Rising Worries
Wandering the hallways on her search for the vampire, Aurora's mind was split into three parts, every single one being occupied with something different. Being a woman sure has its advantages every now and then.
While struggling hard not to speed up her pace even more and suppressing the urge to simply fly, the fiery mutant scanned her surroundings for the one she had news to tell to. An X-Man walking quickly was something rather common but one flying through the corridors was known as a precise sign that something was wrong again - a hint for imminent danger. There was a lot they couldn't need at the moment and a panicking crowd was definatly part of it.
The third thing her mind was busy with was - again - the thought of what reasons recent incidences possibly might have had. The news that Angel was in some way part of the mystery hadn't helped in any way to scatter her worries but rather increased them for although Angel was no menace, his alter ego Angelus was!
Not for the first time Garnet found herself having a split attitude towards her status as a member of the X-Men. Of course it was to be prefered to be able to help fighting a threat instead of waiting until others did it... but then again, fear sometimes wasn't as strong not being directly confronted with the enemy.
Her chain of thoughts was once again broken as Circe reached the Medical Bay... and found Spike. In fact, "found" was not the right word. The partly insane vampire was nervously, hectically walking back and forth in front of the medlab's electronic doors, however, he kept enough of a distance to avoid to come within the sensors' range which would have caused to open it.
The partly confused looks which people rushing by threw at him occassionally - some already knew his behavior and got used to it - were mainly due to his mumbling. To understand whatever he was saying was almost impossible and incase of trying it, Aurora came directly to the subject.
"Spike, we need to talk!"
Aurora knew about the... difficult relationship the vampire had had with Angelus so she tried to put the news about his other self as discrete as possible.
"Angel is rather likely to become the target of a demon named Balthazor who has been inside the Institute's boundaries recently and I don't have the slightest clue what this all about, do you?"
Hearing the inner echo of her words, Aurora frowned, then lowered her head a little, rubbing her forehead.
"Forgive my bluntness... this morning truly turned out differently than planned"
TBC: Spike
Life can be like a stone thrown in the sea. It creates waves, maybe changing something, maybe not, but no matter what it causes, every single wave will disappear into nowhere...
It wasn't right, he knew Jenn longer then this worlds Angel, it was Spike who should try and see if she's alright, Angel had killed her in this world, he didn't deserve to stand beside her when she was hurt. What's more, Spike was starving, he wanted food, he was so hungry, but he didn't want then to see him eat, he didn't want anyone to see him eat. But it was like he was about to collapse, despite his constant pacing, he felt weak and numb, everything felt so unreal, everyone around him smelled, sounded and looked so appetising..
"Spike, we need to talk!"
The tips of his fingers continued to play with his dry lips as he turned and stared at Garnet, his eyes dropping down her body as he shifted his weight from foot to foot impatiently. His other hand moved from his side to fidget with his ear as he closed his eyes, he hadn't yet found the frame of mind to put on shoes, though he wore his jacket, feeling safer with his trophy item on him.
"Angel is rather likely to become the target of a demon named Balthazor who has been inside the Institute's boundaries recently and I don't have the slightest clue what this all about, do you?"
Opening his eyes, the distant gaze focusing on her now, two names he hated... well.. Angel he hated, Belthazor he was terrified of, and her mentioning the high demons name triggered the memory of the other days encounter with him.
"Forgive my bluntness... this morning truly turned out differently than planned"
Dropping his eyes away from her, his hands moving away from his face and resting over his now fully healed chest, his eyes stared up at her neck, he could hear the rushing of her blood through her system. Her hand pulled away from her face as he looked off towards the wall, he turned away from her, acting almost as if what she had said hadn't been heard.
"You've never met Belthazor..." His mouth felt like sand paper, his voice sounded dry and weak as well his fingers once again reaching up for his lips, covering his mouth partly as he turned around, his eyes down cast on the ground still.
"He's a high demon, distinguished by the red and black markings that cover his skin, he was banished in this world, ages ago, the witches couldn't destroy his human soul in the vanquishing though." Spike's hand dropped as he looked up at Garnet, he had done his studying on the demon down in the Black Rose after their last meeting. "The creature you called Bethalzor was really Cole Turner, his weaker form, his more.. peaceful and human side." Considering Cole could hardly be called peaceful, his brutal doings enough to terrify even the most power of creatures.... makes one wonder what the true Belthazor would be like, and hopeful that such a thing was never found out.
