thoughtformed | [Action/Video]

Who: Anita Blake and YOU!
Where: Downtown New Moore
When: Today, afternoon.
What: Having a bit of a personal problem, really.

[With the afternoon to herself, Anita has taken to giving herself a more thorough tour of New Moore, with an especial interest in Starbox. She misses her usual coffee place from back home, but when hard-pressed, Anita's never met a cup of coffee she didn't like. With her cup in one hand and the other supporting the strap of her shoulder back, she begins to head in the direction of home at a leisurely pace.

She begins to slow down even further when she approaches the storefront of Hoarders, considering stopping in for a few minutes, but as she does so, there's the faint sound of footsteps slowing to a stop just behind her. Decidedly non-human footsteps, at that. Something much smaller.

Turning around, she raises an eyebrow as she realized that she's made a four-legged friend during her tour of the town. The raccoon before her sits up and tilts his head to the side, clearly pleased with the attention he's sure he's about to receive.

Anita can't exactly blame him. He looks like the last attention he received came in the form of being plowed over by someone's car.

She sighs, facepalming.]

Well, crap.

[The raccoon isn't the only friend she's going to pick up today. As she continues to walk through town and even as she gets closer to home, the roadkill parade behind her seems to grow exponentially. To say the least, she doesn't look exactly pleased. Feel free to run into her anywhere along the way?]

[Video, Evening:]

[Once she's home and locked all of her admirers out, Anita is quick to get on the network, hoping she can get this resolved before Rose gets home and asks her what the hell is going on.]

So, I'm having a bit of a problem today. I need chickens. Does anyone know where I can get chickens? I could also make due with a goat, but I'd rather not. That gets messy.

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[Kate does look a little disgusted. It all sounds so over the top.]

Castle and I worked on a case like that a few years ago. Some kid who got caught up in that lifestyle. They had all had artificial teeth and were part of covens and drank blood.

But it was all just fantasy. Just people trying to find a place to belong. A really weird place.

[Once upon a time, she might have had to suppress a shudder at that image. Now, it was something she had come to accept. People found vampires fascinating, instead of treating them as dangerous.]

Maybe it's always about that. Trying to find a place to belong. Not a particularly healthy place, but some way to feel worth something.

[She frowns, disapproving.]

They think the monsters are magical. They just haven't spent enough time with them yet.

I might not know anything about vampires but I know plenty about monsters and believe me, I've spent enough time with them to know that magic is an illusion.

[Then she gestures to the zombie raccoon.]

Speaking of monsters... I probably better go run your errands.

[Anita nods, offering a grim smile that will have to pass for grateful, for now.]

Thanks. I'm going to see what I can do about that graveyard mold and the chickens. Think you could point me to the nearest cemetery?

[She pauses.]

We have one, right?

Yeah, we have one. I don't exactly frequent it much but I can give you directions.

[She explains how to get there from where they are.]

Where should I meet you once I get your shopping list?

Outside the cemetery will do just fine. Right before dark? I won't make you come in and watch or anything, it's just easier to handle this there. There's more power available, it'll go more smoothly.

Right, okay, sundown at the cemetery it is. Because... that isn't a creepy at all.

But I am definitely not sticking around.

[She puts her hands up, shaking her head.]

No offense taken. I can handle it from there on out. Thanks again for the assist.

[Kate laughs.]

I'd say "anytime," but I'm hoping this will be the first and the last. I'll see you later.

[She smiles and offers Kate a haphazard salute before turning her back.]

Here's hoping. See you at sundown.

[ANITA OUT. PEACE.]

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