9
I do not own the characters from Angel, they belong to the Prince of Dark.., er, excuse me, Joss Whedon.
Oh, Mr. Whedon, can Spike come out to play?
Upon Such Sacrifices
It was a place that was not a place, nor did time have any meaning. It merely was. The beings, for lack of a better word, were neither matter nor energy, nor indeed anything that could be quantified by the science of men. They too, merely were. Most of the billions of people bustling about on their crowded little planet had no idea that they even existed, nor would they have believed if they had been told about them. There were some few that were aware of their presence, although, they were among the first to admit that they had really no idea what purpose they served in the larger scheme of things, or indeed, if they served at all, and were not the purpose themselves. These few referred to the beings as The Powers That Be.
There was, at this, moment, for lack of a better term, dissension among the ranks of the powers. Again, the discussion did not take place as either speech or thought, but something beyond man's comprehension. But if, by some strange quirk of fate, a human being had been there, it would have been translated to something a human being could understand.
The powers had no names, as such, but being fond of colors, they were identified by the one they had chosen as their own. Right now, it was the entire optic spectrum and then some against the lone voice of one designated as Rose.
Rose: "It isn't right. He deliberately sought out a soul. He sacrificed himself willingly for others. And what reward does he receive? A frustrating incorporeal existence and the knowledge that his future is in hell. He deserves better."
Cerulean: "He was a vicious vampire. He killed and tortured many. What can possibly atone for that?"
Sienna: "And he is not the only souled vampire. His companion is also possessed of a soul. And has done much good since receiving it."
Rose: "Conceded that Angel has done much good. But as an unsouled vampire, he was even more vicious than William. And he had a soul thrust upon him. He didn't seek it, and when his soul is missing, he will fight tooth and nail against getting it back. Angelus is the better monster, but I believe that William is the better man. He deserves another chance. At least allow me the chance to give him back what he had. A vampire's body and a human soul."
Viridian: "It is my belief that you are far too distant to judge properly. You have not walked amongst them, wearing one of their bodies. Why don't you go down there and interact with them before continuing to argue your point? You may find that you change your mind."
Rose: "I will go. I will be among them and live as one of them. But I do not think I will change my mind. Is there to be a time limit?"
Citrine: "Take all the time you wish. It is not as though it has any meaning. But do not decide too hastily. It is a serious matter, else we would not be arguing over it."
Rose: "What powers will I be allowed?"
Violet: "No powers whatsoever. You will live entirely as a human. If you can force a decision in your, or rather, William's favor, you will be given what powers you need to effect the change. We will facilitate your entry into Wolfram and Hart so that you may interact with him."
Rose: "When do I leave?"
&&&&&&
Wesley was currently interviewing a candidate for an opening in his research staff. There had been several applicants, but this one was definitely going to be his choice. She may be a bit lacking in the social graces, but she knew her stuff. He had yet to trip her up on anything, from prophecies to spells to different types of demons. It was almost as if she had the entire Wolfram and Hart occult library tucked away in her head. Yes, he reflected, Rose was going to be an asset to his staff.
Rose fidgeted in the chair the Watcher had seated her in. How did humans manage to concentrate on anything, when there was all this constant distraction from their senses? The smells, the sights, the sound of Wesley's voice, the feel of the leather chair. She was so overwhelmed that she could barely manage to answer the questions that he kept firing at her. In fact, she finally missed one, so great was her preoccupation.
"I'm sorry?" Rose tried to remember all the polite interactive phrases. If she (the powers had no gender, but Rose had had to choose to live in a human body), was going to be here for a while then she would have to get along with them. Preferably without offending any of them.
"I said, 'when can you start'?" Wesley repeated. The lady seemed to be terribly nervous, but that could be simple apprehension over whether or not she was going to get the job.
"Whenever you like," she assured him. "Does this mean that I've got the job?"
Wesley nodded. "As far as I'm concerned, you do. There is just one more screening process you have to go through. You'll have to sing for Lorne."
