm. “…She can’t see me.” He says quietly after a moment. Not with enough conviction to be a ‘no’ but also not a ‘yes’. 

“You can show yourself to her.”

“What if I scare her, or freak her out?” Vulnerable eyes meet Molly’s as he says this, anxious for reassurance. She places a hand on his to stop him from scratching.

“I can help build her up to it.” She smiles softly. “I’ll be like your wingwoman!” Scratch’s face falls further and Molly feels herself growing confused. (Perhaps reassurance wasn’t what he was looking for…?)

“Molly. You can’t wingwoman.”

Quickly distracted, she lets out an offended gasp. “Can too!” Scratch massages the bridge of his nose with a groan. “I got Patty and Bobby back together!”

“You’re not gonna let this go are you?”

“Nope!” Her stupid little face looks proud as she says it. Despite himself wanting to to continue arguing, there’s something… contagious about her confidence. His stomach twists in horror (at least he thinks it’s horror) at the idea of listening to her and yet…

He thinks about Adia and how strongly he felt pulled to be near her…

Scratch groans. Dumb kid making him feel safe.

“…Fine.”

With an excited whoop, Molly tackles him to the ground and he immediately regrets his decision.

Chapter Text

Molly and Scratch peak their heads out from the side of a stall. Across from them, Adia throws her arms around a short, soulless looking man, and Molly lets out a ‘psh!’

“See Scratch? Nothing to worry about! You know I don’t like to say mean things, but if you get what I’m putting down, I do not think you have to worry about that guy.” She mumbles out of the side of her mouth, thumbing at him. Scratch perks up.

“Yeah… Yeah, you’re right! I mean-“ He laughs. “What’s that guy got on me?!”

“Exactly! He hasn’t got your spirit! Your energy!”

“My killer good looks.” Scratch slicks his hair back with a smirk.

“Well.”

“Abubububup! Don’t correct me, McGee!” Molly grimaces as Scratch shoves his finger to her lips and some ectoplasm gets on her tongue.

“Well, you’ve certainly got confidence.” She concedes with a chuckle, after scrubbing at her mouth. “Alright: here’s the plan. I’m gonna go over there and subtly~ talk you up to Adia, while you distract Mr Boring Snoring!”

“Really?” Scratch deadpans. “That the best you can come up with?”

“I told you I dont like to be mean, Scratch. Just go!”

With a harsh shove and the sound of wobbling jelly, Molly sends him flying towards the two. He screeches to a halt before he hits Adia, hesitating for a moment with a gulp. She laughs in a way that makes him feel all warm in his core. Like home… He shakes his head quickly and distracts himself from that gushy thought by swooping in between the two of them and slapping Todd’s hotdog out of his hand. (Perhaps with a little more force than necessary…) It lands on the floor with a sad ‘splat’. 

The man stares down at it and lets out a quiet, pathetic “Aw…”

Adia gasps. “Oh no! Hey, don’t worry, buddy!” Todd blinks up at her with empty eyes in a way that tells her he never expended any energy to worry. “I can get you a new one.” She smiles patiently at him, hand on his shoulder and Scratch can’t help but feel himself burn with jealousy at the sight. The sad loser doesn’t even look grateful for her being so kind to him. Just stares at her in the same empty way he stares at everything.

“Thank you.” He says, monotonously, though it lacks any real intention behind it. Adia’s smile looks a little strained at the corners as she nods at him and begins walking off. It’s only as she does that Scratch realises this wasn’t the plan, having been so distracted with his hatred for this guy and his disinterest in such an obviously awesome and interesting woman. For a moment, he feels almost relieved that the universe has elected to ruin this plan. At least now he won’t have to deal with the stress-

“Don’t worry, I can work with this!” Molly whisper-shouts as she rushes past him in the direction of Adia. Her speed spins him around like a top as she passes. Ugh. Never mind.

With her gone, Scratch finds himself left floating awkwardly next to the man.

…Well he’s not just gonna let a perfectly good hotdog go to waste.
-

“Heeey, Adia!” Molly greets like they’re old friends as she slides up next to her in line. Her act is a little too overplayed as she misjudges where the trash can is and nearly falls over a few times trying to casually lean against it. Adia looks amused at her enthusiasm.

“Hi again.” She smiles, though there’s a hint of confusion in the way her eyebrows are knitted. “You want a hotdog? The line actually ends back there-“

“Oh no- psh. Hotdog! Not me!” Molly cringes. Ok she needs to stop talking and get to the point. “IIII just wanted to get your opinion on something! Y’know?” She does an incredibly awkward and uncool gesture pointing between her and Adia. “Girl to girl?”

“Um.-“

“SO! What kind of boys do you like?” Molly leans fully against the bin, hands on her cheeks as she grins up at her widely. Whether she didn’t process or simply doesn’t care about the lack of affirmative response is anyone’s guess. After a moment, she hurriedly adds “…If you like boys, that is!” (She silently curses herself for not thinking of this before. Darn you heteronormative society!)

Adia looks taken aback by the question, though she tries to be polite. “I do…but uh…no offence, Molly but isn’t this a conversation you’d rather have with someone closer to you?”

“That! Is. A good question. Yes. And the answer. Is. IIIIII…” Adia looks at her oddly as Molly’s eyes flick around everywhere but at her. “….Don’t have any female friends! Or sisters! Nope! Just fffffffooourteen- fourteen brothers! Annnnd five dads. No mom.” She shoots her a too wide, crooked grin.

“Oh!” Eyes widening a little, Adia softens and taps her chin. “Well, I do know what being surrounded by boys your whole life is like... Ok, maybe a little chat.”

Molly fist pumps the air with a tiny ‘yessss!’.
-

Ollie rounds the corner, sadly kicking a stone along with him. Molly just disappeared into the crowd earlier and he hasn’t been able to find her. Obviously Scratch is her best friend and she deserves to spend time with him, but they were just having so much fun together and-

“That is toootally valid-“ That’s her voice! A little distant but he can make it out. Ollie looks around and spots her talking to an older woman in Mr Bates’ hotdog line. He’s just about to call her name and go say hi when…

“Personally, I really like it when a guy makes me laugh!” Stopping in his tracks, Ollie feels his face flush. A flustered, dumb smile forms on his lips. Really? He makes her laugh. She likes that he makes her laugh! Yes!

“That is always nice.” The woman says. “But really, I don’t need a partner to do anything special. As long as they’re loving and nice-“

“Nice?” Molly looks like she’s sweating a little. “Well- you see nice is such a loaded word. People aren’t always so cut and dry, you know! Maybe sometimes it’s good to have more of a bad boy type!” What? “I mean, being goody-goody aaall the time can get soo dull!” It can?!

Ollie backs away from the scene in shock and hides behind a tree. Nice? Dull? That doesn’t sound like Molly. …But then again… he has heard that a lot of girls like when boys are ‘bad’… he gasps. Does she wish he’s more bad?! It sounds like she does…

Maybe that’s why she left as soon as she could. Because he’s too dull and boring for her and she wants to break up with him! Ollie kicks the tree with a little sob. “I knew the bubble wand was a deal breaker!” He exclaims, before wincing and grabbing his sore foot. People around give him strange looks.

“Well…you know what?” He stares down at his good foot, determined. “I-I can be bad! Yeah! I’ll show Molly she doesn’t have to find anyone else!” Ollie looks around, giddy with adrenaline, before slipping a plastic candy wrapper from his pocket into the recycling bin. He then swaggers away, whistling like he’s done nothing wrong.

…Before promptly running back to rectify his mistake.

