undrtaken

[undrtaken]

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He seemed pleased with himself, but Carmen's lack of enthusiasm only added hot air to his balloon that effortlessly soared already. Not that the man needed more encouragement. The dark-haired girl stared him down for a moment, feeling no need to hurry in finding more things to say. Whatever space might be left for silence, she was certain Carter would find a way to fill it with his own verbal fluff. "It's not," she corrected without breaking her stare on the unwelcome guest. "Stealing from the poor, I see. How typical of you, Prince John." A familiarity with the character she couldn't deny, wondering if a Robin Hood had ever existed in the life of the overtly wealthy fool. As for her nickname, it didn't go unnoticed, though she didn't mind it and wished to keep that to herself, so he didn't stop using it in reference to her. If only he knew how accurate it was. "You seem chipper to be alive." An eyebrow arched, Carmen giving a tap to his glass with her own before shooting down the rest. "I prefer the term surviving," she amended. "Could die tomorrow for all we know." Death felt far too close to touch when exposed to it in the way Carmen was, though she wasn't afraid of the inevitable; she knew it could find her at any time. "Not like someone like you worries about that sort of thing." It wouldn't surprise her if he expected every morning to come as if the world were lucky to have him there for another day.

Carter told himself that he wouldn't end up at the bar that night. He really did try but as he left the theater his feet started on the familiar path and before he knew it, there he was. He had been doing better, or at least he told himself he was. If better was not flaking from work than he was doing better but that was a pretty low bar for him these days. When he got to the bar and saw Carmen, his most annoying smile graced his features. Beautiful, a perfect distraction for tonight. Nothing like banter with someone who couldn't stand him to give him some real energy. He almost whistled with glee as he walked over and dropped himself into the seat next to her, motioning for his usual from Paul before turned to her. "No, you just happen to be sitting next to my favorite seat. It's almost like you knew I was coming." As the drink was placed in front of him, he said thank you and then said, "This is on her tab. Thanks, Dr. Doom," he told her and held up his glass. "Uh, what are we drinking to? How about living another day on this spinning ball of heat? That feels like accomplishment enough."

[undrtaken]

closed starter for carter (@lovesspell) located at the breaking glass bar

A weekday typically meant she had the bar to herself and the regular suspects. There were a couple of men who practically lived at the bar on slow nights, Carmen wondering where they went back to or if it was just to their car to pass out. As for her, she never had enough that it mattered; even so, she lived within walking distance. In fact, if she hadn't come from work, she might've walked over, but it was her employment that brought her there in the first place. Some days, the weight of death found even her shoulders.

Carmen was enjoying the lull of the jukebox with an assortment of glasses clinking from the back. That was until it got interrupted by someone picking the seat beside hers while there were a handful of other spots. The woman went to give them a hard time, but suddenly it all made sense. "Couldn't pick any other seat, could you?" She gave a heavy exhale and took a sip of her whiskey to coat the conversation. "So what're we drinking to?" At least he could provide her with that since he decided to pick the spot next to her, as well as an excuse to drink another round.

[undrtaken]

Carmen (2022) dir. Benjamin Millepied

[undrtaken]

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He'd understood the darker parts of life, found the beauty in them the same way she had. They were a rare breed, but at least they had one another to appreciate what was held so near and dear. "I always need something to break that up." It came with the job, but Leon brought out a softer side to the normally quite empty life of Carmen Contreras. Not just anyone had her beaming quite this bright, typically preferring her storm cloud over the sun. "You outdid yourself this time," the woman confirmed, giving the item another glance to appreciate her new desk piece. His hands held the world in them as far as she was concerned. Whatever he wished to sit still for him would and exist forevermore at his command.

Still, Leon was far too humble, and all she could do was smile at the work he explained. While she had practiced with posing a body of sorts, what he did achieved a beauty Carmen never expected from her own work. "Es perfecto," she confirmed. "I don't know how you do it. Maybe you can show me one of these days, if you don't mind having someone lurking over your shoulder." A morbid curiosity she'd never indulged in outside of purchasing taxidermied animals from time to time, and those Leon shared with her. He captivated life in death. That's all she ever wanted to do, but with humans, it was nearly impossible. All the girl could ever do was her best to make sure they looked like the person they once saw with warmth in their cheeks.

