[Flashback] Treasure is better (Aello)

[Bob Barton]

73rd of Spring 503 AV

Bob could be found randomly in Zeltiva each day with a different group of people. This was because he was just that free and today he was with a bunch of uptight university students. He did not like them that much but being with them did have some advantage but it came with a cost. Apparently they had a little game going on. One which needed people to go into one of the haunted houses in Zeltiva. Absolute nonsense and they called themselves academics? Everyone knows that there was no such thing as ghosts.

But then Bob was supposed to go there. The night before he went straight up at the entrance looking at all the ruined walls, windows and that wide open door inviting him to enter. No way though, he was not stupid. Waving goodbye to the house he ran away. He did hear something behind him beckoning him to come but he ignored it. There was no such thing as ghosts and everyone knew that. It was just some nonsense made up to scare people.

That was what Bob was going to do now. Scare people. His "friends" wanted to know how he did in the house and he was going to tell them the complete opposite since he did not step foot into it. So at the street they were walking on he started. "Well people, it is just a normal house." Not really, he was going to try and recall what were some of the things he found. At least the beginning will have some truth in them. "I saw ill-maintained walls, ruined windows, even the grass was not taken care of. It was just sooooo long. You'd think the ghost would work better in taking care of his house right?" It was just an abandoned house and nothing more. The fools.

Then he continued. This was where the story starts "The door was wide open and I walked in. You could say that I was the ghost's long awaited guest. And inside I saw...I saw..." What can he say he saw in a haunted house? It had to be both normal but interesting at the same time. The ideas were cycling through his head until someone spoke out "What did you see Bob?" It was uhhhh...simple because what he saw was "a corridor leading me deeper into the house."

Disappointed groans and moans could be heard all around him. Yes it was completely normal until he gave the twist. "Along the way I saw a lot of paintings on the side. Paintings with people all horrified and in terror at something. I didn't care much about it and continued on even when the noises started to come from them." There was a pause here as Bob waited for his audience to get over their gasps from their shock. "I just went on right until the end."

Things just started to get interesting and Bob stopped because he did not think this far ahead. A lot of them were starting to pester him to tell them more and more but he just silently walked on until one of the more attractive girls in the group begged for it. "Come on Bob, tell us what happened" Sighing like it was just a troublesome chore, Bob looked at her, held her chin up to his face and said "Alright but just because you asked so nicely. We will have to go for some kelps later though" yes this was one of the advantages he had with groups like this. Naive girls screaming in excitement even when he was just spewing all sorts of shyke.

"So there I was, in the room at the end and one man in the middle. He pointed to me and said that I was going to be the next one in his collection. Did you think I was going to let that happen? No, I started grabbing the paintings and throwing it at him. I guess those paintings were the collection of people he spirited away because as soon as they touched him, arms came out and grabbed him." Action scene, always a killer. "One of the paintings pointed at the empty painting at the back. I knew it was where the ghost belonged to so I grabbed it and smashed it right over the ghost's head and trapped him in it" and that was the end. Something to scare everyone so much that they probably won't doubt Bob since they wouldn't want to.

That was what he wanted until they started asking questions. "Where is the painting now? We want to see it" and "What happened to all those people the ghost had trapped in the paintings?" Just be happy with the stories and don't ask questions was something he wanted to suggest unless he wanted them to find out his lies. Bob was stuck in a pickle.

[Aello]

Aello skipped down the marble steps which led up and into the university. Her long brown hair, which had been tied into a ponytail swung with each of her steps. Her body swayed back and forth as she moved, the fabric of her simple white tunic fluttering with the momentum she had built up. She had a relatively large, leather bound volume tucked under her right arm, and a wide smile plastered upon her face. Streamers of golden-colored light caused her face to glow and her eyes to sparkle as she descended, finally stumbling upon Bob and his group of naive university students. The young spiritist came to a halt, standing just behind the girl who had begged Bob to tell them more. She had recognized him- the sound of his voice, the way he told stories. Aello recognized Bob's short stature, and his eyes. She waved to him as he spoke, waiting for him to notice her. She said nothing, trying to be patient. When she felt as though he had taken too long to respond to her, Aello shifted her weight impatiently, from one leg to the other, and then back again. A moment later, she was tapping her foot against the marble steps. Oh why won't he notice me? she wondered. Unless he thinks me too young to be bothered with, and is thus, ignoring me in the hopes that I'll go away. Sooner rather than later.

