This Year's Girl |Wes|

[Faith Lehane]

'Welcome to Sunnydale.' That had been what the signpost had read as she gazed silently out of the window of the bus as the bus moved on to its destination. Sunnydale. The town was different than she had expected. It was rather small, for starters. Also, the whole surburban thing was already making her feel uneasy about this decision. Financially, Sunnydale was the place where she could most benefit, however mentally...That was still up for debate. It wasn't long after of curious gazing out of the window at the town she would now be residing in, that the bus had come to a halt. This was where she needed to get off.

Stepping foot out of the bus, she stood still as the people also getting off moved around her and continued on in their path. She wished at this moment she knew what her path was. Which way was she supposed to go? Should she ask someone? Or should she just continue to stand in this one spot for a long duration and recieve confused stares? Not liking the last option, she hoisted her back up higher for better leverage, before moving slowly down the street, not knowing what to expect around every corner of this town. From what she had seen on the bus, this town was pretty low-key, meaning that there wasn't much of a hussle and bussle. She had been so used to that busy environment, that she wasn't even sure of how to live otherwise. Usually by this time in one of the larger cities, she would be hearing the loud horns of cars, the head banging music erupting from a nearby nightclub, or just the constant noise of cars passing by. Also, the obnoxious screaming of the drunks. This environment was very different, and definantly would take an adjusting period. One thing she would be able to adjust to, is the supernatural threats, or lack of, more than likely.

She had been a slayer for about a year now, and during that time she had experienced many hardships and moments that she just wished she'd be able to forget. In many ways, this move to Sunnydale wasn't just about financial difficulties. It was also about starting afresh, and leaving her past behind her. It was just something Faith was good at, and had done so since her childhood, having to deal with her abusive father. If he wasn't being abusive, he was just passed out on the couch drunk. Like her past experiences with her father, her experiences as a vampire slayer were just another shadow that would hopefully be locked out from the light as a new door opens. Unfortunately for her, that door just happened to be Sunnydale. Boy, was it going to take a long adjusting period.

Turning down a corner which led into an alley, she looked around curiously. It was dark, slightly damp and very gloomy. Oh, lovely. She was already seeing why this place was such a hot spot for the tourists. Where was all the late night clubs, the raving music? Hell at the moment she was even missing the loony drunk begging her for money. She did take things like that for granted, realizing this a little too late unfortunately.

It was moments later, however, that she begin to feel like she was being watched, or followed to be more precise. It was an awkward feeling, slightly surreal. Something just didn't seem right. She glanced to her side, looking at the alley wall and noticed a shadow amongst the darkness, indicating that something was there. Typical crim...Or vampire? Did either of these really have to happen right now. On her first night in Sunnydale? "So are we going to continue playing hide and seek, or are you going to show yourself?" Her question was soon answered, as a mysterious man emerged, coated in leather pants and a black shirt. "There won't be any hiding for you, little girl..." The vampire smirked, as Faith looked on awkwardly, before sighing. "First night in Sunnydale, I get the whole welcoming party, and that is the best you give me? Are vampires around here just getting dryer or what?" Almost instantly, it clicked with the vampire. "Slayer," he stated sternly, with some shock and fear shown in his eyes. "The one and only. So do I get that official welcome now? I knew there wasn't going to be cake or anything, but I'm sure a good ol' vampire ass kicking will be good enough."

The vampire charged towards her, and Faith dodged a punch, before roundhouse kicking the vampire hard in the face. He drew back slightly, before he called for reinforcements. It was moments later that three more vampires emerged from the shadows, growling towards her. "I guess the party has arrived? One thing I wasn't sure of though, is it bring your own, or do you supply?" A vampire lunged foward with a wooden batten which she dodged and disarmed from the vampire, before punching her hard in the face. Another vampire attacked her from behind, getting one punch in, before Faith took the vampire to the floor with a hard kick to the gut. She begun running back to where she had previously dropped her bag, and tried opening it, but a vampire attacked her. She stumbled back slightly, before punching the vampire hard and slamming him into the alley wall. She went back to her back, retrieving a wooden stake. One vampire begun running, only to be turned to a pile of dust moments later. It was seconds later, that the rest followed, minus one, who fled. Faith watched on, before throwing the stake back into her bag and placing the bag back over her shoulders. "A wooden stake, carried in all women's travel bags. Who woulda thought that would've come in handy tonight." Faith moved foward, with a slight sigh as she looked down the now abandoned alley.

"Welcome to Sunnydale Faith."

