because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

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cordy, faith & benny | mississippi

[sandinmypockets]

[Benny is not usually paired with Cordy for missions like this - she pretty much has a permanent field partner in the form of Angel, and no one is competing with him for that title. But Abernathy had a side project for Angel back in Los Angeles, and someone needed to play Slayer reach out so Abernathy promised he would send Cordelia with backup.

There was a speech. Angel is an intense dude. Benny's never really sure what to make of him.

But Cordy's always great - you know where you stand with her, and he's happy to have her back for this trip to Mississippi. And when they come up on the smoldering corpse of the ship in question, he pulls off his sunglasses with a frown.]

Well, shit. Your friends don't do things in half-measures do they?

["Half-measures doesn't usually get the job done." Cordy pauses, then turning to nod towards the brunette on the shore. "C'mon, there's Faith."]

[madskilled]

( For all this talk of punitive measures, Faith's back at the scene of the crime to sew up any loose ends. She's got the buttoned up vampire making sure the South doesn't rise again if they need any last minute mind-altering. She's good, she can blow your mind, but she can't erase it.

Looking out onto the wreckage, she spies - a couple of smaller boats, one clearly law enforcement, and one - coast guard? She didn't know they make it this far inland. Probably had a trek down the Mississippi river, she figures.

No ambulance-like ship, though, no stretchers. Some body bags. Sucks there were human casualties, but they're unavoidable when they get mixed up in vampire shit. She peers back at the warehouse where Rhett's carousing. He already compelled the girl Faith knocked off the shore yesterday and now he's focusing on the small office William took over.

Turning back, she cracks a smile as they approach. )

Well if it isn't the reigning Queen Bitch of Sunnydale High.

( With arm candy not shaped like the big guy. )

[letsbe_clear]

Benefit of the high school sinking into a crater is that no one can come for my crown.

[Nice to see you too, Faith.]

Benny this is Faith Lehane. Faith, Benny Rhodes.

[Benny raises a hand with a nod, before looking around. "Any problems with the cleanup?"]

[madskilled]

B tried.

( Slayerfest '98. Best to leave it in the past, though, right? )

Not that I see. Any loose ends are being Butler'd. They're saying no survivors. Imagine that. How you doing, Benny Boy? First time in the M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i?

[sandinmypockets]

Nah, I've been before. But it was more about the food than it was cleaning up vampire mess.

[He scans the scene with a frown, taking it all in.]

This part is what's new and exciting. What should we look out for?

[madskilled]

You got some choice kinks.

( Who is this guy, Cordy? She can answer the question, though.

She presents too badges on laniards. )

Anyone asks, you're local PD. Willy jimmied these up. Can't have any trace of us on board, any people after a story, any innocent bystanders. Rhett and me will take care of any survivors - any come out of the woodwork. Name of the game's containment.

( She then fishes out a small flash drive. )

Oh. Stick this baby into the tower - on board or off, fries what's left of the system. Can't have hard drives alive and squawking.

[sandinmypockets]

[He takes the lanyard and nods, before switching into work mode. He then takes the flash drive as well, tucking it into his pocket.]

Got it. Fry the computers, make sure no one's asking too many questions, destroy the evidence.

["All in a day's work," Cordy nods, before putting her own lanyard on and heading towards the ship.]

[madskilled]

Make sure there's nothing to find. Zip. Zilch.

( She confirms.

It's probably an hour later when they come back together, Rhett having taken his leave and Faith having a much-needed cigarette break as they return to shore. )

Mission accomplished?

[sandinmypockets]

[Benny nods, because between him and Cordelia they'd covered their bases. But at the same time ...]

I think the vamps who owned the joint sent in one of their own to get an eye on things too.

[He tips his head back to one of the "CSIs" on the other side of the boat.]

Well, I should say he is a vampire, and he's been poking around - hard to say if he actually is a CSI.

[madskilled]

( Faith gets a load of vampire Gary Sinise, getting the same itch along her hairline. )

Good call.

( Benny sniffed him out. )

Whatever he is, he's got no leads thanks to you and the prom queen. ( Correct her, she wouldn't know you were the May queen. ) I don't know about you, but I'm famished. Recon always rustles my hunger, you know. Want to find a steak joint around here?

