americas_son: (Default)
Cal Chandler ([personal profile] americas_son) wrote2011-02-18 12:48 pm

Sunnydale AU: careful of the curse

Tina is finally asleep. Richard has been and gone, leaving a mild sedative so she can sleep between transformations. Cal closes the guestroom door quietly behind him, trying to think through his own physical and emotional exhaustion (and low blood sugar, and nicotine withdrawal) to decide exactly where Sherlock will be.
if_inconvenient: (!= that was Victorian)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-19 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"I have matters well in hand, thank you."

Now is probably not the time to question her in detail about her enhanced senses, so he doesn't.

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-19 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Cal gets a glass in case Tina wants it, then puts it and the can down in front of her.

"I guess I'll have to remember to shower, then," he says, studiedly light, as he takes a seat himself.

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-19 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
She is so embarrassed, but she knows Cal was trying to help.

"I don't think it's like that."

She hopes.

"And maybe the three day thing- maybe it's not always the case. Maybe it's just one night. I feel perfectly fine now."
if_inconvenient: (<= one point eight seconds)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-19 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"We've done up a room for you, nevertheless. I'd be much obliged if you'd stay the night in it."

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-19 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
She doesn't even know what to say to that.

"I-"

She nods her head and busies herself pouring the soda into her glass.

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Cal reaches over to stroke her hair, smoothing a piece back behind her ear.

"We have to be sure," he says, as gently as he can.
if_inconvenient: (== come all the same)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-20 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
...Sherlock will just be over here. Cooking.

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
"I know."

She looks down into her glass. It is fascinating soda.

"Mmm, spaghetti and meatballs," she finally says, faking a smile. "Did you know that was one of my favorites, Sherlock?"
if_inconvenient: (!= any such experiments)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-20 03:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Lucky guess," he admits, with a flicker of a smile.

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
She feels more human in a nice kitchen with friends and food that smells so good...

And then she realizes the implications of that saying 'feels more human'. It must have been coined in Sunnydale.

"You're a great guesser, then. Cal, um, you already ate, right?" She notices for the first time how tired he looks.

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, a while ago."

He gives her a smile. "I'm all set."

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"I, um, if it's okay, I want you both to leave me alone if- when it happens. Just shut me in the room and don't come back. I don't want you to see me like that."

Or to be in danger by being near. That way maybe they can get some sleep.

She hopes the room is soundproof.

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Cal nods.

"That's fine," he assures her. "Jarvis can keep an eye on you. No one else has to be there."

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good. You need to get sleep. Promise me you will, okay?"

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Cal wonders vaguely if he smells tired; having not run into a mirror yet today, he doesn't realize how clearly it's written on his face.

"I'll try," he says. It's the closest he can get to a truthful promise. It's possible he might not be able to sleep tonight at all. But he can try.

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Both of you have to try. I shouldn't keep you- It would make me feel worse if-"

She shrugs and falls quiet.



"Tony's here, or is he gone?"
if_inconvenient: (!= that was Victorian)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-20 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Downstairs, no doubt still drawing schematics," Sherlock supplies, avoiding the whole question of sleep.
if_inconvenient: (<= one point eight seconds)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-20 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's a habit of his," he says agreeably, though in this particular case Tony is in fact working on a werewolf safe room. By unspoken consensus, not a single member of the Stark family has uttered the word 'cage' in reference to this project.

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good."

At least someone around her can have a normal day.

(She'd be very relieved to know that no one's building her a cage.)

"Oh... shit. I was supposed to work tonight."

She'll have to call in sick. Or quit.

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"You can call out," Cal says. "Maybe you can get them to start scheduling you for day shifts."

Which happens to be something he's been wanting her to do anyway, precisely because of the possibility of something like this. He pushes that thought away guiltily; bringing it up won't help.

[identity profile] take-youaway.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I can try. Everyone wants the day shifts."

She hasn't been there long enough to get them. What is she going to do?

Okay, she can't deal with this right now. One thing at a time.

"I'll just- I'll go call."

She pulls her phone out of her pocket and leaves the kitchen.

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
When she's out of the room, Cal sighs and rubs his hands over his face.

"I'll get her the damn day shifts," he mutters into his palms.

She doesn't have to have the job, not as long as she's dating him; he'd never let her go without. But he understands, kind of, that it's important she be able to depend on herself for money.
if_inconvenient: (<= it's good to be home)

[personal profile] if_inconvenient 2011-02-20 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"With or without notifying her of your intervention?"

[identity profile] americas-son.livejournal.com 2011-02-20 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
He shrugs.

"If she'd been working during the day, this wouldn't have happened."

It's not an answer, except that it kind of is. One less thing for her to worry about, right?

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