"There's something happenin' Aurora.. only Wicca's can bring back Belthazor.." He eyes turned to the lab door "..an' I think Willow jus' did a very stupid thing.." There was a chuckle as he broke into a smile, his hand trying to stop her from seeing it. "He doesn't want us.. he wants them, what do ya suppose he wants with Angel, how t'be a poof lesssons an' hair stylin' tips?" Spike scoffed as the door slid open, the inside of the medlab was rather dark aside from a light or two since Beast wanted both Angel and Jenn to be able to get some rest.
"What is your problem Spike?" Angel was just that bit talker then Spike so the blonde vampire threw his fark glare up at Angel. Both seeming to instantly ignore Garnet, Angel had been waiting for Spike to enter, but he seemed content in hovering outside and Angel was just as content on him remaining there. But if there was one thing Angel hated was when his grand childe went around bad mouthing him, especially when he was already in a foul mood over Jennifer's mysterious condition.
"Other then the obvious I mean." Spike growled at Angels words, his fist lashing out across the older Vampire's face though in Spike's weak state Angel was easily able to handle the attack with little reaction. Angel's hands grabbed at Spike's coat, pulling the younger vampire towards him as his face shifted angrily, Spike giving a more fearful reaction as he tried to pull himself away. It was only then that Angel noticed Aurora, his yellow eyes staring at her and his cold fingers letting go of Spike who stumbled backwards. Angel looked away from her for a moment as his face returned to its human form, he and Spike often fought, even over the simplest of things, it was hard for them to do anything other then fight.
Re: Rising Worries
Aurora didn't only have the impression the vampire was distracted in a way that made her feel uncomfortable... there was also this tone to his voice which alarmed her. There was a certain fear that she could see in his eyes, a haunted expression which she thought to have seen on him earlier. However, there was also something difficult to define, something between seriousness and amused resign which alone was a weird mixture.
"I am afraid I do not fully understand how Angel fits into the image..."
, she said as he mentioned the other vampire's name but just as she was about to finish the sentence, Spike leaped at his grandsire. It was as obvious that he stood no chance as was that Angel did not really intend to hurt the other one. Still, the whole situation was absurd. Garnet rolled her eyes entering the MedLab. She hadn't noticed Jennifer then as she approached the two undead with a frustrated kind of anger in her voice - speaking slowly.
"Two men, older than I will ever be.... and you are acting like school boys that have not yet reached the age of puberty! I think there are far more important things to be talked about, don't you?
So I ask you again, Spike"
Circe said his name so it sounded like a gunshot to make sure she had his full attention but glared at Angel a little as well so he didn't think she favored the older vampire. It was a dangerous game she was playing or at least it would have been if those two demonic creatures hadn't had a soul.
"How does Angel fit into this picture... this Cole was talking about him and as I was told not in a friendly way.
You are darn right, there is something happening... and I am sick of being one of the few in this game that do not have a clue what this something actually is"
A sigh escaped from the fiery mutant's lips as an apologetic expression appeared on her face. "Pardon me... I am a little tense today"
"Everybody deserves a second chance. Past mistakes must not be forgotten... yet forgiveness is an option that should be taken into consideration.
If there is someone who knows how much a person can change it is I."
Re: Rising Worries
ooc: Also, Catherine isn't there, only Jennifer is in the medical bay laying on one of the beds.
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The almost continuous bickering between the two was a deep, complicated and very confusing thing to explain, since technically neither had known the other for over six months and even then it had been only a few days in total contact they had. But Angel ignored Spike as he turned his attention towards Garnet, a faint sign of recognition in the way his eyes stared at her. He may have been hurt badly at the Center when they where fighting Angelus and the others, but he had an amazingly accurate memory, better then most vampires even, able to see the page of a book and almost accuratly copy it out even if he only had a glance at it. His talent considered a highly well formed Photographic memory, which always helps with his wonderful artistic talents, able to mimic things almost perfectly.
"Rumour has it there's a power struggle going on." The older vampire was squinting slightly from the bright glare of the light since he walked from the darkness into the light. Angel was well aware of something going on, he wasn't completely sure what exactly.. but what ever it was he lost hm home because of it.
