Disclaimer: I still don't own ATS or BTVS so please don't press charges.
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"Do you want to talk about this Spike?" Angel asked
"To you? Hell no." With that he disappeared, leaving Angel alone with many questions still unanswered.
"What am I going to do with you?" He asked the sleeping figure dwarfed under his leather coat. He squatted beside her, feeling an uncharacteristic need to touch her.
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Angel squinted at the light streaming into his bedroom, sitting up he wondered if he would ever get used to the necrotempered glass. He showered and dressed quickly, there were things he wanted to do this morning before the regular machinery took over. Donning his obligatory black shirt and pants combo he headed to his office, expecting Harmony's office to be empty he was surprised to see a figure blocked by the computer screen.
"Morning." He muttered, as he pushed open his office door. As he entered he could see the sofa was empty and his coat had returned to its position behind the door. Checking the bathroom, he noticed the shower there had been used and one of his spare shirts was missing.
"Ariane?" He called as he returned to his office.
"My Lord." She answered from the doorway. In her hands she held a tall glass of deep red blood. " 'Tis just above ambient body temperature Master. I took the liberty of asking Lady Harmony what you required upon rising." She padded across the office, bare feet making almost no sound. She was wearing the missing black shirt; the sleeves rolled up to just above her wrists. She bowed slightly as she handed him the blood. "God grant you a fine day."
"Oh, right, thanks." He answered numbly. If he had expected something this morning, this had not been it. She stood quietly in front of him as though awaiting further instructions.
"I guess we have to talk about this situation don't we." He stated, pushing a pile of paperwork from the corner of his desk and perching on the edge crossing his long legs at the ankles. "Sit down. in the chair." He insisted nodding toward the chair in front of him.
"It is not permitted, I.."
"Yes you told me yesterday, something about servitude. I don't care what the rules were where you came from, from now on the rules change. Now sit down." He ordered gently. She acquiesced, looking uncomfortable. He could hear her heart hammering in her chest and wondered at it. "What are you scared of?"
"Lord?" She asked confused.
"Okay enough of the Lord stuff, I'm not a lord or your master or sire, I'm Angel, just call me Angel."
"I thought that would be the first thing to go." Lorne laughed as he entered Angel's office.
"My Lord Lorne, God grant you a fine day." She stood and bowed again, smiling broadly at the green demon.
"Did you want to see me for something?" Angel asked almost grateful for the interruption.
"In a way, I wanted to talk about this little fire cracker. But first things first, we have to deal with this outfit." He stood shaking his head and plucking at the outsized shirt.
"Always kinda liked it when a bird nicked my shirt the mornin' after. You got something to share with the group there Angel ole buddy?"
"Do you think your brain is ever likely to venture out of the sewer Spike?" Angel shook his head, disgusted.
"Did you notice how he didn't answer the question, Lorne? That's okay Angel you're secret's safe with us."
"I swear Spike the second you get your body back I'm going to take great delight in beating it back to hell."
"You mean you'll try, you overgrown pansy..."
"Sweetie, let's you and me sneak out while these two dump some hormones okay." Lorne took Ariane's arm and led her out into Harmony's office.
"Should I not stay with my Mas. with Angel?" She asked him.
"Baby cakes, by the time he notices your gone, we'll be on our way back. I've got some things for you take a look at." Lorne swept his arm around Harmony's office showing her a mass of bags and boxes.
"I guessed you were travelling light so I went shopping after work. Harmony could you give me a hand?" Lorne looked to see Harmony peeking into the bags.
"What's going on?" She enquired.
"God grant you a fine day, Lady Harmony." Ariane bowed again to the blonde girl.
"Ooh, I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that 'Lady Harmony', has a kind of ring to it don't you think? Is this a makeover, I just love a good makeover." She gushed. "But this is much too public, here follow me."
Harmony grabbed Ariane's hand and trotted off down the corridor with Lorne not far behind, laden down with parcels. She led them to the ladies powder room taking an out of order sign from the vanity unit. "What, you never know when you're going to need some privacy." She informed them at Lorne's raised eyebrow.
