Ren Amamiya (Joker)

"Like it'd be any fun."

"These better be clean. Last time you dragged me along for this, the BD bugged my wreath out."

"What, you have trouble replacing it or something?"

"It's just a pain to have to reconfigure it just cause you didn't check your chips."

His friends just laughed and headed over to drop into their seats, reaching for what he learned last time was called S-keef, and each taking a whiff.

"Chill out Choom! Come on, take a whiff."

Ren sighed and walked over to grab the inhaler, taking the last free seat and bracing himself before taking a dose. He felt the headrush immediately. These things used to be used for soldiers to ignore pain and boost their adrenaline. But using it just for a high felt wrong. Still, peer pressure was a powerful thing.

He tossed the S-keef onto the table before picking up one of the BD packages. The others were already putting on their wreaths.

"So what'd you get this time?"

"Just get in the car!"

"Stop it!"


Ren hesitated. He'd always been told not to get involved with anything happening on the streets. It wasn't his business. Just send a complaint notice and go. Trauma Team would take care of it. But...

"No..!"

The man sounded drunk. Not unusual. And from what Ren could see down the narrow road, was clearly overpowering the struggling woman. Maybe she didn't have Trauma Team coverage...They'd be here by now if she did...

"Ow! P-Please, stop...!"

Ren was running down the road before he even realised what he was doing. He couldn't just ignore this.

"Huh?"

The door opened and he fumbled to catch his bag that the officer threw to him.

"Are my parents here?"

The officer gave him a pitying look, which confused him....Until the notification popped up on his retinal screen.

-Notification of Expulsion from Arasaka Acadamy.-
-Notification of Trauma Team plan cancellation-
-Notification of Disinheritance-

.....No. No way.

"Wait...C-call my parents. Please!"

"They notified us earlier. They had to make a deal for you. The charges are dropped, but. Well. You're done. Keeps your crime from sullying their name."

"But I didn't do it!"

The officer walked in and sat next to Ren.

"Doesn't matter. Listen, a Corpo kid like you should know better than most not to piss off those above you. This is the hand you've been dealt now. Gotta play it."

Ren dropped his head into his hands. They cut him off. His own parents....They didn't care to listen to his side....Just that their name wasn't dragged into this mess...

The officer placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Listen. The Security Specialist filled me in. You're not a bad kid. Just got in a bad spot. I did pass on that information to your parents, but, looks like they're desperate to save face with whoever you got mixed up with. They sold all your stuff, but they're letting you keep the funds from it so you can start up somewhere else. That's a better go of it than most people get."

He handed a CredChip over to Ren, who took it numbly. His whole world now boiled down to Eurodollars on a CredChip. He had no family, no home, no school. He was sure his friends would turn him away as well....What could he do now...
Once again, the officer seemed to read his mind.

"I know someone who's looking for a part timer actually. Guy in Watson. Owns a cafe. He wants more time to spend with his daughter, so if you can learn how to work in the shop, he might help you out."

"...Why are you helping me?"

 Once upon a time, Mankind and Vampires lived in delicate balance. Vampires would puppet Mankind from the shadows. Giving them wealth and power, letting them believe themselves independent, all the while Vampires pulled the strings and fed upon them as Mankind grew.

But eventually one came forward to upset the balance. A powerful Vampire named Dracula, who sought to conquer Vampire and Human alike. He gained unbelievable power in his quest to dominate all who stood before him. Those who refused to join him, would either be broken to serve, or outright destroyed. Many Vampires pushed back, not wanting to serve another, and their battles devastated the land and people.

Mankind, desperate, prayed for help. And the Light answered.

With the power of holy radiance, Mankind was able to fight back. Not just managing to seemingly destroy Dracula himself, but also push back all Vampires. They were forced to retreat, or be wiped out entirely.

And so it was for centuries. Mankind flourished, while Vampires slept in hiding. Biding their time and regaining their strength. But it wasn't just those left over from the battles who were recovering.

Dracula, forced into the Shadow Realm itself to recover his power, was readying himself for his return.

Rumors started spreading, as creatures of the night began to show themselves once more. That Vampires were not gone for good. And the creatures that fought alongside them were greater in strength than ever before. Even the warriors of Light struggled to hold them back. Humanity was being pushed back once more.

And so it was, that the Vampires who'd gone into hiding, were called to wake. Some among them, chosen to train and gain strength, to take the fight to Dracula. To restore the Balance once more. Given the knowledge on how to defeat Dracula for good. For as long as he still held his power, he could regenerate inside the Shadow Realm. But take that power from him....and he would not survive.

The only way to truly defeat him, was to become him. And only one who didn't want that power, could be trusted with it.

Which is how, during the second Blood War, Ren came to become the new Dracula. No longer a name, but a Title. And he called all of Dracula's forces back to the Territory of Mortium. Sent the creatures Dracula had summoned back into the Shadows, and decreed that Vampires would no longer attack Mankind without reason. So long as they remained peaceful, he would protect them from the Church of Luminance. Those who chose to continue to hunt innocents, would be cast out of Mortium and left to fend for themselves.