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[Wesley Wyndam Price]

He hadn't been in Sunnydale very long, but from what he had already observed, he was going to have his work cut out for him. The people...Were so immature, he could barely believe it. For starters, he was nearly ran over by a group of teenagers who had apparently hijacked a car. He threatened to call the police, but it didn't seem like they were willing to listen. Well, he did get a response. Yes...An empty bottle of beer, which just missed his head, and smashed as it crashed onto the hard ashfelt. He was lucky not to have sustained any serious injuries. After all, a glass bottle at full force could kill a man. Lucky he had all of that watcher training. If it was just a casual person, they probably wouldn't have known how to handle the situation, and would likely be in a hospital by now. But he had managed to swiftly escape the wrath of the bottle. Little did he know, it was just a bad aim.

He continued down the street and into a close-by alley. One of the benefits of being a watcher, was that in search of the designated slayer, they had mechanisms which were excellant at tracking whoever they needed to track. In this case, Faith Lehane. Sixteen year old vampire slayer, who's last watcher was killed in a battle with a powerful vampire known as Kaikistos. She barely escaped with her life in tact. Yes, watchers did have state of the art mechanisms. The only problem was, that he was lost. Well not lost exactly...More like 'misguided.' It wasn't about the direction taken to get to the destination, it was finding whatever way to get there. And in this town, it seemed like that could very well happen here tonight.

"Ahah!" Not an 'ahah!' as in he had found something on one of his texts, but an 'ahah!' that he was now confident that he knew where he was going. That was until... "Ah..." Yes, it appeared he was still lost. What he thought to be a 'shortcut' to the other side of the town appeared to lead to many different paths which could be taken. It hadn't been this difficult to deceipher from the map he was given. They probably didn't give it much thought, knowing that he was more than capable of figuring out the way himself. The map was just a simple guideline. Of course...They had realized his expertise and were more than confident that he'd find the way himself. Now with a smirk on his face and a stride in his step, he begun walking foward, turning at one of the corners. There was the bus stop, the one Faith would be getting off of. My, it was quite disheartening to know that his slayer would be living like this. She had all of those duties, and how was she supposed to do those duties by having sidequests around the dark streets, and sleeping in cheap, uncomfortable beds where its lucky if the person even has a pillow to sleep on.

He followed the trail, as he knew he was slightly behind and had probably missed the bus's arrival. Oh, great. What was he to do now? How was he supposed to know where to find a wandering slayer, in this confusion of a town? All these alleys were giving him a headache. Oh, what would the council think if they found out he hadn't even found his slayer. He'd be the laughing stock. And, likely fired, if he was lucky. It was his guidedance that would propell the slayer to fulfill her destinies and duties. Though at the moment he was more worried about fulfilling his own duties, of finding her. That is, unless he wants his destiny to be buried in the ground. He'd find her.

And it seemed like fate was on his side, as he begun to hear a ruckuss, which meant some kind of battle. Ooh...Was there going to be vampires around? He was prepared for the possibility of this occuring. Not that he couldn't handle a few vampires on his own, empty handed. But it was always smart to come prepared, especially in an area like this. He had a few stakes in his big black carry bag, a few crosses, a large bottle of holy water, and even a crossbow. Maybe a little extreme, however it might come in handy.

That was when he saw her, as he turned the corner. Fighting off the vampire gang like it was nothing. A slight smile presented itself on his face, of confidence of course. Looks like she wouldn't be needed his assistance tonight, after all. He watched as she fought valiently, and within short moments they were all staked. She looked like she was going to continue walking on. He picked up his stride, making sure he wouldn't lose her again. He tweaked his glasses, before beginning to speak. "Impressive. But my only concern is you seem to communicate with them too much. Faith, they aren't your friends or anything. They are vampires." Obviously there were still a few glitches he needed to fix.

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[Faith Lehane]

When she heard a voice, apparently complimenting her for slaying all of the vampires, she turned, thinking that it must have been another vampire, or possibly a vampire master who had just decided to hide in the shadows all of this time. But as she saw a man in a suit, with spectacles...Very nerdly to be exact, she knew instantly that he couldn't have been a vampire. That was, unless vampires had become desperate in this town. She supposed if you gotta get some, you gotta get some. But wouldn't starving be more of a suitable option?

She walked foward slowly, before stopping, curiosity overpowering her face. "Firstly, who the hell are you and why are you giving me critism? As you apparently just saw, I think I handled them pretty well, if I say so myself. I mean sure, might have been nice to have recieved some help, but with a suit like that I wouldn't expect as much." Her joking and laid back side reverted to a side of seriousness, and question, when the man said her name. "How do you know my name?" She asked cautiously, before sighing. "Oh, watcher." Could anything get worse in this town? Apparently it could. However if this was the worst thing, and hopefully the last bad thing that would be happening to her in Sunnydale, she could deal. Despite the fact that this was one huge discovery. A watcher? She just gathered when one died, another wasn't brought in. The opposite of slayers, one could say. But apparently, they had a whole truck full of watchers at their disposal. Wasn't that just convenient. For them, not her.

