Easter Weekend

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

It’s been a while since he sat in this office. It’s not a particularly spacious or meaningful office. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, the managerial office of the Metro Java is rather insignificant, but to Caleb Zukov, the joy is found in how he came to be sitting here.

And that joy is a welcome change of pace for him in the month since his ordeal with Calibusk. And Constantine. Amelia was full of complaints at first, but as the days passed she returned to her normal distrusting, evasive ways. Which, when compared to it's alternative, one actually finds desierable. Though her lack of faith is begining to grate somewhat.

He’s needed a break for a while now, and after his return from Hell, he decided to take a few weeks away from the Outsiders. Quitting was never really taken under consideration, but a vacation was certainly in order. All in all, it has helped him to get back into the rhythm of his day to day life, and let him focus on the healing of his severely injured left arm. A cast is still on his forearm, but thankls to an extensive regimen of healing spells, he has full use of - and full feeling in the majority of - his hand.

The feeling immediately catches his attention. He sits up in his chair and snaps back into it, realizing that Corrine is not only in the area, but that she seems to be drawing closer. In fact, she’s walking towards the Metro Java. He sighs, and tries to decide whether or not he wants to see her. A few seconds thought leads to a decision that he does, and he emerges from his office to find her standing in line.

When it’s her turn, he relieves the cashier. “Can I help you, miss?” He asks, a coy but friendly smile on his face.

Comments

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine's not paying much attention to the person in front of her, really, so it takes a second as she herself snaps to. Scatter-brained has been a condition of late and she half-smiles for a second before wondering how the hell life just parked here.

Wow. Deja vu. "Hey, you. I think something just went in reverse." She's got her hair down for a change and she's actually dressed nice and gives him a quick smile. "I missed something, didn't I?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

That elicits a smile. “Well, uh, I-I purchased the Metro Java earlier this week. I popped round for a spot of coffee and my old boss gave me some undue grief. On a whim I purchased this franchise and fired him. Then I decided, why not keep the old place, eh?" He shrugs.

"Though I afraid I'm fresh out of stale pretzels, so you'll have to order something different this time."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Her brows go up and she's chuckling and wondering why she asked. "Of course, why didn't I think of that? I buy off people who annoy me all the time. Oh, wait, no, they usually shoot at me first, and there's not so much buying as 'hitting'."

Corrine's making eyes at the latte machine and she doesn't want to hold up the line. "I'll grace you with my company if it'll get me a free latte."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

He’s fighting off a smile as he rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “I should have known.” He motions for the cashier to resume the register, and pours Corrine a latte. “Here I’ve just bought the place, and you’re already trying to put me into the red. It’s scandelous.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm sure my quite deserved mooching will send you into bankruptcy within the hour," she drones back sarcastically. The smile isn't mean but it is a bit expecting.

Her voice goes down to a whisper. "Besides, I took a 'near-death' retrieving you from Hell. I think that deserves at least a latte, not even counting the years of hard manual labor favors I should accrue from the whole ordeal. Consider yourself getting off light, cowboy."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

He snickers some, grabs them both some pastries to nibble on, and walks her over to an empty booth.

“You know, I, uh … I wanted to thank you for coming after me. I really didn’t think I was going to live through that one. Especially after our old friend the Al Koyet showed up.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Phhtt, it's what we do." Corrine stiffens a little as she sits down. Right on into the awkward. She takes a sip of her latte and nods. "I know. I read in the 'after' report. It's probably going to make me look really horrible but I skipped that part for some unappointed 'later', sorry."

She looks out the window and gets quiet. "Didn't expect to see It again. Not like you were, but-- I'm just... coping. I put a lot of that whole thing out of my head and now it's kicking me again, y'know?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“Well, we have that much in common, at least, though, uh…” He motions towards the cast with a friendly smile. “… Though I promise that that particular Al Koyet won’t ever trouble you again.”

“So, how, uh … I can’t say I was expecting you. What brings you to Metropolis?”

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“M-Manly? I’m a historian who loves to cook, since when is that manly?”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine rolls her eyes and smiles. "I-- could totally take advantage of the moment and get a great burn in, but I'm playing this 'nice person' thing now. I'm going to completely abandon this right now before it gets any worse. Call me a samaritan."

And she's totally not letting him off the hook about Amelia. "So what's with the bugs?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“Oh, her crawlers? Home Defense. She, uh … she’s a famous millionaire who lives in the middle of nowhere, and who might need to defend herself from her brother’s enemies.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"And the 'illness'?" No, Corrine's not subtle, either.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“I, uh ... I’m sorry, but I don’t think that it’s within my purview to share that.” No matter how stupid Caleb feels keeping it quiet to be, he still has to respect his sister’s privacy.

"So, uh ... You do have to admit, those crawlers are impressive."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine's had plenty of time to get a lot of theories about this. The girl's little machines run with at least basic magic, but she also seems to have an allergy to it, some symptom or maybe the actual problem.

