Twenty-Third Draft [Video] Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board

[cuffmeonce]

[Castle is standing in the kitchen. There is Italian Opera music turned up much too loudly and it is pouring out the open windows of the rented beach house. He is meticulously layering noodles, sauce, cheese and meat for lasagna. He is also singing. Badly. Not real Italian or real Opera. Just making up his own words and uttering noises that

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[alexis_castle]

[Alexis looks downstairs from the top of the staircase.]

Something smells good down there.

[cuffmeonce]

Lasagna. Kate and Mara will be here for dinner.

[He continues his layering but looks up, craning his neck to see if he can see Alexis]

Want to come help me finish it?

[alexis_castle]

Who... who's Mara?

[cuffmeonce]

She's a friend of mine and Beckett's. She's having a pretty hard time right now and she's lonely.

You'll like her.

[alexis_castle]

I think I'll just stay upstairs. I'm not that hungry anyway and I'm knee-deep into a good book. Thanks though.

[cuffmeonce]

Alexis, I think you should come downstairs. Eat with us and we were talking about playing poker later.

She needs friends, Alexis. She's lost two of the only ones she has in the city. She's been kidnapped, tortured and killed in the last several months. I think it'd be good for both of you.

[alexis_castle]

I just want to stay up here, Dad.

She's lucky to have you as a friend though. Anyone's lucky to have you as a friend.

[cuffmeonce]

Alexis...honey...at least eat something. I'll bring it upstairs for you.

[alexis_castle]

Okay. That could work.

[cuffmeonce]

And if you feel like coming down later to play poker, you can.