KING ʙᴏᴏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀɪᴛ ɢʜᴏsᴛs ᴀɴʏ ɴᴇᴡs. They were quite used to this, watching as the smaller ghouls, the Boos, would cackle and murmur to one another right under the former’s noses, purely acquiescent to their ruler. And there were many things that the humanesque ghosts were oblivious about but this particular occasion was one that would really take the cake.
Nights prior to the one in question–this night, to say–had been spent in oblivious peace; common mooks that roamed the foyer and pressed their cheeks up against the front window, creating large smudges of fog upon the window pane (that would later be turned into childish works of art when Henry and Orville grew tired of having to stay within the confinement their room) and made no cries of warning, no telltale shrieks that alerted the other ghosts that Luigi was drawing near, Poltergust hoisted upon his back. Instead of viewing this as suspicious–Luigi chose not to visit the mansion far too often, but it had been quite some time since his unwelcomed presence was noted–the specters reveled in their new-founded freedom–for once, their wishes were finally granted and they could now rest in peace.
The night that marked the plumber’s death was the black sheep of the family; the week was packed with eerie nights upon calm waters–every night, the moon shone bright as crows cackled off in the distance, perched atop the dead tree branches that dotted the gardens of the mansion, but upon the evening where Luigi’s soul would ascend from his physical body, rain threw itself down to the earth in furious buckets, splashing against the wet muddy soup that its ancestors had already created. Most paid no attention to the sudden change in weather–some found amusement in watching it from the inside–but the deafening raindrops against every wall that cradled the deceased folk inside was able to drown out what had been going on upon the rooftops; the growl of the bombs; their monarch’s cackle; Luigi’s cries and screams. Needless to say, if one wasn’t a Boo, they were simply classified as an ignorant spirit.
And these particular spirits sought amusement at the moment in watching their prodigies dance, clapping and cheering as the younger ghouls linked arms and stumbled about one another, squeaking and squealing in delight. It didn’t take two waltz champions to know that these Shy Guys needed a lot of improvement in their art, but the Whirlindas didn’t care–just to find fellow phantoms that took enjoyment in the art of dance was pleasing enough. They hadn’t taken notice to the youngin that twirled off by himself until his loud shrieks of surprise began to drown out the broken notes of the music that poured from the phonograph’s mouth. Immediately, the chandelier dimmed and the music came to a screeching halt; the Shy Guy ghosts rounded together as a pack and fled back to Mrs. Whirlinda, hiding behind the billowing fabric of her dress that had now begun to increase tenfold to conceal each of the smaller spirits behind her. Mr. Whirlinda, however, approached the newcomer, his expression grave despite the fact that this stranger was visibly deceased.
His head tilted backwards, eyes flickering downwards as his nose ascended into the air. Contemplation crossed his visage; his lips press themselves together in a thin line as gloved palms crossed his chest. His eyebrows knit themselves together as his lips parted slightly, ready to speak without rationality.
There was no mistaking the plumber’s iconic features; if his large nose and accompanying mustache weren’t already obvious signs that this was the same plumber that they had come to loathe, then the ironic trembling of the phantom certainly sealed the deal, despite the fact that Mr. Whirlinda refused to believe the situation at first. Wouldn’t King Boo tell them about this?–wouldn’t they hear it from some other ghoul first? Apparently not, for this was such an offhand surprise that it was unbelievable. The Whirlindas never contemplated Luigi’s death–honestly, in hindsight, they didn’t really care–but to see him present in a translucent state was almost as if one was in the midst of a lucid dream. But oh, how Mr. Whirlinda had wanted to grab the opposing ghost and shake him by his shoulders, shout in his face and ask him if he had liked being on their side now–but that notion quickly washed over him as he remembered how disoriented he was when King Boo had first resurrected him. Luigi was thrown into an unfamiliar and unnatural state, especially considering by the shriek he had shared with one of their own.
Behind him, Mrs. Whirlinda quietly murmured to the Shy Guy ghosts.
Mr. Whirlinda still looked upset. And even know he knew–he still couldn’t believe himself. He was blunt. ❝Who are you?❞