They spent the next half hour trying on outfit after outfit, dresses, skirt suits, finally Lorne and Harmony agreed on a dark blue pants suit with a crisp white blouse. She looked every inch the sharp business exec.
"Okay you, out for the finishing touches." Harmony ushered Lorne out of the room.
"Fine but I want to be there for the final unveiling." He yelled from the other side of the door. He headed back to Angel's office to see if the bickering was over. The door was open when he got there and he couldn't hear any noise at all.
"Anybody home?" He called as he entered. Angel looked up from behind his desk.
"Where is she?" He asked when he noticed no one followed Lorne.
"Powder room." He replied not willing to spoil the surprise.
"Good, I wanted to ask you what went on yesterday. Spike said you had her working with you while I was gone." He pushed away the pile of letters he was signing.
"Did he now. That was helpful of him. Was that before or after the scathing insults?"
"Before."
"I took her downstairs with me, just to see what she could do. She has an exceptional gift. She sees aura's, has visions, and is capable of thought transference. As far as I can tell she's the real deal, the human equivalent of a psychic one stop shop if you like."
"She can read minds too, at least she read mine." His brow furrowed, wondering if it was just vampire minds she could read.
"Bet that was enlightening. Not."
"Get a life Spike, oh I'm sorry you can't."
"Gave it up to save the world, what's your excuse?" He shot back
"Someone to see you Angel," Harmony commented standing by the door winking at Lorne.
"There's nothing scheduled for this morning Harmony. Get rid of them, I'm not in the mood."
"You'll like this one." She replied taking Ariane's hand and striding into the office.
Angel's jaw dropped, Spike wolf whistled, Lorne just looked proud.
Ariane stood in the middle of the office staring back at the men totally staggered by their reaction. Spike sauntered toward her, walking in a wide circle eyeing her hungrily from every angle. The suit was tailored to perfection, it could almost have been made for her. It accentuated her soft curves and tiny waist, but still remained professional. Harmony had told her how to stand, one foot slightly in front of the other with her jacket pulled back and her hand in her pocket. Harmony had swept her long dark hair back into a thick braid and applied just a hint of make up to emphasize her striking blue eyes.
"Gentlemen." She smiled at them exuding a confidence she did not feel.
"Angel mate, I must admit when you picked her over that blonde I thought you were nuts. Now I see you were looking at her potential, nice going. If I wasn't having this out of body experience luv I'd give you some primo ..."
"Spike." Angel interrupted before Spike could finish. "Thanks for the thought but until you can back it up, just can it."
"Can't a guy even dream, it's not like I get to do hellish much else." He sulked flouncing dejectedly on the sofa.
"That's some transformation." Angel smiled impressed.
"It's just window dressing, the ground work was already done. What do you think Ariane?" Lorne asked.
"She wouldn't look, something about not being permitted. Speaking as someone who doesn't have the luxury of checking my look in the mirror anymore, I think she's crazy, but ho-hum." She returned to her office, presumably to do some work.
"Do you approve?" Ariane enquired of Angel. She was eager to please him.
"Approve, sure." He nodded absently. Lorne frowned at him but Angel took no notice.
"Now you're here we can get back to business. We need to know what you can do." He sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.
"Do?" She replied giving nothing away.
"Your abilities. What you showed Lorne yesterday, is there anything else we need to know?"
"I can think of nothing more." She answered plainly.
"In that case, I think you'd be best to go work with Lorne for awhile. I'm sure he could use the help. Just keep me informed about the visions. Lorne, you'll have to arrange somewhere for her to sleep and whatever. You can handle that, right." He returned his attention to the letters on his desk actively dismissing the two.
"Whatever you say Angel." Lorne took Ariane's arm and they left Angel's office together. Ariane looking confused, Lorne looking unusually irritated.
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What do you think so far? Please let me know. Your reviews are the only way I know if you like it. Thanks again.
