Buffy/Trigun - Night (1/20)
Title: Night
Fandom: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer/Trigun animeverse
Disclaimer: They belong to Nightow and Whedon
Rating: PG-13
Original Publication: FF.net, December 2001 - March 2002
Summary: A small town. An old evil. And Vash, Meryl and Millie stuck right in the middle of it.
Note: This started out as a pretty easy equation - one great taste + another great taste = two great tastes that taste great together! Never mind the fact that the two series had almost nothing in common. However, this is a universe I frankly love playing in. As of now, the final story is still unfinished but I fully plan on coming back to it.
NIGHT
PART ONE
“Would you hurry up?”
“Me? Look, I didn’t ask you to follow me.”
“Mr. Vash, I’ve explained to you multiple times that as agents of Bernardelli Insurance Society, we are required to keep your activities to the necessary minimum of damage-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it. Jeez.”
Vash the Stampede, the legendary outlaw with the sixty billion double dollar bounty on his head, trudged unhappily beside Millie Thompson and Meryl Strife, his appointed keepers from Bernardelli Insurance. It wasn’t like he ever meant to cause the massive amount of destruction that he did. It was just that trouble seemed to follow him doggedly everywhere he went and sooner or later, property damage was the result. He never killed anyone, never permanently hurt anyone really; it was just...things seemed to happen to him.
And it drove Meryl crazy.
If he had been the crazed sociopath that his reputation claimed he was, she might’ve been happier with the situation. At least then she might have had some sort of predictability with her assignment. Instead, she was saddled with this goofball who would rather get himself killed - possibly along with the two insurance girls - than actually defend himself.
She wondered what sins she had committed in a past life to be punished like this.
Her partner, Millie, was blissfully unaware of her difficulties. The tall girl just smiled at Vash. “Don’t worry about Meryl, Mister Vash. She’s really very patient most of the time.”
Vash glanced warily at the black-haired young woman studiously staring straight ahead. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Meryl glared at him out of the corner of her eyes. “Did I ask your opinion?”
The outlaw just shrugged and lengthened his stride, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Hey, you’re the one who keeps insisting you can’t leave my side for a second.” He sent a wolfish grin back at her. “Can I help it if you’re so drawn to my natural good looks?”
She scowled at him as Millie laughed lightly. She turned to her partner. “What’s got you so happy?”
“Nothing,” Millie trilled, her grin unwavering. Meryl sighed and gave up. Millie was the more naïve of the two of them, yet sometimes Meryl had to wonder just how much the younger woman was actually oblivious to. For someone whose head was continuously up in the clouds, Millie seemed to be quite observant at times. At least enough to have some fun at her partner’s expense.
They entered Salem Town early into their day, the suns not yet at their apex. The little town had an air of quiet depression to it, like somewhere along the way the inhabitants had simply given up. Even Vash, who could talk a mile a minute, seemed to have caught the subdued vibe and stayed quiet.
The two girls followed him to a small saloon and boarding house halfway up the main street. The interior of the bar had the same level of hopelessness as the rest of the town. The local drunks - and there were quite a few of them - had obviously been in there for quite some time, slowly drinking themselves further into oblivion. Meryl tried not to let it get her down - Vash generally liked the larger cities so chances were they’d only stay for the night to replenish supplies before leaving the next morning. For once, she was relieved about his restlessness. She didn’t think she could stay in this town for longer.
Vash, meanwhile, had recovered his good cheer, a friendly smile fixed on his face when he approached the bartender. “So, any idea where I could rent a room for the night?”
The barman glared balefully from large, bloodshot eyes, taking him in as well as Meryl and Millie. “You want all three of you in a room? Together?”
There was a large, disapproving tone in his voice and the accusation wasn’t lost on any of them. Vash blushed, Millie murmured, “Oh my,” and Meryl gave him her usual scowl.
“We’ll have separate rooms, thank you,” she told him coldly.
The barman shrugged. “Seventy-five double dollars, up front. Hundred if you want a private bath. This gonna be separate bills?”
