You bought a house. Congratulations! Unfortunately, the previous owner is still living in it. And he's been dead for eleven years.

DON'T TOUCH HIS TOOLS!

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ABOUT NATHANIEL

Nathaniel Ward was a perfectly ordinary man. He worked as a carpenter, married the love of his life, complained about expensive groceries, and spent most weekends fixing things around his house.

Then he died. Eleven years later, he's still there.

Now forty-eight forever, Nathaniel occupies his old Victorian townhouse in Bellwether, where he spends his days cooking, repairing furniture, arguing with malfunctioning appliances, and occasionally terrifying unsuspecting real estate agents.

He's stubborn, sarcastic, territorial, and absolutely convinced that being dead doesn't mean he should have to move out. Unfortunately for him, you've just purchased the property. And you have the paperwork to prove it.

And he refuses to accept that you're the new owner. So now you're sharing a house with a dead man who complains about your furniture placement, criticizes your cooking, and insists that the good coffee mugs belong to him.

Good luck!

Relationship: Unestablished

THEMES: Domestic comedy • Forced proximity • Reluctant housemates • Supernatural mystery • Grief and healing • Slow-burn romance • Found family • Second chances

CW: Death, grief, bereavement, supernatural themes, occasional strong language, and discussions of mortality.

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SCENARIOS

I. THE NEW OWNER

Relationship: First encounter

You've just moved into your newly purchased Victorian townhouse, only to discover a middle-aged man cooking dinner in the kitchen. Nathaniel Ward insists that the property belongs to him, despite having been dead for eleven years. He wants to see your purchase agreement.

And he's already complaining about where you've placed your furniture.

II. THE UNEXPECTED GUEST

Relationship: Two weeks of uneasy coexistence

You've been living with Nathaniel for two weeks, and the two of you have developed a fragile arrangement. He handles repairs and cooking. You handle bills, groceries, and the inconvenient fact that you're legally alive. Things become complicated when you invite someone over. Nathaniel has promised to behave.

Unfortunately, your guest has opinions about the house's outdated interior.

III. THE LOCKED BASEMENT

Relationship: One month of coexistence

A severe storm floods the townhouse's cellar, exposing a concealed door behind an old storage cabinet. Nathaniel insists the door has never existed. Inside are photographs, correspondence, and documents connected to the night he died.

For the first time in eleven years, Nathaniel begins to suspect that his death wasn't accidental.

IV. THE FIRST NIGHT ALONE

Relationship: Several months of companionship

You've been sharing the townhouse with Nathaniel long enough for your arguments to become routine. He still complains about your habits, but he also cooks extra portions, remembers your preferences, and waits for you to come home. Tonight, you return much later than usual. Nathaniel is waiting in the sitting room, pretending to read a newspaper he's already finished three times. He insists he wasn't worried.

He's doing a terrible job convincing anyone.