Return To Me

Starring:

Wesley_icon.gif Fred_icon.gif

Summary:

Wesley attempts to buy Gunn some time and subdue the demon'd Fred. Things get a little out of hand, but everything works out in the end.

Date It Happened: January 6th, 2002

Return to Me


Hyperion Hotel - Basement

Down in the basement beneath the Hyperion, Wesley is hard at work. There's a table set up with different herbs and mystical agents. A dusty old tome that's falling apart is set there, open to a specific page that he's poring over. Nearby, set in a special container for disposing is the cursed lingerie of the women. For a well trained Watcher, this type of disposal and spell casting is small potatoes.

The afternoon is waning on, not that Fred can tell in the basement that she's been kept in all this time. Bored, annoyed, and desperate to get the hell out of this place, she's planning ways on how to get out of here. Languidly leaning up against one of the bars, she watches the show of Wesley setting things up with something akin to interest, however detached. "Why don't you come in here and try some of that."

"Not that I find you unattractive or the least bit undesireable.. the last time I got within arm's reach, you nearly sucked the life force from my body," Wesley says in a very straight forward manner. Pressing the glasses further up his nose to settle firmly on the bridge, he looks over at Fred in the cage. It pains him to see her in there like this.

"But wasn't it fun?" The woman sighs and starts scanning the contents of the desk. "Mmm, you really think that's all you're gonna need to rescue your darling little wallflower again? Maybe I like what I've become, Wesley. Just because I'm not that boring little girl you knew doesn't mean that it's for the worse."

This time, Wesley smiles knowingly in Fred's direction. "No. This isn't all we are doing." Meaning, there's another little operation in the works as they speak. "I also find it difficult to believe that you like what you've become, because the person who is speaking is not the Fred I know and care for."

"Oh really?" Fred rolls her eyes at what seems to be a boring procedure. If only she knew what may lie in store. "Maybe so, but I can guarantee you that you'll have more of a chance with this Fred than that other one. You're never gonna get lucky with her."

Wesley is quiet as he works, trying to tune out the words coming from the entity occupying Fred's body. ".. That's a chance I'll take then," he says quietly without looking up. "I would rather have Fred back to normal than be concerned with base carnal impulses."

But, that entity isn't going to make it so easy for Wesley. Because she can tell that she's starting to strike some nerves. "Ooh, was that a little pause there, Wesley?" Smiling, smugly, she twines a leg around one of the bars. "I don't know if you're being all that honest with yourself, darling."

Wesley glances over at Fred, schooling his expression into something more neutral, trying to keep her from getting under his skin. "If I weren't being honest with myself, I wouldn't be continuing this ritual." He watches quietly as she twines that leg around the bar, then resumes grinding necessary herbs.

"Of course you would. You're a repressed little man who never really does anything for himself." Fred smiles and tilts her head just so. "You could have it all, you know." Slowly she starts to let the sides of her shirt fall down. She's not going to make easy for him to continue with his preparations anyway.

Wesley has a solution to this, he shifts best he can so that the view of Fred is behind him. "The greater good is far more important than my own needs." Repressed yes, but he has a life of serving others. He had something to prove to his father, but along the way.. protecting others, stopping the forces of darkness, his life is centered around that now.

Snickering at Wesley's meager attempts to block out her imagery, Fred just wraps herself around the bars a bit more and speaks in soft tones, beckoning. "That's the words of someone who never gets laid and doesn't know what he's missing."

"I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work," Wesley says evenly as he continues his preparations. He's showing a remarkable sense of self-control. Being British and well trained helps. Occasionally, he glances down at the watch on his wrist. So far, everything is proceeding in good time. Here anyway. "Just because I don't discuss my trysts does not mean that I do not have them." Even if it's been awhile since he and the socialite have been out.

Maybe that's true, but he's still talking instead of just ignoring her, which is a plus. Huffing, she rolls her eyes and that's when she spots something that may just help her escape. Since Wesley has decided to ignore her, she's going to make her own fun. Sliding to the corner of the cage, she slides her foot out, thin as she is, she can manage to slip enough through to hook onto a thin metal hanger that someone carelessly left on the floor. Now that's something she can work with.

"You might want to rethink that course of action," Wesley calmly remarks as he sets his herbal preparation aside. He must have eyes in the back of his head.. that and it helps that he looked in her direction. Fred got a bit quiet you see.

"Hmph." We'll see about that. Quickly, Fred yanks her foot back inside the cage, still hooked around the curve of the hanger. And now she has some sort of lockpick/weapon should she need one. "We'll see about that. The only thing needing rethinking is your fashion style."

"I think you've greatly underestimated what I will and will not do," is the calm commentary as Wesley abandons his work for the moment. He goes up to the cage, making sure to stay just beyond reach. "If I have to subdue you, I will."

"Ooh, now that sounds like fun," Fred beams at Wesley as she starts to unravel that thin metal hook off of itself so that she can bend and twist it as she likes. "Now you're starting to sound less repressed."

Wesley's mouth curves into a resigned smile devoid of humor. "You won't like it much I'm afraid. Hopefully this curse will be reversed well before you manage to pick that lock." He takes a few steps back away from the cage, hesitant to turn his back while she works on the lock. It's hopefully not too much longer before Gunn and crew resolve the matter at the store.

