Life in circles.

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She was back at the farm. In the growing dawn, she'd put the car in park and stared nebulously at the sight that surrounded her. It wasn't that the house was gone, or that the barn was gone. No. She'd resigned herself to this property's fate long before the Monster Society blew it all sky-high. It was the stillness that lay across the property, the emptiness, echoing back at her as though through a long tunnel. The whole feel of the place mirrored the fate of her host family.

She'd spent her life-- unconsciously, to a point-- trying to put those pieces back together. Sure, there was new family now, people who didn't batter her, or talk down to her, or treat her like a thing to be possessed. Somehow, though, she'd always waited, hoping, that the old order would come back. Someday, it'd be shiny and new again, and no one would know the difference.



Everybody knew, now. That was the worst, convincing herself that she knew the truth, no matter what she tried to make herself believe.

She pushed away thought of the past. There wasn't place here for regret and lamenting. She'd come to set things right, and the first part of that was getting her home back. There'd been several hours spent pouring through photographs and blueprints, forcing to memory every nuance of the old structure, and then countless hours working out the proper amounts of materials roughly needed. The magic would do the rest.

If anything came out of her months on the leylines, she has a firmer understanding of how she ties into them. She's realized it's not so much a manipulation on her part, but a pre-arranged agreement of cooperation between her and the magic. If she just wants it enough, the right concentration, the right thing to ask for, she can have it.

Well, there's been some knots in the process.

She's learned levitation-- very warily-- in the last few months. It's been a strange concept to realize you've grasped, and not even being quite sure how it works... she'd had some tough landings. The trick is to not freak out at your own capability to do such a thing. Oh, and don't tilt too much at first. It makes for interesting falls.

She stationed herself at a good height of about twenty feet, little wisps of energy drifting off of her like smoke tendrils in the sunlight. It's taken her a few months to get the courage to come back here, but like always she returns to the task, out of a sense of guilt if nothing else. It was the family house, after all.

She's cleansing this ground. It's been long, tiring work. Cathartic, in its own way, but draining. After so long, this place is saturated more than ever. Still, black wisps of smoke continue to drift upwards from the grounds, disappearing into the daytime sun.

She knows precious little of carpentry, but she doesn't need to. After eighteen hours and twenty-seven minutes, her house stood right where it should have always been. This structure was obviously more new than the last, and there was still painting and finishing to do. It wasn't the same old house, but it looked like it, and that was enough. A rocking bench of comparable design as the old one is the only furniture thus far, set into the same place to the back, far-right corner of the porch.

With the smell of wood dust and drywall still lingering with her, Corrine pulls her jacket closer around her and falls to a peaceful sleep.

Comments

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb's vacation has been off to a very relaxing start, though what is time off but an opportunity to spend some time with the people you care about? That's where Caleb's plans refused to come together.

Trever and Mara were both busy, and Amelia really needs to be on her own just now. So after spending some tine catching up on some long overdue meditation, Caleb sets out to find an old friend.

When she isn't on the island, Caleb preforms a locater spell, and is surprised to find her in Kenton. The last time he was here, the newly formed Outsiders were helping to clean up the debris from their baptism by fire, but the structure never was rebuilt.

Evidently, Corrine has experienced a change of heart.

He teleports as close to the property as he can, and then enjoys a leisurely walk through the country, guided all the way by the feeling of Corrine's soul.

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She's aware of someone approaching, just on the edge of her senses. It's enough to bring her to a calm awakening, first staring at the ceiling of the porch, and then out into the yard.

She sees him coming down the driveway. Her first thought is a curiosity of why he's here, and being... uncomfortable?... at his presence. Well, that's simply illogical. She yawns against her will, waiting patiently on the swing for her newly-arrived guest.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb can't tell that her attention is on him, but given how aware she seems to be these days, he doubts that his presence has gone unnoticed.

"You look comfortable," he greets her.

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She wonders if there's a polite way to tell him to go away. One probably does exist, but calculating his emotional state versus her tone will likely mean more than what exactly is said. Words themselves carry weight, though, or else people would just grunt at each other in varying levels.

That might be more useful right now.



There were better options.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"I did indeed," he says without missing a beat. "Is she around, by any chance?"

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She gives him a look, measuring him over. He's the expert, or the best they have. She'd tell him exactly how pitiful she thinks that is, and it feels like proof when she doesn't because it would be rude, insensitive and ungrateful.

One edge of her mouth twitches up; as if either of them could simply take a stroll to the market of their own volition at this point. Where they go, they go together now.

""

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"It's not like I can tell from the feel of you, love. And a moment ago, It was referring to you in the third person."

He doesn't mean to goad her so much as convey the limits of his own understanding. Caleb can't imagine what it must be like for Corrine to be going through such a fundamental life change, having another being joined to you around the clock. He will presume to try, though. After all, what kind of friend would he be if he didn't?

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"I was... sleeping. Sort of. Resting." Her voice is a slow mumble. She can't begin to explain it to him, or anyone, and that's why she spends these exhausted moments away from eyes.

"I'm always here, always me, just not..." Corrine waves it away. The work she did here took a lot out of her, even after sleep.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb holds up his hands defensively.

"I'm doing it again," he notes, the hint of a chuckle to his voice. "Here I came to take you to a night on the town, and somehow or another I've got you feeling like you need to explain yourself to me."

He runs his fingers through his hair. "This, uh... this... arrangement, shall we say ... has to be horrible for you. I want to help, not exacerbate things."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Anyone's presence during these times 'exacerbates things'. Corrine's not used to living life like she's in pieces, and the frays are still mending, and no one needs to see that. It's a feeling they both share, or perhaps Corrine's only come to feel that way through amalgamation.

