Last minute wibbles.

[amityville_sweetheart]

Magical supplies, check. Called Trevor. Have contact information for others. Damn, better check your book and make sure... yep. Done. Okay.

Cats are taken care of, got the hired help to be down in Florida when the van gets to Angela. Hopefully I didn't miss anything. Troia and her friend can make free use of the furniture, but the personals had to go. Not that I wanted them myself, anyway. Better than Angela gets them, I'd burn most of it.

Corrine's running off a mental checklist in her mind. She's always been known as one to worry, and this occasion is no different. Everything had to be perfect. Just right. No room for error.

At least Trevor's done. Wish there could've been a way to do it without telling him, but there wasn't. I need him too much on this.

She rushes past the kitchen counter, suddenly stopping and taking a few steps back to scarf down a forkful of her salad. She made it twenty minutes ago, and it's spent most of the time sitting on the counter untouched. Running around like a chicken with your head cut off isn't going to get anything done. You should stop and eat... yeah, right, should.

Comments

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Since she started working on her pet project, Caleb hasn’t heard from Corrine. He’s tried calling both her home and cell phone numbers, but both went straight to an answering machine.* They must be off the hook.

*As he approaches her front door, Caleb checks to make sure that the manila folder in his trench coat pocket isn’t showing.* No sense in complicating things, now is there. *He knocks on the door then stands there, the air about him that of a businessmen on a job.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine stops dead mid-chew, staring at the door as if it just randomly turned a strange shade and began talking. She wasn't expecting anyone. She looks up at the clock. Way too early to hear from Trevor yet... and on a saturday?

The apartment is a complete wreck, magical supplies, half-finished projects and spells still working themselves over everywhere. She's still wearing her great-grandmother's casting garb, and though she's stopped to shower and do laundry, she hasn't kept up with her appearance any besides that.

Without even considering any of this, she opens the door.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb gives Corrine a look of concern as he greets her.* “Hello, love. I hadn’t heard from you in a while, so, I, uh….”

Something feels quite out of place…. “..wanted to make sure you were alright.”

*Caleb tries to look nonchalant, but he can feel something. He’s not quite sure what it is – yet, - but he knows he doesn’t like it.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Ack!" Corrine, totally graceful, as always.

"I mean, hi. Hi! Hello. I'm fine. Not dead. Still alive." She closes the door enough so that she can see out, but his ability to see in is limited. She grins at him. "Working. Very busy. Very, very busy."

Something crackles behind her, and she turns just in time to see a glass vial explode where it's been mixing a substance in the air for over an hour. "Damnit!" A second later she remembers herself and turns back to Caleb, same overtly innocent grin plastered on. "Anything else?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*The sound immediately draws Caleb’s attention.* “What was that?”
*Caleb tries to look around her, only to have his view obstructed by the door.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Cats!" She stumbles out into the hallway, slamming the door shut behind her. "Cats, being... cats! Those darn felines..."

From down the hall, Mrs. Hallet is taking a decidely long time on deadbolting her door. She's staring at the two rather unabashedly.

"Hello, Mrs. Hallet," Corrine says, monotone.

"Hello, dear," the old woman finally responds, sizing up Caleb as she walks past. "Still trying to get that recipe right? If you decide to give up, you know I always did make a wonderful pecan pie."

Corrine plasters on another fake grin. "Yes, ma'am."

Mrs. Hallet gives her a long-suffering smile. "You know, my oldest boy Jeremy is divorced now. Cooks just like his mother. Ah, well. You mind yourself, dear." Another suspicious look at Caleb. "Don't get into any trouble."

"No, ma'am."

Once the old woman is gone, she turns back to Caleb. "She's... a nice old lady. Helping me with... baking. Yes."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb raises an eyebrow.* “So, uh .. you’re .. your contention is that she is helping you bake the cats who are just being cats? Love, what’s wrong? Are you drinking coffee again?”

*While awaiting her response Caleb finally realizes what that feeling is: he’s sensing the presence of blood magic.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

No. No!" She sounds absolutely appalled. "Of course I'm not baking the _cats_!"

She pauses, thinking about that for a moment. "Coffee does sound _really_ good. You didn't bring coffee, did you?" She thinks on that for another second as something makes a ringing sound in her apartment-- and it is decidely not a phone.

"See? Stove buzzer. I'm... uh... trying to make food. Pie. Pecan. Um. But I suck at baking, and I made a total mess of the kitchen." She stares at the ceiling. "And sugar! I've had LOTS of sugar today. Yes. Because I've had to test each batch, y'know... oh, and I've been drinking! I am _completely_ smashed right now! So, uh, the concern is appreciated, but I really should sleep it off. Hate to do it, but it's really what's best, don't you think? And I promise, I'll never go on a week-long baking spree while drunk again. Scout's honor."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb smiles, unable to stop himself from giggling.* “Very good, then.” *He gives her a kiss on the forehead, and then turns to leave.*

No, I can’t pretend to buy her story … *He turns back.* “One last question, though. Aside from the obvious what are you really doing and why are you trying to hide it from me, one inquiry does beckon. Please level with me, hun – why do I sense blood magic about you?” Please, please tell me you’re not –that- stupid…

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Damnit.

