2018.08.16 - Date Night Revelations

**Emitter:** Varied

*An awkward, amnesiac date night becomes the surprise catalyst for a major breakthrough in memory recovery--vigilantes, shirtless werewolves, and dangerously determined Alice Cullen abound.*

September 2015

La Bella Italia, Port Angeles

La Bella Italia's dinner rush was concluded by this time of night. Though not overly late, most of those so far north as Port Angeles were inside their warm homes by this time of the evening. Which just left a small crowd of regulars at the bar, visitors, and tourists. In a way that is just as Katie Powers would have it. She had worked as a waitress in the restaurant for several years now. Saving up money for that big move south to sunny California and awaiting stardom! Thoughts she always entertained at this time of night. She liked to think they helped to keep her sane. But as the little quaint bell at the front door chimed she realized immediately she would have more customers to wait on, and went to start filling water glasses as they were seated by Tracy, who was hosting tonight.

Scott McCall has not been himself today. Far from the bundle of nerves he promised to be when the plans were made, Scott was just out of it when Alice Cullen showed up to get him dressed. Like his mind was hardly here, or he was sick, or at the very least had a terrible migraine. He also looked like he hadn't slept a lot just recently. Something was definitely off with him. He managed to clear his head some for the art exhibit, but was still distracted. His attention far more on people around him than the art exhibits. Like he was looking, almost desperately, for a sign of...Something. He certainly spoke when he was spoken to, but there was no mistaking that something was different from before. Whatever that something is, it has shown no signs of abating even now as they all meet for dinner.

Edward Cullen watched Star beast 1-3 in the last several days. It was not precisely a mind expanding experience for him. The first two were a slight challenge to get through. Fortunately for the third he had the wonderful distraction of Stiles company. Edward felt strangely drawn to him, there was something so breathtakingly unique about him. He realized Stiles had one of those near hypnotic voices, but it seemed to occur even when he was silent, curiously enough. In either event, he has been hanging on his every word, right up until they get to La Bella Italia. Edward pauses there at the front door and a curious look comes over his face. He has never been here, and yet he curiously knew that the mushroom raviolli was particularly good. Shaking off the confusing thought, he moved to enter the restaurant.

Alice is already there, with Jasper and Scott both. She's been trying her best to keep things light and cheerful, but Scott's mood has her concerned. Edward, of course, will be able to tell. He knows her well enough. But as usual, she's determined not to ruin this evening, not to bring down this pleasant occasion with worries and considerations that are less than pleasant.

"Oh! Edward! Stiles! How was the movie?" Alice turns immediately to them as they walk in. Secretly, silently, she's relieved for the distraction. While she's a past master of hiding her real worries, Jasper isn't so practiced and has probably delivered more bizarre, questioning *stares* at Scott in one evening than he's had in a lifetime.

If Stiles has noticed the way Edward finds him so interesting, he's given no sign. Instead, he sat riveted by the movie, laughing or cheering at all the key moments, and he naturally made his way through a good-sized bag of popcorn. As soon as they left the theater, of course, he became a nonstop stream of commentary. Even as they arrive at the restaurant, he's still brimming over with verbiage: "...and when the giant space squid appeared, you totally knew it had to confront the *Astrolus*, 'cause that was totally a riff on the *Nautilus* from *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*, so when they finally fought it was *totally cool*." He mimes an explosion with his hands, making the appropriate mouth-noise sound effects, then breaks into another laugh. He, contrary to Scott, seems to have had a great time. "God, those effects were great, too," he declares cheerfully. Noting Alice, he waves and heads her way, grinning. "It was totally awesome." As he notices Scott, though, his enthusiasm dampens a little, and he shoots his friend a concerned look. Something's definitely not quite right, there...

At a table already seated is a rather large group. Okay maybe not *that* large, but six people. Mason's mother's and The Dunbars'. Mason and Liam are to once side talking animatedly aout random things and just being happy to be with each other. And all in all the group looks like a giant family. Which in a sense they are. Liam and Mason are the best of friends. And Unbeknownst to either boy, Liam's stepfather is Mason's biological dad. So Liam is complaining about the play a little but saying it's not that bad, and he seems like he's being very careful not to upset anyone. After what he did to Coach's car... And pretty much making them have to move. Liam is being on his best behavior. Mason just missed his best friend, his brother even. He didn't notice his friends were also here, as he was sort of facing into a corner.

Scott McCall couldn't begin to put to words exactly what it is that is bothering him. How to explain that your trying to reconcile two lives? That you may have accidently infected another person, an innocent kid, because oh by the way YOU'RE A FRIGGIN WEREWOLF! And you are pretty damn sure you know a few others though those memories are really hard to focus on right now. Slipping in and out like a movie out of focus. That you weren't born and raised here but instead in California. That all of your friends, and even your *mom* are still under some sort of *something*. What did Stiles call it before? Mass hallucination. That either the world is insane or you are. Yes that was all sort of difficult to put to words. And, even Alice and Jasper Cullen. ALL the Cullens. He had a nagging itch in the back of his mind that he remembered something about them too and it was making him crazy. Correction. Crazier.

Of course lets not forget the dreams lately. Now he was having weird dreams too. But his all seemed to have something to do with one person. Mason's friend Liam Dunbar, the one he accidently bit. Scott was still trying to remember everything he knew. But according to Mason, Liam had no bite wound anymore. Chris Argent was sending him here, and he was somehow Scott's responsibility now. But Scott couldn't understand how. Things kept coming and going still, even after he tried telling Mason all 'the rules' that he could recall. But he did clearly remember that he couldn't turn anyone else, as he was just a beta. That was reserved for alphas. But it sure seemed like he had changed Liam, and now he was a guest star in his dreams so often that Scott was hardly sleeping. The 'Weird' somehow was only getting weirder, and nobody else seemed to see it yet. Or, maybe they did and just had their heads on better than he did. That thought was just a little depressing too. He would have lingered on it further othetr than he heard a familiar voice, and nearly got whiplash looking around the restaurant to try and find the source. Mason, and LIAM!

Edward Cullen smiled at Alice as they joined her, Jasper, and Scott McCall at the large corner table. "It was a fascinating evening." Though Alice surely knows Edward well enough to realize that he is referring to the company more so than the film. Edward was so old world in everything he did. He likely would have had as much interest in a Charlie Chaplain movie as *Star Beast 3*. But Stiles' very animated enjoyment of the picture more than made up for it. As they go to sit down though Edward flashes a look at Scott and then reaches up rubbing his forehead, wincing. He has always been very insightful, sometimes on a level that was hard to imagine. He starts to say something to Scott, when the waitress Katie appears with their waters. She gasps as she notices Edward, her mouth making a near anime style "O" of shock. Smiling as brightly as she can she looks at him with stars practically blinking in her eyes. "Oh, Hello again! It is so nice to see you back. You didn't bring your friend from last time, the young lady. I hope she's doing well." Honestly she hoped she was at the bottom of a lake if it meant spending some time with him, but she was not about to say that out loud. Edward looks at her curiously a moment and replies, "I don't believe I've ever been--" He pauses, though. As if suddenly he has clearly seen something to the contrary. Murmurring after a moment, "Mushroom raviolli."

