acontritemess | This is what happens when you just disappear from work.

This is what happens when you just disappear from work.

[It has taken some time for her to gather everything that is needed for the site. Terrance, the young boy who has been working on this project, has been kind enough to summarize the reports that have yet to be submitted to the university. Terrance is brilliant and while horribly blunt, he is also kind. He’s doing well and his thesis, once proven, could change the way the world looks at the planet. Alice doesn’t want to stand in the way of that so she has come to the historical site with the intent to let Terrance have the flexibility he needs for his final tests and remain close by as an aid. She had a feeling that he doesn’t need it but she knows enough should he run into difficulties.

The truth is Alice is a fan of Professor Fitzmarcus’s work. She has followed the research at Stonehenge since she was young and it’s an honor to be able to work on it now. Her thoughts drift away while the wind tugs at her long hair. Terrance is sitting a few yards away working on his machine. She finds the soft whirling of the fan mixed with the smell of smoke and earth comforting. It reminds her of her father.

She takes a seat on the grass with a battered field journal in hand. A pen rests in her hands and after a moment she begins scratching an imagine of the ruins and notes about its structure, formation and age on the blank page.

She wonders what happened to the professor before her. She isn’t in a position to ask with her own career and difficulties but she can’t imagine a reason to ever want to leave Stonehenge. Alice, though currently working as a professor, has traveled all over the world. She’s interested in different sites and the mark they’ve left on the planet. She’s rarely home and so she finds comfort in her books and notes, and then the earth.

A light smile teases her lips as she works, her fingers rising only occasionally to push back her hair.]

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I often recorded similar disturbances. What documentation do you have that proves I have anything to do with it?

[He offers her a teasing smile.]

I wouldn't call it proof but it stands to reason that you are the only professor to record such readings here. Now I have but the thread of similarity is you.

[Alice laughs softly.]

For proof I'll have to run more tests.

[She knows he's teasing her and she doesn't care because she's confident that she's right.]

True, but some of my colleagues would claim only myself recording such events at the site to be proof of my own competence.

[He shrugs.]

Are you asking for more tests?

[Alice studies him for a moment, her eyebrows raising.]

Technically, I am one of your colleagues Mr. Fitzmarcus and I think it's a little more than that thought I don't doubt your competence.

[She smiles.]

If you'd let me, of course, you can always just tell me your secret.

[She'd love to feel such love from the earth though she's perfectly content with a one sided affection.]

Already interested in my secrete, Professor? [He smirks.] We've only just met.

[Though there's something about her almost child-like curiosity that was giving him pause. He had every reason to just seek Terrance out, but instead, here he was.]

[Alice's upper lip curls with the effort to stop her smile. She's used to having to be stern to be taken seriously but with a character like Corbin, it's hard for her to remain stoic.]

And I already have so much I want to learn.

[Curiouser and curiouser.]

There is something great in a secret. I hope to learn it for myself.

Obviously. You did take over a research project.

[He smiles sarcastically.]

And perhaps you will learn it, in time, Professor.

Please call me Alice.

[She pushes her hair behind her ear before looking back towards the memorizing rocks.]

There isn't any need for hostility. [Or sarcasm.] You are welcome to the site and the others here already know it.

[While charity isn't unknown to Corbin, he isn't particularly familiar with it. He's very rarely been on the receiving end, and it often leaves him questioning the motives of those around him.]

You're giving me permission to enter your site whenever I like.

[Alice turns to pick up her field journal. She doesn’t want to leave it out for anyone to see. Her journals are something like a diary and while she writes mostly scientific notes they’re very personal to her and rarely shared.]

That is what I said.

[She turns towards him with a professional expression.]

Do you doubt me?

[There is a lightness to her tone that suggests that she’s trying not to smile at him.]

[He shakes his head.]

Certainly not, but I do wonder what your motives might be.

You know all my motives.

[She wants to learn about him and this site but that isn't why she's giving him free reign.]

