BtVS: Alternate Lives

WHO: All Watchers
WHEN: Saturday morning
WHERE: Via email

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When: (December 13th)
Who: Janie OT Vito
Where: Their apartment

Janie needed to tell someone about what happened the other day... Not Xander, because she'd said way too much to him recently and there was the whole misunderstanding about moving in together.

Not that she didn't really like him, but she just wasn't ready for it. She didn't think she could handle- this wasn't what she needed to talk about. She wanted to discuss what happened in front of the flower shop. He worked with people that might know what, if anything to do about it.

"Vito?" she asked "I need to talk to you."

Who: Christina Lowell, OT any watchers
Where: Chloe's Sugar Shack (basement)
When: Wednesday afternoon

All this travelling was REALLY starting to mess with Christina's head. The girl had left her native Australia about a year ago, and had started training with the Watcher's Academy in London. Not long after she began though, the Academy had been decimated in an attack, almost everyone she knew killed. Luckily, she'd been on a short vacay back home at the time.... but she stayed in London even after the attack. Hoping, somehow, that some form of the Council had survived.

After searching, and searching, she finally found the proof she'd wanted: Rupert Giles was restarting the Council in the States. After contacting him, she quickly packed her most important belongings and headed to Los Angeles.

As far as excitement goes, there was a lot. The young blonde hadn't even figured out where she was goign to stay yet. She figured a hotel would do until she could find someplace close to their headquarters. So when she found out that 'headquarters' was the basement of a coffee shop? She was a little shocked. Still, she understood. It was temporary. She needed to focus on the good things. Like hopefully getting her first Slayer soon. She sat down at the currently-empty meeting table, opening one of the many books Giles had stocked the basement with. And waited.

WHO: Vito Marchese, OT Ben and any
WHEN: Tuesday night, 13 Oct 00
WHERE: Saints & Sinners

In ancient times, sometime before Vito met her, Anna had worked in a place like this, probably in Los Angeles. Vito had been inside a few strip clubs, but those had been back east; this place looked more like something out of a video he'd seen on MTV back in the day.

Vito wasn't here for the scenery, or to spend money. He knew that Nica had recently accepted a part-time job here, and he knew that Ben was a good ally in the area. He also knew that any growing business venture meant that his ally was doing well, always good news.

He took a look around, trying not to look too much like either a gangster or a cop (people tended to think he was one or the other), and finally settled at the bar with a double-shot of 12-year-old scotch.

WHO: Vito OT Elizabeth
WHEN: Tuesday afternoon [cue the Moody Blues], Oct. 06
WHERE: Chloe's Sugar Shack

Vito was really looking forward to headquartering the Council in someplace other than the basement of a coffee shop. Something larger and presumably less permeated with the smell of coffee and pastries. Because after a workout, he had to walk through the minefield that was the Sugar Shack to get out again, and he usually ended up with a cappuccino and a danish before he reached the door.

Today, he settled and flipped idly through a copy of the Times while he worked on his coffee, his eyes on the page, his mind on the new office and something he'd heard from that Xander kid about an electronics project, and on Anna.

Who: Giles, open to anyone who'd be there
Where:  Los Angeles National Cemetery
When: Sunday morning


This, to Rupert Giles, was the hardest part of being in charge of the new Watchers Council. The part... where you had to bury your own. In this case, it was time to lay Amidala Morrison-McConnell to rest. For obvious reasons, her body couldn't be buried... and she knew that was going to happen, which made it worse. The girl knew, going into the battle with Wolfram & Hart, that she wasn't coming back. She knew that she had messed with the timestream too much, that she was becoming an entirely different person. And rather than sulk or be depressed, she used her remaining time to help defend her comrades.

Giles stood in front of the shiny, silver casket. He knew that inside were merely a lock of the slayer's golden hair and her favorite outfit. That technically... that (along with their memories) was all that was left of her. But she'd given her life to defend them all... and Giles was going to make sure she got the farewell that she deserved.

He turned, looking out to those gathered. Due to the sensitive nature of who she was, it was a private ceremony. Only slayers, watchers, people who knew precisely who and what she was, were allowed to attend. Clearing his throat, and calming himself, Giles began to speak to those in attendance.

"Today... we gather here for one of the hardest, most agonizing things we've ever had to do: lay to rest Amidala Morrison-McConnell. She was a lot of things to us. A slayer... a friend..." he looked at Anna, "a daughter... " his gaze travelled to Pat, to Skylar, and to Gwen, "a girlfriend." And then his eyes fell on Andrew, who he knew was taking this extremely hard. "Even if she was a normal girl, she would be unforgettable. But this girl, her abilities and her bravery, was unique in every way. She had been from the future: the genetic DNA of two different slayers. She'd had speed, strength, agility, and fighting prowess unlike any Slayer before her. And yet, underneath it all, beneath the warrior's traits, she was the kindest, most gentle soul I've ever known. She touched, in some way, every one of our lives. And in the end... she sacrificed herself to save every one of us, and those we love. Today... we gather to say goodbye to a warrior... a teammate... and a friend. I know several of you are going to want to say something. So, whoever would like to go first... please."