[sandinmypockets]

I could eat.

[He glances back over his shoulder at Cordy, and she nods. "Starving. You know somewhere good?"

He did mention he had been here before for the food, after all. Benny grins.]

How do you both like barbecue?

[madskilled]

'Long as it's bleeding and hot.

( And greasy. )

Lead the way, Benny.

[letsbe_clear]

[He nods, before waving for them to follow.

Twenty minutes later they're sitting outside a barbecue joint that doesn't look like much from the outside, but based on what's sitting in front of them, it smells divine. He got a selection of meat options as well as sides, and the three of them start to dig in.

Cordy makes a happy noise before sighing.]

One upside of not being partnered with Angel is that we usually don't get to eat.

[She glances between the two of them.]

Don't tell him I said that.

[madskilled]

Secret's safe.

( Faith has - few manners - but it's a BBQ joint, so they're all getting in the mess. And it's cool. )

I love the big guy, too, but he's not big on jokes either. Takes everything so serious. You got a funny side to you, Ben?

[sandinmypockets]

I like to think I know how to have a good time.

[He flashes her a smile as he picks up one of the ribs to dig in.]

I'm definitely not running around giving people speeches if they have to sub in for me.

[Cordy rolls her eyes. "I'm sorry about that."

Benny shakes his head in return.]

If I'd been through what he's been through with you, I can't say I wouldn't a little overprotective.

[madskilled]

Conduit thing doesn't work for you, think you have a future in keeping Angel in line.

( Cordelia always had a touch. She gets through to him. Buffy and Angel? They're overwrought. But Cordelia and Angel. They just kinda fit.

Turning to Benny, mouth full. )

He threaten you with physical violence or another lecture if things go to shit?

[sandinmypockets]

Didn't threaten so much as imply. State very clearly what the expected end of this little adventure was going to be, and if it wasn't that, it was implied that I too would be unhappy.

[He places down the rib bone he's been nibbling on.

Cordelia sighs. "I will talk to him about that. I can't work with him all the time. Hell, Alexander wants to pull me onto this outreach program he's cooking up and outreach is not something Angel's good at."]

[madskilled]

However, Ms. Student Council's a shoo-in.

( Was she on the student council? Sounds like Cordelia would be good at, at least. )

Angel needs one eye on him, I don't mind. We make a good team. Little more muscle than finesse, but I got finesse where it counts.

( Is that a twinkle in her eye she sends in Benny's direction? )

[letsbe_clear]

[It's a twinkle he'll smile about in return, but he'll let Cordy take this one. She knows Angel better.

She raises an eyebrow in Faith's direction.]

Looking for a career change?

[madskilled]

Just saying, you ever want me to sub in. I do it all.

( Where she's assigned, anyway. )

What kind of outreach they assign Angel to? Vamps for vamps?

[letsbe_clear]

Mostly just the stuff he was doing for Angel Investigations. Not exactly what the Underground is made for but you'd be surprised how often mystery solving is involved.

[Benny shrugs. "Most of the time it's just muscle. But sometimes stuff comes up like now where we need to make use of his contacts."]

[madskilled]

No offense to the Big Guy, but plenty of other Undergrounder's have lucrative in's. Cool, though, that he's going more small-time. Worked macro for a little too wrong. He should remember the littles.

( Getting into the nitty and the gritty. )

You guys here overnight, or this a day trip?

[sandinmypockets]

We're here until the job is done.

[Cordy shrugs as she scoops up some mashed potatoes. "The job is done when we say it's done. Why?"]

[madskilled]

Just getting the skinny. Job's done unless something goes tits up, usually I stay in town one more day. I'd hate to be hours out before needing to turn all the way back around.

( Also, Benny. You're cool. But, Cordelia's here, so. )

Who wants shots?

[letsbe_clear]

[Benny glances over at Cordy and raises an eyebrow.

Cordy looks back at him in shrugs in return. She will probably regret this in the morning as the only one without a supernatural metabolism, but she also can't remember the last time she had a fun night out.]

Why not? When in Biloxi, right?

[They are not in Biloxi, but who's going to bother to correct her?]