His attempt to decipher her native tongue brought out a gentle laugh not intended to offend, while still expressing her amusement. "Yeah, something like that," she spoke through the rolling chuckle. "I'm starving." Most of the time, Carmen spoke without even realizing she'd switched languages, with how easily they came to her. That being said, watching Leon try to pick at the words he understood made her all the happier she had. "Mm," she hummed, already feeling her stomach rumble in anticipation. "I'll have to return the favor with some of the food Mamá Contreras makes." Nothing beats what she could create in her small kitchen. It only felt right to show Leon the same food that raised her.

"Only the best for you," the woman confirmed before waving him to follow her to the back. With his food delivery in one hand and the other pressing her hummingbird into her chest for safekeeping, she led him to her office across the hall from the mortuary, where a no-entry sign hung from the front. "You want to see for yourself after we eat? I can give you the tour." That wasn't something Carmen offered to just anyone. First, not everyone really desired an inside look at what happened when they passed. Second, not everyone deserved a look at her little world, but Leon was welcome there.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Leon practically beamed when Carmen appeared, that familiar kind of smile tugging at the corners of his mouth like it couldn’t quite contain how happy he was to see her. He always liked the way she looked at his work - not with that usual polite curiosity people sometimes gave taxidermy, but with real appreciation. It made all the long nights and delicate pinning feel worth it.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “You say I didn’t need to, but I wanted to,” he said, cheeks still faintly pink as he leaned his hip against the desk. “I thought you could use something cute to balance out all the macabre.” 

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He watched her admire the terrarium with something soft and awed in his expression, like he was seeing his art through her eyes and falling in love with it all over again. The moment she said she knew just where to put it, he visibly relaxed, his hand absently reaching up to adjust the collar of his shirt. “It took, uh… a few tries,” he admitted with a quiet laugh. “Turns out getting a bird to look like it's about to kiss a flower is harder than it sounds. But I liked the idea of something delicate holding still for you.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ At her Spanish, he grinned, pulling a hand through his hair sheepishly. “Hambre, uh, wait. Let me figure it out. Hambre… sounds like hamburger… so it must mean you’re hungry.” He laughed, looking down. “That felt silly, but I was trying to use context clues. Oh! And Gracias! That’s thank you. I know that.” Then, feeling embarrassed, he waved his hand and said, “Well, I figured if anyone deserved dumplings, it was the person who spends all day making the dead look peaceful.” He nodded toward the bag. “And I got the good kind, too. The ones from that spot that just taste like childhood. Little bit of nostalgia and soy sauce.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ When she invited him to stay, he blinked like he hadn’t expected it, but then immediately nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I’d love to. Living conversation and dumplings? You know how to make a guy feel fancy.” He glanced around the quiet room and then lowered his voice, adding with a playful little grin, “Also I’ve always wondered if the back room has, like, secret haunted vibes. You ever get weird noises? Cold spots? Ghost pigeons?” A beat. “No pressure if that’s proprietary funeral home info.”

[undrtaken]

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The funeral home was quiet that day, no services going on and Carmen hadn't heard of any deliveries coming through. Those were her favorite days. She could focus on things around the establishment and not only preparing people for their burials. That might've been her favorite part of the job but some days it was nice to have a change and get ahead of the easily forgotten tasks. Today she was deep-cleaning her mortuary as if that would remove the scent of death. Formaldehyde followed her home but Carmen did her best to keep the stench contained, the guests not needing to know the dirty details of how their loved ones got to their final resting place.