Who: All involved in the W&H battle
Where: The alley behind The Sugar Shack, then Salacia
When: Wednesday morning, just before dawn

This was it. The more Rupert Giles thought about it... the more he feared that Ash's joke was actually RIGHT. He felt like he was leading his troops to The Alamo. He'd arrived first, followed closely by Ash, who he had open the portal to Salacia. They were all about to go into battle against the forces of Wolfram & Hart. Now... as he watched everyone arriving... he knew it was time. Do or die.

"Well... are we all ready? As much as it pains me to say it... it's time. I want each one of you to look inside... and realize why you're doing this."

He looked around at the gathering troops.

"For some of us... it's revenge. For others, it's the desire to protect innocents. Regardless of your reason.. you need to focus on that. Because once we get there... it's going to get hectic, incredibly fast. We know we're going to be outnumbered... but how badly will depend on Ami's team and how quickly they can bring down the door separating the inter-dimensional bridge from the main arena."

"To all of you... thank you. And please... be safe."

And with that... Giles walked into the portal, knowing the others would soon follow.

WHO: Vito OT any and all Slayer and Council types
WHEN: Monday evening
WHERE: Mid to upscale Italian restaurant downtown, Anthony's

Vito sent invitations and directions to all Slayers and Watchers. "Not a formal event, I just thought it would be nice to sit down together before things get intense. If you're feeling up to it, come have dinner on me."

Anything this big meant that not everyone would be coming home. The Watchers and Slayers alike all had their smaller groups, which you got with any organization. Not everyone had had a chance to get to know each other, but some of that would be a good thing. Socializing among the Slayers hadn't been an issue with the old Council because there had only been one at a time, and even Potentials seldom met each other under the old rules.

It seemed to Vito that camaraderie among the Slayers could only be a good thing. And if someone didn't come home, then at the very least, it would remind the survivors why they were fighting in the first place ...

Settled into a chair at the large round table in the back room of the restaurant, Vito opened a bottle of wine and waited for the others to arrive.

Who: Hope and Open
Where: The Basement of Chloe's Sugar Shack
When: Saturday Afternoon

Hope kicked the punching bag as she kept up with her new workout. She still wasn't sure if she was cut out for this whole 'Watcher' type thing. She wasn't a fighter. Of course, she wasn't really a lover, either. No, she was more of an artist. She still hoped to actually do something with that. She had been told by her professors that she was really, really good.

She wasn't going to be in the big fight coming up. Mr. Giles has said that she was still too green to everything going on. While those weren't his exact words, since he used a lot of words, but that's what he meant. She understood. She wasn't sure if she *wanted* to be in that fight. She didn't have a Slayer or anything like that, so she was feeling sort of useless right now, anyway.

Might as well work on her physical aspect of this. She was reading a lot of the books that Mr. Giles had loaned to her as well. She still couldn't believe that everything that she had been brought up to believe was fairy tales and stories was real. It was a lot to swallow. At least kicking and punching the bag was a good way to let off some of her frustration over all of this.

Who: Sin, open to all
Where: The Sugar Shack
When: Saturday night

It was temporary, she knew. This whole 'having the Slayers train a coffee shop's basement' shpiel was far too good to be true, in Cynthia Stone's eyes. Oh, she knew that to most? It really was a pain in the ass. But to get to train, work your ass off.... then go right upstairs and binge on milkshakes, candy, and coffee? HELL YES. Find a way to get a bunch of muscular men to walk around shirtless and fawn over her, and you'd have Sin's idea of Heaven. 

Her hair a little darker than normal (today, she'd dyed her ever-changing hair a dark, blood-red shade), the scrawny teen sat at one of the smaller tables, wearing tight checkered black-and-white slacks, bright, neon green sneakers, and a baggy Slayer t-shirt. She really wasn't a fan of the band... she just got a kick out of the irony of having the word "Slayer" emblazoned across her chest for the afternoon. 

She reached into her backpack (which truthfully looked like it probably weighed more than she did) and pulled out a couple of comic books she'd bought across the street at Shooting Star Comics before training. Delilah (God love 'er...) had really run her through the wringer today, and it was time to relax.

Who: Ami, open to all
Where: Roy's Diner
When: Late Friday night


Uggghhh. Usually, Ami Morrison-McConnell loved being a slayer. Even though the whole time-travel thing had really given her life the royal screwing, she still kept a sunny disposition usually. But tonight had been rough. Three vamps, one of which was far tougher than she'd expected it to be, and now it was too late to get anything to eat at a decent place. Instead, she basically had her choice of shitty, 24-hour grease palaces. She chose Roy's, as it was close to Avarice, and she figured if it was still open after she ate, maybe she'd at least try to go dancing a bit.

The whispy blonde sat quietly at the counter, waiting for her eggs and toast to be done, staring wistfully into her hot tea (coffee was NOT her style). Sometimes, destiny SUCKED.

