(Untitled)

[jonathanparagon]

The cellphone rings once, twice. Pulling it from his pocket, he shoots Gunn an apologetic look and answers

Comments

[comm_npc]

Gunn nods, a little grim. "We trail her and wait for Angel."

[jonathanparagon]

"And then we keep her busy until Andrew destroys it", Jonathan agrees.

[comm_npc]

"He just better come through on this one," mutters Gunn.

[jonathanparagon]

"He will", Jonathan says, shooting him a quick sharp look.

He trusts Andrew.

[comm_npc]

Gunn looks at him sidelong, but doesn't say anything.

[comm_npc]

The apparently-boarded-up door across the street slowly opens, the boards moving with it, and a dark-haired female figure steps out and takes in a deep breath, stretching her arms overhead to the almost-dark sky.

As a few other figures step out behind her, she comes out of the stretch and looks around with a pleased smile.

[jonathanparagon]

Jonathan is about to say something else - quietly - in defence of Andrew, but he shuts his mouth as the door opens.

He looks at Gunn and jerks his head that way.

[comm_npc]

Gunn's already seen it; he's nodding, fading back a little further into their cover behind the dumpster.

[comm_npc]

By the time the door closes, there are six others clustered around Elie, standing with the casual, easy arrogance of predators in a pack.

She's clearly the undisputed alpha, though; the slightest move from her and the others fall in behind her as she saunters off down the street.

[jonathanparagon]

Exchanging a glance, Jonathan and Gunn fall in at a safe distance, and start following them.

[comm_npc]

There's a demon bar not far from Elie's lair. The pack stops outside for Elie to have a few words with the bouncer, but they don't go in.

Her laughter rings loud, audible even at their distance.

[comm_npc]

"Doesn't look like they got anything special planned tonight," Gunn mutters. "Just hangin' out and maybe stoppin' for drinks."

[jonathanparagon]

"No telling how long they'll stay out, though", Jonathan mutters back. "Or if they won't go check on the box, or if she won't feel it when it's opened..."

He glances around, looking for Angel.

[comm_npc]

"Once it's opened, too late for her to do anything about it."

Gunn follows Jonathan's glance. "What?"

[jonathanparagon]

"Where was Angel coming from, again?"

It's more worried than mistrustful.

[comm_npc]

"Uptown. He was --"

Gunn cuts off in midsentence, swearing, as a second group intersects Elie's: another pack of confident young city types, out for a night of dancing and drinking and having fun.

Except this group is human, and they have no idea who they're falling in with.

It's clear as a pantomime, as Elie steps closer to one of the young men and then turns away with a beckoning toss of her head, a lift of her shoulder.