On the Maru: locked to Beka and Angelus (and anyone Beka's called in case of dire need of rescue)

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka paced the Maru warily. This wasn't a good idea, at all. But it was the only place she had access to her weapons -- several pulse pistols - on her bed, by her seat, strapped under the makeshift table where she'd met Inara, a blaster just inside the big trunk in the middle of the cargo bay, and the little gauss gun in her bracelet.

She was as safe here as she'd be anywhere. And Angelus probably wasn't through with her. Yet. She'd just have to stay useful until she got what she wanted.








(OOC: at some point before this, Beka made a series of notes about her plans, Angelus's plans, the coincidence of their interests, and what they had to offer each other. She's thought this through carefully. Those notes may appear later for the curious.)

Comments

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[rings ahead] Hello? Ms. Valentine?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka picks up the call on her comms. "Yes, Doctor. I'm here."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[sounds concerned] Did you need to talk, still?

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

[ooc: np. Maybe do a post that specifically spells out what Angelus is allowed to know?]

Consolidation post - all else is to be considered stricken except call from the Doctor

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Angelus wandered up to the Maru. He stared at the ship, wondering if he was expected to knock or if this was the part of the day when the robots took over and perhaps offered you a nice drink before slicing your body into pieces with a laser beam.

*chirp* Proximity alert. Airlock.

Beka stood, tugged the black leather skirt -- she'd have to see about another couple if she was going to be going out so often, or staying in -- down, and the white silk blouse straight. She'd buttoned three buttons, in the interest of looking pulled together for this meeting, but both the bottom and the top were open. She was still Beka, after all, and there were some things she wouldn't change, for anyone.

She checked the instrumentation. Angelus, all right. One last deep breath, and she smothered her wariness to open the airlock.

"Angelus. Come in."

"Appreciate the invite," Angelus said, stepping through the entrance. He looked around. "Nice place. Very SciFi."

"As I understand it, you need one. The first time, at least." She shrugged. "It's more home than school is."

Now that he was here, it didn't seem quite so bad. Just awkward, the same as it might be with any other guest she didn't know all that well. She lead him into the cargo bay. "Care to sit? If you want something to drink or eat, ask and I'll get it. It'll save us both the awkwardness of me playing hostess. It's not my best skill." A small, tight grin at that. She hated hostessing, no matter the company.

"You know the routine," Angelus winked at her as he took a seat. "I don't drink... wine. Well I do, but not right now. So what's up?"

Clarification post - OOC

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

At this point, with all the confusion generated by this plot and the Angela reveal in the other thread, it seems like a good idea to clarify what everyone knows.

(1) Angelus doesn't know anything about Broots. Period.

(2) Anything Beka knows about Broots is pure hearsay.

(3) Beka knows that Parker spies on everyone and that she's got a mad-on for Angelus and JA.

(4) Beka was already planning this with Angelus before the Angela reveal, so this is not retaliation. Angelus and Beka have been setting up this meeting for several days. Bristow-mun knows because we asked for clarification on some magical issues.

(5) Broots-mun, Parker-mun, Beka-mun, and Angelus-mun have agreed to retake this conversation from the point before Beka made the Broots reveal. Therefore, if for some reason, someone thinks they're spying on the Maru (and if you do, please let me know), the only conversation you will have heard is what follows the consolidation post and any conversation you overheard with the Doctor.

(6) The previous conversation will be screened for the sake of cleanliness and for the sake of making it easier to remember what is FH-canon, but if there's a need for anyone to see what was previously said, Beka-mun will unscreen.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She looks confused. "No. I didn't need to talk, Doctor. I just wanted someone to know I was meeting Angelus in case there was trouble."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

And I assume there wasn't.

re clarification

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Clarification: here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhighdorms/150679.html?thread=4722583#t4722583).

Re: Clarification post - OOC

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

OOC myself:

Just confirming I'm down with all of that. Also it's dangerously close to my bedtime so instead of starting up now I'm going to wait until tomorrow if that's all right by you.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

There hasn't been yet. He hasn't arrived.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

But when he does...?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

When he does, he and I will talk. About my frustration with the Administration, with Parker's campaign, and very likely, tomorrow, two-thirds of the school will hate me.