"I *hope* you haven't been mushroom ravioli," Alice blithely comments. She's a little concerned with Scott and Edward both being so distracted, but she figures that it'll resolve itself. That, or it can be put off for the mealtime and dealt with later. She just doesn't want to have a rare nice dinner out ruined by angst and worry. Teenagers!

"I'm so glad you both had a nice evening! I knew you would." That much might be true too. Alice's dreams have become clearer and more detailed, and she seems to find them easier to deal with than at the start of this whole affair. Not that she'd let on whatever the source happened to be. Maybe it's just a hunch. "I don't think Scott was too into the exhibit, but it's always interesting to see different forms of expression!" She doesn't seem disappointed, at least, but that's more of her thoughtfulness about the whole situation in general. "So, Stiles...how about it? Have you ever been mushroom ravioli?" Alice lightly teases.

Scott's complete out-of-it-ness clearly concerns Stiles. As they're seated, he leans over to murmur to him, "Dude, are you okay? You look like... sick or something. What's up?" So, he misses Edward's distraction, but he does look up just in time to hear-- "Mushroom ravioli? That sounds *awe-sooome*!" He drags out the word enthusiastically and adding a little vibrato to it, but he can't quite recapture his earlier cheer. Alice's question shakes him out of this a little, and he blinks at her, and then he declares, deadpan, "No, but if you are what you eat, then I guess tonight maybe I'll find out what that's like. Totally having the mushroom ravioli." He glances at the menu anyway out of reflex, but as he's looking around he spots a van out the window, pulling into an alley across the street. The van has the same shipping company logo as the company that was delivering to the docks in La Push a few days earlier. Could that mean...? And suddenly Stiles is quite focused and on full alert. The Night Angel might make an appearance!

Neither Liam nor Mason has noticed the others yet, as they are both facing sort of into a corner. They're both talking animatedly. Liam does look around a few times. Something smells familar, and it's not the food. He can't quite place it though and shrugs after a few moments. Going back to eating, after all in the priorites of a teen boy, stuffing as much food in your face as you can is pretty high on the list.

Scott McCall looks back at Alice and blinks a moment. An almost genuine look of discomfort or panic in his features for a split second hearing those voices. No correction, *that* voice. He takes his water glass as soon as it hits the table and just downs it. Yes this will likely cause some strange looks, but he needs the moment to just think. Then he winces from the brain freeze which hits him like a truck of icecream. "Ow! Brain freeze!" His voice a rather louder than he had intended for the rather quiet restaurant. Certainly loud enough to be heard throughout. "No, I had a great time, seeing everything. Thank you for taking me." Cold glass still in his hand. He remembered Alice rubbing his shoulders not so long ago. Alice was always cold. There was something there, some connection. But he just couldn't remember!

Looking at Stiles, Scott smiles, but it is forced, and Scott was a terrible liar at the best of times much less to Stiles. "Mmm I'm fine, glad you had a good time." It is all there in his eyes though, a desperate desire to just drag Stiles off and tell him everything. But, you weren't supposed to wake up sleep walkers right? And everyone he knew in life was basically sleep walking.

The soft, subdued music playing in the restaurant shifts to a new song as they banter casually.

*If you could read my mind, love

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old-time movie

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well*

*In a castle dark, or a fortress strong

With chains upon my feet

You know that ghost is me

And I will never be set free

As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see*

*If I could read your mind, love

What a tale your thoughts could tell

Just like a paperback novel

The kind the drugstores sell*

*When you reach the part where the heartaches come

The hero would be me

But heroes often fail

And you won't read that book again

Because the ending's just too hard to take*

*I'd walk away like a movie star

Who gets burned in a three-way script

Enter number two

A movie queen to play the scene

Of bringing all the good things out in me*

*But for now love, let's be real

I never thought I could act this way

And I've got to say that I just don't get it

I don't know where we went wrong

But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back*

*If you could read my mind, love

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old-time movie

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well*

*In a castle dark or a fortress strong

With chains upon my feet

But stories always end

And if you read between the lines

You'll know that I'm just tryin' to understand

The feelings that you lack*

*I never thought I could feel this way

And I've got to say that I just don't get it

I don't know where we went wrong

But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back.*

The music trails off.

Edward literally listens to the entire song with a curious look on his face and never speaking a word. When he finally does he glances at Stiles and says quietly, "There is a vigilante in the area?" Stiles was just thinking about that, wasn't he? It also makes Edward think as well. A sudden flash of another time, the clothing so very different from now. A man about to rape and murder a woman, and he was there. He stopped the man. He, oh god he stopped the man! Edward gasps his hand going to his mouth to stifle it. His eyes wide. He actually picks up a table knife, so very polished, and looks at his reflection. His eyes, not red, not red, thank goodness. He blinks and looks around the room like someone waking up, slowly, and in a very strange place.

Alice gives every single person at the table a *look*. It's plain to see that she's not buying any excuses or fabrications, but she's not pressing it. Just let this one meal pass by pleasantly! She hasn't slept in weeks and to say life is a little weird lately would be an understatement. Just let her have this one little thing!

The vigilante, it would seem, is also on the trail. Even if the people in the van haven't noticed, Stiles will probably notice--Night Angel is perched and ready, making his way down the fire escape over the van as it pulls in.

Normally, Stiles would press Scott for the truth. Normally, he'd notice Alice's attempts to salvage the situation and either try to help or, possibly, challenge them. Knowing Alice, probably not challenge. But he's distracted by, first, Edward's sudden mention of what's on his mind, leading Stiles to give the guy an odd look--but that too is forgotten when Stiles spots the Night Angel. Suddenly, that's all he's really paying attention to, so much so that he nearly knocks his water glass into Edward's lap when he reaches for it. Fortunately, he manages to catch it at the last moment, so instead he just splashes himself a little with ice water. Eyes locked on the window, though, he hardly even reacts, just reaching for a napkin to dab absently at his shirt as he mumbles, "Oops, sorry..."

Mason is oblvious to everything, still chatting away. Yes he hears the voice, but a quick glance over his shoulder shows it's his friends. But he's actually more intent on his friends than anything. Plus, well, he isn't sure what will happen if Liam recognizes Scott... But he probably won't right? Cause everyone seems to be asleep. At least that's what Scott called it. Mason keeps chattering away. ONE NORMAL NIGHT. That's all he wants, too. Liam, however, does a double take and flushes really hard when he looks over and sees Scott over there. He is seriously blushing so much he's almost glowing. And then he too is suddenly downing his glass. Though his is a fancy cherry favored Italian soda.

Scott McCall can see that Alice is getting aggitated and so he takes a menu and starts looking through it to buy himself a little time. . o O (C'mon McCall pull it together! Whatever is happening they aren't awake yet. So just act normal until you can think of some way to help!) Clearing his throat he looks at the waitress. "Uhh I'll have the 9 ounce prime rib, but can I have a sweet potato rather than baked please?" Katie the waitress basically ignores him, just giving a non-commital "uh huh" as she continues staring at Edward. She doesn't even write it down. Scott glances back over his shoulder again and locks eyes with Liam Dunbar. The very same flushed look coming over his face as well. This was so not happening. Of all the restaurants in the world. How? How was he here now?

