❀.i know my way here, to the language of loss.❀

“I get that that’s pretty terrible but I don’t think it means all people on the app are terrible. Maybe just give it a break for a while.” Mariana suggested to him although it truly wasn’t any of her business. “I’ve gone on a few dates from it but it has never gone farther than a second date. I’m pretty terrible at dating in general.” 

“Oh, so, you’re still coming up with all of the information for torturing me?” Mariana raised her eyebrows at the other. She still wasn’t sure if she preferred the fake haunted house or the abandoned potentially real haunted house. She wasn’t afraid of ghosts or so she thought otherwise she wouldn’t have her job. “I would very much rather you call up your creepy contacts and find an abandoned warehouse than go to a haunted house with you.” The girl informed her friend, hoping that didn’t make her want to do the latter instead, or both. “Men are pretty boring and basic.” She shrugged. “But, yes, he’d have to be some hot stuff.” 

“I mean, at this point you’ve already imagined your former psychology instructor in skin tight latex so I don’t know how much worse it’ll be to actually see that in person.” The brunette shrugged, narrowing her eyes and looking him up and down before shrugging again. “I guess you would make a good Batman.” Mariana was teasing though and partly glad that he at least had a go to costume when she couldn’t even think of one single idea for herself. At his following words she let out an audible sigh, looking away from him, then looking back and putting her hand on his shoulder. “But I thought that I could be the one to change you.” The words themselves almost made her laugh but she tried her best to stay composed. “I can’t believe you won’t even give this a chance, just one go.” 

“Guess that’s why I like you so much.” Mariana teased, smiling at the other. Which was true because despite their age difference the two of them always managed to find something to do or talk about together. She smiled again as the two of them headed out and began making their way towards the Halloween store. “Do you have any ideas for costumes you just like in general? Did you used to dress up as a kid?” 

“I’m still excited, though, even if I end up just hanging out at home or at work because I know I’ll hear all the gossip from everyone on the next day. Especially if there’s a costume contest involved then that’s even more exciting, it kind of makes people try harder instead of just wearing one of those t-shirts that say costume on them.” Mariana couldn’t help but giggle as she spoke. Wilmington tended to be a fan of costume contests as a whole and it was incredibly entertaining. “Well, I can use all of the help I can get so any suggestion is welcome.” 

“Doesn’t sound like you were actually born that way at all.” Mariana told him simply, watching him curiously, despite the fact that everything he was saying seemed like some sort of secret message it at the same time felt as if he was actually sharing with her. “People shouldn’t be scared to die. It’s different to be afraid that those you love or care for are going to die but some people live their entire lives in fear of how they will die even though they won’t know until it happens. It’s a waste of time for something that is so natural.” 

“I think the most gruesome one I’ve seen is someone who had some of their organs taken out when they were murdered so the body was found in one place and the rest of their organs in another and I had to arrange them back. When people’s skulls get fractured or anything related to the head that’s always interested sometimes they’re broken right in half.” She explained. “Well, we use special products and methods when it comes to the scents and everything else to preserve the body.” 

“Yeah, no wonder younger Mariana loved this holiday, and now I feel like a huge old person for not wanting to go chug down a bunch of shots at a bar dressed in some slutty nun costume.” She shook her head and laughed as she spoke. “Exactly, it makes sense. I think they sell cut outs you can just print at home now so we can print some of those and then just use the knives you already have. So, we’d just need to get our hands on some pumpkins.” 

“Oh, yes! Wilmington used to go all out for the holiday when I was a kid and it was always the best. I guess I just don’t feel that much of the spirit any longer.” Mariana shrugged but the memories were nice. She’d always loved putting together a costume with her friends or her cousins and awaiting anxiously till her aunt and uncle said it was an appropriate time for them to go out and ring those doorbells to their heart’s content. “We could carve pumpkins, I am so down. I haven’t done it in a while but I’m sure I could still be descent enough.” 

“Let’s just say that I was a lot more messy in high school than I am now.” Mariana put it simply at that, knowing that the other wouldn’t push her to share but maybe sometimes it’d be nice to talk about it. “If you continue liking me for a couple more years then I might tell you all about my crazy high school adventures. But only if you continue to like me.” The dark haired woman returned the other’s teasing. “Wow. Skipping cleaning for a year, you are bad.”

“You have to study for it.” Mariana told her. “It’s different, though, to just work at a funeral home isn’t super extensive study but since I also do more scientific research and toxicology then that’s more studying than being a funeral director requires.” She hoped that it made sense because she’d never been the best at explaining and unless someone worked in the field it wasn’t the easiest to understand. 

“I don’t think I’m at an age to go bar crawling any longer.” Mariana laughed. “You talk like were an’t the exact same age. I’m sure if I truly want to go out and do something then I can find something. I’m just more interested in what others are up to, I guess.” She shrugged, it had always fascinated her more talking about other people than about herself. At least most of the time. “Believe me, as someone who spent no time with her father, she’ll look back and appreciate any time you spend with her now.” 

“You’ve already exposed me several times and it has yet to work so I’m not sure how much I trust all of your skills, Helena.” She wondered how someone who actually had gone through cognitive behavioral therapy would feel and if there was truly someone out there that would take her to haunted houses. It sounded like something someone would create for a Netflix show. “I’d rather take the abandoned warehouse. It’d also give me an excuse to wear my new Doc Martens, I think they’d go with the whole look.” Mariana laughed. “I don’t think we would fight over a guy regardless. Just not worth the time.” 

“Hmm....” Mariana couldn’t help but picture the scene even though she hadn’t been there herself. She’d been to a number of her friend’s birthday parties for their children where they had had clowns for the children so she had to admit that he was right. “I don’t know why people find any fun in that when you can dress up as a superhero and entertain children just the same or put on a Hello Kitty costume or something.” Of course she was an adult with no children or connections to any so she had no clue what children were actually entertained by. At his words she couldn’t help but let out a chuckle before shaking her head and putting on her most disappointed look. “You choose to tell me that now when I was just about to confess my feelings for you?” Mariana shook her head. “Great timing, Ashley.” 

Mariana had to admit she had been looking forward to the day they had planned out. If not because of him specifically then because of the activity itself. When she was younger it was something she would go do with her cousins, each of them getting to pick the biggest pumpkin they could carry. Later after they’d been carved and placed outside, her aunt would use the rest of the pumpkin for some sort of food and they’d eat the pumpkin seeds with their uncle. It was one of many great family traditions she had memories of even if it wasn’t with her own immediate family. They’d had to meet at the place instead of driving together as she’d been caught up at work and had to call him letting him know she’d be a bit late. About twenty minutes after the agreed time she had finally arrived and located him near the entrance. “Hey, you.” The woman smiled. “I’m sorry about the wait. When there’s only two people to look after the dead, well, things get complicated.” She laughed softly, hoping he wasn’t upset about it. ( @jillalxandr ).

She still felt like there was something going on with the other but she didn’t want to push it because she didn’t like feeling nosy. At her question, Mariana nodded. “No parties or haunted houses means we basically get stuck with the way children celebrate Halloween, I think.” She laughed. “We could have a horror movie marathon or go to a corn maze during the day, I guess.” But even she had to admit both of those sounded less than exciting. 

“No, not really. I’m way too committed to my homebody lifestyle.” Mariana chuckled softly. It was definitely true between helping out at the university with research and her actual job she didn’t have too much free time but that free time was spent in her home alone tending to chores or watching endless amounts of television. “If you’re sure.” She looked at the girl. “We can head out then, I think there’s one of those massive Halloween stores a couple of blocks from here.”