|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:35 pm
"I'll be sure to go down there first thing tomorrow morning. I'll need cash though and I can pick up anything else you might need," he said politely.
Manners were literally ingrained into him since he was a young child. You were to always be polite to a lady unless they were out of line. Then there was the fact that there were other complications in manners. They'd changed over the years and he'd studied them, making sure he adjusted his persona slightly so he would not stick out so much.
He stood up and moved across the room. He traced a shape on the wall with his finger though from her stance it would look like nothing. It was the symbol drawn to let the people of higher power know that he was stationed her and he would be getting the soul within the next week. He'd have to contact them later. It usually worked through a chain of phone calls to someone who was a messenger. It worked better that way since it meant the humans would not witness any contact between earth and the spirit realm.
"I can take care of that part," he said quietly. "But first you probably want to ask me a few questions. I'd like to know if you have any pet peeves also, if you don't mind."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:40 pm
Dawn shrugged looking towards the window. "Nothing I know of, as far as just cleaning up after yourself..." she turned to him and grinned. "I have this huge pet peeve about the milk though." "When I used to live with my Dad..." her voice trailed off but shook her head, ridding the memory. "Anyways, he used to always leave a drop of milk at the bottom of the bag, and he always got away with it, I don't know how he did, since there was only two of us liking here." She clutched the fabric of her pants, 'was' she used pas-tense in that sentence. "Anyways, that's about it." she said standing up a loud and large yawn escaping her lips, in which she quickly covered them and closed her mouth. "Sorry about that, it's getting late." she looked at the digital clock that flashed on and off. The red numbers flashed '1:36 am'. It wasn't all that late for Dawn, but she felt it dragging on her eyes, and knew that an all night study session was the last thing on her mind right now. Moving over to the door, she stopped, hand on the door frame. "If you're hungry, you're welcome to anything in the bakery or the fridge. If you want anything like a meal, don't be afraid to ask, and I'll cook something up for you." she winked at him, a little code wink she had shared with her father before "My specialty is a vegetarian rice with some nice..." she searched for the word, "breaded meat on the side, which dose go great with a little plum sauce." Dawn was just about to add in one more thing before she left the room. "I'm going to make a phone call now, it's a bit important," her face turned serious before leaving the room. Walking down the stairs, she went to check the phone again for two reasons. The beeping noise was back. 'Maybe I was just under a lot of stress,' she tried convincing herself.
Dawn hung up the phone and picked it up again, resetting the dial. She slowly dialed the phone number, getting a clear -ring, ring, ring- sound before the answering machine. -We are unable to speak with you at the moment, please leave your name and number at the sound of the tone...- the message continued on but she ignored that part. "Hey, this is Dawn Crawford, phone number-" "Please give me a call back as soon as you get the message. Thanks." she hung up the phone and sighed. Dawn picked up the phone again and made another call, to the school this time. She got the School's answering machine, as she knew she would. "This is Dawn Crawford, I'm calling to let you know that I won't be in at school tomorrow due to some family issues. I'd rather not discuss this over the phone, and my father, won't be able to answer any questions regarding my absence." she didn't tell any lies, and only partly the truth. She didn't want to leave a message for the secretary to discover and find out what happened. The last thing she wanted was to inform the whole school, if it ever happened that a senior student was in taking the calls, to find out what happened to her and her father.
Dawn hung up the phone again and sighed. She was planning on making one last phone call, but stopped herself. In all truths, she didn't exactly know what to do with Atticus, or who he really was. She still had that cold feeling of being watched and would call the police if he tried anything that she didn't like. After all, she had just met him, and wasn't it better to precautions then not? She slipped the small business card into her pocket and went upstairs to her bedroom passing by Atticus and smiling sweetly. "Good night." she said before turning into her bedroom across the hall and closing the door. She then slipped into something comfortable and pulled the covers back off the bed. Dawn slid under them and looked out the small window that was just at the side of her bed. Sighing one last time, she curled up under the blankets and fought for sleep for little over an hour. After that, she slipped into a light sleepless dream.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:33 pm
Atticus didn't speak after she left. he was left to think. He shivered slightly as he felt something touch his neck. When he reached back it was only the choker tightening slightly. He forced himself to relax a bit and it loosened. He could almost take it off sometimes but it would suddenly tighten whenever he attempted it.
After she had returned and said good night he forced himself to lay down though he stayed on top of the covers. He didn't have any weapons handy and it made him uncomfortable. He usually carried around a switchblade for defense purposes since he frequently had to go into the dangerous areas of the city.
Tonight he was safe though, but he couldn't stop thinking about how she'd looked when she'd seen the figure. Her father was either unaware that he was dead or wanted to protect his daughter from the man who had shot him. he knew some of the details but he didn't know the important facts. He wasn't given facts, just when the person was expected to die and what may occur. It wasn't always accurate so it was always good to leave to the destination immediately.
