Los Angeles By Night
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Vampire the Masquerade.
Overview: This is a cross over story between the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the game Vampire the Masquerade.
Plots prior to story beginning
Buffy - After defeating Glory and being resurrected by her friends Buffy feels she can no longer live in Sunnydale. Buffy takes herself and Dawn to Los Angeles to live with her previous beloved vampire Angel.
Vampire the Masquerade – Prince La Croix has claimed domain as Prince of Los Angeles causing much friction amongst the cities vampires. This friction is leading to a war and from Europe a vampire named Jan Pieterzoon has been sent as pretence in dissolving this conflict.
Chapter One – Wide Awake
Dawn hated being the new kid. No friends, no gossip, no life and it was made worse as she deeply missed the friends, whom she thought of as family, that she'd left behind. She longed to attempt magic with her friends Willow and Tara and glaze lovingly at her other friend Zander. She missed just being part of a team and feeling safe. In Los Angeles Dawn felt vulnerable. Sure she had a sister that could slay the undead and her sister had a boyfriend who was a kick ass vampire but the loneliness made Dawn feel more unsafe than she had for most of her young life.
Dawn sighed as her thoughts continued to drift away from the words of the teacher trying to communicate some English novel with her.
She dreamed of a paradise where she had some sort of special power and people surrounded her because they needed her. Oh wait, Dawn thought with distaste, that's my sister's life. The school bell signalling the end of the day rang and Dawn felt all the other kids rush out the classroom while the teacher tried to shout over the ruckus to finish his lesson. Finally it was quiet and Dawn stood from her desk and slowly began the journey home. She left the classroom, not stopping to politely say goodbye to the teacher, and walked aimlessly along the empty school corridor. Dawn knew that Buffy and Angel would no doubt be patrolling again tonight in light of all the disturbances lately and that meant another night home alone with her only friend television. Dawn sighed again.
"Hey kid, you ok?" called a deep New York accent.
Dawn looked up to see a janitor sweeping the floors. He was tall, quiet handsome with dark brown hair, brown eyes and stubble and somehow looked out of place working in a high school and wearing overalls.
"I'll survive" Dawn said honestly but failed to keep the melancholy out of her voice.
"I know that tone, been there myself believe me. You're young things will get better. Look at me working as a floor sweep for teenagers" He said trying to bring humour into the conversation.
Dawn allowed herself a quick smile then repressed it. Great, Dawn said to herself, I'm the kid whose only friend is to be the janitor. Dawn sighed again.
"Alright kid, come'on now. Sighing like that won't help" the man said.
"Guess not" Dawn said "But its how I feel"
"I hear you" the man nodded, "Name's Mercurio. Take it you're new, not seen you around here. You'll make friends, you'll see".
"Thanks" Dawn smiled at him.
"Why not try a club or a sport. What you into?" Mercurio asked.
"Brace yourself!" Dawn warned, "I'm sometimes, occasionally, a bit of a nerd. I was in the chess club at my last school. Although I also like dangerous driving, espionage and egg painting just the school has no club for them".
Mercurio laughed, "That's cute kid. Hey they got a chess club here. Its tonight incidentally at the School Hall why don't you try out, see if you can make a friend, or two, maybe even three?".
Dawn thought about this as the man went back to sweeping the corridor.
"Ok Mercurio thanks. See you around" Dawn said and she went home to grab dinner and find an outfit for the chess club.
As night fell on Los Angeles the vampires awoke.
Sebastian La Croix, Prince of Los Angeles, attempted to control the vampires of the city. He had been a vampire for over two hundred years although in appearance he looked like he was in his early twenties. He was tall, slim and handsome. His face had a boyish charm which was pale, smoothly rounded and highlighted with his dark hair and darker eyes. His French accent enhanced his charm. Tonight he would need to start his reign in Elysium, a vampire court of elegance were all vampires were welcome and violence was prohibited, although Sebastian had a list of more important matters he had to contend with. One of which was the arrival of Jan Pieterzoon to his city. Prince LaCroix had never met him before and was informed of his arrival via a telephone call. This has raised his anger as new vampires were required to personally introduce themselves to the Prince of the city but apparently Jan Pieterzoon could dismiss this requirement. To increase his fury Prince LaCroix had been instructed to introduce himself to Jan Pieterzoon tonight and he suspected that Pieterzoon would avoid Elysium to force the Prince to come to him. The power struggles of his vampire clan, the venture, sometimes grew tedious.
Prince LaCroix arose from his slumber to awake in one of his bedrooms. This room was decorated in red and mahogany and had an old fashioned feel that he felt comfortable in. He washed then dressed himself in an elegant black suit. On a counter was blood prepared in a goblet for him that he drank eagerly unable to hide his monstrous hunger at the first sip. Tonight would be difficult but then every night was.
"I don't like you going on your own" Buffy stated at Angel knowing full well that she wouldn't win the argument and also knowing that Angel could take care of himself even amongst a room full of his own kind.
"This way I'll get some idea of what's happening around here Buf'. I've gone to these mundane things hundreds of times it's all about dragging and art not violence and besides some kindred just can't help but gossip" Angel smiled to reassure her.
"Please don't use that word" Buffy reminded him of her distaste again.
"Sorry" Angel smiled, "Vampires not kindred".
Buffy smiled back, "OK go to the Asylum or whatever it is you call it but be careful. I'll patrol the city".
"Now it's my turn" Angel grimaced, "I don't like you going on your own"
Buffy scowled at him, "Hey, slayer remember, she chosen to dust the undead, I think I can handle myself".
"OK" Angel relented, "Do you think Dawn will be fine?"
"Sure she's great" Buffy said, "Besides Wesley will be about".
Buffy thought about her sister for a moment and then shouted, "Dawn".
Dawn came downstairs dressed in tight jeans a tight red top. Her bright ginger hair swooped down in gentle loose curls and her face had make-up including a red lip colour. Buffy disapproved right away, not because Dawn didn't look good, but because she did. Buffy liked to think of Dawn as a little girl not the beautiful young woman in front of her.
"What are you all dressed up for?" Buffy inquired struggling not to sound annoyed.
"I'm just going to the school chess club, thought it might be a good way to finally make a friend" Dawn said innocently.
Buffy knew she would let her go because she wanted Dawn to fit in and have friends she just wished Dawn had chosen a jumper and loose slacks to wear instead.
"Fine but be back for eight" Buffy stated.
"No probs" Dawn smiled.
To be continued…