(Untitled)

[gone_byebye]

"Bar," says Ray as he walks in, "I really hate doing this, but the library at the Firehouse is more than a little bit specialized and I'm currently persona non grata at the New York Public Library's main branch. By any chance could you recommend a book on negotiation for me, and possibly a really good biography of Andrew Jackson? Specifically the

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[bigblacknose]

Snoopy looks up from his latest root beer (Dog n Suds).

Dr. Stantz! How goes the zombie chase?

[gone_byebye]

"Hey there," says Ray, looking up and offering a wave. "Good to see you again, Major. We've actually got a current location on most of the restless dead- that's part of why I'm here now." He indicates the recommended books. "Mind if I join you before I explain this?"

[bigblacknose]

The Flying Ace indicates the next barstool over, and offers Ray a mug.

Extra-super-sweet root beer, from an Illinois restaurant chain.

[gone_byebye]

"Remind me never to leave this anywhere that Slimer can get at it," Ray murmurs after a sample. "It'd be up there with the time he found the caffeinated root beer. Good stuff, though. How've you been?"

[riversinger]

"How does one become persona non grata at a library, anyway?" River grins and waves at Ray from the far side of the bar.

[gone_byebye]

"Well, at this point it has to do with the fact that the last time I was there I happened to be in the company of the Deep One ambassador to the United States," Ray says, "and the central branch on Fifth and Forty-First happens to be built on the former location of a major city reservoir as well as being highly paranormally active even under the best of circumstances. Quite a lot of restless drowning victims made their presence known when we were there, and it cheesed off the administration."

[riversinger]

"That would certainly do it. Even in my time, books and water do not play well together. And of course, your mere presence was all the evidence they needed to assign blame." River shakes her head. Bureaucrats.

"And if I may be so bold, who are you going to be negotiating with?"

[gone_byebye]

"In this particular case? The returned-from-the-dead-and-remarkably-cranky-about-it spirit of the late President Andrew Jackson," says Ray. "Were you by any chance one of the people I told about the sheer number of Presidents my world had suddenly rising from the grave?"