Ranboo thought that his heart would just fall out of his chest, it was slaming against his ribcage so hard... Oh, he's going to die, the ghosts are going to possess him or some shit and then strangle both Bee and Tommy. He shouldn't have come here, he shouldn't have stuck his nose into other people's business!

– Are you coming down or are you getting a heart attack?- a sudden voice snapped him out of his misery.- And do you know we have a light switch here?- Tommy was standing in a doorway, clearly unamused as he switched the lights on. H... how long has he been standing there?

– B-but...- Ranboo barely choked out, looking at his friend in shock. Had he made that all up? Gosh, of course... the batteries just gave out, why was he freaking out about a stupid flashlight... No such things like ghosts existed after all... This was so awkward, he made a complete fool of himself.

– I'm not going to say sorry, don't even look at me like that- suddenly Ranboo realized Tommy wasn't staring at him as something spoke right next to him. And it sounded just like one of the cousins. Boo jolted back, looking at the empty floor, as if it was about to tear his throat open. There... there was something there and he couldn't see it.... Was it really a ghost? Was he right after all?! Oh god, they are going to die.

– Because of you I took a fucking sword to my shoulder! Look, look what you've done!- Ranboo nearly fainted as Tommy pointed at his shoulder, still slightly red from drying blood. The cut itself was covered with a bandage, but still it was there, Toms got hurt, the ghosts are-!

– Eh, just a bruise, not like something similar stopped you before- the talker seemed to throw himself onto the boy, Tommy's posture suddenly dropping as if something heavy lied on his shoulders.

– You little shit- he spat out in response, getting from under him and crossing his arms, looking annoyed.

– Love you too, Tommy- the voice sang mockingly, earning a pout from the blonde.

– Oh, fuck off- Ranboo was both confused and terrified at best. It was a miracle that he hadn't passed out yet, but he felt like he was about to do so. A ghost. Tommy was talking to a literal ghost. Was this his life now? No, it surely cannot be...

– Boys, the tea is getting cold!- Mr Phil called from downstairs. Wait, Mr Phil?! He was in the house?! But... wasn't he... WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?!

– Yeah, yeah, commin'!- Tommy yelled in response, before turning once more to Ranboo.- C'mon, big guy, enough of sitting on the floor, get up!- he took the offered hand, milion thought still running over his head, screaming in chaos and agony. He had no idea what to think about this whole situation, it was just so unreal!

But he allowed to be led down the attic stairs, Tommy and the ghost still bickering slightly about the cut on his arm, but Ranboo hasn't exactly caught what exactly this was about. It seemed like they were arguing just to argue, not from real anger. Especially with the way Tommy was smiling, bitterly and crooked, the way he always does when his tries of mocking someone is turned against him. The ghost... seemed to be close to him, openly laughing and poking him, sometimes ruffling his hair. Like... an older brother?

Walking through the empty corridor seemed like forever to panicking Ranboo, but finally they made it to the staircase and the living room. And there they were greeted by a rather bizarre scenery. On the coffee table were five cups and a teapot, cookies lying on a tray. The couch was preoccupied by Tubbo, snuggled underneath a crazy amount of fluffy blankets, with only his sleepy head and a part of his plushie sticking out. There was someone running an invisible hand through his hair, a cup floating mid air too. Another ghost. How many fucking ghosts were in this household?!

– Finally, I thought you'd never come down- it was Mr Phil's voice. Ranboo shivered at the thought that what he had discovered might actually be true. Had they been living with his friend's dead family all this time? And why were they so calm about this?- Tommy, could you fetch me my hat, please? I left it...- but the teenager was already waving his hand, turning back to the stairs.

– In my room, yeah, yeah, I know, I've seen it- he ended for him, rolling his eyes.

– Wait, I'll go with you, I'll get your mattress down- the next voice sent shivers down Ranboo's spine, despite him already knowing it. It was just so nerve-wracking hearing this monotone tone coming out of nowhere instead of a telephone.

– Are we having a sleepover?- but Tommy just smiled looking up to the side, as if he was normally facing his co-talker. But there was no one there, just an empty air, not even a trace of some being. Did they spend so long in their company that they could tell just by voice where they are?

– Well, Tubbo IS sleeping already- Techno's voice answered boredly, making Tommy snicker slightly.

– It's first in the morning, mate, let him be.

- Yeah, let me be- Tubbo mumbled from under his pile, snuggling deeper into it. But soon Ranboo realised it wasn't just him sinking into it, something was lying on top of him. He tried to see what it was, but the air just stubbornly stayed transparent, no matter how hard he focused on it.

- If you're trying to burn a hole in my head, it's not working- the first voice hummed lightly, blankets slightly ruffling as he clearly moved. Wilbur, was it? If Ranboo remember correctly that had to be him. But it made no sense...! Or did it?! Agh, he was so confused!

– Here, it's with melissa, it should help you calm down- suddenly he was offered a cup, placed before him on the coffee table as someone patted a free space on the couch, inviting him to sit down.- I know it's a lot to take in, so just take it slowly- it was easier said than done, but Ranboo listened to Phil, sitting down next to him. He stopped trying to see them, it was no use. Just a transparent air, nothing more. Except there was someone sitting there, of course! Because it's the most normal thing in the world, having tea with ghosts in the middle of the night.