She pulls her hair back from her face and a thought not her own makes her laugh out loud. How fitting that she surmised Caleb, when possessed by Neron, had felt as she does now. Keep it secret, no one need see. Now, with that revelation, were her actions really as selfless as she thought? Maybe Amelia was a little bit

"I'm not fit for public."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

I'm somehow possessed of the notion that I'm not privy to some of the conversation.

"Well, the, uh ... you don't have to go to the night on the town," he notes, grinning. "The night on the town can come to you."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She wonders if he's aware there's nothing in the house. Probably not.

She slides down to the other side of the bench to make room.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb takes a seat on the bench.

"Um, uh ... Oh, I've got it. I've acquired some old Merry Melodies cartoons on 35mm film. I know someone I could borrow an old projector from."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

That gets a little smile from Corrine, but she shakes her head minutely; no. She's really not fit to go anywhere right now, still putting her head back together. There's also a curiosity of why he came to see her of all people. Their friendship has been... precarious since she's been changed. Or maybe that's exactly why.

"How's Amelia?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

He certainly wasn't expecting the conversation to go there, but it strikes him as logical that she would be curious. The girl was instrumental in bringing these changes about in the first place, after all.

"We've cured her illness," he notes. "Since then she's been a little lost, but I think she's finally thinking clearly. She, uh ... She knows she did the wrong thing."

He pauses purposefully, his eyes shying away from Corrine as he ponders something difficult.

"Have, uh... I mean ... Do you know? What Louis did, I mean?"

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"I've been sending letters with Louie. I... I can't not." Corrine hopes Caleb understands, even though her brother is a monster. Louis is still human, and as long as that's true, he has a soul worth redeeming.

"He hasn't... we don't talk about..." She shrugs to herself. Even under normal circumstances, this would be a difficult conversation for her.

"He wouldn't confess anything to me. Anything he does talk about... when I've asked him about this girl, or that... it's like he thinks..." A shadow crosses her face and she frowns, shaking her head.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"I understand. He may be a monster, but he's still your brother." It's not like you get to choose your family after all. "The same reason I helped Amelia after the, uh ... the incident on the island."

Caleb has a somewhat grimmer outlook on what Louis' soul deserves, though. Part of him is hoping to come across him during a prison break or some such - a perfectly legitimate opportunity to re-define police brutality.

"There must have been a tornado when the apple fell from the tree, love."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Things were different for them. They grew up when papa was around. No one ever really told them 'no'."

She pulls her jacket tighter around her, lazing a foot into a shard of sunlight on the porch. "He thinks it's... something it wasn't. He needs help. If he, or Crystal, move an inch out of line, Amelia and Tara will know immediately. I know we all have family to protect."

Her expression is blank for a moment. She's looking out into the yard, not at Caleb. For the time being, her thoughts are far away. "I'm sorry he hurt her," she finally says quietly.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry she hurt you," Caleb responds. "And I'm not going to touch him, so you don't have to worry about him disappearing one night. I think everyone's first priority is to move beyond it."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

Corrine raises a brow. If Caleb's had the thought at all, it means he probably seriously considered it, slept on it, seriously considered it some more, and was likely talked out of it by other parties unknown at this point.

Her face scrunches up. She wants to go see Louis herself now, question him, scream and hit him until he answers her and tells her the truth. It wouldn't do any good, because he still did this, her brother hurt countless girls. "It... it was that bad... wasn't it?"

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

"She was semi-conscious at the time. That's all I really know."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"I... Jesus. I'm sorry."

What little Corrine's brother has talked about Amelia, or any of the other myriad of names Corrine has learned, it's as if he was in a soured relationship. He rescued Christie, full of potential and ignored, from a neglectful family. There's no guilt where there is no logic to your actions, and it makes Corrine want to shake him until he makes sense again.

She feels like it's never going to happen, and sometimes she even shreds the letters, but then eventually she sits down, and writes him back. She prays a lot before it's done. It may sound corny, but she reads the bible. She tries to give him her forgiveness and hope for his redemption in every word.

Everything in her wants to burn him to ash, and let the damnation of his actions swell in his soul until he pops like a soap bubble... and is just as easily forgotten.

But she sends the letters with love, not anger, and she hopes.

"You did a good thing, being there for her. I get it... if no one else says it."

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

Caleb has enough anger for the both of them, but, like her, he doesn't want to act on it. Amelia may have had to call him off of Louis, but Caleb no longer wishes to act so brazenly.

Especially given that the meta-human prisons are a revolving door. Eventually Louis will conduct or take part in another's escape. Eventually Caleb is going to find himself opposite of him on another battlefield.

After all, there's nothing like a team-sanctioned pounding to give your excessive retribution an heir of legitimacy.

Caleb nods at Corrine, never meeting her eyes. This whole subject is about as uncomfortable as any he's ever discussed, but at least Corrine isn't being petty about it all. Once upon a time she would have been just another argument on his checklist for the day. I'm so happy those days are behind me.

"She'll heal. And eventually Louis is going to get out of prison." A quiet moment.

"Part of me is itching for that day, but another part of me is ashamed to be feeling that. I don't want to be .. to be stuck here."

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

She leans over, jacket still half-slung across her, and hugs him around the shoulders, her head flopped against her arm.

She doesn't say anything, not right in the moment. It isn't awkward and like hell he's going to recoil right now. He's getting hugged whether he likes it or not.

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

This he wasn't expecting, and for a moment he is frozen by indecision. It's been a while since he's had to worry about where the boundary with Corrine even is, let alone wondered about it.

After a few moments he decides that he's over thinking it, and warmly returns the gesture.

"On the bright side, I can probably count on Trevor to pull me off of him. If he'd pull me off of Ellie, I daresay he'd pull me off of anyone."