>>5591559>>5592563>>5592961>>5594041>>5596628"I would like to order something." you say to the cloaked figure. "It's my first time here, what would you--"
A black bowl of something red and lightly bubbling appears in the three fingered hand.
"...Oh? Is this for me?"
"Take." the voice hisses.
"Thank you." you take the bowl in your hands. "Is this the uh, hardtack stew? I heard that was pretty good, like your signature disk or something, but this looks kind of solid for a stew and--"
"Take. Eat."
"Okay. Thank you."
You walk back to the table to find Sam smiling.
"What did you think of Cookie?" he asks.
"Do they really call him that?"
"They've called him that since before the United States was a country. They aren't going to stop now."
You show Sam your bowl. "He gave me this. Is this supposed to be the hardtack stew? Because it looks really, really thick."
Edith leans over and sniffs your food. "Yep! That's it!" she covers her face with her arm and sneezes. "Whew! He sure used a lot of salt."
"I'm not sure if that's encouraging or discouraging." you say.
You stare down at your food, your enemy. Soon, the battle will begin.
While you ponder the consequences of your choices, a young ghost dressed as an 18th century dandy with a curled wig and a ponytail. His brass buttons shine in his wispy, blue coat like lights trapped in a fog.
He seems about your age.
He takes a seat next to Edith.
"I think you're a little drunk, sailor." Sam says. "This isn't your table."
'Oh, but I think it is!" the ghost says. "Everyone keeps a chair ready for Longboat John! Why, you must not come here often if you don't know that! But Longboat John can show you around, help you get your sea legs--that's a metaphorical expression, of course!"
He turns with a big smile to Edith.
"And who might you be, pretty one?"
Edith blushes, and scoots out of her seat so that she's floating on air.
"Um...hi. My name's Edith and um, I don't remember you seeing here before..."
"You've been here before? A pretty girl like you in this din of debauchery?" Longboat John hovers after Edith. "Oh, I see, you want some excitement, don't you? Came here to see what 18th century men were like?"
"I came here to eat my hamburger with my friends. Now um, if you would please stop moving after me..."
'Why? Are you afraid of me? Afraid of a boy what bumped his and drowned beneath a longboat? Oh, you don't need to be afraid of me..."
Longboat John touches Edith's hand. She recoils back sharply.
'Please don't do that."
Longboat John laughs uproariously. "Causing a scene, am I, as you 21sters say?"
"Yes, you are."
'But my dear, you caused the biggest scene of all walking in here, pretty as you are. How could I ignore you?"
>What do we say? What do we do? 