One Of Those DaysA good day always begins with paperwork, or Wes is doing something wrong. A good day blends into the day before it seamlessly. Wes does not take lunch breaks
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Is this a great day, then? It must be, she's walking into the office, right past his desk. She's walking into Tucker's office without stopping. It's all for show, she knows Tucker isn't in there, but she's playing a part, making a point. She's being Lilah Morgan.
"He's not back, then?" She says, finally looking in Wes' direction. "Men are such babies, don't you think? I was stabbed in the neck and decapitated and within 24-hours I was back on the job."
Note the turtleneck, Wes. She's enjoying the Boston climate if only because it makes her turtlenecks more comfortable, less conspicuous. If only because it is a pleasant change from the more tropical weather she's been enjoying.
Wes has already sprung to his feet, in some possibly misplaced display of chivalry.
"Not yet. I'm so sorry."
Wes rubs his own neck sympathetically. He does know the feeling. Almost exactly.
"It is a little inconvenient. The timing of the incident. However, some of do heal faster than others," he says, generously. "Is there anything I could help you with?"
It really is, not that she phrases it as a question, but it really is a good one.
Either of you are of use to Lilah or you're not even in her reality. Unless, of course, you're the exception to this rule and you're a problem. And if that happens to be the case, you can be sure she's working as hard as she can to make it so you're not longer in her reality.
"I was looking to be briefed on the recent developments, but, Conduits. So tempermental."
And she makes some sort of motion as if to say: what can you do? But as she's talking she's started to lean against his desk, until she's resting on it.
"I'm sure I'd get more sense out of his assistant anyway."
"Specifically, it seems the jolly blue smurf has emerged from whatever rock she last crawled under - though confined to that body, who can blame her - and I would be interested in what you know about that."
What Tucker knows about that. That's what she means. She's sorting out how ahead in the game he is. Just like old times except with a Tucker instead of a Gavin or Lindsay. Death doesn't change much.
She doesn't answer that, but she's flexing her foot, the shoe sits on the heel, the shoe comes off her heel. Again and again. If Lilah has a nervous gesture this would be it. Not that Lilah would tolerate a nervous gesture.
"Are you worried?"
Everyone around this place is worried. Anxious. Fearful. It's the default state, or at least in Lilah's experience it is. It doesn't stand to get too cocky for too long, they're all expendable. If you let yourself get too confident you end up -
Wes cocks his head to the side. Now he looks worried. Is he still no better than some mailroom clerk?
But Mr. Wells appreciates him in a way Mr. Boyd never did...
But does Mr. Wells appreciate him enough? Occaisionally Wes suspects that Mr. Wells has collected him, like he might any other...non-human. Wes would prefer to be seen for his work ethic, not his genetic make-up.
Wes is never bored, because in this world, there's always something, but what had Lilah called him? 'A man like you'. Wes does like to think of himself as a man like himself. Ms. Morgan is a wise and powerful woman. Exciting times indeed. And familiar, somehow. But this is an entirely different situation. An entirely different dead...woman...with an entirely differnt...scar on...her neck. Oh.
No. Entirely different.
"You don't say," Wes murmurs. "Perhaps I ought to make an appointment with you. That is, if you wouldn't mind."
Wes wouldn't dream of entering without at least knocking.
"There's no need for formalities like appointments."
And she's smiling. She's been practicing. She thinks she almost pulls it off. If only she didn't check her watch at the end.
Forgive her. She's on deadlines. She has impotent Gods and knocked up former higher beings running around. She has an apocalypse to get back on schedule. There's an alive Darla to think of, nasty piece of work that one. There's that over grown jock of a vampire that she's just waiting to have interfere with her plans. Eve Hart is off starting her own business (did no one learn from Lee? Did no one?!?!?!). Wesley is immortal and Fred is as irritating as ever with the Texas gal pal routine. Harmony thinks they're bestest pals. There's slayers everywhere, worse than cockroaches, when will the apocalypse come and rid the world of them all. Oh, and don't forget the fact there is something going on that turns all the men gay.
"How does 2pm on Friday suit? Call my assistant to book it in."
Is this a great day, then? It must be, she's walking into the office, right past his desk. She's walking into Tucker's office without stopping. It's all for show, she knows Tucker isn't in there, but she's playing a part, making a point. She's being Lilah Morgan.
"He's not back, then?" She says, finally looking in Wes' direction. "Men are such babies, don't you think? I was stabbed in the neck and decapitated and within 24-hours I was back on the job."
Note the turtleneck, Wes. She's enjoying the Boston climate if only because it makes her turtlenecks more comfortable, less conspicuous. If only because it is a pleasant change from the more tropical weather she's been enjoying.
