Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from ATS or BTVS. I have only
borrowed them and promise to return them unharmed when I'm finished.
Apologies: To all those Wesley fans. I know I misspelled his name (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce) very sorry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ariane was surprised by how simple the Wolfram & Hart staff evaluation process was.
Lorne lined up three or four staff members at a time and asked them to sing something, anything. She had heard some of the most bizarre and gut- wrenchingly awful renditions of songs. Admittedly she had never heard the songs before, but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate good music when she heard it.
Her personal favourite had been a young man with long, lank hair and several painful looking objects perforating his skin. He had insisted on singing every verse of something called "Smells like teen spirit". Lorne had stood in front of him sipping, then gulping at the "purely medicinal" Manhattan he held.
"The things I do for this company." He sighed, draining the amber contents from the long stemmed cocktail glass. His cell phone rang and he rolled his eyes before answering.
"Yes sweet cheeks, I'll make sure she's there. Yes Angel, I got it the first time." Lorne hung up shaking his head.
"Who's left?" He asked Ariane, looking forward to finishing this inspection and getting back to his office. He had anticipated being finished just after lunch, but it was fast approaching 5.30 p.m. Everyone wanted to be superstar, he just wondered why they had to inflict their 'talents' on him.
"Wesley." She replied checking the list.
"Tell you what cup cake you can handle this one and I'll take a back seat." He walked over to a desk, where Wesley was pouring over an ancient text. "Okay sugar you're the last, what say we give the new kid a shot?"
"What, oh, yes certainly." Wesley smiled, pushing his glasses back into place. "I've been practising." he coughed, clearing his throat. "They say our love won't pay the rent." He began.
"Hold it, hold it." Lorne smirked waving his hands in the air. Wesley stopped abruptly looking crestfallen.
"Was I that bad?" He asked, a blush all but singeing his short, unkempt brown hair.
"Not at all, I thought you very good. Lorne only wanted you to know it is not necessary. I only require to hold your hand for a moment, do you object?" Ariane smiled gently at the ex-watcher, hoping he would allow her to touch him.
"Object, no not at all." He returned her smile as she took his hand gently, then peered over her head to Lorne wrinkling his brow. "What's going on?" He mouthed.
Ariane's eyes closed and she relaxed, letting her thoughts stray and merge with Wesley's. She saw memories many of the most recent involving Angel, fighting at his side and introducing himself as a 'Rogue demon hunter' she smiled, the idea of this rather straight laced Englishman being a rogue anything was amusing.
Suddenly the images began to spin, to warp and fuse. She inhaled sharply, tightening her grip slightly on Wesley's hand, as his memories dissolved and a gruesome vision replaced it. Wesley looked on puzzled as she dropped his hand and made for the door at speed.
"What's wrong, what did you see?" He asked chasing after her.
"I must speak with Angel." He caught as she sprinted toward the stair well.
Following at a more leisurely pace, Lorne and Wesley made their way to the bank of elevators knowing they would reach Angel's office before Ariane did.
"Visions? Like Cordelia?" Wesley asked Lorne as they boarded the elevator and waited for the doors to slide together.
"Yes and no. Cordy's visions were painful and Ari doesn't seem to be in any pain, thankfully. And Cordy knew what she was seeing, street names and landmarks, ways to recognise where the slashing and bashing was going on. Ari doesn't, but she can show people what she sees." Lorne tried to explain.
"Like the psychic equivalent of instant replay?"
"Exactly."
"Fascinating. She's really rather charming don't you think?"
"You Brits have a way with words don't you." Lorne smiled thinking charming was an excellent word to describe his new flat mate.
As the elevator doors opened at their chosen floor they caught sight of a pink blur as it passed them and ran into Harmony's office.
"Greetings Lady Harmony," she gasped bowing slightly, "I require to speak with my, with Angel. It is of the utmost importance."
"He's with someone right now. He shouldn't be much longer though it's only Gunn & Fred."
"She needs to see him now Harmony, we're going in." Wesley strode purposefully through her office to the door without waiting to be announced. Flustered and out of breath Ariane followed them into the office.
"Greatest thanks Harmony." Ariane nodded to her as Lorne closed the door behind them.
"At least someone has some manners in this place." She huffed.
