"As far as I know we're the only one. It's drawn some...attention from certain circles over the years that have made it a bit difficult at times to keep going, but we seem to hang on."
Looking at her, he raises his eyebrows at her at the way she says vampiric. Of course, he doesn't expect that anyone would truly speak of vampires in a good way - after all, they're soulless and bloodthirsty. But given the years he's worked with Angel, he does feel a bit of a start.
As she continues speaking, he nods slowly, knowing how right she is about Egypt's roots. However, he finds himself intrigued at what she's researching.
"I've run across references to those rumors but never pursued them further. I can imagine that's been quite an undertaking, especially here in Los Angeles," he says. He runs his finger along the edge of his bread plate. "Akilah...there's something you should know. About who I work with."
He takes a deep breath, knowing this could possibly end things right there with her before they even start but wanting to be honest with her. He keeps his voice just as low as hers as he speaks.
"The man who started the agency...his name is Angel, and he's a vampire, but he's different from other vampires. He has his soul."
"I think there should be more agencies like yours. They would certainly be helpful."
He seemed curious about how she was continuing her research while in Los Angeles, and she didn't know whether she should mention that she had tracked one of these elder vampires to the city or not. She was here following up on a rumor that the Methuselah slept somewhere underneath the city. If his agency found him before she did, they would certainly kill him before she could get any information about the bloodlines founder from him. Luckily there was a nest of younger members of the Followers of Set that she could question. At least once she managed to catch one.
"Yes, being in Los Angeles does make it a bit difficult but I have been following a rumor that there is a small group of a specific vampiric bloodline that refer to themselves as the Followers of Set here in Los Angeles. The bloodline originated during the time of the first Pharaohs. I am hoping to find a few of the younger members."
Now it is her turn to be surprised. Anyone who had any uncommon knowledge of vampires had heard of Angelus who was cursed by an elder gypsy, and given a soul.
"I have heard of him. So it is true then? Vampire cursed with a soul?"
"The Followers of Set? Here?" he asks. He's heard of them, of course, but he hadn't realized they were in Los Angeles, considering their connections to Cairo. His father had always told him that the stories of the clan looking to revive Set was ridiculous as Set had never truly existed, but now, Wesley was starting to wonder, especially given what Akilah had just told him about him about the Egyptian Gods being vampires.
He doesn't say anything more for the moment, though, waiting for her response to his admission. When she asks her question, he nods, not surprised that she knows of Angel, considering what she knows of other vampires - some things that the Watchers Council didn't even apparently know. Or ignored.
"Yes, it's true. He was cursed by the gypsies for killing a favored daughter," he says. "We met several years ago in Sunnydale. I was a member of the Watchers Council at the time and was set to oversee the Slayer. But the Council...at one time, it was a good organization, but in recent years, it's lost its way."
Because of people like his father and his Uncle Quentin, he thinks but doesn't say.
"I ended up going against their wishes, like I mentioned before, and was thrown out because of it. I ended up in Los Angeles, where I met up with Angel again. He's been trying to help people to make up for what he did as Angelus."
He looks at her for a moment. "Perhaps we can help you with locating the Followers of Set. Speaking from experience, a net is certainly not something you want to face alone."
Her nod is grave, and she can tell he knows how serious it could be if they get too strong of a hold on the city.
"Yes, there are several of them here in the city as we speak. I have yet to confirm a rumor about the clan having a stronghold in Las Vegas. It would make sense though, Vegas has been magnet for the criminal and corrupt from the beginning."
She finds it hard to believe that he was once a member of the Watchers Council. The stories she was told by her Uncle Sayyid when he served as her Kuasha made them seem less effective than a forest full of drunk monkeys. Wesley seemed far more level headed and capable than that group of stuffed shirts.
"While it may not seem like it, I believe Fate has smiled on you. Those like us never lead boring lives, and everyone must forge their own path, following in the footsteps of another rarely keeps us happy for long."
After what he had told her of the agency he worked for, and specifically who he worked with, the offer of help wasn't surprising, but she wanted the chance to question one of them, and was unsure if she would get that chance while working with them. After thinking about it for a brief moment, she decided that even if she didn't get to question some of the younger clan members, it would still be worth it to rid the city of several of the most corrupt beings to ever walk its streets.
"I never take things such as this lightly, and always make sure to be well prepared, but help would be greatly appreciated."
He takes another sip of his water while nodding at her comment about Vegas. "Plus the fact that the city thrives at night would make it a veritable paradise for them."
