You either live in the world or on it.

Where had she heard that before" Trying to remember only resulted in a brain cramp. The nights were too long and the days were to short to even try to procure some author's name from the elusive, cobweb filled corners of her mind. The stack of case files on her desk seems to have grown since yesterday. Each one with a deadline closer than the next. Death doesn't take a vacation. Few people are lining up to help with the job. Who could blame them' Time off was a pipe dream, vacation was harder to get than winning the lottery and Carson was a perfectionist/workaholic who wouldn't allow anyone to help anyway. It was looking at the short, nine word statement which had her contemplating why the hell her arse was still sitting in an uncomfortable, wooden chair trying to accomplish the impossible as life passed her by.

How long has it been since she'd been out, relaxed and let herself have more than an hour of anything enjoyable" Too long.

Clicking through a few more pages on her laptop. Gruesome crime scene photos few people could stomach only ten minutes after dinner and two seconds after deciding to stop for the night. What was wrong with her" Stupidity. Yes, someone had to do it; but, not at this very moment.

"Maybe I should go out this weekend." Now she was talking to herself. Lovely. Insanity was setting in. If not for her canine condition, Cars was going to turn one of those old ladies with twenty cats.

Just as she was heading to the bedroom to change, the phone rang. "Never fails.." muttering low.

A quick flick of the cell phone, offering up the usual greeting of. "Lewis.."

"We've got a murder at the spaceport.."

How nice! What timing! "Really' That's too bad. I have a date."

Laughter ensued. "You" A date? Alright, alright. See you in in twenty minutes or so. ..got a date. ..that's a good one."

"Actually Roger, I do have a date." With herself. "Taking off this whole weekend in fact. Someone else can handle it. Talk to you Monday."

Hanging up never felt so good. "I'm going out." Had to talk out loud to reinterate her command of this new situation while it lasted. "Might even wear a dress." Doubtful.

Carson would have a spacious town home if not for all the stacks of paperwork. Files lay neatly stacked in a completed file on one end table, another stack of twenty or so labeled in progress sat on the dining room table and yet another marked simply completed created two neat stacks on what used to be a desk. The real work was going on at the bar separating the kitchen from the dining/living room. Upon it was the laptop, printer, scanner, phone, cellphone, legal pads, pens...and anything else she might need. Including a bottle of Jack Daniels. If for no other reason than to have a male figure to gripe at while scouring through pictures, witness statements, police reports, etc. This was what life had become while dodging Thorn's threats or advances.

"Do you ever stop working" I mean, please, girl..you have no life!"

She was smack, dab in the middle of what could be a startling revelation on the murder of a young model when the voice of Eris broke her concentration. "Uhmm..no." Spinning around on the metal bar stool to face her 'friend' so as not to appear rude. "I've tried it a couple times. Not sure what all the hub bub is about. Besides, I don't get paid when I don't work." Didn't even bother to get dressed today. Still in shorts and a ratty, AC/DC T-shirt. Bare feet dangling towards the floor.

Eris brushed all the excuses away with a wave of her hand. "As if you need the money. Work is your excuse to skip out on life." Rifling through the files on the end table. Taking extreme care to mess them up thoroughly. "I mean, you ditched me at the party and ran home. Didn't even say bye."

Her eyes got wide as Eris rearranged her stack. She was a bit of OCD when it came to her place. "Stop doing that!" Storming over to yank them all up in her arms protectively. "Don't touch anything..OK?" Hiding the stack away in a drawer for now. "and I'm not missing out on life. I'm working. Not about money..it's about.."

"Hiding from living, breathing people?"

Grrr, this woman made her so mad! "No! Besides, I didn't run out on you that night. I couldn't find you to say bye. Wasn't my kind of crowd anyway. They were drunk and wet and loud." Carson started to head back to her seat when she saw Eris heading for the files on the table. "NO!" Quick feet intercepted the intended target. "You say you want me out more yet you make more for me to do. How's that gonna work out?" Now standing guard. "Look, I'm sorry I left. I guess I'm not ready for your kind of fun."