"Heads up people, we've got another one." Lorne spoke as Ariane tried to catch her breath.
"Another vision? That's great, what's the deal with this one?" Anticipation evident in Angel's every word. He stood up behind his desk as Ariane approached and touched his hand.
This time when his eyes closed he was standing in an average looking street outside an average looking brownstone house with the number 166 on its cheerful, bright red door.
"Rosewood Avenue" he heard her now familiar voice informing him.
The door was opening and two huge, muscular, grey coloured Tielgath demons were lumbering out, blood dripping from their open jaws. From inside Angel could hear the unexpected sound of laughter. He noticed flickering light and as he entered he could see candles scattered across the floor of the hallway leading into another room.
The remnants of some kind of ritual were obvious by the symbols etched on the floor and walls. The physical remains of perhaps four people were scattered around the room.
In one corner stood a robed figure, by size and stature Angel guessed it was a man but his face was hidden beneath a hood. His laughter grew louder as screams could be heard from outside, the demons were still hungry it seemed. The vision dissolved and Angel opened his eyes blinking slightly at the bright light compared to the flickering candle light in the vision.
"Let's suit up and head out, Wes I'm going to need you on this one. Gunn you feel like getting your rage on?" Angel enquired.
The unabashedly bald man stood quickly joining Angel at the weapons cabinet. Ariane noticed his expensive suit and thought it strange that this man would accompany Angel on such an undertaking.
"What in this place is not strange?" She thought to herself. "There is time Angel, did you not notice the clock? It indicated these demons would not be unleashed for several hours."
"Visions with a time stamp? Now that's what I call service Angel." Gunn smiled pulling a wicked looking axe from the cabinet with one hand and throwing a crossbow to Wesley with the other. Wesley caught it deftly in one hand, this was obviously not the first time these people had worked together.
"Stick to the visions kid, let the professionals deal with the specifics." Angel laughed arrogantly as he and the others left the room.
"Sure, go, save the day and take all the credit why don't you. It's not like you need someone to show you where the action is first or anything. If he's so damned 'professional' why isn't he having the visions?" Lorne muttered after they left.
"Seems we're surplus to requirements on this one Lorne." Shrugging Fred, who had remained seated as the whole event unfolded, turned to Ariane and Lorne smiling.
"Spike told me all about you yesterday but it was too late to meet you." She stood and shook hands with Ariane. "I'm Winifred Burkle by-the-way, everyone just calls me Fred." She swept back a loose strand of brown hair absently.
"Someone mention my name?" Spike drawled appearing behind Angel's desk and sitting down in his chair, casually throwing one leg over the arm. "Where's the poof off too with such a smug look on 'is face?"
"Ariane had a vision. Angel, Gunn and Wesley have gone to 'deal with the specifics'." Fred said, doing a rather weak Angel impression.
Ariane laughed, then blushed. It was wrong to disrespect her master, but she couldn't help herself.
"So, little miss prim's got a sense of humour?" Spike sat forward in Angel's chair grateful to see Ariane do something out of character.
"I should not be doing this. He is my master." She dropped her head ashamed of herself.
"No Ariane, you just work for him, the same way we do! Angel gets caught up and forgets he needs us just as much as we need him." Fred offered her in defence.
"The big git deserves a kick up the arse for they way he's treated you. Don't worry luv, I know just the way to get back at him. No sleep for you tonight Angel me old mucker." Spike's sly grin brought another guilty smile to Ariane's face. "A few renditions of my old man's a dustman and he'll be climbing the walls I guarantee it."
"I think I've got a better idea." Lorne interrupted, having stayed uncommonly quiet.
"Ooh, you're ideas are always worth listening to." Fred eyed him intrigued.
"What better way to introduce Ari to everyone than a get-to-know-you party?"
"I don't think that would be." Ariane tried to object
"A party, hmm. What do you think Angel will say?" Fred asked, interrupting her.
"Bollocks to what Angel would say. Lorne's in charge of staff morale and entertainment, it's up to him." Spike just loved mixing it where Angel was concerned, and parties were sooo not Angel's idea of fun. Might be nice to see him all uncomfortable and out of his depth. "I bet I could even talk Harmony into forging his signature if you needed it."