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"Do you want to talk about this Spike?" Angel asked
"To you? Hell no." With that he disappeared, leaving Angel alone with many questions still unanswered.
"What am I going to do with you?" He asked the sleeping figure dwarfed under his leather coat. He squatted beside her, feeling an uncharacteristic need to touch her.
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Angel squinted at the light streaming into his bedroom, sitting up he wondered if he would ever get used to the necrotempered glass. He showered and dressed quickly, there were things he wanted to do this morning before the regular machinery took over. Donning his obligatory black shirt and pants combo he headed to his office, expecting Harmony's office to be empty he was surprised to see a figure blocked by the computer screen.
"Morning." He muttered, as he pushed open his office door. As he entered he could see the sofa was empty and his coat had returned to its position behind the door. Checking the bathroom, he noticed the shower there had been used and one of his spare shirts was missing.
"Ariane?" He called as he returned to his office.
"My Lord." She answered from the doorway. In her hands she held a tall glass of deep red blood. " 'Tis just above ambient body temperature Master. I took the liberty of asking Lady Harmony what you required upon rising." She padded across the office, bare feet making almost no sound. She was wearing the missing black shirt; the sleeves rolled up to just above her wrists. She bowed slightly as she handed him the blood. "God grant you a fine day."
"Oh, right, thanks." He answered numbly. If he had expected something this morning, this had not been it. She stood quietly in front of him as though awaiting further instructions.
"I guess we have to talk about this situation don't we." He stated, pushing a pile of paperwork from the corner of his desk and perching on the edge crossing his long legs at the ankles. "Sit down. in the chair." He insisted nodding toward the chair in front of him.
"It is not permitted, I.."
"Yes you told me yesterday, something about servitude. I don't care what the rules were where you came from, from now on the rules change. Now sit down." He ordered gently. She acquiesced, looking uncomfortable. He could hear her heart hammering in her chest and wondered at it. "What are you scared of?"
"Lord?" She asked confused.
"Okay enough of the Lord stuff, I'm not a lord or your master or sire, I'm Angel, just call me Angel."
"I thought that would be the first thing to go." Lorne laughed as he entered Angel's office.
"My Lord Lorne, God grant you a fine day." She stood and bowed again, smiling broadly at the green demon.
"Did you want to see me for something?" Angel asked almost grateful for the interruption.
"In a way, I wanted to talk about this little fire cracker. But first things first, we have to deal with this outfit." He stood shaking his head and plucking at the outsized shirt.
"Always kinda liked it when a bird nicked my shirt the mornin' after. You got something to share with the group there Angel ole buddy?"
"Do you think your brain is ever likely to venture out of the sewer Spike?" Angel shook his head, disgusted.
"Did you notice how he didn't answer the question, Lorne? That's okay Angel you're secret's safe with us."
"I swear Spike the second you get your body back I'm going to take great delight in beating it back to hell."
"You mean you'll try, you overgrown pansy..."
"Sweetie, let's you and me sneak out while these two dump some hormones okay." Lorne took Ariane's arm and led her out into Harmony's office.
"Should I not stay with my Mas. with Angel?" She asked him.
"Baby cakes, by the time he notices your gone, we'll be on our way back. I've got some things for you take a look at." Lorne swept his arm around Harmony's office showing her a mass of bags and boxes.
"I guessed you were travelling light so I went shopping after work. Harmony could you give me a hand?" Lorne looked to see Harmony peeking into the bags.
"What's going on?" She enquired.
"God grant you a fine day, Lady Harmony." Ariane bowed again to the blonde girl.
"Ooh, I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that 'Lady Harmony', has a kind of ring to it don't you think? Is this a makeover, I just love a good makeover." She gushed. "But this is much too public, here follow me."
Harmony grabbed Ariane's hand and trotted off down the corridor with Lorne not far behind, laden down with parcels. She led them to the ladies powder room taking an out of order sign from the vanity unit. "What, you never know when you're going to need some privacy." She informed them at Lorne's raised eyebrow.