The waiter returns to take their order, interrupting their conversation for a moment. He's glad, though, that she's agreed to take up his offer. While he doesn't doubt she can take care of herself - she certainly has that way about her - he still knows how dangerous it can be even when well prepared.
Once the waiter leaves with their order, he gives her a smile. "We'll do what we can to help. And I'll tell the others this your party, so to speak. You're the one who's been looking for them."
As he looks at her, he finds his thoughts going back to the tarot reading. So many times since they met, fate has come up between them - in the cards, in her words, in his words - and he really does wonder what's in store. The connection they've already noticed aside, he can easily see himself falling for Akilah and is rather sure he already is. It's something he hasn't felt in a long time.
Not like this at least.
"Once you have the information you're looking for, what will you do?" he finally asks.
"Yes, and an almost inexhaustible source of tourists flooding the city daily, assures them their meals. Most of which who will not be noticed missing until it is far too late."
After ordering, she takes a sip of her water, and takes a moment to just look at him, trying to figure out what it was that drawing her to him. He was certainly attractive enough, but that couldn't be all there was to it. She decided it had to be how he seemed to take everything in stride, and was almost unflappable, as well their eerily similar interests. No one had caught her interest like Wesley has managed to, at least not since Ilias. Realization struck as she sat there, Ilias and Hilal had been gone almost six years now. The chance meeting in the bookstore had to be a sign that it was time for her to stop blaming herself, it had to be. The sound of his voice broke her brief moment of reflection.
"I intend to do everything in my power to eradicate them all."
It sounded so matter of fact, but it was the honest truth. She wanted the Setites erased from the planet, all of them.
"Exactly. And since people don't want to believe that vampires or other supernatural creatures exist, it gets written off as an animal attack or an unsolved homicide," he remarks.
He looks at her for a moment, considering her for a moment. And when she speaks, he finds that he's not surprised by her tone, given the way that she said the word vampirism before. He wanted to ask what it was that had sent her on such a crusade against the Setites. Not that he minded, of course - the less vampires, the better, no matter his friendship with Angel. He was different.
"Are you hoping by stopping them that you'll stop their attempts to raise Set?" he asks softly.
"Most people could not handle the truth of what is really out there. They would rather think of themselves as the only predators, and remain ignorant of the reality of the monsters that hide in the dark."
She looks down at her hands which were now folded in front of her on the table. She wasn't sure how she knew, but she had a very strong feeling that she would either have to tell him the truth about what she was, or he would end up finding out, and she wasn't sure which would be worse.
"Yes. I cannot say with certainty if Sutekh is truly a God or if the beast is an incredibly ancient vampire. But what I do know is that he cannot be allowed to awaken."
"It certainly is more comforting when you think yourself at the top of the chain, so to speak," he says. "Of course, the problem of that is that when they do come, there's only a few who are prepared to take them on. Though That is what they hope for - that they don't get much in the way of resistance."
He pauses for a moment as the waiter brings their salads and sets them down in front of them. He knows that their conversation is probably not the best thing to be having in a restaurant in public of all places, but at the same time, he feels comfortable talking to Akilah about these things. She understands the things he deals with, and more importantly, she understands what it's like to be the researcher, the one who knows things. It's a kinship that not many people comprehend.
Once the waiter leaves again, he picks up his fork as she tells that she is hoping to stop the attempts at raising Sutekh. He nods in agreement, knowing that what she says is true.
"Gods can be just as dangerous, especially when raised by devoted followers," he says. "So you're right - either way, it shouldn't be allowed to happen. Whatever help you need from me, Akilah, you have it. Whether its research, questioning...or anything else."
She was so caught up in their conversation, Akilah didn't even notice the waiter until he set her salad down in front of her. She also couldn't help but continue to think about what would happen should he find out that she wasn't just shop owner and herbalist. Would he be upset she didn't tell him right away? Would he become frightened of her? Or even worse, would he think she was a threat that needed to be disposed of and inform his colleagues? Obviously there was something more here than usual. It was unheard of for a Bubasti to actually debate telling their secret, especially on a first date. yet here she was, in this small Italian restaurant.
"I really do appreciate that Wesley. I'm not exactly the most... capable when it comes to physical confrontation. My skills are much more suited towards magic and research."
He spears a few pieces of lettuce with his fork and looks at her, snorting softly.
"I have to admit that physical combat has never been my strong suit either. I'm much better with weapons allowing me some range. I've even created a few." He pauses for a moment, wondering if she'd be interested in seeing them some time. "I've always felt it's better not to let them get near you when you can help it. To much of a chance of things going wrong."