Edward starts to say something to Stiles, but then stares directly at Scott McCall like the ice water had been splashed in his face, not spilled on the table. Slowly he starts to stand up, and his mind just explodes with voices. He gasps for a moment, eyes closed in concentration. Taking a steadying breath he looks around the table, canting his head the tiniest bit to the side as he especially looks at Alice and Jasper. "No, not yet," he says quietely. "Alice, Stiles. I would like to thank you for a wonderful evening. I am afraid I feel somewhat ill. I hope we are able to do this again, soon." He nods his head and with that predatory, feline grace he is moviung for the door. The car would still be in the lot later. He would move faster by foot back to Forks, back to--*Bella*...

"...Steak? In an Italian restaurant?" Alice gives Scott a look like...what the hell? But she shakes her head and shrugs. "I guess that's up to you. My treat, just like I said! Maybe we can get some of their delicious antipasto...they have a *really* fantastic platter with these skewers, herbed vegetables...so pretty!"

And then Edward starts off, but Alice isn't about to let this dinner go so easily. Faster than most could even see, her hand is around his arm. She frowns very slightly, looking up to Edward and shaking her head once. She will throw down in the parking lot if she has to. This was her planned evening, and she's not ruining it, dammit!! Even if Scott and Stiles seem to be in another world now, for some reason, at least *Jasper* hasn't stuffed up the night out she'd been planning for days!

Stiles nods to Scott when his friend at least tries to order dinner, deciding that clearly, whatever the weird thing is, at least it's not too dire for the moment. Edward goes to leave, then, and Stiles nods to him, offering a polite grin, and says, "Hey, it was fun! We should hang again soon." To Alice, he says, "Yeah, that platter looks good. Italian appetizers are always great!" Of course, he looks away discreetly when Alice snags Edward's arm, returning to his watch through the window of the vigilante across the street. If not for Alice, he'd be sneaking out to try to get a better view of what's going on across the street. Who can think of food when the area's own vigilante hero is right across the street!?

Liam had been trying to look away. But quite suddenly he was staring into the eyes of the guy of his dreams. No, literally. He finally looks away and starts staring into his plate of pasta being quiet quite suddenly, and The adults all assume it has to do with his recent expulsion from his private school. Mason sees the eye lock and looks confused. The only time Liam had met Scott he'd been in complete shock. How could they know each other... And what's with the flushing. Mason tries to pull Liam out of his shell. Which just makes him flush even more. It should be easy to tell your gay best friend you're dreaming about guys... It really isn't, though. Liam finally excuses himself to the restroom. He hadn't heard Scott. No, no it was just his mind playing tricks on him...

Mason excuses himself as well to check on Liam. But on his way he has to say hi to his friends, "Hey guys, what's up? I didn't know you'd be in town. My best friend is moving up here and they're staying in Port Angeles at a hotel until all their stuff gets here. You remember me talking about Liam, right Scott?" There was definitely a meaningful look at Scott when he said that.

In the bathroom, Liam is blushing like mad when he hears Scott's name coming out of Mason's lips. And in the puppy's head is the phrase, *This is a dream this is a dream this is a dream* over and over. He doesn't even think how he can hear that voice from inside the bathroom.

Edward looks at Alice and his expression is very nearly pained. He would never disrespect her wishes under other circumstances. But there was something, something that was almost compelling him to be away from here. "Alice." His voice barely a hiss. "I don't think I can adaquately explain this right now. I believe it will make sense soon. Something is very wrong. Please. I must go back to Forks now." The waitress seems distraught as she follows them both. "Oh, please, sir, I'll put in appetizer orders, on the house. Don't go yet!" Again Edward implores Alice, but this time with just his eyes alone.

Scott McCall winces at his restaurant faux pas. He really didn't get to any fancy restaurants very often, but he really just had a taste for steak. "M'sorry Alice, just really wanted a steak." Go figure. Scott is trying to tamp down the blush that had tinted his features, but keeps glancing back over his shoulder, each time locking eyes with Liam Dunbar. Why wouldn't he be here now? Upon reflection Scott's entire damn life had been weird ever since that night in the woods, and this was just one more chapter in the weird world of Scott McCall, teenaged werewolf... No, no maybe just *Teen Wolf*. It just rolled off the tongue better.

As Mason walks over to say hello, Scott smiles in that quick deer in headlights way. "Yeah, oh yeah I remember Mason. How, How is your friend? I mean how is he doing?" Scott was worried, legitimately. Beyond the 'dreams' he was pretty sure he had done something damn enar unforgiveable to Liam and he couldn't even really talk about it with anyone yet. Scott has a sudden urge to go to the restroom and check on Liam himself, but that would be crazy rude, wouldn't it? Alice deserved better with everything falling apart all around her.

Edward should know--he probably does know--that when Alice gets that steely look in her eyes and sets her jaw, it's really not a good idea to try and go against what she's asking. She doesn't like to get forceful, and she's not the kind to manipulate when she doesn't have to, but she knows that if Edward goes, he'll just leave his car, they'll have to take Stiles home, and the night will be ruined because that's about the worst ending to a date ever.

But then it gets worse: Alice smiles a little bit too sweetly, motioning back to the table. "Come on. Surely you can stay for a nice, relaxing meal with our friends. Right?" She looks pointedly at Edward, then at Stiles, then back to Edward and widens her eyes at him.

Edward is the *worst* sometimes. Maybe Bella deserves him.

...no, no, that's not nice, she reminds herself. Alice takes a deep breath and slowly sighs it out. She shouldn't be insulting.

Night Angel moves silently, with purpose, across the street. Even if Stiles can't hear what's going on, the masked vigilante is so nimble, so light on his feet...and so secretive. So stealthy. Invisible for those not looking. And only Stiles is really looking. Only Stiles would know what to look for.

Stiles remains mostly oblivious to the rest of what's going on. He does look up to offer Mason a smile and a greeting. "Hey! Cool, glad your friend's moving here. I bet we'll all get along great. Tell him we all look forward to meeting him at school, huh?" He pauses to glance with mild concern at Scott, then Edward and Alice, but before long he's back to staring out the window at the Night Angel. The way the man moves, so predatory and sure, it occurs to Stiles that maybe "Night Wolf" would have been a better name for him. Yeah, that just *feels* right, somehow. Hm. Filing that away in the back of his mind, Stiles keeps on doing his best to catch every move the vigilante makes. Poor Alice may be fighting a losing battle, here, and in some corner of his thoughts Stiles is contemplating ways to make this up to her.

Liam is splashing his face with water and taking deep breaths. Still trying to convince himself this is a dream. It has to be right? How else could he hear Stiles' and Scott's conversation perfectly in the bathroom? More deep breaths more water, "Get it together Dunbar. Even if it is him... Somehow. Mason must have showed you a picture Or something. And now suddenly he has an overwhelming urge to leave and visit his new home see it tonight. Why does he want to visit forks right NOW?

