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That made sense! It wasn't anything she wanted to really inquired further about, mostly because she didn't much care one way or the other about Zak and that was certainly where the conversation would go. Having never met the man, the witch wasn't sure how to feel about Mort's hesitation over him, but more than that she was still vastly confused about the zombie's hang up with last names. If he didn't like Zak's, then don't take it. If he didn't like McNeal, then change it! Honestly, sometimes Belladonna marveled at his ability to make the simplest of matters absolutely huge just by worrying.
Just such an instance occurred then and the witch blinked wide eyes and turned a flushing face up at Mort. He had not only used her proper name (which he'd only ever done... Maybe once before!) and had also lumped her in with him thus making her.... asdfghjkl
In an effort to diffuse the situation, she tittered a bright laugh and clung to his arm all the more. He was trying so very hard to make this perfect and was getting all worked up over it, really it was absolutely endearing. But Hecate, she wasn't at all sure how to feel about being called Belladonna McNeal. Best to put that particular little moniker on the shelf and let it be for the night.

The table, however, is exactly what she wants and with a grin she beams out the window and at the candlelight and the menus but mostly at Mort.
"Look how gorgeous this is! Everything is so lovely! I am having such a good time." It didn't matter if they'd only just gotten there and that the night was very, very young. Happily she took the menu and held it up to her face only to drop it back to the table. Well, the translation spell worked partly on the writing, but it looked a lot like gibberish.
"Maybe if we say the things out loud to each other it'll make sense?" It was at least worth a try! And if that failed... Well, then they'd just ask their server lots of questions!
All too content to look around her excitedly, the witch couldn't help but look up at the clouds pooling in the sky outside the window.
"You don't think it is to rain tonight, do you?"
Simple conversation, but they hadn't really had a chance to focus on anything as mundane as the weather. Well, that and the witch did hope it stormed later. That way they could hide under the blankets and whisper and be horribly romantic together.

Honestly, the witch should be more sympathetic to the his worries and sensitivities over surnames, but she was just a bit too selfish to really consider it. Not that she only thought of herself, but the witch had been given a lucky lot in life, so she didn't really understand. That and that fact that they had really not actually talked about his problems with last names and which fit best. Maybe one day he could tell her his issues and they would honestly discuss it, but for now, there were authentic Italian restaurants and handsome zombies in shiny suits and fancy translation spells that had actually worked to consider more.
"Oooohhh~ Fallen angel hair and artichokes sounds good." The witch cooed, leaning a bit over the table toward Mort. "Anything with mushrooms or some greenery?"
Since she couldn't really read the menu, why not ask him? After all, he was the smart one!

"How is your new job? Has it been going alright? What all do they have you do?" So maybe she slept when he went to work and when he came back, but at least she was expressing interest in what he was doing! It felt odd that he'd had two jobs to her big fat zero, so instead she smiled at him. This date was wonderful so far, she'd already expressed that thought so instead she casts about for something else to say. Ah! Rain, yes! Let's talk about that!
"I think the only thing I'd like to mess up this pretty witch is a handsome zombie..." Casually she winks before she shrugs nonchalantly.
"My day was fine. I spent it with Binx and Victor, they are excellent companions. Binx has become exceptionally snarky during your absence, I think he's making up for lost time." Its easy to talk like they had never spent any time at all together in each other's rooms, as though this was the way things used to be ages ago. Three days wasn't much, but after weeks spent together, it felt like ages.
"How about you? How was your day?"

"Victor is a doll, I am so vastly glad he likes me." The witch cooed as she clapped her hands together once. The Hint honestly had taken to her in the most wonderful way, which had been an immense help during Mort's absence, but even now she honestly adored Victor. He was a fabulous companion, silent and strong and even more patient than she.
The blush he sported at her joke did make her smile. Oh, she would be doing her best to ensure more reactions of that sort. He was precious when he blushed and she didn't get the opportunity nearly often enough. Belladonna could hope, at least for tonight, she would be given the chance to have him horribly bruised in the face as much as she'd like.
"Oooohh, that sounds really tasty... Anything with alfredo sauce?"
The word, for whatever reason, just looked like random groupings of letters that didn't make words for her. A few words made sense, something looked like pasta or spaghetti or chicken, but most things were just gibberish. Thankfully Mort was all too eager to help, and the witch was all beaming smiles and eager nods, a million questions over what else was in the dishes, was there any meat, did it come with bread?

The sight of the waiter had the witch smiling at them, flourishing her hands in thanks for their service. She ordered a soda, for she definitely needed the additional caffeine and energy. For a while she smiled as the waiter floated off, but it faltered a little at the mention of Ramona.
"She asked after me?" How... Surprising? Startling? Unsettling? "I'm not so sure she's warming up to me, but if she wants dinner then I shall oblige her."
How in all the worlds could Ramona be warming up to the witch?! She had slapped her, twice! She blamed her for Mort's death and now she wanted dinner? Uggghhhhhhhhhh, do not want.
But it wasn't something Belladonna could avoid. Her parents wanted dinner with Mort and his family too, so it really was inevitable. No matter how much the witch might protest it to herself.