Suddenly on the staircase appeared a mattress, probably from Tommy's room, floating slightly above the steps. And right after followed Toms himself, carrying his pillow and pajamas, a striped bucket hat sitting on top of his head.

– Got ya hat, uncle- he waved at him, taking the said hat off and bowing theatrically.

– Thank you, Tommy- Ranboo was sure that Toms would hand it over to Phil, but instead of giving it to the ghost, he handed it to him. The boy looked at it hesitantly, before finally taking it from him, inspecting it in his hands. It was well made, but loved, well-used, fixed a few times. He wondered what was the tale of this piece of clothing; it looked like it had seen quite a piece of the world.

– You like it, mate?- Ranboo rose his head to give the ghost his answer, but suddenly froze, his eyes meeting the kind blue ones. In front of him was sitting the man from the photographs, but with antlers sticking from under his hair, black feathers flushing his hace almost like freckles. He was just sitting and sipping his tea, like it was nothing. But he was HERE, looking as solid and unreal both as he could.- My wife gave it to me, many years ago-

– W... wha...?- he knew staring was rude, but god dammit, that was unexpected. No weird film prepared him for this sight in front of him. Was he really a ghost and not some kind of demon?

– Ranboo, meet my great-uncle slash my second dad, Phil- but Tommy was already on board, running a hand through man's feathers as he spoke.

– Hi, mate. Good to finally talk to you- Phil's smile grew even warmer, offering a hand for a greeting. Ranboo accepted it hesitantly, halfly expecting to just faze through it, but no. The hand was solid, warm, almost like a normal human hand, just with sharper nails and some weird humming instead of a slight heartbeat in the fingertips.

– Em... hello? I'm... so confused... who... what... are you?

– He's dead, that's what he is- Phil only bursted out laughing, his wings shaking vigorously as he almost fell from the couch.- All of those fuckers are dead to be fair- well, that definitely threw Ranboo off guard, his heart sinking slightly.

– All right, smart guy, get your living ass to the bathroom, you stink- Techno suddenly turned Tommy around, shoving the pajamas back into his hands and pushing him towards the bathroom door.- And I don't want to suffocate in my sleep for the second time in my life- Ranboo paled, hearing him talk so lightly about his death. Wasn't this supposed to be a sensitive topic? But Tommy stuck his tongue out at the ghost, before dodging something and running off to the bathroom with laughter, Techno clearly chasing after him.

– Don't worry about them, mate, it's always like that- Phil finally calmed down, scooping Ranboo with his wing closer, turning him away from that bizzare scenery.

– But... why do I see you?- the teenager looked at the black feathers with slight worry, but didn't flinch away. They were soft, surprisingly, and covered him like a weird blanket.

– Do you want to see Will too?- Phil smiled kindly, once again handing him his cup.- You'll have to take his guitar for that- he turned away slightly, trying to see where the mentioned was lying. But it was already on the move, slowly being scooped to the side of Tubbo's fuzzy pile, probably by Wilbur.

– So... by touching certain objects I'm able to see you?- Ranboo once again looked at the hat in his hands, expecting something more from it, but no. It was just a green and white piece of cloth, nothing more magical than that.

– More or less, we need to want you to see us as well. Or at least we think that's how it works. We're fairly new to this too so don't worry- Phil shrugged in response, not looking too bothered by it.

– Here, big guy- before Ranboo could even react, the guitar landed on his lap, strings humming slightly. And when he looked back up... on top of Tubbo's pile was resting a young man, music notes flying around his frizzy hair.- Hi- he waved lazily at him, his eyes still closed in sleepy bliss as his tail flickered to the side. Ranboo wasn't sure what to look at first, his tail, ears or tusks. Like in Phil's image, everything looked so unnatural and yet so on its rightful place. Great, we have two demon-looking ghosts. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what Techno looked like, almost ready to be faced with pitch black skin and sharp claws. But on the other hand none of them seemed to be hostile towards the boys, just the opposite, they were comfortable in their presence, caring and kind almost. And that they liked to mock them.

- Will you play smthin'...?- Tubbo murmured quietly from under his blankets and Wilbur hummed slightly, opening one eye. Gosh, it was pure white. It couldn't be more unnatural, could it?

- Maybe, when Tommy and Tech come back- fell the response, Will coming back to his previous half-asleep state. But it turned out that they didn't have to wait long, with Tommy jumping onto his mattress and Techno sitting probably right next to him, judging by the dent in the sheets and suddenly floating cup.

- Do you want to see Techno now, or do you just want to rest, mate?- Phil looked at Ranboo fondly, seeing that emotions were starting to fade away and tiredness getting the best of him. The teenager looked at him confused, but no coherent thought formed in his head to be even an excuse for an answer. So elder man just smiled at him, taking the cup out of his hands.- Just go to sleep, we will talk in the morning-

- Will, I want a song- Tubbo demanded once more, his head poking out a little bit more as he slightly tugged at Wilbur's hair. Young man smiled slightly, but didn't move too much.

- Yeah, Wilby, sing us something!- Tommy joined cheerfully, but only when Techno chipped something in, Wilbur decided to move, taking his guitar and strumming it lightly.

- Any requests?

- Nah... everything will be nice...

______

Longer chapter, pog

We're getting nearer to the last plot milestone and from then it should be around 10 chapters to the end! Nice!

Stay safe, everyone! 

Hope to have mumza back soon, fuck visa system!