It may be devoid of any sort of humor, but that doesn't seem to matter to the woman much. In a few deft twists, she's managed to get the hanger pulled out and then started to twirled into something more useful to her. "We'll see how that goes, hm? Make a bet, even?"

There's no forthcoming comment from Wesley as he turns to cast the, well, spell that will remove the curse from the lingerie. Just to make it complete, the garments go 'poof' in a plume of lurid red smoke. That part finished, all that's left is to hope Gunn, Gru and company complete their end. This last bit is what keeps him from forcibly stopping Fred's escape attempt. No need to do something unnecessary, and hopefully the situation won't get out of hand.

Fred's already starting to work on the lock right in front of her when the her undergarments all but disintegrate on her body. For a moment, the girl blinks and looks around her. "Wh—" It's a brief moment of lucidity, though, because after another moment, the smirk is back. Whatever Gunn is trying to do, the spell is actually strengthening. "Nice try," she snickers. With a sharp tug, the lock clicks and the woman grins broader as the door sways open.

Wesley had a sinking feeling this was going to be short-lived. One thing about the ex-watcher to remember is while he tries to be optimistic, he is a realist. This is why he has a small dart pistol, loaded with a tranq as a precautionary measure. "At least those garments cannot be used again," he says grimly as he raises the pistol, taking careful aim.

"I've got lots more underwear where that came from," Fred quickly gets out of the cage she's been trapped within for the past couple of days. Thank God she's out of there. Seeing the pistol being aimed at her, she glares at him. "And what do you think you're gonna do with that?"

Wesley can't begin to describe how utterly ridiculous it feels to comment on cursed underwear. Sigh. "You will have to get past me first." That should suffice on the 'more where that came from' remark. As to the next bit, "Shoot you if I have to. Now back into the cage and I won't have to use it."

The smirk doesn't leave Fred's face. Instead, she just launches herself at Wesley, wrestling to attempt to get the gun out of his hands. "Think," she gasps. "There's only a thin layer of clothing between you and me." Though she's not a strong woman normally, there's something abnormally quick and binding about her hands. "Do what you have to, Wes."

When Fred launches herself at Wesley, he doesn't panic. With outward calm, he fires off the dart in her direction. "I don't want to hurt you, but if I have to.." He'll apologize endlessly to Fred when she's herself again, but for now, he's going to focus on restraining something that's wearing a Fred suit. He's of average strength for a man of his size, age and training, but the beast possessing Fred? It's given her more power than he physically anticipated. While struggling with the woman, he knows that if he continues to try and keep from hurting her, he's going to get himself killed.

Which is really what Fred is hoping that Wesley will do. Be afraid to hurt the girl he knows. That gives her the advantage. "Mm, I'd like to see you try." Because she knows how this will end up. She's stronger and faster than the original Fred and may just be able to subdue him. The dart misses Fred by a hair and she laughs as she hears it clang off of something behind her. Attempting to grab him by the wrists and then wrest that gun out of his hands. If she can knock him over in the bargain, that's a bonus.

When Fred launches herself at Wesley, he doesn't panic. With outward calm, he fires off the dart in her direction. "I don't want to hurt you, but if I have to.." He'll apologize endlessly to Fred when she's herself again, but for now, he's going to focus on restraining something that's wearing a Fred suit. He's of average strength for a man of his size, age and training, but the beast possessing Fred? It's given her more power than he physically anticipated. While struggling with the woman, he knows that if he continues to try and keep from hurting her, he's going to get himself killed.

Which is really what Fred is hoping that Wesley will do. Be afraid to hurt the girl he knows. That gives her the advantage. "Mm, I'd like to see you try." Because she knows how this will end up. She's stronger and faster than the original Fred and may just be able to subdue him. The dart misses Fred by a hair and she laughs as she hears it clang off of something behind her. Attempting to grab him by the wrists and then wrest that gun out of his hands. If she can knock him over in the bargain, that's a bonus.

Wesley isn't afraid, he just doesn't want to hurt that skittish woman hidden and possessed. He knows sometimes you have to do what you don't want to, to get to the end. So the entity controlling Fred might be surprised that Wesley is wrestling back. Glasses knocked askew, he tries to use his weight against the woman to try and turn her back in the direction of the cage.

Wham Fred's back hits against the back of the cage bars. Wesley missed the end of opening of the cage, but he's managed to pin the woman for a quick moment when with a loud sound. Though it hurts, and she'll certainly have bruises, she attempts to use that momentum against Wesley and sweep out his legs from underneath him and use her own scant weight to land on top of him. Let the real wrestling begin!

There's no time or cause for celebrating that brief gain Wesley managed to score in the tussle. Finding his legs swept out from under him, he increases his grip on Fred. If he's going down, he's taking her with him. All the while in his head, he's telling himself that it's not Fred he's wrestling with.

It may not be Fred, however it certainly looks like her. While Wesley may not be able to celebrate, the possessed Fred certainly does, attempting to drag Wesley's hands above his head so that she can use her weight to pin him down and move for the quick, thirsty kiss.