"Thor always impresses everyone!" She chirped before she folded her menu down onto the table. It was useless to her, so she only curled her hands under her chin to smile at Mort. The action causes her ladies to be a bit more squished for him.
"But its a good job? You like it ok? I know you go in late, which certainly saves you from having to listen to me talk at night." Its a joke, perhaps not a good one, but one nonetheless.

Mentioning Ramona wasn't necessarily the problem, for honestly she was a far away concern majority of the time. But mentioning Ramona in combination with Belladonna, in a way that indicated they would occupy the same space and have to participate in civil conversation, that was the problem. For the witch did not feel kindly toward the doll, not even after she knew Mort and his mother had made up, for she had still acted rudely to the witch and it was not an offense easily forgiven. Even still, Belladonna put on a smile and looked pleased that Ramona might possibly change her mind about hating her.
"If you say so..." She shrugged, doing her best not to look totally shocked that he seemed more than prepared to cast off what his mother felt toward the witch. She was sure the doll would have been the one to wedge herself between them and pull Mort away from the witch, but it seemed that was not to be the case. How oddly refreshing and unexpected!
"I am absolutely positive my family will adore you! Papa will be most interested in your mechanical arm and various inventions, most likely questions you endlessly--" Oh! So that was where she got it from! "And Mother will probably find you horrifically attractive because she still thinks she is young. Delphinium will only dislike you on principle, but Hemlock will adore you most of all! Next to me, of course."

"When you wear it people notice!" The witch pointed out with a small, if proud smile. "But even if people don't mention it, they still notice. Everyone is always vastly impressed with the mechanism." And it was true! It was a feat of engineering and machinery and the witch wished she had better words in which to express it.
His work, however, was something different to talk about and Belladonna was vastly attentive to hear tell of that endeavor.
"Peaceful clanging? That sounds so interesting! And meditate? You really can find a deal of peace during your work? Do you focus on the work, or do you let your mind wander? Is it physically taxing, or is it kind of easy?"
As for her talking, she flushes a little and a hand raises to lightly touch at the back of her exposed neck. Her eyes dropped to the table cloth, for she was honestly a bit self-conscious about her sleep talking. Even if it was small, it was still something that was her unfiltered speech to him. Anything, everything she felt for him could be plainly stated and she could not stop it. Of course she was a little self conscious over it!

Still, the witch continued to present herself to him in absent manner, as though she were unaware of her advances. Honestly he should know her better to know that she was aware of exactly what she did, but his lean forward only has her replicating the action curiously. Yet his question has her widening her eyes and gasping softly, a hand flapping at him.
"Mortimer McNeal!" She admonishes before she leans in closer and winks at him. "Only if I can have some!"

If only he knew how people really looked at Thor with wonder, with awe and how the witch herself had met a bashful zombie a few times and then welcomed him home as her boilfriend alongside a metal arm she quickly accepted into her life. So even if she was a bit partial to the appendage, she'd also noticed other's appreciation and curious glances at the metal contraption. It honestly was something he should have been vastly proud of, which was why the witch would always most whole heartedly jump at the idea of praising her beloved's wonderful invention. Plus, she'd seen it in battle a ridiculous amount of time, so no one besides Mort could be more inclined to like the machine. Especially since it had almost destroyed her a number of times, had actually dissipated her once and would most likely actually best her in battle in the future. So the witch only beamed happily at her lover, chipper and bright, just for him.
"Yeaaaahhhh. Mother is... Unfortunate in the regard that drinking makes her brave, but only toward younger men." The witch rolled her eyes, indicating how vastly unappealing her mother's actions were in such a regard. "Delphinium hates everyone, even herself, so don't feel bad about that. And I am sure Greg will have a wonderful time with my family!"
The witch definitely meant that she would have fun watching her family squirm in their attempts to be polite to Greg and the McNeals in general. Oh, how delicious that would be...

"Ah, yes! I understand completely! Its just like how I get when I'm working on a big sewing project!" Belladonna chirped happily, eyes bright as she connectled with him on this one issue. "I get so into the repetitious action of feeding the cloth into the machine, making sure there is enough thread, that the stitches are going in straight... Its honestly really relaxing!" Did that make sense? Did that mean he felt the same way? Or was she crazy and speaking total nonsense?
The cool of his hand on her own had her dropping her fingers from her own skin, squeezing his palm happily with a bright smile. Distraction came at the sight of the ghost and the witch kept his hand in her's, though she clutched it a bit harder than normal when he tried ordering the drink. When it went over, she beamed at the waiter as though this were a normal occurrence and she turned the smile to him once the ghost drifted off with her order of the angel hair pasta dish thingy Mort had recited to her.