Mason says softly, "He was doing fine but something set him off. I don't know he's always been a little high strung. I better go check on him. " He gives Scott a look and whispers under his breath so only Scott should be able to hear, "If he starts wolfing out or whatever come in here and help me?"

Edward Cullen gives himself a moment to think. His mind is still very hazy, and that alone is terribly distracting. To say nothing of quieting the voices around him. In his 90 years of life he had forgot nothing since the day he was changed. Only his 'human' life was a near forgotten memory. As far as he knew, he couldn't forget anything. Because his kind *never* forgot. Immortality would be rather impractical if you had a finite memory. Thus *Vampires* did not forget.

Yet, he had. Somehow, someway, something had made him forget. Whatever that something was, it likely had influicted Bella as well, and clearly still inflicted Alice and Jasper, and everyone else present. No, not everyone. Scott McCall and Mason Hewitt were not under the onus of whatever had dissipated their memories. Edward allowed himself to be lead back to the table. "Of course Alice, please I beg your pardon for my rudeness. All of you, please excuse my manners." Perhaps he could find a way to help Alice and Jasper, and then collectively they might help the rest of their family, and presumeably Bella as well. Bella. What was she possibly goibng through? How many times had she fallen on her face on the ice, or just open air, in the last week alone? The thought would have made his heart skip a beat, if it still did such a thing.

Scott McCall can see the writing on the wall here. The evening is a large plane, and it is going down, in flames. He winces in Alice's direction and shrugs some to Jasper, who has remained impassive and quiet through this. Just his eyes really darting from one drama to another. Even Stiles seemed less animated than normal, just starting outside as if he wanted to be anywhere but here too. "Uhmm, if you'll excuse me a moment, I need to use the rest room. So I'll just check on Liam while I am there, Mason. Ok?" That was ok wasn't it? Saying that out loud? That you needed to go to the bathroom. Did you just wander off in fancy restaurants and not announce where you were going? Or say you were going to the bar and then quickly run to the bathroom? Screw it, Scott didn't care. He was going to go see Liam Dunbar. He wasn't going to be satisfied until he saw that bite wound, or lack there of for himself. Yes, that was what he was going to keep telling himself. That was why. If he said it enough, he would even begin believing it too. Maybe. Probably not.

Alice lightly throws her hands up, but it's not an "over the head" sort of gesture, just more one of resignation as she goes to sit back down again. She's still smiling...and a little scary...as she looks around to those remaining at the table. "Anyway. So antipasto platter, and...and mushroom ravioli! It's gonna be *great*!" She may be forcing it, but dammit she can get her mood back on track to save this night and its fun dinner and fun times. They'll even get a decadent, indulgent dessert! Because that'll make things even better!

Across the street, the fight has begun. It's hard to see all of it, since all of its participants go in and out of the dark, dark shadows stretched across the alley. One glimpse and Night Angel seems to be winning, and another he might be on the receiving end of some savagery. Then he's winning again. Who knows how it will turn out?

Stiles watches Scott go, idly wondering who the hell this Liam kid is, and shrugs a bit. Maybe Scott's just nervous because of Alice. She's pretty awesome, after all. It makes sense. Mostly, anyway. Speaking of Alice, Stiles hopes that Edward's return will help her feel a bit better about things, and he even offers up a smile and a "Welcome back, no problem," when Edward sits again. His fingers tighten on the edge of the table, and he suddenly, irrationally, finds himself wanting to go rummage in the back of his Jeep--which was left back in Forks--for a baseball bat so he can rush across the street to help the Night Angel. His gaze remains locked on the vigilante's battle across the street, even as some corner of his mind churns through all the data he's gathered, following lines of thought like lengths of colored string on his corkboard. Somewhere, buried in all that information, there *has* to be the secret to unlocking the Night Angel's identity--doesn't there?

Liam sighs and was just about to leave the bathroom. Actually he literally bumps into Scott on the way out. And there it is his face his smell... Everything was like his dreams. Even the warmth from his body. Only the air of confidence was missing. Liam's breath was still gone, his voice caught in his throat.

Meanwhile, Mason lets Scott have a turn but heads in that general vicnity anyway, mostly out of concern for his friend. A little out of curiosity. Okay maybe 50/50.

Scott McCall smiles and is gone, heading for the bathroom. Ok first heading the wrong way, then doubling back and following the sign pointing to them. Waving nervously at everyone again on his way back past. He slips like a shadow into the restroom. Pretty quiet himself really. "Liam?" And then BUMP there he is, in his face. Scott stares at him a moment, licking his lips and jaw hanging a little. But then he gets it together and says in a quiet, firm voice. "Liam, I want you to show my your arm, where you got bit. Take off your shirt if you have to, but I want to see it." It surprised him in a way that he was this forceful, he really didn't know him, well not for real. But he felt like he did, he felt like he knew him VERY well. So much so that he was exceptionally confident just at this particular moment. because this was something that he understood, even if he wasn't understanding much recently.

Edward Cullen nods to Stiles, and now understands the fascination. His mind, it was the human brain equivalent of a Facebook account that was scrolling out of your control. One topic bleeding into another, one thought to another. With curious bits of red yarn seeming the only connective tissue. Right now his thoughts were dominated by the vigilante that was apparently active across the street even now. Edward doesn't actually look. He doesn't need to as Stiles is thinking about it at the moment. Idly he mentions to Alice. "Alice, how have your dreams been recently?" he pondered if he could indirectly get Jasper to calm everyone's emotional state somehow while he was at it. Were they still capable of such things under this miasma? He wasn't sure.

Alice gives Edward a *look*, which is remarkable since the rest of her expression doesn't change at all. She's so practiced at this! It's a little sobering. "Let's talk about something more *pleasant*." Yikes. That's a pointed tone. If it were an actual, physical thing, it would probably have thorns or barbs all over it. "Like *Star Beast*! Was it as good as the trailers made it look?" She remembers Stiles gushing about it earlier, when they arrived. But she still hasn't had the chance to really engage him about it, and she's sure if she just steers the topic back to something he feels strongly about, it could still work out!

Poor Jasper tries a tentative smile, hoping it'll be helpful.

Across the street, things have taken a turn for the worse with Night Angel: hidden shock troops, apparently, were waiting in the back of the van, and now they're dogpiled on him. He's keeping it even...just. But it's not a fight he can probably win without help.

Poor Alice. Stiles is really, *really* going to feel bad about this later, but just as she's asking him about the film, he suddenly leaps from his seat and says, "Crap, sorry, I just realized I need to--to take a phone call--right *now*!" And then he's charging out of the restaurant as fast as he can go. On the way out the door, he reaches for the most bat-like object he can find and ends up stealing someone's umbrella from the rack near the entrance. If nobody physically stops him from exiting the building, he'll be charging across the road to come to the Night Angel's aid, heedless of his own safety. (To ask "What could possibly go wrong?" is so redundant, here, that one flinches even to think the phrase.)

