A/N Mara, I could do an unending series of YAHFs based on the idea of how individuals interpret just how 'real' their costume could be, a magical version of cosplay. Kenn had a similar thought on multiple Xenas and Gabrielles. Such a series could be fun and complicated and become like my Immortal Series, something that I burnout on after awhile, which is why it's the only series I haven't finished. I hope to get back to it someday. I haven't felt inspired by it though and it's been nearly a year...😏
The second idea, of Ethan accidentally draining the Hellmouth to create a costume or item required to fulfill a costume because doing so required more power than he anticipated, now that is creating plot bunnies. I like YAHFs and I like being original if possible, so I'd have to figure out something that hasn't been done yet to make that story happen. But the idea itself is going on my story list, eventually I'll find some thing that works because that's a fun idea I can't pass up.
Thank you for feeding the plot bunnies, they're ever so happy. 😄
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"Ethan Rayne was captured by the hunter team, Sir." Allen Finch nervously reported. Was there anything he did that wasn't done nervously? Anything he did while terrified probably. No, terror just made him more nervous. "Chief Monroe's people reported seeing them enter the Party Town store shortly before the Magic ended."
"Those people are beginning to become a small annoyance, Allen." Richard Wilkins said mildly. "Unfortunately, I can't do anything at present directly against them as it will undoubtedly attract the attention of both the Watchers Council and the United States Government. What did they do with Mr. Rayne?"
"He appeared to be asleep or unconscious when they brought him out. Possibly magically."
"Which means either they need to bring him out of it by ending the spell or waiting for it to end on its own, depending on the method they used. Both buy me varying amounts of time to do something about Mr. Rayne. It looks like we won't be working together in the future, unfortunately. Which is a pity because he does do excellent work. Too excellent in the case of my guest, but still excellent."
"Yes, Sir." Allen dutifully parroted. "I don't think a committee is the best idea, Sir. It's doubtful they'd even reach Mr. Rayne before the hunter team destroyed them all." Referring to the vampires the Mayor kept on retainer for 'special projects'.
"Undoubtedly true, unfortunately." Richard Wilkins agreed. "Which leaves Magic as a solution. Something that destroys his brain and captures his soul would be best, I think. That way they can't question him before death or summon his spirit to question it either. And his soul can be gifted to one of my patrons. I'm certain they'd appreciate the snack."
"Yes, Sir." Allen squirmed uncomfortably, hating his parents for binding him in service to this man when he was a baby and instilling terror in him to keep him from acting against the man they thought would be a god some day. A demon god.
"You can go, Allen, I have some work to do. Ethan Rayne isn't going to kill himself, I'm afraid. It's a good thing I keep a supply of Orbs of Thesulah on hand to feed the soul eaters, I'll need one to capture Mr. Rayne's soul."
"Yes, Sir." Allen gratefully left the presence of Richard Wilkins and tried to convince himself to go tell the hunter team everything. The Mayor would kill him for the betrayal, but he'd be free of the never ending terror. Sadly, once again fear of the soulless man won out and he returned to his home and attempted another night of restless sleep.
"Ethan Rayne is dead." Mason reported angrily about an hour later. "We went to wake him to try questioning him on how and when he marked the kids and how he got his hands on the Party Town costume shop and found him dead. An autopsy will be needed to figure out just how he died. It's too convenient and not at all what his profile indicates he'd do."
"You mean he wouldn't kill himself, he'd escape custody?" The Head of the hunter teams questioned.
"Exactly, it's one of the reasons Diana was planning to strip his powers, so he couldn't escape or if he succeeded in escaping in a conventional manner, he couldn't use Magic to pull future stunts."
"Someone's covering their tracks. He didn't pull this stunt just as a means of worshipping chaos, he was working for someone." His boss concluded.
"That's our theory too, Sir. There's more going on in Sunnydale than anyone thought. This is not the quiet, peaceful city we've been led to believe. Vampires as long term residents. A bar that caterers to both human and demon patrons." Referring to Willy's Bar, a place they'd discovered on their patrols. "Missing and dead teenagers and children in numbers even the teenage Editor of a school paper notices, Family Services that is so under staffed and underfunded that they almost never follow up on reports of abused, neglected or missing kids. Police that aren't seen patrolling at night, even with the fact that my team's nearly succeeded in emptying the town of vampires. Smugglers tunnels that may actually date back to well before Prohibition. And open into houses, crypts and the High School. It's all adding up, Sir."
"There's a supernatural criminal enterprise in Sunnydale. A weird ass version of the Mob. Who's running it?"