Circle of Darkness

[Aurora Black]

She's so easy.

We make her run out of the room a lot.

Ah, kids. I know absolutely nothing about them.

 

[Recidiva]

Ah, kids. I know absolutely nothing about them.

She did the dishes though!

 

[Aurora Black]

She did the dishes though!

Well, that's perfectly all right. Carry on!

 

[Recidiva]

Well, that's perfectly all right. Carry on!

I have evil, coercive ways, I do.

 

[Aurora Black]

I have evil, coercive ways, I do.

I love it!

 

[Recidiva]

A prayer to the dark that keeps me company when the light fades.

There's not always the heat or spark for light, but finding in my way depends on more than light when I can't strike it or it isn't the element called for.

To all the secrets that guide and call and whisper, my thanks.

 

[DanseMacabre]

I walk in shadow and abhor the light.

 

[Recidiva]

I walk in shadow and abhor the light.

I like both. Friends in both places.

Welcome to the circle, tell a story or two, ask a question, blow out a candle, hold a flashlight under your face to cast funny shadows.

Fewer open visitors to the darkness than those who visit the light. Well, publicly, anyway.

If you abhor light, though, better wear some shades, there are occasional flashes.

 

[DanseMacabre]

I like both. Friends in both places.

Welcome to the circle, tell a story or two, ask a question, blow out a candle, hold a flashlight under your face to cast funny shadows.

Fewer open visitors to the darkness than those who visit the light. Well, publicly, anyway.

If you abhor light, though, better wear some shades, there are occasional flashes.

Ray-Bans are my brand of choice, and thank you for the welcome.

 

[Recidiva]

Ray-Bans are my brand of choice, and thank you for the welcome.

Oh, good. Then we're cool. It's like an allergy warning.

So what do you abhor about the light?

Consider me bichromatic. I visit my lightness family, I visit my darkness family. They're all good folks. Yes, every family has some loons.

 

[DanseMacabre]

Oh, good. Then we're cool. It's like an allergy warning.

So what do you abhor about the light?

Consider me bichromatic. I visit my lightness family, I visit my darkness family. They're all good folks. Yes, every family has some loons.

My eyes are rather sensitive to light, I'm afraid.

 

[Recidiva]

My eyes are rather sensitive to light, I'm afraid.

I have the naturally pale complexion of the undead...

Although I do like the day, if given a chance, my circadian rhythm will tick me straight over into arising right about after the sun comes up and getting exhausted right before she arrives again.

Unfortunately having a job that wakes me up at 5 am plays hell with that plan.

 

[Aurora Black]

I have the naturally pale complexion of the undead...

Although I do like the day, if given a chance, my circadian rhythm will tick me straight over into arising right about after the sun comes up and getting exhausted right before she arrives again.

Unfortunately having a job that wakes me up at 5 am plays hell with that plan.

That really sucks, Diva. I can't imagine getting up that early for anything.

 

[Recidiva]

That really sucks, Diva. I can't imagine getting up that early for anything.

I paying the electric bill. And internet access. Visiting you is worth it.

 

[DanseMacabre]

I have the naturally pale complexion of the undead...

Although I do like the day, if given a chance, my circadian rhythm will tick me straight over into arising right about after the sun comes up and getting exhausted right before she arrives again.

Unfortunately having a job that wakes me up at 5 am plays hell with that plan.

Forgive me, I was brewing tea. I spend most of my waking hours at work in the mortuary, and when I do sleep my dreams are filled with horrible visions of what I see on the job. Needless to say, I don't sleep much.

 

[Aurora Black]

I paying the electric bill. And internet access. Visiting you is worth it.

DM, that's terrible.

 

[Recidiva]

Forgive me, I was brewing tea. I spend most of my waking hours at work in the mortuary, and when I do sleep my dreams are filled with horrible visions of what I see on the job. Needless to say, I don't sleep much.

What kind of tea, how do you take it?

Mortuary is pretty hands-on, I will have to admit. I have edited hospital reports for years, including the final discharge summaries that send them your way. My hands are only on the clinical history, but that gets to me.

I have never slept much, and nightmares always a problem. I take melatonin, magnesium and diphenydramine in an over the counter way of knocking myself out nightly to not bring on migraines and insomnia.

 

[Recidiva]

DM, that's terrible.

I'm an evil, evil woman.

 

[Aurora Black]

I'm an evil, evil woman.

Why do you say that?

 

[Recidiva]

Why do you say that?

'Cause you said I was terrible and I'm just clarifying

 

[DanseMacabre]

What kind of tea, how do you take it?

Mortuary is pretty hands-on, I will have to admit. I have edited hospital reports for years, including the final discharge summaries that send them your way. My hands are only on the clinical history, but that gets to me.

I have never slept much, and nightmares always a problem. I take melatonin, magnesium and diphenydramine in an over the counter way of knocking myself out nightly to not bring on migraines and insomnia.

I am fond of experimenting with tea. At the moment I am relaxing with green tea with more than a bit of sugar. Sweetness is one of my major vices.

Yes, it is the nature of the beast. After so many years in the business, just when I think I have moved beyond the point of being shocked or disgusted, every once in a while something happens to devastate my senses and shake my foundation.

 

[Aurora Black]

'Cause you said I was terrible and I'm just clarifying

No, I didn't.

Danse, I can't imagine doing what you do for a living. I realize that someone has to take care of those details, but... my God.

 

[Recidiva]

I am fond of experimenting with tea. At the moment I am relaxing with green tea with more than a bit of sugar. Sweetness is one of my major vices.

Yes, it is the nature of the beast. After so many years in the business, just when I think I have moved beyond the point of being shocked or disgusted, every once in a while something happens to devastate my senses and shake my foundation.

I will drown things in sugar and honey and milk. Coffee and tea certainly have a character, but I'm not likely to be discerning about that. It is a delivery vehicle for sweet with just enough bitter to give it an edge.

The hardest for me are the psych patient summaries describing a lifetime of abuse and the inpatient therapies. Or a child trying to get their brains reconstituted after a car accident.

I'm transcribing right now long interviews with womens' experiences with those scary weeks of bedrest before they reach the magic 25 week mark and doctors will consider the baby's health and attempt delivery. What circumstances make a baby premature out of abuse at times.

Although it's wrenching work, it's definitely worthwhile. At the end of my day, I at least know I'm doing something. Something needed, something maybe not everyone can do.

 

[Recidiva]

No, I didn't.

I'm teasing you. Laugh, dammit

 

[DanseMacabre]

The hardest for me are the psych patient summaries describing a lifetime of abuse and the inpatient therapies. Or a child trying to get their brains reconstituted after a car accident.

I'm transcribing right now long interviews with womens' experiences with those scary weeks of bedrest before they reach the magic 25 week mark and doctors will consider the baby's health and attempt delivery. What circumstances make a baby premature out of abuse at times.

Although it's wrenching work, it's definitely worthwhile. At the end of my day, I at least know I'm doing something. Something needed, something maybe not everyone can do.

Certainly not. I've had many a trainee retch and run on the first day, never to return. When working with such incredibly hard to swallow details, we must retreat behind a strong shield of professionalism in order to make it through the day without collapsing. At least that's how I'm able to function.

Aurora, I know. But it's my job, as it was my father's and my grandfather's before him. I am good at what I do, and I can't imagine working in any other field.