"And I think one of the them took up residence in my hotel." He didn't sound at all pleased, and he wasn't, he had so many personal things there.. even his diaries, they had pages on everything he's done in his life and unlife, they where everything to him, he didn't want others reading them, his first diary even had an account of when he murdered his family, but he had two books with the same account, the first one was written when he was Angelus, sounding how wonderful it felt to get rid of them after all the pain his fatherput him through, and then the second one was written after his had his soul.. Most of it was him wondering what his little sister, Katie, would have been like when she was older, what would have her husband been like, her children, what would she have been like? She was so kind and sweet, even thinking her brother had come back as an Angel before he had killed their father in front of her, and then her.
"Oh, bugger, that's gotta hurt, how on earth will you survive without ya endless supply o'hair gel?" Although it was mumbled softly under Spike's breath as he fiddled with his jacket and straightened it up after Angel scrunched up the material. Angel threw Spike an impatient glare, but Spike crossed his arms across his chest as simply stared back, turning his attention over towards Garnet as he replied to her earlier question.
"Back home, b'fore we came here, Dru had mentioned somethin' 'bout Belthazor wantin'em to help him out." Being insane often meant people talked without realizing that Spike actually did eventually remember what they where saying, even if he seemed totally out of it. So quite often he heard more then others realized, the fact he keeps his ear to the ground and has excellent ways of insisting people to talk, it means he is often able to stay in the loop of things that are going on around him.
"Little off that when they came they went to the Center o' Inquisition, don't ya think?" Angel gave a slight and impatient shake of his head, his expression screaming out 'So?' honestly, sometimes people where so slow in figuring things out, Spike rolled his eyes as he continued.
"Well who the hell owns the bloody building you idiot?" Now Spike was the impatient one, both had very little tolerance for each other and didn't like spending more time then needed in the others company.
"What, they packed a deal with Cole? You don't honestly think he brought them here? Why would he go to all that trouble?" It sounded very stupid, but at the same time, how would have they managed to set up a deal so quickly after entering this world in order to get under Cole's protection. Spike scoffed a little before he replied, looking very smug and important as he spoke mockingly towards his other worldly grand sire.
"Coz we're betta then you." As smug as he was being, it was true as well, Angel couldn't do half of the special things Angelus could do and neither could this worlds Spike do what Spike could now do. Really Spike had no idea how either Angelus or Cole managed to get in touch with each other, or if they infact even did manage to speak, with Dru and Willow’s powers it wouldn’t be too difficult however.. But they must have had contact.. why else was Cole so eager to get Spike back? When Angel rolled his eyes and turned back around to enter the med lab, Spike puffed his chest a little idignantly at Angel's attitude before going after him.
"I'm bein' serious, you don't like sunlight, Angelus did, Spike got staked an' turned to ash, I get staked an' I'm still bloody'ere aren't I?" The blond vampire shifted his weight from one foot to the other for a moment as his eyes moved over towards the back room there was also a fridge Beast was storing Spike's blood supply. When Angel turned about to stare at Spike and at least try and listen to him going on about how great he is, Spike was already disappearing into the back room for the first time in the past few days.
"What does he want with me?" The older vampire sounded annoyed and exhausted as well as aggitated and confused. Both seemed to slip back into talking to each other and ignoring Garnet, though when Spike reappeared he glanced over towards her a few times while holding his mug of newly warmed blood, hinting he hadn't forgotten about her.
"Doesn't want you, want's the other half, he thinks if you go to him he can probably turn you into Angelus." And since Willow had created the spell to give Angelus back his soul then she could easily alter it to have the spell rip the soul from Angel instead.
"Oh, well in that case someone better tell him his not my type." Since the only way so far Angel has turned back into Angelus was by sleeping with Jennifer, he hardly doubted he'd get the same result from Cole..
"Forgettin' one thing though.. you where cursed, an' curses can be broken." Spike took a sip of the blood but scrunched up his face and shut his eyes at the awful taste, Angel slowly moved closer to Spike, by his expression it was hard to tell if he was really angry or really worried.
"Why would he do that?" The growl was barely a whisper, impatiently waiting for Spike who was struggling to swollow what was in his mouth. "Oh come on Spike!" Growing more impatient, Spike glared at him a little, then stared as Angel dipped the very tip of finger in the mug and placed it quickly into his lips. "Stop playing around, it's perfectly fine!" Half yelling at Spike like a father telling off the kid for who wouldn't eat his vegatables, Spike have glared once again at Angel and then stared down rather disgusted at his mug.
"Well that's nice, want to put your toes innit as well?" Rather sulkily Spike stalked off and dropped the full mug into the sink, turning on the water and washing the blood out. "Why would he remove my bloody chip? Because we're more dangerous without the things that keeps us in check." Cupping his hands together, Spike caught some of the falling water and drank from his palms to rinse out the horrible taste still linger in his mouth.
