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The Library

Janet unlocked the library and walked in, setting her laptop down warily behind the desk and trying not to think about ~~Hathor~~ the last time she was in here. She took a drink from her extra-large mug of coffee and started working.

ETA: She popped out a moment later and stuck a note up on the door: "New teachers need to check out the Rules of Conduct and fill out a library card application ~~in blue or black ink, damn it~~. Please come inside for a form. Thank you."

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Angelus came in. He was wearing black jeans, a dark blue button-down shirt, and a long black overcoat. He looked around, sat down at a free table, and began reading whatever book or magazine was in front of him.

Huh. Us Weekly

Seeing Angelus in *her* (okay, Dr. Pierson's) library, was enough to give Parker pause.

But she recovered.

"Looking for the next big thing in hair?" she snarked. "Or just new ideas for your next world takeover via the media?"

"So here's two things I can't figure out," Angelus said, folding the magazine down in front of him. His demeanor was geniunely relaxed, and casual. "Thought you might lend a hand. Clear things up. Just for my own curiosity. First: were you being that stupid on purpose?"

Ah. Now we get to it. Parker folded her arms, and leaned against the library counter. "You'll have to be more specific, Angelus. Your definition of stupid and mine vary by so much, I can't be sure which of my actions you're referring to."

"True," Angelus acknowledged. "And you do add all new levels to the ranges. I meant the ad against Bel. Deliberate dumb on your part?"

Parker eyed him coolly. Then shrugged. "No. A misjudgment of the audience. And the timing. A rookie mistake, if you will." Toothily, she smiled at him. "Hey, at least I wasn't dumb enough to include the part of the tape immediately before that, where *you* were menacing Broots. That would've been an exercise in pointless."

"That's a shame," Angelus sat back in his chair, propping one foot up on the chair next to him. "Thought it might be a calculated move on your part. Would've respected you for that. So here's my next question: when did I rape your Cheerios, darling?"

"Now isn't that a Freudian image I didn't need. But hey, your adequacy issues, your business." Parker tapped a finger on her arm. "To be fair, at the beginning? Most of it was the fact that I just thought you were a dick. I would've run a campaign against the JA just on that alone."

"Understandable," Angelus said with a shrug. "Plenty of folks who'd agree with you. What happened after the beginning?"

Parker goes quiet, and much more still. "A pattern. Broots. Maia-- who's a creepy little person, but definitely psychic, I've had proof of that. You, and whatever she 'saw' of you, freaked her out, and she doesn't freak that easy. Angela Chase? Freezes up every time you walk in the room. I didn't need to be psychic to figure *that* out." Parker's voice has been steadily dropping.

"So okay, bully. Dick. Vampire; and one with a history that I can find on the internet, enough to make *me* want to vomit. That's not enough?"

Angelus held up his index finger. "Point of interest? Never did anything to Maia. She's not my type. I'm surprised a smart girl like you can't notice a pesky detail like her having a roommate. Angela and me is between Angela and me. And as for Broots - " Angelus shrugged, geniune confusion on his features. "Who?"

"My minion. The one you and Belthazor both menaced, his first day here." Parker's face looks ugly. "You really didn't make a friend out of me with that move. Petty of me. But there it is." She shrugged. "Put all the rest down to me being a nosy Parker. Patterns. I notice them."

"Beyond all this though, since we're being so honest and having such a fucking Stalin-and-Roosevelt kind of talk: why the hell do you *care*? Why are you running people for the Student Council? Why are you here? You're 250 years old. I don't care if you do look like you can pass for a senior. You want to be in high school? No way in hell. You're after something else."

"He was yours? My apologies," Angelus said. "I never mess with somebody's boy. Wouldn't have done it if I'd known. Common courtesy, and all that."

He rested one arm on the table, propping his head up on his hands. "And I didn't, for the record. Give a flying fuck about Student Council. I'm thrilled about the results though."

"Apology noted. But not accepted."

Parker smiled coldly. "I figured as much. You were far, far too cheerful this morning. For the record? I hate being someone's puppet. And since you're having *so* much fun with this, why don't you tell me why you're so thrilled."

Angelus made a face of mock disappointment. "Oo - wish I could, Park. Except when I have secret plans? I find telling people about them ruins the surprise. I'm old school like that. Comes with being, well, old."

He sat back, grinning at her. "But I'm generous too. You know funny enough I don't hate you. You've got something that halfway resembles a brain. That's so rare at this school I could cry. So, if you're so interested in me - come on. Take advantage. Won't tell you my plans, but will tell you about me.

"Hey - out of curiosity, did you get as far as Liam?" Angelus asked. "Or did you hit soul curse and stop bookmarking?"

"Got to Liam." Parker was still very, very tense. "Couldn't get much else, what with everyone who ever knew you when you were alive dying shortly after you did. That's where I got the 'dick' definition, by the way."

She smiled back. "Soul curse? I didn't have to bookmark that. Everyone who saw that tape was happy to share info on it. Pity I never got a copy. So, really awful for you, was it? Saving puppies instead of vamping them?"

"Not awful at all, Park," Angelus leaned forward even more, motioning for her to come closer as though sharing a secret. "'cause, here's the thing: That curse? Doesn't do a damned thing to me. All it does is make people stupid enough to believe that Angel's somebody safe to be around.

"But he's not, though," Angelus said. "Because deep down inside, there I am. Whispering in his ear. Reminding him of all the horrible things he'd love to do and how they make him so hot and so hard until one day he can't stand it and - " Angelus snapped his fingers. "Ooops. There goes that pesky hotel filled with innocents. Hyperion, by the way. You can look that up too.

"So go ahead," Angelus shrugged. "Soul me. Heck, maybe doing so is all a part of my evil evil plans. Assuming I have evil plans. I'm a busy guy. Hard to keep track."

Parker sighed. "You make my head hurt. Truth and lies, and we both know the best lies are the truth."

Disgusted, she backed away a step, then straightened. "Do I look like the shining knight? The hero? The good witch? Why are we having this conversation? You've offered the carrot: join you and know all. And frankly, it's got the appeal of a moldy turnip. If the stick is just the threat that I'll be waving to you through the prison of soul bars, waiting to kill me-- well, that's not new."

"So congratulations, you got what you wanted with the election. Way to go, you're so smart. Fooooooled me. Oh, no, you know I'd like to curse your ass to the horizon. So what?"

"Join me?" Angelus shrugged. "I wasn't offering that. Park, I really am being honest. I like your brain. I'd have liked it more if that fuckup with the ad had been a deliberate ploy but you're young, nothing wrong with that."

He smiled at her. "I just wanted to talk is all. You were so interested in me it seemed a shame not to at least say hi."

"Hi." Parker bared her teeth.

"And the brain? Is not to be served with a nice Chianti. I think we've said it all, don't you?"

Angelus nodded to her, giving her a friendly smile. "Hey, Zero. I sent off that email to you-know-who, by the way. I'll let you know how it goes."

Swerval. So, what do you think of bassets?

Hey, Parker. Everythin' all right here? *significant glance at tall dark & evil*

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