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Erica and Brian Reunite. Shortly thereafter, Angel informs Brian and Erica about the various tragedies that happened to their pack in their absence. The couple resolve to go back to Beacon Hills and kick an ass or two.
8/20/2016 9:00 PM
Hyperion Hotel San Francisco
The Hyperion Hotel[]
The lights are on, illuminating the area.
The California-Spanish building known as the Hyperion Hotel was built in the 20s. Through the cast iron gates from the sidewalk is a small front courtyard with a rectangular fountain and a mythological figure holding a bowl from which water flows. Greenery frames the walls and a large set of glass double doors open into a high ceilinged lobby. Dark red carpet descends the four steps to the lobby floor and climb the two sets of stairways that lead to the second floor. The green marble floors are accented with wavy red inserts, as are the walls have a complimentary red border running their length. A set of doors identical to those of the entrance lead to a small enclosed garden.
Cream-colored pillars line two sides of the room, holding up the second-floor balconies that look out onto the lobby and creating arches. Underneath one of them is a large plate glass window that looks into the hotel office - now used as the office and nerve center of Angel Investigations. Nearby, there's a wraparound counter with dark wood paneling and a top the same color as the floor. Behind it are filing cabinets and a pair of desks pushed together. A navy blue circular couch harkening back to a 50s design sits near the back of the lobby. A large wooden, glass-doored cabinet pushed up against the wall holds a large assortment of weapons.
Outside, it's overcast and warm.
It's not the epic reunion Angel's had recently, but considering Brian's been working, and she's been busy with all sorts of things between work, and research, and seeking a good real estate spot... no one can blame the Blonde beta for being excited that he's up for a visit. She won't even get him to her room before she's tugging him in and leaning up on her toes to kiss him as if he's been off at war for years.
For a man who has some very real legal issues with trying to take legitimate work the summer season, where weather is good and various outdoors-type work often seeks day laborers, is a godsend. So Brian has been a busy man lately, focused on things other than the supernatural world. But it hasn't changed what he feels when he sees Erica. He kisses her back for all he's worth, the kind of kiss that tends to prompt cries of "get a room", and which threatens to turn into something that just shouldn't be done in public. He finally thinks to apply the brakes and come up for air, then smiles down at the blonde and says, "Hey babe. Guess you missed me?"
Well, that showed more restraint then Angel had when he had HIS reunion. That ended in a broken table. Still, Angel could see that reunion happening, and remembering he wouldn't have appreciated having serious stuff dropped in his lap just then, he vanishes into the shadows to do other things. He could wait till the couple was satisfied with each other before bringing the many and sundry bits of dire news he has.
"You think?" She teases, her smile for once not containing any sass. Brown eyes actually slip into that golden glow a moment as emotion wells up. "But you're here, and healthy and.." She shrugs. She may have worried, a little bit. "Did you miss me?" She asks, leaning up to kiss his chin, before there's a glance over. "Angel.. you might as well come out. I was just too busy kissing the boyfriend to say hello." She hasn't seen much of the vampire as of late, either.
Brian's answer to Erica is an Impish smile and a suggestive pelvic tilt as he he says softly, "You know it." Her next words prompt a moment of confusion and an embarrassed look as he pulls back and turns his head toward the vampire, "Oh, uh, sorry, man. Didn't realize you were there." Which is doubly embarrassing for someone with werewolf senses. But hey, he's used to listening for heartbeats.
Angel is pretty hard to detect when he doesn't want to be found. "I've been through a reunion myself recently, I figured you might want some privacy." That, and almost everything he has to tell the pair is going to be the most epic of moodkillers. "There's a lot of news, but you might want to finish..." Pause. "Catching up" before I tell it all to you.
Erica blushes ever so subtly at that pelvic tilt, brown eyes glancing up at Brian's with a quick smile that promises 'later'. "I thought that's what the stench around here was. Summer sex is hell on a wolf's nose." She's teasing the vampire, even as she's leaning into Brian, a tension slipping out of her body that's been building for far too long. "Angel. We're werewolves. I'm pretty sure we can handle news and then catching up."