"I'll be with you in one second," she called from her backroom at the sound of the door's bell ringing. The woman removed her surgical gloves and was on her way to the sink for a quick rinse when his voice danced through the crack in her door. A smile had formed before she even saw his face, knowing now that the visitor was one she didn't need to pretend for. Carmen wasn't the face anyone wanted to see after the loss of a loved one, the woman whose hands would be removing their organs, and unspoken glances were enough for the tension. Leon didn't mind things like that, unphased by the peculiar which Carmen often identified as herself.

When the raven-haired girl emerged from her crypt the smile led her straight to the reception desk. Carmen didn't bother going around the back, instead heading straight to his side to observe the treats he'd brought along with him. "For me? You didn't need to do that," she started before being silenced by the creation's beauty. Her freshly washed hand took a gentle hold of the orb, holding it up to the light so that she could admire its full potential. "It's perfect, I know just where to put it." The smile softened and her eyes flicked to meet his before placing the terrarium safely back on the counter. "I don't know how you do it." She meant it, knowing the work these sorts of things took. Carmen was better with the corpses that didn't need to be posed like they still breathed the same air. The excitement of his gift almost made her forget that a meal had been included, and she'd missed lunch yet again after getting carried away with her spring cleaning. "Me muero de hambre, gracias." Carmen gave a content hum with her hand hovering over the paper bag that would soon be her first meal of the day. "Care to join me? I haven't talked to a living person all day," she said in the hopes of convincing him to stay.

✿ Closed starter for Carmen (@undrtaken), outside of her workplace.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Leon stood outside the funeral home, balancing a brown paper bag of lunch in one arm and a carefully wrapped glass dome in the other. He hesitated a moment, adjusting his grip and trying to remember if Carmen had said she was working the front today or something else. Either way, he figured showing up with something cute and weird (and food - always food) couldn’t hurt.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He nudged the door open with his hip. The air inside was cool and still, a soft contrast to the sunny afternoon outside. The scent of polished wood and faint florals hit his nose, oddly calming for a place built around death. “Hey,” he called out gently, not wanting to startle anyone mid… whatever morticians did when they were busy. “Delivery for the loveliest lady surrounded by corpses?”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He ventured a few steps in and set the lunch bag down on the reception counter, the paper crinkling softly. Then, carefully, very carefully, he placed the glass dome beside it and peeled back the cloth wrapping.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Inside was a tiny terrarium: a delicate, mossy scene with a perfectly preserved hummingbird posed mid-hover over a dried flower. There were little stones, some pale lichen, and a curled fern frond tucked toward the back. He’d spent way too long getting the lighting inside the dome just right, so that the bird seemed almost alive, paused in an eternal moment of motion.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I uh, made this for you,” he said when he heard footsteps, cheeks going a little pink as he ran a hand through his hair. “Thought you might like something sweet and still and weird. Also, there’s dumplings in the bag. And a little cup of honeycomb because, well, it’s tasty.”

[undrtaken]

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It made Carmen grin knowing that no harm was done by her tardiness. Normally on time, it was only her job that could keep her, having always taken a bias to her work. Family might've been the one thing that overcame it. Carmen never wanted to look back and regret whatever time she'd been given, wanting to spend it wisely. Her laughter joined the noise of the restaurant at Lorelei's question as more people than not would've been afraid to even ask. That was something she already liked about her. "I work at the funeral home where I basically prepare people for burial. Sometimes I do autopsies if they need a hand too. It's not the prettiest job but," she trailed off. To her, it was all she could've ever done, a job that might not have made sense to many but was the only option for Carmen.

With her lips pursed in thought her eyes glazed the menu, trying to decide what sounded good on that particular evening. In all honesty, she couldn't go wrong but sometimes too many options was just as difficult. "You know the broccoli beef might be calling my name," she thought out loud. "The pork belly is so good, that's definitely the way to go." It already felt comfortable talking to her, hoping that came across through her tone and body language. Family could be the most intimidating but this slate was clean and already off to a good start. "Of course not, I might have to get one myself. I try to avoid it but sometimes after a long day it's the best thing." The amount of coffee she drank was probably alarming to a medical professional and still, there were times when nothing hit quite like a cold Coke.

