madimpossibledreamer

Okay. Sooo.
I wrote this aeons ago. And then it sat in my writing folder for a while, stewing. With some tweaks here and there, making it better, but...it's still not where I want it to be. And probably never will be. Like most pilot episodes, this one has problems. I by no means think it's bad, it's just...really old. And I have images in my head that I can't quite get down on paper.
...And there are probably some 'setting this in the UK' issues that I haven't worked through. I've gotten better at writing overseas, but it still doesn't feel "native", so to speak.
I might come back and fix it later, once I have a more concrete rather than general idea of the plot arc of the 'season'.
So, the good. I love the 'verse. It's loads of fun casting people from one show in a different show and seeing how the universe changes. I'm honestly surprised more people don't write 'casting' fiction, to be honest. I like Captain Xan. And Will. And Giles because it's Giles. And I actually really like Jesse, here. (I'm glad he got written out of the main show of Buffy; that amount of depressive snark wouldn't work on Buffy, but it fits in perfectly here.)
Eventually, I'll finish the Choose Your Own Adventure, crossing this AU verse with the main Buffy verse in a Halloween fic because why not. And figure out how to upload it properly so it works. That might take a while, though. It's actually harder to write a CYOA than it looks, because you have to keep track of a bunch of parallel plotlines. It's like trying to keep the entire multiverse in your head. I have notes upon notes.
The 'episode' after this one is better. And unfortunately unfinished. /sighs
I'll get to it eventually...
As it's rougher than most, any advice/whatever would be greatly appreciated.

Anyway, let's get to the actual thing and have me stop dithering. Apparently, I'm posting this in parts, because it's way long. And I have to go soon, so. I'll have to come back to this later today. Or tomorrow. Sometime.
Main Points:
Torchwood/BtVS 'Casting' AU
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,861
Cast of Characters:
Destiny = Buffy
Brynwon = Angel
Nigel Ward (fellow police officer) = Oz
Buffy/Angel is a thing
Summary: People have been disappearing in Cardiff. Police Officer Destiny Sumner has been assigned to the investigation, only to find that she is not the only one looking at the evidence-something called Torchwood has ordered all police officers off the investigation and is conducting their own. She isn’t willing to let this go, however, and in her desire to know the truth, she might find a little too much...

“You shouldn’t be walking back on your own!” a lovely brunette called, laughing, walking off with her friends.

Her partner, drunk out of his mind, laughed and waved back at her. “I’m a big bloke! I can take care of myself!” He earned a laugh and a blown kiss for that one, and was soon making his dizzy, meandering way back toward his house.

It was when he noticed the purple flames that he stopped, and decided he’d had enough to drink for that night. But still, even knowing that they were just a figment of his imagination, they were beautiful. He decided to play along. “Oh, you’re pretty. Pretty as my friend. You never met her, well, you wouldn’t have, being a hallucinogenic fire an’ all. Best friend, but she don’t realize a little secret. I’ll tell you, likkle fire, ‘cause ‘oo are you gonna tell?” He grinned and leaned in close. “‘m in love wit’ ‘er. I think. I might just want ‘er body, but I don’t think so. What do you think?”

As if in answer, the flames roared out at him, and despite himself, despite knowing that they were a hallucination, he turned and ran, panicking.

A stray cat looking through the rubbish on the street outside the alley heard the noise and looked up disinterestedly at the light. It went back to contently rummaging, not at all bothered that a man had gone into the alley, but hadn’t come out, despite the sound of his running footsteps just a second before. It looked up at the slithering sound, though, and started mrowling and clawing at its attacker as something large ate it. A second later the alley looked just like any other empty alleyway in Cardiff.

A young woman with her hair dyed blonde in police uniform sat bored on the bus. She’d curled her hair, and now it fell in pretty little ringlets on her shoulders. She’d dyed her fingernails a metallic pink today-it wasn’t really allowed, but her supervisor loved her dress sense, so she got away with quite a lot. Her mobile started to ring, and she answered with a smile. “Brynmor. Hi. Didn’t think you were going to call yet.”