Brian positions himself with an arm around Erica, but facing Angel. The smile fades from Brian's face as he cocks his head slightly, "The way you say that, man, I'm thinking it's not good news. And if that's the case, uh, well... it probably shouldn't wait for as long as our "catching up" might take." It's not said to brag, or even for shock value. More as an open acknowledgement among people whose senses make privacy a moot point.
Angel nods once. "If you're sure. It's not the sort of news I'd have wanted interrupting my reunion." As for Erica scenting what he and Buffy had been up to...and frequently! Well, yeah, privacy is kind of a moot point. "So, there's a Beast called Glorificus wrecking Havoc in Beacon Hills. What Glorificus wants most is the Key. That's Dawn, Buffy's younger sister. According to our research so far, she can 'crack the world' with the Key, so we'd really rather she never gets anywhere near Dawn. The Pack has already engaged with Glory in Beacon Hills. Lydia ended up with several broken bones. Soo, Stiles, and Liam have all been rendered comatose or insane due to Glory's powers. Our team is acquiring the necessary weapons to fight Glory properly. Buffy has her Scythe, which you, Erica, remember Faith using, and I've just picked up a Hammer I'm pretty sure will work. Once we get Faith something that works, we're going to go to war."
"Glorificus. That must have been what Ms. McCall was talking about." There's a faint frown. "I know Dawn, Angel. We've been down in the dojo.. " She's trailing off, and that glow of hormones and happiness fades, leaving the she-wolf looking frawn. "No one told me.. I didn't get.." She glances up at Brian, a mixture of fear, worry, and anger. Never a good mix with the blonde beta. "I'm not waiting to find another quest object." Maybe that catching up will have to wait, because Erica is already mentally packing.
Brian leans heavily against a wall. "Comatose? Insane? Shit. I mean, the kind of lives we lead, you expect the physical stuff. But that?" A moment of wtihdrawl, then eyes flash as claws scrape the wall. Brian takes a moment, rolling his neck as he gets himself under control. "This thing needs to be taken down. You don't mess with our pack that way." A long pause then he adds a bit lamely, "But it sounds like this is like that golden eyed demon, where I wouldn't be much help without a weapon that can hurt it."
"On that, well, your Alphas are the ones in charge, but given what's already happened, I think I'm willing to say that yes, like that demon, it takes an appropriate weapon to do any good. That's why we're gearing up before moving out. Otherwise we'd have taken the fight to her already." Even still, "But all the same, you are Pack, and I think your Alphas need you two back, particularly with the losses they've already taken." Angel might be wrong, but..."And you can tell them we're coming very soon."
"Fuck that. Take something's head off, it's usually good enough to kill it." There's several reasons there's a growl in the back of Erica's words, even as she lets go of Brian to storm down the steps and head for her room. She didn't know, she couldn't help.. and maybe, just maybe, the thought of some of those she cared about being hurt is enough to have her wolf humming just under the surface.
Brian mutters something about a not using a baseball bat when Erica mentions taking heads. Then he shakes his head. "My first urge is to go in and kick ass, but if this thing can put an Immortal in a coma, I think we need to know more." He starts pacing, body unwilling to remain still. "So.. what do we know? What the, possibly literal, hell is a Glorificus."
Angel frowns, "We don't completely know yet. Glorificus is a name, not a creature type. Her name is Glory. Giles should have the information for us soon, possibly as soon as tomorrow. We do know she's powerful enough to kick werewolves around like so many puppies, which suggests she's another level above the rest of us in raw ability. If claws and fangs did any good, I would figure Derek would've ripped her throat by now in that wolf form of his. He must've figured out that his fangs aren't going to be enough." Which seems plausible, but he doesn't really know.
Erica stops, turning to look at Brian. "That means what she's doing isn't physical. Stiles would be back on his feet if it was. Liam too." She's less sure about Soo, because she's not as familiar with the werecat thing. "So clearly we need some sort of mystical hoodoo crap. But like hell I'm not going home and guarding whoever needs it, and going after the bitch with a runcible spoon, if I have to, to stop her."
Brian growls, a more animalistic sound than one would normally expect from a human throat. Of course, Brian is only questionably human. "Whatever she is, she's going to find out she chose the wrong wolves to mess with. His anger is coming out in bravado, covering for the fact that he's not sure how to fight this enemy, as heis go-to-guy for "how do we kill it" just said "I don't know."