"It would have to be something big, karaoke, drinking, staff dancing on the tables, the whole shebang." Lorne was lost in the moment, his imagination running riot.
"I know some science geeks who dance a mean conga." Fred nodded enthusiastically.
"How do we keep Angel from finding out about it though?" Lorne pondered.
"Oh that's too easy, use e-mail." Fred giggled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time the three heroes returned preliminary arrangements for the party were underway.
Lorne had shut himself in his office and was frantically making phone calls to caterers, DJ's, lighting technicians and anyone else he could think of.
Ariane had opted to keep out of the way, not trusting herself to keep a secret from Angel. Harmony had left her collating some paperwork when she left for the night.
Angel strode into the office, looking strangely satisfied although apparently irritated by something.
Wesley followed shortly after him, exhausted but thankfully unhurt.
"Ariane could I see you in my office." Angel growled when he noticed her.
"Of course." She abandoned her work and followed him dutifully. He sat behind his desk and looked at her frankly, trying to decide how to phrase his question. Wesley busied himself putting the various weapons they had taken out, back in their assigned places in the cabinet.
"In that vision there were five people, am I right?" Angel asked as Ariane stood in the centre of the office, as though in trouble.
"Judging by the body parts and not including the demons, yes Angel you are correct." She answered, already knowing where his question was leading.
"We searched that house from attic to basement and couldn't find any trace of anyone except the four priests." His irritation was clear.
"The other was not at the house." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yeah I noticed that, but he was in your vision. How do you explain that?" Angel leaned forward over his desk eagerly awaiting her reply.
"Some things viewed in visions are symbolic."
"So how do you know which one's are actual and which are symbolic?"
"Experience." She replied simply.
"Why didn't you tell me that before I left?" He yelled standing with his hands leaning heavily on his desktop glaring at her.
"I was told to stick to the visions, 'kid'." She countered, raising one eyebrow and returning his icy stare with one just as glacial.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for your time.
Mysticwolf1 Thanks for your comments, they are really enlightening and educational. My thinking on Ariane's character was more on the lines of going all out to impress her new master then adding the layers a bit at a time. Although I did think she was a bit OTT myself. Just wait till. No, that would spoil the surprise.
Imzadi Please be patient.
Just Another Angel
Apologies: To all those Wesley fans. I know I misspelled his name (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce) very sorry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ariane was surprised by how simple the Wolfram & Hart staff evaluation process was.
Lorne lined up three or four staff members at a time and asked them to sing something, anything. She had heard some of the most bizarre and gut- wrenchingly awful renditions of songs. Admittedly she had never heard the songs before, but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate good music when she heard it.
Her personal favourite had been a young man with long, lank hair and several painful looking objects perforating his skin. He had insisted on singing every verse of something called "Smells like teen spirit". Lorne had stood in front of him sipping, then gulping at the "purely medicinal" Manhattan he held.
"The things I do for this company." He sighed, draining the amber contents from the long stemmed cocktail glass. His cell phone rang and he rolled his eyes before answering.
"Yes sweet cheeks, I'll make sure she's there. Yes Angel, I got it the first time." Lorne hung up shaking his head.
"Who's left?" He asked Ariane, looking forward to finishing this inspection and getting back to his office. He had anticipated being finished just after lunch, but it was fast approaching 5.30 p.m. Everyone wanted to be superstar, he just wondered why they had to inflict their 'talents' on him.
"Wesley." She replied checking the list.
"Tell you what cup cake you can handle this one and I'll take a back seat." He walked over to a desk, where Wesley was pouring over an ancient text. "Okay sugar you're the last, what say we give the new kid a shot?"
"What, oh, yes certainly." Wesley smiled, pushing his glasses back into place. "I've been practising." he coughed, clearing his throat. "They say our love won't pay the rent." He began.
"Hold it, hold it." Lorne smirked waving his hands in the air. Wesley stopped abruptly looking crestfallen.
"Was I that bad?" He asked, a blush all but singeing his short, unkempt brown hair.
"Not at all, I thought you very good. Lorne only wanted you to know it is not necessary. I only require to hold your hand for a moment, do you object?" Ariane smiled gently at the ex-watcher, hoping he would allow her to touch him.
"Object, no not at all." He returned her smile as she took his hand gently, then peered over her head to Lorne wrinkling his brow. "What's going on?" He mouthed.
