12626/Who's that lurking in the Blue Lady!

Who's that lurking in the Blue Lady!
Date of Scene:	08 January 2021
Location:	The Blue Lady, Fort Joseph
Synopsis:	Buffy encounters Cheetah at the club and touched base with Harry after.
Cast of Characters:	Buffy Summers, Cheetah, Harry Dresden
Tinyplot:	Who's Who

---

Buffy Summers has posed:
Once the sun goes down, the Blue Lady comes alive as always. Tonight they are having some party or other, and people are in costume as a olive band plays on the stage. Once the sun goes down, an increasingly familiar face around these parts emerges from her hiding place in the wine cellar.

She is a bit too tall, a bit too busty and a bit too blonde. With perfect puckered lips, a nice suntan in winter and ridiculously big breasts, she looks more like a playboy model than a normal decent human. Oh right, and for those with such senses, she smells like vampire.

At least her attire is normalish. She's dressed in black jeans a.nd a pink peasant blouse. Clothes that would look better on Buffy than this blonde bimbo but suit Buffy's personality better.

As she climbs out of the wine cellar, she heads for the bar, a typical hangout for the tired, restless vamp.

Cheetah has posed:
Those crazy hepcats and their parties. Cheetah -- in all her therianthropic glory -- glides effortlessly through the crowd with wine glass in hand. No one so much as bats an eye save for the odd reveller who compliments her on the stunning "costume." Sometimes it's just nice to let your hair (and tail down). And anyway, this occasion provides Cheetah with an opportunity to case the place without concern for facial recognition software. She makes her way toward the bar.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers nods to the barmaid who knows her well, even greets her by the name 'Buffy' and not something else. She orders a white sangria and swivels around to watch the dancing and the music. Since her body swap, she has gained more attention from shallow creepy guys, although after rough handling a few of them, most were smart enough to stay away.

Besides, looks like there is a new contender tonight, and a few men start to ogle Cheetah and her sexy 'costume'. It's enough to catch Buffy's attention and she blinks slowly, recognizing her instantly.

"Cheetah? What are you doing here?" she quips as she passes the bar.

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah's easy pace halts abruptly and her pointed ears twitch toward the sound of Buffy's voice. Cheetah hates it when her ears do that.

Her head turns to see who has "made" her and finds...Barbie? At first blush Cheetah is impressed this overly familiar human floatation device can manage to string together a coherent sentence; thinking doesn't appear to be this person's forte.

Green eyes squint in search of a name to go along with the admittedly beautiful face, "Do we know each other...?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers sighs, knowing how this must look. Heck, she's starting to regret outing herself, and should have just pretended to be someone else..But there's the whole Chumash shield that still has her worried.

"Yeaah...This is a bit weird but..Yeah, we Kinda know each other, heck we're kinda enemies." she shrugs, "Remember? You stole a Chumash shield from the magic box. A shield which contains hundreds of dangerous spirits.." well that's the short story but.

"Oh yeah, you used to date Spike and tossed me into an open grave once, among other things." she rolls her eyes.

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah stares for a beat or two. "...Bad Penny?" Her green eyes shimmer. Is that fear? Concern? Empathy? Nope. Cheetah is still a jerk.

The sound of hysterical cackling competes with the raucous tunes emanating from the stage. This goes on for quite some time. Like...a LONG time.

Cheetah places her wine glass on the bar to keep from spilling her drink as her furry chest heaves in convulsive laughter. "Sorry, I just...I just need..." More laughter. Cheetah holds up a furry finger as if begging a moment's indulgence.

More laughter.

Toward the end the villainess is reduced to leaning heavily on her knees to stop herself from keeling over. "Oh...this...THIS...!" She makes an encompassing gesture toward Buffy's new figure. "This is just..." Cheetah wipes away a tear. "Perfect!"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Complaining all the way past the bouncers that continue to try and block his way, the Wizard Harry Dresden presses forwards as best he can, "I said let me through, damnit! I know the owner! I have information to tell him. Seriously, do we have to go through this every. Single. Time? Harry. Dresden. You know the name, you have seen me here many times, and I can guarantee Thomas did not put me on a do not enter list, unless this is his version of some stupid asinie joke of his. Now let me through!

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers glowers at Cheetah as she starts to laugh uncontrollably. And honestly, Buffy can have a real temper sometimes, but in her current feral body! her temper is even worse, maybe even dangerous.

And it's a good thing that the staff here know Buffy very well, even in her current...Predicament, because otherwise she probably wouldn't get away with what comes next. Eyes narrow, snarling arms Cheetah and she suddenly whips out a hand, attempting to slap her face. Hard.

"Shut. Up. Before I have you kicked out of here.." she snarls, and she would say more but then she notices a familiar figure at the entrance. Was there a new guard at the door today? It would make sense, since Buffy hasn't really been fit to work lately, plus Axe had been busy with family issues.

