Thursday Morning, 3rd Floor Common Room

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler was up early, or maybe he hadn't slept at all. Bob had come back during the night and stood at attention near the door of 311, ignoring Tyler's requests that he leave as thoroughly as he had when he first joined Project Mayhem.

In the morning light, he followed Tyler into the common room. Tyler made a huge pot of coffee while Bob tuned the television to the most violent cartoon being broadcast -- something called Arachnid Girl Who is Hispanic.

Nursing his coffee, Tyler settled in to watch, the ghost taking an awkward seat and grinning from a space on the floor.

Comments

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Maybe he was slightly nostalgic for Hayley's Cyberspace back home, but the smell of coffee lured Conner out of his room and down the hall. He'd brought a large box of Cheerios with him.

"Hey, Tyler," he yawned as he poured himself a bowlful of cereal. "Rough night?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River went in search for Tyler after breakfast, and found him in front of the TV. She ignored the ghost and sat down next to Tyler, and smiled. "Coffee for me too?"

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Rough couple of days," Tyler said. "How're you?"

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Silently, Tyler nodded and went to fill a mug. "Sorry I havenm't been around lately."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

Jamie had the day off from workshops so he was doing the whole wandering thing. Hence him being on the third floor.

He gave Tyler a wave. "Hey, I *handwavey* called my friend Guido last night. He said he'd make a few phone calls and would send something that should take care of the ghost problem."

Jamie left out the part where Guido laughed hysterically at him and made jokes about "Kaspar the Nice Apparition".

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River took the mug and sipped the coffee. "The ghost has kept you busy?" she asked.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler's mouth dropped open, but Bob brightened and turned to talk to River. "You can see me too?" he asked. "I'm Bob. Nice to meet you."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River grinned and waved to Bob, then turned to Tyler. "You're upset with him?"

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Tyler said. His eyes shifted to Bob. "Um, I guess."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Bob looked hurt. "You're going to send me away again" he asked, seeimg crushed. "You already did it once."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler winced. "Yeah. I know," he said, shortly, then turned to Jamie. "He's here now. I'm not just talking to myself."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Bob looked like he was very interested in that question.

"No," Tyler protested. "I'm ... sad. He makes me sad."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner sat down with his cereal and dug in. "Not too bad, I guess," he replied. "Aw, that's right, I heard about the ghost thing. That's gotta suck."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

It upset River to see him sad. She reached out and squeezed his hand. "He's not sad, is he?" she asked, gesturing towards Bob.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler squeezed her hand back, but Bob answered, "Not sad. Hell, it was probably my time, at least I went out a hero. But I can't unsderstand why he wasn't there with us."

At that, Tyler squeezed River's hand harder.

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Kind of guessed," Jamie said looking a little weirded out. "So is he like one of those really mauled grotesque looking ghosts or the ones that just follow you around taunting you?"

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"You heard about my ghost?" Tyler asked. "Yeah. It's not the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Bob looked hurt briefly, then shrugged and turned back to the cartoon.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Bob turned so the gunshot wound in the back of his head was facing Tyler. "I think this is the only thing wrong with me," he volunteered, hand prodding at the goo.

Tyler went paler. "He got shot," he said. "The wound's there. But mostly he's the taunting type, I guess."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Am I making things worse?" Jamie said noticing the expression on Tyler's face.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler shook his head. "I'm just having a hard time seeing him again. I guess that's why he's a ghost."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Is that what you're trying to find out, Bob?" River asked, a hint of accusation in her voice. She didn't like the way the ghost affected Tyler.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Bob took a moment to answer. "I can't talk about it," he said, looking bewildered. "I was here -- well, not here, home -- then I was somewhere else, and now I'm here again. They let me out. Until Mr. Durden-" The ghost shut his mouth very tightly. "Sorry. Can't say anymore."

[twohalvesofaphd.livejournal.com]

Zack wandered into the common room. "Morning."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Tyler nodded blearily to him. "Hey, Zack. There's coffee."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Who are they, Bob? Who sent you here?" River fixed him with her gaze, still holding Tyler's hand. She really didn't like this ghost much.