Angel the Series | 4x22

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

Wesley grins "Wasn't going to suggest going out-" but maybe he should take it as a compliment she thought he was up to that. A movie. He hadn't watched a movie in months, but it was a good suggestion. That way, they could pass some time without the need to fill up space with conversation. Perhaps it could even manage to get his mind of things for a while.

"But yeah - sure - a movie actually sounds good." He reaches for the remote, flicking through different channels. After a little while, he passes it to her. "Maybe you'd rather pick?"

She took the remote from him and moved so she was sitting on the couch. She sat just a little away from him so they still had some space, she got settled and then started to look through the movie selections. After looking through them for a few minutes she settled on the princess bride. It was one of her favorites and it was the perfect comfort movie as far as she was concerned. She took a few sips of her drink and continued to eat more of her food as the movie played.

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

"It goes without saying I don't have any expectations regarding our... relationship- for lack of a better word. I'm just telling you because I'm sure that there is a reason they mentioned it- and we're going to find out what it means sooner or later anyway. Best be prepared." He nods, surprised by how well she took it. Part of him had expected her to be more upset at the notion, but he was glad she wasn't. He didn't think he had the energy to argue.

"Now -" he glances up at the clock, and to his surprise, it's not that late yet. At least, not late enough to excuse himself to bed.

"How do you want to spend your first evening back in the realm of the living?"

She supposed on some level she should be more upset about this news, but she was too exhausted to care about it at the moment. “Oh I know at least one of the reasons they mentioned it..” she replied with a slightly bitter edge to her tone. She wasn’t irritated with him, no her irritation was squarely directed at the partners themselves.

When he asked how she wanted to spend her first night back among the living, she took a few minutes to think it over. “I think I’d be perfectly fine just staying here and watching a movie or something, I don’t exactly feel like going out..if you’re okay with that?”

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

"Well-" a forced smile, and a pause. He'd had his fair share of drinks today, and while he'd built up quite a tolerance he was definitely beginning to feel the effects at this point. He probably wouldn't have started this conversation sober.

"For one, I'm fairly certain I've bartered my soul." He tries to make light of it, but doesn't quite manage to keep the fear out of his voice. Strange. He hadn't thought he still cared about something like that.

But that wasn't the part he was dreading to tell her about. "And there is something else - and I need you to understand that this wasn't my idea or...request - but you're...tied to me. And before you ask...I don't know what exactly that entails -" It had been added as a side note, and the conversation had been ended before be could ask.

She just nodded when he said he was pretty sure that he’d sold his soul for this deal. That was par for the course and fairly standard as far as she was concerned. When he got to the next part she raised an eyebrow at him. “Let me guess you tried to ask them and instead of actually answering you they just threw you out of their chambers?” She asked. She could try asking them, but she knew that she’d likely get even less answers from them than he had.

“To be honest I was a little surprised that they agreed to send me back at all especially alive again.. they seemed a little hesitant about it at first.. they kept bringing up our relationship..”

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

He nods, motioning for her to have a seat and tossing her a blanket. A couple minutes later, they're both settled with take out and drinks. It had been a while since he'd had dinner with someone - not counting the various bits and pieces he'd shared with the rest of the group over work those last few days - when they could still fool themselves into believing they were going to find a way out of this mess. How long ago was that?

"So how...what happened to you?"

"I'm sorry - " he puts the rest of his food on the coffee table. He hadn't even finished half of it. "You don't have to talk about it- of course-"

She grabbed the blanket and curled up in it before digging into her food. At his questions she thought it over. “I don’t really remember much about it, I think the longer I’m back the harder it is to really remember. I do remember that there was a limbo like area at first.. then just endless paperwork.. and not too long after that the partners came and said they were sending me back and that you were running things now..”

@contriite (Wes)

It didn't sound pleasant - but at least it didn't sound like she'd been to Hell. Or like she'd physically suffered while she was on the other side. Still, he figured it was probably a good thing she didn't remember much of it.