Ariane's eyes closed and she relaxed, letting her thoughts stray and merge with Wesley's. She saw memories many of the most recent involving Angel, fighting at his side and introducing himself as a 'Rogue demon hunter' she smiled, the idea of this rather straight laced Englishman being a rogue anything was amusing.
Suddenly the images began to spin, to warp and fuse. She inhaled sharply, tightening her grip slightly on Wesley's hand, as his memories dissolved and a gruesome vision replaced it. Wesley looked on puzzled as she dropped his hand and made for the door at speed.
"What's wrong, what did you see?" He asked chasing after her.
"I must speak with Angel." He caught as she sprinted toward the stair well.
Following at a more leisurely pace, Lorne and Wesley made their way to the bank of elevators knowing they would reach Angel's office before Ariane did.
"Visions? Like Cordelia?" Wesley asked Lorne as they boarded the elevator and waited for the doors to slide together.
"Yes and no. Cordy's visions were painful and Ari doesn't seem to be in any pain, thankfully. And Cordy knew what she was seeing, street names and landmarks, ways to recognise where the slashing and bashing was going on. Ari doesn't, but she can show people what she sees." Lorne tried to explain.
"Like the psychic equivalent of instant replay?"
"Exactly."
"Fascinating. She's really rather charming don't you think?"
"You Brits have a way with words don't you." Lorne smiled thinking charming was an excellent word to describe his new flat mate.
As the elevator doors opened at their chosen floor they caught sight of a pink blur as it passed them and ran into Harmony's office.
"Greetings Lady Harmony," she gasped bowing slightly, "I require to speak with my, with Angel. It is of the utmost importance."
"He's with someone right now. He shouldn't be much longer though it's only Gunn & Fred."
"She needs to see him now Harmony, we're going in." Wesley strode purposefully through her office to the door without waiting to be announced. Flustered and out of breath Ariane followed them into the office.
"Greatest thanks Harmony." Ariane nodded to her as Lorne closed the door behind them.
"At least someone has some manners in this place." She huffed.
"Heads up people, we've got another one." Lorne spoke as Ariane tried to catch her breath.
"Another vision? That's great, what's the deal with this one?" Anticipation evident in Angel's every word. He stood up behind his desk as Ariane approached and touched his hand.
This time when his eyes closed he was standing in an average looking street outside an average looking brownstone house with the number 166 on its cheerful, bright red door.
"Rosewood Avenue" he heard her now familiar voice informing him.
The door was opening and two huge, muscular, grey coloured Tielgath demons were lumbering out, blood dripping from their open jaws. From inside Angel could hear the unexpected sound of laughter. He noticed flickering light and as he entered he could see candles scattered across the floor of the hallway leading into another room.
The remnants of some kind of ritual were obvious by the symbols etched on the floor and walls. The physical remains of perhaps four people were scattered around the room.
In one corner stood a robed figure, by size and stature Angel guessed it was a man but his face was hidden beneath a hood. His laughter grew louder as screams could be heard from outside, the demons were still hungry it seemed. The vision dissolved and Angel opened his eyes blinking slightly at the bright light compared to the flickering candle light in the vision.
"Let's suit up and head out, Wes I'm going to need you on this one. Gunn you feel like getting your rage on?" Angel enquired.
The unabashedly bald man stood quickly joining Angel at the weapons cabinet. Ariane noticed his expensive suit and thought it strange that this man would accompany Angel on such an undertaking.
"What in this place is not strange?" She thought to herself. "There is time Angel, did you not notice the clock? It indicated these demons would not be unleashed for several hours."
"Visions with a time stamp? Now that's what I call service Angel." Gunn smiled pulling a wicked looking axe from the cabinet with one hand and throwing a crossbow to Wesley with the other. Wesley caught it deftly in one hand, this was obviously not the first time these people had worked together.
"Stick to the visions kid, let the professionals deal with the specifics." Angel laughed arrogantly as he and the others left the room.
"Sure, go, save the day and take all the credit why don't you. It's not like you need someone to show you where the action is first or anything. If he's so damned 'professional' why isn't he having the visions?" Lorne muttered after they left.
"Seems we're surplus to requirements on this one Lorne." Shrugging Fred, who had remained seated as the whole event unfolded, turned to Ariane and Lorne smiling.
