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Of all the multitude of tasks Belladonna had decided she wanted to participate in for DETH, this was the one she would forever regret. Her strict adherence to a vegetarian diet had been something she'd enforced upon herself for years. It had been a decision not lightly made as it had forever altered the pattern of family dinners. (Mostly in the manner of upsetting whoever was cooking that evening for they had to make extra dishes just for her.) Now she was going to go back on all that for... For understanding Humans? It just didn't seem right.
But at the same time, it had yet to fully stop the witch so she was currently in the Home Eek Room, surrounded by all the ingredients and all the time in the world and all the ability to execute this task. But she just couldn't help herself. Instead she sat perched on the counter, a frilly pink and black apron tied around her neck and waist, with her skellyphone in her hands. Idly she texted and Tumblurghed and did any and everything but the cooking task.
It was just too cruel!

"You'd think a ghoul would learn..." Belladonna mused out loud, mostly to herself but also partially to the little box of ingredients that sat placidly on the opposite counter. "If she can hardly get behind the thing she's participating in, she should stop. But you know, I have always been a bit stubborn." The witch paused her phone taping to idly stretch out her legs and stare across at the box. Her eyebrows lowered, her will wavered for just a moment, but then her phone buzzed with a new text and she decided against it. With a little point of her toes, the witch crossed her ankles, lowered her head to the screen and continued to ignore the task.
"Still considering it, so sorry."

So shocked to hear someone shout her own name, Belladonna's only natural reaction was to shout loudly and jump off the counter, which wasn't a good idea because the surprise made her clumsy and she totally missed landing on her feet. Instead she crashed to the floor, her skellyphone clattering noisily across the floor. As the Surpriser had to set something on a table, it gave Belladonna the perfect opportunity to leap properly to her feet before she nearly fell over again.
"L-L-L-L-LIZZY!!" As she had the great fortune of being a regularly affectionate person, Belladonna didn't mind the hug. Not at all! It was just... Not what she had expected, is all. Yet she bounced too, her emotions becoming even more jumbled up with each bounce. "I know! Its been ages! I've uh, well, um..." The witch pulled back to smile at her old friend, an uncertain war clearly waging on her face. "I've been around!" Was what she finally settled on before she hurried onto the next question. "But I've been pretty well!" All things considered...

"What about you? You look great! Tell me you made this dress, its to die for. What all have you been up to?" Even though she was clearly uncertain about explaining everything that had happened between then and now, the excited attitude of Lizzy was seeping into the witch and brightening her mood. Maybe telling it wouldn't be so bad this time! Maybe it had been long enough that her disappointment in herself had lessened! "Are you... Are you doing the cooking assignment for DETH too? We should do it together! We can catch up and catch!!"
It was extremely difficult for the witch not to grab the ghoul's hands and squeal in a high pitched manner. Thankfully, she managed to refrain from the squealing and the hand grabbing, but she couldn't help the little bounce she had affected.

All the demon's exuberance at seeing the witch made said witch's heart swell a great deal, to the point that she almost reached out. Just to touch Lizzy's shoulder, or feel her hair, even just a glance of fingertips against fabric, something to know that this wasn't an illusion and that it was really happening. That after all this time, Lizzy really didn't hate the ghoul for abandoning the school for her own selfish fears. But the feeling was squashed down by Belladonna's own sense of how ridiculous that was.
Lizzy was one of the sweetest ghouls ever, so of course she wouldn't hate her! And besides, she was already excitedly replying so it was best to pay attention and not get lost in one's own thoughts.
"Mostly I was trying to work up the nerve to actually start the activity..." A hand crept to the side of her neck as Belladonna looked away. "I know right now they're just plants... But I'm having a rather difficult time actually cutting up the things."
Being a vegetarian was sometimes really difficult!
"But I would love to help you."

Allowing herself to be tugged, when Lizzy let go the witch did drop down onto the floor to quickly retrieve her fallen skellyphone. When she stood, Lizzy had the most curious expression and had issued a pair of words that almost had the phone clattering to the floor again.
"Oh! Yeah! Sure? Ok! For a moment she was lost, not sure where to start or what to do so instead she flapped her hands uncertainly. But that little brave feeling that was slowly replacing the fear welled up and she clenched her fists. This would be just like ripping off a band-aid. Do it quick and it hurt for a second, but it faded pretty quickly. Like stubbing a toe, or getting a cut.
"So the last time I saw you um, I don't actually remember when that was... But then we took that field trip back in Year 1 to the Island with all the fog and everyone started hearing voices, you remember that? Ok, well I heard voices and they were not nice. Well, I did pretty well until I died. I got crushed under all these big rocks and it hurt really bad and was really scary. So when I became... Not dead I went to my room. And I didn't come out, for like... Three, four months."
Worse part's over, worse part's over.
Unsure of what else to do, the witch began to gesticulate wildly as well as do a teeny, tiny tap dance with her feet.
"And it really sucked in my room. I did not leave. Lizzy, I don't think you understand how awful I felt. My room was spotless because I didn't have anything to do but sit there, but I couldn't go outside. I could have died again! I mean, Hecate! Yeah it happens all the time here in Halloween, but there are pumpkin patches nearby. We didn't have that on the Island."
Though she'd never said it, the witch still didn't know how she had survived that exchange on the Island. She didn't want to know, so she hadn't asked anyone.