"I suppose that might be a good thing -" then there is a pause, time occupied by refilling their drinks as he tries to keep conversation going while avoiding the long list of topics that would issue painful conversation.

"So...there is one thing we should probably talk about." He sighs after a little while. He had been meaning to put it off until tomorrow, but maybe it was better to just tell her.

"The partners- they - well I suppose it wouldn't surprise you if I told you that this deal I've made isn't going to be as good as it sounds?"

“You’re probably right.” She agreed when he said it was good that she didn’t remember much of her time after her death. Occasionally she could remember quick flashes of fire or screams, but those were getting fewer the longer she was back.

She took a long sip of her refilled drink as he brought up the partners and the deal he’d made. “Of course not what exactly are the terms of this deal you made with them?”

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

He nods, motioning for her to have a seat and tossing her a blanket. A couple minutes later, they're both settled with take out and drinks. It had been a while since he'd had dinner with someone - not counting the various bits and pieces he'd shared with the rest of the group over work those last few days - when they could still fool themselves into believing they were going to find a way out of this mess. How long ago was that?

"So how...what happened to you?"

"I'm sorry - " he puts the rest of his food on the coffee table. He hadn't even finished half of it. "You don't have to talk about it- of course-"

She grabbed the blanket and curled up in it before digging into her food. At his questions she thought it over. “I don’t really remember much about it, I think the longer I’m back the harder it is to really remember. I do remember that there was a limbo like area at first.. then just endless paperwork.. and not too long after that the partners came and said they were sending me back and that you were running things now..”

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

Wesley's eyes snapped open only when she spoke, though he was far from asleep. Turning his head, he pauses at the sight of her dressed in one of his shirts, looking very...ordinary. Ordinary in the best sense. Like everything that had gone down in the past few years had fallen away.

"Yeah, of course, we'll...make a few calls tomorrow - that is...How did you rent your apartment?" With her working for Wolfram and Hart, he wasn't all too sure she'd followed the regular procedures.

"In any case, food will be here soon...and your room for tonight should be ready soon. I understand if you prefer to have a bit of time to yourself?"

He isn't all too sure how to act around her and he can tell she's not very comfortable around him either, so while Wesley doesn't necessarily want to be alone, she should at least have the option to retreat.

She nodded when he said they could make calls tomorrow. “It was rent controlled thanks to the firm.” She replied as she took a seat in the chair across from him. “As for being alone? I’d really rather not be.. spent way too much time that way and it’s not exactly a fun time..” she explained as she absently ran a hand through her hair.

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

"Here - I'll show you-" he got up again, walking her through his bedroom and the adjoining bathroom where he began to lay out a couple of towels and shower gel.

"-again, probably not your first choice-" he grins, holding out a bottle of 2-in-1 body and hair wash. He remembers she hadn't exactly been impressed by his selection before.

"You'd probably have more luck if you were to check the other rooms- but I suppose it'll do for now? As for something to wear..."

He didn't exactly want to go look through Fred's stuff - and he doubted it'd fit her anyway. "I'll send someone to get you something by morning, for now...I can offer you a pair of sweatpants and a shirt?"

She followed him into the bathroom and looked at the bottle in his hand. “It’ll do and sweats and a shirt is fine.” She replied giving him a small smile. “I don’t suppose you know what they did with my apartment or any of my things?” She asked as she set the towels up how she wanted them and slipped out of her shoes.

@contriite (Wes)

"I'm sorry, but I don't-" he replies quietly. It's not like he hadn't cared, but after he's failed to burn her contract, Wesley had been rather convinced there was no saving her.

He scrapes his throath "I- I'll go get you something to wear, I'll leave it out in my room and I'll give you some privacy."