"Hey!" she calls out, waving to the guard, "Its okay, he's with me! Let him through." she might have some authority here, being one of the security guards herself, plus she's only dating the club owner.

Cheetah has posed:
Vamps are quick. Cheetah is quicker. Buffy's strike does manage to graze Cheetah's cheek but, thanks to Cheetah's lightning quick reflexes, the blow doesn't carry the "oomph" Buffy had intended. It does, however, put an end to the laughter.

Cheetah comes to rest a few inches away from where she had been previously standing. Nobody outside of Buffy seems to notice. Cheetah caresses the side of her face with the back of her furry hand. Still smiling but more wary by far. "Careful," she purrs. "You'll pop something." For an instant she considers giving Buffy a quick poke, but she quickly thinks the better of it. She doesn't risk turning round to see who Buffy is calling out for.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Start to mutter a reply to the bouncers, a shit-eating grin on his face as he opens his mouth to comment some sort of 'I told you so!', but stops short as he sees the cat-lady and the unrecognizable Buffy. "Hey...I don't mean to interrupt the cat-fight, but...uh...Buffy?" he queries with an arched brow. "Is this a bad time? I can come back later, you know, when you two are done. Or, I can just go grab a beer and watch. Any beer-nuts up at the bar?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers glares at Cheetah, although even now, she is far weaker as a new vamp than she was as the Slayer. "Look, this is no joking matter. This whole body swapped with a vamp's? It's called magic. Much like the dangerous magic in that shield you lifted."

She narrows her eyes at her. "You've got to return the shield to the magic box, Cheetah. If you don't and those seals are broken, who knows how many angry spirits will be unleashed? People can get hurt.."

Glancing to Harry, Buffy smiles warmly, "Hey Harry, no, this is fine. I'm just telling miss Cheetah here how dangerous it can be to steal magical artefacts you know nothing about." she shrugs, "How have you been? Pull up a seat, I can buy you a drink.." she seems..Desperate, anxious, a little angst, but eager to hear what he has to say.

Cheetah has posed:
Maybe Buffy is weaker -- but she's so much more buoyant! Life is a series of trade offs, really.

Cheetah makes a face not unlike that of a 14-year old girl being chastised by a nun. "I have no idea what you mean." She huffs. So what if there were witnesses and security cam footage? That proves nothing! She's never seen that stupid shield and it is most certainly not hanging in her penthouse apartment and if other people have to get hurt then that's just the risk Cheetah is willing to take!

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden glances between 'Buffy' and Cheetah arching his brow. "Uh. You sure? Because this seems...important? I mean, Buffy over there...that IS Buffy, right? She has as point. Magical artifact are nothing to fuck around with. If you have one, you might want to give it up before you get hurt. I mean look at her, do you thing she wanted to end up like that? Magical. Artifact."

Harry moves forward, closer to the fray, staff tapping the floor as he does, "Now, do I have to get the spray bottle?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers arches a brow at Cheetah, then glances down at the hand she used to slap her. She had gripped her a bit and pulled out a few tufts of stray fur. She smiles and tucks it away in her pocket. Quietly.

"Sure, Chee, if you say so. Just remember, if you DO get attacked by angry shape shifting native spirits, don't say I didn't warn you. And you should really listen to Harry, he's an expert on magic Afterall."

She nods in agreement to Harry, "How have you been? Lemme get you that drink." and Buffy waves down the bar maid to order another round of beer for the three of them. "I hope you only came here for a social visit, Cheetah. Love the costume by the way, is that real fur?"

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah frowns. She's no stranger to magical body transformations. Hers was no more welcomed than Buffy's. "Shouldn't you be standing on a street corner somewhere?" You might have touched a nerve there, Buff.

Cheetah retrieves her old wine glass from the bar, handily finishes the contents, and snatches the pro bono beer Buffy requested for her from the maid. Harry is "gifted" with only a cursory glance. She rolls her eyes at him. He's an expect at magic? This guy? Surely...
    The tuft of fur in Buffy's grubby little hands and pocket is utterly unnoticed.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry shifts his eyes from Buffy to the cat-lady and back, "Buff? Are we letting her walk out of here," he asks as he adjusts his hand on the position of his staff. "Is this an immediate concern, or something that can be dealt with later?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smiles knowingly at Cheetah. "Nah, I've got a more important job than..Standing on street corners. You however..Well that seems right up your alley." she grins at Harry, "No worries, I think she just needs to see for herself the dangers of magic..Then she'll come crawling back for help."

Buffy takes her time sipping her beer, "We can deal with the stolen cursed shield later. Do you have any news on the Draconian Katra?" she doesn't really want to discuss things in front of Cheetah but she's anxious to get her old body back and Buff is running out of time.