The high five was returned with relish and a bright grin.
"You're absolutely fantastic!" She cooed as she clapped her hand against his with a noise and a grin. "But I want half!" Mostly because she'd not really gotten the chance to ingest alcohol and he had already beaten her to the punch quite thoroughly during Spirit Week. She was definitely interested in catching up to him in that regard.
And the facial hair was really, totally nice. And definitely worth the risk.
Also mostly nice. Mmmmmmmm Mort facial hair mmmmyes.

It was the witch's positive attitude that had always been her saving grace when Mort wasn't around to do the job for her. Which, considering the number of times they had been separated, was something she had gotten quite good at.
"Ugh, if my Mother is there she'll down the whole bottle and then be shocked there isn't more." But then again, Mama Divine was the lushest of lushes, so it was only fair that her daughter hold a certain level of disdain toward the woman's lack of control. "Maybe if we hide it we can unwind first before she gets the chance." Here Belladonna winked at the zombie conspiratorially, before she straightened up a bit.
Glad to hear that her darling was enjoying, at least in part, his latest endeavor she smiled all the more for him. One hand was dropped from her chin so that she could stare adoringly at him, most likely sickeningly sweet in demeanor.
"That's fantastic. I am so glad you've found something you like, at least a little!" Sure, it wasn't going to be a rest of his life type thing, but it was still something. And sometimes, a small something is all one really needs to provide a necessary amount of distraction.

"Whaaaat? Don't think I can hold my own? I'll have you know that I am excellent drunk!" No, she wasn't. She was an excellent light weight who filched her mother's wine every once in a while and never could get over how floaty and unhinged it always made her. Still, she perked up considerably at the mention of 'last part of date' and even bounced a bit in her seat.
"Do I get any hints?" Her grin widened with curiosity and she wiggled about a little, leaning forward to try and help him decide a nice view of all her cleavage was definitely payment enough for a hint.
Yet she straightened up to something more polite as the waiter returned, beaming at him and thanking him for their drink. With relish she took her glass and clinked it against Mort's.
"To a wonderful evening with you!" She cheered and threw back the wine in one huge gulp. Actually it took two gulps to finish her glass, but hey. She was a super classy lady.

"OH! Oh, um, yeah kind of?" For whatever reason her cheeks flushed and she looked down at her hands in her lap. "I am trying my hand at millinery! Ah, hat making. Well, right now I am only working on hat decorating, as it has only been three days and there isn't much progress to be made in so little time... But I like hats, and sometimes my witch hat isn't appropriate for daily wear... So! I'm trying something new!" It felt silly suddenly, because who made hats? Crazy people, that's who! But she had been going stir crazy without him around and needed a distraction. Said distraction came during some light shopping where she'd found a cute cap that only needed a ribbon and some accessories to be perfect. And it had all snow balled from there...

"Only if she's not busy shouting at me!" The witch countered with a wag of her finger meant as a joke that did not really come out as she had intended. Instead it reeked of bitterness and friendship lost. Really, Belladonna had truly thought that the she and the doll could have been friends in some future that now seemed magical and impossible.
Still, she tries to cover it up by giving him a puppy dog look over having the wine withheld.
"Aw c'mon~ I can hold my own!" No, she really couldn't and she definitely wasn't going to even bother honestly fighting him for more. That would turn out terribly, and besides, she was much more interested in what else he had planned for her. It was unfortunate that she feared the end of the date, when the perfect evening would be ruined by continual loneliness. Maybe having another drink would dull her to that eventual feeling of being alone? Because that was how this had to end... A nice dinner, maybe some fun chatting, a make out if she was lucky and then goodbyes...

The grin, however, did wonders on her emotional state and she pouted most ineffectually at him. It would have been better had she not been desperately trying to fight off a laugh at him and his antics. While she wanted to know, she would let it lie for the time being. Half the fun would be the surprise!
The dim of his smile made her wary though, but when it was only a wedding, she smiled a lopsided grin.
"Wow, he couldn't have thought of something else besides Halloween? What a cliched day to propose!" Seriously, there were a million other great days to express one's love than on the best holiday of the whole year. Maybe the witch was missing what he meant by 'weird timing', as this past Halloween had been a memory she'd erased parts of and rewritten others in her mind to be what she wanted. Mort had come home, the sadness had been forgotten, and all the anguish before it was just a dull ache she was only recently reminded of.
"Ah! After my birthday, excellent. Will you be in the wedding?" Because look, the witch was vaguely fond of weddings... They were cute... Even if they were between people she didn't really like all that much...