Brash.

Ethan would deny, strongly, that he was brash or loud. He'd admit to being opinionated and enjoyed the fact he spoke his mind, though he did his best not to be too blunt or offensive. Sometimes, words would just spill from his mouth, avoiding his limited filter. Once said and heard, there was no retrieval. In those cases, He would make his excuses, which where reasons to him, and hope he'd be forgiven.

It was something his siblings had long become used to. Though Ethan always meant what he said, he didn't always mean how he said it.

Cassidy knew how to respond to his brother.

"Bobby, meet Uncle Fish Face. Fishy, meet Bobby."

"I said hello to him already."

"No, you called him a cute dog as you entered, then you dismissed him because you wanted to 'see the ghost'"

"Well, wouldn't you? I mean, it's a ghost!"

"She's not a ghost," Cass said.

"Oh? You've been speaking to her, then? How can she not be a ghost? She's dead, isn't she? Or have you found out who it was? Or how? Or why?"

"No. I mean yes. I mean, one question at a time!"

"OK, sorry, bro. Have you been talking to her, and why isn't she a ghost?"

"That's two, but yes, and I don't know. She says she's not one."

"Well, does that just mean she is but, like, she doesn't identify as one? Is it like Grandma and Nanna? Nanna's common and Grandma is posh?"

Cass shook his head.

"No. It's not like that at all," he said, not really knowing if it was exactly like that. "She said she's dead, but not a ghost. That's all I know. It's all she knows, too."

"So, it's definitely not someone playing games with you?"

"Definitely not. Amy is real. I promise you."

"I believe you."

"You do?"

"Yes. You wouldn't make this shit up."

"I wouldn't call it 'shit.'"

"No, I'm not either. That's not what I meant. I mean, this isn't you. You don't believe in life after death. You believe in death after death, right?"

"Well... I did."

"Ah, you've changed your mind?"

"Let's just say I've had my mind changed."

"OK. Anyway, who's this little chappie?"

Cassidy wasn't prepared for the swift change in subject and wondered who his brother was referring to. It wasn't until Ethan scratched Bobby under his neck that he realised.

"This is Bobby."

"Make me a cuppa and let me get acquainted with him."

"Come on, then."

Cass led the way and, while he made them both a coffee, he passed the dog over. Ethan was making suitable cute and silly voices, intended to entertain the animal, and they were working.

"He likes you," Cass said, putting a steaming mug down next to the other man.

"What's not to like?"

"Oh, we don't have that long."

"I'd like to say you're hilarious," Ethan said.

"But?"

"But you're not. Anyway, can I put him down?"

"Sure. He has to find his way around, anyway."

"Why, when did you get him?"

"Today," Cassidy said, lowering Bobby down and allowing him to run off, which he did happily.

"Oh, cool!" Ethan exclaimed. "Your new house guest not enough for you, then?"

"She's plenty enough, thanks. You know I love dogs."

"Me too, but I couldn't eat a whole one."

"I guess they'd be chewy, anyway."

"And get stuck in your teeth," Ethan said. "But you can save those bits for later."

"You disgust me."

"Excellent! I like how the thing that disgusted you was the last bit."

"No, you always disgust me, but I don't usually tell you."

"Well, what are brothers for, if not to turn their sibling's stomach?"

"I'm sure you have other uses."

"Such as?"

"I can't think of anything right now. I'll have to get back to you."

Ethan laughed.

"That's the old Fuck Face back. I've missed you!"

"I hadn't gone anywhere," Cass said.

"I think Jazz and I would disagree. Your sense of humour went on holiday for a while."

Cassidy couldn't disagree. For the aforementioned while, he hadn't felt wit had been available. Elise had taken it and kept it locked away, out of his reach.

"Elise..." he began.

"Elise dressed like champagne and spoke like Coke Zero. Even her sweetness was fake."

Cass was taking a sip of his coffee and spluttered at that. He wiped his mouth.

"How long have you been saving that one for?"

"About three months after you two met," Ethan said. "I never thought I'd get the chance to use it."

"She did like her..."

"She was materialistic," Ethan said, interrupting. "She thought if you looked the part, you were the part. No idea why she was with you, then. Not exactly champagne, are you? The only bubbles you produce are from your arse."

"I don't want to be, either. And I seem to remember your farts were record-breaking"

"I can't help being so talented."

"Talented." Cass laughed. "Yeah."

"Anyway," his brother said. "The ghost?"

And here we go. The real reason for his visit. Not to see his baby bro'. Not to meet an adorable little puppy.

"She's not a ghost."

"You said that. Unfortunately, I don't know what else to call her."

"Call her Amy."

"Amy. Well, OK then. How about introducing us?"

"All right. But don't make any of your usual smart jokes."

"Has death killed her sense of humour too?"

"That's exactly what I mean, and no, it hasn't, actually."

"I'll keep my superbly defined sarcasm under control."

"Come on, then."

Cassidy led his brother up to his bedroom. Bobby followed and tried to climb the stairs after them.

"Stay," Cass commanded, holding his hand out, palm forwards.

Bobby made a high whining sound, but he stayed. By the time they'd reached the landing, he had returned to exploring downstairs.

"Are you ready for this?" Cass asked.

"Hell, yeah!"

Ethan attempted to step through the doorway into the bedroom first, but Cassidy put his arm up, blocking the way.

"I'll go first. I'll explain who you are."

"Ah yes. I don't want her exorcising me or anything."

"I think it's meant to be the other way around, but she'll know who you are, anyway."

"How? Do they, like, get access to all knowledge?"

"Pfft, no," Cass said derisively. "She can see what happens in the house. She'll have heard us talking downstairs."

"Oh, I see. No privacy then?"

"I guess she'd keep out if I asked her to. Besides, she knows you anyway."

"That sounds ominous," said Ethan, frowning. "How come?"

"You remember Jazz's friend when she was at school?"

"Which one?"

"Well, Amy of course."

"The one you fancied?"

"I didn't fancy her!" Cass punched his brother's arm and tried to keep the flush of his cheeks at bay. "But yes, that one."

"What about her?"

"Well..."

Cass shrugged and nodded towards the bedroom. Ethan's mouth and eyes widened in surprise.

"No way! That's crazy!"

"I know. Mad, yeah?"

"Indeed. Hold on. Didn't they fall out? I thought Amy just moved away or went to a different school."

"No. She was... she was killed."

"What the fuck? How come?"

"I'll tell you later, if she wants you to know. She's a bit reserved about it. I don't want to talk out of turn."

"Wow. That's insane. Poor girl."

"I know. So, you still ready?"

Ethan took a deep breath and ran his hand through his thick hair. He'd always worn it wild, as if an untamed look made him appear enigmatic, rather than just lazy. He nodded without speaking, then followed his 'baby bro'' inside.

https://youtu.be/nIj4whmzkNw