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((...LAWLZ. No one's body is possessed... for the record... and I couldn't help myself, I need to write this XDD : ))

"So says the woman who got upset when she was called rotten. I can't handle the truth?" Elijah muttered under his breath. "Hypocrite. To the ninth level. If you're going to offend me... you're going to need to do better than that." Lazily he put his chin in his palm and tapped his fingers idly on the table as he waited for Antancio's response.

"Pfffft." He said of Lacey's act. "PFFFT." Is all he had to say... and sniggered into his hand.

((hahahahaha. I had no idea there WAS a ninth level, but in Elijah's world there apparently is nine levels to Hypocrisy. XD; ...I like him when he's smart a** XDDDD;;; ))

((*WAITS STEADFASTLY FOR TUEFEL!* MY LUFF!!!!


...hehehehe, Elijah is going to feel like such an a*****e. WHAT NOW, MOFO?

Elijah:... ;.;... she started it D:<<<< ))

((*AHEM* Now then, how 'bout this space cadet gets back on track, eh?))

Atanacio felt...some sort of relief when Lacey said she wasn't involved with Elijah or his monster. Maybe he was glad to know he wasn't the only one somewhat out of the loop, maybe he was just glad she didn't know a monster like that. She just ...cleaned up zombies. As she left to take a phone call, his mind flashed to her in a janitor uniform, pushing a huge broom in a room full of rotted body pieces. Now is not the time for that crap, Fawkes.

He shook his head, and Elijah started speaking. It was a bit... confusing, honestly. Atanacio lived in a world where dead people died, and stayed that way. That was kind of his job; making sure corpses looked nice during the funeral and then putting them in the ground and leaving them there to stay for eternity. Magic was from books and comics and television, and necromancy and escaping the personification of Death, that was far beyond anything Atanacio had ever expected in this world. Well... with dead rising from their graves and thirsting for blood, it wasn't exactly something he could deny.

Elijah blurted out the last part, and the tall man, already engrossed in a swirl of confusion, only caught half of it. "You're a... in human... er?" This was a bit much for one night. But hell, he'd asked.

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his head, trying to process it all. He looked up as Lacey came back. "You're--but..." he faltered. He'd said they could leave if they wanted. That was that. Atanacio bit his lip and sighed, and spared a scowl as Elijah mumbled a snide comment.

When the mix-and-matched woman stalked over and handed him a card, the tall man blinked and took it from her, staring into her mismatched eyes. "Lacey..." he faltered. "Th-thanks." he looked at Elijah. He was a bit irritated at the man, though he had to admit Lacey hadn't exactly been nice. "Both of you. I... kind of owe you both."

He rubbed the back of his head. "I... I wish you both luck. With whatever." He paused and glanced at his watch. "I gotta get to work," he mumbled.

((We can has timeskip?))

((Haha she ended up changing a bit. I wanted to make her just...awkward...and she ended up being a b***h. XD It's difficult...she may end up changing again to get back to that awkward personality I wanted...we SHALL SEE...))

When Lacey had gotten home she had quickly been bombarded by a happy young woman with short blonde hair that curled perfectly. The girl's hair framed a gorgeously cute face, one with bright blue eyes and perfect peachy skin. Her cheek had a band aide patched onto it and her arm was wrapped in a bandage. It was obvious she got hurt often.

After exchanging babble, Lacey promptly went to fixed the girl's finger, stitching it together for her.

"He ended up leaving through the tunnels..." The girls said softly when Lacey asked about their male visitor. "He seemed anxious. He told me he'd come find you while you're out tonight. He was REALLY gorgeous too. That pale skin looked so soft...but he was pretty cold too...like he was ice or something. Ya know?"

Lacey shrugged as she began to pack some things into her bag. "We need to move out and get to these calls. You're coming with me this time. You need more practice." She said simply as she headed back out the door of her mansion in her black wardrobe, glasses and all. The girl trailed behind her in a pastel purple sweater and some light colors jeans. They were indeed a pair, two opposites, but somehow complimenting each other.

((Haha I wanted to make that quick like so she can do her real job.))