“This doesn’t count…”
-

‘Ugh’ Molly thinks with a shudder. ‘Can’t believe I managed to say that with a straight face’.

“Bad boys?” Adia raises an amused eyebrow. “Teen girls haven’t changed, I see.”

“Nnnnope.” Molly grins awkwardly through gritted teeth. “But- well I mean, is anyone really good or bad? Sure some people are kinda grumpy and grouchy, but that can be endearing!”

“I suppose so.” Adia chuckles to herself with a fond smile and Molly perks up. Yes! Progress! She’s just about to ask her opinion on the attractiveness of squares when she hears Mr Bates’ gruff voice.

“What’ll it be.” Deflating, Molly realises her time is up and silently sneaks away while Adia places her order. She has to warn Scratch!

When she gets back, he’s perched atop a carnival game boredly flicking pebbles at Todd, who turns in lazy circles trying to find the source of the localised hail. She watches him make himself dizzy and collapse, to Scratch’s raucous laughter, and scolds him.

“Scratch!”

“Whaaat? Lookit ‘im, Moll! I can’t help it! He’s just so pathetic!” She levels a glare at the ghost as she helps the turtled old man to his feet again.

“Hey.” Scratch lets out a nasally noise of startle as she grabs his nose. “Just because Tom is your love rival doesn’t mean you get to be mean to him.”

“His name is Todd.”

“Oh whatever!” Molly throws her head back, annoyed. “This is about showing Adia how great you are, remember?! Not putting down someone else!”

“Um, not really much I can show her right now.” Scratch gestures to his whole body as he splays out on the stall counter.

“I’m working on that part. I already got her to say she likes grouuuchy guuuuys.” Molly taps his nose with a smirk and Scratch wrinkles it up, albeit with a slight blush.

“Ok first of all: I’m not grouchy.” He deadpans. “Second of all: really?!” His eyes turn shiny and hopeful as Molly nods. 

A familiar voice humming alerts them both. “Oh look, here she is-“ Quickly, Molly hops inside the unmanned ring toss stall out of sight and Scratch makes himself invisible. Despite knowing she’s not able to see him, he still stiffens up nervously when her eyes land in his direction.

“Sorry I took so long, the line was awful.” Adia huffs out the apology as she hands her friend back his snack. He takes it with a flat ‘thanks’, identical to before. “…You sure you don’t want any condiments with that?” A vaguely affirmative grunt.

Scratch leans to his side as he watches the duo (…mostly Adia) and feels himself land against something soft and squishy. With a curious hum, he glances over to see a large stuffed panda bear. His thoughts go back to earlier today when swoopy hair was so determined to win that prize for Molly, like they’re protagonists in an overly cliche romance movie. Idiot. He could have just possessed the ball so it actually hit the targets, but Ollie was all “I want to do this the honest way” and “It doesnt mean anything if YOU win her the prize.” Psh. What a sap. Now nobody has the unicorn and he’s 10 dollars out!

…Wait a second…

With an audible ‘ding!’ and his ecto briefly glowing yellow, Scratch gets an idea. He leans over the side of the stall to where Molly is crouched underneath and whispers something in her ear.

“So, have you done anything exciting while I’ve been gone…?” Adia asks, a subtle hope radiating off of her. Todd shrugs.

“Eh.” He says, voice as expressive as ever. “Not really.”

“Oh…well, you came to the fair today! That’s something!”

“There’s food. …And you.”

“Yeah…” An awkward silence falls and Adia finds herself imitating her friend’s old nervous habit. It’s just nerves…it’s been a while, she tells herself. He’ll open up.

(She believes it less and less every time they talk).

“Do you…think you’d manage a trip just across the state-“

“STEP RIGHT UP, FOLKS!” A white and red blur pops up from the stall just behind them, startling a few birds into the sky.

“AHH!” Adia lets out a shriek, and so does her friend (surprisingly). Todd holds his hand to his chest, looking like he’s recovering from a heart attack, while Adia braces herself against the stall. It takes a few seconds of heavy breathing, and checking on Todd, for her to really look at the carnie.

“…Molly?” She furrows her brows, confusion filling her when they make eye contact.

“Wh-whaaaaat?” Not-Molly cries, eyes glancing around frantically. “NOOOOOO-“ She looks to the side as if listening to someone, before continuing in a lower register “-ooooooo. Way. I don’t even know who that is.” She decisively, having seemingly decided to stick with this voice. “I am just a humble carnie offering a game of ring ross! First go-around’s free.” She pushes a stack of 3 rings over to Adia who looks at them, bewildered.

“Uh…”

“Well? What’re you waiting for?” Molly prompts, half of her hair moustache falling out of place without her noticing.

Glancing at Todd for his opinion (and, as usual, getting nothing), Adia gives a hesitant shrug. If the girl really wants her to then what harm can it do to humour her? “Sure, I guess.”

“Nice job, Moll.” Scratch rolls his eyes, ignoring her indignant swatting at him as he moves to possess Adia’s first ring. He holds in a giggle as she grabs it. She takes her aim for the very middle pole- the highest scorer-, reals back with a strength that catches Scratch of guard (and maybe makes him flush a little) and throws. He’ll give her credit, she gets pretty close to the goal on her own, though Scratch has to take control to nudge it back on track as it starts to pivot away at the last second. He lands harshly with a lot of spinning, though there’s hardly any time to recover from his motion sickness as she grabs the next two rings.

Fighting back waves of nausea, Scratch rushes to possess them both in turn as she fires again for the middle pole. Her throw is hard, he thinks with a wheeze as his donut shaped body hits the goal for the final time. She doesn’t look particularly strong, at least in the way Jeff is, but she’s got that lean hiker figure so maybe she has some rock climbing experience out there? It would explain the outfit.

He wonders if she’d give nice hugs…

Hopping out of the ring, Scratch tries to hold back the vomit and goes up to see what prize she’ll pick. Obviously she doesn’t know he helped, but he can’t help but preen (and pose) a bit in response to the little cheer she lets out at her win. Molly gives her a choice of any of the big plushies and a pleasantly surprised Adia points right at the panda from earlier. A conniving grin comes to his face and he zooms his way inside the bear, ready to test his hypothesis from earlier.

Adia’s grabs the large stuffy and Scratch is overtaken by that warm, safe, home feeling from earlier. He lets out a little sigh and closes his eyes…but the contact doesnt last. Instead of hugging the bear to her chest, like he’d hoped, Adia turns and hands it to that gloomy sad sack. Scratch gapes at her in betrayed despair as the man’s chubby, grey-toned arms wrap around the toy.

“I’m elated.” He says flatly. Scratch glares up at the man for his sarcasm and gives him a subtle kick to the tummy before leaving the bear. It’s not hard, because of his possessed forms fluffy material obviously, though it at least gives him the satisfaction of making the man emote slightly, for he looks down at the toy in confusion.

“You know pandas are actually omnivores?” Adia explains to her friend, excitedly. “They can eat just about anything- like you!” With a teasing giggle she pokes his nose and he stays staring at her expressionless as it slowly swings back and forth like a pendulum. Scratch pouts, coming to float up next to Molly.

“Should be my snoot she boops.” He grumbles out of the side of his mouth, still radiating disappointment. She pats him on the back.

“Don’t worry- just let me work my magic, buddy.”

Chapter Text

“Two tickets.” Ollie hands over his cash with a smirk. As the bored teenager operating the ride opens up a cart for them, he leans into June with his chest puffed out in pride. “Didn’t even say please! How’s that for bad?”

“I think this is one of those times Mom would tell me to be ‘tactful’.”

