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[kittycat]

Whilst in anatomy class my mind wanders onto Mark and his Rebecca, who understands and accepts him for what he is it makes me start to think. Having a friend who is human would both help keep me grounded, and keep me from becoming from too disjoint from them, for it is for them that i want the second eden made for, but also i still want to keep my old life, for im still Kaleigh, and i dont want to lose her under this demon.

Also someone that deals with death in their work would also be useful, it would help them empathize with me and my situation. My best bets are therefore morgues and funeral parlours, it would ne nice to not be alone in my outlook, and these people chose to spend time with the dead rather than the living.

My attention returns to Mr Pollard, who is still explaning how he diagnosed a terminal illness early enough to save a young girls life and rather theatrically recalling the response of the mother. *sigh* If id wanted to watch old men relive their glory days i'd've gone to the old folks home not enrolled in medical school.

As soon as classes finish for lunch, i go straight to the library, ignoring the normal snide remarks on the way, apparently my funding method was found out by a fourth year who made it her mission to let everyone know, as if my life wasn't hard enough! Once im in front a pc with the headphones over my ears, i feel at ease, its as if my life is someone else's problem, im free to do what i want, and begin researching funeral parlours in the area.

I find a group SAIF who are family run undertakers, which means that their whole lives revolve around death, without it they'd be buisness less. So i try the first on the list:

R Pepperdine & Sons Ltd
Alexandra House 5, Manchester Rd
Chorlton Cum Hardy
Manchester M21 9JG

Now how to i even broach the subject with them when i get there? I can't just walk in and go 'hey, im part demon and you are....' I need to somehow gage who'd be the most likly to befriend a woe begotten mid twenties medical student. Now how hard can that be? *rolls eyes* Well thats something i can think of on the way.

I decide that if i arrive there say half an hour before closing i can get chatting to one of them, if we get on well and it appears that he would be well predispositioned to what i have to tell him, well as well as anyone can be. Then take it from there.

Upon arriving at Alexandra house i brush the crease out of my skirt and tuck my hair behind my ears, and march forwards, reach for the brass hanle and twist. A warm draught, with the faintest smell of lillies greets me as i walk into a crimson and oak display room. Slender vases with long steamed white lillies are dotted about, as i walk forward i notice a young man, about mid twenties early thirties arranging some files in an office off to my left, who then looks up, 'Oh hello, can i help you?' and walks towards me, hand out reached. I clasp it in mine, 'This is going to sound strange, but hear me out. I wanted talk to someone who has to deal with consoling people who are recently berieved, for im currently going through med school and this problem was preying on my mind, for it scares me that ill put my foot in my mouth. And i was passing by and figured what the hell, i wont lose anything from asking.' And look to the man to see hi response.

[Olaf]

He smiles as he shakes your hand warmly. "Doesn't sound strange at all - I remember just how I felt when I first had to deal with grieving relatives, and I can't imagine it's much easier for a doctor." He looks at his watch. "Hmm. I'm expecting an appointment in ten minutes or so, but..." He frowns and pokes the tiniest corner of his tongue out the side of his mouth, thinking. "How about I meet you when we've closed? Say half five, an hour from now?"

He gives you directions to a pub called the Red Rose five minutes' walk distant, and shows you to the door. Just as you're stepping through he says behind you "Oh, er, I'm Larry by the way." Another smile. "See you at the Rose!"

[kittycat]

Happily humming to myself i kick some lose gravel as i turn off Alexandra house's drive onto Manchester Road, well that went surprisingly well, there's hope yet for humanity. I wander along wondering how i can waste an hour, listening to birdsong and feeling the wind on my face, i begin to feel that this world is not as broken as i thought. Then the nagging voice in my head reminds me of how easy it was, was it too easy, could he be in with the vampires? No thats silly and way too unlikly ..... isn't it? The other voice in my head reminds me that, youll never have any friends if you dont trust anyone. True. But i can be careful, ill go and scope out the area before i meet Larry, and see if there's any unusual activity, so i head in the direction that Larry gave me.

As i arrive on Dowery lane, i see the Red Rose about two thirds of the way down, on the corner, as was described. Walking along the road there are a few shops around, an opticians, a Spar and a Costa Coffee, the coffee shop is diagonally across from the Rose, an ideal place to watch the comings and goings of people in and around the Rose while i wait for Larry. The Rose itself is attached to the buildings on either side, with no obvious way around the back, so i return to Costa and get an upstairs window seat and order a hot choclate.

I open up my copy of Greys anatomy and pretend to read it, keeping an eye on the patrons in the coffee shop, and watching the entrance to the Rose. Time passes very slowly, i begin drumming my nails on the table, how do i gage whether Larry will be able to accept what i have to say, well the obvious questions i need to ask are his opinions on God, that can be sidled in with 'how do you reassure those of different faiths', dependant upon his reply, ask him about his belief. I need to get him chatting about the world and its current state, this could be more difficult. I could bring in my funding methods then, or hold this till a later date, that is a useful angle to get sympathy, play on his natural protective male tendencies. Play the rest by ear i suppose.