Eris secretly smiled. Carson wasn't working for the moment. A small victory. Heaving a dramatic sigh at the apology. "I forgive you for leaving but your choice of garb leaves much to be desired. Ever think of putting your hair up" Maybe a touch of lipstick" Heels..a smile" Try smiling. Go on now." Scurrying over in her own black pumps to try and give Carson's dour lips a lift. "Takes less muscles to smile than frown they say."

The goddess was met with the swatting of hands. "Stop! Stop, stop already. Geeze." Lo and behold, she could smile. Even when irritated. "Some of us are made for looking at, some of us are made to be the work horses. You are the looker. I'm not. No one's interested."

Eris snatched her hands back, shoving them in her jeans pockets. "Oh you're a looker. You don't want to believe men look. Trust me on this. What about that guy you gave your number to, eh' He must have been something for the hermit crab Carson to take the time out of her busy schedule to write it down."

Carson's face went completely white as a ghost. "How did you know that' I didn't tell you. What have I said about snooping?"

"Bah, I snoop all the time. If I don't snoop, someone tells me. Aphrodite has a bigger mouth than me. Let me tell you, she's in the know and keeps me in the know when I know someone. Like you, my dear girl. I hear that little tidbit and it just tickled my toes! Bless the Gods, you like a guy!" Eris couldn't help but jump up and down a little while clapping her hands together.

Was enough to make Carson want to vomit. "Shut up twinkle toes. I had a moment. It's over now. I'm not going to chase some strange guy and he's not going to chase me." As was apparent by having a number and email but not using it. "So let's leave it be shall we" I have Jack and Jose' to keep me warm at night."

For some reason Eris wasn't buying her Laissez-faire attitude nor love for two bottles of alcohol. "Right, right." Staring down at her blood, red nails. Pity, one had chipped. "Maybe you need a little help. I have resources." sounding all innocent when such an offer was anything but.

"Oh hell no. I don't need Cupid or Dancer or Prancer."

"Those are reindeer." The Goddess chimed in.

"I know what they are! Don't go pulling your crazy family into my life. I have enough psychopaths of my own without piling yours on top." Sighing in soft resignation. "I will promise to do better." Flopping down on her couch, finding it much more comfortable than remembered. A single finger began incessantly twirling a lock of hair from the ponytail. She'd regret giving in to Eris tomorrow.

Who cared about tomorrow. Today was all that mattered. Eris owned a little bit more of Carson now. "You'll be sweet, dress nice, smell good and drop the sour puss face" Maybe sexy it up a bit." Might be pushing it a little too far there.

Not wanting to agree to too much, Cars offered a smaller trade. "I'll pick one and promise to work on it."

"Deal! And you're going to write this guy and ask him out for a drink or something. Maybe go to that book store since your nose is always buried in one of those stinky, old reads...Who knows, he might like the kinky librarian look." Yes, yes, she was busy scheming now. Get the she-wolf out, put her in the right situation and she'd bloom!

Carson, on the other hand, stared at the files, the computer with it's cursor blinking in wait of her next move and then the empty house, slowly shaking her head. "No way in hell." This was where she belonged. Not out gallivanting around trying to draw attention to herself. "He'll make me out to be some desperate tart. Anyway, just because he was good looking doesn't mean he has a brain cell in his head. I know the type. Sure, they're all hard and muscular; but barely out of the cave man days when their mouths are open. I'll drop the sour puss face and that's it."

Ooooooo, she was such a testy thing. Must be the mark of her lineage. Thorn was a pain in the arse too. "Fine.." No need to argue with Carson's hard head. There were other ways to skin a cat..err, garou. "I'll be in touch." Didn't say with who. Just like that, Eris vanished into the mists of time. Or somewhere she could make trouble. Leaving Carson to do her precious work.

Once back on Olympus, the Goddess had something very important on her mind. "Cupid, can you get me an address for a Carter English' He's around Rhydin somewhere. Bald." Was the only description she gave the messenger. Couldn't be too hard to find him right' "Better yet, when you find him, send him a little letter..have it say.." Chewing on her bottom lip in thought.

Carter,

I know you probably won't remember me; but, we met for a short time at the Inn. Thought we might be able to get together for coffee and a bit of conversation. Whatever is convenient for you.