Terrance spoke very highly of you and I can tell from your work that you truly love this site. I couldn't stand between a man and his love.

[Alice smiles at him before stepping away from the equipment that continues to beep.]

If you wish to stay. I'm sure you can stay in Terrance's tent.

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Is that so? I'm sure it couldn't possibly have anything to do with the reactions you're receiving on your equipment, Professor.

I don't remember saying it doesn't.

[She flashes him a smile.]

There is no need to put yourself out. There is nothing required of you while you are here. I just ask that you don't distract Terrance to much. His work is very important.

[Alice is going to learn about this site in her own time. She hopes that he'll stay though it isn't needed in what she's looking for. She's happy just to be spending in such an old and wise site.]

The rocks will speak but only to those who listen.

Indeed, and they have much more a voice than you know.

[He returns her smile, a rare gesture from the usually stoic professor.]

I know very well the importance of Terrance's work.

I might surprise you.

[She flashes him another smile.]

Terrance is in his tent now. I'm going for a walk but if you need me for anything I'll be back in short time.

[Alice turns and begins walking towards the positioned rocks. She's planning to write in the journal held lightly against her chest and she prefers to do that sitting outside and away from technology.]

[He watches her leave, intrigued by the woman, but also confused by her. She was...peculiar is all the right senses of the word, and he wasn't sure how to take her. So, instead of pondering on it too much, he simply made his way to Terrance's tent and rapped on the post.]

Good evening, Terrance.

[Terrance looks up at the sound, he actually isn’t expecting anyone since his new professor leaves him be most nights. He’s fiddling with code on his laptop as Corbin steps into the tent though the machine is quickly placed to the side at the sight of his old teacher. There is a mixture of happiness and confusion in his gaze and despite his urge to jump up and greet the older man Terrance remains seated.]

You’ve returned? I'll assume you've met the new professor.

[He doesn’t mean to sound passive but the time without Corbin around has been more lonely than Terrance cares to admit. He thought he was done giving a shit about people and yet it somehow crept up on him.]

Where did you go?

[He tries not to sound hurt, he doesn’t understand the situation fully and he knows that. His life had been threatened a few weeks before and with that Corbin had to leave. He never got the particulars but he couldn’t help to come to hate the situation.]

That's quite a weighted question, Terrance.

[He closes the tent flap behind him and moves to a box he's often sat upon when visiting the boy in his tent.]

And an even longer story. You aren't too busy, are you?

[Terrance frowns and then closes his laptop. He places the small device on his make shift desk and then turns to face Corbin.]

I have time.

[He then proceeds to pull his tobacco from his pocket.]

[He breathes a sigh and, for the first time in a very long time, pulls out his pipe and his own tobacco.]

It all started with a visit from my father, if you can believe that.

The guy who came into the office?

[It doesn't take a genius for someone to tell that they were related. Though Terrance has that advantage plus knowing Corbin well. He hadn't only gotten a glimpse at the man but the marks were undeniable.]

[He nods, packing his pipe with tobacco.]

The same. His name is Johnathan. I've...always known that, though I didn't know his face.

[Terrance frowns, his eyes watching Corbin carefully.]

He came to find you?

[There might be a hint of envy in his voice.]

[He scoffs.]

Yes, but not out of any sort of benevolence, or even guilt.

How do you know that?

[Terrance is trying so hard to keep himself composed. He isn't an overly emotional person, there aren't many reasons to be emotional and yet somehow with Corbin involved and Corbin's father... he can't help the twisting of emotions in his chest.

This sucks.]

This is where the story becomes more fantastic.

[He pauses for a moment.]

And I say that, knowing full well I can manipulate the life energy of the planet.

[Terrance flashes Corbin an expression to suggest he isn't amused. He's annoyed that his professor left but he'll wait to the end of the story. He can do that much.]

What's that?

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This is what happens when you just disappear from work.

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I need to find a smirking icon for her!!!

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