"Erm."

She bites her bottom lip. She hasn't slept in three days beyond the occasional dozing off, and food hasn't been at the forefront of her mind, either.

That's the only excuse for such a lame explanation. "Finding a cure for cancer?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb just stares at her, his piercing gaze intently focused on the spaz before him. He says nothing. He doesn’t move. He doesn’t even have an expression on his face. Just the eyes, that seem to see through everything.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine just stares back at him, lips folded under. Right. So no cure for cancer.

"Babies!" she suddenly shouts. "I was... um..." She pauses. "I didn't want to tell you, but, um..." The mention of babies always makes men run for the hills. So run with it, girl. And don't fall on your face.

"I..." Her mouth hangs open, waiting for the words. "Was scrying. The future. To see if there were... babies. For us. 'Cause they're cute. And... my clock is ticking?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb glances at his watch, then returns his gaze to Corrine.*

“Try again.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Oh, boy. What now? She sighs.

"Using blood magic to bind a spell so I can keep the spirit at the house trapped until I can move it along because really y'know that's not safe I mean just speaking mentally if you were stuck being dead in the same place for years you'd be kinda pissed too so really it's a public safety hazard and I'm totally doing the right thing spirits don't belong roaming the mortal plane right so I'm just doing what needs to be done and I haven't slept in three days and I really don't need any shit from you right now about it so save it."

She takes a deep breath. "And I really _have_ had a lot of sugar today, and I could use a strong drink." She opens the door to the apartment. "Scotch?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Words are not even necessary, as Caleb’s expression conveys his apprehension and disappointment all by itself.* “No scotch for me. Or for you, for that matter.”

*He begins to feel around, trying to find any other mystical surprises that may await him inside.* “Blood magic is dangerous enough without you introducing alcohol into the equation. Besides, there, uh … there is one very easy thing to overlook – in Blood magic, since you and the spell are intrinsically linked, the condition of your spells and your physical condition reflect each other. By drinking and not sleeping, you only reduce the effectiveness of your spells.”

And god help you if a blood magic spell collapses…

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Like I said, I really, really don't need you--" She turns back to him, slowly, raising a brow. "Are you-- are you giving me advice?"

Corrine shakes her head as she goes inside. "Unexpected, but... yeah. Thanks, I guess."

There's an overwhelming plethora of scents-- some utterly intoxicating and others that are just strange-- coming from all over the apartment. All the furniture has been moved away from the walls, where runes randomly appear and glow. The cats peek out from their hiding place under the couch, obviously alarmed at the amount of activity. There are vials mixing themselves in mid-air, glasses and bowls with swirling colors set about on every flat surface, and books set about on the floor randomly flipping through pages.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“Well, I am your arcane tutor, after all.” *Caleb enters the apartment, carefully scrutinizing everything he sees.* “How .. where .. uh …” *A sigh, then in a measured voice.* “Where did you learn blood magic?”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Another sigh. "It's complicated." She goes over to the coffee table, checking the contents of one glass. "Why isn't this working? Three days, and nothing yet!" She pokes at the contents inside, and there's a slight smoking before the glass cracks down the side. "Damnit!"

With a fingertip, she scribbles something on the walls, and on the other side of the room the pages of a book stop turning. As she writes, the words appear in the book before continuing on another page. "I've been using too much lilac root. That's got to be it," she mumbles mostly to herself, setting about starting the mixture again.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb smiles despite himself.* “No … Lilac typically doesn’t spawn that sort of a reaction...”

*He looks over the assembled ingredients, trying to remember his potion mixing days. It had, after all, been a while. After a moment, he points to one of the beakers.* “That might, though. You haven’t been adding more than a third of a cup, have you?”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine stares at him for a moment, then at the beaker. "Uh..." She thinks on it, trying to remember. "The last batch I started seven hours ago..." She goes over to a book, her fingers moving to flip through it but never actually touching the pages. "3/4s. I knew that sounded wrong..."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb nods as he runs his hands through his hair.* “Yeah, that’ll do it. I’m just grateful you didn’t add a full cup.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Why? Does it tend to go 'boom'?" She chews on her bottom lip. "A lot of stuff has done that over the past few days. It's been too long since I've done _any_ of this."