A few minutes later he's in the living room again, waiting for their take-out to arrive and knocking back another drink. His thoughts keep wandering back to that final night. So many things left unsaid - and then..." He hopes she hadn't - in some supernatural way - witnessed what he'd done to her after she'd passed away. Eyes closed, he still can't quite figure out why her. They would have given him anything - why her?

Lilah waited until he was gone before she undressed and stepped into the shower. About twenty minutes later she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel feeling more refreshed and more like herself. She walked into his bedroom and put the clothes he’d laid out for her on. Once she was dressed and had dried her hair, she walked back into the living room. “Is there anyone we could talk to about what happened to my things at the very least?” She asked. She was sure there was some kind of protocol when it came to her earthly possessions, she couldn’t remember at the moment what they were.

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

"Here - I'll show you-" he got up again, walking her through his bedroom and the adjoining bathroom where he began to lay out a couple of towels and shower gel.

"-again, probably not your first choice-" he grins, holding out a bottle of 2-in-1 body and hair wash. He remembers she hadn't exactly been impressed by his selection before.

"You'd probably have more luck if you were to check the other rooms- but I suppose it'll do for now? As for something to wear..."

He didn't exactly want to go look through Fred's stuff - and he doubted it'd fit her anyway. "I'll send someone to get you something by morning, for now...I can offer you a pair of sweatpants and a shirt?"

She followed him into the bathroom and looked at the bottle in his hand. “It’ll do and sweats and a shirt is fine.” She replied giving him a small smile. “I don’t suppose you know what they did with my apartment or any of my things?” She asked as she set the towels up how she wanted them and slipped out of her shoes.

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

His drink is finished in a single long gulp. It's nothing she hasn't seen before. He's past caring about how he comes across. The drink doesn't steady him, but it does allow him to speak more freely.

"I suppose I don't see the point in leaving-"

"-and besides...free drinks" He gives her a small smile. "I've learned to appreciate the little things."

Wesley takes the seat opposite her, eyes meeting hers for just a moment "Look - I know I need to fill you in about this...'deal' I've made, and that you have a lot to figure out for yourself but, for tonight...is there any chance I can convince you to just...not worry about it? Just...have a drink with me, take a shower and get some sleep - I'll tell you anything you want tomorrow-"

She understood when he explained why he hadn’t chosen to leave. At his mention of appreciating the little things a small smile of her own graced her lips. “Yeah those are the first things you miss..” she finished off her drink. “Few more of these and throw in cheese fries with bacon and you’ve got a pretty good chance..”

The mere suggestion of being able to take a long hot shower and sleep in what would no doubt be a luxurious bed sounded like absolute heaven to her after everything she’d been through.

@contriite (Wes)

At the mention of cheese fries and bacon, she actually manages to bring a small smile to his face.

"No food in the afterlife?" He asks, pushing himself up to get a bunch of leaflets from the kitchen counter, placing them in front of her on the coffee table.

"If you can find a place that delivers cheese fries - I suppose they're part of the deal. I'll have someone fix up a room for you - as for fresh clothes...I can't promise it'll be flattering, but I'm sure I can gather something. Maybe - start with a shower?"

Not that she looked like she needed one, but he figured it might help her feel more grounded. More herself. After all, she'd died wearing those clothes, and if they didn't exactly inspire happy memories in him, he was sure they weren't helping her either.

“Not really no.. and it’s LA I can find a few places that will deliver pretty much anything. As far as clothes? As long as it’s comfortable I don’t think I care right now.” She’d settle for a comfortable pair of pajama bottoms and a tank top at this point.

She nodded in agreement when he suggested starting with a shower. She picked up a take out menu from one of her go to places she’d ordered from before and quickly ordered all her usual pick me up comfort foods then hung up. “Food will be here in about twenty minutes or so. So which way to the bathroom?”

@contriite (Wes)

send 👪 for my muse to talk about a family member of theirs.

Lilah nodded when asked if she was okay. “Yeah I think I stopped counting at some point..” she replied then she turned to the bartender. “Put whatever she’s having on my tab.