They reached a small house, nestled by a graveyard. It was obviously a mortuary. Lacey wasn't sure what they wanted yet, but they had called and told her to come help, so here she was, with her side kick. She knocked on the door and sighed out heavily, watching the clouds churn over the muted sunlight.

"Miss Stone? You seem kinda...more distant than usual." The girl said sweetly and tilted her head. She itched at a scab on her neck as she watched her companion.

"Mmmm...I was just thinking how little I really know about the world. All I know is about death..."

"Oh...probably because you never get out much and talk to others." The pair stopped as the door opened and an elderly man appeared looking weary and tired. "Good Afternoon sir. We're here about that call you left us?"

"Oh...oh yes...please...do come in. Thank you so much for coming." The man lead them inside. "Oh, I'm Samuel. You can call me Sam...and you fine ladies?"

"My name is Lacey Stone, and my partner here is Christine DuVaul." Lacey examined the house, feeling the cool air tickle her neck. She had grown up in a mortuary like this, even so she never liked it. In fact, she hated her job and everything about it, but she was made for it. The only thing she was good at was dealing with the dead. Christine on the other hand was made for the living. Lacey was still training her the best she could.

"My wife...she's dying."

The two women gave a frown, they both knew it was as such. "I see. How long as she been this way?"

"A month...close to it... At first she didn't show many signs...but lately she's seemed away and she often snaps and jerks around."

"Sir...this is going to be difficult..." Christine whispered quietly as they entered the room and saw the state the woman was in. Her face looked like it had melted away and some of the jaw was showing. Her eyes were milky and blind and the way she breathed was as though she were drowning. "She's too far gone...we'll have to..."

"Kill her." Lacey finished, her eyes narrowing. She hated this part. There was no way to save a person so far in the rotting process. It hurt her to see the pain in the others' eyes, begging for some way to save them. "It's all we can do at this point, or she may end up coming back completely dead and she'll not know anyone she once did."

"Oh god...please..." The man croaked out and put a hand to his head, his eyes were watering and Christine put a hand on his shoulder, eyes concerned and gentle. "There has to be some other way. Please...she's my wife!"

"There IS no other way, Sir." Lacey said as she stared at the rotting woman. "I've tried other ways to save them once they reach this point, the only way to keep them alive is to let them rot...to suffer and wish they were dead. She can't think straight at this point...we have to kill her." Lacey pulled open her suitcase and began to take out bottles of liquid and a few crosses.

After Christine consoled the man, Lacey did her work. ((I don't feel like going through details. D: Too LAZY.))

An hour or so later they had a dead woman on the floor and a crying old man in Christine's arms. Another hour passed as they helped him bury his wife. They walked out of the house and down the street again to find their next job. Christine was silent, as was Lacey until the younger girl spoke up.

"I wish we could have done something else..." She whispered, rubbing at her eyes that were teared up. She noticed Lacey get tense, but she continued. "I mean...there HAS to be some other way to save these people. There's always a way...it's just like a disease, there's some cure out there. Can't we just try to-"

"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY DAMN IT!" Lacey screamed suddenly, whirling around and grabbing Christine's sweater, eyes wide and wild. "You have NO idea! You're so stupid and ignorant! There is no cure! If there was we'd have found it by now! So all we can do is end their suffering and kill them before they become rotting corpses looking to infect others! Soon we'll be the only ones left and we'll die too. It's God's punishment for our actions. He's cleaning our world and we have nothing to stop it with, only to ease the pain. SO STOP DREAMING!" She shoved Christine away and stomped off.

Christine watched her friend disappear angrily down the street and she looked down at her feet. Maybe she was right. "There has to be a cure though...there has to be..." She whispered as she walked the opposite way. She tripped over something and stumbled to the ground, almost landing in a creek, a foot splashed water into her face and she yelped. "Ouch..." Her face twisted at the muddy water before she looked around and saw a man nearby, her face turned red and she frowned anxiously. "Oh...sorry..."

((Haha...I figured she'd keep Elijah company...while maybe Lacey found Tony or something. Whatever. And sorry if that was too long. XD Hahaha...whatevs.))