Mason winces. Anyone telling Liam what to do other that his stepdad tend to get a face full of cocky teen. Liam is good and he knows it. He's a powerful confident and angry teen. So Mason expects his friend to go all crazy instead when he peeks into the bathroom. He seems Liam un buttoning and removing his shirt with a mysitifed look on his face as if even he doesn't know what he's doing it.

Liam doesn't know why, but he's obeying this strange older teen. He'd been about to hit him either with a sharp retort or, you know, his fists, but instead his hands went to his shirt. He looks up confused, his body's betrayal triggering his more puppy side as he reteats into confusion and is soon standing with both his shirt and under shirt off naked from the waist up. His arm clearly visible, but once he's obeyed he seems to wake up, "What do you mean... I wasn't bitten. I mean... I had a dream I was. And I remember taking a bandage off..." Liam is seriously confused.

Edward Cullen suppresses a smile. Amazing really. Even bereft of her memories Alice was still extraordinary. As for the movie, not so much. Those were a few hours of immortality he would never get back, and a compelling reason why sometimes never forgetting anything had it's drawbacks. Three hundred years from now he would still remember every line of that movie and that was a depressing thought. But he knew Alice meant well. He would later even forgive her for setting him up on a date with Stiles. Speaking of whom, it seemed as if the local vigilante was not faring well, and even as Edward resolves to try and excuse himself to help, Stiles is out the door. It is unlikely that is going to end well, perhaps Alice would find it acceptable if he went out after his 'date'. "Alice, I am afraid I have made Stiles uncomfortable. Do you mind if I go and sort this out with him?"

Scott McCall takes Liam's arm and examines it. "You were bit Liam, it really happened." He doesn't know why he is telling him aside from the fact that he feels a vast swelling need to be responsible for Liam. How did Chris Argent put it? Liam was his. Inwardly Scott sighed, no wound. It wasn't possible, and yet there it was. One more thing to be sorted when somebody who could help him was awake and aware enough to do so. Quietly, Scott McCall expresses his feelings in the only way at the moment that seems possible. "Fuck..."

Alice just stares at Stiles, then at Edward, before sitting back and folding her hands in her lap wordlessly. If everybody's scattering to the four winds, then fine. She'll just sit here with Jasper and have a *very* nice time enjoying their antipasto platter together. They might even order *wine*! And then all these people with apparently gastrointestinal problems and spasmodic memories for returning phone calls will miss out!

But Night Angel will be grateful for the help, because there are too many for him to take; it's hard for him to even kite them and space out their assaults in turn. He's taking more blows than he's dishing out, but he's making quite an assertive show of it for those that can actually see what's going on in those black shadows.

Stiles goes charging out into the street armed only with an umbrella and a nearly overwhelming urge to aid the Night Angel. Sprinting right in, he swings the umbrella by the tip with all his might, aiming to clock the nearest bad guy with the handle. "Get the hell off him, asshole!" he snarls as he wades into the fray. Does he have any idea what he's doing? No, not really. But, he's definitely pissed off, and he's got a ba--uh, bumbershoot--that he's willing to smack people with. (Damn, he misses his bat right now. Why's he even thinking that, though? It's not like he plays baseball...)

"Did that really happen too?" Liam says, his flush tripling and he's hoping Scott won't have any clue what he's talking about. Then he comes to his senses before he even gives Scott a real chance to react. "Wait. Why am I standing half naked in a bathroom? Why aren't I punching you or something?" And he's getting angry. He's always angry, really, has been for like years. He's flexing his hands which are starting to sprout claws. Its pretty clear he's about to wolf out... right there.

Mason is listening from right outside the bathroom. And awkwardly making sure that no one else can come in without him at least giving Scott a warning.

Dash finds himself standing on a rooftop, not even really sure why he was there. He just likes being up there sometimes, it's a nice place to think. His evening stroll is suddenly interrupted by the sound of fighting down below, right below him, in fact. He can see that Night Angel is one of the dudes in the fight, and was that Stiles joining the fray? What were the odds of that? "Oh, for f---s sake..." He says to no one in particular, as he scurries down the nearest fire escape. In no time, he's down on the ground level. He grabs one of the thugs, or at least he's pretty sure that guy is one of the thugs, by the back of the neck, and slams him into the side of the nearest dumpster, which makes a very satisfyting *clang!*. "So, business as usual for you?" He asks Night Angel, while he throws a punch at anaother bad guy's face.

Edward Cullen politely stands and excuses himself and walks quickly with that same predatory grace to the door and then out into the night. He moves faster than anyone has a right to, but not so fast as to cause anyone to say he was inhuman. With everything that he recalled now, with the frustration of feeling very much helpless to awaken Alice and Jasper so far, and with the longing he felt to go and check on Bella. This was just what he really needed at the moment. A little exercise. Stepping into the fray behind Stiles he snarls, throwing the weight of the predator that he was into it. Amber eyes ablaze as he slips in front of Stiles to keep him from potentially dying. When did the region get so crazy exactly. It used to be a quiet place where the worst you could expect were the occasional out of town vampires or a love triangle with a horny werewolf. Well. Not really a triangle. Bella was always going to choose him, and then it stopped mattering anyway after Jacob Black imprinted. Gone were those halcyon days it seemed. Ah well. He casually steps between several opponents and lightly tosses them into the side of the van. Fitting really, that it would be a van.

Scott McCall sighed and shook his head. "You can put your shirt back on Liam." Not that having his shirt off didn't improve the rooms overall ambiance. Scott winced even as he thought it though. Get a hold on yourself McCall, stop sweating this underclassman's jock and--crap. He was changing! Scott grabs Liam by his shoulders and looks him right in the eyes. "Liam! Stop! Look at me, I want you to breathe the same way I am. Take a deep breath, hold it, exhale. Calm down Liam. Right now." His voice is quiet but very forceful. Distantly Scott hears what sounds like fighting and wonders if poor put upon Alice didn't finally snap and start strangling people with fancy dinner napkins. With an inner resignation, he kind of figures they all sort of deserve it about now. But he does have a slightly bigger problem at hand, and in hand, just at the moment. "Liam, I want you to control yourself."

Alice just leans lightly against Jasper, who smiles and returns the gesture. He's quiet and reserved, unsure of himself, as much as Alice is unafraid to express herself, to speak anytime, and perfectly confident.

She sighs again and glances across the street at the steadily-escalating brawl. And she had so wanted just a quiet, pleasant night. "So now that we know, I'm glad I felt like it would be super weird to set you up with Stiles," she murmurs to Jasper. "But I'm juuuust about past my reservations on getting you to slip this whole group's hormones a nice, strong mickey."

Jasper clears his throat and glances around, frowning with noted concern in the direction of the bathroom.

And Alice nods as she sits up straighter, with the arrival of the antipasto. She smiles at the waitress. "Thank you," she cheerfully, sincerely tells her. And once they're alone again, she places her hand on Jasper's shoulder. "If you would, please?"

And Jasper nods.

It surely can't hurt the situation snowballing in the bathroom. It might even make some people's nights! A romantic dinner, a nice evening...theirs have to be going better than Alice's.