"So like a scared little cat I just stayed in my room. Until one day I got a Yearbook and everyone had graduated to Year 2. So I just got up and went to take my exam. And I passed. I actually got the teacher's pin too. It was so exciting... And while I didn't take any classes or anything after that, I still got out and did things... I met this really nice zombie boil and we talked about how we'd both died on different field trips, and kind of just had a pity party. But it was ok because we both knew we had to get better, that things would get better. Usually they get worst first, which is what happened because after that I still didn't go to class, so my parents made me come home." Belladonna paused momentarily to huff a bit, but quickly continued. "That was pretty awful. I complained enough that my parents let me come back. So I attended the Scarentines Dance. They weren't happy with that. They said that didn't count as school. So I went back home for a bit, but finally convinced them one last time that I should come back. Mostly I think they were tired of hearing me complain, but anyways~"
Wait, where was she going with this? Ummm....
"Right! So when I got back, everyone was at the Four Clans Islands and I texted the nice zombie boil about it. But it went bad, so when he got back we talked about it. So I know everything that's happened..." That was a weird place to leave off, but she wasn't sure if she should keep talking. It felt weird to dominate the conversation like that...
"Also I'm dating that nice zombie boil now."
That was very important!

A wayward look at the little bag brought a cold chill to the witch, but it wasn't as though Belladonna had elected to do the chopping. Why, Lizzy had even mentioned doing it herself! So, maybe...
"If I give you the instructions and monitor everything... Do you think you could handle the cooking? I can keep the oven at the right temperature and make sure everything is going perfectly!" So neither of them had fantastic cooking skills on their own, but if they combined them, they might just stand a chance at actually passing this test! It certainly didn't hurt to try!
As for her nods during the witch's exceptionally long explanation, Belladonna could only appreciate them with a quiet demeanor. It was assuring that the ghoul wasn't throwing her hands up in defeat, or anger, or betrayal or any of the other negative emotions the witch had expected. Which really, was a totally unfair assumption on Lizzy's part, but fear had a funny way of skewing a persona's perceptions of others. In any event, when she instead focused on the positive, Belladonna breathed a sigh of relief and whipped out her phone.

"Mortimer McNeal, or well, Mort. Tallish, blue with stitches. Pretty cute, if I do say so myself." Of course he was cute!
To be fully certain of this, Belladonna fiddled with her phone until she whipped it around to face Lizzy so that the screen glowed with the blue profile of her beloved. It had been taken in the midst of a heated ScarioKart match, just as Mort was winning so a smile played on his face.
I lost that round for this picture. Belladonna thought to herself as she held it out for Lizzy to see, so willing to loose something so simple for something so wonderful.
"What about you? How are you? Your turn!" Belladonna smiled in her most reassuring manner, hoping that whatever Lizzy had to say would be just as entertaining. Or at least informative. Though she couldn't speak for everything that happened, at least the witch was caught up on the most recent events. Hopefully...

But before Lizzy could fully start her story, the witch held up a finger and narrowed her gaze.
"I need to know about any romantic entanglements as well. Because you're super cute and if you don't have a boilfriend I shall make it my personal mission to find you someone altogether too worthy for your beautiful self." The serious look quickly dissolved into something so happy that Belladonna couldn't help but laugh.
After all this time, she had been worried that Lizzy would reject her when really she should have been worried whether Lizzy was happy or not. Such a nice, wonderful and pretty ghoul deserved all the happiness in the world and the witch had been selfish and vain to consider only herself. The spider demoness had missed her and Belladonna had so missed the demon.

OK, they were... Actually doing this. Sure to steel her nerves, the witch took a deep breath and clattered over to her own box of supplies. Quick hands made quick work of finding the guide that instructed them on how to properly prepare this dish. Whatever dish it was. It didn't even have a name, how lame!
In any event, Belladonna brought the book up above her nose as she quietly and slowly slid over near Lizzy. Maybe if she didn't look at it, didn't watch, maybe it'd be ok. Maybe?
Pink eyes surveyed the chopping, though she made sure to never directly look at what was being murdered, er, chopped. After that Belladonna quickly read the next line.
"Next it goes in a bowl..." Here she hopped over to the counter, snatched up a bowl and presented it to Lizzy, similar to how one might present a precious item to a queen.