Meanwhile, at the base of the ferris wheel, a blue creature pokes its head around to look at a figure in line. A loud “SO!” has him yelping in surprise. Swinging her arm around Scratch hard enough for him to let out a winded grunt, Molly gestures at the woman in question. “So far, I think Adia would love you! Now: phase two-“ Annoyed, Scratch yanks himself away from her hold, brushing himself off with an offended look. Unperturbed, Molly continues. “If we’re gonna get Adia ready to meet a ghost, then I’m gonna have to start easing her into it.”

“You sure that’ll work?” He deadpans. “You said you’d do that with Ollie too.”

An awkward laugh. “Ok yes- but that doesn’t count because I chickened out!” She gets an unimpressed look in response. “Ugh, look: worst case scenario she faints like Libby did-“ Scratch snorts and Molly swats at him without even having to look over. “Not funny- so, as long as she doesnt get concussed, we should be fine!”

“You sure?” There’s a hint of anxiety behind the dry tone of voice that makes her take pause.

Molly’s eyes soften and she grabs her friend’s hand. “Yes. I know the whole ghost hunter thing has put you on edge this year, but I promise: I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Scratch squeezes her hand tightly in appreciation, though he doesn’t look her in the eye. “…Thanks, Moll.”

“Don’t mention it. Now:” Placing a pair of sunglasses on, Molly looks off into the middle distance dramatically. “Time for girl talk.”

“…You know that doesnt really work when your glasses are shaped like little suns.”

“They’re a pun, Scratch, I couldnt resist.” She snaps, before quickly reassuming her middle-distance pose.
-

“Heyy, Adia, my gurrlllll!” Molly slides into the ferris wheel across from the woman. Adia looks up from where she’s sadly scrolling her phone, startled.

“Oh! Um…hi, Molly?” She seems a little confused seeing her again and glances around the ride, only for it to begin its slow ascent. “Sorry…” She breathes out, releasing a laughing sigh. “I thought you were Todd.”

Suddenly distracted, Molly glances around too. “Oh yeah. Where is he?”

“He’s scared of rides, so he told me to go on by myself.”

“Even the ferris wheel?” Molly raises an eyebrow. Next to her, invisible, Scratch makes a comment about him being a coward.

“Even the ferris wheel. It’s ok, I’m used to it. Thought he might have changed his mind this time, but I guess not…”

“Right…” A little uncomfortable at Adia’s disappointed tone, Molly looks down at her feet, lightly swinging them.

“Enough of the chitchat, tell her about me!” Scratch hisses in her ear. Molly lets out an annoyed tut, but otherwise obliges.

“Sooooo….you up for some more girl talk?”

Now Adia looks even more unsure about Molly’s presence. “Um…I guess?”

“Great! Awesome-“ Settling more comfortable into her seat, Molly poses to pretend like she’s thinking. “Sooo…what do you think of guys who are…” She wracks her brains, trying to think of a normal way to put this. Incorporeal? No. Translucent? No. Unable to be revealed or talked about to any of your loved ones???? “…Mysterious.”

“Mysterious?!” Ollie shrieks in an embarrassingly high-pitched voice from the car above. June shushes him aggressively, covering her ears. “Sorry…it’s just…”He goes back to ‘shaking’ (see: gently rocking) the carriage, barely even moving it. “Being a bad boy has already been soo difficult for me-“

“I can tell.” The younger girl deadpans.

“I don’t know if I could cope being ‘mysterious’ too. Does that mean I have to lie? Am i too open?” He gasps in horror. “Should I have held back on telling Molly about the entire history of West Virginia Penitentiary from the day it was built?! Aw man, I knew I should have! That is definitely a third date topic! Stupid, stupid!…” June just rolls her eyes as her brother goes back into a spiral.

“What does mysterious mean in this context?” Adia asks, raising an amused eyebrow.

“Oh, well, y’know…” With a vague gesture, Molly frantically tries to think of an explanation that isn’t too obvious. “Like, they’ve got this secrete side to them only some people can see?” Maybe a little more literally than she’s letting on…

She gets a vaguely upset hum in response

“I don’t know,” Adia looks off into the distance, seeming suddenly down. “I’ve had men keep things from me in the past. Like they think it’ll protect me.” She scoffs bitterly under her breath before catching herself and forcing a generic smile. “I think I’d rather have someone who’s honest with me.”

“Honest… right.” Molly says slowly. Scratch has gone quiet and taken a seat next to her. “But…what if, say, the person didn’t have a choice but to lie about something? -Not something bad! Just something…about themselves that they have to hide…”

Adia looks at Molly strangely before softening. “I suppose that’d be different…but I’d want them to know they can tell me anything.“

When they get off, Scratch is still quiet and he’s scratching his arm. He’s been doing that a lot today and Molly doesn’t know where the habit’s come from. She grabs his hand. “Stop that.” He blinks in surprise, as though coming to his senses, like even he didnt realise he was doing it.

“Sorry.” His voice sounds empty, too busy contemplating.

“…Scratch? Hey, don’t feel bad…” Placing a hand on his back, Molly reassures him. “We’re going to be honest with her by the end of the day!”

“Yeah…I guess so.” His eyes still scan the grass anxiously. Though, before Molly can question him further, he sneaks a stray popcorn kernel that’d fallen onto her jacket and became stuck. “C’mon,” He says through crunches, perking up a little. “I think Adia’s gonna hit up the food stalls and you know me,” He pats his tummy making his ectoplasm jiggle like jelly. “Can’t resist greasy food.”

“That is true…” Molly giggles back. Now thoroughly distracted, she pokes him in the tummy to coo over how squishy he is, making him laugh.

“Wai- Sto-op! I’m ticklish!-“

“Never!!”
-

Scratch rests his cheeks in his hands, blinking up at Adia with a sappy, lovestruck expression as she snacks on a funnel cake like a hyena. Molly tries not to shudder, partially from the crumbs occasionally spraying her face but mostly from how weird that expression looks on him. She’s happy for her buddy, but it’s strange. Adult love is…strange.

Todd bites a funnel cake in half with one nonchalant bite, not even looking away from his game of phone solitaire. Adia cheers him.

“Hey, remember when we were kids and you won us that month of free buffet food by eating the biggest meatball in the state?” She laughs. “You went ham on that thing! I think you set a record for it!”

“I threw up for 2 days.” He replies flatly, causing her laughter to quickly trails off. There’s an awkward silence

“I mean- yeah. But it’s about the glory of the thing, right?” Adia shoots him a crooked smile. He makes a disinterested sound and shrugs, not even glancing at her. Clearly feeling awkward, Adia looks down at to her food and nibbles on a fry with a light blush.

Molly hears Scratch growl next to her and subtly grabs onto his tail under the table to keep him in place. His teeth are bared like a rabid dog.

“Down boy…” She whispers.

“Can you believe this guy?” Scratch digs his claws into the table hard enough to leave marks if he were corporeal. “She’s trying to tell you a story, at least act interested!” He snaps at the man, going unheard, while Molly continues to shush him. Reluctantly complying, he drops back into his seat with a huff. “Jerk.” He mumbles. “Look how upset he’s making her!”

Molly glances over and has to agree that, for once, her friend’s empathy is right on the money.  Adia has her grin pinned in place, though there’s a slight wobble to it, and it doesn’t meet her eyes. She frowns.

“Um-Adia? What’s uh, what’s your favourite colour?” She asks quickly, trying to change the subject and cheer the woman up. While she doesn’t feel as personally offended by her sadness as Scratch, anyone’s sadness makes her feel awful in her tummy.