The Night Angel is one minute swamped, overwhelmed by the surprisingly large number of well-trained fighters and just keeping his head above the proverbial water...and then the next, he finds Stiles and Dash entering into the fray. No one was expecting that. He certainly wasn't. And then...Edward? He doesn't know him well, but he recognizes him from the school. Never one for much physical activity. Not like his sister the cheerleader, or his brother who toys with football and--

Then it occurs to Night Angel that everyone here is increasingly suspicious for even being here. Dash just shows up out of nowhere all the time. Edward...why is Edward here, and where did he come from? And *Stiles*?

But that distraction for thinking just gets Night Angel pounded, and he staggers back. The quintet on him take this opportunity and really start beating on him, but he manages to kick one away, hard, and then another gets the wind punched out of him. It still leaves three on one!

The umbrella has seen better days, but Stiles hangs on to it, swinging it around wildly and managing to batter a few of the bad guys into, at least, confusion. The arrival of Dash, then Edward, only serves to encourage him, and he lets out a cry of pure indignation as he wades further into the fray, but then the Night Angel is down, three on one, and Stiles sees his newfound hero lying there, being beaten on, and the whole situation just seems to slow down to a crawl. The blows seem to land almost in slow motion, with exaggerated violence--and something in Stiles just snaps. Letting out a bellow of rage, he raises his umbrella high, not thinking about how it's a flimsy instrument meant to fend off the rain. All he can think about is how he should have a hefty steel bat in his hand, and--quite abruptly and without visual fanfare--he *is* holding a steel bat. One moment, it's an umbrella. The next, it's a bat. Somebody call Penn and Teller, because Stiles just pulled an amazing switch, and he doesn't even know it. He's too busy charging at the thugs on the Night Angel and swinging his bat with wild abandon, heedless of cracking ribs or cries of pain. They're hurting *his hero*, so they are *going down*.

Liam takes a deep breath; he actually couldn't seem to help it. Once Scott startes speaking in that voice he had to. The other thing was just a suggestion so his shirts were still on the floor of the bathroom with him pinned against a wall by the shoulders. In and out one breath at a time. He inhales then exhales. Breathing deep he's still looking rather angry when Mason steps into the room suddenly.

Mason enters the room and sees a shirtless Liam being pinned by the hunky junior he's been using as scenery. "Really? Really?" Though that was to Scott. To Liam he ust gives an encouraging nod and a bit of a wink. An over all attitude of *We'll talk later.*

Mason's sudden interruption was enough to send the flush right back to Liam's cheeks and completely cancel out the anger of his fledgling transformation. Or maybe something else did it.... Nah, it's most likely the embarrassment.

Dash is surprised by the sudden appearance of bat-swinging Stiles into the mix, but quickly regains his senses, ducking a punch by one of the unidentified assailants, who he thne punches in the stomach, hard. As that guy goes down, Dash pulls one of the men that had somehow managed to remain un-battered by Stiles off of Ngiht Angel. The attacker sends a punch Dash's way but he blocks it, but in doing so leaves his right side undefended. The attacker takes avantage of that to deck Dash with a right hook to the face. Dash stumbles, but doesn't go down. With an angry expression, he kicks the guy in the chest, sending him backward. He punches him in the stomache for good measure.

Edward Cullen is reading the thoughts of those around him as they occur, and thus is well beyond any chance of ever getting struck. But it also allows him to be certain to mitigate any harm that may be coming for others as well. In this case, the 'Night Angel' in particular, who seems to be the target for these thugs. Stepping forward Edward Cullen moves to take one in each hand the pull them off of the vigilante. His grip, stone. His body, stone. His resolve, stone. As he glances at the masked vigilante his eyes momentarily go a little wider. But Edward Cullen is privvy to many secrets, and if he has indeed learned one this day. Nobody will ever know. His eyebrow arches as the steel bat that was previously an umbrella glances against his arm as he is pulling the thugs away. He never so much as flinches. Locking eyes with Stiles a moment, they both clearly have secrets they would prefer to keep. Then he casually throws two more against the side of the van.

Scott McCall tries to remember back to when he was first changing. Tries to remember who was there with him. Stiles, Stiles was always there. But there were others too. He briefly recalled the other day and now it is like vapor again. Well it didn't matter, whoever it was wasn't here to help him now. He would have to get Liam to calm down on his own. Which, he was. Scott felt calmer too now, and finally releases the breath he was actually holding himself. "Liam, I think we have a lot to talk about." he glances at Mason for a moment wondering what he is talking about, and then goes wide eyed. Taking a very abrupt step backwards. "Uhh this, it isn't what it looks like." Ok well it is, but it isn't, but it still sorta is. Scott doesn't let the small flush bother him though. He actually feels more relaxed right now than he has in days. "Maybe we should all get back to our tables, but Liam we need to talk soon."

Alice sort of idly plays with one of the herbed vegetable skewers. "It *looks* good," she tentatively states to Jasper. "I mean, we *could* just do it. For fun." She picks up the skewer and wiggles it at Jasper, grinning again before setting it down and just...looking at the whole platter. "I was hoping maybe Scott and Stiles would have big appetites."

Jasper smiles and, impulsively, reaches out to take the skewer, pulling the vegetables off it into his mouth. He slowly chews, as if it's something a little weird to him. They've eaten since this whole thing happened, but...not much. He's pretty sure he could live off of just one or two of these skewers in a day, if he had to.

Alice just laughs to herself.

Stiles is there...with a bat? Where did he get that? Derek was sure that had been an umbrella, only seconds before...still, no time to waste, no time to be distracted. Night Angel springs back into the fray and the three left, getting pounded on by Stiles, are taken out, one at a time. His masked eyes settle onto Edward, but then he looks back to Stiles, with only a peripheral glance at Dash. That one's always going to be trouble, he's convinced. But he also hasn't really had much time to get to know him better. He only knows his earlier experience.

"You're always trying to be the Boy Wonder." Derek rumbles at Stiles, maybe forgetting himself a little bit in the moment. It's not so much a chiding tone as an affectionate one, though there's concern too. "Nice trick with the bat."

Standing over the forms of the men he's just helped beat unconscious, Stiles feels a dizzying wave of emotions. Despite it all, there's a low wave of revulsion at the violence--he really, despite everything, doesn't like violence much, even if he's willing to do what he has to when things get bad--but then there's the quip from Night Angel, and Stiles gives him a half-smirk. "Says the guy always trying to be the Capeless Crusader?" He looks, then, at the bat in his hands and blinks a little. "Huh. Weird. I swore this was an umbrella, but--nah. Must've just been confused." Then he whirls around, checking to make sure no other thugs are coming--because this is *exactly* the moment in the movie when the thug you thought was down for the count suddenly pops up to make trouble again. Without looking back, he declares, "I'm gonna figure out who you are, y'know! You seem familiar, even. Plus, I've got this whole packet of stuff I need to give you, so I've gotta figure out who to give it to!"