“Oh, I’m up, just not awake. Couldn’t spend the day without hearing your voice just one more time, and you always yell at me when I ring while you’re at work.”

She smiled-a lovely smile. “Aww, you’re a sweetie.” The bus started to slow. “Listen, love, I’m at my stop. But it’s always lovely to hear from you. And you know even when I yell, I love you, my tall, dark, and handsome.”

“I’ll have to tell the driver to be slower next time,” he replied, making her laugh.

“I’m getting off, big guy,” she stated playfully, and turned it off in the middle of his reply. She’d pay the price for that tonight, and quite willingly too.

She’d barely walked into the lobby when the dispatcher stood up, and apologetic smile on his face. “There’s been another disappearance.”

“How many is that now?” she asked with a concerned frown, taking the file she was handed and flipping through it quickly.

“Reported? Fifteen. Probably more unreported. Sorry about having to go out again.”

She smiled back, unamused but patient. “It’s my job.” She turned around and headed back out into the open air again. One short walk later, and she was standing next to where the cars and a group of disgruntled police officers were standing. Strangely enough, no one appeared to be doing any actual work.

Nigel handed her a cup of coffee.

“Thanks. Now, where’s the crime scene?”

“Sorry, love,” he answered with an apologetic expression. “Dispatch was wasting your time. Torchwood just stepped in, ordered everybody off. It’s not our crime scene anymore.”

“Torchwood?” she asked, confused. “What’s Torchwood?”

“Something governmental, I think. All I know is that whenever they show up, we’re ordered off, lots of weird stuff happens, and then they disappear as if they never existed.”

She managed a thankful smile. It was a little more difficult to get past the urge to grit her teeth. “Okay. That’s stupid. Who do these guys think they are?”

“I know, that’s what I said, but no one listens to me, do they?” he asked in a near monotone, and she smiled.

“You know, if you want to be noticed, you’re going to have to be more vocal about it. Scream a bit, you know.”

“I’ll work on it,” he stated, the slightest hint of a smile on his face.

“Well, I guess I’m no longer needed here. I guess I’ll just go back to work. What’re you going to do, stand around for a bit?” Destiny didn’t mention that she hardly planned to let this lie.

“Orders were to make sure that people stay far back and let Torchwood do their thing.” He smiled apologetically. “Oh, and Sumner? Do me a favor. Grab yourself a breakfast for once.”

She blinked, then smiled, an idea coming to her. “I’ll do that.” She headed out in the direction of the nearest Starbucks, then doubled back in an alley, heading for where she presumed the crime scene to be.

Well, they’re certainly impressive. If possibly completely off their rockers. was her first thought upon seeing this mysterious Torchwood group.

Her gaze was first drawn to a tall, handsome bloke in a coat. The hair was longer in the front, parted to one side. A curl of dark hair escaped the rest, falling down over one eye but not obscuring it. The eyes were a dark brown, glittering just slightly in the dark. They were wide and would have appeared innocent, but there was just something beneath the surface, something dangerous, dark, and slightly intoxicating. There was just a hint of angles about his chin, his cheeks, his nose-as if he’d started out with jagged edges on the assembly line and then someone had thoughtfully added just enough flesh to cover that up. To hide the danger within. The lips held just the slightest hint of color.

The jacket was long and had a wide collar that half stuck up, covering the neck. An overcoat, really. A leather vest, old-fashioned with shiny buttons, was beneath, and beneath that she could see just the slightest hints of a button-up shirt. At least it didn’t have ruffles. She couldn’t take him seriously with ruffles. Dark trousers were tucked into long boots that hugged the calves-he works out. And I am definitely not ogling the man who swooped in and took my investigation. Nope, definitely not.