Lorelei chuckled at Carmen's apology, Lorelei had noticed that she always had more of a macarbe sense of humour, and it didn't bother her at all. "Not need to be sorry. It gave me plenty of time to look at the menu." She smiled, while she wasn't much of a picky eater, deciding what to eat at a resturant always made her feel quite anxious. Going out was such a rare treat in her youth that she always wanted to pick a good option, while not wanting to miss the chance to explore other dishes that she might not be able to have at home. She took a sip from the coke that she got herself when the waiter sat her down initially, "What do you actually do at work? I'll be honest, I just realised I'm not entirely sure."

Lorelei took another quick scan of the menu after Carmen asked what she was planning on ordering. "I was gonna get the pork belly, either that or just wonton soup, but I'm really holding out for the pork." She wanted to get the pork because it was a tried and true classic to her, but the vegetables they had on the side seemed interesting enough to want to try out. If she didn't like them, then she felt better about not eating the vegetables compared to the meat. It was a real process in her mind. "I also got a coke while I waited, I hope you don't mind.

[undrtaken]

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Carmen gave a nod of agreement, not everyone understanding how simple death really was. No matter how hard someone tried to run from it the inevitable found everyone eventually. The people who saw it every day knew that better than anyone, life was short or at least shorter than people thought. "Not everyone can be you," she suggested with a quick raise of her brow. He adapted quickly and that couldn't be said for everyone in his field. Carmen experienced something similar but it was with the newbies who couldn't handle the weight of their circumstances. Death wasn't palatable by everyone. The raven-haired woman feigned a gasp before it curved into a smile. "You know me, I'm a slacker," she replied with a shrug, both of them knowing that wasn't necessarily the case. If only she could be but it wasn't in her nature. The mention of a debrief was a relief and she was quick to nod in interest. There was a defrosting period after such jobs where they needed to get back to reality and away from their place of employment. "You don't have to ask me twice. I'll never turn down a cup of joe."

Julian nods, she was right, it really did not wait for anyone, especially when patients show up in pretty bad shape, which in a town like cardinal did happened often, "It really doesn't, that's why either you get used to it fast, or you're out," he had seen some young doctors, just not making it, they just weren't able to keep up with how busy things could get around there.

"Oh yeah? guess you're just a dedicated to your job as me," he playfully bump her shoulder, "I've got a couple of labs for a patient I'm waiting for, them I'm also out here," he sighs,rubbing the back if his neck, just feeling a bit too tired, "How have you been? care to join me for some...late night coffee, then?"

[undrtaken]

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Matilda knew more about the mortician than she even knew. The feelings that were trapped in her chest could only escape through her fists. That wasn't something that could be easily explained but in the gym, Carmen never had to. They had become friends without knowing the dirty laundry in each other's closets and that's exactly how she wanted it. In a small town, word spread fast, almost everyone knowing what had happened in her youth that was except for the implants like Matilda. "I totally get that," she said giving a stretch to her shoulders by releasing the tension in them. It felt good to sweat like something real was being removed from her in the process, even if it would be back by the night. Her guilt was put at bay. "You know, more jobs than you might think require the same thing." Such as her own, the smell of formaldehyde haunting her home if she didn't bathe immediately. "So in the grand scheme of things, not a bad compromise. And you get a free gym membership," she replied with a smile that was removed by laughter pushing through her lips. "Do you have a lot of people you're seeing today or do you have time to grab a beer?" It wasn't unusual for them to grab a drink after a session, the girl becoming more than just a trainer, at least to Carmen. That time with someone she felt she could talk freely around was priceless.

It had been five years since she found her way through the forest of Cardinal Hill. The town had given her everything she could've wanted, hell, even her baby brother managed to call this place home, but it never felt like enough. Although there was always a piece of her missing, she'd found a spark in this tiny gym. Here, she was able to build the closest thing to a home while also giving others an outlet to hit a few things. If you had told little Matilda this would be her fate, she would've been completely okay with it, but there was a huge part she left out even to herself.