[Bob Barton]

Bob was looking around in panic to think how he was going to get out of this until he saw Aello. She looked familiar, but Bob could not tell from where with the difference from her appearance when they went treasure hunting. But if he knew she was familiar she probably knew him as well so that would be enough. Quickly he tore himself from the girl and went up to her and announced "Oh, look at the time. I am supposed to send...my cousin home, yeah." before whispering to her "Just play along, cousin!"

Holding her by the shoulder he quickly led her down the street away from the group and took a few turnings until he thinks that they were far away enough. Letting go, he took a seat on the ground and looked back at her. "Thanks for the help cousin" he said with a wink. "But who are you again?" With her job already done, she became less important unless she could remind Bob who she was.

[Aello]

Aello smiled and bobbed her head lightly. "You know how your mamma used to get when you stayed out too long... unaccompanied," she called to all of the university students as Bob began to pull her away. "Just about loses her head, doesn't she? Thinks you must have jumped into the sea... that or one of the sailors caught you in their nets..." There was a slight pause as she turned her head so that she could look over her shoulder as she was led away. She had more to say to the students, and wanted to be sure she had a chance to get it all in. "That's if she thinks you're still alive of course," Aello went on with a small smile. "Right Bob?" she asked, before waving to the students, and widening her smile. "Anyway, it was nice to meet all of cousin Bob's friends... he doesn't talk about you much though... actually, at all really. Must mean..." Aello's voice trailed off. She was much too far to be heard now. She turned her head back around and looked up at Bob, as though expecting some sort of explanation for her having to play pretend. Aello knew she was getting a little old for that. After all, she wasn't five anymore. When Bob appeared to offer her none, and then further, seemed to have forgotten her, Aello angrily reached for his hand with her free one. She wound her slender fingers around the back of his hand, and gripped it tightly. Her facial features contorted to portray her anger as she forcefully flung his hand off. Aello's eyes flashed menacingly as she spoke, and placed her free hand on her hip. "Aello!" she hissed. "Don't you remember me? We followed a treasure map together... and found a bag of coins on one of the beaches. Buried in the sand." Idiot.

[Bob Barton]

Aello...aello...aello...Oh, "the treasure map? You look..." Bob eyes went looking at the ponytail, tunic and book, the last time he saw her she was dressed for a treasure hunt and had a treasure map in her hands instead so it was very "...different?" She even sounded different since "you didn't have to say all those things about your cousin Bob. I think you just made me look bad in front of everyone else. which could just be as damaging as if he was caught in his lies. It could have been part of her act, or it could have just been done on purpose since it did not look like she was going to stop talking until Bob pulled her away. Hopefully none of them would think much about it the next time he will be with them.

And now she looked really really angry. Bob needed to try and stop this since some people were already looking at the little midget being told off by a little girl. Just think of what that would do to his reputation. Trying to distract her he raised his hand to get her to stop talking and then asked "So what were you doing there? Studying?" pointing at the leather bound volume he caught sight of her carrying. "You don't look old enough to be in the university thats for sure. She doesn't even act old enough for university since she so easily swiped a "treasure" map from her brother and went on a hunt for it without confirming its legitimacy. That is talking a lot about Bob too since he followed her on it.

Just to make things fair, he will start off with an explanation of his own which was probably long overdue. "As for me, I was just having some fun. Just like you lied about me being your cousin Bob who lives so dangerously that even his mommy is worried that he is dead" when in fact dear old mom was the dead one, "I lied about that house too. You think I am going into a ruined hazard like that just because people think its haunted?" he said after looking around to check if he was followed or if anyone he knew could overhear. He didn't want any of that effort to go to waste.