Brown eyes glance over at her, intrigued. Seeming grateful for the distraction, Adia quickly replies “Orange.”

“Really? I would have thought it was green.” Scratch comments, without thinking and flushes a little as Molly translates his thought. It feels different having her almost reply to him.

“I like green too! But it’s mostly for camouflage.” She explains, showing off her vest. “I do a lot of exploring in nature, mountain climbing, hiking, wrestling crocodiles…”

Scratch lets out a low, flustered whistle and Molly physically has to restrain from looking at him, lest she burst out laughing at how old of him that was.

“Wow. That sounds fun.” She says, hiding her amusement as best she can.

“Oh, it is!” Adia’s eyes drift over to Todd for a moment, almost hopefully, only to frown at his continued lack of engagement. Deciding she doesn’t like how he’s ignoring her much either, Molly tries again to distract her.

“So uh…how’d you feel about blue?” At this, she feels Scratch sit up straight next to her.

“Oh, blue is lovely!” (Scratch feels the ectoplasm in his entire body do a flip and nearly throws up from the vertigo). “When I was a little girl, my friend really liked blue. So I liked it too.” She looks away with a fond, nostalgic smile gracing her features. “It reminded me of him when we were apart…”

“That sounds sweet.” Molly smiles at her sadly. She places her hand atop hers comfortingly. “I’ve left behind a lot of friends too, I know how it feels.”

Scratch looks between them, feeling that sick deja vu feeling swirling in his stomach again. He places his hands over his tummy and looks down at it in worry. Did he eat some bad trash earlier?

“Goat race time.” Todd interrupts the both of them, his voice as monotone as ever, and for once Scratch is grateful to have him here.

“Oh!” Quickly standing up, Adia pushes in the hay bale being used as a chair. “You’re right! Sorry Molly, it’s been lovely eating with you but I promised Todd we’d go watch the animals.” Despite everything, she reaches over the table to grab the man’s hand and holds onto it even after she pulls him up. As they walk off, Molly can feel Scratch seething next to her. (Literally…his ecto is boiling hot enough to make her sweaty).

“Alright, easy buddy…” Hesitantly, using her jacket to cover her hands, Molly pushes him back into his seat. “Look, it’s not our job to decide who Adia should be friends with…” She starts calmly, before even she loses her cool a little and grumbles, “Even if they happen to be inconsiderate, jerks who never pay attention to her.” With a shake of her head, she continues, forcing Scratch to look her in the eye. “OUR job is see if Adia wants to date you! Which it seems like she miiight~” Her teasing pokes to his side seem to do their job as a distraction, seeing as Scratch, albeit reluctantly, snorts and pushes her away.

“Alright.” He looks a little embarrassed, but his smile won’t go away.

“Just a few more questions to warm her up to ghosts and you can say hi to her!” Molly pulls out her sticker covered notepad and crosses out ‘blue’ with her glitter pen. Scratch peaks over her shoulder to read the thing and grimaces.

“Moll, we are not asking her how she feels about ‘slimy guys’.”

“Well how else am I supposed to mention the ectoplasm?! Scratch.” Molly places a hand on his shoulder, looking at him seriously. “You know I say this with love…but, while it comes with the perk of being as huggable squishy soft as a marshmallow, your ectoplasm feels like snot. I gotta prepare her for that.”

“You wound me, McGee.”

“Oh hush, ya big goof.” She ruffles his cutie bit fondly.

“And what about this? ‘Would you smooch a ghost?’ It’s a bit on the nose, Moll.”

“Well I cant beat around the bush forever!”

“Try harder!”

“Uuuugh!” She rolls her eyes. “Come on, what’s the big deal? I thought you liked Adia! Don’t you want to meet her?”

“I do! It’s just…” There’s a lack of conviction in Scratch’s voice that makes Molly raise an eyebrow. He sounds almost…afraid.

“What is it?”

“I mean- hey I know she might like me, that’s enough sappiness for one day if you ask me…”

She doesn’t even need to speak for him to see how much she isn’t buying his act. With a sigh, he sinks into a sit next to her, melting a little to make himself shorter than usual.

“I don’t know, Moll. I guess it’s just…embarrassing that I’m all ghosty ‘n stuff…”

“What’s embarrassing about that?” Molly lowers her voice in concern, hand finding his shoulder. “I like ghosts.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know if Adia does. I mean- face it, Moll: I’m weird. I don’t have a body and I can’t take her on dates in public and apparently I feel like snot-“

“Which is exactly what she may be looking for.”

Both perk up and turn their heads in surprise at the familiar voice.

“Libby?” Molly asks. The girl steps forward, smirking, arms folded behind her back and slides onto the hay bale next to them.

…And then directly off the side of it. Quickly brushing the grass and twigs out of her hair, Libby hops back up and redoes the cool gesture, leaning back against the table. She’s wearing her trench coat getup again.

“I heard you have a problem of the romantic persuasion, Scratch.” She looks at him smugly, talking in a weird way.

“What is that. Is that meant to be an accent?”

“It’s 1930’s detective.” She whines. Scratch and Molly make eye contact with each other and let out a simultaneous “Oooooooh.”

“Yeah no, I totally knew that.” Molly says unconvincingly.

Annoyed, Libby rolls her eyes and clears her throat, talking normally. “Anyway- as I was saying, I heard you have a plan to woo Miss Adia~” She smirks at scratch. “You’re in luck, because I have a secret weapon that will make both your lives easier…”

Despite his indignation at not one, but two children teasing him over this, Scratch finds himself hopeless enough to hear her out.

“What? What is it?” He leans in, eyes widening. Libby smirks and looks around, as if someone would bother eavesdropping, before shoving something in his face. “WHA-BAM!”

Molly startles, falling off her seat with a yelp, despite not even being the one jumpscared. Scratch rolls his eyes and pushes the object in front of his eyes far back enough he can actually see it.

“…It’s just a book.” His tone is bitter with disappointment.

“Ah-ah-ah! Not just any book…” Opening it to an ear-marked page, Libby shows off an illustration of a woman being held in a romantic embrace by some kind of werewolf. “Moondrops Of Madness! A classic in the supernatural romance genre.”

“Oooh!” Molly leans over Scratch, chin on his head, to get a glimpse of the page. “My mom won’t let me buy this!”

“Yeah, mine won’t either.” Libby sheepishly admits. “I borrowed this from Andrea.”

Growing increasingly suspect of the contents of this book, Scratch makes a point to slam it shut as though a fire were alight inside of it, feeling a flare of rare protectiveness. Libby yelps and sucks the thumb he trapped in it.

“Alright- what’s this got to do with me?” He places his hands on his hips, impatient.

“My point was-“ Libby replies, when she decides her thumb will be fine with just a thorough shake of her hand. “Lots of women find supernatural creatures attractive! There’s a whole sub-genre for it, you know. Werewolves, vampire, fish-people…” She lists them off on her fingers.

“Fish people?” He wrinkles his nose.

“Oo! And ghosts!”

“Really?”

“Well…I havent seen any specific examples…” Deciding he’s heard enough, Scratch begins to tune out of this conversation. “But there’s probably something out there! Who knows, Scratch-“ Unfortunately, he gets tuned back in against his will as Libby yanks him into a side hug. She spreads her arm in a dramatic arch, staring off into the distance. “For all we know, dating a mysterious ghost under the cover of darkness might be Adia’s dream. Maybe she longs to show up at a misty graveyard to meet her undead lover…”

…Ok he can’t deny her ability to conjure a story. His mind fills with a scene of his (naturally) buff and attractive self being swooned over. ‘Oh, Scratch, how did you know I love feeling like someone just sneezed on me whenever we touch…?’