They spent the next half hour trying on outfit after outfit, dresses, skirt suits, finally Lorne and Harmony agreed on a dark blue pants suit with a crisp white blouse. She looked every inch the sharp business exec.
"Okay you, out for the finishing touches." Harmony ushered Lorne out of the room.
"Fine but I want to be there for the final unveiling." He yelled from the other side of the door. He headed back to Angel's office to see if the bickering was over. The door was open when he got there and he couldn't hear any noise at all.
"Anybody home?" He called as he entered. Angel looked up from behind his desk.
"Where is she?" He asked when he noticed no one followed Lorne.
"Powder room." He replied not willing to spoil the surprise.
"Good, I wanted to ask you what went on yesterday. Spike said you had her working with you while I was gone." He pushed away the pile of letters he was signing.
"Did he now. That was helpful of him. Was that before or after the scathing insults?"
"Before."
"I took her downstairs with me, just to see what she could do. She has an exceptional gift. She sees aura's, has visions, and is capable of thought transference. As far as I can tell she's the real deal, the human equivalent of a psychic one stop shop if you like."
"She can read minds too, at least she read mine." His brow furrowed, wondering if it was just vampire minds she could read.
"Bet that was enlightening. Not."
"Get a life Spike, oh I'm sorry you can't."
"Gave it up to save the world, what's your excuse?" He shot back
"Someone to see you Angel," Harmony commented standing by the door winking at Lorne.
"There's nothing scheduled for this morning Harmony. Get rid of them, I'm not in the mood."
"You'll like this one." She replied taking Ariane's hand and striding into the office.
Angel's jaw dropped, Spike wolf whistled, Lorne just looked proud.
Ariane stood in the middle of the office staring back at the men totally staggered by their reaction. Spike sauntered toward her, walking in a wide circle eyeing her hungrily from every angle. The suit was tailored to perfection, it could almost have been made for her. It accentuated her soft curves and tiny waist, but still remained professional. Harmony had told her how to stand, one foot slightly in front of the other with her jacket pulled back and her hand in her pocket. Harmony had swept her long dark hair back into a thick braid and applied just a hint of make up to emphasize her striking blue eyes.
"Gentlemen." She smiled at them exuding a confidence she did not feel.
"Angel mate, I must admit when you picked her over that blonde I thought you were nuts. Now I see you were looking at her potential, nice going. If I wasn't having this out of body experience luv I'd give you some primo ..."
"Spike." Angel interrupted before Spike could finish. "Thanks for the thought but until you can back it up, just can it."
"Can't a guy even dream, it's not like I get to do hellish much else." He sulked flouncing dejectedly on the sofa.
"That's some transformation." Angel smiled impressed.
"It's just window dressing, the ground work was already done. What do you think Ariane?" Lorne asked.
"She wouldn't look, something about not being permitted. Speaking as someone who doesn't have the luxury of checking my look in the mirror anymore, I think she's crazy, but ho-hum." She returned to her office, presumably to do some work.
"Do you approve?" Ariane enquired of Angel. She was eager to please him.
"Approve, sure." He nodded absently. Lorne frowned at him but Angel took no notice.
"Now you're here we can get back to business. We need to know what you can do." He sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.
"Do?" She replied giving nothing away.
"Your abilities. What you showed Lorne yesterday, is there anything else we need to know?"
"I can think of nothing more." She answered plainly.
"In that case, I think you'd be best to go work with Lorne for awhile. I'm sure he could use the help. Just keep me informed about the visions. Lorne, you'll have to arrange somewhere for her to sleep and whatever. You can handle that, right." He returned his attention to the letters on his desk actively dismissing the two.
"Whatever you say Angel." Lorne took Ariane's arm and they left Angel's office together. Ariane looking confused, Lorne looking unusually irritated.
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What do you think so far? Please let me know. Your reviews are the only way I know if you like it. Thanks again.