[Aello]

Aello rolled her eyes. Men. So predictable. Never did want to see her. Always pretended they didn't know her... used the excuse of her seeming different. Right... Aello was not falling for that old trick again. She looked exactly the same as she always did- same eyes, same nose, same mouth, same figure, the only thing that had changed was her hair. It was kept up in a ponytail now, just to be sure it stayed out of the way. "You know, if you aren't happy to see me, you could just say so, instead of making up some stupid lie," Aello responded. "And here I thought I was helping you to get away from all those silly university students," she continued. "Don't make me go back there and tell them you were being mean, cousin Bob." A small smile spread across the girl's lips. "That you were the one who asked for a little girl to play along in his scheming. Surely they won't think much of your taking advantage of someone younger." Aello paused again, as she pulled the book more tightly into her side. "Well if you must know," she went on in a slightly irritated, and somewhat dramatic tone. "Mother needed a book from the library. Just fetched it for her. Simple as that." The girl tilted her head slightly to the side, considering him. "You lie far too often for your own good Bob. The fact that you told a little girl, who holds no allegiance to you as much, can't be a good sign." She leaned in a little. "Must be weighing on your conscience. Heavily so... all those lies." She paused for a moment, "any other secrets you want to spill? Or are you good for now Bob?" she asked, as she pulled her hand off her hip, and extended it towards him. She attempted to give his arm a few pats, as she considered what to do next. "Anyway... it sounds like someone is afraid of a haunted house..." Aello whispered, her smile widening. She pulled her hand back a moment, and curled all her fingers, with the exception of the pointer, into her palm. She then pushed her finger towards him, and poked the area where his shoulder met his chest. "Chicken! Afraid of ghosts? Chicken?" She was smiling wickedly. What a wimp, the girl thought. OOCSorry I needed to throw in a "she's only ten" moment!

[Bob Barton]

"Lie?" he asked with a gasp of surprise and widened eyes. Obviously more of an act than his genuine feelings. Everyone lies and Aello just lied, that hypocrite even if it was for her cousin Bob. "Just my luck, a spirited cousin" Bob mumbled which would probably get Aello more annoyed when she hears it. If there was a next time he would find a more suitable way to "get away from all those silly university students? They won't care if I was a little bit mean." And how was Bob mean besides forgetting about Aello. In his defense he cared more about the treasure than getting to know her on their first meeting.

Oh it was because Bob asked a little girl to play along with his scheming. "Well, you had a choice if you wanted to play along or not" and it was not like she did a very good job since "you told them a lot more things than you needed to." That aside Bob needed some way so that she won't tell the truth. Something that would make her afraid to even try. How about the fact that "you are now my accomplice. Whatever lies and schemes I did you joined in freely" with a lot of her own. Oh yes he can add one more thing too. "How about I was your accomplice with stealing your brother's treasure but I kept quiet about it, hmmm?"

But enough about that. The more they talked about it the more bolder Aello would become. "What book is that? Is it for your mom's work or her interests?" Bob asked with an outstretched hand feigning interest. He could probably buy more time to think if he was reading the book. Maybe it would give him some ideas. Maybe anyway. But it all depends on Aello which would probably be hard since...

The girl was wise up to how Bob worked. Shaking his head dismissively with a sigh he advised her on how he thought the world works which was "Everyone lies, even you. Or are you going to tell your mom you actually hate those vegetables she forces you to eat?" Children did not like their vegetables but they sure loved their parents as much as Bob heard. Sometime like that should remind Aello of what "weighing on your conscience" really means. And it was no secret that "there is no such things as ghosts but there are a lot of other dangerous things. Like abandoned houses. Going in one alone might just get you killed."

If Aello was trying to taunt Bob into something it was not working. His self preservation was a lot more important than his sense of pride. "Yes I am like a chicken. But we are not afraid of ghosts. We are afraid of the knife chopping off our heads" and killing us so that someone can have a meal. Giving his own grin of satisfaction he allowed the wicked girl to tell him what she really wanted to try and coax out of him.