Liam wants to run out of the room but he can't he has to patiently button up his dress shirt... then unbutton it because he forgot to put on his under shirt, then rebutton it. He's flushing the whole time. He's beyond embarrassed. And he doesn't meet Mason's eyes or look Scott directly in the eyes either. He REALLY hopes Scott is a local and isn't from Forks. Cause well this was super embarrassing and confusing. He also hopes beyond anything else to have another dream tonight... To NOT have another dream tonight. NOT NOT NOT.

Dash walks toward Night Angel and Stiles, kicking one of the downed thugs as he tries to get up. He kneels down for a moment, examining the man. After a few seconds, he stands back up, Joining Stiles and his masked-vigilante friend. "I know this probably isn't the best time to bring this up, but sorry for being such a raging dick earlier." He says to Night Angel. After a brief pause, he continues. "So any idea who these guys are? They look like the same dudes from the waterfront- Also, nice moves there, Stiles." He glances over at Edward for a moment, having caught brief glances of his prowess during the fight. "Really glad you're on our side, dude." He tells him.

Edward Cullen glances around, his clothing for the 'date' not really much the worse for wear even after a conflict. Not that he'd ever wear them again. Alice never let them wear the same outfit more than once. It was a wonder Carlisle was able to wear the same lab coat into work more than a single time. He eyes Stiles' bat a moment more as well, and then nods to everyone present. The situation seemed well in hand now, better to quit the field before any questions were asked. He murmurs a simple "You're welcome" in response to Dash, and then he is moving. The predatory lion gait, back across the street. Glancing in through the window of the restaurant he canted his head again at his sister and brother. A faint smile playing across his lips. This was better, this was far better. He had missed it before in the rush of minds coming at him. With each passing moment Edward Cullen felt more himself. But he would never be entirely complete without his family, and of course Bella. So that would be his next stop.

Scott McCall was thinking pretty similarly to Liam. Yet he had resigned himself in some ways to these dreams and figured he would figure out why later. He had briefly, like 13 seconds worth, considered calling Deaton about it. He might know why it was happening. But that was a conversation he would sooner be set on fire before having. Plus it was Deaton he'd never give a straight answer and wait until some 11th hour moment 20 seconds before Scott would have figured it all out himself to reveal the reasons for it anyway. What was WITH that guy? "Liam, I am really sorry. Mason can give you my phone number. We need to meet, and talk some things out. Until then I want you to keep your cool, no freaking out, ok." It is not at all a question, Liam is just going to have to manage it. He can see he is making him feel uncomfortable though, and honestly Scott is feeling better. So with little head bob in their direction, Scott leaves and heads back to the table. "Alice, I am so sorry. I don't think I can make up for ruining tonight. It is just a lot of really confusing stuff has happened. I can't even begin to explain it and I doubt anyone would bvelieve me if I tried." He trails off, and despite feeling better, that's the worst of it. How could anyone possibly believe him?

By the time Edward reaches the table, Alice has partaken of one of the little skewers herself. She waves the now-bare skewer at Edward, then sets it delicately on her plate, smiling. "We thought you'd never get back," she lightly teases, and he'll know she's teasing. Affectionately, of course. When Scott rolls up, she just holds up her hands and shakes her head. "Scott, it's *totally* fine. Why don't you get something good to eat? In fact...why don't you order something to go for your mother? I know she works hard at the hospital. It's my treat." Once he sits down, she reaches over to rub his back, right between his shoulders. Just like she did that first time they met, when he was having so much trouble with the asthma he's handily forgotten about.

"You could just give it to me," Night Angel points out, perhaps a bit too simply as he steps slightly closer to Stiles. "Or we could arrange to meet somewhere. Neutral ground." There's another glance afforded to Edward, and one to Dash too, again. Then, when Dash approaches and...apologizes?! That surprises Derek visibly. "Uh. Well. That's fine." He tries to smile, and it's an awkward sort of stilted gesture. But it's genuine. He may be confused, but he's still grateful.

The way Night Angel's body moves makes it seem like he'd like to have the same sort of ridiculously graceful way of carrying himself that Edward does, but something's holding him back...something he doesn't really know, exactly. "They're part of the same group," he explains to Dash. "But I still haven't found the rest of the hierarchy." That's about all he knows, and all he's going to say at the moment.

Looking a bit deflated, Stiles admits, "I don't have it on me. I was here on kind of a... date... thing." He grimaces some, for whatever reason feeling awkward admitting that to the vigilante. "But, yeah. Let's arrange to meet, and I'll bring it with me then." Dash's newfound attitude earns him a grin and a nod of support, and then Stiles lightly rests his bat on one shoulder. "Okay, so, SOP? Call the cops and get the hell outta here?" Then, glancing at the Night Angel, he says, "By the way, I've got a pretty good lead that the FBI has a file on you, now. Don't worry, I'm not contributing to it. But I stumbled on some generally reliable info that says so. Figured you'd want to know." He watches the Night Angel move as he says all this, find the motion again triggers something in his memory, some indication that he should know something about it, but doesn't. It's starting to really drive him *nuts*.

Liam had blushed but not met Scott's eyes or replied. He just kept reminding himself he didn't want those dreams... nope not at all. And its a good thing Edward isn't around or he'd probably drive the poor vampire batty, cause he as reliving the dreams while trying to convince himself he hadn't enjoyed them.

Mason followed Liam again after giving Scott a look, the Stiles-patented *you've got some 'splaining to do* look. Then he walks off behind Liam and is soon talking all of the parents to let him stay overnight for a long talk with Liam... a loooooong talk.

Dash nods at Night Angel as his question is answered. He looks down at one of the unconcious thugs and wonders to himself, *just what is your guys deal?* He looks back up, saying "I wonder if The Commitee is still involved in this..." to no-one in particular. He snaps out of it when Stiles asks him about calling the cops and leaving. "Sounds like a plan." He tells the older boy. After a moment he says. "I'll come to the meeting too." to both Stiles and Night Angel. "I think we'll do better if we pool our efforts."

Scott McCall really would like to forget those dreams as well, and honestly if not for Jasper's influence, well this would be worse. It likely would be worse when outside of that influence. He relaxes as Alice rubs his back though, abruptly it does occur to him that he thinks Alice and Jasper are a couple? He should be nervous or worried about that. But somehow he is just really relaxed right now. Feeling very calm and much more at peace than he had any right to. Particularly as he is still flushed with no small embarrasment at dreams that clearly Liam has had too and that is just freaking weird. "Uh, sure. Thank you Alice. I will." He takes up the menu again and this time seems inclined to order a frutti de mare, with another order for his mother. Scott managed to be utterly unaware of the conflict outside, but at least managed to avoid one in the men's room, so it is the little victories.

Edward Cullen takes his seat gracefully, spreading the napkin on his lap and affording a glance at Alice and Jasper. "So. We are all aware." It is a statement, not a question. "We should have this wonderful meal my sister has so graciously planned for us." The unspoken follow up is, of course, what comes after that? They would need to do something, and now they might just have the resources. Or the start of them, to make a difference at last. To get out in front of this disaster, and start changing the course of it in their favor. They would all need to meet, and work out how to deal with this. Before it got worse.

