entrancelogs | [OPEN] Turn around and look at me;

Who: Angelus & you!
Where: The Rabbit Hole
When: Tuesday evening, 10/14 and onward through 10/17.
Rating: R, warning for stalking. Will add other warnings as the need arises.
Summary: Angelus has been playing things close to the chest and masquerading as Angel, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have something on the backburner.
The Story:

It wasn't unusual for Angel to drop by the eighth-floor diner once or twice a week, perhaps even three times -- but being as he was a man who didn't exactly need food to survive, his visits tended to be short, usually spent at the counter and chatting with the diner's proprietress. This week was different. Every evening, without fail, Angelus makes his way to the Rabbit Hole and seats himself in a booth, one that faces the counter and gives him a fairly good view of what's going on behind it. He orders coffee, as his soulful alter-ego often did, and smiles politely at the wait staff whenever they happen to be looking, but otherwise, he watches.

In particular, he watches the bright and energetic girl that seems to run the place, mentally analyzing her every move and making notes to himself when she speaks, trying to figure out what it was about her that had Angel so interested. This wasn't like Buffy; it obviously wasn't some desperate romantic fantasy best left for some drippy Barry Manilow single, but something else entirely. What he did know was that this girl, whatever it was about her, made Angel feel something approaching human.

That, as always, was unforgivable. He'd been forced to keep his movements quiet, to sneak human bloodbags from the closets and drink it cold like some kind of animal to maintain the illusion of being on a strictly-animal diet, but he was quickly losing patience. He'd be forced to show his hand sooner rather than later, but if he was going to reveal himself, he was going to have to iron out his priorities, the first of which was to systematically rid himself of anyone or anything that tethered Angel to humanity.

This girl was first on his list, but it wasn't time. Timing, he had learned over the course of centuries, made all the difference.

For now, he sips at his coffee and waits, watching intently. Any regulars might find the sudden frequency of his visits to be out of place, given Angel's openness about what he is, but that doesn't seem to trouble him -- easily explained away, and hiding in plain sight has its advantages: it's an opportunity to test the waters and size up any other residents that might come through, not to mention sniff out future meals. Angelus was neither subtle nor patient by nature, but there was something to be said for reconnaissance.

[OOC: Angelus can primarily be found in the diner throughout the week, but if you'd like to run into him anywhere else in the mansion or on the grounds, just leave the date & location in your comment header and I'll gladly make it happen!]

Threaded | Flat

Saki now comes to the diner on a regular basis not just for food, but to make sure Tohru isn't working herself to death again. So in her usual 'creative' attire, she walks on over, gets in the doorway -

- and freezes. There is something wrong. Very wrong. Terribly wrong. Oh, so wrong. She doesn't know what it is, but it's bad. These are bad waves. She holds her head, trying to 'put the walls up', and she breathes deeply, collecting herself. It's only then that she realizes -well, duh- someone else is there. Angel.

"Angel?"

She's still acclimating to Wonderland and the various lifeforms that are comprised here. Perhaps it is being a demon, but she isn't various shocked by the new species or the differences in world. It almost seems...expected. For a place named after a storybook, it's exactly how she pictured it.

There are at least some interesting additions. Some that feel dangerous and cruel. Much like the man that is in front of her now. He's not human, she can tell that much. That would explain why her vessel's hair seems to stand on end, as though she is in the presence of a predator.

She watches him, following along in the gardens. Pausing at a nearby rose bush, she manages to catch his eye and smile.

Souji works in the diner nearly every day, doing quite a bit of the cooking, though Tohru certainly does her share. He's never spoken much to Angel, but he's certainly seen him around, seen him talking with Tohru, served him coffee. His presence isn't really surprising or out of place.

It is strange that he starts coming every night. And it's also strange that he doesn't seem to be talking to Tohru all that much. Souji had gotten the impression that the two of them were fairly good friends.

Souji isn't paranoid by nature. He also isn't one to judge others. But there's a lot about Tohru that reminds him of his little cousin at home--Nanako will probably look a bit like Tohru when she's older, and they have the same sweetness to them, although Nanako is a bit more down to earth than Tohru has probably ever been. Their differences aside, he's developed a fairly strong protective instinct toward Tohru. There isn't usually much reason for him to act on it, other than checking up on her during dangerous events if he can, but he still feels it acutely.

There's probably a perfectly good reason for Angel to be behaving as he is. Although it's none of his business, Souji would like to know what that reason is, and he's nosy enough not to feel the least bit ashamed as he heads over to the booth where Angel's taken up residence to pour him more coffee.

"You're here a lot this week."

This isn't her off ramp.

That's what Cordelia knows. She did the farewell tour, got Angel back on track and everything like the Powers wanted (like they owed her, honestly) and then she was supposed to be out of there, working with them, etc. But she's not. She's instead found herself inside what appears to be a really nice mansion.

And hey, no one appreciates a good mansion more than Cordelia Chase but that doesn't change the fact that she isn't supposed to be here. So she's looking around, trying to get her bearings when she spots a very familiar silhouette.

Hey, at least if she's stuck in this weird place she's not alone. And she couldn't ask for better company.

"Angel!"

Someone is already dashing towards him for a hug -- she has yet to realize she's going to be stuck with his evil alterego for a bit.

For the first couple of days, Tohru doesn't think much of it. She likes seeing Angel, and she's happy he comes to the diner as often as he does. She knows he doesn't have to at all, since he doesn't really need to eat, but he still comes to visit anyway, and seeing him always makes her smile.

It isn't until the third day that she realizes that he's been staying for a long time, hasn't he? And he doesn't usually come so many days in a row either. It doesn't make her suspicious at all though. Instead, she wonders if she hasn't been paying enough attention to him. Could he be coming to the diner to tell her something? Was something wrong? She's spoken to him in the last couple of days, but never for terribly long.

Today though, she makes the time. On a break during her shift, she swings by his booth with a warm, welcoming smile.

"Hello!" she says. "It's nice to see you again, Angel! Would you like some company today?"

Thor is still learning his way around, and he hasn't been to the Rabbit Hole before, so naturally he ducks in.

Literally, bowing his head slightly to clear the doorway, all six and a half feet of him then straightening to aim a smile around the room.

Good evening, Wonderland. Pay no mind to the giant in a bright red cape who just stepped into your midst. Surely there's nothing to see here.

10/14

10/14 - The Gardens

10/15

10/14 - Entrance Hall

10/16?

10/15 diner