Southern Charm

Chapter Eight: Strength
Date Written: 12/24/05
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Dee/Ryo
Warnings: Homosexuality, murder, hoodoo use, mentioned NC (non consent or rape) and the issues that go with it (I'm not going to write it, though, the closest I'll go is memories)
Disclaimer: Same as Chapter Zero
Spoilers: All the way up through book 7
Notes: Sorry it's taken so long! I've been busy as hell with Rita and working--at a bookstore AND as an actual writer for my school paper!
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The muffuletta (with numerous alternate spellings) is a type of Sicilian bread, and the name of a sandwich from New Orleans, Louisiana made using it.

The bread is a large, round, and somewhat flat loaf, around 10 inches (25 cm) across. It has a sturdy texture, and is described as being somewhat similar to focaccia.

The muffaletta sandwich originated in 1906 at Central Grocery, operated by Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant. The sandwich is popular with city natives and visitors, and has been described as "one of the great sandwiches of the world". Central Grocery still serves the sandwich using the original recipe; however, other variations of this sandwich are served throughout the city. The locals have differing opinions on which shop serves the best muffuletta.

A typical muffuletta consists of one muffuletta loaf, split horizontally. The loaf is then covered with a marinated olive salad, then layers of ham, salami, mortadella, and provolone. The olive salad is considered the heart of the sandwich, and consists primarily of olives, along with celery, cauliflower, and carrot. The ingredients are combined, seasonings are added, covered in olive oil and allowed to combine for at least 24 hours. The sandwich is often heated through to soften the provolone.

--from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia
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The line at Cafe Maspero was almost around the corner when Marie, Dee and Ryo queued up. "Th' wait 's worth it, though I'm sorry we gotta stand in line," Marie said, smiling at them.

"Don't worry, it's the same in New York," Ryo reassured her, a smile gracing his face.

Marie laughed. "True Yankees! Y'all live in the city?"

"Born and raised," Ryo replied.

"Moi aussi, me too. Nothin' like big city livin', it's an experience all it own. Ev'ry city's got the same elements, but they've got their own auras. N'awlins has the air of both party central and mysticism."

"I have heard the word of God!"

The three turned to look down the line where a woman was preaching, her clothes ragged and dirty and her hair messy. Others were watching her, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. "Oh, yes! And God has said Don' trust the po-lice!"

The two detectives exchanged knowing looks, biting their lower lips to keep from cracking up.

"And, of course, like every other city, we have our religious nuts," Marie commented, rolling her eyes.

Dee snorted and managed to turn his chuckles into a coughing fit.
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Maspero was packed, which Marie assured them was the norm. "Th' food ain't all that great, but it's better than some," she said as they sat at their table. "It's a lan'mark, ya just gotta come an' eat here."

"Oh, Marie! Ca va?"

The three turned to look at their waiter, a young, scrawny white man with a greasy-looking ponytail and a stained tee shirt who was smiling at the young woman.

"I'm fine, Christophe, and not everyone at this table speaks French," she said calmly, smiling as she gently rebuked the man.

"Sorry," he said, his English accented but not as heavily as Marie's. "I just assumed, since you were with Marie. I'm Chris, by the way."

Ryo and Dee shook the young man's hand, and Marie explained how she knew the young man. "Christope's grandmother is a client of mine."

"Yeah," Chris agreed, grinning and sticking his pencil behind his ear. "Maw Maw's a big believer in voodoo.

While I don't necessarily believe in what Marie does, I just know that she makes that poor ol' woman feel a lot better," he finished with a laugh.

"Pshaw, a lot of voodoo's mind over matter anyway--just like everything else," Marie added with a laugh of her own.

"Nonsense, today's on me anyway." Chris took his pencil out from behind his ear and pointed the eraser end at the two detectives. "Y'all vegetarian?"

Dee and Ryo exchanged glances before Ryo answered for both of them. "No..."

"Jewish?"

"No."

"Okay, three muffulettas and three cokes. We've got Coke, Sprite, Dr. P... What do y'all want?"

"Coke sounds fine," Dee said, and Ryo nodded in agreement.

"All righty then, it'll be out in two shakes, Yankee boys," Chris said with a grin before walking back into the kitchen to put the order in.

"Christophe's a good man, but he's not quite all there," Marie said with a grin. "Just like his Maw Maw."

