The man plants the torch in the sand next to his chair and stands, rubbing his hands briskly on the legs of his jeans and then shoving them comfortably in the pockets of his green jacket.
Logan hangs back a little, too nervous to walk closely, but follows obediently. Because really, what else is he gonna do? These spirits are clearly not going to leave him alone.
"Why would they need me to do that?" the Ghost of Christmas Present asks.
He seems to know that that is not a yes, nor is it a no, if the sidelong smile he gives Logan is any indication.
"You think no one can be cheerful without my help?"
The scene shifts around them again to a hallway. The floor is worn tile, the beige walls are brightened by bulletin boards and fliers, and the message boards on each door all seem to bear scrawls speaking of good wishes and exciting plans.
At the end of the hall a pair of double doors stands open, spilling out light and music and laughter.
"Now, this looks like a group who knows how to enjoy the season," the Ghost says. "Let's go take a look, shall we?"
The Ghost is equally quiet, watching as Trina stirs momentarily at the sound of a snuffle from the baby monitor, and settles back into her reverie as the sounds from the nursery promptly even out into soft breathing again.
Turns his gaze to Logan, and suddenly the Ghost looks more worn and tired than he had on the beach.
Logan nods. For the first time, he's starting to understand what it means to be a human being. It's not something he can explain yet, but it's starting to become clearer. How to be a human being...well. That's a lesson that he has no idea how to manage.
"In some versions, you - the Spirit, I mean - only live for one night. I mean, of the movie. Is that - is that the case?"
"Not exactly," he says.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Logan."
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The ghost is rather shorter than he'd expected. "Aren't you supposed to be enormous? A giant? Something like that?"
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"You need to start learning to think outside of the box, kid."
"Think of me as your own personal Yoda. Size matters not, and all that jazz."
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Seriously, where is his subconscious finding these people?
"So, where to now, Yoda?"
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"Dude, you have no idea."
And that's all the Ghost is going to say about that.
He jerks his head toward the upper part of the beach where the lights of Neptune are strung in a wavering line.
"Let's go for a little walk," he says, and begins to lead the way across the sand toward the town.
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"You're going to have to move faster than that," he observes.
He extends his free arm to Logan.
"It's not a robe, but you get the idea, right?"
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He seems to know that that is not a yes, nor is it a no, if the sidelong smile he gives Logan is any indication.
"You think no one can be cheerful without my help?"
The scene shifts around them again to a hallway. The floor is worn tile, the beige walls are brightened by bulletin boards and fliers, and the message boards on each door all seem to bear scrawls speaking of good wishes and exciting plans.
At the end of the hall a pair of double doors stands open, spilling out light and music and laughter.
"Now, this looks like a group who knows how to enjoy the season," the Ghost says. "Let's go take a look, shall we?"
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The Ghost looks at Logan and something that might be pity crosses his face.
Whether it is for Logan or for somebody else? That remains to be seen.
"But no. You aren't a joke to everyone."
"I know at least one person who doesn't feel even remotely like laughing right now because of you."
And the scene shifts again. To a suburban street. One that Logan should find all too familiar.
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"It would be easier if they were nothing but shadows. Easier if you can tell yourself that there's nothing left to try for."
"You lie to yourself more convincingly than you'll ever lie to anyone else."
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And he watches Trina again, reaches out to touch her again, this time not stopping himself.
His hand goes right through her shoulder and he sighs.
"You got anything else, Spirit?"
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The Ghost is equally quiet, watching as Trina stirs momentarily at the sound of a snuffle from the baby monitor, and settles back into her reverie as the sounds from the nursery promptly even out into soft breathing again.
Turns his gaze to Logan, and suddenly the Ghost looks more worn and tired than he had on the beach.
"Me? I'm played out," he says with a smile.
"It's all you from here, dude."
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"In some versions, you - the Spirit, I mean - only live for one night. I mean, of the movie. Is that - is that the case?"
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