Suddenly an idea springs into my head, oh now this is just genius, after his, 'sage advice' ask him how he has developed such an understanding with those berieved relatives, phrase a question 'if i may be so brash as to ask if you have lost someone close to you?' If he has this could play right into my hands, i could, once the whole 'demon' subject has been broached *i let out a small snort* because thats going to be easy. Or it could be raised before, it would be useful to know the cards i have to play if we get that far, to get the best possible chance of getting a friend and ally. Someone to talk to ,to not be alone .......... my eyes glaze over, but only for a second, then i force myself to snap out of it.

Right, so my plan is:

One: Take a mental note of the supernaturals that enter and leave the Rose as so i know who is still in there when i leave, granted i wont know if there are already some in there, but that ill have to gamble on.

Two: Watch larry enter the Rose and then rock up a couple of minites after him, apolagise and use the excuse that a comfy armchair, hot choclate and grey sent you to sleep.

Three: Small talk, find out what tatics he uses to calm the recently berieved, questions slide into the small talk:
*How do you reassure those of different faiths, lets me lead onto his beliefs
*If i may be so brash as to ask if you have lost someone close to you? A persuassion chip for later on, if he has.
*What is your opinion on the surrent state of manchester? This will be led up to via me explaining about
medical school, which i will lead into my 'funding' methods, play the injured female card, in need of someone to help her, get him on side, could start in with this, it would make him be sympathetic to me for the rest of our conversation.

Then i'll play the rest by ear. A smile spreads across my face, this could just work, i take another sip of my now luke warm hot chocolate, and look back out the window.

[luke]

[Just a note; it's Gray's anatomy. Grey's anatomy is a trashy American TV show]

[Olaf]

The minutes trickle by as you sit in the coffee shop watching the world outside. Several people enter and leave both the pub and the shop during the hour you're there, but none seem anything more than ordinary mortals. In fact, the only supernatural activity you've seen all day is the driver of a car that passes down Dowery Lane around ten past five - but since he makes no move to slow down or even glance at either of the buildings it seems fairly inconsequential.

Then, a few minutes later than your agreed meeting time, Larry appears jogging down the road. He stops outside the door of the Rose and takes a moment to compose himself. He looks down at his watch, takes a quick check of his hair in the reflective glass of a 'Food Served Here' sign, and then steps inside.

When you enter a few minutes later - having decided there seems to be no-one following you - he's sitting at a small table in a room just off the bar. Just as you come in he looks up and smiles, moves over to greet you.

"Hi! Thanks for waiting, I just had to close up the shop and that. Can I get you something?" He gestures to the bar. While you wait for him to return with the drinks you find yourself realising he's actually kinda attractive: short dark hair, medium height, slightly skinny. A really friendly face.

At least, that's what the part of yourself which spent the last six months on the streets of South Manchester is thinking. As for the other part - well, it's all a bit confusing. It's strange how easily Stheno can sink behind Kaleigh occasionally...

And then Larry's back, with your drink, a pint of Carling for himself, and a packet of crisps which he tears open and places between you. "Ah, there we go. So, what's on your mind, er - oh, I didn't catch your name..."

[kittycat]

'Oh, its Kaleigh' whilst brushing a stray strand of hair from my face, 'Quite a bit actually' my mouth curls at the corners into a small smile, thinking no need for the sleep cover he doesnt seam to mind, this could go quite well.

'Well I was doing a disection last week, and I began to wonder what life they had lead, who would miss them, would anyone, as i started to create a family nd life for him in my head, d called him Bob, it dawned on me that i would, if this had been my patient, tell them that i had lost him.' I absent mindedly swirled the drink in my glass and watched the ice cubes spiral into one another, 'I would have to empathize with them, but to do this over and over, i dont know if i could, if it wouldn't break me, would i feel their pain each and every time?'

I glance up into Larrys brown eyes, he's watching me with his head tilted, 'How do you not get attached, do you put a barrier up to it or just let it wash over you?' I reach for a crisp and nibble on it, looking expectantly at Larry who seams to be thinking, for his tongues poking out slightly again, bless.

[Olaf]

You get a brief smile at the description of 'Bob', and then he looks thoughtful again. "Yeah, it's hard. I mean, I remember when I first got the job there were times when I thought I couldn't take it any more. I used to tell myself almost every day that I'd quit at the end of the week. But Mr. Pepperdine - that's my boss - Mr. Pepperdine talked me round, and after a while it got easier. I guess a barrier is right, yeah - you don't stop caring, but you just push it kinda to one side so you can get on without it stopping you." He's quiet for a moment, and then shrugs. "I dunno. But it lets me do my job." He looks you in the eye for a moment, then down to his drink as he takes a sip. "Little kids are always the hardest though."

[kittycat]

"Oh god i hadn't thought about that. Huh, yay for barriers i suppose." Finishes the crisp, "Your lucky you have someone like Mr. Pepperdine was it, around he must've been like such a blessing to have."

"Did he suggest this job avenue to you, for, if you dont mind me saying, well a mainstream job. I mean I've wanted to be a doctor ever since i can remember, no matter what" *trails of at the end, looks to the bottom of her glass, as if expecting something to be there , hidden amongst the cubes, then lets out a small snort* A split second later and the distant expression has gone, i look up at Larry "Anyways, how come?"