Corrine moves over to a bowl, tipping it so Caleb can see the contents. "And this shifting sand... it keeps coming out like mud! The color was perfect when I ground it, and the viscosity was fine up until the standing period, so I know it's not the citrine. But when I let it stand, it liquifies."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“Shifting sand can be rather tricky. If I wasn’t in somewhat the hurry to speak with Mr. Terrific about some business matters, I’d show you how. Instead…” *He hands her a key to his apartment.* “.. I’ve got about 20 pounds of the stuff in some jars in the foot locker under my bed. There’s a padlock…” *He hands her another key.*

“Make sure you return those to me. And, I’m trusting you to not take or disturb anything else in there.”

*Caleb walks over to the furniture in the middle of the room, and sits down in one of the chairs. As he does, he briefly rubs his temple.* “You, uh .. if … had you indeed added a full cup to that mixture, this house would be a smoldering creator. Didn’t your prior instructor .. whoever they where … impress upon you the instability and danger of these sorts of magic?”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine eyes him carefully, her expression a mixture of hurt and anger. "No, I wouldn't. You can rest your paranoia, I wouldn't _steal_ from you."

She begins dumping the botched shifting sand into a bag, tying it tightly closed and incanting a protectorate over it. Working or not, she doesn't want to take the chance, even if it should lose whatever effects it might've shown in a few minutes. "And, no, my 'mystery instructor'," she says with sarcasm, "Didn't have a lot of regard for hazard. They tended to... experiment a lot. I'm working mostly from memory, and considering they didn't have a high success rate, it's been trial and error. With lots of error. Almost lost a hand a few days ago when I was working on a batch of fire powder."

She holds up her hand, showing the burn mark on the back. "I was using kyanite instead of biotite. Chewed a hole right through the bowl and into the table."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb’s face is a mix of concern and dread. His body language resembles a boy who’s puppy had just been shot. With a bazooka.*

*He looks at her hand’s wounds, and then places his on top of hers. His eyes close as he borrows some of Corrine’s magic, and when he removes his hand, her wounds have healed. An uncomfortable silence looms for a few seconds before Caleb again speaks. His voice is soft, firm, and thinly masking hurt.*

“I wasn’t saying to not steal. I wouldn’t have given you the keys if I thought you would. I only meant that there are some dangerous chemicals in that box, and I didn’t want you to be accidentally exposed to something that could kill you.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"...Oh. I..." She sighs. "Look, I'm sorry. I've just been cooped up in here so long, going crazy. I just keep thinking that if I try long enough, it'll all fall into place. The school was closed for a while, and then I just took all the sick leave I could get. Disconnected the phone, unplugged the tv, radio... it's been nothing but incantation after incantation."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“You’ve been running yourself ragged…” *His eyes return to Corrine, then he gets up and walks over to her. He gives her a hug, both to signify ‘apology accepted’ and to try and make her feel better.*

“Listen … you know this is dangerous stuff you’re doing… and I trust that there must have been a good reason you’ve not sought my assistance, but know that it is available to you. I’ve got a quick task to perform with the JSA, but them I’m at your disposal.”

*He looks back over at the smoking, failed alchemical experiment.* “Once upon a time I knew I had access to some powerful magic, but didn’t know exactly how to properly utilize it. I chose to utilize it anyway, and for many years, nothing went wrong. Little things at first, then not so little things. 12 years ago, I again .. as was becoming routine at the time … played with powerful magic I didn’t know and understand …” *He looks Corrine in the eyes.* “…and Amelia paid the price for it. I implore you to find some system other than experimentation to help you through whatever your doing, because I don’t know what I’d do if something where to happen to you. Go eat something. Get some rest, and then set back about this. Borrow some of my books if you still don’t want me involved – just don’t..” *He didn’t need to finish.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She nods. "I don't mean to worry you, honestly, or make you feel like I don't trust you. It's just..." She shrugs. "There are still a lot of things you don't know, and I don't know if I'm ready yet to talk about it. By tomorrow, this will all be done with, so I _have_ to finish."

She sighs wearily, sitting down on the couch. She suddenly realizes just how tired she is, how hard she's been working herself. The absense of pressure on her feet is actually painful, and the migraine that had been threatening to manifest for days begins a dull throbbing behind her eyes. "This is all for the house. I need to finish what I started there. But there's... more to it than we talked about. Maybe when I get back..."

She shakes her head. "My family's complicated. There was a silence that wasn't to be broken, things that never got talked about it. It was always, 'keep it all in the family. No one knows, no one ever has to know. No one else understands.' And on some level, I still believe that's true. Some things people don't understand, never will. It's just the way things are, the way I _have_ to be. Don't take it personally, because I _know_ you do."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“Haven’t I proven I do understand? I’m not most people, love. I live in the same magical world that you do….”

Why can't you just open up to me?

