Different City/Same Old Crap
by Carycomic
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own or profit from it.
Synopsis: Angel has to pull up stakes (no pun intended) when he slays the wrong vampire. A post-BTVS Season 3 crossover with KINDRED: THE EMBRACED and MOONLIGHT (pre-Season 1).
Chapter 1.
The name is Mick St. John. Private investigator by trade; vampire by accident.
You read that right. Back in the late 1940's, I met a woman named Coraline who was like no woman I had ever seen before. A sultry, exotic brunette whom I eventually married. And, who vampirized me on our wedding night!
I suppose that was her way of trying to keep Death from doing us apart. But, be that as it may, my new lease on life has not been without its drawbacks. Although, I know a guy named Angel who makes me look like I've been living on Easy Street. Let me tell you about him.
I met him in the spring of 1999. And, you might say I was introduced to him through Josef Kostan. Josef is the primogen, or leader, of the local Toreador Clan. So, I was surprised when he paid me a rare visit at my office. During the daytime, no less!
Now, contrary to popular belief, not all vampires are solar-intolerant. Some do disintegrate, immediately, when exposed to sunlight. Others can withstand limited amounts of it. It all depends on what kind of vampire sires you. Josef and I were of the latter type. The only reason I was surprised to see him out and about, in broad daylight, is due to his being such a party-animal. Even _before_ he was vampirized!
"Josef! To do what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"I need your help, Mick. In an official capacity."
"Ooh! That sounds ominous."
Josef sat down opposite my desk; an uncharacteristically solemn look on his face.
"I'm serious, Mick. Tell me; what do you know about...the Order of Aurelius?"
"I only know 'em by reputation," I replied. "They're an antitribu cult. Named for the Malkavian who founded them. Although, there's been a lot of scuttlebutt, the last couple years, about they're finally having been wiped out, somewhere near Santa Barbara."
"I don't know about the rest of them," said Josef: "But, twenty-four hours ago, one of them offed Russell Winters. Fried him, in fact. Without sanction. And, in front of mortal witnesses!"
My eyes went wider than an anime character. Russell Winters was the primogen of the local Ventrue Clan! Which also made him the chief money launderer for Cyrus, the Brujah Prince of the City, to boot.
"Has he called for a bloodhunt?"
Josef nodded: "And, the Conclave's agreed. Still, if the vamp in question is half as smart as I've heard he is, he's already blown town. Probably for Frisco."
"Then, maybe he's not as smart as you think he is," I replied.
What Cyrus of the Brujah Clan was to L.A., Julian Luna of the Ventrue Clan was to San Francisco. And, their on-again/off-again feud with each other was practically legendary in the Vampire Community.
"If Luna gives this guy political asylum, Cyrus will finally have a legit excuse to declare war against him."
Josef nodded: "Which would endanger the Masquerade even worse than what Angel did."
"Angel?" I echoed.
"The vamp in question. He used to be called 'Angelus!' But, nowadays, he just goes by 'Angel.' "
"I see. And, what am I to do, if and when I find Angel?"
"Give him this."
Josef took something out of his jacket's left-inside pocket. He threw it on top of my desk, and I picked it up.
"An open-ended, one-way airline ticket to Japan?"
"Cyrus has a lot of pull on this coast. The only safe place for Angel is west of the International Date Line. So, what do you say, Mick?"
I grinned. It was too good an opening to resist.
"I say: 'San Francisco? Open your Golden Gate.' "
tbc
"San Francisco (Open Your Golden Gate)" by Kahn/Kaper/Jurmann
copyright 1961 (EMI Music Publishing)