“Well…” He mumbles reluctantly. Both girls get up in his face with excited grins and he flaps his hands to wave them away.

“Ok, ok! Fine.” He looks to the side with an embarrassed huff. “Maybe it’s not such a big deal…”

Squishing him in a hug, to his furious objections, Molly pulls Scratch from his seat. “You bet it isn’t, buddy! Adia’s  gonna wuv you just like we do.” She nuzzles his face while he groans in annoyance, though, despite his protests, a small smile comes to his lips as he pats her on the back in a half hug.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough! And uh…thanks. For all this.”

Smiling sappily at her friend, Molly takes Scratch’s hand…and yanks him along with her towards the race track. He lets out a surprised yell of protest while she whoops laughing. “Supernatural romance here we come!”

“Aw what?!” Libby snaps her head over to see Ollie standing there dejected. “Now I cant even be human?! But I just learnt how to be mysterious!”

“Uh…how long have you been standing there?“

Smirking, Ollie tips a fedora over his eyes. “Who’s to say? …Can I borrow your trench coat, by the way?”

“No.”

“Ah, beans.”

Chapter Text

“So, you having fun?” Adia leans over to look at her friend’s face, grinning. Todd waves a tiny flag with a goat on it, expression as uncaring as ever.

“Yes.”

“…Awesome!” She drums her hands on her knees as she turns back to the field where all the kids are lining their billy goats up at the starting line. “…You know, when I was in Pakistan I saw wild markhor goats. They’re HUGE and their horns are these fun corkskrew swirls- let me show you.” She grabs her phone out of her pocket and begins scrolling through her photos. It becomes apparent quickly that she has far, FAR too many, and she’s only as far back as last month’s trip to Beijing when she hears Todd speak.

“Huh.” He says flatly, voice barely containing a silver of interest. A glance over reveals him on the wikipedia page for the animal. “They do.” He shrugs and puts his phone back in his pocket.

“Yeah! But, y’know it’s much different when you see them in person-“ She goes back to her scrolling, a little frantic now to keep him invested in one of the few things he’s shown interest in. But then the race is called and with a deadpan ‘woooo.’ She realises she’s lost him. Her shoulders slump with a sigh. At least he’s enjoying himself (?)

It’s only a matter of seconds until a little white goat clears the finish line. It is very cute, she will admit, all the little kids showing off their pets. There’s always something charming about small town events like this. For all the capital cities and natural wonders of the world she sees on her travels, the local festivals and traditions she gets get to take part in while backpacking across rural areas are always a special kind of delight. It’s relaxing. She’s about to ask Todd if Brighton does this every year, but as she turns to do so she notices he’s gone.

“Todd?” She calls out to him as he walks towards the exit of the makeshift arena.

“Race is over.” He says simply.

Adia jogs to catch up with him. “But don’t you want to see them crown the winner? I heard the kids are gonna perform a song they wrote too!” He lets out a disinterested noise. “C’mon,” Despite feeling her forehead crease with frustration, she forces herself to smile encouragingly as she slings an arm around him. “We’ve done things I want to do all day. This is your thing! Don’t you wanna stay till the end?”

Almost as if he doesnt notice the contact, Todd walks away from her side hug and her arm slips off of his shoulder. “I don’t care.”

“But you DO!” Her objections fall on deaf ears.

Adia stands there feeling herself go numb as he walks away. She reaches out after him silently, before her hand drops to her side. With a sigh, she runs a hand down her face, and begins to lightly pace, trying to keep the frustration and hurt at bay. He always told her he was trying.

She knows she has to be patient, but these days it’s like the light’s just gone out and he isn’t bothering anymore! Even things he enjoys, he just…gives up on. She can’t understand it. All the research in the world couldn’t make her understand why he doesn’t at least fight this.

…The worst part is, he won’t even talk to her about what happened to him.

“Good job, Totes!”A familiar voice calls from behind her, and she cringes as she’s unable to move out of sight in time. “Adia!”

Ugh. Look, the little girl is very sweet, and Adia is the last person to judge someone for being too friendly, but she is not in the mood for this right now…
-

Molly runs up to the woman waving and grinning, and she forces a weak smile back. They’d lost track of her during the goat race- partly because of the crowd, but also largely because of her own motherly pride.

“There you are! Uh, I mean- fu-fancy running into you here! Totally by coincidence!” Her grin is only a little awkward this time, so she thinks she’s improving.

“Nice. Smooth.” Scratch encourages, giving her double thumbs-up for her subtlety.

Adia’s lack of enthusiasm goes unnoticed. “Hey Molly…”

“Where’s the other guy?” Scratch looks around confused for a moment, swirling around Adia in a circle and making her shiver with his cold presence. He comes to a stop in front of Molly’s face, shrugging. “Ah, doesn’t matter.” He grins. “Now we can talk about me!”

“So, Adia:” Similarly excited: Molly presses her hands together and begins to walk and talk. There’s a moments hesitation before Adia follows her. “Quick question here, no reason but uh: how do you feel about ghosts?”

Behind her, Scratch double crosses his fingers and begins to whisper chant “Please say hot, please say hot, please say hot.”

“Y’know, cool? Creepy? Maybe a lil’ cute n’ huggable?” (She ignores her friend’s indignant protests.) “How we feelin’? Whats the mood on this-“

“Molly, what’s this about?” Adia’s voice is tinged with a hint of tiredness as she looks down at her. Surprised, Molly pauses mid stride, words catching in her throat.

“…Uh…”

“Because you’ve been asking me questions all day. Listen-“ Adia massages at the bridge of her nose with a sigh, the wrinkles of her forehead becoming more defined. “I think you’re a very nice kid, and I know what it’s like to want someone to talk to who will actually engage-“ As she says this she looks off to the side, bitterly. “-but I’m getting a little tired. Is there something you want?”

“Uh- I- yuh-“ Taken by surprise by the bluntness, Molly finds herself stuttering. Adia sighs and glances away, a flattered, if slightly embarrassed smile coming to her face.

“Sweetie, I think I know what this girl talk is about.”

“You do?!” She and Scratch exclaim in unison. Without any nails of his own to bite, Scratch begins to gnaw on hers anxiously, dangling from her hand by his teeth like a piranha. (She tries to shake him off as subtly as possible, to no avail).

“Yes.” Adia smiles down at her sympathetically. “You’re sweet, Molly, but I’m just too old for you.”

A pause.

“What.” The girl utters, brain blanking. Scratch reacts before she does, letting go of her fingernails and falling to the ground as his jaw drops. He’s barely hit the floor when he bursts into peals of laughter, quickly losing form as he clutches at his tummy.

“It’s ok!” A hand lands on the, still shocked, girl’s shoulder and gives her a reassuring squeeze. Adia looks a little awkward, but not upset with her in any way. “I’m flattered! …But maybe you should look for some ‘guys’ your own age, ok?”

“B-but- wait, that’s not-!” Molly’s embarrassed protests prove futile as the woman just gives her a wink and walks away. She’s left standing there awkwardly as Scratch continues wheezing and punching the ground at her feet. “Alright, thats enough.” She interupts, voice flat. It takes picking up him by the cutie bits and forcing eye contact for him to calm down enough to talk.

“Sorry, Molly,” He wheezes. “It’s just-“

With a roll of her eyes, Molly begins to walk them back to the seating area. “Yeah yeah, very funny,” She can’t help a small amused smile of her own, despite the embarrassment. “But I don’t know why you’re laughing.” She says as she swings him up by his hair to sit on the picnic table. “There goes my entire chance to wingwoman!”

