"Xander, what was the name of that spell you cast to free yourself?" Jenny asked him later that day.
"The Enchantment of Emancipation." He answered.
"Well, it seems to have taken that word emancipation into account both in terms of freedom and the law because my research indicates you are emancipated, legally, as of yesterday. I used my computer and Magic to locate any system that would house the formalities of emancipation and found the paperwork, all complete and approved and filed appropriately. I arranged for copies to be sent to me here, for you, you'll need them to prove you're emancipated. You're still certain this is what you want?"
"If you met my father you'd understand." Xander tried to smile, but only managed a half hearted slight quirk of his lips. "And he'd say something offensive to you and barf on your shoes. I'd like to say, joke! but I can't."
Jenny nodded, she'd talked to Willow, who was looking for extra credit and would be helping with the Saturday classes and Willow had told her about her bat mitzvah and how they'd behaved then. Xander wasn't exaggerating. "And you have a safe place to live? Income?"
"Yes, you don't have to worry, Ms. Calendar, I can take care of myself. I'm the king of part time jobs for extra money." Not to mention he now had a mansion and maybe a way of making more money. He needed to talk to someone else about that.
"Than I'd like to arrange a time when we can sit down and talk about what Magic knowledge is still in your head. And I want to see for myself that you have a safe place to live, Xander. The Sunnydale Motor Lodge doesn't count as a safe place, even if there aren't anymore vampires around who could easily get into any of the rooms."
"Trust me, I'm not living there. But Ms. Calendar, I don't want Giles to know about it. He might feel he had to tell his bosses at the Watchers Council and even if he can be trusted, which I'm not sure about, I don't think they can be."
"It's tied to your character, isn't it?"
"Yes and now to me. I can feel it, I mean I literally can sense it. It's a part of me and I'm responsible for it, that's why I have to make sure only people that can be trusted know about it. And I've already said I trust you."
"Alright, Saturday after the extra class, we'll talk and then you can show me this place and unless I think you or someone else is in danger, I'll keep it a secret."
"Thanks, Ms. Calendar, I appreciate it. I've got to go, I need to talk to someone about something else."
Xander headed to the gym where he knew he'd find Cordelia, she was really the only person he could trust with his other concern and wasn't it weird to think he could trust Cordelia, someone he could safely say hadn't really been a friend since they were kids. But since May and the Hellmouth had briefly been opened by the Master, she had helped the Scooby Gang out a few times without...much...complaining. He grinned slightly, Cordelia never held back on her opinion on any subject.
He waited until everyone else had left and approached her. "Cordelia, you got a minute?"
"Maybe, let me think." She looked around to make sure no cool kids could see her talking to Xander and then said. "Well, considering you did save my life recently, I guess I can spare a minute for you. What's up, Doofus?"
"I need your help, on the q.t."
"If it's to learn how to dress properly, you need two things, money and a fashion sense. Last time I checked you don't have either."
"The money part might not be an issue anymore, which is why I need to talk to you. I seem to have inherited a few things that might have actual value and I'd like your opinion on them."
"Seriously? Like what?"
"A watch collection, a grand piano, a Lamborghini, a Jaguar and a mansion. And maybe a few others things."
"Seriously?" She repeated. "What, did a long lost uncle die and leave it all to you?"
"No, but that might be a way to explain it since most people wouldn't believe the truth."
"And what is the truth?"
"The spell from last night made it all."
"Okay, you need to show me everything and I'll tell you if it's real or not."
"Thanks, I knew I could trust you."
"You trust me?" Cordelia asked, startled and realizing no one had ever said that to her before.
"You don't lie. You wear a mask, but you don't lie. I wear a mask too, but I'm thinking of getting rid of it."
Cordelia swallowed, that was something that had been on her mind off and on since Invisible Marcie had tried to carve up her face and she'd told Buffy she felt alone in a crowd. The mask was beginning to feel like it was smothering her and she couldn't breathe.
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A/N Short list of items owned by Dr. Strange.