She then turned back to the other woman and smiled. “Thanks for the assist, I’m Lilah.” She sipped her drink.

@lapdlockley

The gesture was appreciated, but Kate lifted her hand in protest, “you don’t have to do that.” Returning the smile politely, she introduced herself, “Kate.” Looking across the club towards crowds of people talking and dancing, Kate fidgeted with her drink, messing with the umbrella sloshing around in it.

“So you have to deal with guys like that a lot, huh,” she glanced back at Lilah. “Then I’m guessing this isn’t your first time coming here?” Kate wasn't the best at small talk unless she was working undercover - then it was an act, so it was easy to hide behind that; she didn't have to worry about being herself.

“I know I don’t have to,but I want to.” She assured her when she said that putting her drink on Lilah’s tab was unnecessary. She took a few sips of her drink and nodded when Kate asked about her being hit on a lot and coming to this bar pretty regularly. “It’s not and I’m guessing it’s not your usual place?”

@lapdlockley

It had been a long week for Lilah and coming to her usual bar was a much needed break from the chaos that was currently her job. She had been sitting alone trying to enjoy her drink and people watching, when some guy decided to try and hit on her. It was something she was accustomed to by now.

She was just about to tell the drunk rude asshole to take a hike, when she turned to see a blonde woman ask if he was bothering her. The woman looked vaguely familiar, but she was having trouble remembering where she’d seen the other woman before. “As a matter of fact yes.. Reggie here apparently doesn’t know how to take no for an answer..” she explained. The guy had told her his name and it wasn’t Reggie, but Lilah could’ve cared less what his name was. This guy was a drop in the bucket as far as guys thinking it was okay to just waltz over and start chatting her up.

@lapdlockley

Kate’s instincts had been right; sure, maybe this guy would have eventually backed down if she hadn’t stepped in, but stopping a possible conflict before it could happen was always worth looking into. She shifted her attention to ‘Reggie’. “That's your cue to leave, head outside, sober up a bit,” she firmly suggested. When the guy responded with a slurred ‘shove off lady’, Kate inhaled to stay calm.

"Do you really wanna do this the hard way?" she put her hand on her hip, next to her badge. He seemed to get the message once he saw she was a cop and staggered away. “If he starts trouble, you let me know,” Kate told the bartender to put their mind at ease. She looked back to the woman with a slight roll of her eyes. “I've lost count how many times I’ve had to deal with drunks like that. Are you okay?”

Lilah nodded when asked if she was okay. “Yeah I think I stopped counting at some point..” she replied then she turned to the bartender. “Put whatever she’s having on my tab.

She then turned back to the other woman and smiled. “Thanks for the assist, I’m Lilah.” She sipped her drink.

@lapdlockley

closed starter for @lilahemorgan

For weeks Kate had been working on a particularly brutal case with no sign of catching the one responsible, and no matter how good she was at keeping a level head on the job, she was still human, and it was taking its toll. Too stubborn to accept the offer from her superior, to take a few days off to clear her head, Kate was clearing it the old fashioned way - with a drink at a bar she'd never been to. She was avoiding going to her usual place where all the cops went after work. She didn’t want to recognise anyone, she just wanted to lose herself at the bottom of a glass.

The music was loud but not enough to drown out the voices carried over to where she was sitting at the bar, swirling the umbrella in her fancy drink she couldn’t remember the name of. She looked over to find a man standing what appeared to be uncomfortably close to a lady with dark hair. Cop-mode activating, she took note of his aggressive body language and raised voice. Kate picked up her drink, and moved to step between the two. “Is this guy bothering you?” She asked the woman, motioning her head towards the man in question.

It had been a long week for Lilah and coming to her usual bar was a much needed break from the chaos that was currently her job. She had been sitting alone trying to enjoy her drink and people watching, when some guy decided to try and hit on her. It was something she was accustomed to by now.

