Days of the Dead

[death_gone_mad]

"CAN'T BREATHE"

███████ feels an unexpected pressure around her waist and the bottom half of her ribcage when she comes into the bar from out back. She is in a corset, but not only that is different about the way she is dressed; roses, marigolds, and a tiara featuring stylized sun rays decorate her head and long sleek gloves cover her hands and much of her arms. The gloves, her tight black miniskirt, and the corset far thus far conspired prevent her from noticing her skin has turned the color of sun-bleached bone. What is more, her face is decorated to look like a stylized skull.

She feels around the corset, looking for a way out of it or at least a way to loosen it and she finds a note:

You need to stop sleeping outside. It is dangerous both for you and those who may accidentally find you. I will give you a room upstairs after you do me this small favor.

Just as she is ready to object, a tray decorated to look like an altar is strapped to her shoulders. On the tray are various candies - mainly candied pumpkin and lumps of sugar shaped and decorated to look like skulls -, bread, brochures explaining the Joe Manco Fund for deceased and bound patrons and Phil, which (or who? I was told not to ask) disperses funds for underage patrons, and a sign proclaiming
Free candy and information for deceased and underage patrons

D:
Fake Tag: Amascut

Comments

[death_gone_mad]

Exactly the kind of hero she loves. The kind she encourages, by feeding their, and perhaps her own, delusions. The kind she sends out into the world and the kind she finds such delight in ending.

One could say she is such a character, but she has become wise to the ways of the world and has learned to operate covertly over the long centuries.

"Oh darn, it is unfortunate you are dressed up as him and not as your own persona. I would like to see it some day." It's only fair. This costume hints and reveals more about her than she would like to show; she would like to see Charlie's true 'self' in return.

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"I could do that. I'm not in the habit of carrying the mask with me anymore, but I don't mind wearing it on occasion.

"Though you would be surprised that I'm not really different with the mask on." Or so he thinks.

[death_gone_mad]

"Oh, you never know, a mask can really change a man."

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"Has it changed me today? Or you, for that matter." If he starts snarling and speaking in incomplete sentences, someone please shoot him.

[death_gone_mad]

"Not that I have noticed, but I haven't known you for that long. I may not notice a difference when you have your mask on."

As for herself, she is alway wearing the mask. She is stuck in it. But there are several others she wears, some which are scared off by cats, some which the gods can convince to fall off by making her sob and pour her heart out.

Hurm. Avoided the question.

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"It might be interesting to see how you react. Seeing as how you don't come at things the way Earthlings do." And also seeing as how Sarah is clearly, shall we say, a bit on the differently sane side?

"So can I ask why you are given out information about the Manco Fund?"

[death_gone_mad]

"Oh, apparently Bar doesn't want me sleeping outside anymore, but wants me to earn my keep before giving me a room. It was getting cold I suppose."

It is more cold than she is letting on. It has been very cold, especially for someone who was live in an equatorial desert most her life. Sure, you can still die of exposure sleeping in the desert on a cloudless night, but the cold of the Scottish autumn night is a very different kind of cold. Sometimes, tree cover doesn't help.

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

That catches Charlie offguard. "You never knew about the fund yourself? Or even thought about at least running up a tab?" He does relate, though.

[death_gone_mad]

"No, I suppose that is part of the reason for this," She gestures to the tray. "I have a tab though, but... its getting way bigger than I would like."

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"Between you and me, I don't like having to rely on the fund. But I never found a job that suited me her." And he is sure that returning to his poker playing is a bad idea.

[death_gone_mad]

"Hmm... have you taught anyone here that Tai Chi? I am sure that if you acquire a few students, they wouldn't object to buying you a meal once in a while. And you were a crimefighter once, I am sure you learned many other skills people would love to learn from you. Have you ever considered being part of the security team here?" Oh no, he already snoops around enough, she thinks. But then, one kind hearted suggestion may generate many others. Besides, she's not causing trouble; not now at least. Trouble stays at home for now.

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"I've toyed with the idea of being on security, but I'm fairly sure my days as a crimefighter are over. And I never did learn to play well with others." Or at least with groups. "The other ideas are good ones, though. There is a need for more tai chi in the world. And for it to be done right."

[death_gone_mad]

"Well, there you go. And if you ever decide to give instruction in the other arts you know, you are free to use the facilities I am building, once they get done. Sensei Ryu Hayabusa has provided plans for much of it, and a lot is going to be devoted to the practice of the martial arts. Do you know him?"

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"I think I met him at some point. I'm not sure." He still has odds gaps in his memory from time to time. "How is your project going?"

[death_gone_mad]

"Oh, it is going fine, but if the others I am working with were forced into costume like you and I were, I doubt we will get much done until the costumes go away," she says, a little annoyed.

She might have seen a cat that looked suspiciously like Ben Grimm which frightened her into sleeping outside instead of in the booths inside. The couch, frankly, was having a condom overpopulation problem.

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"They should pass in a day or so. But no, that is not a very practical set of work clothes." Depending on the work.

[death_gone_mad]

"I certainly hope so."

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"Same here. I really don't want to slice a slit in my mask so I can eat." At least it's not the real thing. He imagines seeing the blots flowing from the inside would be unpleasant.

[death_gone_mad]

Her eyes widen "You haven't eaten today, just because of that mask?"

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"I ate breakfast, before I decided it would be a good idea to wear a mask for Halloween." He wonders if he should have just stayed in bed.

[death_gone_mad]

"Aw… does that mask really mean that much to you?" This of course is lending credence the the whole 'a mask can really change a man' theory.

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"I've grown fond of it. Though, strictly speaking, it's not really my mask. The Bar gave me one, but the real one is with my successor."

[death_gone_mad]

"Can't Bar give you another?" she asks. "You have a successor? Wow, you have a legacy back home. Who is it?"

[52-dropoff.livejournal.com]

"I expect it could give me one. I don't want to chance it.

"Have you met Renee Montoya?" He can't imagine that Sarah would use Renee's secret identity against her.

[death_gone_mad]

She couldn't, unless someone opened the the door to that world and let her in. Would she? Well, it's not like Renee is privy to any world destroying secret or has any experience in killing gods, right?

"No, not yet."