He looks at her, seeing that something is obviously on her mind, and he wonders whether he might have said or done something. He hopes he hasn't. Perhaps is something about her search for the Followers of Set?
"Is there anything else I should know about your search?" he asks.
Taking a small bite of her salad, her interest is piqued when he mentions creating a few of his own ranged weapons.
"Created new ranged weapons? That is incredible. It has only been rather recently that I've become comfortable with using firearms, and I am still not very skilled."
She nods at his question. Direct and to the point, and there is very little she can do to skirt the issue. Just the thought of lying to him is almost painful, she knows she can't, and she also knows that she will have to tell the truth eventually, but not here, and not right now.
"There is quite a bit more, but I cannot go into it here, that will have to wait for another time."
"Perhaps I can help you," he suggests since he's become rather proficient with firearms himself in recent years. "Or maybe there's something else that you might be more comfortable with. I can show you some of the things I've made. I'm rather partial to my stake shooter."
Giving her a smile, he eats of few bites of his salad, nodding when she says that there's more for her to tell him, but that she can't here. He looks around the restaurant, certainly understanding that. They've been very open in their discussion, but there were some things that certainly should never be talked about in public, no matter what.
"Of course. Whenever you feel comfortable. I just want to make sure there's nothing I've missed."
He looks down at his salad and suddenly snorts.
"I just realized...here we are, on what is really our first date, and we've been talking about our work." Shaking his head, he looks back at her. "I should be asking about your favorite movie. Or music. Things like that."
"Thank you, it is something I have only recently looked into. While I was still in Cairo, I did not want to draw unnecessary attention to myself. Though a stake shooter sounds interesting as well. I'm assuming it's similar in design to a crossbow?"
She takes her time eating her salad, while they chat, and chuckles when he mentions they've only been talking about work.
"I suppose so. But I don't really mind. I suppose I could be the one asking questions for a while though. I've traveled quite extensively, but England is somewhere I haven't made it to yet. Where are you from? What's it like?"
"Actually, I have two versions," he tells her, setting his fork down. "One is much like a crossbow, yes. Although that one is adapted from other designs I've seen, so it's not really mine. The other one is made to be strapped to the wrist."
Reaching out, he takes her arm and stretches it out slightly, baring her wrist.
"The stake holder sits here." He gently runs his finger over her vein, looking at her. Her skin is very soft. "And it can be concealed with a shirt sleeve. To use it, you hold your arm like this..." He turns her arm so her wrist is up. "And you flick your hand down. The motion activates the shooting mechanism."
He holds her arm for a moment longer before letting go, taking a deep breath. Part of him wants very badly to lean over the table and kiss her. So he picks up his fork again and continues eating his salad. He smiles when she asks about England.
"I should take you there sometime. I'm from the West Sussex area. My father worked in both London and at the Watchers Academy in Hampshire, so he bought an estate there since it was between both." Of course, he wouldn't take her to his childhood home, given the memories and his fractured relationship with his father, but he did want to show her the county - it was quite lovely. "The land is very green and very old. Although you're probably used to old."
She can feel the heat rising in her face and a subtle thrill throughout her entire body as he runs his finger lightly against her wrist, causing her pulse to race. She is sure it shows in her body language as she shifts in her chair.
"That's... remarkable Wesley."
She is disappointed when he lets go of her wrist, but she manages to regain her composure when he begins telling her about his home.
"I greatly enjoy places with lots of history. It is as if the land itself speaks. One of my favorite places is Giza where I was born, it is on the west bank of the Nile across from Cairo. I used to go down to the river and play on the banks as a child."
Looking at her, he raises his eyebrows at her at the way she says vampiric. Of course, he doesn't expect that anyone would truly speak of vampires in a good way - after all, they're soulless and bloodthirsty. But given the years he's worked with Angel, he does feel a bit of a start.
As she continues speaking, he nods slowly, knowing how right she is about Egypt's roots. However, he finds himself intrigued at what she's researching.
"I've run across references to those rumors but never pursued them further. I can imagine that's been quite an undertaking, especially here in Los Angeles," he says. He runs his finger along the edge of his bread plate. "Akilah...there's something you should know. About who I work with."
He takes a deep breath, knowing this could possibly end things right there with her before they even start but wanting to be honest with her. He keeps his voice just as low as hers as he speaks.
"The man who started the agency...his name is Angel, and he's a vampire, but he's different from other vampires. He has his soul."