"I thought you just read tarot cards," Dee said, propping his chin in his hands to look at the girl.

"I do that on occasion now," Marie replied. "I've got a lot of personal clients who have me do spells an' mix potions for 'em--mostly elderly people, the younger generations don' believe in magic and voodoo outside of movies anymore."

"But you seem to be pretty comfortable," Ryo replied and Marie grinned.

"Thanks to my clients. Most pay me in barter--I get fed for my services, most times. Tourists such as y'selves pay for tarot readings, mostly. Exotic an' all that."

"Yeah, the first time we met you we found that tarot card," Ryo replied.

"Ah, so y'all are the detectives from N'York. Didn't peg y'all for cops, honestly," she said calmly, smiling up as Chris brought them their drinks.

"How'd you know?"

"N'awlin's finest came and found me after y'all gave my sketch to 'em," Marie replied, taking a long pull from her straw. "'Cause of who I am, they think I'm good for the crimes--despite my many alibis."

"Because of who you are?" Dee echoed, the two detectives exchanging looks.

"Marie's the descendant of Marie Laveau!" Chris exclaimed, frowning at Dee and Ryo.

The two New York natives gave the young man a blank look back.

"Tourists," Chris muttered, walking away and shaking his head.

Marie chuckled. "My great-great-great grandmother was one of the most famous voodoo users in the area. People still go out and pray at her tomb."

"And you kept up the family practice," Ryo replied.

Marie nodded. "What people don' know scares the hell out of 'em. Which is why this case is freakin' people out.

"Th' papers ain't got nothin' about it, but everybody knows. Someone's killin' people, puttin' down tarot cards next to the body. At firs' people thought it was a vigilante, wipin' out the sinners an' such, but now they're not so sure. Word says it's voodoo killin's, got people up at night prayin' rosaries."

"Voodoo killings?" the blonde asked, taking a sip of his own drink.

Marie looked around before leaning in closer. "I only know this 'cause the cops've questioned me three times--the bodies are us'lly found drained of blood. 'Cause of the cards, they think it's some sort of ritual."

The girl leaned back, smoothing out the folds of her skirt that were gathered on her lap. "What mos' people don' know, they make up--ya got the Church, ya got voodoo, ya got all sorts o' things others don' dare dream. I'm sure as cops y'all understand when I say there's a lotta stuff that's pretty damn hard to explain, either up here--" she tapped the side of her head, "--or in the natural world. So when people start showin' up with about 1/10th of the blood they're supposed to have in their body, people tend ta freak. They think vampires, usually, but... Some strange shit's been happenin' around town, too."

"What do you mean?" Dee asked, his forehead furrowing.

"N'awlins is ten feet below sea level, which is why our dead are buried above ground," Marie explained. "Someone's been goin' around at night, desecrating graves, writing stuff on 'em. An' the cops told me during one o' my interviews that some of the blood from the victims has showed up on 'em. An' the bodies go missing three days after they're laid to rest. Which makes the cops think that it's some sort of twisted religious psycho thing."

The conversation paused when Chris brought out their muffulettas, which were about four inches thick and eight inches across, perfectly round and spilling over with veggies and meat. The two detectives tried to cut it down to size--or at least in half--while Marie simply picked up the entire thing and chomped into it.

They ate in relative silence, more intent on the meal than the case, although Dee wasn't stupid. This had piqued Ryo's interest and nothing would deter him from doing a little amateur snooping around. Might as well join him so he doesn't get shot or jinxed or anything...

"There is one interesting fact about the murders that the cops never picked up on, though," Marie said, pausing before finishing her last few bites to wipe at her mouth with her napkin. "All the victims were mixed."

"Pardon?" Dee asked around a mouthful of bread and meat.

"Mixed. Mixed race. Like me, an' Ryo here, an' ya too Dee." She grinned, brushing a lock of unruly hair behind her ear. "Ev'rybody gives off their own auras. Those of mixed race give off diff'rnt ones than people who are jus' white or jus' black. It's hard ta explain if ya can't see it."

"So are you saying that people of mixed heritage are at more of a risk?" Ryo asked.

"I dunno, but I can tell ya this," Marie answered, picking up her drink to take a sip. She paused after a second, pulling the straw from her mouth. "If it is a voodoo killin'... He's usin' some of the best materials for dark magic."