Benjamin looked over her shoulder at the phone see the advertisements and nodded. That was it. But out of a can? Prepackaged in factories? He was used to his homemade, but he supposed the world had changed quite a bit since he was a part of it. He continued looking as she pulled up a page on her phone titled Urban Dictionary. If he wasn't a ghost right there, he would have paled and backed away so his chill didn't affect the woman too much.

Well, I certainly didn't spread any of THAT on my bread. I can tell you that much.

Benjamin sighed, not liking the pause before her affirmation as if that was something a gentleman like him would do. All of that aside, he was as far as far could be from a sexual deviant. He'd upheld Christian beliefs having been raised in a Protestant household and had been saving himself for marriage. After a moment he typed, Evidently, this was one of those things for the worse. Have you heard of this ehm...more negative meaning of the word? He was disappointed when April told him that she needed sleep, but she was still in the land of the living and had needs that she needed to adhere to. Benjamin understood that.

He glided over to the screen to see what she was pulling up and blinked at her, marveling at the fact that she would be so keen to cure his boredom even when she wasn't there.Lor! This is thoughtful. Thank you so much!

Over the course of the evening, Benjamin had made a lot of progress. On top of being quite literate and quite educated, in his life Benjamin was an avid reader. The Wizard of Oz was much, much easier than what he'd accustomed himself to, veering more towards Eliot or Dickens (occasionally dabbling with the Romantics like Wordsworth or Blake when he was in a poetic kind of mood) than Baum so it was new literature to him which suit him just fine. Having nothing else to do over the course of the night he'd gotten halfway through as it was. One thing was certain, he'd never paid American literature of his time any attention, and he wished he would have.

When she moved over to the computer from the window he sat perched at since the sun rose, and watched how she opened each of the programs so that he could mimic it later if need be. Thank you for pulling up a book for me to read! This is so much easier than attempting to move the books in the study. Baum deserves more credit than I gave him.

Ah, a children's book. That made sense. When Benjamin was a child, his parents read to him as well, and this reminded him greatly of some of the things that he'd heard audibly, but as for his own reading he tended to focus on works that were more...pointed. He took his seat by the computer and wrote down:

A little over halfway, if the percentages are to be believed. It worked as the perfect cure to the boredom that's been plaguing me for the past few decades or so. There was a small pause as Benjamin seemed to be gathering a bit more energy. When the sun rose, however, I moved my position to near the window so I stopped reading a few hours ago.

Benjamin smiled and soon, Long and extensive sounds promising. At this point, I'm not entirely too picky. I've just been...stuck. Nothing to do. This has been a real blessing. He'd heard of The Lord of the Rings through the family before. They'd made it into a cartoon series and he'd seen seen glimpses of it. Then again, it was for children. It was for this reason he'd only seen glimpses as the adults were always in another room and he tended to linger towards them, hoping they'd be intelligent enough to pick up on his cues.

They never were.

That is, until now. To the latter of what she said, Benjamin figured it didn't warrant a response when he'd been storing up his energy. Already he could feel it a bit draining to type, but while she was in the shower he'd have the opportunity to charge up. He was more of a gentleman than that to follow her into the bathroom.

Benjamin lounged in front of the window, gathering as much of that sweet sweet energy that he could, praying that with enough he could actually speak to her, let her see him. He just had to conserve his energy. That meant that through the course of the day he'd have to be as silent as possible. Perhaps switch to shorter sentences.

While April was upstairs, Benjamin didn't move. Of course he knew which rooms April would be traversing so he could properly avoid any unfortunate sightings by happenstance, but he decided to take no risks. He perked up, however, when she came down the stairs watching as she got ready to go out. She made no indication of checking the computer for updates so he made no indication to create one, waiting instead until she would return so she wouldn't have to divide her attention.

He listened as she spoke out loud, undoubtedly to him and pursed his lips at the mention of her daft friend. Steven only picked up on his presence in jest, April was intelligent enough to make a way for them to communicate. So far as he was concerned Steven was useless. What if he didn't want Steven to believe that he was there?

Benjamin sighed, seeing her disappointment with a lack of response. When she got back, he'd make it up to her, but for the time being, he must conserve. At the very least, until she returned.

Benjamin, having watched her change the programs on the computer brought up the word document and the words. Welcome back. Sorry, short answers; conserving energy. appeared on the screen. Want to see what I've been saving for?

The words Would you like me to try to make myself visible? You might even be able to hear me. appeared on the screen.

Benjamin shifted over to the computer to respond once more before attempting his feat: I've been saving. I should, in a perfect world anyway, have a surplus. After a brief pause he added, Look near the kitchen island. I'll try to stand near the center.

With that, he moved away from the computer, attempting to go around his feminine companion so as to avoid freezing her, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and...became visible.