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He seemed curious about how she was continuing her research while in Los Angeles, and she didn't know whether she should mention that she had tracked one of these elder vampires to the city or not. She was here following up on a rumor that the Methuselah slept somewhere underneath the city. If his agency found him before she did, they would certainly kill him before she could get any information about the bloodlines founder from him. Luckily there was a nest of younger members of the Followers of Set that she could question. At least once she managed to catch one.
"Yes, being in Los Angeles does make it a bit difficult but I have been following a rumor that there is a small group of a specific vampiric bloodline that refer to themselves as the Followers of Set here in Los Angeles. The bloodline originated during the time of the first Pharaohs. I am hoping to find a few of the younger members."
Now it is her turn to be surprised. Anyone who had any uncommon knowledge of vampires had heard of Angelus who was cursed by an elder gypsy, and given a soul.
"I have heard of him. So it is true then? Vampire cursed with a soul?"
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He doesn't say anything more for the moment, though, waiting for her response to his admission. When she asks her question, he nods, not surprised that she knows of Angel, considering what she knows of other vampires - some things that the Watchers Council didn't even apparently know. Or ignored.
"Yes, it's true. He was cursed by the gypsies for killing a favored daughter," he says. "We met several years ago in Sunnydale. I was a member of the Watchers Council at the time and was set to oversee the Slayer. But the Council...at one time, it was a good organization, but in recent years, it's lost its way."
Because of people like his father and his Uncle Quentin, he thinks but doesn't say.
"I ended up going against their wishes, like I mentioned before, and was thrown out because of it. I ended up in Los Angeles, where I met up with Angel again. He's been trying to help people to make up for what he did as Angelus."
He looks at her for a moment. "Perhaps we can help you with locating the Followers of Set. Speaking from experience, a net is certainly not something you want to face alone."
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"Yes, there are several of them here in the city as we speak. I have yet to confirm a rumor about the clan having a stronghold in Las Vegas. It would make sense though, Vegas has been magnet for the criminal and corrupt from the beginning."
She finds it hard to believe that he was once a member of the Watchers Council. The stories she was told by her Uncle Sayyid when he served as her Kuasha made them seem less effective than a forest full of drunk monkeys. Wesley seemed far more level headed and capable than that group of stuffed shirts.
"While it may not seem like it, I believe Fate has smiled on you. Those like us never lead boring lives, and everyone must forge their own path, following in the footsteps of another rarely keeps us happy for long."
After what he had told her of the agency he worked for, and specifically who he worked with, the offer of help wasn't surprising, but she wanted the chance to question one of them, and was unsure if she would get that chance while working with them. After thinking about it for a brief moment, she decided that even if she didn't get to question some of the younger clan members, it would still be worth it to rid the city of several of the most corrupt beings to ever walk its streets.
"I never take things such as this lightly, and always make sure to be well prepared, but help would be greatly appreciated."
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The waiter returns to take their order, interrupting their conversation for a moment. He's glad, though, that she's agreed to take up his offer. While he doesn't doubt she can take care of herself - she certainly has that way about her - he still knows how dangerous it can be even when well prepared.
Once the waiter leaves with their order, he gives her a smile. "We'll do what we can to help. And I'll tell the others this your party, so to speak. You're the one who's been looking for them."
As he looks at her, he finds his thoughts going back to the tarot reading. So many times since they met, fate has come up between them - in the cards, in her words, in his words - and he really does wonder what's in store. The connection they've already noticed aside, he can easily see himself falling for Akilah and is rather sure he already is. It's something he hasn't felt in a long time.
Not like this at least.
"Once you have the information you're looking for, what will you do?" he finally asks.
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"Yes, and an almost inexhaustible source of tourists flooding the city daily, assures them their meals. Most of which who will not be noticed missing until it is far too late."
After ordering, she takes a sip of her water, and takes a moment to just look at him, trying to figure out what it was that drawing her to him. He was certainly attractive enough, but that couldn't be all there was to it. She decided it had to be how he seemed to take everything in stride, and was almost unflappable, as well their eerily similar interests. No one had caught her interest like Wesley has managed to, at least not since Ilias. Realization struck as she sat there, Ilias and Hilal had been gone almost six years now. The chance meeting in the bookstore had to be a sign that it was time for her to stop blaming herself, it had to be. The sound of his voice broke her brief moment of reflection.
"I intend to do everything in my power to eradicate them all."
It sounded so matter of fact, but it was the honest truth. She wanted the Setites erased from the planet, all of them.
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He looks at her for a moment, considering her for a moment. And when she speaks, he finds that he's not surprised by her tone, given the way that she said the word vampirism before. He wanted to ask what it was that had sent her on such a crusade against the Setites. Not that he minded, of course - the less vampires, the better, no matter his friendship with Angel. He was different.