A bit of pride swelled within the witch as Lizzy complimented her boilfriend's looks. It meant a lot to her, for whatever reason, so she smiled and nodded and slipped the skellyphone into a pocket.
And just like that, as easy as you please, it was Lizzy's turn and she was talking about her life and what had happened. It was a comfort that the demoness spent so much time speaking of her romance, when she just as easily could have concentrated on the bad. On what she had seen, what horrid thing had happened. It was also vastly comforting to know that while the Island trip might not have gone so well for the ghoul, at least she hadn't done it alone. For that, Belladonna said a silent prayer.
"My Hecate, it sounds like you two had a bit of a rough start. But, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one." Well, maybe it was a bit selfish for her to talk about her own problems, but ghoul talk was ghoul talk. It was equal parts sharing!
"Mort kissed me after he got back from the Four Clans, all confused and--" Here she inserted a complicated hand gesture that could have meant anything. "--Then he went home for a few weeks to get his head together! But he did ask me out while he was away, so... He made it up."

Though the witch wanted to question what else she knew, specifically about certain events, instead she only smiled.
"I've not met Mac, but he seems to make you very happy."

With uncertain eyes, Belladonna looked at the chopped up vegetables. Like this they didn't look too bad, but still. She knew what they could grow into. She knew they could crawl and make noise and be petted, were one into petting... Vegetables and keeping them as pets. Regardless she diverted her eyes since the continued look at them was making her feel a little ill.
Thankfully Lizzy's question distracted her, so the witch picked up the book and scanned its pages for the next step. These instructions weren't so hard to follow, as a few leaves from a Puck wouldn't kill it. The little thing could still bloom into a cutie and be totally alright!
"Aahh... Put them in the bowl and then mix them with the leaves of a Puck. And mix that together."
It would have been best to read ahead so the two of them could go ahead and preheat the oven, but Belladonna couldn't be bothered to be detailed oriented. Not today! Not with Lizzy right here and being friendly and them being friends again!

"I get along with most everyone, so I'm sure we'd be best friends!" The witch assured her with a soft pat on the shoulder and appreciative "oooohhh" at Mac's picture. Maybe not her type at all, but still cute. Good job Lizzy!
"So what else? You been keeping busy with clubs or anything? How about field trips?" It was a sneaky way of asking, but well, the witch was curious! While she feared the answer, it didn't stop her question. After all, it seemed as though everyone's life at Amityville had been touched in some way by those damned Hunters, and Belladonna was still on the hunt for information. She still wanted to know all she could, however belatedly, to see if she could work something out.
DETH promoted peace between Halloweeners and Humans, but Hunters weren't Human, right?

Like a curious kitten, Belladonna craned her head to watch Lizzy's movements. Cooking was pretty easy, right? It didn't take a lot of time, mostly just concentration and effort. She could do it! So long as it didn't involve meat, right? The witch pursed her lips a bit, but smoothed her expression out as Lizzy looked back to her.
"Mix it all together and then... Whoops! Mustn't forget to preheat the oven. I'll get that."
Not one intimately acquainted with the particular workings of all ovens, or any oven really, Belladonna stared at the knobs for a longer moment. Pink eyes roamed over everything before she finally pressed a few buttons, turned the knob and watched as the little green light began to count down. Ah, that wasn't so hard!

With a hop she was back on the counter, though her smile had yet to return. They were on the topic of the Four Clans and Hunters. No one could smile about that. Two groups pitied against each other, mercilessly destroying whoever was in their way, no care for what they hurt in the meantime. It was... Worrying to say the least.
"I am glad to hear you weren't on that trip... Of what Mort has told me... It was very... Difficult." Not only had he come back totally dripping with Insanity, the two of them had had terrible dreams that had nearly broken the poor thing. And of all things, the witch could not even begin to imagine sweet Lizzy going through that. Thankfully the demoness had been absent from Belladonna's Insanity laced dream, as she didn't think she would have had the strength to fully face her had the ghoul died, even in a dream.
"Oh, yes, I've heard about the rescue too. It... Didn't go as planned, I heard."
For one tiny brief moment, the witch's eyes flicked down to peer at Lizzy's hands. Had she been marked? Was she an Initiate too? Could, or would, she have told Belladonna were she?
In any event, the witch had absolutely no qualms with letting the ghoul talk to her about it. In fact, Belladonna would do her best to learn as much as she could from Lizzy. Information changed from person to person and Belladonna wanted as much as she could get. She might not be directly involved, but she knew someone who she cared for very much who was involved, and his own hero complex would certainly blind him from the truth.

At the idea of clubs, Belladonna perked visibly, though it did wane a bit at the mention of Israfel.
"Fright Night is coming up... And I do feel as though I don't have very many friends." A finger tapped against Belladonna's chin as she spoke, her voice totally devoid of any pity she may or may not actually feel for herself. "Its terrible what happened to Israfel... Truly... But, I think he would want us to continue on in his name. I spoke with him a bit before... It happened... And he..." Belladonna could not help but laugh at the memory, a little sadly, but still a laugh. "He was wearing a coat he'd made to look like a Hunter's coat. In defiance. He said if we couldn't embrace the thing we feared the most, it would own us." Another laugh, this one a little more stilted, a little more hurt. It was surprise to suddenly find a few tears in her eyes, Belladonna only shook her head. "I think he would want us to continue on in his stead... I was essentially Vice President, so I could easily take over for him..."