Caleb attempted to heal Amelia. Corrine did more. Then, Neron. Corrine's jaw sets a little bit and she's pissed off to be derailed but it's not his fault. She sighs and her voice is low. "They are, and that's what worries me. So many people have impacted Amelia in a large way, I worry about what's happening to her. Who did it. What's causing it." She stiffens a little. "If I did."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

“It’s far to early to jump to conclusions, love. As yet, we have no idea why it’s happening.” He clears his throat.

“If, um … if I discover it was a, uh … a side effect of her restoration, would you wish to be told? I wouldn't be able to elaborate, but I could let you know.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Of course I want to know, Caleb! Caused enough damn pain, haven't I? Don't need this, too."

Somewhere in there she remembers to take a breath. A couple more and she looks at him. "I'm sorry. Things have been a tumble and this is the last thing I want on my conscience."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"No, look-- no, Caleb, I don't want to-- I don't want to be jumping into all this yet. I know you're trying to be helpful, and you probably thought I was agreeing and going forward but I just-- I wanted somewhere quiet and away from eyes."

And it's pretty obvious why. She's keeping her distance from him and the expression looks tired now that prying eyes are gone. In the recent year she's refined just how she holds everything in, and smiling when expected is part of that. Not that she deprives herself, but restraining emotion until there's a better time and place for it has become a goal. "This is... really complicated for me. I don't want to jump into something that's nothing and suddenly make it 'something' by my presence. Does that make sense?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Her change in mannerisms catches him off guard. Some of the casual air evaporates, and he tries to hide the disappointment. For once, he actually manages an impassive expression.

“Should you elect to proceed, you’re presence won’t necessarily be a necessity, though, as I’ve indicated, you’ve merely to give the word, and the issue shall be settled.”

Stop there, Caleb. Saying the rest will, in all probability, serve to do little more than begin a fight.

…

You said you wouldn’t give her any grief, remember?

….

Actually, no. I said I wouldn’t give her any grief if she chose not to peruse this lead. She hasn’t made up her mind either way as yet, and as such she hasn’t met the prerequisite. She’s fair game.

He clears his throat. “For, uh … For what it’s worth, I believe that whatever they are doing, it can’t possibly have good implications, and that this early warning is an opportunity we should not pass up. I ask that you take care to ensure you don’t decide to let this go for the wrong reasons.”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"It is complicated!" What is it about that he doesn't understand? She sighs and composes herself. One little thing to bring it up and now it feels like it's going to eat her brain. Even breaths and she works herself to it.

"The last time I saw Eugene, he was holding a knife on me in the hospital and telling me he never wanted to see my face again. I deformed him and he hates me. I get that and I realize I deserve that, but the only thing I've known about him for eight years is what Louis, Ange and her family tell me. I know Louis has bailed him out of jail a few times. I know he has a reputation with the girls of being withdrawn and secretive. Ange likes to be in control of everything, and if Genie finally made a break from the family, she might've... taken him. On the other hand, if he's trying to get away, I'm the last person he wants to see. Ange then has more of his ear against me and I lose any remaining weight I might've had with him."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Mental note: Run down the Eugene angle by yourself.

“Are there any other members of your immediate or extended family that have gone missing recently? Are there any other persons, other that Louis, who’s disappearance might be cause for alarm?”

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Louis is never around, so it's hard to say for him. Everyone else-- I wouldn't know. They don't tend to tell the black sheep anything. I only brought it up because it's one more thing on my mind. Too late now, but it makes me wonder what the Al Koyet might've known, if anything."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

He nods in concurrence. "I have similar questions, though I, uh … I'm not quite certain how I would go about ascertaining what the Al Koyet did or didn't know, save speaking with Chantinelle, and that, I hope you'll understand, isn't an option."

"We'll have to give it some thought. In the mean time, I propose that we begin by attempting to identify first if any others of your family - Louis is of particular interest, have, uh … have-have recently altered their habits, or have a similar spike in frequency for business trips, vacations, or other out of town affairs."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine would love to have a word or two with Chantinelle, someplace that isn't tilted in her favor, actually. That's probably not going to happen, so Corrine will just hope for now that the wretch is dead. That's not likely in these circles either, though.

She is suddenly feeling very ill about all this. It isn't right. Something's off. Something very wrong is creeping in, something very scary and big and the sort of thing to keep her up at night. She doesn't know what it is but it's real enough. "Maybe," she snaps. "Maybe-- I still haven't decided whether I want to do anything about it yet."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"I know, it's just ... It's just good to hear."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She's not sure what to say to that so she just returns the smile. It's been a long day of running errands, though, and she's got time devoted later.

Corrine tugs at her bag a little. "I... I really hadn't meant to stay so long. I promised a friend from work I'd stop by, paint some eggs with her and her sons." She fusses with the string bag handle. "I should get going, I've got another stop to make at the craft store. But... well, we'll see each other. We can schedule 'some other time'."