Rose, of course, knew all about Lorne and his abilities, as she did with all the members of Angel's team. But she had to pretend ignorance. She just hoped that she could avoid letting anything slip inadvertently. "Sing for Lorne?"
"Just a formality at this point," Wesley replied. "Lorne can tell about your character and intentions from hearing you sing." He smiled. "You don't even have to be able to sing well, if that's a problem." He picked up his phone and punched buttons. "Hello. Lorne? I have a new employee, do you have time to screen her right now, or shall I set up an appointment? Oh, good. We'll be there shortly." He hung up the phone. "Lorne can fit you in right now. As soon as you've passed his reading, you can start immediately, if you'd like." He stood up and offered her his hand.
Rose took his proffered hand and almost became distracted again from the feel of his warm, human flesh. So much sensory input to cope with. And this was what William wanted? But she wouldn't judge his wishes, just him. And whatever he deserved, it was not an eternity in hell.
&&&&&&
Lorne hung up his phone with a sigh. Another applicant screening. He sincerely hoped that she actually had a voice. He had had to listen to so many tone-deaf people since coming to Wolfram and Hart that he was seriously considering asking Angel for a bonus for having to put himself through such torture. Since she was going to be working for Wesley, if she earned his seal of approval, he expected a mousy bookish type with glasses, probably. Something along the lines of Fred. And when Wesley entered the office with her, he had to concede that she certainly dressed the part, except that she didn't have glasses. But she was.., lovely. Her hair was screwed up into a bun at the nape of her neck, so all that he could really tell about it was that it was an indeterminate, but pretty, shade that bordered between brown and red. A neat, compact figure and soft gray eyes that regarded him without question or fear. Too much of a good thing, he feared. She probably had a voice like fingernails on a blackboard.
"Lorne, this is Rose. Rose, all you have to do is sing something for Lorne, and then we'll be all wrapped up here." Wesley finished and took a seat off to the side, leaving Rose standing in front of Lorne's desk.
"What should I sing?" Well, thought Lorne, she had a nice speaking voice. But he well knew that that was no guarantee that she could carry a tune.
"Anything you like, darling." Lorne lounged back in his seat. "It doesn't matter at all what you sing, just that you sing."
Rose considered the possibilities, and decided to make something up. After all, like the demon said, it didn't matter what she sang. She opened her mouth, and a soft, warm contralto voice sang a simple melody that neither Lorne nor Wesley had ever heard.
Rose's Song
The world carries on, but leaves me behind
So many things to see, but I am blind
I want to hear, to taste, to touch
I get so little but want so much
I'm a soul that's drifting
Afraid, alone
I have no direction
And can't go home
A bundle of emotions, nothing real
No evidence of senses, I can't feel
A lone, lost spirit, no place to be
What has happened? Why is it me?
I'm a soul that's drifting
Afraid, alone
I have no direction
And can't go home
I'm just marking time and watching it pass
It drifts on without me, the fickle lass
When the day is over, there's another in wait
Feel like eternity's a trap and I'm the bait
I'm a soul that's drifting
Afraid, alone
I have no direction
And can't go home
Spike had popped in, near the beginning of the song, and was about to contribute some smart-ass remark when the words of the song really caught his attention. Bloody hell, he thought, it could have been written about him. He looked at Lorne and Wesley and saw that they were moved by the words and the sweet voice singing it. Then, and only then, did Spike spare a glance for the singer. And gave a mental whistle. Dressed a little on the dowdy side, but definitely a looker. If he had a body to call his own he wouldn't mind striking up a very personal acquaintance with her.
Wesley took a moment to gather his wits. He'd never heard the song before, but it had touched him. He wondered if it had affected Lorne as well, and looked over in time to see the demon pull out a handkerchief and wipe a sentimental tear from his eye. Then he noticed the Watcher looking at him and gave a small nod. There didn't even seem to be the ordinary dark places of the soul that all people, no matter how good they are have. It didn't occur to Lorne that this was something of note. All that mattered was that she wasn't evil and had therefore passed the test.