"I haven't tried this part yet, as there was no way to test...but can you...hear me, maybe?"

Benjamin smiled at April and straightened his collar as though he'd just tried on a new outfit rather than the one he'd been wearing for a majority of the last two centuries. It was an outfit, unfortunately, that he knew all too well: black slacks, a white shirt, a black overcoat, and a bowtie. He almost wished he'd been wearing a hat when he died, as that might have traveled back with him in the after life. In his worst days, it would have hid the wound...kind of...He'd hoped that this would be substantially better than the last time, and hopefully would purvey a bit more of his personality than the cold text had been. Alright, so speaking audibly was not something he could do readily, not yet. He wondered if he ever would be able to.

However, the visibility was a resounding success. He found that he had no trouble at all keeping it up (in part, he guessed, because he'd been saving it), at least, if he were to gauge that based on April's eyes following him. It was the strangest sensation, but now she'd be able to see his emotions as he wrote. Jokes wouldn't be misconstrued, and maybe it wouldn't seem as cold. At least, to him, the text looked cold. He didn't know her thoughts on it.

Well then, speaking was a happy, though unrealized, thought. I just wish we could have an uninhibited conversation. However, I believe my efforts have not gone unrealized. I'm not feeling drained in the slightest. On the contrary, I feel amazing!

In life, Benjamin was tall, lanky. Now in front of April that could be seen as he bent over the counter to type out his responses. His typing style was reminiscent of one who had never seen a keyboard in their life time with a heavy reliance on the front and middle fingers in a hunt and peck fashion. Typewriters, after all, hadn't been invented in his lifetime, and the order of the keys to him made no sense. His time with April, however, helped him get slightly more adjusted and responses were much, much faster than they had been previous.

An easy smile was also present, and it could be assumed that this same smile was one that he wore quite often throughout his life as he typed, I will be sure to. I feel as though emotions are easier conveyed this way, so when the circumstances allow I will certainly be appearing visible, and when they don't...Well, we'll just work with what we can while we have it, shall we?

There was a brief pause as the figure before April sighed and stood up for a moment, seeming to stretch before he resumed his position, his countenance slightly more serious as he typed more, Hopefully though, I will not be here long enough for the winter to pose those problems. I hope to find out who took my life and pass on. I can't stay here too long...I need to move on...

Benjamin looked at April, his face betraying the fact that he'd be sad to actually be leaving her, but one that said that rest would be nice. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept. As April spoke, Benjamin leaned forward once again to type, If only we could have the benefit of being there, in real time--together--since we both know now that I was murdered. If only we could go back in time...

As the last period was being typed, the lights flickered and sparks flew from the charger port to the laptop. Benjamin jumped back, looking at April fearing that she'd been hurt. But he couldn't see her. All went dark.

Benjamin opened his eyes to find himself face to face with...with April. On top of him. He gasped and attempted to sit up but was weighed down by the woman's weight on top of him. Weight that he didn't phase through. And she was warm, lor! Was she warm! He could almost feel her beating heart through his jacket. When she got off of him, he sat up holding his head and gave it a good shake for extra measure. He couldn't be dreaming, could he? He had to be able to sleep to dream, and he hadn't slept since 1844.

A quick glance around and the familiarity hit him like a truckload of bricks. “It's...it's home...” he murmured to himself, brought back by a solid poke to the cheek, squishing it in. Turning to narrow his eyes, he stopped his death glare when he realized what this meant and he leapt to his feet, patting his body, “Lor! I'm alive! It's amazing, a holiday miracle! I'm alive!”

But, his eyes widened with the realization, “We might have actually done it. We might have gone back in time...” He grabbed her by the wrist, “Which means that my parents are here, or at least Mother is...and father will be home and you—you---You're from 2017. This won't do. This simply won't do. You need to blend in...and we need to check the date. I could be getting... ehm...murdered...at any moment now...”

Benjamin nodded his assent and continued tugging on her wrist for her to follow him. "I have a room that no one else knows about...You haven't even found it yet. You'll be safe there," he said over his shoulder, leading her through the halls no longer plagued by the emptiness of a house owned by one, but filled with light with voices drifting out of various doorways. Benjamin recognized them all. They were certainly back in time, back when his parents were here. He could hear their staff and even his mother speaking with the head maid.

Ducking into his room, he lead her to an adjoining room. It was an office by its appearance. A large desk sat facing away from an open window and bookshelves took up the vast majority of two walls. Benjamin stepped up to one of the shelves and acted like he was picking out a book, but instead of the book coming out in his hand, part of the bookshelf broke away as a door, revealing a small but private study. The room he now led her to was small but it had a desk as well. There were a couple of stacks of books sitting perched beside and on the desk, books that were more his flavor when he was alive, and a majority of his recent journals sat on that desk.

