While the cats away, the mice run like hell

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

As Calibusk uses Corrine’s summoning circle to jump to Alaska, Caleb reaps the benefits of Travis’ assistance. Free of the spell inhibiting him from siphoning off magic, he draws in as much magic as he can hold onto without concentrating too much, and phases his limbs through his restraints. Immediately he turns to the image revealing the battle between Calibusk and the Outsiders, only to discover that it’s disappearing.

“Dammit,” he mutters as he turns to the new arrivals. We can’t stay here. Assuming Calibusk survives his assault … best not to think about the other implications of that scenario as yet … Assuming Calibusk survives his assault, he’ll return here for us.

On one hand he truly doesn’t have the time for this, but on the other, abandoning two random strangers stranded in Hell is completely out of the question. Caleb runs over to the new arrivals, and begins to hurriedly jostle them. “Wake up!” he says. “We don’t have time to waste, so wake up!”

Comments

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Mara shrugs. "Ever seen what a two year old looks like who was in the front seat without a seatbelt? People inflict nasty visuals on one another, we all see weird things eventually."

She's quiet for a minute. "So do you know the Flash?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

The stride she’s taking this in impresses Caleb greatly. He’s the one who’s always picking fights with the supernatural, and here she is, a civilian stranded in Hell, and she’s holding up better than he is.

He visibly relaxes some. “No, I’m sorry to say. Most ‘proper’ heroes prefer to be without my company, and I’m more than happy to respect their wishes on the matter.”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"So you are the creepy guy." She smirks. "It's not so bad. You said people were coming for you, right? Other creepy people no one wants around, too, I guess?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

He snickers some. It’s an accurate assessment, after all. “Some of them.”

“Thought I, uh … I must confess that it’s most peculiar that we could be regarded as people that no one wants to be around. Certain social circles may, certainly, but the very fact that we are all gathered implies that we do each have people around us.”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Mara grins and it reminds her of her own strange little band of weirdos freshmen year at UM. Well, they weren't weird like he's weird, but the world has levels, right?

"That's true, but I still think you're the creepy guy." She makes a funny face at him. "Like someone's pulling your smile with strings. My uncle does that."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

His head tilts slightly to the side, as his uncertainty is reflected in his voice. “Pardon me, but I don’t believe I got your meaning.”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

She shrugs and splutters laughing. "I don't know, you're all--" She stands up straight, fixes her hair some and puts on a serious face. Then she cracks a random smile that doesn't really effect the rest of her face.

"I guess it's not bad. My uncle does it and he's cool, it's just a little creepy. My mom says he does it 'cause he used to work in this laundromat and he found a kid in a dryer one day." Mara looks sideways. "Sorry. When I'm tired I talk too much."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb is speechless. Stunned absolutely speechless. He opens his mouth to speak, but words won’t come out. In his brain, he doesn’t even know what thought to command his mouth to convey.

How does one respond to something like that?

He begins akin to a slow motion shrug before breaking out in laughter. “Fuck you, too?” he indecisively forces through his lips.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Does this girl ever stop smiling? "Hey, if you get me out of this alive it's a date."

She pauses. "Never been a firefighter, right?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"Well, not as such, no. I've been a DEO agent, a SWAT officer, a super-hero ..." Then, more quietly. "... a coffee shop manager, and a movie theatre attendant."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"You're totally lying," she says but it's with a laugh that says she does believe him. "So okay, I've been beating on you pretty bad. When I got up this morning I didn't expect to be here, and-- you weren't what I was expecting."

She throws her hands up. "It's not a disparagement. I'm still alive, and so is James, no thanks to him. You're just twitchy, kinda makes me nervous. You think we're really safe in here?" She looks out at the pitch blackness. "It's like there's nothing out there. It's depressing."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“I rather think it would be more depressing were there something out there to see, given the locals.”

“And there’s no need to apologize to me. I wasn’t expecting to be here either, you know? But you, uh … you can rest assured that I’m not dangerous. I’m not going to hurt either of you.”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"Well I didn't say that, like you're a maniac or something." Mara gives him a look that's a bit skewed. She wasn't expecting he'd feel all that way about it.