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"Not yet. I'm so sorry."
Wes rubs his own neck sympathetically. He does know the feeling. Almost exactly.
"It is a little inconvenient. The timing of the incident. However, some of do heal faster than others," he says, generously. "Is there anything I could help you with?"
Reply
"Isn't that the question."
It really is, not that she phrases it as a question, but it really is a good one.
Either of you are of use to Lilah or you're not even in her reality. Unless, of course, you're the exception to this rule and you're a problem. And if that happens to be the case, you can be sure she's working as hard as she can to make it so you're not longer in her reality.
"I was looking to be briefed on the recent developments, but, Conduits. So tempermental."
And she makes some sort of motion as if to say: what can you do? But as she's talking she's started to lean against his desk, until she's resting on it.
"I'm sure I'd get more sense out of his assistant anyway."
That means you, Wes.
Reply
"Of course."
He removes carefully alphabetized paperwork from a nearby cabinet.
"I've kept detailed notes, recorded any minutes... I can answer any questions you have specifically, of course."
But Wes really is proud of that paperwork.
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"Specifically, it seems the jolly blue smurf has emerged from whatever rock she last crawled under - though confined to that body, who can blame her - and I would be interested in what you know about that."
What Tucker knows about that. That's what she means. She's sorting out how ahead in the game he is. Just like old times except with a Tucker instead of a Gavin or Lindsay. Death doesn't change much.
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"We have copious information on file for her. It's a very compelling read."
Wes curled up with it one week, and a cup of hot chocolate. The things one can learn.
"I believe Mr. Wells is aware of her presence, but not much more."
Wes has more documentation for you, if your hands aren't already full.
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"We have copious information on file for everything. For everyone."
Compelling is one word for it.
"It seems we're all aware of her presence now. Gods are like that - they don't like to be ignored."
Which makes them a pain in the ass if you want them on your team.
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"Everyone. Of course."
He wonders briefly what is on file for him. It would be wrong to look.
"I think that's understandable."
Who likes to be ignored?
"Are you...worried by her reappearance?"
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She doesn't answer that, but she's flexing her foot, the shoe sits on the heel, the shoe comes off her heel. Again and again. If Lilah has a nervous gesture this would be it. Not that Lilah would tolerate a nervous gesture.
"Are you worried?"
Everyone around this place is worried. Anxious. Fearful. It's the default state, or at least in Lilah's experience it is. It doesn't stand to get too cocky for too long, they're all expendable. If you let yourself get too confident you end up -
Well. Sometimes you end up dead anyway.
It's not that bad.
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"Only if you are."
Wes is confident if others are confident.
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But Mr. Wells appreciates him in a way Mr. Boyd never did...
But does Mr. Wells appreciate him enough? Occaisionally Wes suspects that Mr. Wells has collected him, like he might any other...non-human. Wes would prefer to be seen for his work ethic, not his genetic make-up.
Wes is never bored, because in this world, there's always something, but what had Lilah called him? 'A man like you'. Wes does like to think of himself as a man like himself. Ms. Morgan is a wise and powerful woman. Exciting times indeed. And familiar, somehow. But this is an entirely different situation. An entirely different dead...woman...with an entirely differnt...scar on...her neck. Oh.
No. Entirely different.
"You don't say," Wes murmurs. "Perhaps I ought to make an appointment with you. That is, if you wouldn't mind."
Wes wouldn't dream of entering without at least knocking.
Reply
"There's no need for formalities like appointments."
And she's smiling. She's been practicing. She thinks she almost pulls it off. If only she didn't check her watch at the end.
Forgive her. She's on deadlines. She has impotent Gods and knocked up former higher beings running around. She has an apocalypse to get back on schedule. There's an alive Darla to think of, nasty piece of work that one. There's that over grown jock of a vampire that she's just waiting to have interfere with her plans. Eve Hart is off starting her own business (did no one learn from Lee? Did no one?!?!?!). Wesley is immortal and Fred is as irritating as ever with the Texas gal pal routine. Harmony thinks they're bestest pals. There's slayers everywhere, worse than cockroaches, when will the apocalypse come and rid the world of them all. Oh, and don't forget the fact there is something going on that turns all the men gay.
"How does 2pm on Friday suit? Call my assistant to book it in."
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"I'll do just that."
Lilah Morgan is the kind of woman, not that Wes would die for, but that could get Wes killed.
It's happened before.
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She's at the door before she turns back.
"And pull the file on Cordelia Chase. Familiarise yourself. I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about."
She's out the door and already on her phone. Someone somewhere is being put through hell. That's if they're not already there, of course.
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