“Yes,” Meryl answered at the same time Vash said, “No.” She gave him a glare and he leaned over confidentially.
“I don’t have enough.”
She felt her mouth drop open. “What?”
“Remember that poker game?”
“Oh dear,” Millie sighed. “Did you lose again?”
“Hey, now I can get the money back,” he said hastily. “I just, y’know, need a small loan.” He gave Meryl large, guileless eyes. “Pleeeease? I’ll be sooooo good. I promise I’ll pay you back.” He began to sniffle a little.
“Oh, Meryl,” Millie chimed in. “It’s just for one night.”
“I don’t believe this.” She stared at the two of them. If anything, Vash’s blue-green eyes only got wider. She finally threw her hands in the air in disgust. “Sure, fine, whatever. Put it on one bill.”
The barman smirked. “Hundred double-dollars. Ma’am.”
Meryl muttered something unladylike under her breath and shelled out the requested amount. Maybe the company would cover Vash’s room as a business expense.
“Jonothan! Jonothan!” A matronly woman burst through the doors to the bar, apron flying as she ran to the bartender. He stepped forward to meet her.
“Nancy, what is it?”
“It’s horrid!” The older woman shuddered. “You have to come. There’s been another one!”
“God damn,” Jonothan swore and followed her back out, the rest of the clientele trailing after them, leaving the three travelers to trade bewildered looks with one another.
“Do you think they do this everyday?” Millie wondered aloud.
“I doubt it,” Meryl said. “What’s going on here?”
She glanced at Vash, who just shrugged. “Only one way to find out, right?”
“Mmm,” she answered noncommittally but followed him out towards the source of the commotion.
It was tough keeping up with the tall man, but Meryl had no trouble seeing where he was headed. Near the outskirts of town, a large group had gathered, muttering excitedly over something on the ground. She couldn’t see what it was, but she had a sinking feeling as to what it could be.
Vash reached the crowd first, stopping so suddenly the two girls nearly ran him over. When Meryl tried to squeeze past him, he unexpectedly turned and clamped his hands over her eyes, blocking out sight.
“Wha-?”
“Um, Mister Vash, what are you doing?”
“Nothing to see,” Vash’s voice announced a little too cheerfully. “Come on, let’s go back and get something to eat. Aren’t you hungry after all that traveling? I know I sure-”
“Vash,” Meryl interrupted. “Let go of my head.”
The hand was taken reluctantly away but he still kept his body in front of her view. His usual smile was gone, replaced by look of genuine concern. “You sure?”
Whatever it was, it was bad and he was trying to protect her from it. It was annoying and sweet at the same time. Meryl nodded. “I’m a big girl, Mr. Vash. Let me handle it.”
He still looked unhappy but did as was asked and moved aside. Meryl stepped forward to get a look into the center of the crowd, Millie hovering over her shoulder.
“Oh my,” Millie murmured, hand tightening on Meryl’s shoulder.
The smaller woman wholeheartedly endorsed the sentiment.
A dead girl lay on the road, eyes open and staring glassily into space, limbs sprawled gracelessly beneath her. She was torn open, a jagged hole where her neck used to be, leaving her head to rest at a bizarre, unnatural angle. Meryl felt her stomach flip flop at the sight, what little breakfast she had threatening to come up.
“I think we should go now,” Vash murmured behind them. He was pointedly not staring at the body.
Meryl nodded slowly. “I think you’re right.” She glanced at her pale partner. “Millie?”
The tall girl didn’t answer immediately and when she finally blinked aware again, the turning of her head was sluggish, her words faint. “What?”
“Let’s go, okay?” Meryl told her, guiding her partner away from the horrible scene. The three of them walked back towards the hotel, none finding the strength to say anything. When they were maybe halfway to the boarding house, Millie suddenly spoke up.
“I know this is a silly question,” she said timidly. “But what happened to all the blood?”
Meryl and Vash stopped dead and traded one, long look. They both turned towards Millie.
“Actually,” Meryl said slowly. “I don’t think that’s a silly question at all.”