He floundered in thought for at least another hour and around two or three he managed to fall asleep, a blessing for him at this time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:39 pm
It was little past 8 am when Dawn woke up. She had already pulled herself into her usual schedule. She pulled open the curtains to her bedroom and pushed open the windows after unlocking them, letting in the sounds of the early morning summer day come into the house. The bright sunlight was welcomed, and washed over her skin from the window, a very birds on a tree near the window sung in musical notes, while Dawn smiled light-heartily towards their brave and pleasant musical chorus. "Good morning!" she sung happily back to the birds before tidying up her room, making her bed, still smiling as if the tragedy had never occurred. She opened her door and skipped happily down the stairs to the kitchen, putting away the dishes from the washer and pulling out a frying pan, that as well as a very eggs and a bit of rice. Placing the ingredients on the cutting board, she opened all the windows in the back of the house. Dawn wouldn't be opening the bakery today, not until at least tomorrow. She pulled on her white cooking apron and tied her hair up loosely with a slender red ribbon that she always wore when she was cooking.
The eggs sizzled in the pan making the lovely aroma of cooking food spread throughout the house. After placing the eggs out on plates, as well as some rice into two small china bowls with chop sticks at the side. Clasping her hands together she almost danced to the staircase singing musically "Morning~! Breakfast is ready sleepy head." she sounded a lot happier today, more like her normal self. Waiting for a reply she looked over at the food, which she had just placed out on the table. "Oh that's right," she moved over to the fridge again and pulled out two glass cups, some orange juice and milk. Juggling the items she walked over to the table and put them down clumsily. The Orange hung on the edge of the table, and when she went to put the cups down, she putted it off, the juice spilling on the ground, as well as a loud crashing sound that came from the jug. "Oh!" she said surprised, running to the kitchen for some paper towels. "Oops." Dawn's face was red with embarrassment. "It's alright," she yelled quickly to alert Atticus that it was nothing serious. "I just dropped the jug of orange juice, that's all..." she sounded a bit flustered, and feeling like a complete idiot. Dawn picked up the shards and cleaned up the mess as fast as she could, hoping to get it cleaned up before Atticus saw it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:07 pm
Atticus had been beyond drowsy when she called for him. He wanted more than five hours of sleep but that was usually all he got. He moved off the bed and jumped when he heard the crash. Usually when something crashed everything wasn't 'all right.' He decided to take his time though, just in case she needed to clean it up to avoid embarrassment.
When he finally got down there he recalled what he was here for. His focus shifted again so he would know if the ghost were present or not. His hair was slightly tousled but he barley noticed it. His choker seemed to be bugging him at the moment and he wondered if she noticed how it annoyed him. He hoped not because that would require a long explanation that he was sick of giving, for once he wanted to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
"Eggs I see," he said. "Well we'll.. or I'll need to get backing soda this morning and I'll be sure to pick up a pitcher for you. Just need the money for the errand though."
He needed new clothes since these would get old fast. He wasn't used to living with someone ever and he rarely noticed if he changed sometimes. It was out of habit though and he could avoid sweating because he was essentially no longer a human. He laughed slightly at the thought before sinking into one of the chairs, still tired.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:31 pm
Dawn smiled and sat down across from him. "I mixed it up a bit this morning but add some rice as a side dish." she explained, picking up her bowl and the chop sticks, using them to clump rice together and eat it slowly. After a few minutes, Dawn had finished the rice and moved onto her eggs, and soon after that she was cleaning up the table. She placed the dishes in the washer and nodded. "I'll go get the money now." she was used to going to the cash register for money when her father was busy, so she took about 20 francs or the equivalent to 20 American dollars and placed it on the table. "Just to let you know, they'll be in at about 8:30 am." she said untying her hair and putting the apron on the proper hook. "I've also called ahead to my friend and let her know that you're coming over. She has the order all ready so all you have to do is pick it up." she gave him a pleasant smile as she put away the milk and started tiding up the kitchen, making sure everything was in it's place.
Though something was bothering her since last night, it was that weird fog, but something else was wrong. She shrugged it off and just told herself it was nothing important. As she looked through the kitchen's open view that lead into the dining room, she noticed that he didn't seem really happy, or rather annoying. Dawn sighed and turned around. Maybe the guy wasn't a morning person, or hadn't had a good night's sleep. She wouldn't say anything about it though. "Alright, I'm going to tidy up the rooms and do some laundry." she said more to herself, but loud enough for Atticus to hear as she moved through the kitchen door and towards the stairs. "Oh, and one last thing." she scrambled around the house picking up a piece of paper and a blank pen. She scrabbled on the back side trying to get the thing to work . "God damnit..." she muttered running to get one from her bedroom. After running back down stairs she began to jot down directions. "The store isn't too far from here but the streets can be confusing." she said after finishing, handing him the paper. "Good luck and take care."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:13 pm
He hated rice for some reason but he ate it without complaint. When he was finished though he took the twenty francs and headed out the door, listening to what she had said. He'd find it, or just get lost. Either way he knew that it was close to the next person that would die, an elderly man that was still sleeping, or rather was sleeping. When he was out on the street he was beginning to notice how busy it had already gotten.