"Spike told me all about you yesterday but it was too late to meet you." She stood and shook hands with Ariane. "I'm Winifred Burkle by-the-way, everyone just calls me Fred." She swept back a loose strand of brown hair absently.
"Someone mention my name?" Spike drawled appearing behind Angel's desk and sitting down in his chair, casually throwing one leg over the arm. "Where's the poof off too with such a smug look on 'is face?"
"Ariane had a vision. Angel, Gunn and Wesley have gone to 'deal with the specifics'." Fred said, doing a rather weak Angel impression.
Ariane laughed, then blushed. It was wrong to disrespect her master, but she couldn't help herself.
"So, little miss prim's got a sense of humour?" Spike sat forward in Angel's chair grateful to see Ariane do something out of character.
"I should not be doing this. He is my master." She dropped her head ashamed of herself.
"No Ariane, you just work for him, the same way we do! Angel gets caught up and forgets he needs us just as much as we need him." Fred offered her in defence.
"The big git deserves a kick up the arse for they way he's treated you. Don't worry luv, I know just the way to get back at him. No sleep for you tonight Angel me old mucker." Spike's sly grin brought another guilty smile to Ariane's face. "A few renditions of my old man's a dustman and he'll be climbing the walls I guarantee it."
"I think I've got a better idea." Lorne interrupted, having stayed uncommonly quiet.
"Ooh, you're ideas are always worth listening to." Fred eyed him intrigued.
"What better way to introduce Ari to everyone than a get-to-know-you party?"
"I don't think that would be." Ariane tried to object
"A party, hmm. What do you think Angel will say?" Fred asked, interrupting her.
"Bollocks to what Angel would say. Lorne's in charge of staff morale and entertainment, it's up to him." Spike just loved mixing it where Angel was concerned, and parties were sooo not Angel's idea of fun. Might be nice to see him all uncomfortable and out of his depth. "I bet I could even talk Harmony into forging his signature if you needed it."
"It would have to be something big, karaoke, drinking, staff dancing on the tables, the whole shebang." Lorne was lost in the moment, his imagination running riot.
"I know some science geeks who dance a mean conga." Fred nodded enthusiastically.
"How do we keep Angel from finding out about it though?" Lorne pondered.
"Oh that's too easy, use e-mail." Fred giggled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time the three heroes returned preliminary arrangements for the party were underway.
Lorne had shut himself in his office and was frantically making phone calls to caterers, DJ's, lighting technicians and anyone else he could think of.
Ariane had opted to keep out of the way, not trusting herself to keep a secret from Angel. Harmony had left her collating some paperwork when she left for the night.
Angel strode into the office, looking strangely satisfied although apparently irritated by something.
Wesley followed shortly after him, exhausted but thankfully unhurt.
"Ariane could I see you in my office." Angel growled when he noticed her.
"Of course." She abandoned her work and followed him dutifully. He sat behind his desk and looked at her frankly, trying to decide how to phrase his question. Wesley busied himself putting the various weapons they had taken out, back in their assigned places in the cabinet.
"In that vision there were five people, am I right?" Angel asked as Ariane stood in the centre of the office, as though in trouble.
"Judging by the body parts and not including the demons, yes Angel you are correct." She answered, already knowing where his question was leading.
"We searched that house from attic to basement and couldn't find any trace of anyone except the four priests." His irritation was clear.
"The other was not at the house." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yeah I noticed that, but he was in your vision. How do you explain that?" Angel leaned forward over his desk eagerly awaiting her reply.
"Some things viewed in visions are symbolic."
"So how do you know which one's are actual and which are symbolic?"
"Experience." She replied simply.
"Why didn't you tell me that before I left?" He yelled standing with his hands leaning heavily on his desktop glaring at her.
"I was told to stick to the visions, 'kid'." She countered, raising one eyebrow and returning his icy stare with one just as glacial.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for your time.
Mysticwolf1 Thanks for your comments, they are really enlightening and educational. My thinking on Ariane's character was more on the lines of going all out to impress her new master then adding the layers a bit at a time. Although I did think she was a bit OTT myself. Just wait till. No, that would spoil the surprise.
Imzadi Please be patient.
Just Another Angel