At least the other guy with him wasn’t that handsome. Built along the same lines, but less well-dark, prominent nose, but awkward part of the dark hair-style. A sarcastic look to him. Sweatshirt, jeans, and a necklace, it looked like. Kneeling and examining the ground. Didn’t look like he knew what he was doing-like proper police procedure or anything.

There was a pretty red-head woman sitting in a lotus position, her back to Destiny. She looked to be wearing a pretty sand-colored tunic and some red jeans. There was what looked like a chalk circle with weird designs around her, only it was very brightly colored, like it was paint or something instead. Weird. Definitely.

Trenchcoat guy spoke up. Higher voice than she was expecting, and...American. Weirdly enough. Well, wouldn’t that just be wonderful, if the Americans had moved in on her crime scene. Still, pretty voice. Strong. Forceful. Wonderful, she was getting distracted again. “Well? How’s my favorite witch doing?”

But no, the redhead was from the UK, at the very least. Slightly better than overseas interference, but not by much. “I’m having trouble locking onto this guy. He was smashed.”

The less handsome bloke rolled his eyes and stood up, brushing his hands off. “We’ll have to remember to tell the next victim not to imbibe alcohol before being abducted then.”

Just then, the redhead yelped, and in a second Prettyboy was crouching in front of her, searching her face. “What is it? What do you see?”

“Too strong, too strong, scared, running, but nowhere to run to, not fast enough, it’s too strong...” she started to babble, crying, and he pulled her into his arms, calming her, just as it began to rain.

“Great. Well, at least it’ll wipe away traces of us. Like bloody ghosts, we are,” Less Handsome stated, disgusted.

Destiny Sumner blinked. There was a flash of light from the designs on the ground, and then they started to wash away, their bright color fading to that of regular chalk and then swirling away as the downpour erased it. She must have imagined that part. The word ‘witch’ had just primed her for looking for things that weren’t there.

“Why was I even here? Not like you need me when you’ve got miss High and Powerful ‘ere!” Less Handsome continued to complain.

Prettyboy shot him a look that said quite plainly ‘shut up’. “Because you kept saying you were tired of being in the Hub and you wanted to get out on a case.” He carefully pulled Psychic Girl to her feet, holding her as if she was precious. So, were they together or what? ...Not that that really mattered, here.

“I’m no good without a body. You know that. I just...” Less Handsome let out a curse and kicked at the sidewalk, grimacing as he most likely stubbed his toe. Prettyboy watched that with an amused smile. “Just chalk it up to cabin fever. Sorry Captain.”

“It’s okay, I understand. If you’re really feeling that left out, you can go and pick up the Chinese tonight instead of Will,” Prettyboy joked, asking Psychic Girl a question under his breath. Carefully, she nodded and then hugged him tightly for one long second before letting go and moving away, slightly wobbly.

“Ha bloody ha,” came the answer, but at least Less Handsome was smirking.

It was then that those dark eyes of Prettyboy glanced up, just for one brief second, and met her own. She gulped and threw herself around the corner of the building, breathing heavily. It was as if he’d just stared through her soul, all with that one look. Hopefully he didn’t...something. She didn’t even know what.

She waited until she heard the sound of a car starting before she dared move. Once it did, she sighed and pulled herself away from the wall. By this point, she’d have to walk back. In the rain. Partner would’ve already taken the car back. Lovely.

Destiny sighed as she walked into the flat. Too much. The day had gone on long enough. She could already feel her muscles beginning to tighten and whine about the day she’d had. Walking back in the rain, for instance, wasn’t buckets of fun.

“‘Ey, my lovely, gorgeous woman? ‘ow was work?” Brynmor walked over and pressed her against the wall, kissing her, and she grinned up at him, putting on her ‘cute and defenseless’ act.

“Terrible. You’re just going to have to make it up to me, okay?”

He grinned and leaned down to kiss her neck.

Next Part: madimpossibledreamer.dreamwidth.org/25474.html