Two days before Thanksgiving...

[amityville_sweetheart]

Ah, Florida. Warm weather all year long, even in late November. Home of beautiful palm trees, the Mouse, warm, sandy beaches... and bugs big enough to count as the state bird. Ew.

Glancing at the clock, Corrine makes a left at the last light before her sister's house. She'd turned off the heat to the rental car hours ago, and only an hour after that the windows had gone down. It was nice to feel the cool breeze through her hair and not be shivering, but the farther and farther they drove into the warmth of Florida, the more anxious she got. This would be her family's first time meeting Caleb, and his first time meeting them.

If at all possible, she wanted to avoid screaming matches or fist fights, but she had a feeling by the end of the day it'd be inevitable. Just for safety's sake, Corrine had insisted that they stay at the hotel only 20 minutes away. Angela's house was more than big enough to accomodate her and Caleb, but she had a feeling her older sister would probably try and offer them seperate rooms. Not to mention it gave them a place to escape if the family got too unbearable.

Corrine waits patiently at a stop sign before turning into a residential neighborhood. The yards are spacious, every house has two car garages, and there are children playing football in a yard. The driveways are either packed with cars or completely empty, and with a nervous sigh, Corrine pulls the car into the third house on the right.

Turning off the car, she turns to Caleb. "Well, we're here." A nervous smile. "Ready?"

Comments

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

Louis just smirks as Corrine jets out the front door. It was that time again. Honestly, Louis respected tradition as much as the rest of his younger siblings. Even with Patrice out in California, and Genie flitting in and out of everyone's life at his whim, tradition still held power over all of them. Corrine was no exception, even if he liked Caleb. Angela was the eldest, she made the final call, and that was just the way it was; the way it always had been, for years now.

Better Angela than papa, may he rest easy. So, hesitantly, he played his part. "I'm gonna go get Jack and Mark. Why don't you see if Angie needs anything, Caleb?" And he's up the stairs without another word.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb opens his mouth to reply, but Louis is gone so fast he doesn’t have time to utter a single syllable. That was odd.

Something doesn’t feel quite right, as Caleb can spot a set up when he’s walked into one. But these seem like nice enough people, so whatever they’re setting him up for, it’s unlikely to be too terribly bad. Besides, this Louis bloke seemed pleasant enough.

He turns and walks into the kitchen, taking in his surroundings briefly before speaking. “Corrine and Louis are fetching the others. Might I be of assistance?”

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

Angela's got a stack of plates in her hands that she wordlessly hands Caleb, before rushing back into the kitchen, cursing profusely. There's some clattering, and then, "Ah, good. Didn't burn the bread. That would've pissed me off real tender."

She emerges from the kitchen again, giving Caleb a polite "thank you" as she starts setting wine glasses around the different placements. "So, Dr. Zukov, huh? Doctor of what?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Immediately Caleb begins to set the table, thought he takes a little longer than he would at his own beach house. This seemed to be the fine china, after all. Someone else’s fine china – and it wouldn’t be a very good first impression if he were to break one.

“Well … a historian, actually. I’ve a PHD in American history from the University of Metropolis.”

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

"History, hrm? Interesting." She doesn't even look at him as she speaks, leaning down now to retrieve a stack of cloth napkins from a small armoire in the corner of the exquisite dining room. It certainly is an extravagant house-- the fireplace in the living room, the cathedral ceiling and tower windows of the foyer, the chandelier over the dining room table. It could well be suspected her line of questioning since his arrival is all to ensure her sister is not interested in a pauper, merely looking out for the financial well-being of her sister, but now it takes a turn for the absolutely absurd.

"Roary told me you were a doctor. What she didn't tell me was that you were an incubi," she says just as conversationally as can be, finally looking at him now.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb straightens up, and then looks at her right in the eyes.

“That’s, uh … likely because I’m not exactly an incubi. I’m mostly human … human enough to, unlike an incubu, have a soul. My powers also bear only certain simple similarities to those of an incubi.”

She must have used some sort of magic to figure it out. With all the magic around here and in everyone, Caleb would have been hard pressed to notice the spell had he been specifically looking for it – which he hadn’t been.

“She was similarly hesitant to mention your family lineage to me. I had to chance upon that information myself.”

Caleb knows than Angela helped Corrine assume her new identity, and he also knows that she did it because she knew someone would come looking for Corrine. It’s a logical deduction that she knows about Kendrick, and the fallen line of holy mages. That she withheld that information, and nearly killed Corrine by doing so, wasn’t exactly forgotten.

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

"I take full responsibility for that, but don't expect me to be sorry about it," she says casually. "I had to protect my sister, and our legacy. My father made many enemies, as did my mother, but I was never expecting an Al Koyet to be sent. I appreciate the part you played in keeping it away from Roary."