"Thank you, Edward." Alice answers, nodding her head only once, and smiling so warmly now. "Let's have a nice dinner. We can worry about this later. It'll keep." Because this date night still isn't over, and it's so close. It could still be salvaged. It was nice enough up to now! And if they can only get through dinner without another major crisis presenting itself...

At first, Derek is surprised. Then he's amused, and his slight smile becomes a broad grin. There's a file on him? Pff! He likes that. He likes that maybe more than he really should. But then for some reason, there's also a kind of pang of something when it sinks in that Stiles was here on something like a date. Is he jealous?

He's totally not jealous. Derek frowns, folding his arms over his chest. That's just *ridiculous*.

But that pose, with the amazing arms, the ripped physique, those...accented pectorals, even under the protective costume he wears.

"Right. Let's go." Stiles and his suggestion meet with Night Angel's approval, and Dash only gives him a moment's pause before he just nods again. Circling to the back of the van, he climbs inside to look around. Clues are still important. "Where and when, Stiles?"

Flashes of a dream come back to Stiles, at first seemingly without sense, as he notes the movements of the vigilante. Following the Night Angel into the van, that sense of familiarity becomes stronger and stronger, and his mind races along lengths of red string, cycling as if without end--until suddenly, as if skipping tracks, the string goes yellow. Turning a bit, he looks the vigilante up and down, taking some mental measurements. He visualizes. The yellow string starts to flicker green in his mind, and he turns to face his hero. A grin suddenly plays across his face, and in his mind's eye that string turns bright, beautiful blue--maybe a *bolt* from the blue is the best term, because suddenly it all starts to click. Suddenly, there's a stark clarity where before was jumbled confusion. Suddenly, Stiles just says, quietly but lightly teasing, "I dunno, Sourwolf. How 'bout your place, tomorrow morning?"

Dash examines the area outside the van, investigating the still-unconcious forms of the men on the ground, trying to see if they have any kind of idenntification or papers or even cell phones... anything that could give a hint of who they were working for or what their purpose was. As he comes back round near the back of the van, he catches sight of Stiles' facial expression. He could tell that Stiles was experiencing some kind of breakthrough. He decides not to comment on it. "You guys having any luck in there? I'm not finding a whole lot of usefil stuff out here." He calls to the back of the van.

Edward Cullen had returned to the table and so the waitress Katie was not far behind. This time seeming inclined to take the remaining dinner orders properly. If only because it seemed Edward would be remaining. Working together he and Alice might be able to--Edward pauses and looks at Scott a moment. Those were, some thoughts he was having. But at least there was something in there that might help. "It appears Jacob Black knows something of what is going on as well." he collects the menus and passes them to Katie the waitress. "We can discuss it tonight." For now Alice was right, it was far better to relax. The coming days might be anything but.

Scott McCall glances around and asks after a moment's pause. "Where is Stiles?" Still largely calm and relaxed between the one two punch of emotion manipulation and vampiric backrubs. He glances back over his shoulder now and then just the same. Noticing as an angry patron at the door demands to see the manager!

Apparently his italian umbrella bought overseas in Volterra, Italy has gone missing!

The sheer, unmitigated nerve of some people!

Alice lets Jasper order for her and himself both, and she stays quiet as the order is taken. Though she does smile a little wider to Edward. He knows, and that must surely have given him some comfort. She finishes Scott's backrub with a little pat, then folds her hands in her lap. Though the disturbance at the front does make her glance to Jasper.

And without a word, just maybe that budding conflict will be settled by *some* people just learning how to calm the heck down.

First, Derek is searching for clues, indications...anything that might tell him more about this group that may have connections to Dash's mysterious Committee. Then he's falling over his own feet, which he manages to salvage into a very rough sitting-down, turning where he sits to just *stare* at Stiles, mouth slightly open.

He just sits there...in the empty back of the van used by the people they had all beaten down. The silence continues for minutes, as everything slowly starts to unwind in Derek's head, memories return...not all pleasant ones, but some that he can cling to and use as a sturdy wall against the worst.

And then the Night Angel is suddenly out of the van, still silent for a time. He turns to Dash and gestures to him a little vaguely. "We can meet tomorrow night. Behind the high school."

And he moves to go, but before he does, he moves very close to Stiles on the way. Leaning right next to his face, he rumbles in a low, low tone: "Midnight. You know where."

With that, he's gone, disappeared into the night again.

By all accounts, Stiles should be annoyed as hell when the vigilante slips away like that. There should be wild facial expressions and even indignant flailing. Instead, as Stiles emerges from the van, he's wearing a self-satisfied smirk. Taking out his phone, he quickly calls in a tip about the thugs and such, mentions that they should tell the county sheriff, and then turns to grin at Dash. "Hey, you like Italian? C'mon." He leads the way back across the street, bat held casually in his hand, and enters into the restaurant. He drops back into his seat and says, "Sorry about that. Finished my call." And he just can't stop grinning. Turning to Scott, he says, "Remind me, we gotta talk. I figured out something pretty important, I think." Then, to Alice, he says, "Really sorry about running out like that. It was an emergency, but it's all taken care of now!"

Dash nods silently as Night Angel gives him the time and place for the next, then watches the vigilante disappear into the night. He is suprised by Stiles invitation, but grins back and joins Stiles as they go into the restaurant. He sits down next to Stiles, surveying the other people at the table. Of course he recognized Edward from the fight earlier, and he was pretty sure he'd seen Alice back at Jacob's garage. "Hi guys!" He tells them, suddenly realizing he's probably the worst-dressed person at the table.

The gentleman at the door guffaws loudly and waves off the entreaties of the manager to make it up to him. It turns out it was a gaudy old thing anyway that he never really liked. he had missed a bus trip to see the sights just to buy it and regretted it ever since. Better off without it no doubt. He tips his hat and is on his way.

Scott smiles as Stiles rejoins them. "I, think we really do need to talk, yeah. There is a lot I need ton catch you up on." Not long later dinner is served and Scott McCall samples the seafood and pasta dish, sharing it with Stiles unless he wants to wait to order. His mind almost blank right now. He relaxes into the song playing on the radio.

*Hello? (hello) (hello)

Is there anybody in there?

Just nod if you can hear me

Is there anyone at home?

Come on (come on), now

I hear you're feeling down

Well I can ease your pain

And get you on your feet again

Relax

I need some information first

Just the basic facts

Can you show me where it hurts?*

For the first time in sometime it really didn't hurt. Edward Cullen smiled in a somewhat warm manner across the table at everyone, as Stiles and Dash as well joined them. "That was some call, I am glad it ended well." because Edward knows, naturally, just how well it did end.

Their memories restored, human beings, werewolf, and vampires enjoying a simple meal. All of them comfortably numb for tonight at least. Knowing all to well tomorrow the real war, for their friends and families, would begin.

*There is no pain, you are receding

A distant ship, smoke on the horizon

You are only coming through in waves

Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying

When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse

Out of the corner of my eye

I turned to look but it was gone

I cannot put my finger on it now

The child is grown

The dream is gone

I have become comfortably numb*