Angel may usually be the go to guy for how do we kill it...but beyond him is an even better researcher...a go to guy Angel goes to when HE needs to know how do we kill it! "You're right, Erica. I can say if you managed to find Castiel again and borrowed his weapon, that'd get the job done. Short of that, you're basically looking for priceless artifacts of great power, like the Scythe or the Hammer I just got. Mystically empowered weapons you'd find in stories."
"Sure, let me just whistle up an angel. A real one." There's some of that sass swirling in with the anger. She's not showing her eyes, or claws, so she's got a decent grip but.. "I don't care who I need to talk to, or beg, Angel. I can't wait for you guys to find another mystical do-hickey. Not if she's decimating my pack like this. "
Brian moves up to Erica, getting in her face in a way he really hasn't done before. One that's a challenge. "Yeah, well, lets' make sure she doesn't decimate You. Babe, we go in with claws and fangs on this, we're coming out like Stiles and Liam. And you know I'm the guy for using claws and fangs.
Angel nods once. "I'm not keeping you here. And they definitely need you two to be there for them. Just...what Brian said. That's about how it works. We're finding our mystical weapons because when we go in, we want to be damn sure that's the last anyone sees of Glory. We want to get her dead, and make sure she stays that way."
That may not be the best move, as Erica's posture changes, and even as she looks up from under lashes, brown eyes shine golden yellow. "Me? Got to be more than some piece of shit who needs to name herself Glory to feel like she's worth anything. This bitch is messing with mine, she's going to pay for it." Her voice is deeper, just a touch growly. Those eyes will turn to Angel. "Get hot, Angel Face. Because I'm not waiting for her to hurt anyone else."
The golden eyes don't make Brian back down, which says plenty about his own state of mind. "This is not lone wolf time, babe. We face this, we face this with what's left of a pack. You're right, she hurt our people. OURS. And I'll be damned if I'm going to stand by and let her hurt the one I care about as more than just pack. You go after her, I'm going in right next to you. Which is why I want to make damn sure we can do more than annoy her."
Angel actually steps back for a minute. For all his team needs to protect Dawn, they haven't lost anyone yet, though Angel figures it's only a matter of time before they DO lose someone. The blood call of vengeance is something the wolves need to work out for themselves.
Those eyes shift back to Brian. "Lone wolf? Me? Have you ever seen me do something that stupid?" A brow arches, even as there's a flash of brown irises. "Stiles is in a coma. God only knows what that's doing to both Derek /and/ Scott. They need the back up, and now that you're not off working, that's exactly what they're gonna get. And if that means I have to step it up and over a notch, so be it. But no one said anything about going off alone. I may be a shitty beta, but I've never been into the omega thing." There's a curl of her lips. "No one to pick on, that way."
And just like that, Brian is reminded why he's crazy for the blonde werewolf. He cracks a smile And the stress and anger of the moment shifts in a very different direction for him. He moves in and kisses her quite thoroughly, wrapping one arm around her. His smile as he pulls back is not a pleasant one and she shakes his head, "Don't know what hell this bitch crawled out of, but we're going to show her a new one."
There they go. "Love stabilizes. Helps you find your center. Hold onto that." Angel speaks from the voice of experience there. He's made a LOT of dumbass decisions when a certain blonde wasn't around to keep him grounded.
Erica just has that knack for sass even when everything seems to be coming apart at the seams. It's better than whimpering about not knowing what to do next. Her hand grips the back of his neck hard with that kiss, kissing him back with every ounce of her being. She'll look at him intensely a moment after that kiss breaks. "She'll never see it coming." She'll murmur, before her head turns. "He's not my anchor, Angel. I am. It's hard to explain."
Brian can't help but smile, "Babe, who said he's just talking to you? Before I met you, I was barely holding onto human." He gives her a squeeze, then forces himself to pull back. There's things to do, even if parts of him are still demanding a more thorough re-connect with his girlfriend.
"Ultimately yes. I've made several dumbass decisions on my own, but I found myself again...eventually. It just happens much faster when someone else is around to keep you focused. Ultimately you're responsible for you, and when they reach for you, you have to be willing reach back." He nods once at Brian. "Exactly. It's just stuff I learned the hard way...from having the one I love around, to not having her around, to having her back again. I can only tell you what happened to me. You two have your own paths to follow."
