Midnight     Sunnydale   The Fish Tank

All has been quiet here for the last several hours as three fugitives from what is now the law in Sunnydale catch up on some much needed rest.  Annabelle Berkshire and Michael Smith sleep in the back room of the Fish Tank, each occupying  a cot.  Annabelle fell asleep quite easily.  Mike, less so since Annabelle is not a sound sleeper.  Her snoring could wake the dead, or in this case keep the undead awake with his extra sensitive hearing.  But after a half hour, Mike managed to tune out the noise and fall asleep.

Up front, the robot double of the late Buffy Summers sits, dead to the world except the humming of her self repair circuits doing their work.

Main road leading into Sunnydale

All is quiet here.  But not for long as an exiled watcher is about to enter the Hellmouth.

OCC: And we're off.  Post at will.

At 12:04 am, Annabelle rolled out of her cot and tiptoed into the next room (so as not to disturb Michael who was still sleeping).  She now felt wide awake.  Maybe it was because she was now the Slayer and her body was primed for night activity.  Or maybe because it was 8 am London time.  Perhaps a little of both.

She moved towards the bathroom, then; Oh yes, we don't have a proper bathroom here.  And I'm not sure I'd want to take one if there was.  If the water in this place is as filthy as the rest of it, I'd fall over and die right quickly. she thought.

She looked around the bar area and found a remote control, then aimed it in the direction of the very old and frail television mounted on the wall and was pleasantly surprised when the picture came on in color.  Now if she could just find something to watch.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Thu 12 Feb 2015.

The rumble of a motorbike engine echoes off the buildings of Sunnydale as the last Watcher rides in. His eyes are alert for danger, for he knows what he is riding into. This is the Hellmouth and it's energies draw all kinds of foulness to it.

He slows down, passing down the deserted street at barely more than a walking pace. Most would take him for nothing more than a regular Joe, in spite of the late hour, never noticing the strung mongolian recurve mounted down the side of the bike. It is in easy reach for him, as are his arrows, should he have need.

Annabelle snored one time too many for poor Mike, and he woke up shortly after she did.

"Awake already, huh?"

"8 am  London time" Annabelle said from her seat at the bar without looking at Michael as she blankly stared at the infommerical describing a new portable grilling machine.

She then slid the remote control down the bar in Michael's direction.  "Find us something decent to watch on the telly won't you.  If such a thing is possible."

"Anything in particular you want to watch, Ms. Snoring Can Wake The Undead? And no, you can't blame it on anyone else, you're the only living being here."

Mike casually flipped through channels...

"I don't suppose you can get EastEnders on this side of the water?"
Annabelle said as she got up from the bar and walked towards the front windows of The Fish Tank, currently covered by blinds.

Halfway across the room she turned back to Michael; "And I do NOT snore loudly.  Your vampire hearing is enhancing the effect.  If you had normal hearing, you wouldn't even know I was in the room."

Annabelle continued across the bar floor, and used her finger to lift up a single blind and squinted her eyes as she peaked outside to see if anyone or anything was on the streets.

"Only if it's on BBC. Otherwise...probably not."

He flips on the TV Guide. If EastEnders is on, he'll put it on, but...well, it's only on one possible channel stateside, and it's competing with Dr. Who.

"I can probably find Dr. Who reruns, Ms. Super Snoring of Stupendous snoring...oh, my poor, poor ears. Woe is me."

He's teasing her.

Annabelle turns away from the window to look at Michael and raises an eyebrow and give him her best indignant look (which is very impressive).

"Dr. Who reruns will suffice I suppose.  And if my 'stupendous snoring' (she says making air quotes) is that much of a bother, perhaps we should find you a nice coffin to sleep in so you can block out the noise, and further propagate the myths about vampires." she finishes before turning her attention back to the window.

Mike isn't giving up this duel.

"No, no, I haven't been coughing...though what that has to do with myths, I've no idea. My hearing's not so good anymore..." Acting like her super stupendous snoring damaged his hearing...

He manages to find some Dr. Who.

Before Annabelle can make a suitable reply, she hears a low humming coming from outside.  It gets louder until she finally sees a man coming down the street and towards The Fish Tank on a motorcycle.  He appears to be human, ruling out the threat of a demon biker.

He's traveling slowly, his bike reaches the front of the Fish Tank, then passes by and keeps on going.


OCC: Yes, that's Aaron James that just passed by us.  Time to bring him into the group.

"Oh my God!  That's a man outside on a motorbike!  He hasn't a chance out there by himself!" Annabelle exclaimed as she rushed to the front entrance to The Fish Tank, and after removing their barricade precautions, opened the door and ran after the man on the bike.


" Wait! Stop!  You don't want to be out here by yourself!" she shouted after him.

Hearing the voice behind him Aaron rolls to a halt, not too far away. He looks back to see the young woman racing out of one of the buildings he had assumed were abandoned. He reaches carefully down for his bow, which is on the far side of the bike to the girl. She didn't look particularly dangerous, but he knew better than to judge a book by it's cover.

"You're not from around these parts. Hampshire?" He asks trying to place her accent. "Anyway, if I shouldn't be out here alone, you certainly shouldn't. You don't know who might be out on a night like this." Or what. He finishes silently to himself.

Mike heads out at that point.

"As luck would have it, you've come upon the local 'people who like protecting other people' committee. And before you say it, yes, she knows what I am."

And has been resting near him all night and lacks any holes in her neck.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:25, Thu 12 Feb 2015.

"Does she truely?" Aaron almost whispers, eyes narrowing at sight of the vampire. "As you seem in a particularly talkative mood, perhaps you can tell me what's going on here? I had some idea of what to expect, but this place seems pretty deserted. Have you and your nocturnal kin caused this?"

Aaron keeps his eyes locked on the vampire. He knows that some good vampires existed, but they are a particularly rare breed and it would not do to take chances. Once he has his bow in hand he feels better prepared. Vampires are fast, but few can dodge a well aimed arrow shaft at such close range.

"The story about how I got a soul isn't important now. And no, I don't think this is vampires. At least not mostly. Vampires don't have the magic for this, typically. There's some Turok Han in here, but we've killed off most of them, and only a few are left. Somebody in charge with a HECK of a lot of magic cast that barrier you saw on the way in. Which won't let you out, by the way. Doesn't let me out either, if you're wondering."

Aaron's left eyebrow raises. A vampire with a soul, interesting. He still didn't release his hold on his bow, however. A soul does not make one a good person. Humans are all too much proof of that.

"Magic of the level you're describing is far beyond what most are capable of working in these times. But what brings you here? I assume you weren't simply 'living' here when the barrier was raised." Aaron says this with a completely straight face, tone giving no hint as to the pun he just uttered.