END PART ONE
Fandom: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer/Trigun animeverse
Disclaimer: They belong to Nightow and Whedon
Rating: PG-13
Original Publication: FF.net, December 2001 - March 2002
Summary: A small town. An old evil. And Vash, Meryl and Millie stuck right in the middle of it.
Note: This started out as a pretty easy equation - one great taste + another great taste = two great tastes that taste great together! Never mind the fact that the two series had almost nothing in common. However, this is a universe I frankly love playing in. As of now, the final story is still unfinished but I fully plan on coming back to it.
NIGHT
PART ONE
“Would you hurry up?”
“Me? Look, I didn’t ask you to follow me.”
“Mr. Vash, I’ve explained to you multiple times that as agents of Bernardelli Insurance Society, we are required to keep your activities to the necessary minimum of damage-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it. Jeez.”
Vash the Stampede, the legendary outlaw with the sixty billion double dollar bounty on his head, trudged unhappily beside Millie Thompson and Meryl Strife, his appointed keepers from Bernardelli Insurance. It wasn’t like he ever meant to cause the massive amount of destruction that he did. It was just that trouble seemed to follow him doggedly everywhere he went and sooner or later, property damage was the result. He never killed anyone, never permanently hurt anyone really; it was just...things seemed to happen to him.
And it drove Meryl crazy.
If he had been the crazed sociopath that his reputation claimed he was, she might’ve been happier with the situation. At least then she might have had some sort of predictability with her assignment. Instead, she was saddled with this goofball who would rather get himself killed - possibly along with the two insurance girls - than actually defend himself.
She wondered what sins she had committed in a past life to be punished like this.
Her partner, Millie, was blissfully unaware of her difficulties. The tall girl just smiled at Vash. “Don’t worry about Meryl, Mister Vash. She’s really very patient most of the time.”
Vash glanced warily at the black-haired young woman studiously staring straight ahead. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Meryl glared at him out of the corner of her eyes. “Did I ask your opinion?”
The outlaw just shrugged and lengthened his stride, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Hey, you’re the one who keeps insisting you can’t leave my side for a second.” He sent a wolfish grin back at her. “Can I help it if you’re so drawn to my natural good looks?”
She scowled at him as Millie laughed lightly. She turned to her partner. “What’s got you so happy?”
“Nothing,” Millie trilled, her grin unwavering. Meryl sighed and gave up. Millie was the more naïve of the two of them, yet sometimes Meryl had to wonder just how much the younger woman was actually oblivious to. For someone whose head was continuously up in the clouds, Millie seemed to be quite observant at times. At least enough to have some fun at her partner’s expense.
They entered Salem Town early into their day, the suns not yet at their apex. The little town had an air of quiet depression to it, like somewhere along the way the inhabitants had simply given up. Even Vash, who could talk a mile a minute, seemed to have caught the subdued vibe and stayed quiet.
The two girls followed him to a small saloon and boarding house halfway up the main street. The interior of the bar had the same level of hopelessness as the rest of the town. The local drunks - and there were quite a few of them - had obviously been in there for quite some time, slowly drinking themselves further into oblivion. Meryl tried not to let it get her down - Vash generally liked the larger cities so chances were they’d only stay for the night to replenish supplies before leaving the next morning. For once, she was relieved about his restlessness. She didn’t think she could stay in this town for longer.
Vash, meanwhile, had recovered his good cheer, a friendly smile fixed on his face when he approached the bartender. “So, any idea where I could rent a room for the night?”
The barman glared balefully from large, bloodshot eyes, taking him in as well as Meryl and Millie. “You want all three of you in a room? Together?”
There was a large, disapproving tone in his voice and the accusation wasn’t lost on any of them. Vash blushed, Millie murmured, “Oh my,” and Meryl gave him her usual scowl.
“We’ll have separate rooms, thank you,” she told him coldly.
The barman shrugged. “Seventy-five double dollars, up front. Hundred if you want a private bath. This gonna be separate bills?”