"Are you hoping by stopping them that you'll stop their attempts to raise Set?" he asks softly.
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"Most people could not handle the truth of what is really out there. They would rather think of themselves as the only predators, and remain ignorant of the reality of the monsters that hide in the dark."
She looks down at her hands which were now folded in front of her on the table. She wasn't sure how she knew, but she had a very strong feeling that she would either have to tell him the truth about what she was, or he would end up finding out, and she wasn't sure which would be worse.
"Yes. I cannot say with certainty if Sutekh is truly a God or if the beast is an incredibly ancient vampire. But what I do know is that he cannot be allowed to awaken."
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He pauses for a moment as the waiter brings their salads and sets them down in front of them. He knows that their conversation is probably not the best thing to be having in a restaurant in public of all places, but at the same time, he feels comfortable talking to Akilah about these things. She understands the things he deals with, and more importantly, she understands what it's like to be the researcher, the one who knows things. It's a kinship that not many people comprehend.
Once the waiter leaves again, he picks up his fork as she tells that she is hoping to stop the attempts at raising Sutekh. He nods in agreement, knowing that what she says is true.
"Gods can be just as dangerous, especially when raised by devoted followers," he says. "So you're right - either way, it shouldn't be allowed to happen. Whatever help you need from me, Akilah, you have it. Whether its research, questioning...or anything else."
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"I really do appreciate that Wesley. I'm not exactly the most... capable when it comes to physical confrontation. My skills are much more suited towards magic and research."
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"I have to admit that physical combat has never been my strong suit either. I'm much better with weapons allowing me some range. I've even created a few." He pauses for a moment, wondering if she'd be interested in seeing them some time. "I've always felt it's better not to let them get near you when you can help it. To much of a chance of things going wrong."
He looks at her, seeing that something is obviously on her mind, and he wonders whether he might have said or done something. He hopes he hasn't. Perhaps is something about her search for the Followers of Set?
"Is there anything else I should know about your search?" he asks.
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"Created new ranged weapons? That is incredible. It has only been rather recently that I've become comfortable with using firearms, and I am still not very skilled."
She nods at his question. Direct and to the point, and there is very little she can do to skirt the issue. Just the thought of lying to him is almost painful, she knows she can't, and she also knows that she will have to tell the truth eventually, but not here, and not right now.
"There is quite a bit more, but I cannot go into it here, that will have to wait for another time."
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Giving her a smile, he eats of few bites of his salad, nodding when she says that there's more for her to tell him, but that she can't here. He looks around the restaurant, certainly understanding that. They've been very open in their discussion, but there were some things that certainly should never be talked about in public, no matter what.
"Of course. Whenever you feel comfortable. I just want to make sure there's nothing I've missed."
He looks down at his salad and suddenly snorts.
"I just realized...here we are, on what is really our first date, and we've been talking about our work." Shaking his head, he looks back at her. "I should be asking about your favorite movie. Or music. Things like that."
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She takes her time eating her salad, while they chat, and chuckles when he mentions they've only been talking about work.
"I suppose so. But I don't really mind. I suppose I could be the one asking questions for a while though. I've traveled quite extensively, but England is somewhere I haven't made it to yet. Where are you from? What's it like?"
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Reaching out, he takes her arm and stretches it out slightly, baring her wrist.
"The stake holder sits here." He gently runs his finger over her vein, looking at her. Her skin is very soft. "And it can be concealed with a shirt sleeve. To use it, you hold your arm like this..." He turns her arm so her wrist is up. "And you flick your hand down. The motion activates the shooting mechanism."
He holds her arm for a moment longer before letting go, taking a deep breath. Part of him wants very badly to lean over the table and kiss her. So he picks up his fork again and continues eating his salad. He smiles when she asks about England.
"I should take you there sometime. I'm from the West Sussex area. My father worked in both London and at the Watchers Academy in Hampshire, so he bought an estate there since it was between both." Of course, he wouldn't take her to his childhood home, given the memories and his fractured relationship with his father, but he did want to show her the county - it was quite lovely. "The land is very green and very old. Although you're probably used to old."
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"That's... remarkable Wesley."
She is disappointed when he lets go of her wrist, but she manages to regain her composure when he begins telling her about his home.
"I greatly enjoy places with lots of history. It is as if the land itself speaks. One of my favorite places is Giza where I was born, it is on the west bank of the Nile across from Cairo. I used to go down to the river and play on the banks as a child."
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