She walked foward more, eyeing him up and down. "Well, nice of you to come all of this way and all, but I'm sorry to disappoint you in saying that I don't need a watcher. Been there, done that. I work alone now, I don't need your help, or the watcher's council's help. Okay? Got it? Good. Now if you don't mind, I'll be on my way. This distraction already delayed me enough. And I know that the distraction here right now will be even worse." She sighed, before walking in the opposite direction to where Wesley was. If she knew how persistant these watchers were, this wouldn't be the last time she'd have an encounter with him. To really top it off, she had doubts that this would be the last time she'd see him, tonight.

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[Wesley Wyndam Price]

Yes, this one was going to be quite difficult. He had been warned about Faith, and had also done his research on her. He knew about her past troubles, and didn't want them to distract her from what she was destined to do. She was a slayer, and she couldn't let any distractions get in her way. "Wesley Wyndam Price," he chipped in with a confident smile. It was such a professional, high class and bold name. He enjoyed everytime he had the opportunity to introduce himself. He had hoped Faith might see what he saw in his name, but apparently she didn't, based on her immature attitude. "And I am more than capable of assisting you in this suit. I just knew that you could handle them all on your own." It definantly made him proud to see his slayer thrive. But he was going to have his work cut out for him here. He began to smile once again, confidently. "I should tell you, I was the head of the watcher's academy in my younger years. I outlasted all of the other would-be watchers in a gruelling battle of chess. I really came into my own back then." The only good thing was, he didn't have to formally announce why he was here, and how he knew Faith, because she had worked that out for herself. Good girl. She might end up being great after all, after some of his guidance, of course.

He looked at her as she stated she didn't want nor need another watcher. "You might not want one, but you still need one Faith. You are lacking guidance and thats what I am for. I understand why you would want to work alone. You feel responsible for your watcher's death, don't you?" Perhaps this was fragile territory, but he needed to get it out rather than later on. He wanted Faith to be honest with her and tell him everything. He needed her to trust him, one way or the other.

He watched as she begun walking away and he sighed, taking a breath. He held his suit and begun jogging after her, screaming "Faith!" Out of breath, he stopped, taking a breather. "You can't just walk away from me, and your destiny. You need my help, whether you like it or not. This is a dangerous place, and I can't let you go out there by yourself." He could become quite stubborn at times, definantly persistant. He sighed. "Where are you planning on going?" He felt it was his duty as her watcher to know. She would definantly be a hand full, he just hoped she would begin to listen to him.

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[Faith Lehane]

Typical 'Brit,' she thought to herself. Not only did he have the 'I'm more educated, therefore better than you' appearence, he also spoke the part, among 'I also have a large object up my rear end.' He had to have the fancy name, and say his name with such pride and significance. Right. She really wasn't liking this guy from the get-go, and his extra British-ness definantly wasn't helping matters. "I would've introduced myself, but of course you watchers already know who I am. Its kinda pathetic, don't you think? Can't even ask a girl her name to her face?" She didn't like the way watcher's handled their business and their 'I know who you are but you don't know me' attitude. Quite frankly, he could take all of the records he has in his pretty little file on her and shove it somewhere. But it probably wouldn't fit, considering that tight British pole already stuck in there.

She gave him a puzzled look as he bragged about some 'chess victory.' Really? Was he really going to brag about something like that? Man, it was really becoming quite sad. Fast. It got even sadder when he brought up her watcher's death. That was none of his concern, and she really wasn't in the mood to be talking about that, to another watcher of all people. "Hey. I let you brag on about how British you are and how great you are at chess, but talking about personal things like that...Thats something we just aren't going to talk about. Okay?" Truthfully, she did feel guilty, but that was none of his concern. It constantly passed through her mind that if she had taken out Kaikistos, maybe none of this would've happened in the first place. She was never watcher-lover, however she was still a person, and probably the only person Faith had in her life. She was the closest thing to a friend that Faith would've had in her life.

She had a gut feeling that when she walked away, he would persist in communicating with her, still. He heard her cry her name and she sighed, pausing. "I'm not walking away from my destiny. I'm just walking away from...You." She turned around, glancing at Wesley with focus. "I don't need your help. You might mean well, you might not, doesn't change anything. I've had a watcher. It didn't work out. I have survived on my own, and I have for a very long time." When he asked where she was going, she asked herself the same question. "I don't know." Who did, these days anyway?

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