((I figured if I posted it wouldn't affect Lacey or Tony much...seeing as how they aren't with the other two. :> Dooooodeeedooo.))

Christine rubbed at her face, trying to clean off the muddy water from her cheeks, that were bright pink in embarrassment. These things always happened when she went out with Lacey. She always had a way of making a fool of herself. Not only that but now she was covered with mud. That meant her clothes were most likely ruined, after cleaning them all day too...

"Darn..." she muttered and looked up from her spot as the man moved over to her. She was used to male contact by now. Too used to it maybe that the love of flirting with them had evaporated to a mere fluster. She wasn't in high school any longer, but sometimes she felt like she was. Her blue eyes shifted to the side and she shook her head, curls bouncing as she did. "No...the creek was only sitting there. I was the one who fell into it." She gave a laugh and looked back at him as he helped her up.

She looked around at the laundry curiously before she spoke to her again. "Oh. I'm used to being out in the dark, it's okay. My...friend..." She still wasn't sure if she was allowed to call Lacey a friend. Not once had the other woman called Christine a friend. It confused her so, Lacey was too difficult to read at times that she'd end up being worried over the strange woman. It wasn't healthy to be so distant all the time. But was it healthy to be too down to earth too? Was it so good to be so optimistic all the time as well? With a soft sigh she frowned and shook her head. "I was with my friend, we have an odd job. Usually I don't go and stay home, but she wanted me to go this time. And we kinda got in a fight. She isn't one to bother when angry so I felt like I should go home and I ended up getting lost, I guess. Oh gosh, what if I don't get home when she does? Oh what am I saying? She never gets home at night..." She rambled off to herself and then blinked when the man asked about a Pugsley.

"Pugsley? Ummmm...I don't know anyone by that name. But if you want me to help you find him, I will. I don't often get to talk to other people besides the ones we visit on business matters, or my partner. If you don't mind. I'd really like to stay with you for a bit. I mean...just to stay with someone normal. Everyone around here is either dying, dead, or just...confusing. It's really depressing thinking about it. I guess I'm not too normal either. Oh and if you want a washing machine you can use mine... or really...my friend's. She won't mind if I tell her I let you. It'd be like a thank for letting my stick around, yeah? And it'll be a safe place to stay for the night too. Our place is protected pretty well. I've never had too much problems there. Except last night there was this guy...but he didn't bother me much...he just watched me. Kinda creepy really.

"Oh gosh...I'm talking too much. I'm sorry. It's just not often people are really willing to pay attention. Or acts like they are..."

((Lolz...she talks too much. XD Wooo I kinda have to get back into the hang of handling her...I forgot kinda how she was...so she'll be developing a bit as well.))

((LOLZY, LOLZ LOLZ.... uh... Happy Birthday to me! I'M 20 XDDD... I old. *laughs*))

As this little blonde woman talked, prattled, and rambled ever onward, Elijah of course nodded ever so politely. Though, his face was rather impressed by how much she could talk about. It was truly something to be respected.

When she was done he struck out a hand. "I'm Elijah... by the way." He smiled. "And you?"

And then: "Pugsley should be back... He's my dog, er... sort of. He's kind of dead, but he's dog LIKE." And the fact she mentioned she wanted to be with someone normal made him laugh very nervously. He was the LAST person she would want to be with, but decided not to mention that at all, she was offering him a place to stay... some place safer than he usually stayed. Or maybe not, but it had a washing machine. It'd be a nice change to not smell like creek water, now wouldn't it?

Elijah then paused and frowned at her. "Hold on just a minute here! You shouldn't be inviting a complete stranger you've just found in a nearly forest to your home! Do you know how DANGEROUS that is?" He demanded of her. "I could be a serial killer for all you know!" He crossed his arms. "No! This is... you're too trusting! I could be DANGEROUS and then where would I be?! Where would YOU be?!" He turned his back.

"No. I should take you back to your house right now and leave you there so you'll be safe. Do you go around asking every stranger to come stay at your place?" Elijah looked over his shoulder at her. "For chrissakes... you're all cute and blonde and innocent looking... Someone like you should NOT be out after dark. I don't care if you do it every night... asking me to come stay like you know who I am." He mumbled.

