Outside Black Books.

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Manny has been out of town for a couple of days, visiting Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa. He'll be deeply grateful if he never hears another knuckle cracking, never hears "Chatanooga Choo-choo" again. As he walks through town towards the shop, he can't help but be struck by the mess. He pauses, sets down his suitcase, and looks around. He picks something up from the ground, and studies it.

Doc Martin boot, size eleven, black leather. Foot still included.

He touches a finger to the bloodied stump, and licks it experimentally.

Hmm. Male, mid-thirties. A builder. European ... British.

He tastes again.

Scotland ... Dundee? No... Arbroath... The west side, near the estuary. Possibly lived near the golf club.

He drops the limb, picks up his suitcase, and walks on. He arives at the shop, and looks with dismay at the heap of dismembered body parts piled up in front of the door.

Oh, Bernard, I leave you alone for two days, and look what happens.

He starts shifting the flesh away from the door, stacking it neatly by country of origin.

Edit: Have now gone round to the church.

Comments

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

(ooc - Paige is probably still in her room but I just had to say Manny is a scary, scary man! :))

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

(OOC - Really sorry I had to miss all the fun this weekend.)

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

(ooc- yeah I suspect Manny might have been quite helpful, most the fighting started after UK bedtime anyway though, sleep is my friend!)

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Manny, honestly, you're scaring the crap out of me. :D]

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

OOC - Manny's not scary at all. Really. (Fine icon, BTW)

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Uh huh. (Thanks- shane_mcc made it for me. I like it very much! :)]

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale walks slowly past Black Books, zombie parts bursting into flame in his wake. He nods and smiles at Manny.

"May I be of assistance, Mr. Bianco?"

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Manny shifts the last of the body parts from the doorway.

Ah, Mr Phale, I'm just clearing the path. What did I miss here?

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"An apparent invasion of zombies, if you would believe it. I'm quite proud of the way the townspeople and students responded, however. Really, it was wonderful to see how courageous people can be."

A puddle of goo sizzles and flares, leaving behind a dark stain on the sidewalk. Aziraphale frowns at the dark spot.

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Apparent? I see ... I was away seeing my parents. *shudder* I think I'd have had a better time here. I've had some ... well, some anger to work out of my system.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale raises an eyebrow at Manny and looks carefully at him.

"Anger? It is something you'd like to talk about?"

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Well, there's this girl, and I really like her (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/17550.html?thread=651406), and I thought she liked me, but she's moved in with someone else (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/52606.html?thread=1448318) and I tried to get over it (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/70177.html?thread=2033441), but my parents always give me a hard time about not having a girlfriend, and I don't know what to do...

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale frowns slightly, picking up on the fact that Manny is not dealing with the situation in a way that could be considered remotely healthy. He also looks a bit uncomfortable.

"Mr. Bianco, I will admit that I'm...not really the best person to give advice on...romantic entanglements. Erm. Have you...spoken to the young lady about how you feel?"

He's silent for a moment, still frowning.

"You...haven't done anything rash, have you?"

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

We've talked (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/63287.html?thread=1634103), yes. She doesn't think there's a problem. She's quite happy. And I'm glad that she's happy, and I want her to be happy, and I'm happy when she's happy... I just want her to be happy with me.

I've not done anything stupid ... except burn some books, up there *points to the hill* on the Stone of Clonrichert.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale blanches at the words "burned some books", and turns to look toward the hill.

"I...erm...Mr. Bianco, I really would like to encourage you not to...engage in such...potentially...dangerous activities." He looks decidedly uncomfortable. "Perhaps it would be better to...talk to the other party, to work out your differences. Yes! I'm quite certain the good long talk, between friends, would be the best thing."

He looks down at the scattered bits of corpse and goo. "And perhaps you'll agree to refrain from burning any more books?"

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

I'll try and have a talk to him. And you're right, burning the books was stupid, I won't do it again.

He opens the door and puts his case inside. He looks at his watch and closes the door again, staying outside.

I should be at church by now.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale brightens quite a bit at Manny's mention of going to church.

"Yes, that's an excellent idea, Mr. Bianco. I'm sure I'll see around town again."

With one last smile for Manny, Aziraphale resumes his stroll down the street, the rotted corpses burning themselves away as he passes them.

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Manny watches Mr Phale until he disappears round a corner. He shrugs, and then sets off for church.