Today was her day with Carmen, and as the time went on, it became clear that something was bothering her. So Matilda gave it all her effort, allowing the other to hit a bit harder than normal, knowing sometimes that was the best way to get it all out. It wasn't until they took a water break that the two spoke, both lost in the give and take of boxing. "It really doesn't feel like a job to me." She shrugged before taking a large gulp of water, wiping the excess off her lips. "Maybe I like it too much, but really, the only downside has ever been the number of showers I take."

[undrtaken]

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The ghost that haunted her was that of her brother. He watched over her shoulder, unlike anyone that rolled into her morgue. Death wasn’t as bewildering as many made it out to be. She thought for a moment about a more satisfying answer but exhaled when they conceited to her truth. Carmen gave a nod in agreement before responding, “If any of them strike up a conversation or fuck with my lights you’ll be the first to know.” Until then she’d keep an eye out for anything unusual to report back but came up empty thus far. “Maybe they’re not really interested in talking to me since I’m taking out their organs and all.” It wasn’t a sight most people wanted to see or even talk about though her profession existed for centuries and was an integral part of life. A dark sense of humor is something else she found to be integral, especially doing what she did. “You know what, yeah,” Carmen replied with a hint of surprise in her voice that she was answering that way. She hadn’t thought about the incident in over a year. “Somehow a bird got in and here I am coming back from lunch with my headphones on then I look up and there’s a fucking bird. And I’m like pretty sure it was trying to get into the coolers. That’s a sight you don’t see every day: a bird breaking into the mortuary.”

"Not even one?" Elian sighs." That is disappointing, you would think that at least one would try to mess with a radio." The witch shrugs their shoulders." If you ever do come across such an occurrence please do let me know, I would love to hear all about it." Part of them always believed that there had to be something more out there, not that they were scared of death, it came for everyone and eventually it would knock on their door but for now they would keep on living.

They hum." Then let me rephrase the question. Have you ever gotten scared? Or even someone played a prank?"

[undrtaken]

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"Homemade is homemade," she chimed in. If a mom made them, Carmen knew they would be good, never having met a mother who didn't make a mean cookie. His explanation came as a welcome surprise and was happy to listen to the backstory of these cookies. "That must be a pretty amazing cookie to have been that much of a success story." It made her all the more intrigued to eat the dessert that kept an ex talking about them. They were so talked up that expectations had been built and she was ready to snag one once the lid popped open. "How did they do at your open house?" The raven-haired woman asked before taking a bite of the infamous cookie.

A hum before words as she chewed, giving a nod of approval. "Doesn't need all the fancy stuff when the cookie is good, right?" She held up the baked good in question before smiling over at Lucky who was only momentarily blocked. "Tell your mom she makes a pretty damn good cookie next time you see her." Not that she knew the girl or cared but Carmen still wanted to give her compliments to the chef. That being said it made her wonder what he could bake with her as a teacher and his prior comment. "Now I gotta taste what you make though, what do you bake? I peg you as an M&M in your cookie type of guy." Maybe it was a shot in the dark but she couldn't deny the vibes he gave off, finding him cuter for a stranger on the street than one would expect.

"Oh, nah, didn’t make 'em myself," Lucky said, reaching into the bag he’d been lugging around, only somewhat awkwardly pulling out the container of cookies to offer Carmen one. "That’d be my mom’s doing. Not that I can't make 'em myself, but she used to bake for my dad’s open houses all the time - back before they split - and he still won’t shut up about how good they were. Almost acts like they're the only reason why his open houses were successful. So naturally, I’ve decided to exploit that,” he added with a cheeky smile, finally popping open the container lid so that his company could access the sweet treats.

"They’re chocolate chip, just the classic. Nothin’ weird in 'em, no raisins or oats or whatever people try to pass off as edible." His tone was light, easy, but there was a flicker of something quieter behind it. His mom didn’t really do grand gestures or apologies, not in the way most people thought of them, but every time she handed him another foil-wrapped plate of cookies, pretending like it wasn’t a favour, Lucky took it for what it was. A peace offering. A quiet little sorry for how everything turned out that didn’t need to be said out loud. Although on second thought, it would have been nice to receive a verbal apology at least once. But that was neither here nor there.