Wesley stood and offered Rose his hand. "Welcome to Wolfram and Hart, Rose." For the first time, he noticed that Spike was there. Odd, Spike generally made a point of calling attention to himself. But the blonde vampire's shade merely stood there, looking at the new employee with an unfathomable expression on his face.
Lorne followed the direction of Wesley's gaze. "Spike, what brings you here?"
The specter shrugged. "Just bored. As usual. Looking to see if anything's happening." He turned to Rose. "I'd kiss your hand if I could, luv. If I still had a heart you'd have touched it." Then, as suddenly as he'd arrived, he disappeared again.
Rose looked inquiringly at Wesley. "Was that a.., a ghost?" Of course, she knew better, but she had a part to play and it was essential that she play it well.
"It's a little more complicated than that, I'm afraid," he replied. "But not to worry, Spike's perfectly harmless."
"I wasn't afraid," she assured him, "just curious. Is he always like that? Just appearing and making cryptic remarks then leaving?"
"Rosebud, that was Spike on his best behavior," Lorne interjected. "And if I'm not mistaken, I think our resident spook has taken a fancy to you."
She felt her face go all hot and flushed and wondered if she had been given a defective body. What was happening to it?
"Stop it, Lorne," Wesley chided gently. "I think you're embarrassing her." He turned to Rose and gestured to the door. "How about we start with the grand tour? We won't have time to see everything there is here, but I can take you through all the places you're likely to need to go. And to introduce you to the rest of the team."
Rose looked puzzled. "But this place is crawling with people. Surely you aren't going to introduce me to them all?"
Wesley shook his head, but he was smiling. "Just a small, select group that forms, shall we say, the soul? of Wolfram and Hart."
As they headed out the door, Lorne had one more thing to add. "If you ever get tired of all that dusty research, sweetie, I could make you an overnight star with that voice."
&&&&&&
Spike hadn't actually gone anywhere, just gone invisible, one of the few advantages of his current situation. He felt like a total ass, having blurted out something so personal. But he wanted to see what was going on with this Rose person, so he followed her and the Watcher along as they made the rounds.
Their first stop was the research lab, where Rose was introduced to a distracted Fred. It wasn't that Fred wasn't friendly, it was just that when she was in the middle of something, she was so absorbed that it was difficult to get her attention. It would take another major apocalypse to get her full attention.
Then, on to Gunn's office. Spike felt a twinge of envy when the newly made lawyer actually did kiss Rose's hand. He'd never seen that sort of gallantry from him before, and it galled him that Gunn was able to do what he could only think about. Lucky bastard.
And finally, up to Angel's office. As the pair waited for admission, he saw Harm shoot Rose a glare that was pure poison. He chuckled silently. Evidently his ex didn't think well of having another pretty face around. And then they were ushered into the presence of the big man himself.
"Angel, this is Rose, my new research assistant." Wesley performed the introduction, then waited to see how they would interact with each other. Always observing every little thing. A curse, or blessing, depending on your point of view, of a watcher's training.
"Hello, Rose." Angel came towards her and took her hand. His touch lingered slightly, and Spike was left with the impression that his old, despised friend was considering kissing her hand as well. What was going on that all the males in the place had suddenly come over so gallant? Or was it the bloody Powers just adding to his torment? As if he didn't have that in ample supply.
"Pleased to meet you, Angel," she returned shyly. So this was the infamous Angelus. She studied his face for a moment. Angel, noticing her scrutiny, gave her a warm smile. She returned the smile a little nervously. So different from Wesley's the hand that the vampire had given her. So cold, where the Watcher's was warm. She decided that a human being would notice the difference as well. "Excuse me for mentioning it, but why is your hand so cold?"
A pained expression crossed Angel's face. Usually, people were too unnerved to mention it, which gave him the opportunity to ignore it. "I'm a vampire," he said, the tension obvious in his voice. Then, he controlled himself and tried to reassure her. "But I won't bite."