Elijah then began to pluck down all his clothes form the surrounding trees and continued to mumble to himself.

((... hahaha, WHAT?))

((Yeah? Whatevs D:< You SHOULD HAVE KNOWN! HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN TOGETHER?!?!!?... And I post now... hahaha, I was painting today... I NEVER paint anymore. FEELS gooooood. Yeeeeah.))

Elijah squinted at her a little when she spoke about being used to dead things. He nodded along with her as she went on, and then shook his head as she waved the whole matter aside. He might have laughed.

He listened to what she had to say and then gave a shadow of a shrug as he slid clothes into the backpack he had taken to carrying around his few belongings. "Alright... as long as you're not easy to kill, then. As long as that's true, I suppose I won't worry about your safety!" He grinned, frowned, shook his head, and then corrected himself: "As MUCH." He gave an awkward smile.

He looked to the pants in her arms and scratched at the back of his head bashfully. "Er... thanks." Elijah put in quietly. He quickly slid the pair into his backpack as well. "But I guess you leave me no choice... this whole deal seems like a pretty good offer... who am I to say no?... Really stupid, is who I would be to... yanno, say no."

Elijah then furrowed his brow as she described the place. "A great, giant cliche? Shouldn't sound horribly hard to find. We'll just follow the storm clouds and the cries of terror." He grinned at her brightly and then slid his backpack onto his back.

Pugsley then yipped from somewhere near and burst from some bushes happily. Barking he ran to Elijah's feet and then wagged his tail at Christine.

"Ah... well then... I guess I'm ready to go if you are." And he leveled his new founded shovel on his shoulder and made a movement to offer his arm, frowned, puckered his forehead, and then tucked his arm back against himself.

"Sorry." He said. "I'm sort of old fashioned."

((hahaha, silly face... LALALA. LALA. LA... I go away now.))

Christine gave a polite laugh and nodded. "Of course. I'm glad I can put your worrying at ease. Though I don't see why you need to worry about a stranger's safety." She tilted her head and then looked away. "Haha, cliche? I never thought of it that way, but I suppose so. She's always told me just found it and since no one was living in it...she took it. So I dunno if it's supposed to be cliche or not. But I guess it really is." She scratched at her head and jumped a bit when Pugsley burst from the bushes.

"Oh! Well hello there little guy! Sorry for disturbing you earlier...I can be kind of clumsy. I love animals. I'm a real dog lover too, though cats have always been my thing...dogs are very nice as well, real loyal. They'll never abandon you, and always love you no matter what. Cats are just a whole other story...but I like them because they have an attitude and personality, you know?" She gave a furrow of her brows and shook her head. "Talking too much, sorry."

She headed out to the street and looked around. "Well...we came from THAT way...so I guess we go that way home too." When he offered an arm she blushed and avoided eye contact. "Oh, it's okay...it's nice to see someone like that these days. Some chivalry never hurt a girl, right?" Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed his arm and giggled. "If I didn't take your offer, that would be rude of me." She then headed down the street, watching the sun edge its way back down into the horizon. "We'll get there before it disappears, I promise."

---lala---

Lacey shrugged at Tony and tilted her head up in a haughty way as the two men spoke to each other. "Alright then..." She waited patiently for them to exchange their good byes. Her sunglasses hid her eyes from view as they looked to the sun and then back when Tony spoke up. "Neither did I. But I saw you there...and I figured it's only the right thing to say at least a hello. Right?"

A gloved hand pushed her hat down further on her head and she was taken back by his proposition. Her mouth opened slightly before closing and she made a huffing sound a dog might make when cornered. "Book...shopping?" She repeated, her glasses slipping down her nose enough for her eyes to go into view. The one readable green eye looked puzzled and confused as she watched him. "Uh...you mean for books?" What the hell? Of course it was for books, hence the book shopping. Quickly she recovered from her stupid reply and coughed.

"Sure...everyone needs a break from their jobs once in a while. One night of zombies never...I shouldn't finish that statement. But I really do need a break I think." She rubbed at her lips and pursed them before looking to the side awkwardly and waiting for him to start moving.