And thus a new, fragile balance was created.

But no such balance will last forever. For those with power, almost always seek to use it. And Mankind had gained great power in their search for the ability to destroy Dracula. And now they sought to wipe Vampires out for good, guilty or innocent.

The new Dracula, would have to defend his people, and try to do so without becoming the Monster he previously defeated.

Drastic times called for drastic measures. She needed a new dress. And perhaps someone to help her pick one out. She's always been more of a jeans and biker jacket kind of girl. She needed the opinion of someone a little girlier.

And she loved every moment she got to spend with Sherry as well.

"What's this party for again?"

The young woman was sorting through dress racks with Claire in some fancy store she just knew was going to put a nasty dent in her credit card.

"Ah, just some fancy thing where a bunch of snobs are getting together. But it's got a dress code I am ill equiped for."

"Is TerraSave sending you on Networking duty again?"

Claire still hadn't told her that Leon invited her. She knew that Sherry still wished they'd get together. Hadn't let go of that idea since the day they escaped Raccon City together.

"I'm not on orders, no. Just, figured I'd see if there's anyone who might be able to help out there."

"It's a lot of trouble to go to if you don't have to though, isn't it? You could always make connections at an event that isn't Black Tie."

Sherry was digging. Being an agent was giving her some dangerous habits. Then again, she'd always been a curious girl determined to find out as much as she can about the people she cared about.

Claire just shrugged, pulling a deep red dress off the clothes rack to assess, before letting out a small huff and immediately discarding it. That shade was a definite nope.

"Bigger event has people with more connections. It'll be worth the trouble."

"Are you going with anyone?"

Claire couldn't help the grin. There it was.

"I'm not attending it to date, Sherry. It's just business."

The young woman smiled back, undeterred.

"So you could invite someone for business purposes. You know, certain agents could introduce you to a few connections?"

"You offering to be my date now?"

Sherry giggled at that, well used to Claire's teasing by now. She'd even picked up some of it over the years herself.

"Not me, no. But maybe Leon..?"

"You think he'd enjoy going to one of these things any more than I do?"

"I'm just saying it's an option. He does have to attend these things now and then, doesn't he?"

Of course Sherry would know. She and Leon might not meet up as often as she and Claire do, but she does know some of the requirements Agents have. Even the boring party requirements.

Claire was silent a moment too long as she considered how to avoid the subject. Sherry had been watching her closely, and a knowing smile was forming on her face.

"Or maybe, he's already going?"

Damn.

"What gives you that idea?"

"The fact that you're blushing."

Claire started at that, reaching up to feel her cheeks before she could stop herself, and Sherry laughed.

Double damn. The kid bluffed her.

"Sherry Birkin, you are learning some dirty tricks."

"I learned those from you."

Claire couldn't help the laugh now. Oh well. Cat's out of the bag.

"Okay...Yes. Leon invited me. Just to help with networking, okay? And as a shield against the other party guests."

Sherry's smile just grew even brighter at that.

"He asked you to be his date?"

"I belive the words he used was Plus One."

"That's still a date."

"It's not a date, Sherry."

The young woman just turned back to the dresses with renewed purpose. She wasn't just helping Claire find a dress for a party now. She was helping Claire find a dress to go to a party with Leon.

That made all the difference.

Claire noticed the increased enthusiasm and couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, now you're taking this seriously?"

"Aren't you?"

"Seriously, for work. I just need something to fit the dress code."

"So, you don't think it'd be fun to see what he thinks of your dress?"

This time Claire did feel a slight heat rising in her cheeks. She couldn't deny she wanted to look nice, at the very least to keep from embarassing the person who invited her. But she was long past expecting him to take notice of her in that way. Having the idea spoken aloud though....

It was tempting.

She sighed in defeat and went back to dress hunting with Sherry. Fine. She'd put more effort into it. She wouldn't expect anything to come of it. But, maybe Sherry was right and it could be fun.

By the time they found one, she already regretted it.

Not that she didn't look good in it. I mean, Damn, she looked good. Sherry definitely had a gift for finding nice clothes. And it wouldn't break her credit card either.

But the fact that they put the extra effort in to find it for impressing Leon, was starting to give her doubts. She had long ago put those thoughts to bed. She didn't want to go and get her hopes up for a reaction. A response beyond their usual teasing. She knew him. He was far too dense. And she didn't want to go through those motions again of hoping he might take notice.

Not that she voiced any of these thoughts to Sherry. She was not going to give her any confirmation that her hunch about them had been right, at least in Claire's case. And with that being her only excuse against it, she really had no choice but to go with the spectacular dress Sherry had picked out.

Soon enough it was wrapped up and paid for and the girls had left the store to settle at a cafe to chat.

"So when is this party?"

"You're awfully excited about a party you're not even attending."

"You know why. And I want to hear all about it afterwards, okay?"

"I'll be sure to give you all the exciting details of my networking attempts."

Sherry rolled her eyes. Claire hadn't given any more mention to the fact that she and Leon were going together since she first admitted it to her. Just deflection with her usual snarky methods.