WHO: Vito OT any Slayers or Sugar Shack types
WHEN: Thursday night
WHERE: Chloe's Sugar Shack (basement)

Vito set aside his jacket and stretched. He'd been reading some of the old Watchers' journals, again, and needed a break. Something that involved moving, because he'd had two cappuccinos since he'd arrived and he needed to work them off.

He rolled up his sleeves and picked up a few throwing knives, took a walk to the middle of the room and eyed the three targets on the walls. "Okay ... one of you ain't walking away from this," he said, and smirked. He flicked his wrist and caught the target to his left near the edge, the one in front of him in the bullseye, and missed the one to his right altogether, the knife clattering off the masonry and dropping to the concrete floor.

Vito shook his head and gathered up the knives to make another attempt.

WHO: Vito, Anna and Gwen
WHEN: Monday night
WHERE: Chloe's Sugar Shack

( Do you actually remember being dead? )

WHO: Vito, OT any and all, Watchers specifically invited
WHEN: Wednesday afternoon
WHERE: Chloe's Sugar Shack, downstairs

On Thursday afternoon, Vito headed to the coffee shop that was rapidly becoming Chloe's Sugar Shack and headed for the basement, which was becoming a makeshift Watcher and Slayer meeting and training space. He looked around at the bare brick walls thoughtfully; bookshelves were needed. Maybe he'd install something this weekend, with the owner's permission.

The invitations had gone out via email earlier this week, and they were concise and to the point:

I know there aren't a lot of us around, right now, but we haven't all met in one place in a while. It might be a good idea to get together and find out who's doing what. This is not a formal meeting, by any means, and attendance is not compulsory, but I'd like to meet my fellow Watchers and get some sense of what's been happening in Los Angeles lately.

He settled at a card table in the corner, back to the wall and eyes on the door, and took out an antique copy of the Decameron.

WHO: Vito OT Satsu
WHEN: Wednesday evening
WHERE: Vito's apartment

Vito called Satsu at the number Giles had given him and invited her over, to meet him.

"There aren't enough Watchers to go around," he had told her. "So, I'd at least like to meet you, find out what's going on with you in terms of real life and ... you know ... Slayage, figure out if there's anything you need. And I'm making dinner, besides."

Who: Anna OT anyone
Where: Holy Cross Cemetery
When: June 11, 2000, night.

Both of them came out of nowhere.

The vampire was large and snarling, aged to the point where his human features were becoming chiropteran. The girl was tall and shapely with a mane of wild red curls and tattered clothing. A high kick revealed she was barefoot, though that didn't hinder her.

It was a desperate and brutal battle for survival, the vampire seeming to have the upper hand on the girl. The wooden stake was grabbed from her and the creature was suddenly on top and the weapon fast approaching her throat.

In the flash of an eye, the vampire was on the ground and the stake snatched from its hand. The young woman thrust the stake into the creatures heart and unemotionally watched as it turned into dust.

All that she could do now was wander, until the next vampire showed up.

Who: Iris and Open
Where: the beach
When: Tuesday, early afternoon

It was nice to come out and relax outside for a little bit. Ever since being brought back to life, Iris had somewhat feared going out again? What if someone attacked her again? What if she was hit by a bus? What if a meteor fell out of the sky and hit her on the head? Those were just a few of the many reasons why she gave as to why she should just stay home. Jeremy finally convinced her to start taking baby steps in getting acquainted with the world. She started off by working a few days a week at a used bookstore. Jeremy knew the owner after him and Catherine killed some demon that wanted to use it, and Iris had experience around books anyway. She did used to work at the UCSD library, after all.

So, after doing that for a little while, she started going to other places. The supermarket here, a coffee shop there, it was getting easier for her. Today she figured she'd hang around the beach. She had packed a picnic lunch, and had brought out some stuff so that she could sun herself and read while relaxing. She had gotten awfully pale while being dead. At least, with going to the beach during the afternoon, she didn't have to worry about vampires.

WHO: Vito OT anybody
WHERE: Near a public beach just outside the City of LA
WHEN: Monday afternoon

Vito got a look around at his new apartment. Minimal furnishings in classic Japanese style ... it had been a while since he'd started over in a new place, and he enjoyed the lack of clutter. He was pretty sure that wouldn't last ... it never did. Nica usually brought clutter of some sort with her, and she'd be here as soon as school let out ... which was in less than two weeks.

He chuckled to himself and locked the door behind him, then wandered downstairs to the beach which occupied the backyard of the white-stucco apartment building. The sun was bright, and the public beach was a little crowded; so Vito settled on a bench at the end of the concrete and looked out at the sea.

When the Spanish had settled California, they took to it like it was the most natual thing in the world. And it sort of was; the climate here was very Mediterranean. Much as Vito disliked California in general, the thought of no snow and no freezing temperatures was pretty nice.

He leaned back in his seat, lit a cigarette and started to relax.