Slow realisation crosses Scratch’s face. “Oh my cob, you’re right.”

“Yeah!”

With a dramatic yell, he leaps into the air and begins floating in circles, breathing heavily. “No, no, no! Now she doesn’t know I’m a ghost and I cant meet her and I’m not gonna get that ice cream picnic date-“

Briefly distracted from worriedly trying to grab him like he’s a distressed pet, Molly clasps her hands by her cheek. “Aww! You’ve thought about dates?” Scratch just lets out a pathetically miserable sound and melts onto the table, dripping through the gaps in the wooden slats until he hits the grass below.

“Um, excuse me?” A voice toeing the border between concerned and offended speaks up. “Could you not do that at the table I’m eating on?” The two glance over to see a familiar girl pulling her burger away from his puddle of ectoplasm with a look of befuddlement.

“Oh, Libby!” Molly slumps dramatically down into the seat next to her and her friend blinks at her in surprise. “I messed up. We can’t talk to Adia anymore. She thinks I have a crush on her and now she won’t listen to my girltalk!”

“Girl talk?” Libby raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I told her I don’t have any female friends, long story-“ Molly dismisses quickly in a bored tone of voice. Libby pats herself down, mildly alarmed.

“You don’t?”

“Look, the point is-“ Molly grabs her friends shoulders in distress. “Now that everything’s all weird between me and Adia, I don’t think I can be Scratch’s wingwoman anymore. He’s not gonna get his date, I’m not gonna get to be the cool aunt to little wraith babies and everything is ruined!” Scratch lets out another miserable beast noise from under the table and she nods her head sympathetically. 

“…And Ollie why are you wearing that fursuit?” Molly deadpans after a long pause, looking past her friend’s shoulder.

The masked figure tips a hat over its plastic eyes. “Who’s to say?~” Libby groans at his muffled response.

“I already told you! There’s more to being mysterious than just repeating that line! The character, Ollie- you have. To inhabit. The character!” She hits her hand against her palm with every other word. Letting out a disappointed whine, Ollie hugs a skateboard to his chest. Molly looks between them, nose wrinkling in steadily growing confusion.

“Why do you even have that?” She questions, tilting her head at his weird mismatch of clothing and accessories. “You don’t skate.”

“I could skate. If you want me to…” His big bulky paw fingers tap together.

“Why would I want you to???” Molly looks at him, completely bewildered. Her friend just groans to the side of her and rolls her eyes.

“He thinks you want him to be a ‘mysterious werewolf bad boy’.” She says boredly through a mouthful of fries. A muffled, sniffly snort-laugh beneath the table is the only sign that Scratch hasn’t melted himself through into the ghost world to mope yet.

“That’s what you said!” Ollie whines as he pops his head off to look at her with sad wet eyes. “I heard you! You were talking all day about how you like guys who are…” He averts his eyes to the side, dejected. “Different than me. After you left me alone!”

“What?” Standing up quickly, Molly shakes her head and waves her hands frantically. “Nonononono-“ She tries not to laugh at the absurdity so as not to hurt her boyfriend’s feelings when he already looks like a kicked puppy (in more ways than one). “Ollie:” Her hands land firmly on his shoulders, forcing him to make eye contact. “I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about Scratch.”

“….Huh?” Ollie questions in a voice a dead ringer for his dad’s. Even she can’t help a little snicker at the sound.

“Scratch wanted help impressing a human lady! I’ve been busy all day trying to be a good wingman.” As she sits down next to Ollie, she takes his paw in hers. “I don’t care what kind of dumb archetype you fit, Candy Cane. I like you just how you are. Ya big silly~” A kiss on the cheek, despite it’s brief nature, makes Ollie flush bright red.

“…So you…weren’t upset with me about the bubble wand?” He questions, as he searches her eyes with a hesitant smile. Molly throws her head back.

“Sweet baby corn, are you still thinking about that?!” His sheepish shrug gets him a hug in response, though with an exasperated sigh. “No. Our relationship is stronger than a plastic donut on a stick.”

Ollie lets out a large sigh, and hugs her back with a grateful laugh. “I’m glad. …Sorry I was being dumb.”

“Yeah.” She hums against his shoulder, affectionately. “You were. How much was this thing, anyway?” With a snicker, Molly pokes the nose of the head, now placed on the table. Ollie grimaces.

“I don’t want to say. Can I go take it off now? It’s kinda sweaty in here…” Molly leans back, nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, you really need a shower.”

As her boyfriend gets up to leave, Molly shakes her head with a fond, exasperated sigh.

“This is why being honesty about one’s insecurities is a vital part of relationships.” Libby says wisely, with the lot of authority for someone who’s never been in one.

“That is true.” Molly agrees, sitting down next to her and stealing a fry. “Want one, Scratch?” She holds the thing above a gap in the wood slat of the table and, sure enough, a goopy hand reaches through to grab it from her, followed shortly by the whole goopy man.

“…Feeling ok, bud?” She asks, quietly.

“Yeah, I guess.” He sighs sadly around potato mush. “Should’ve expected it really. This is why I stay away from that-“ He makes a vague, disgusted wiggle wave gesture in the direction of where Ollie and Molly had hugged “Mushy stuff. Shoving it down until it goes away never hurt me before.”

“…That’s not a very good way to live your afterlife.” Molly frowns. Contrary to his depressing statement, Scratch just gives a casual shrug.

“Eh. It is what it is. You want a fry?” He picks up another from Libby’s plate and offers it to her as if they’re his own to share. Suddenly feeling too miserable to eat, Molly holds a hand up to decline.

“You know, Scratch,” Libby speaks up, slowly and patiently (even while snatching her fry back). “You don’t have to give up on Adia. We agreed you being a ghost might not be such a problem. You could just go talk to her yourself. Be honest, like Ollie should have been!”

“Hey…Libby’s right!” Perking up, Molly grins at Scratch excitedly. He flounders.

“Whuh…but- hang on-“ With a frustrated ‘no’ gesture, he argues back “We agreed that when I had buildup! I- I might scare her away otherwise-“

“Scratch.” Molly smiles at him reassuringly as she places a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t know that.”

He frowns, stubbornly. “I don’t know it’ll go well either.”

“Isn’t it worth it to try?” Her imploring tone has Scratch’s resolve weakening somewhat and he bites his lip, looking to his other friend for comment.

“Love is worth the risk.” Libby just says sagely. After a long pause, he sighs.

“…I’m gonna regret this.” He warns the girls. They both nod and smile encouragingly, neither taking him seriously. With a grumpy glare, he turns away from them, trying to prepare himself.

His stomach feels like a tumble dryer.

Chapter Text

“Molly, please, I’m sure you mean well-“

“Please, PLEASE just hear me out on this.” Molly stops her dragging of Adia by the wrist to beg. Lingering embarrassment from the misunderstanding is a small price to pay for true love. She decides she can live with the awkwardness of Adia forever thinking she had a crush on her if it means Scratch’s happiness. “Just this one last thing. My friend really wants to meet you.”

“Okaaayy…” Unsure, Adia reluctantly allows herself to be lead further out into the forested side of the park. “But it’s getting late. Where are we even going?”

“You’ll see...” Catching a glimpse of translucent white, Molly smirks to herself. They reach a small clearing, hidden from the rest of the winding down fair, and Molly pushes Adia ahead of herself.

“Um. Are we here?” Molly makes a note to apologise profusely to this poor confused woman once they’re done.