Hope to see you soon,

Carson

"Uhm, Eris, do you really think that's a good idea? She said no." Man, Cupid hated when these women got him into dangerous predicaments. Never ended well for the messenger.

She'd dismiss his concerns easily enough. "Please. The girl doesn't know what she wants. All I'm doing is creating an opportunity for her to find out. He shows, they talk, maybe have a laugh or two. Carson is so much more personable when there's no crowds. If he's as dumb as a brick or they don't get along, no harm done."

Yeah, right. He'd seen this scenario before. "No harm to YOU. I get tarred and unfeathered. It's not pleasant."

"I'm not asking." Sternly warning him.

"I know. I know." Off he'd go to complete her request. Once Eros found out where Carter lived, he'd slide something akin to a telegram under his door marked with Mount Olympus Courier where a stamp should be. Knuckles rapped twice against the wood to announce the drop off then Cupid made a speedy departure. No way in Hades he wanted HIS head to be on the line for whatever came of this.

Life was never dull once Eris got involved. When Cupid rapped on the door, Carson opened it with a touch of aggravation and a pinch of curiosity. "At least you knocked." Lord knows Eris never did. Woman just popped right in with no niceties whatsoever.

"Save your breath, I'm not writing that guy a letter." Wanting to get that out right up front.

Cupid entered only a few feet past the door with an apologetic smile knowing Carson was one who preferred her privacy. "No, no, it's not that at all. Actually, she needs a favor. Has nothing to do with men. Here." Offering up the folded list. Soon as she reached for it, he was going to hurry away.

He'd have to wait. Cars had no intention of tasking possession of that note. "Return to sender." Advancing forward to force Cupid back and, hopefully, out of her house. "She's trying to trick me. I know it. I don't want it."

Her full court press forward did sway him to move back. Yet the letter still hovered between them. Literally hovered. He'd let it go forcing her to walk into it should she continue. "Sorry, it is my legal obligation to complete my daily rounds. Come sun, rain, snow, sleet..impending wolf attack."

"I'm not going to attack you." Growling a little for shits and giggles. "What is it?" She was still not about to lay a finger on that letter. Might explode or contain some sort of potion. Poison! Could be poison!

He'd never seen someone so skittish before. Seems she was more familiar with Eris ways than he'd first thought. "Just a list of items she needs from the book store but doesn't have time to pick up. Did say it was imperative to get them soon." Fibbing a bit to ease Carson over to the dark side. "She did say please and thank you." Ha..not. Like Eris would do such a thing. "Go on, take it. I don't have all day."

Carson rubbed her hands together, eyeing the floating message nervously. "Book store eh' I know where that is." How bad could it be? Snatching the note from the sky once the decision was made. "Alright, lets have a look at what she just has to have." The paper crinkled as the list was slowly revealed. At first glance, Cars expression was one of..shock. After reading it a second time, amusement settled in. By the third time, a full on smile had crept over her lips. "This is a joke right?"

Damn, Cupid wished he'd read the whole thing! "No, she said it was very important to get those items for her. Why' What is it' What does she want?"

By now, Carson had the back of her hand hiding the ever growing smile as laughter slipped free. "You didn't see this" Oh my god." Suffering a fit of the giggles. "I can't ask for this stuff! Not sure I can even get it out without laughing like a crazy woman. Who needs things like this?"

"Eris. What does it say' ..come on.." He was practically begging now. If Carson, the one who rarely cracks a smile, was laughing so hard, it had be good. Or plain kinky..but good! "Tell me..tell me! Come on, let me see.."

By this point she had to share with somebody. "Here, see what your lovely friend just has to have as soon as possible."

Carson, I can't make it into Rhydin and really, really need these three books. Promise to pay you back for the trouble..Thanks, Eris.

1.This one might be hard to find. It's a name register for women (and some men) with a serious issue.

Breast Reinforcement Abutment Society by Imma Hanglow

2. This book is to help make a cream for Ares. He's having some 'male' issues.

Penile Emulsions to Nullify Involuntary Shrinkage by Hue G. Nethers

3. And lastly,

Perfect Orgasm Right Now by The Big Bop Her

Should be in the self help section.