“Look, I won’t pressure you. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask you to. Well, aside from one question, if you could do me that favor: Who was your first instructor? What do you mean that it was complicated?”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine thinks on that a moment, staring down at her hands. She chews on her bottom lip, then looks around for a moment, seeming to inspect the walls. She watches the runes move along the wall, appearing and fading, and sighs. "She's not watching right now."

Her eyes move back to him. "I have to finish what I started at the house. I promised Angela I would, and she's been watching me recently, making sure I live up to my end of the bargain. And she doesn't believe in taking this outside of the family. Family secrets go to the grave with you, and she's afraid... she's afraid if too many people know, it might attract attention."

Corrine stands, pacing back and forth. How to explain this so he'd understand, without giving it all away? If he'd just be patient, if he'd wait one more day, this would all be over with. All the secrets, all the hiding, she could tell him everything. "Look, Angela has it in her head that I'm... important, or something. I don't know, she won't explain it to me. She just keeps telling me I _have_ to do this. So for right now, I have to keep my mouth shut, get it done, and then I don't have to worry about it anymore. Then I can explain everything-- what I know, at least."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb nods, then answers in a gentle voice.* “Very well, then. I’ve waited this long, haven’t I? Patience, after all, is a virtue.”

*Caleb gives Corrine a firm hug. As he continues, his voice and tone are normal.* “I still contend that you’ll do yourself no good by running yourself into the ground. Get some food and get some rest. Not only will it improve the quality of your spells, but it’ll also make whatever it is you have to do that much easier. Angela is right about one thing – you are very special.” *He gives her a quick kiss son the forehead.* “At least to me.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She smiles, falling into the hug and not letting go. "I wish I could tell you more. I'm sorry I can't, but I promise I will. As soon as I get back. Everything, anything you want to know."

She looks up, staring into his eyes. "Please don't be angry with me. It's just... the way things are right now."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*Caleb smiles and nods. He’s reserving judgment. Every instinct he has tells him he should be upset that he’s being left out of something evidently important, but he also trusts this woman. He’s hurt, but he’s not angry – and he’s doing his best to give the impression that he is neither.*

*Realizing he’s a horrible liar seems more and more to be a realization he’ll never obtain.*

“If you need me to show you some anti-scrying spells, I have time.” *He glances at his watch.* “Not much of it, but enough to perform one for you.” It’s simply ridiculous that your sister wouldn’t just accept your word.

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"No, that's okay. I don't want to hear it from her. This is almost over, I can put up with it for one more day." She grimaces.

"I've told her under no uncertain terms that it ends here, though. Once I've done this, she has no more hold on me. I don't think I'll ever get to find out why this is even important-- she says it's better if I don't know-- but at the very least, she can stop interfering in my life."

Looking down at her hands, she whispers, "And now you're upset with me. I wish you wouldn't take this so personally."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“I’m not taking it personally, hun.” *A lie.* “I mean, I am a little hurt, but this is your business. I believe you’ll make the right decision.” *Truth.* “Besides, It won’t kill me to wait until tomorrow.” *Truth.* “Or even long if tomorrow comes and you still don’t feel comfortable telling me.” *Half-truth.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine's _so_ not buying that. When will he realize he's a horrible liar? She gives him an incredulous look from the tops of her eyes. "To the first, yes, you are. To the second and third, thank you for having faith in me. And to the last? Not a chance."

She slides her arms around his neck, her face only inches away from his. "Look at me. I love you. There's no two ways about it. I know I seem untrustworthy, and everytime you think you know something about me, you learn differently. It's all been for a reason, and soon, it'll be over." Her hand moves down, her fingers intertwining with his. "I want a future with you. There's still a part of me that's afraid you won't understand when I tell you, but I've realized if I don't, I risk not having that future. So I'll talk. Just not right this second."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*For the first time since Corrine’s spastic greeting, Caleb actually relaxes and gives her a genuinely warm smile.* “I love you, too. And if it’s so important to you, I’ll wait. All prior offers of assistance still stand, however.” *He actually means it this time. It turns out that Caleb just needed hear that.*

*He leans down and gives her a slow kiss.* “Good hunting, love.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She smirks. "Not leaving yet, are you?" She gives a little tug on his shirt, an evil little grin coming to her face. "C'mon, not in that much of a hurry, are you? I haven't seen you in a month..."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

*He smiles back at her, some antic obviously on his mind. He raises a brow, and speaks sweetly.* “I can stay a while. And I thought you'd have learned by now, love... I am -never- in a hurry."

*Caleb subscribed to the philosophy that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right.*

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine giggles, and a few flicks of the wrist and the activity about the room stops. "C'mere, you." She grabs him by the front of the shirt, tugging him gently into the bedroom and kicking the door shut behind them.