“Yes,” Meryl answered at the same time Vash said, “No.” She gave him a glare and he leaned over confidentially.
“I don’t have enough.”
She felt her mouth drop open. “What?”
“Remember that poker game?”
“Oh dear,” Millie sighed. “Did you lose again?”
“Hey, now I can get the money back,” he said hastily. “I just, y’know, need a small loan.” He gave Meryl large, guileless eyes. “Pleeeease? I’ll be sooooo good. I promise I’ll pay you back.” He began to sniffle a little.
“Oh, Meryl,” Millie chimed in. “It’s just for one night.”
“I don’t believe this.” She stared at the two of them. If anything, Vash’s blue-green eyes only got wider. She finally threw her hands in the air in disgust. “Sure, fine, whatever. Put it on one bill.”
The barman smirked. “Hundred double-dollars. Ma’am.”
Meryl muttered something unladylike under her breath and shelled out the requested amount. Maybe the company would cover Vash’s room as a business expense.
“Jonothan! Jonothan!” A matronly woman burst through the doors to the bar, apron flying as she ran to the bartender. He stepped forward to meet her.
“Nancy, what is it?”
“It’s horrid!” The older woman shuddered. “You have to come. There’s been another one!”
“God damn,” Jonothan swore and followed her back out, the rest of the clientele trailing after them, leaving the three travelers to trade bewildered looks with one another.
“Do you think they do this everyday?” Millie wondered aloud.
“I doubt it,” Meryl said. “What’s going on here?”
She glanced at Vash, who just shrugged. “Only one way to find out, right?”
“Mmm,” she answered noncommittally but followed him out towards the source of the commotion.
It was tough keeping up with the tall man, but Meryl had no trouble seeing where he was headed. Near the outskirts of town, a large group had gathered, muttering excitedly over something on the ground. She couldn’t see what it was, but she had a sinking feeling as to what it could be.
Vash reached the crowd first, stopping so suddenly the two girls nearly ran him over. When Meryl tried to squeeze past him, he unexpectedly turned and clamped his hands over her eyes, blocking out sight.
“Wha-?”
“Um, Mister Vash, what are you doing?”
“Nothing to see,” Vash’s voice announced a little too cheerfully. “Come on, let’s go back and get something to eat. Aren’t you hungry after all that traveling? I know I sure-”
“Vash,” Meryl interrupted. “Let go of my head.”
The hand was taken reluctantly away but he still kept his body in front of her view. His usual smile was gone, replaced by look of genuine concern. “You sure?”
Whatever it was, it was bad and he was trying to protect her from it. It was annoying and sweet at the same time. Meryl nodded. “I’m a big girl, Mr. Vash. Let me handle it.”
He still looked unhappy but did as was asked and moved aside. Meryl stepped forward to get a look into the center of the crowd, Millie hovering over her shoulder.
“Oh my,” Millie murmured, hand tightening on Meryl’s shoulder.
The smaller woman wholeheartedly endorsed the sentiment.
A dead girl lay on the road, eyes open and staring glassily into space, limbs sprawled gracelessly beneath her. She was torn open, a jagged hole where her neck used to be, leaving her head to rest at a bizarre, unnatural angle. Meryl felt her stomach flip flop at the sight, what little breakfast she had threatening to come up.
“I think we should go now,” Vash murmured behind them. He was pointedly not staring at the body.
Meryl nodded slowly. “I think you’re right.” She glanced at her pale partner. “Millie?”
The tall girl didn’t answer immediately and when she finally blinked aware again, the turning of her head was sluggish, her words faint. “What?”
“Let’s go, okay?” Meryl told her, guiding her partner away from the horrible scene. The three of them walked back towards the hotel, none finding the strength to say anything. When they were maybe halfway to the boarding house, Millie suddenly spoke up.
“I know this is a silly question,” she said timidly. “But what happened to all the blood?”
Meryl and Vash stopped dead and traded one, long look. They both turned towards Millie.
“Actually,” Meryl said slowly. “I don’t think that’s a silly question at all.”
END PART ONE