wesleynotponcy | Cordelia's Apartment | Los Angeles, CA

As it turned out, Cordelia hadn't called because there was some pressing emergency going on. On the contrary, when Wesley arrived at her apartment, it was to join Cordelia and Gunn at her kitchen table, continuing what seemed like about a day's worth of moping.

This lasted for several hours before Wesley stood up, energized by a… fly flying around the room. "What I wouldn't give for a roving band of Prekian demons right now," he announced.

They both turned to look at him. Then he amended, "Without the ritualistic slayings, of course."

Cordelia and Gunn	"Of course," Cordelia and Gunn echoed, returning to looking at the table. Because that was productive.
Wesley	"Something to fight," Wesley continued, striding across the tiny room more purposefully than its narrow corridor could really accomodate. "Good to be done. A little action." Please. Any kind of action. He'd take anything.
Cordelia	Cordelia, as always, had something helpful to say. "Maybe we could get one of those star maps, figure out where Steven Segal lives," she suggested, twirling a pen in her hands. When Wesley and Gunn looked at her oddly, she shrugged. "What, you're telling me he got to be a movie star without a little demonic assistance?"
Gunn	Unfolding a newspaper and opening it in front of his face, Gunn declared, "Look, if I say things are quiet, let 'em be quiet."
Wesley	"Quiet may be good for mankind," Wesley granted, taking a seat again, "but bad for business. We need to make a name for ourselves if this -- agency of ours is to come to anything." And wasn't that a weird thought, being a part of an agency again just after he'd gotten used to thinking of himself as a slacker. This was certainly less painful, he could tell you that.
Gunn	"We can't even agree on a new name yet," Gunn pointed out. "Unless of course you guys have come around to the idea of--"
Wesley	"I don't think so," Wesley interrupted him.
Cordelia	"Give it up already," Cordelia advised.
Wesley	"New name or not," Wesley said, standing up again to the accompaniment of a little groan from Cordelia at his continued insistence on pacing, "We need to be on the streets, plying our trade. Generating a little word of mouth. We can't expect evil to just walk through the door." And then, as it happened, someone knocked. Wesley got up to answer the door, looking hopeful. Was it a customer? Could this be a customer--?
~~Chanterelle~~ Anne	Nope. Not a customer. "Hello," said the woman who'd just entered, "I'm looking for--"
Gunn	"Annie!" Gunn said, getting up from his seat and going to hug the woman who'd just come in. "What's up, girl? Haven't seen you in a minute. C'mere!"
Cordelia	Behind his back, Cordelia rolled her eyes and mouthed to Wesley, 'I thought it was a customer.'
Gunn	"So," Gunn said, pulling back, "what brings you to this neck of the woods?"
Anne	"I just thought I'd come see how you're doing these days," Anne said, grinning at him with the familiarity of an old friend. "And..." She turned her attention toward Cordelia's apartment. "It's actually kind of nice."
Cordelia	"I'd like to think so," Cordelia agreed brightly. She got up from the table and came around to shake Anne's hand. "Hi. I'm Cordelia Chase."
Wesley	Taking Anne's hand once Cordelia was done shaking it, Wesley said, "And I'm Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. Nice to meet you."
Anne & Gunn	"Anne here runs a teen shelter on Crenshaw, not too far from my hood," Gunn explained. "Oh, Gunn, all this time and you still remember!" Anne said, pretending to swoon. "Alright, alright, I get it," Gunn relented, grinning. "But I've been busy. I've been working." He raised his eyebrows at her to make sure she knew just what kind of work he meant. ~~So not dirty.~~ Anne's smile faltered just a little. "Well, if you're not too busy, mind if I run something by you?"
Cordelia	"Sure!" Cordelia interrupted before anyone else could say anything. "Whatever you need, so long as it's business-related." She paused. "It is business-related, right?"
Anne & Gunn	Anne eyed her dubiously. "Oh, it's cool," Gunn interrupted. "They know what's what." Relieved, Anne took a seat. "Then yes, it's business-related," she said. "A few of my kids at the shelter have been having problems with police brutality. Kenny came in pretty beat-up the other night, and he's not the only one. I've talked to some of the others and they all say the same thing. No provocation, no reason, the police are just terrorizing them."
Wesley	"Renegade cops," Wesley summarized. "Not exactly our usual."
Anne & Gunn	"It's not just that," Anne continued. "Kenny mentioned fighting back, and --" Gunn eyed her. "Kenny said that? Kenny who had three citations last I talked to him? What, is he trying to set himself a record?" "You didn't see him," Anne pointed out. "He was really hurt. And he said he shoved back, pushed the cop against a car, and the guy didn't even blink. I'm sort of wondering if..."
Wesley	"...if they might not be human?" Wesley tried gently.
Anne & Gunn	Anne waffled for a moment on an answer, then turned to Gunn. "I know you used to hunt vampires, and..." "Still do," Gunn said. "But if this job has taught me anything, it's that there's things a lot worse out there than a set of teeth." "Like a bunch of overzealous, super-strong cops beating on my kids," Anne summarized. "Speaking of which... I should really get back. The shelter's been getting jammed after sunset, and somebody's got to keep them reined in." "I'll go with you," Gunn said, going to get his coat. "I don't think it's safe for you to be out there yourself. And then we'll see if we can figure something out about these cops, okay?" "Thanks, Gunn," Anne said, relieved. "You're a lifesaver."
Cordelia	"Call us if you need backup!" Cordelia called after them as they left. As the door shut, she turned to Wesley. "Pizza?"
Wesley	Wesley watched them go through the window for a moment, then shook his head to clear it. "Yes, all right," he said, reaching for the phone.