To Benjamin, the sight was unnerving. He'd become so used to that room being plagued with dust, his journals so covered with the stuff that they would be hard to read. Now, here it was, everything in perfect order, right where it was when he died but looking as if someone had just been in there. He flicked on a gas lamp and turned to face April, "You should be safe in here. I'll...I'll see what I can gather in terms of women's clothing..."

Benjamin sighed, not knowing the answer to that. He didn't know how to explain to them why she was here, and he wasn't able to explain it to her either. He ran a hand through his ruffled hair and looked at her raising his eyebrows, "And why can't you be someone I'm courting? You could be from the countryside, in to see the city. We've been communicating via letter for some time...They don't need to meet your parents! The uh...time, my time, I guess so to speak...it isn't until the night time. We need to check the date for sure, but it's a lie that we may be able to keep up given the time we have." Benjamin spoke faster and faster as his little idea drew steam. He grew silent with her last contention, "Well, we will just have to try to prevent that, shall we?"

Benjamin laughed heartily, reveling in the fact that he could actually feel the warmth that came from such an action. "Hayseed hick? No, certainly not. Not all of those that dwell in the country are uneducated. You and your family could be of property, we've been writing each other for a while, you and I, and came to London for a vacation. I offered up our residence knowing that there are plenty of women here you can associate with--" He ran a hand through his hair again, obviously thinking that this little work of fiction wasn't his best, but it would be easier than painting her up as homeless. "But I will need to get you the proper garb first. Lucky for us, my play shortly before my passing received high praise and I made quite a profit. Surely, I can pick a dress up for you." The mention of his needing to be married off to someone of high social status struck a chord with him, the name Sarah echoing in his head. But he said nothing on that, instead saying, "That's why we paint you up to high class."

He froze and looked at her. He'd never imagined actually rewinding his murder, his being able to live out his days to old age. Having a wife, children. Having a career in play writing. All of that was taken from him, and he'd seen it as gone. Sunk costs, as his father would say. Something he could never get back. Finally, he spoke, "I don't need to be happy. I need to be gone. Soon, I will be murdered, but hopefully...hopefully I can just know who did it. Don't worry, I won't feel pain. Not if the person who did it does it in the same way. Except this time...this time I'm hoping I won't wake up again." His eyes focused on her now and he ignored his gentlemanly manners if only for a moment to grab hold of April's hands, "I want you to promise me that if we find out who is going to do it--and why--that you will do nothing to stop it. You must let it happen. I don't want that life. I've...I've been on this world for far longer than any man has any business being. Another forty or so years would be...it would be terrible."

Benjamin shook his head, his lips pressed together in firm line, "I was meant to die. It's fate. Just as you were meant to be born. I was never meant to have a family, to keep going. I had my chance. I refuse to take yours away." He was resolute with this, and April would be able to see it in his eyes. He'd made his decision.

"If you do anything to prevent it," Benjamin continued, "I will kill myself in an equally as gruesome way. It will be difficult, as an ax to the back of the head is quite gruesome." He shook his head again at April's grasping at straws. A simple running away would do him little good. Despite his resolution, he managed to be tender, taking his finger and wiping a stray tear, "Listen to me. I was there; I watched it all. I saw the discovery of my body. I saw them take it away. I watched as...I watched as my mother scrubbed the hardwood. She scrubbed and scrubbed. The stains never lifted, my blood seeped into all of the cracks. They tried staying. They tried covering the spot where my body lay with a rug, and then the rug served as the reminder that at that spot their little boy died. My running away would further force them to stay, they'd have hope. They'd stay right where they were planted, knowing that their little boy would have a place to return to. Your family would never move in. Events that took place behind various bedroom walls here...events that eventually led to your conception, well, they would have never taken place." He paused to assess the look on her face. "My life was taken from me. I refuse to let that happen to you. I will not allow it."

Benjamin's face softened and once more he reached to wipe away one of April's tears, "It can't...it can't happen, April. I'm not a pet who exists to greet you when you get home and be left waiting any time your life beckoned you away. That empty home that you came home to...it trapped me. That empty home was all I knew for several decades. Not even days, but decades, April. Can you imagine that? I've...I've grown fond of you as well, but I simply must pass on."

Benjamin swallowed some saliva that had gathered at the back of his throat and looked down, "I know it's sad. They don't call it a tragedy for no reason," he stopped to chuckle before continuing, attempting to keep that look of mirth still alive in his blue eyes, "I saw what the tragedy did to the people I loved. That...that tragedy is going to continue until I can pass..."