She looks behind her at James's sleeping form, then pulls something out of her pocket. A rolled-up, half-eaten bag of beef jerky. She offers him some. "I got a snickers bar for the kid in the other pocket, but I figure we're gonna get a lot less sleep than him. Kids can sleep through anything."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

His whole face lightens. “You have food?”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

She shrugs and hands him two chunks. "A friend of mine's diabetic and we like to go spelunking, so I've always got something. I figured it was best to hold onto it until we were really hungry, in case we're stuck here for a while. Not sure how much of the wildlife I trust eating."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“I can’t say I blame you. May, uh … may I see the food? I don’t know how to transmute objects into food … it’s a skill I’ve simply never had need of before, you see … but I do know how to make copies of objects. If you let me see what you have, I can ensure that everyone has some."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Mara gives him a look but hands over the bag and everything in her pockets. Okay, yeah, this is just weirder but more food is good and he's already shown teleportation so it's not that far-fetched.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

He notes the looks, and answers it with a smile as he unrolls the bag, and lays it on the ground before him. A single large stone from nearby completes the setting.

Caleb places one hand on the stone, and the other on the bag. His eyes cease to focus on anything as he commands the magic to look over the bag of jerky, and then to transmute an equal amount of mass from the stone into an exact replicate of the bag.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he asks of her as a slight whirring sound begins to emanate from the rock. “This might startle you, but I, uh … I assure you that this is not abnormal.” His eyes again focus on her, and a warm smile accompanies them. “At least by the standards of what I’m doing, of course.”

A few seconds pass, and then a portion of the rock suddenly bursts outward like sand hurled in all directions. The pieces of sand all turn themselves around, and then re-arrange themselves as to assume the shape of the bag. Then the sand begins to change, in moments re-inventing itself as a half-eaten, rolled up bag of beef jerky.

“Bon appetite,” he says with a smile, handing the original bag back to her.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The look hasn't gone anywhere but Mara's eyebrows have lifted a bit on her forehead. A quiet smile works across her face and it's evident she's more impressed than surprised.

"Thanks." She sticks a piece in her mouth and distracts herself with chewing. What else do you say to that? Gotta wonder what the dup tastes like.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb doesn’t seem to mind the taste, as he just keeps eating and eating it.

“Don’t mention it,” he answers her.

He has some more jerky, followed by a slight, almost private smile. “You know, it … it occurs to me just now that, uh … that when we get back to Earth, I’m going to have to explain to Jame’s parents precisely what happened to their son.” Another snicker.

“I anticipate this becoming awkward the moment an older, dark man arrives upon at their door with their missing, obviously traumatized son.” A shrug. “That’s going to be fun.”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"If it helps any, I can go along," she says with a shrug. "I don't think James is planning on telling his parents where he really was. You could probably make something up that'll go over a lot better and I bet James would stick to it."

A few quiet seconds pass and then she giggles. "James seems like the kind of kid that doesn't want the noise. He'll take grounding if it means never having to convince his parents he was in Hell. Too much of a blessing answered for them, if his attitude says anything."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

What starts as a chuckle soon becomes all out-laughter, though Caleb does his best to not be too loud.

A gesture towards James. “I imagine he’s that brat in the department store who screams because his push-over parents won’t buy him the super-deluxe GI Joe. Or whatever children play with these days.”

“Then again, he’s probably terrified. Young, terrified, stranded, and in the company of strangers.”

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Mara snickers, giving him another skewed look. Kids don't play with GI Joes anymore. It's all high-tech war games and CGI special effects. Her little brother's only five, and as much as she loves her parents, she's still of the opinion that's way too young for an X-Box.

"If he manages not to get eviscerated or something, I think this whole experience might level him out." She shrugs. "I hate kids, so I'm not really the person to ask."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“I’m not much of a child-person either. I, uh … I did practically raise my younger sister, though. My, uh … my parents weren’t exactly the nurturing or attentive types, and the maid didn’t work enough hours to do much more than tend to our material needs.”

He runs his hand through his hair, and thinks about the lot life threw at Amelia. “She’s ruff around the edges, but when you get down to it - taking all she's been through into account - she turned out alright. Her heart’s in the right place more often than not, though she doesn't always think things through as thoroughly as prudence might demand."