[undrtaken]

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It sounded like things hadn't slowed down all night from the conversations she heard in passing upon arrival. There was always someone who needed to be seen and never enough time to do it all. She came in to help whenever possible, not the same insanity of an emergency room but the morgue almost always needed more space. On occasion, Carmen came in to help with autopsies, enjoying the switch-up in her daily routine. A little chaos did her good. "I would expect nothing less from you," she spoke honestly, followed by a breathed laugh. "The ER waits for no one." Much like death who she knew all too closely. He needed the coffee more than her but she couldn't help to snag a little in a styrofoam cup. "Once I get everyone transferred over I'll finally get to call it a day. Early funeral had me up all night, you know how it is," she replied with a shrug.

Working in the ER, Julian was used to the crazy hours, the pulling double shift or even the staying hours after his shift, to be honest, he much rather be at the hospital, at least there he was usefull, at home he'd be just laying around, his mind running with things he didn't want to think about. Tonight was one those double shifts, and only now the doctor had time to step out for some coffee, seeing Carmen, he call out to her, giving her a bit of a slime, "Would you judge me too harshy if I said I've been here all night?" he half jokes. "Yeah, crazy , only had time for a break now."

"How about you?"

[undrtaken]

closed starter for matilda (@bitethvhand) located at castillo's boxing gym

The only healthy way she'd found to get out her anger at the world was through the boxing gym. It might've been the only place Carmen could be considered social. She'd struck up a conversation with a stranger on multiple occasions, that was how she'd gotten connected with Matilda. Today Carmen took a class, feeling especially pent up as the death date of her brother was approaching. This time of year always brought up feelings she didn't know how to process. Sure, therapy helped for a while but her outlets outside of work really made a world of difference. Boxing gave a space to throw everything into a punch which on many occasions she desperately needed. "Fuck, I needed to sweat and hit stuff," she thought out loud. Carmen spoke freely at the gym, keeping her personal life outside where it belonged. "How do you unwind from work when this is your work?" Maybe a dumb question but she was curious, an amused smile taking shape while running a towel down her forehead.

[undrtaken]

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She knew what they meant. It wasn't the first time she'd gotten a question like that. People were curious, Carmen would argue there was far too much of a taboo around death. It was going to happen to them all anyway. No one outran the inevitable: the end. She gave a nod of understanding, though the mention of ghosts sent a laugh through her nose. "No, I wish, maybe it wouldn't be so fucking lonely down there. I usually listen to music though but not great for conversationalists. So it's great for me." She preferred the company of the dead. In a way, it was peaceful and maybe the closest she could ever feel to her late brother. There wouldn't be any running from Carmen, happy to accept her day whenever it came. Maybe they would take the hint she wasn't one for small talk but she rarely got that lucky. "Nothing spooky to report. Sorry to disappoint."

starter for @undrtaken location: somewhere in cardinal hill

"What's it like?" Elian asked her, they always had a sort of morbid curiosity and it wasn't often that they could ask a mortician about their job, so why not take advantage of the opportunity." Being around the dead all day, I mean. Seen any ghosts?"

[undrtaken]

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Familia. That was one of the only things Carmen held near. Maybe it was because she was attempting to make up for the mistakes she couldn't forget but there would never be enough time with them. She was painfully aware of every moment that passed, facing the end of the line for many daily. Carmen looked death in the eye and the inevitable fact that time would run out for everyone. That was why she threw herself into her work but made certain there would be time for those she loved most. Her cousin was no different, feeling like another sister sometimes, and having taken them under her wing at any opportunity possible. That included but wasn't limited to Elizabeth's more romantic ventures. An offer for dinner didn't usually come to fruition, Carmen not making time for just anyone, and somehow jumped at the opportunity to get to know Lorelei better. They'd talked, sure, yet never taken the time to sit down with one another except for unfulfilled hangout suggestions they hadn't acted upon.

