[ The Theatre is familiar, but...strange, in its familiarity. It feels like something from a different life. The smells, the feeling. Nate's hand in the wall, correctly picking out where the wallpaper's frayed because this is where his hand always lands when he steps out of this portal, and for some reason he's never repaired it.

He's dressed weirdly. The jeans are his own, the same pair he'd been sleeping in. His shirt is Nick's. It's pink, and only just about falls to Nate's belt. Beneath it, the new full sleeve tattoo full of interlocking circles is visible along Nate's left arm and part of the way up his neck. The diagonal scar across his throat, hidden for so long with magic, is visible too. There's more new tattoos, dotting across his arms and his body, some carefully woven with spells. Others just look like words, odd words, scribbled in haste.

He follows the smell of brewing potions to the lab, where Caleb is. The sight is unreal to him. Caleb sitting there, watching a potion. Nate knows what it is by the smell, recognises it as a recipe from an old book. But his head tilts. ]

You should add a clove, [ He says, softly. ] The book doesn't say it, but it helps with the bitterness. Doesn't change the effect, just the taste.

[ He comes in to lean against one of the tables, and closes the door behind him. ]