“Yup! Just give him a second- he’s shy.”

“I am not!” With a snicker, Molly mouths at Scratch that he is too, before sneaking away into the bushes.

There’s a chill of apprehension in the air. Shivering, Adia looks around suspiciously, hand falling into her shorts pocket. The clearing seems to be completely empty, yet she’d been jumped before. A blue glint catches her eye and she finds herself on guard.

Slowly, that glint grows larger, parts of the scenery giving way bit by bit like water seeping into the soil to reveal a glowing blue blob. It floats there idly in front of her, blinking with snake-like yellow eyes.  Her own widen in alarm and panic, her jaw drops and her hand fumbles in her pocket desperately. What the fuck. What the fuck is that-

“Uh, hi?-“ An awkward man’s voice comes out of the thing and with a rare scream Adia waves her pocket knife at it. After a couple of seconds of blind cutting, she peaks an eye open, panting.

She’s expecting it to be a hallucination. Just a trick of the light or a bad hotdog from earlier. But as she looks back at the spot where the creature was, she sees it still there, floating in place. As she gapes, it’s lower body slowly falls apart in slices resembling chopped salami that drop to the floor.

“Ok.” Says the voice again, dryly this time. It takes her a second to notice it’s mouth is on the floor on one of the slices and she cringes away with a shudder. Two arms form out of the creatures top half and it scoops itself back together with a wet globby sound. “Not what I was hoping for.”

“What’s going on?” Adia continues shakily holding her knife out at it, though she now knows it will do little good. She’s confused and more than a little intrigued- but she’s also scared and safety comes first. She’s dealt with wild animals before (though, none of them talked). Maybe if she just keeps acting like a threat it’ll know not to mess with her?

“Hey, woah, calm down, lady.” The creature holds it’s- his?- hands up passively. “I’m not gonna hurt ya.” She raises a bewildered eyebrow as he glances to the skies and mumbles to himself “Knew this would happen…”

Hesitantly, she lowers her knife arm a bit. “Um…you’re not?”

“No!”

“Then why did you scare me?!”

“I didnt mean to! It’s hard to reveal yourself to a human, ok?! I’m not used to it!”

Adia narrows her eyes as she takes a little step closer to him. “…What are you?”

“I’m a ghost. See?” He raises his arms and his body morphs a little to better exaggerate his ‘kid-in-a-sheet’ silhouette. “Boo.”

This time her hand drops fully to her side, knife clattering to the ground. The ghost’s yellow eyes search hers for a moment, looking pained, before he snaps back to normal with a defeated sigh. “Look, it’s fine- I figured this’d go badl- wh- HEY!”

“I’ve never met a ghost before…” Adia pokes the ghost in the sides experimentally, the ectoplasm dipping under her fingers with a wet sound. She rubs her fingers together at the slimy texture. “Huh…You’re more squishy than I thought ghosts would be. And smaller too…”Her eyes are bright with curiosity.

Scratch gulps as he looks down at her and meets them. It feels good, but nerve-wracking to have those pretty eyes focused on him like he’d wanted. Reaching out, Adia places her hands around Scratch’s middle and he makes a tiny flustered squeak before she pulls him close and nuzzles his face.

“Look at you! You’re like a squishy jellybean.” Under any other circumstances, Scratch would be indignant at such talk, but right now, with her holding him, his mind goes blissfully blank. She’s warm. She feels like home, just like he knew she would.

“Heh…well y’know, you’re pretty candy-like yourself. I-I mean sweet- I mean-“ In the distance, Molly facepalms. Adia snort laughs and pushes him away playfully. Her laughter accentuates the wrinkles around her eyes. It’s cute. Even if she’s mocking him, he decides he likes making her laugh. With a wobbly, sappy smile he chuckles along with her. He’s surprised by how comfortable and natural it feels.

“Whats your name?”

“Scratch.” Her eyes widen at his answer, taking on a glossy, far away look.

“…What?”

Scratch feels his face flush with heat at her reaction. “It’s just a name…” He mumbles self consciously, crossing his arms and glaring at the ground like a child. It’s not like he doesn’t know it’s weird. He can’t explain why he ended up with it- it was just in his head as his earliest memory…

“No…no, it’s fine.” Adia shakes her head, blinking rapidly like she’s trying to shake away a memory. “It just reminded me of someone, that’s all”.

“Really?” Well that’s a first.

“Yeah!” She giggles, though notably chooses not to elaborate. “I’m Adia.”

It’s only by the mercy of The Chairman that Scratch stops himself from saying ‘I know’ and scaring her off. Instead he says “I like that name.” Which apparently is the smoothest thing he’s said so far as a thumbs-up appears from the bush Molly is hiding in. It’s a small win. He hadn’t even intended it as a flirt really, he just…honestly likes it. It’s pretty and feels like honey on his tongue.

“Thanks…I like Scratch.” He holds back a laugh. He doubts it, but her politeness is appreciated.

“Thanks.”

“Why did you show yourself to me?” Adia asks, once again poking at him curiously. He’s floating high enough in delight she can only reach his tail this time and he pulls it out of her reach, flushing.

Hoo boy. Moment of truth.

The Molly bush is giving him double thumbs up as he steals himself to answer. Though he’s liked looking at Adia all day, right now he finds it easier to stare at the grass instead. “Yeah, uh…about that…” His hands wring themselves together while she blinks up at him patiently.

“I uh…heh. It’s a funny story. Ya see I wanted some food and-“ The sight of Molly making a ‘move it along’ gesture makes him scowl. He’s trying, damn it! “I just… Wanted to tell you. That. You’re…” This would be less embarrassing without the kid watching, but unfortunately he doubts he would have had the courage to get to this point by himself.

Adia is staring at him, curious, with her head tipped to the side like a puppy. It’s cute. She’s cute. And nice. And she wrestles crocodiles. And what is he?

“Scratch?” Adia asks and his name sounds so right on her tongue he finds the words spill out by themselves.

“I’ve wanted to talk to you all day because I think you’re fun and you feel like home and I wanna go on a date with you.” He says in one breath, before immediately wincing hard, ready for the rejection. Great. Now he’s gone and done it! He said too much- see, this is why he doesn’t tell people things, this is why he doesn’t act on these feelings-

Adia covers her mouth in surprise. For the first time in a long while she feels bashful. She’s been on dates before but usually they were casual, with people she’d already spent a few days befriending on her travels. It’s been a while since she would say she’d been asked out, as it were. It’s sweet. Scratch is weird but he seems sweet…

“Sure.”

Her hand grabs his and she shoots him a friendly smile. Scratch freezes in place. It’s kind of funny- even his ectoplasm stops swirling. “I’d love to go on a date and get to know each other better. It sounds fun.” It does, she means it. He seems like he’d be on board with actually going somewhere and talking to her, answering her texts and not just…not just doing the bare minimum.

Scratch can hear the world shattering in his ears. It sounds remarkably like Molly cheering. He needs to say something, something cool.

“Seriously?” Nope. Nuh uh. Adia laughs and pulls him down to her level with a strength that makes him blush.

“Yup~” She teases, leaning her forehead against his. He gulps. Man she’s gorgeous up close... Scratch feels his arms melt a little until they’re halfway to the ground and his lips curl up in a wriggly smile. That smile turns into a dreamy sigh as she gives him a quick hug. Molly meets his eye as he rests his chin over her shoulder and he shoots her a giant, grateful grin. She mimes herself going wild, mouthing cheers he can’t hear, raising devil horns to the skies and getting so into air guitar she falls over.