He began to walk though, weaving between the people, be careful as though he would slice them into pieces if he so much as touched them. He got to the store though and entered slowly, looking around at the things that were for sale. Some of them he'd never seen before and he couldn't help but pick them up an examine them for a moment. It was like he was in a foreign place at the moment and it was dreadfully frightening.
He found the friend and quickly explained what he needed. The order was given to him and he gave her the money. change was given and he was allowed to leave. He'd also asked about the alibi and she agreed, as Dawn had said she would. Now for transportation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:45 pm
Dawn had just finished putting on the laundry and was now cleaning up everything she could, but the front of the bakery. Sooner or later the police were back. They worked around Dawn as she offered them coffee and anything else. They thanked her graciously. "Thank you miss Dawn," spoke the head officer. Dawn smiled and walked around to the kitchen, taking the dirty dishes with her. She came back out with a piece of fruit and sat down at the table. "We're almost done here. He spoke as Dawn looked at the clock. It seemed that Atticus was taking longer then she had thought he would. She bit down into the apple and sat there, letting her thoughts run away with her. 'I wonder why he looked so annoyed...' she wondered at first thinking about how he looked when he woke up. 'Maybe I should have let him sleep in, who knows what he's been through...' she let out a short sigh and started thinking about the murder. 'Why would anyone want to kill Dad, or rather... what did the person want?' the thoughts brought her back to one late night a few years or so ago...
~"Ha ha ha, you guys sure are a kick in the pants!"
"I'm glad you are having fun tonight, Dalton"
"It's only my pleasure to have you over, so... shall we begin the next round?"
"Indeed, you're turn to deal."
-the cards were swiftly dealt and handed out-
"Ha ha ha!" "Read 'em and weep. Full house."
"I beg to differ..." -another full house was placed on the table-
"Ha ha ha! Well done! Well Done good sir!"
"Yes, you too, next round then?"
-a few more games had passed-
The room was covered in a smoky haze of lit cigars and the rank smell of alcohol wafering from that of Dalton. He was drunk dead, and the men seemed to be having a ball. "Another beer?"
"No thank you Dalton."
"Awh come on, loosen up will ya Will?"
"I guess one more couldn't hurt..."
-After an hour of hands-
~I remember that night clearly... Dad was playing poker with his new buddies... I didn't sleep that night -laughter in the back ground- So I went to go find him in the game room and I over heard something... but I can't remember what... and that's when... "Dawn, baby girl! Come meet the fellas!" I was afraid of them, they had this weird... aura around them... like-like they were demons....that's what I had thought of them anyways... but that was so long ago... what, just who were they?~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:07 pm
Atticus had been running through the streets. The man had already died of course but it made it easier. His soul seemed to be wandering and when he got him it was much easier than it was if it were a young person. It took him at least an hour to get that job done. He'd back to earth in no time but there seemed to be trouble with the transporting.
"I have to get back," he muttered slightly. "I have another soul to transport just get me down there."
Five minutes to go.... it seemed like an eternity. Four. Three. Gone. It seemed that the clouds in the sky were affected by some supernatural activity at the moment and was creating a discord between the two places. That would be dealt with by the people higher up on the food chain, the arch angels as many called them, though it was a slight mockery towards them.
He could see the bakery now, not too far now but he had no clue how long it had been. He was out of breath for once and people kept running into him. He wasn't used to be visible all the time and with each person that slammed into his shoulder the weight seemed to grow heavier and heavier. He needed to lie down for a while, think, sort his rampant thoughts at least.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:31 pm
Dawn snapped out of her little dream, noticing that the officer was shaking her shoulder lately. "We're off now miss." he said as Dawn roused and sat up, she hadn't noticed that she had fallen asleep. She nodded sleepily and looked at the clock, 1:00pm. "That's can't be right..." she muttered to herself rubbing her eyes. "Take care, and call us if anything happens alright?" Dawn nodded and the men were off. She shrugged, and before they left, she had asked them if she could clean up and open the shop. They agreed, and thanking them, they left, leaving Dawn to clean it all up. Dawn was just starting her clean up now, starting with the blood on the floor. "That was a weird dream..." she said to herself out loud. It was a dream about that night, yesterday night when Atticus came. She was in her father's bedroom, and it was exactly the same, everything, but something was wrong, it wasn't normal. There was no mist and shadow was standing over her, it was a male, that was all she could tell. He seemed similar, like she knew who he was, but he didn't look the same, he looked... unrealistic. Dawn shook her head and continued to scrub out the blood from between the cracks in the floor. Soon the room was as clean as it was before, maybe even cleaner. She smiled at her job well done and put away all the cleaning supplied. "I'll open up tomorrow." she thought cheerfully, it was a Saturday anyways.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:02 pm
Atticus had managed to fall at least five times on his way back to the bakery and at least four times the person glared at him like he was a monster of some sort. When he got to the door he was actually out of breath for once. He pulled slightly at his colar, wishing he could take it off immediately but knew if he tried it might constrict on his wind pipe slightly. He'd passed out once.