While Wesley may like Fred just fine and not be opposed towards a good snogging.. This Fred is a succubi and well.. Letting her kiss him is not a good idea. The man is putting up a good struggle against the possessed woman, but to little avail. Her strength is simply too great for him to fend off completely. Perhaps he should have simply tranquilized her from the beginning.

He did try, however it's not really fair for Wesley. He's fighting someone he cares for while Fred is possessed and would be quite happy to dispatch him. Pinning him handily, though with effort because of his struggling, she is mere millimeters away from kissing him when something snaps. The strength that she was using before is gone. The struggling Wesley easily tosses her. A very confused, less clothed than she wants to be Fred quickly backs herself up until her back hits against the bars again. "Wh—what…"

"No!" is the cry heard from Wesley as he protests the impending intrusion upon his lips. Clamping his eyes shut tight behind his now crooked glasses, he doesn't open them again until Fred's weight is off his body. That was too easy, what gi… "Fred?" he asks tentatively as he pushes himself up. Straightening he glasses, he peers cautiously at the woman, taking care as he moves himself closer to her. "What is the last thing that you can remember?," he asks gently, as if he were approaching and talking to a skittish animal.

Fred is a skittish animal now. Pulling her clothes closer to her, finding that she has no underwear, she looks around. "I…I remember…I don't know…" With a shaking hand, she runs a hand through her tangled hair and can't even look Wesley in the eye. "Oh God, Wesley. I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened…" It's slowly coming to her in hazy memories. "I…I couldn't stop anythin'."

Wesley pulls off his jacket as he moves in closer to Fred to try and drape it around her shoulders with care. "Sssh.. it's alright Fred. No one blames you. I know you fought hard to stop what was happening." He keeps his tone quiet and level to try and comfort the woman. "Even the strongest people can become possessed." How does he know for sure that this isn't an act? Well, he doesn't really. Just that the succubus before couldn't pull off being Fred this well.

Flinching away from the approach of Wesley, unsure if she trusts herself or if why it is that she's suddenly able to take control of her own body again. Pulling the jacket closer around herself, she shakes her head. "I just…I couldn't stop it." It wouldn't be unlike the succubi curse to try and imitate Fred again, however, this is no act. "No, I tried. I couldn't make it stop."

Wesley notices the flinching and immediately gives the woman some personal space. "I know you tried.. I know Cordelia tried as well. Some forces are just too strong to fight alone." There's no blame being thrown at Fred, as a matter of fact, Wes just feels damn sorry for her. And angry. Angry that this gentle woman has been put through Hell in so many ways. He pushes to his feet, but not wanting to rush Fred into anything, he offers a hand, "Let's get you into something decent and into a more comfortable setting." If she takes his hand, good, if not, he'll wait here as long as Fred needs.

There's not much else Fred can think of to say about this. It's all too horrifying and confusing. The woman just stares at Wesley's hand for a good while before hesitantly taking it. Keeping that jacket close around her shoulders, she pulls it in tight and is quick to let go after she's on her feet. For right now she just can't trust herself. But the one thing she and whatever it was that got into her have in common, it's that they both wanted to get out of that basement. "Thanks, Wesley," she tells him softly. "For everything."

"There's no need to thank me Fred. No one wanted to see you in such a position." Against your own free will, but that goes without saying now doesn't it? Wesley helps Fred to her feet. "I'll order dinner while we wait for the others to return. Gunn led a group back to the store where all of this started. What would you like to eat?"

Shaking her head, Fred isn't really hungry. Or wanting to deal with company. This is one of those things that is going to have her locked in her room writing on her walls for a little while until she can find some way to get it out of her system. Or they bring her out of her crazy shell again. "I—I think I'll just go upstairs."

Wesley doesn't seem to like the flight instinct Fred is resorting to, but he can't blame her after this recent event. "Very well. I don't think it's healthy, but you should probably have a little time to yourself." Meaning, he will work on pulling her out of the shell. "Since you're back to normal, I assume Gunn was successful. I'll let you know when they're back. They'll probably want to see you." He doesn't stop walking with Fred in the lobby. Oh no. He's seeing her straight to her room.

The whole being followed thing makes Fred just as skittish as before. Fiddling with the jacket that he lent her, she quickens her pace just so she can hopefully get some space between them and pull ahead. "That's fine. I'm fine, I'm just gonna be in my room for a bit. I'll…I'm not hungry. You should probably wait for 'em downstairs. Here, that is. Just, tell 'em thank you and all.

"Fred.. I'm sorry this took so long to undo," Wesley says with full apology in his tone and expression. His pace slows as he lets Fred have that space she's needing. "Someone will check on you in a bit, see if you've changed your mind about dinner." With that, he gives the woman a stiff nod of his head before he retreats for the lobby.

"It's not your fault, Wesley." It's hers for having succumbed to it in the first place. However she'll keep that bit of self-pity for herself for now. "You don't need to. I'll just…be in my room." She barely waits for Wesley to turn around to head back down to the lobby before she slips inside her room and quickly shuts and locks the door. It's not long before she's pulled out a sharpie and started to make markings in empty spaces again.

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