Cheetah has posed:
Well, that's not fair! Quit throwing Cheetah's asinine, adolescent comments back on her! It's all she has.

Cheetah frowns again. She's rather good at frowning. "Again, I have no idea what you're referring to and I resent the accusation." she states matter-of-factly. The villainess drains the free beer in one go and places the glass carcass back on the bar with some authority. She nods curtly to Buffy, "Trollop." Then to Harry, "Vagabond." The duties of polite society fulfilled, Cheetah spins on her heel and marches away. Come crawling back? For help? From that lot? The nerve!! Cheetah knows exactly what she's doing. What could possibly go wrong?

Harry Dresden has posed:
Eyeing Cheetah as she leaves, Harry looks back to the rather different looking Buffy, "Uh..what was that? I mean, I get that she stole something...but a cat lady? I mean, I see some strange things in my time but I wasn't expecting to walk in and see that."

The wizard shakes his head and makes his way over to the bar, "The Katra is almost fixed. I just have to track down a few more parts, but that shouldn't take too much longer." The wizard looks around the bar, eyeing it and signs of damage for a moment, "Fixed up the bar pretty quick, huh?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers quietly watches as Cheetah huffs and stalks out - after spewing childish names at them both. Once she's out of earshot, Buffy can't help but stifle an amused chuckle. But this is no laughing matter. *ahem!*

"I honestly couldn't tell you. She's kinda like a bad penny, tends to show up at the worst possible times and places..Like sipping tea in Spike's basement, or..Robbing graves.." Buffy rolls her eyes, having thoroughly enjoyed that, "Well at least I got a tuft of fur from her. I'll bag it safely then maybe you can track her down to her...Lair I guess? Get a lead on that stolen shield..Hopefully after those spirits have taught her a lesson.." riiight.

ANYWAY.

Right now she had more pressing concerns, and Buffy sighs as she quickly finishes the last of her drink, turning to face Harry anxiously. "Thank you, I know you're doing you're best. I just..Hope I can get back to normal in time. I...Dunno what's happening to me, it's like..Like I'm angry and hungry and feeling all primal all the time."

She's not laughing anymore, and heck her hands are shaking a bit as she stares down at the empty beer can, already ordering another. "I can feel 'me' slipping away, becoming a monster..I don't know if it's safe for me to stay here or be anywhere near Thomas even.."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Well," Harry says bluntly, "You're a damned vampire. that is what is happening to you. Don't worry, though, we will get you out of there as soon as we can do it safely. I'm just not sure how we are going to convince Trixie or whatever her name is to hold onto the Katra for two minutes. That is going to be the most tricky part I think."

He pauses, his face reddening a bit, "I wouldn't worry about Thomas. From what I heard you two were...just fine together."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers shakes her head, "Tiffany said it's a bit different with me, since my natural Slayer's Killer Instinct has hyped up the natural killer instinct of this vampire body..Plus, Nolan said that during these body swap thingies, there's a bit of residual body memory.."

She notices the blushing on his face and narrows her eyes, "Really? How much exactly did he tell you..About what happened? And..How much was that to do with lusting after this stupid Barbie body and how much was it caring about the person inside?"

She rumbles a soft growl as she speaks, showing her fangs but turns away quickly, "Sorry, guess that was a bit over sharing, just..It bothers me sometimes."

Harry Dresden has posed:
:holds up his hands placating, "Just that..there was some damage done. Don't get to mad at him, he is very conflicted by the whole thing. He came to talk to me about it. I mean, I don't have all the answers. This is an odd situation. I mean, you are you...but not. But the important part of you is you...right?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers nods and smiles faintly, "I'm not mad at him, more at myself, but.."she looks worried all of a sudden. "I've been having..Dreams lately, nightmares really. One in particular that keeps tormenting me. Usually when I have repetitive dreams, they tend to be...Prophetic."

Buffy looks back at him, true fear in her eyes, "Harry..If something happens to me, please..Take care of Thomas."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Don't talk like that, nothing is going to happen to you," snaps Harry. "This isn't the first pickle we have been in and it won't be the last. You and my brother will be breaking tables in this place in your real body soon enough. I just need to make sure I have everything right. We can not afford to rush it."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smirks, "Guess I'd agree if I hadn't already foreseen my death once, but hey, I was only dead for two minutes. I'm sure you're right, I'm sure I can overcome whatever is coming soon...Right?" she laughs a bit, "Guess I'm getting too cynical for my own good. Even so, I need to do some research on this..Mnemosa demon."

Buffy rises from her stool once she finishes her drink, "I gotta go but it was nice talking to you Harry. I get that this isn't something to be rushed and I trust you're doing your best. Hopefully the next t time we meet I'll be back to normal." she gives him a little smile and wave before hurrying into the crowds.