"Wait.. you don't have a chip anymore? And they let you hang around these kids, I mean look at you, you're ready to collapse, what's stopping you from taking a bite from any of these students?" Angel suddenly flared with his strong passion for protecting others, and again Spike got a rather indignant look about him.
"My bloody soul that's what." They seemed to get right off track on what was the more important matter and now both of them seemed to completely forget about Garnet completely. Angel looked a little overwhelmed and wasn't sure what to say next, but then dropped his eyes to the floor as he mumbled argumentivly.
"What are they selling them down at the market now?" By his tone of voice he was obviously upset that he wasn't the only souled vampire anymore, though he hadn't minded his Spike having a soul after he got used to it.
"Oh, grow up." After Spike snapped back at rather insulted at the remark, both vampire's attentions seemed to snapped over towards the window, their eyes staring at the shut blinds. "He's out in the grounds." Spike words where directed towards Garnet since it was obvious Angel already sensed him. Spike rushed to the blinds, pulling them open and shutting his sensitive eyes for a moment, Angel pulled away as the bright sunlight poured in his direction and lit up most of the room, hiding off in the corner and out of the way. Once he had pulled open the window, he turned around and stared at Garnet, ignoring the hot burn spreading across his back.
"Comin' Nibblet?" Spike hovered at the window, she had ordered him not to go off on his own, and maybe it wasn't a good idea to head off to meet Belthazor on his own...
(OOC: ewww.... sorry, mixed up the names. I edited it!)
The longer the two undead spoke, the more Aurora felt like a - although truly decorative - rather useless accessoire. The thought of being a thousand dollar Prada bag was a rather comforting one though and suddenly feeling more pleased with her role, Aurora sat down on one of the free beds and sticked to watching the conversation... if this term matched that childish quarrel the two vampires were having.
Whatever the case, the information Garnet could gather by listening and concluding was more than enough to alarm her even more. They had Angelus once but it had been anything but easy. Back then, there were two demons but this time, it would be more one of them obviously more of a threat than Spike's grandsire himself.
Spike: "Coz we're betta then you."
The words that followed, Aurora listened to even more intently. Something Spike had said when she had brought her to Rogue's dorm came back to her mind, something that her subconscience seemed to consider connected to the subject.
"If he gives me back my life, then I'll have a heart again"
In common mythology, demons - devils - are supposed to have the power to grant wishes, mostly of the kind airial beings mustn't fulfill one of which is that of resurrecting the dead. Could this mysterious "he" Spike kept on talking about actually be Cole Turner, the man she had seen in the front hall, the one that kept Madison's sister as hostage, Belthazor himself?
And if so: How could the vampire trust in that offer if he was now pointing at Cole's intention to summon the soulless cruelness of both those creatures' alter ego? The contradiction was obvious, however, Circe knew well that hope tends to make blind for logic and truth, letting people only see what they want to. Apparently, ancient creatures were anything but resistant.
The news - for that was it for her - about Spike's "loss", the inoperativeness of the chip, was less of a shock for Aurora than for the older vampire. Truth be told, she had barely relyed on it to protect her from contingent harm but rather on her powers which would have been much more effective, almost ultimate compared to its repercussions.
It was once again this gift of controlling the flames which let the material girl consider a refusal for less than the split of a second as Spike asked her to go out and face the demon outside. Angel's and Will's dispute was of no importance compared to the potential danger Belthazor's other self represented being on the Institute's grounds. Maybe it was not the wisest decision but there were some questions only he seemed likely to have answers for.
Spike: "Comin' Nibblet?"
A conspiratioral grin appeared on the ebony-haired girl's features as she summoned her fiery corona to lift her off the ground and the approached this man she had developed a special kind of trust to. Having the habit of literally throwing with pet names, even the "nibblet" comment didn't bother her as much especially as she had gotten used to it from his side.
"Definately, dear... I concur there are things to be discussed with our ambituous friend"
After a not unfriendly smile at the other vampire back in the shadows, Circe exited through the window and remained hovering outside.
"Lead the way"
(TBC - Your choice
oh and if you wanna NPC Circe for transportation purposes, feel free to do so ^_^)
"Everybody deserves a second chance. Past mistakes must not be forgotten... yet forgiveness is an option that should be taken into consideration.
If there is someone who knows how much a person can change it is I."
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