He stopped to look around the room and grabbed a book from the top of one of the stacks, "It may take me a little bit because I'm going to see what the date is, and, unfortunately I have friends everywhere. Appearances are everything in this time period, and so long as I am part of it, I must adhere to those. I will move as quickly as I can, but I can't spurn anyone that sees me." He handed the book to her and grinned, "Here. It's my favorite novel of all time. Perhaps it can keep you entertained while I am out?" The novel in question was The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. He'd loved it as it came out in installments so much that he purchased a novel version of it. "I know Dickens was a man of my time, but if any of his works survive, you should read them."

With that, he turned to go, casting a look back before he went, offering her one last smile before he went on the small quest he'd been tasked with.

Benjamin knew from experience that being left behind was not a fun endeavor. He at least hoped that he gave her something to do while she was in his private study, like she had for him while she was gone, but he knew that wouldn't be good enough. Once out of the room, Benjamin picked up his pace heading for his father's own personal study. If he could find his father's most recent papers, he'd be able to find out what the date was.

"Benjamin, is that you dear? You've gotten up late again today, haven't you? It's nearly ten o' clock!" the voice belonged to a female, and it was that feminine voice that he'd grown the most familiar with over the course of his very long life. That of his mother. Benjamin froze and leaned over the staircase rails catching her as she was donning her bonnet for her morning stroll.

"Don't worry, mother. Yes, it's only me. I actually didn't sleep late today, I just started with some reading. I wasn't hungry yet, you see," Benjamin said with a lie that made the absolute most sense. He'd skipped many meals in favor of the written word or rushing off to the theatre, so it was perfectly believable.

"Well alright, Benjamin, just don't forget to eat. You'll get even thinner and wither away," she flashed him a smile and he came down the stairs to see her out.

"Again, mother, don't worry," he replied, grinning. He'd forgotten just how much his mother loved and worried about him. It was no wonder the murder affected her so hard. "I'll eat a short time from now, but for the time being I have some errands of my own to run. I'll return and we can eat together, how does that sound?" Even as he was saying this, he cringed a little bit knowing that as they ate, April would be locked up in that room. "Say, mother, do you know what the date is? The days have been sort of blurring together as of late."

"I'm glad to hear you'll at least be getting a little sunshine today. It's October twenty-third, dear. I really think you should start paying a little bit more attention to the world around you."

Benjamin laughed, "Have a nice stroll, mother. I'll try to be here when you return." With that, his mother disappeared out the door, looking as pretty as she ever did. Benjamin would have to remember to thank her for her part in his genes before he was taken from her.

He donned his own hat, hailing a carriage and making his way to the downtown district. As expected, he was stopped en route to the clothing shop by well-wishers who had seen his play and wishing him upcoming successes on more, of course asking if he was writing anything more to which he responded with a smiling "Always." He did, eventually make it into the shop but when in there, he had no idea what to look for; women's clothes were as foreign to him as Oriental China and he sighed as he slunk to a clerk to help him.

"Benjamin Wright! What brings a gentleman like you into my humble shoppe?" the shopkeeper said, beaming at his appearance. Benjamin scratched the back of his head and offered her a sheepish smile.

"Well, as you might have guessed, I'm here to purchase women's clothing...for a woman that-that-that I'm trying to court," he stammered, peering at her from the tops of his eyes, quite bashfully to any onlooker and the shopkeeper herself.

"Oh isn't that just lovely?" came the heart-filled reply. The shopkeeper's cheeks were flushed with excitement to be aiding him on his endeavor, "Just who is the lucky woman?"

"Her...her name is April," Benjamin stammered, "I want to get her an entire outfit, not just the lovely outerskirts, but everything she would need for a date out in the town. I intend to escort her everywhere, so if they could be comfortable as well, that would please me to no end." He flushed realizing that there were other garments that went with outfits that he should probably not lay eyes on, "Ehm...for the underskirts...She will certainly need those, but if-if...if you can package them in a way that I won't see, so as to keep her honour, you see, it would be much appreciated."

The shopkeeper kept her giddy smile as she practically danced to one of the shelves, "Ah, so by everything, you did mean everything! What a good gentleman you are, Benjamin. Very well! Let's get everything we need then, shall we?"

By the end of his shopping experience, he was baffled by exactly how much went into a woman's outfit for an everyday adventure and he hoped that April would be able to figure it out. There was one problem, however, he had no way of explaining that a corset was out of the question, and the shopkeeper had already packaged everything up for him. She would have no other lady to help her with it. He gulped, paling a bit as he heaved the heavy package under his arm, a reaction that the shopkeeper anticipated as nerves. He returned long before his mother did and stole away to the study, panting and thankful that none of the servants or the maid saw him.

"Here we are," he said, chipper, "An entire outfit of everything you'll need. Ehm...do you ah...think you'll be able to figure it out?"