Work ran a little late, Carmen having to finish on a body earlier than expected due to a rushed funeral ceremony. After losing a loved one it was her job to make sure they didn't have to worry about anything besides showing up and paying their respects. In turn, it made her a tad late for her dinner plans which she hoped wouldn't be an issue when she arrived. A smile was her first form of greeting as she approached the table upon Lorelei's signaling. "Sorry I'm late, the dead don't really care about my plans, go figure," she joked having become quite comfortable with humor of a morbid nature. "Hopefully I didn't hold you up too long and now, I'm starving." Her stomach turned in hunger when she opened the menu and started her search. "Do you know what you're gonna get?"

Closed starter: Carmen Contreras @undrtaken

Location: Emerald Dragon

Lorelei and her friend Maxine get dinner together semi-regularly. However, Maxine wasn't able to join in tonight, and not wanting to abandon the prospect of a nice meal, and not wanting to sit alone at a resturant, Lorelei resorted to asking someone else to go with her. Her girlfriend partner very good friend Elizabeth was also busy, which led to her suggesting she invite out Carmen, her cousin. Lorelei and Carmen have met before, but very infrequently, through work, and most of their interactions ended with the promise of 'going out for drinks' which never formulated into anything. Calling her up, Carmen was luckily avaliable and willing.

Cardinal Hill had a nice variety of options comapred to other small towns, but it was still limited in it's options. Emerald Dragon, along with Zahara’s Kitchen, being some of the only foreign food options meant that it made Lorelei feel very fancy to go to there. She sat at the table for two, wearing a loose blouse and slim trousers, and started to browse the menu while waiting for Carmen to arrive. Needing to wait wasn't a surprise, considering she had arrived considerably early for their reservation, being such a fancy place to Lorelei after all. She was quite nervous to actually eat a meal alongside Carmen, interacting with Elizabeth's family, even if it was a cousin, was quite an intimidating prospect, especially since Elizabeth wasn't there to ease the tension. A million different conversation topics ran through her mind, culminating in a slight sweat breaking out just as she saw Carmen walk in the door. Lifting up her arm to wave her over, she took a deep breath and reassured herself that it'll be fine. It is just dinner after all.

[undrtaken]

closed starter for julian (@drjulianmoore) located at the cardinal hill hospital

It wasn't unusual for Carmen to make a stop by the hospital, the morgue needing her to come every so often to see people to their final resting place. Today she stopped by the coffee pot for a cup on her way down. Even she wasn't immune to tiredness after a long night, knowing that death slept for no one, only letting those it came for get any shut eye. The girl stepped around the corner but was abruptly greeted with someone else with the same idea, understanding he could use it more. "Morning," she said with an introductory nod and a glance to the clock that only just hit 5AM. Another sigh followed as the day would continue on for many more hours. "How long you been here?" Carmen knew it must've been awhile since he'd come for the coffee or at least escaped for a moment from the insanity. "Busy night?"

[undrtaken]

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Carmen got off early and figured she'd enjoy the weather and walk home. No one would expect her to enjoy spring due to her dark attire but the time when the sun poked between the trees with a breeze in the air couldn't be beat. While fall remained her favorite, spring gave it a run for its money. The girl must've been caught up in her thoughts because the call from behind her brought her back. "What?" She heard him the first time but needed a moment to comprehend and take inventory. Then, she realized one of her rings had slipped from her finger. Luckily, it had rolled into the hands of someone who cared enough to stop her instead of deciding to keep it for themselves. "Fuck, I didn't even notice, thank you," she said promptly replacing it. That had been one that belonged to her mother, making it all the more important it stayed with her. Carmen expected that to be all until he offered her one of the treats that seemed more abundant than he anticipated. She couldn't deny her empty stomach or sweet tooth, giving a slow but steady nod in response. "Sure, but shouldn't I be offering you cookies?" Some might question a stranger, with good reason, and yet, Carmen wasn't phased. He seemed nice enough not to have poisoned them or if this was when it was her time, at least she'd go out eating what she hoped would be a delicious treat. "What kind? You make them yourself?"