He knocked lightly before letting himself in. He looked around and saw that it had been cleaned. he'd offered to help but apparently getting home this late after leaving at eight wasn't a good idea. He shook his head slightly. He had essentially gotten lost but now he knew where he was.
"I'm sorry that took so long," he said when he found her. "I have a tendency of getting lost and distracted. It's a really bad habit." More lies? he hated lying but he couldn't tell her, she might become frightened and that would aggravate her father's spirit or soul, whatever they called them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:17 pm
Dawn smiled. "You're back, I though the shinigami got you!" she laughed, (bad joke). "Anyways, welcome back, I'm glad you made it back safe and sound. Was it really that hard to find?" she asked wondering. "Ah well." she was very cheerful at the moment enjoying who knows what. All of a sudden there was a gray flash and then -HISSS HISSS- the gray thing jumped up onto Atticus' back and started scratching and tearing up his clothes. "Grey!" Dawn yelled, running over to pull the small cat off of his back. "Bad Grey, bad!" she tapped him on the head lightly, and at once he sheathed his claws and fell into Dawn's hands. She held him up to her face and nuzzled him. "Be nice to Mr. Atticus!" she said hold him out in front of her and walking to kitchen. "I know why you're upset, you haven't had anything to eat!" By this time she was totally focused on her little demon of a cat, or would anyone who the cat just attacked, might think. "Okay Grey, here you go, eat up." she said kneeling down to place a bowl of kitty food in his white cat dish that happened to be shaped like a fish. Dawn smiled stroking his head and whispering to him, "You're so adorable!" she spoke in a cute little kid voice as Grey pulled away from his food to look up at her and meow as in approving the comment.
[[You might know this already, but just putting it up for the heck of it. Shinigami= Death God, or Reaper. razz ]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:27 pm
He hated the joke but he didn't respond. Responding might actually get her frustrated or give away what he was. The last was the least likely but it was something avoidable. He was shocked when the cat jumped on him and started scratching up his clothing. The cats claws had dug into his skina little and he was bleeding slightly. He hated cats for the most part and now one had just attacked him. He paused slightly and took off the jacket he was wearing. His shirt had been torn too and was now being soaked in a very minimal amount of blood. It wasn't bad but bad enough to sting like mad.
"I think I might need a new shirt," he said after a moment. "I have no idea why your cat just attacked me." He knew all right. Most of the time when he'd just come back from the Spirit realm a lot of animals hated him, especially cats. He glanced at the cat cautiously and wondered if he could also take a shower here yet or if that would be too awkward for Dawn.
"Do you think I could take a shower?" he asked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:37 pm
Dawn got up after patting Grey on his head and walking over. "Sorry about that." she said looking at his cuts and the jacket. "If you would let me, I could try and fix them," she paused, reaching for it, and withdrew her hand. To his question about a shower she nodded. "The fresh towels are in the cupboard in the laundry room, as for the cat, I'll take care of him..." she looked at the ground a little disappointed that he would do such a thing. "Grey is just trying to be protective and all, he also hasn't had anything to since yesterday so he might be a bit crabby." "I'm really sorry." she turned around and walked back to the kitchen and knelled down besides Grey who looked up at her from the empty bowl. His eyes basically begged, 'More food?' Dawn shook her head, but instead she poured him a bowl of water. "There you go, you must be thirsty." she sighed. "Bad joke..." she muttered now sitting on the ground, Grey curled up in her lap for the moment. She was stroking his head again and again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:44 pm
"I was about to comment on the joke but decided not to," he admitted before he left the room, letting her to think about what he had said. He'd ascended the stairs rather quickly, wanting to put distance between himself and the cat, he hated cats for the park purely because of how they seemed to hate him.
The towels were easy to find and when he'd gotten one he went into the bathroom and locked the door. The shower faucet took a while to figure out but he eventually got it and proceeded to do what he had come up here to do, get the spirit realm scent off of him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