I doubt the danger will be coming from Angelus at that point.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose you could explain why, Beka. I promise I won't tell anyone.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Very simple, Doctor. One way or another, Parker and I are going to have it out. I'd rate it about a 100 to 1 chance that I'll still be on Parker's ticket tomorrow night, and that will lead to some serious fallout.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[raises an eyebrow, even though she can't see it] Dare I ask why?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She smiles. "You may always ask, Doctor. Only this time, I'm not sure which why you're asking."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Why are you quarrelling with Parker? I know you usually navigate social passages well, Beka, but Parker...I get the sense she can be dangerous if she chooses to be.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

I'm quarreling with Parker because she doesn't like my taste in fuck-buddies, Doctor. Pardon me being blunt. And because she doesn't like my way of putting myself between the innocents and the bad guys.

In essence, Doctor, we're fighting because Parker thinks I am a bad guy. I'm unpredictable, damned dangerous, have a hell of a temper, and I'll probably end up very very dead. She doesn't want her people around it. I can understand that.

I think Parker's dangerous because she's... short-sighted. Vengeful. Nasty.

In truth, I prefer Angelus. I know what he is. And he knows what I am. We understand each other.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I've heard worse, trust me. [laughs] I didn't think Parker classified herself as either an innocent or a bad guy--where else is she to stand?

And she isn't unpredictable, dangerous, and liable to explode at any second?

[casually] And what IS Angelus?

[deirdreofamber.livejournal.com]

*Ghosts in as requested, doesn't see any blood or body parts so hopes that all is well with the situation, doesn't find anyone at all, so leaves a message* Hey, Sis, I Ghosted in since I hadn't heard from you and you wanted me to do a wellness check, so where in the name of the Unicorn are you anyway? If I don't hear from you soon I will have Ghostwheel track you and that could get... interesting. Call me*

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Doctor, if you were here right now, I might make you blush very prettily. *laughs*

All right, down and dirty assess on what's wrong between me and Parker? She underestimates me, which pisses me off. I don't toe her line, which pisses her off. She thinks she's doing this for good and moral reasons and that her pure, plotted revenges are safer for her girls than my feats of brave stupidity on the spur of the moment.

Like I said, I'm not entirely sure she's wrong. A hero, as Jayne puts it, is someone who gets other people killed. I say a hero is someone who puts herself in harms way because she can take the damage better and probably because she deserves what she's got coming.

As for Angelus... He's a vampire. (OOC: This information shared by permission of Angelus-mun who says Angelus thinks everyone should know what he is.) On campus, Angelus is a highly effective politician, insanely charming, very sexy and a hell of a fuck. Off-campus, he's a killer. Soulless and probably sociopathic.

*shakes her head, though he doesn't see it* My head must be a bit of a mess, because it occurs to me that he's only sociopathic if you judge him by human standards. He's probably a perfectly normal vampire. *laughs* That makes my head hurt.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor absorbs all this without blinking. He's heard worse. Then again, this confirms what he was thinking was going on.
He plays the game of defense. One false move, and both Parker and Angelus could be in deep trouble with him--but not yet. So he merely says...]
I see. That's quite interesting, and no, I'm not going to repeat it.

I don't know which of you is right, Beka. I know you're not asking for my approval...
But I think you may have the upper hand, from a moral sense. Of course, that doesn't mean anything--those who are real heroes tend to get persecuted more than lauded.

I suppose I'm saying I'll support you, though quietly.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka blinks, digesting what the Doctor is saying. It never really occured to her that someone else might actually agree with her. Except maybe Anakin, and he probably shouldn't count because he was allied with Angelus before.

"I don't think I'm a hero, Doctor. I think I'm a survivor with a really bad attitude about being deprived of the freedoms and the privacy that I'm used to.

"I suppose I wasn't asking for your approval, no, but it's good to know I have your support. Thank you. I don't need anything dramatic. Just someone to talk to if my friends can't stand to see me. And someone to keep an eye on me in case I'm going to pull another stupid and step in front of a raging vampire without a weapon."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor says nothing to this--she's probably right. Then again, he's used to looking at things as the Good Guy. And, frankly, he intends to stay that way. Beka isn't bad at heart, that he knows...she's merely playing a dangerous game. An essential one, perhaps, to her, but dangerous.]

In the right time, anything can be a weapon.