Erica snorts, a smirk up at him. "You just needed some guidance, baby. Some wolves to hang out around to really give you the view of what you needed. I just found you, was all. My retail addiction paid off." Erica loves him, and it's sort of painfully obvious in that moment. She'd be humiliated...if she wasn't with two of the men she trusts most in the world. "You came and fixed me. I might have had the wolf under control, but the girl was a mess."
Brian reaches up for a moment and brushes a thumb over Erica's cheek, smiling at her. It's a sappy moment, but a needed one. "Yeah, well, the boy wasn't any better. But, you know, as a guy who's part canine, I hesitate a bit around the word "fixed"." He gives her a wink. then pulls back and says more seriously, "So I guess we pack up, load up, and drive back to Beacon Hills."
Angel steps back again, as if he's unsure if the couple is going to go pack, or if they're going to have couple time and then pack. Could go either way, in his experience.
Erica laughs, of course, as Brian intended. "I have no plans to neuter you, baby." She'll murmur, turning her head to kiss the inside of his wrist. "It seems like that should be the plan." She agrees quietly, brown eyes shifting towards Angel. "Seriously. If you can't find something soon for Faith, we need to act without it. For everyone's sake. Can you find out what else might help? I mean, if she's a demon.. holy water grenades or something?"
Brian says, "Holy water, mountain ash, whatever we've got to do. he gives a dramatic sigh, "Why can't more things be like you? Stupidly strong until you hit them with the right flower?" He pauses for a moment, then looks at Angel, "You know, just a thought, but if this thing can supposedly crack the world with Dawn, uh, her getting her hands on a ancient beacon of druid magic would probably be bad too, wouldn't it?""
"We have leads already, but no, we won't wait long." As for what else might help, "Giles hasn't told us the results of his research yet...once he tells us everything... well, if you two are leaving tonight, I'll text you, Erica, and your Alphas with what I get from Giles. That should help quite a bit with how you want to deal with it. We expect Giles will have something for us as soon as tomorrow."
Erica laughs softly at Brian. "Because then florists would carry those nasty flowers, and you could never go buy me flowers." It's a tease, of course, as she moves in to press close. "We'll be heading out soon. Let me know anything that might even work, so I can start getting things together." A glance up at Brian. "The Nemeton has been known to hide itself, but we'll talk to the rest of the pack about guarding it more.
Brian sniffs at that, "Yeah, well, I guess we can all be glad that wolfsbane isn't a popular choice for floral arrangements. But just once I want to see some big nasty thing get taken down by a bouquet." "Shaking his head, he then looks to Angel, "As much as this royally sucks... thanks for letting us know. With everything going on, and the full moon just passed, I guess communications broke down a little in Beacon Hills.
Angel nods again. "This is something that connects to you two on a primal level. I wanted to be sure you knew and could come to the aid of the people who need you most." And with a sigh, he said, "So, go, do what you need to do. My team will have significantly more information for you in a couple days. We'll take the field ourselves soon. As I'm told, Glorificus wears the tackiest nail polish ever, and even tackier perfume called Nookie. If you keep your noses open for that, you shouldn't run into her by accident."
There's a growled mutter "Sounds like Lydia recon... she better hope she doesn't meet me... or she'll be the accident." Erica might still be grumpy.
Brian raises an eyebrow, "Seriously? Nookie? Great... now I have to go into a store and try and find out what Nookie smells like. That's going to be a fun conversation at the counter." He shakes his head, then shrugs, "Still, it's useful. So thanks."
Angel nods again. "It was. Lydia didn't get hurt by accident. She paid a price for the information she got." So it better keep the wolves who've spent the most time with him safe!
There's a sigh. She's not a fan of the idea of Lydia doing things she shouldn't. While Erica wouldn't admit it, she worries about the more... fragile seeming members of the back. She'll break loose of Brian, to kiss Angel's cheek. "Don't lag, Angel Face." She'll whisper, before she'll glance at Brian and head for her room .
Brian gives Angel one more nod, then follows after Erica, the same sot of gleam (not glow) in his eye that she has. The two of them are wolves on the warpath, and it shows.