[Aello]

Aello rolled her eyes. "Yes Bob, lie. It's what people do when they aren't telling the truth," Aello retorted, before pausing a moment. "And if they don't care... then they probably weren't your friends." She lifted a single brow and leaned in a little closer. "Are you lying about having friends too Bob? Real friends? People to hang out with when you're bored spit-less?" she asked. As he continued speaking, Aello rolled her eyes once more. "Well you started it," she hissed as she tilted her head to the side, offering Bob little more than her profile as she stuck her nose up in the air. "So that makes you the worst!" she stuck her tongue out, before quickly pulling it back in. "And sisters are supposed to steal things from their brothers. What's your excuse?" The girl listened. "It's a cookbook... she's determined to find a way to get my brother to eat his vegetables. So he can grow big and strong like our father," she explained, turning her face back to him. Aello's brown eyes settled on Bob's. "I on the other hand eat all my vegetables. Like everything but brussel sprouts. Those things are just plain nasty, no matter how mamma prepares them," Aello explained. "Even when she prepares them with a nice spring chicken," Aello added with a small smile, before poking Bob again. "Well cousin Bob, unlike the likes of you, your little cousin isn't afraid... why don't you show her this haunted house of yours... maybe we can have some fun AND prove how much braver she is than the likes of you." Maybe he'll pee in his pants, Aello thought. That would be really funny... or maybe, he'll run from the place, screaming like a baby. Aello poked Bob again. "What do you say cousin?" OOCI must keep reminding myself that she is only ten.

[Bob Barton]

What? Bob had plenty of friends. Aello had no idea what she was talking about if she had to say that. Holding out his hand in front of her he prepared to count down for her with the aid of his fingers. "Well there is..." Wait why was he getting so worked up to prove something to her? Stopping, he asked her something just to try and shut her up. "I am hanging out with you now aren't I? And I am really bored spit-less right now" especially with the company he was having.

Bob just ignored the statement about him starting it and her comparing it to stealing to go straight to her lying. Thats right, "its very nice timing to have a cookbook right when I talk about you veggies!" And that did not answer the question when "I asked about you liking them, not about you finishing them." As far as he was concerned, "not telling the truth is just as bad as lying." and he was going to prove it by using the book in her hands now. Alright that was embarrassing. It was really a cookbook after all...

So with a little smile and forgetting about the cookbook, he said "its too bad your mom never ever invites your cousin for some of that chicken." What was going on with all this cousin games now? It was getting ridiculous especially when "my little cousin wants to prove herself in a haunted house? I already told you there is no such thing as ghosts" and if there were, even more reason for Bob to not go into any strange houses. "What kind of an older cousin would I be if I let my little cousin get into that building hazard?"

An older cousin with one less problem in his life! Bob got a little bit more excited thinking that this little girl won't be able to threaten him any longer. "On second thought, lets go. Maybe it would be really fun" and it would show Aello just why a person should not be too brave. Accepting the challenge, Bob made a grab for her hand and after that would lead her straight to the house.

[Aello]

Aello nodded, but only slightly. "Yes, suppose so," she commented rather absently, as he gestured for her to show him the cookbook. She held it up for him, just long enough to see that she was telling the truth, before she tucked it back under her arm. Aello lifted a single brow, raising it into a high arch as she listened to Bob speak. She rolled her eyes a little. If only he knew, Aello thought. "Mamma doesn't invite liars to her table," she commented. "She makes then go to sleep without dinner, so that they can listen to their bellies rumbling as they consider how bad it is to lie. How they shouldn't do it again." The girl paused, "besides, if you did manage to come, you'd be in for quite the surprise Bob... our family's cottage isn't exactly like any other. Not that all homes are all that similar, but ours is... special." "Anyway, you're not really my cousin, so I suppose you have nothing to worry about," Aello went on, after pausing a moment to listen. "Besides, if you don't believe in ghosts, or haunted houses, there's nothing to fear. Right? Since nothing is truly there to harm us?" she asked. "Unless it is the look of the house itself that frightens you." She placed her free hand on her hip, as her eyes glimmered in the sunlight, and her lips widened into a mischievous grin. "Yes, that must be it. You're afraid of the outside of the house..." Aello's eyes widened as Bob reached for her arm, and grabbed her hand. His fingers wove through her own, as he gave it a tight squeeze, more than likely to be sure that she didn't go anywhere. He was crushing her hand. Aello gulped, "you know that hurts," she mumbled, as she let him lead her away towards the haunted house. They walked for several minutes before arriving. At the sight of it, Aello sucked in a great breath of fresh air. She held it in her lungs for several seconds, until they stung, before letting it out with a loud sigh. This is going to be fun, she thought. OOCSorry, you never said if you took the book, or just somehow saw the title... so I improvised. Also, since it's your haunted house, I figured you could describe it.