Open starter for @cardinalstart

Located in the streets of Cardinal Hill

"Hey, wait up!" Lucky called, jogging in order to catch up with the other. "You dropped this while you were walking by," he told them, extending his hand out to reunite the object with its owner. "Only just saw you drop it, too, lucky timing, cause I was about to head the other way and everything," he raised his eyebrows proudly, not that he really thought it was the most remarkable thing for him to have done. "You want a cookie? Just finished an open house, got loads of them left." Perhaps it was a little obvious that Lucky had come from a rather uneventful open house, considering both the amount of cookies he had left, and just how much he was seeming to try to chat with the other.

[undrtaken]

ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄɪɴɢ... 𝕮𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖊𝖓 𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖘

Walking through the picturesque streets of Cardinal Hill, you find Carmen Contreras, the 33 year old mortician originally from Cardinal Hill, WA. Living alongside them in such a small town, you know that they're elusive and observant, but what you might not know is that they are a human, and that they’re hiding something…

tw: death

Being the firstborn meant most of the parenting mistakes fell on Carmen. Her parents' expectations were overwhelming, being put into every extracurricular and pressured to perform in her classes. For as long as she could remember, she was destined to become a doctor, having always been the path her parents wanted for their oldest daughter. Carmen had been a straight-A student, school always coming easily to her, but it was fitting in part that she struggled with. The extra activities helped, sure, still nothing was able to change who she was, and the brutality of other children. It was when she was only thirteen that everything changed. While on a camping trip with her family, Carmen and her younger brother went exploring, instructed to not get too far, to which they gave a 'yeah, yeah' and continued forward. Their parents stayed at camp with the youngest Contrera, who was too young to adventure into the woods with his siblings. The pair were playing their favorite game when he mistepped near the edge of the river and tumbled into the icy water. Carmen ran to his aid to take hold of his hand, then pull him back to shore, if only that was how it had gone. His sister held on for as long as she could, pulling with all of her thirteen-year-old might, but against the current, she was proven too weak. Before she could even react, his small hand ripped from hers. That being the last time she ever saw him, his body was never found after being pulled away in the water. She returned to their campsite and tried to tell the story, but she never truly forgave herself for what happened. While they forgave their daughter for what had occurred, Carmen never could. It left a rift in the family that was eternal.

The childhood dreams Carmen once had of being a doctor shifted forever. She dissociated from her extracurricular activities, distanced herself from the friends she had, and prioritized her studies. After being unable to save the person who mattered most to her, a fascination with death began. Whether it was what exactly came after life or what peace death could bring, Carmen tried to learn it all and dedicated her life to this newfound interest. Her family mourned but were shortly gifted with another baby girl and then another boy a year later, who was the last of the Contreras siblings. That never meant her first brother had been forgotten, nor the guilt she carried with her every day since. His ofrenda was filled every year, along with the rest of their family who had passed. Amidst all the whispers, part of her wondered if everything in Cardinal Hill was true. There had always been words of witchcraft, and since becoming a mortician, she had seen things unable to be explained, things that were outside of the scope of science. As she's grown older, she's focused on finding out the truth about her hometown. To see if anyone could contact him, find a way to know if he had forgiven her for what she had done, or if he blamed her for the grip she lacked that day. Secretly, Carmen has been finding information and collecting all that she had seen in a journal, never having anywhere safe to expose her truth. She hopes this can change, but all she's ever known is a life of solitude, even when she was surrounded by those who loved her.

melissa barrera . bisexual . cis female . she/her

her closest confidant is her black cat, morris. she considers him to be her son and often joins her at work, where he sleeps in her office.

while she doesn't have any tattoos, she loves them, admiring the art, and always noticing when corpses have them.

she stayed close with her family, but there's been a disconnect since the accident. while they have all discussed it, coming to peace with what happened, carmen has yet to.

more tbd

📌 : Pinboard