"Angel has a soul, Rose," Wesley explained. "You're completely safe around him." He glanced at his watch and saw that it was getting quite late. "Why don't we call this the end of your orientation? Go home, get a good night's sleep, and I'll see you first thing in the morning. Does that suit?"
Rose smiled at him. "It sounds fine. And home is a bit of a walk to get to." The rest of The Powers had even provided her with humble lodgings to suit her human existence. But transportation was up to her.
Vampire and Watcher exchanged glances. It would be dark soon, and they both knew what sort of dangerous things moved around the city after dark, both human and not human.
"It's getting late, Rose," Angel observed. "Why don't I drive you home?"
"I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble," she demurred. "I really don't mind walking."
Angel smiled again. "It's no trouble. You'll be safer with me than walking. Wesley may be your division head, but I'm technically your boss. And I want to see you safely home so that you'll be in one piece to get to work on time."
"If you'd really like to, then thank you," she replied.
"I'd really like to," Angel said. "Was there anything else you needed to say to her, Wes?"
The Watcher shook his head. "Nothing that can't wait till tomorrow morning. Good night, Rose, Angel." He left them.
Spike almost became visible in his agitation. What was that big pouf up to now? Romancing the employees wasn't his style. He decided to go along for the ride. Nothing else to do anyway.
Angel led Rose down to the parking garage and after a quick assessment of his new employee decided to go with one of the more conservative models in the not so modest fleet of cars that he now had access to. And he'd better mind his driving, she struck him as the slightly timid type. No grandstanding. He suppressed a totally unnecessary sigh. A couple of centuries of being nearly invulnerable had made a reckless driver of him. It was good practice, he supposed, that he had to exercise a little caution with a human passenger. He handed her in and noted that she didn't make some feminist remark about the gentlemanly gesture. All to the good, as far as he was concerned. It was kind of nice to meet a lady who acted like a lady and accepted the courtesies due her.
Spike had already installed himself in the back seat, keeping a sharp eye on his nancy-boy grandsire. Angel was acting like he was taking the girl home at the end of a date instead of giving the hired help a lift. His gaze drifted back to Rose. Where had she learned that song? And how had she happened to pick on that one to sing just as he showed up? He was intrigued by the new research assistant. He'd be hanging around her quite a bit, at least until he figured out what made her tick.
The trip to Rose's apartment went without hitch, and the only words exchanged between her and Angel had been the asking for, and giving of, directions. Peaches even insisted on seeing her to her door, but left immediately after she was safely inside. But Spike was still curious. One thing about being a disembodied spook, he didn't have to wait to be invited in. He followed her.
The apartment was Spartan in the extreme. The furnishings were so worn, that Spike suspected that they had come with the place. It struck him as odd that there was no stamp of the occupant's personality on anything. No little homey touches, no pictures or photos. Hell, she didn't even have a telly.
Rose wondered what a human would do now, when a pang in her midsection reminded her that people needed to eat. She hadn't done that yet since arriving. It struck her as a waste of time, almost, but not quite as bad as having to sleep. But the body she was in was completely human, so she had better feed it. She went to the tiny kitchen area and scanned the contents of the fridge and cupboards. It was all well stocked, her colleagues had seen to that, since this was actually her first time here. She wondered that they had bothered. Surely what she ate was going to be the least of her worries. She looked at the food suspiciously. She hadn't the slightest idea of what or how much to eat. Finally, she settled on a pizza from the freezer, and managed to follow the directions for heating it up. She remembered enough to use an oven mitt to remove the hot pan from the oven, but then forgot about how hot it was when she sank her teeth into it for her first bite, and scorched the inside of her mouth.
She spit out the cause of her pain, and quickly ran a glass of cold water which she drank down entirely. That was better. She looked back at her food. How was she supposed to eat that? It hurt.
Spike shimmered into view, an amused smirk on his face. "You're supposed to let it cool down a bit first, luv."