Angela stands up straight, her hands resting on the edge of the table. "Make no mistake, though, Caleb, you aren't a part of the plan. My only concern is the endurance of our line, of the D'Aubigne legacy. Therese is key to that, whether she be dark or holy. So whatever your intentions are for my sister, know that you're going to have the fury of hell on your head if any harm comes to her. We are one of very, very few lasting families of a magical line, and several times already have attempts been made to snuff us out. If your intentions are good, then I wholeheartedly welcome you as part of the family."

Her eyes grow dark, that same darkness that is always so apparent in Corrine's own eyes when she becomes angry. "But if you aren't, know that Louis and I both have dark contacts, and each of my siblings is ready to rally around Therese at a moment's notice, as well as several dozen others. You would lose ten times over."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

This is the –last- time I agree to leave my gun at home.

Caleb’s expression grows similarly dark, though his voice is calm and measured.

“I’ll allow my history with Corrine to testify to my intentions. As for your threats, madam, know that I’m neither defenseless, nor alone.” The various covens he belonged too would all rally around him, as would the DEO, JSA, and several stray contacts he has himself made. But most telling is the JSA, through whom he has the protection of the superhuman community. No need to enumerate all that to her, now is there?

Caleb’s expression lightens. “She’s your sister, so I can appreciate you looking out for her. I’ve given my sister’s boyfriends the speech more than a few times, so I understand. That this is your home not withstanding, what I don’t appreciate is being mortally threatened. For a host, it’s most unbecoming.”

Caleb has killed more vampires and lesser demon than he could quickly recall. Here and there a prominent one, too, including an Al Koyet and one of Hell’s princes, Neron. Along the way, he’s taken down some rather powerful meta-humans, including a telekinetic who’s power level was only slightly lower than that of Superboy. Truly, the wrath of hell intimidates him far less than it would another man.

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

Angela nods, an air of utmost respect and honor. She appreciates the fact that Caleb is a man not to be fooled with. It means her sister has surrounded herself well with people who can protect her. "To be honest, Caleb, it makes me feel a lot better that you're a man not to be trifled with. Roary may be powerful, but she doesn't know the first thing about protecting herself. She has no idea what kind of life awaits her. Better she be prepared, and surrounded by people such as yourself-- and, yes, the JSA-- to look out for her."

She sighs sadly, staring out the dining room window at Corrine chasing Jenn around the yard. "I don't want Roary to share the fate most of my family has met. I... love my father, I respect him utterly even in death, but that isn't the life I want for her. She's destined for greater things, and dared I say she's the only hope this family has of returning to grace. There's an innocence to her my siblings and I lost a long time ago. I know it will redeem her, and all of us, in the end."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“It is he utmost desire of every family to improve their lot with time. My parents immigrated with little more than the cloths on their backs, and built a shipbuilding empire with winnings from the stock market. I may be a millionaire now, but I remember winters from my youth where we didn’t have enough money to purchase heating oil for weeks after we ran out.”

Caleb finishes setting the table before resuming. “I, uh .. I’ve been schooling her in the mystical arts, and have found her to be quite the capable student. I, uh .. I suspect she’s from good stock.”

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

Angela purses her lips. "I'm not a big fan of this whole superhero thing, but yeah, Resie can learn a thing or two. Always was quick on the pick-up, papa was the same way. Sharp man."

She goes to the kitchen, coming back with a bottle of Sangria and pouring herself a glass. She takes a sip before setting the bottle down in the center of the table. "Well, I do have one last thing before I stop hassling you, Caleb. We're not bad people, none of us. We live a different life, and I apologize if it's complicated matters for you. I don't expect you to understand it, or condone it, but it's the way things are. Roary knows that, and I hope you realize that's not going to change. The last thing I want to do is make Roary choose."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“I wouldn’t expect you to change.” *Caleb snickers, and then proceeds in a tone meant to be jovial.* “And unless your lifestyle places you in combat against the Justice Society, you’ve no cause to believe I’ll hassle you about it.”

“I do love Corrine a rather great deal. I don’t want things to be any harder for her then they have to be.”

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

"Glad we're on the same page, then." She looks up, a smile covering her face as Louis and Jack descend the stairs, Jack carrying a child that could only be the previously-spoken-of Mark. Angela sets her glass down, rushing to Jack's side and taking the little one from his arms.

"Hello!" she coos, swaying as she carries the baby back into the kitchen. "Did you have a good nap?"

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

Louis smiles, pulling the high chair from the corner. "I think Jack slept better than he did."

Jack, sleepy and showing it, waves at Caleb and Angela before pouring himself into a seat quietly.

"Too much red wine this morning, baby?" Louis teases his lover, and is met with a middle finger in response.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb laughs to himself, quietly wondering who invited Trevor to dinner.

“Hello,” says as he offers his hand. “I’m Caleb.”

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

Jack shakes the hand offered to him, rubbing his eyes with the other. "I'm not usually so hung over, you'll have to excuse me. Lost a bet. Jack Thomas."