She was just about to tell the drunk rude asshole to take a hike, when she turned to see a blonde woman ask if he was bothering her. The woman looked vaguely familiar, but she was having trouble remembering where she’d seen the other woman before. “As a matter of fact yes.. Reggie here apparently doesn’t know how to take no for an answer..” she explained. The guy had told her his name and it wasn’t Reggie, but Lilah could’ve cared less what his name was. This guy was a drop in the bucket as far as guys thinking it was okay to just waltz over and start chatting her up.

@lapdlockley

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

His drink is finished in a single long gulp. It's nothing she hasn't seen before. He's past caring about how he comes across. The drink doesn't steady him, but it does allow him to speak more freely.

"I suppose I don't see the point in leaving-"

"-and besides...free drinks" He gives her a small smile. "I've learned to appreciate the little things."

Wesley takes the seat opposite her, eyes meeting hers for just a moment "Look - I know I need to fill you in about this...'deal' I've made, and that you have a lot to figure out for yourself but, for tonight...is there any chance I can convince you to just...not worry about it? Just...have a drink with me, take a shower and get some sleep - I'll tell you anything you want tomorrow-"

She understood when he explained why he hadn’t chosen to leave. At his mention of appreciating the little things a small smile of her own graced her lips. “Yeah those are the first things you miss..” she finished off her drink. “Few more of these and throw in cheese fries with bacon and you’ve got a pretty good chance..”

The mere suggestion of being able to take a long hot shower and sleep in what would no doubt be a luxurious bed sounded like absolute heaven to her after everything she’d been through.

@contriite (Wes)

lilahemorgan

"I'm not saying you should-" he shrugs. It's not like he had imagined that they would be moving in together. Their relationship - if it could be called as much - had never reached that stage,, && so much had happened that he'd be surprised if they were to continue it at all. Never mind his initial response to seeing her.

"I'm merely saying it could hold you over for a little while - give you some time to figure out an alternative."

“Right.. I’m still trying to figure out why you’re staying here? I mean out of everyone I figured you’d be the last person to willingly live here.” She said before taking a few more sips of her drink and relaxing just a little bit as she leaned back into her seat.

“It would’ve been nice if they’d given any sort of instructions other than just telling me how grateful I should be and that I’d be liaison” she commented, her tone holding a bitterness edge.

@contriite (Wes)

@lilahemorgan continued from here

"Angel took the penthouse-" Wesley replies, moving towards the counter to fix her (&& himself) a drink. "Given how much of our time this 'job' demanded - and that Lorne, Fred and Gunn didn't have anywhere else to go - it made sense we'd create the space here." It felt strange to speak of the whole arrangement in past tense,, && besides, it didn't really explain why he was here - especially now.

"Here-" he passes her her drink, lingering by the counter. Aside from the bedroom, Wesley's appartment hardly looked lived in. Both the kitchen and the living room could have passed for sets for an interior magazine. It was a strong contrast to the small apartment he had occupied before taking residence here (one he still paid rent for). That apartment, while certainly less luxurious, had quickly become his. From his collection of whole leaf tea, to bookshelves filled with far too many books && picture frames, to his coffee table littered with notebooks and post-it-notes, it had shaped itself around his life and interests in a way that this place could never compare to. Perhaps that was why it was so unappealing for him to return there.

"I don't expect the others will be back before the week is over, so you have a few days in relative peace to get used to being...back. That is...I assume you don't have anywhere else to go?"

“But you said he’s gone.. so you could take the penthouse.. “ it made more sense than just leaving it empty. She took the drink from him and took a few sips. She then set the drink down on the counter as she took a seat. “I don’t have anywhere else to go no, they didn’t exactly set me up in anyway before they basically threw me back into the lobby alive..” she explained before taking a few more sips of her drink.

“I’m not sure if I’m okay with living here though..” she’d never had to worry about it the first time around and if she were honest? She preferred having her own fully separate living space.

@contriite (Wes)