When Adia pulls away, she gives him a playful nudge in the side. “So: where’re you gonna take me?”

“Well!” Scratch starts confidently, lifting a finger. “…Uh…” Shoot, he didn’t think he’d get this far. Quick quick… an embarrassed flush rises to his face as he remembers his self indulgent fantasy. “Ice cream picnic?” Is his weak offer.

“Ooo, sweet tooth! Just like my friend.” She grins.

“We can go somewhere else if you want!!!” He waves his arms about rapidly. No way is he gonna let himself be compared to that bum.

“Welll,” She thinks for a moment. “There’s an aquarium in Mewline-“

“Oo!” Scratch’s eyes light up and he begins swooping around Adia in a swimming motion. “I heard they got sharks!”

“Really?!”

“Well, shark. Just a lil baby one.” Sheepishly, Scratch holds up his hands to show the approximate width of a catshark. “But it’s still cool! Got lil spots on it, it’s adorable.” He chuckles.

“Awww. That sounds nice. But you know, if you want to see a real shark-“

“I DO!”

Adia smirks, secretly thrilled at his enthusiasm, and throws an arm around his shoulder. With her other she gestures to the sky. “Picture this: you and me, together, under a giant 1.2 million gallon tank watching dozens of sharks swim by. Hammerheads. Wobbegongs-“

“I’m picturing it! I don’t even know what that is but sign me up!” Scratch glows brighter in excitement, almost vibrating. He shoots her a slightly manic grin, sharp teeth showing. “Can we feed them?”

“If we play our cards right.”

“YES! Oo! And then can we get Flavour Burger?!”

“ONLY if we get the expensive sauce.”

“Oh Adia…” Scratch chuckles in a deep voice, taking her hands. “You’re my type of woman.”

Molly sits back proudly as she watches the two converse, her bestie swooping around excitedly with those big cat eyes again. She brushes her shoulder off, smugly.

“You’ve done it again, McGee. Paved the way for true love to blossom.” It’s as she’s clasping her hands together, admiring this true love, that she starts to notice a dip in the couple’s happy banter. “Huh?…”

“Georgia?! I mean,” Scratch scratches at his arm awkwardly. “‘S kinda far for a first date…”

“Oh shoot, I forgot to tell you!” Face palming, Adia pulls up her phone to her calendar app and Scratch’s stomach drops. “I’m only in town til tomorrow, and only in the states for another week.” She sucks her teeth guiltily, pulling her phone close to her chest and glaring down at it. “Sorry. My only real friend knows I travel, I- I’m not really used to dates.”

“Well, we can keep in touch, right?” Scratch asks, quickly. “Forget the aquarium, we’ll do that another time. I can get us some ice cream any time you want! Do you want some right now? I can get some right now.”

With a small smile, Adia cups his cheek. “That would be nice for tomorrow, but I don’t really think I’m up for something long distance. It just…” She furrows her brows and looks away, a hurt expression taking over her face. “…It just doesn’t work out, in my experience.”

Slowly, Scratch sinks lower towards the ground. “But…”

“Hey, wait!” Suddenly perking up with the look of an idea behind her eye, Adia grabs Scratch’s hand. “How far can you leave Brighton?”

“How far can I what?”

“Sorry, I don’t know how ghosts work. You aren’t trapped here by some unfinished business are you?”

“…No? …At least I don’t think I am.”

“Well why don’t you come with me?!” Her eyes are full of light as she suggests this.

“What?!” Scratch squeaks out.

“We could get to know each other on the plane and see where it goes from there. I get a lot of time to talk on those. Plus I’m usually alone when I travel and-“

“Woah woah woah woah!” Scratch waves his hands around frantically, trying to process any of this. “You want me to go with you?” His eyes are vulnerable and scared as they meet hers and the familiarity of it makes her wilt.

“I…yeah? …Sorry, no, you’re right that was too forward-“ Awkwardly, Adia chuckles, feeling ungodly embarrassed with herself. “Got a little over-excited.”

“Yeah…” Scratch mumbles, not really processing what she’s saying. His eyes gloss over and his head fills with that uncomfortable fog he gets when he tries to think about his life. There’s a sense of nausea and the taste of something bitter at the back of his throat with her suggestion, though he has a feeling it’s not her he’s upset with.

He entertains the idea for a moment- one far longer than his common sense tells him he should. They’d get to see those sharks together…maybe they could even go on a boat like he’d always wanted and see them in their natural habitat. They’d eat at all sorts of exotic restaurants, steal stuff from hotels together… He could use his ghost form to take all kinds of silly tourist pictures with her, like eating the statue of liberty, and she’d laugh and he’d love the sound because it feels like a piece of him is returning… It isn’t foreign or scary, like she’s a stranger, in his head. It feels…right.

But then he snaps back to reality and the logical side of his brain catches up with what she’s suggesting.

“Leave Brighton?!” He exclaims, loud enough it has Molly gasping and scrambling over to them.

“What?! Who’s leaving? Leaving who? Scratch-?” Frantically, the girl looks around like a startled puppy, still tripping over her feet from how quick she’d run over. He picks her up by the shoulders and places her back down again to keep her steady.

“No one’s leaving.” He says firmly, keeping a hold of her shoulders to look her in the eye. “Just Adia.” With a sigh, he turns to her, arms finding their way around Molly the same way he’d always find his way home. “I’m sorry Ads… but I got commitments here.” Molly smiles in that sappy, grateful way that tells him she knows ‘commitments’ means ‘friends’ and hugs back.

“I understand.” Adia replies, smiling sadly. “I can’t expect you to leave your home for me…” She trails off as she says this, looking at the ground without seeming to really see it. Her voice grows a little firmer, more confident, as she furrows her brows at her feet. “…I’m sorry. I don’t think we’re right for each other. …We want different things.” When she looks up again at Scratch, the conflict on her face has been replaced by a warm smile. She steps forward and wraps her arms around his neck.

“It was nice to meet you, Scratch. And Molly.” With one gentle kiss to his forehead she pulls away from them both. “I still think you’re sweet… Maybe we’ll meet again someday and we can have that shark date?” She winks.

“I-“ Scratch blinks rapidly, taking a quick moment to recover from the kiss. When he does, he raises his arm in a bittersweet wave. “Yeah…maybe.”

Adia walks away into the sunset with one last smile goodbye. Molly glances up at Scratch, worried, and spots a strange look in his eye. A sense of panic, regret, or of longing, almost. It makes her stomach twist painfully, especially as he slowly floats after Adia- though he stops no farther than a few paces. Just enough for her to no longer see his face.

“…Buddy?” Molly plays with her fingers, suddenly feeling guilty for reasons she can’t quite place.

“…Yeah, Moll?” He replies quietly, calm. Maybe she imagined what she saw…?

“Are you ok?”

“…Yeah.”

There’s something off about his tone of voice.

“…Turn around.”

When he does, his face is covered in tears and snot, his eyes shiny and wavering. He makes a pathetic sniffly noise.

“Oh, Scratch-“ She barely has his arms around him when he lets the dramatic wails out. “Shh…” She rubs his back. “Heyyy, it’s ok…! There are plenty of fish in the sea!”

Scratch mumbles something unintelligible about sauces into her back and she rubs it comfortingly. “Yeah…yeah, I hear ya…” She soothes, sounding like her own mother when she got hurt as a kid. “Aww.” Pulling back, she holds him like a baby. “You wanna go grab some tacos? Would that make you feel better?”

A muffled, teary “Mmhmm…” Molly pats his back and carries him back to the fair, holding him tight.