"You really don't want to give it a chance at all?"

Claire sighed at that. Guess she couldn't keep hiding from this conversation forever.

"I'm just...Resigned, I guess."

Sherry just tilted her head, listening, and Claire continued.

"Leon is, dense. Like, chronically dense. He doesn't take notice of these things. At least not with me. I'm not going to expect anything more from him, and I've accepted that. A long time ago."

The younger woman looked down into her coffee, contemplating Claire's admission. On one hand, she'd finally admitted what Sherry had always suspected. There were some feeligns for Leon there.

But she'd also got tired of waiting.

....Sherry looked up again.

"So, you've tried to show that interest with him before?"

Claire hesitated. Sure, she and Leon banter a lot. Tease each other. But that's just something they've done from day one. They just fall into that routine every time.

But actually being more direct about it...She has to admit, she hasn't tried it. Mostly out of those same reservations. He's the oblivious boy scout, who simultaneously has a list of exes long enough to rival his other body count.

It was the fact that he never took that same notice in her that made her hesitate.

Sherry didn't push her for an answer. Just let her think about it as they sat in silence with their drinks. She'd done her meddling.

It was several minutes later when Claire broke the silence.

"Since when have you been the expert in dating advice, kiddo?"

She just smiled. Seems like Claire was considering it at least.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon enough, the night of the party was upon them. Leon had set out a little early just in case of traffic and was now sitting in his car outside of Claire's apartment, wondering if he should go up early or not. He didn't want to put pressure on her when he originally set the time.

After a few moments wondering, he picked up his phone to send her a text.

'Traffic was better than expected. I'm outside. No need to rush, just letting you know.'

Simple. No pressure.

It still made Claire fumble her phone when she read the message.

Not that she was running late or anything. In fact she'd gotten ready early, mainly just to give herself something to do to push down the nerves she was feeling.

Dammit, Sherry. Had to go and put these thoughts back in her head... Now she was stumbling around like a teenager on prom night.

After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she responded.

'Come on up. I'm just grabbing my things.'

As soon as he read her reply, he was out of the car and heading up to her apartment.

In the days leading up to the party, he'd become increasingly aware of a little tingle of excitement in the back of his mind. The same place he pushed away that little voice that always tried to speak up when he saw Claire. The voice he ignored.

It was getting louder and louder as the party drew nearer, and he knew it was also responsible for that tingle of excitement he kept feeling.

It's nothing. We're just a couple of friends going out for a fun night. We rarely ever just hang out together.

Honestly he's mostly to blame for that. He keeps his distance due to his work. He's well aware of the effect it has on him. Every mission seems to drain more life from him. He's feeling more and more like the living dead he hunts.

Claire's still full of life. He doesn't want to ruin that for her by bringing too much of his world into contact with hers.

Then why did you invite her out?

The thought took him by surprise and he bristled.

To help her. This party will have a lot of important and powerful people there. She could use connections like that with her work. The work that helps those still living.

That's all this was.

He took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts from his mind as he finally arrived at her door and reached up to knock.

"-shit..Hang on!"

He couldn't help but chuckle. She's the one who invited him up. Did she not expect him to actually do so?

Maybe he still got there sooner than expected. He had noticed his pace was a little quicker than usual.

A moment passed, before he heard heeled footsteps, and she opened the door.

The teasing remark he'd prepared died in his mouth.

Holy shit...

The practical denim and biker jacket girl he was used to was no where to be found.

The woman standing before him looked like a model. Like royalty.

The floor length gown was that signature shade of red he'd come to know she favoured, and shimmered in the low light. The neckline was an off the shoulder v, leaving her neck and shoulders bare and drawing his eyes at least to the cleavage just showing. There was a slit in the left side of the skirt that reached halfway up her thigh and he had to tear his eyes away from the leg she flashed in her hurry to open the door.

"Sorry about that. Sherry just texted me and I was sending her a reply."

Claire offered an apologetic smile before stepping through the doorway and turning to close and lock the door behind her, showing off arguably the most dangerous aspect of her dress, which was the fact that it was almost entirely backless. It took more effort than he would ever admit in order to drag his gaze away from the curve of her spine and back up to her face as she double checked the contents of her clutch.

He cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus on her words.

"Sherry, huh? Giving you makeup tips?"

Claire chuckled, putting her keys back into her clutch before looking up at him.

"Guilty. What do you think? She give good advice?"

Teasing she could do. That was easy to fall back into. She wasn't oblivious, especially given the context of the text Sherry had actually sent her was to make sure to catch Leon's reaction when he saw her. She'd acted as casual as she could, but she'd been watching.

Leon has a good mask. But no one can read him like she can.

She had to fight to keep her composure at seeing his reaction, and made a mental note to thank Sherry again for helping her find this dress.

Leon swallowed, glancing her over once more. It's true. It wasn't just the dress that she'd done different. It might be the first time in his life he'd seen her without the ponytail. Her hair was pulled back into a bun that was equal parts elegant and almost messy. Some locks of hair had been left out to curl dangerously around her face, showing off the extent of Sherry's 'makeup advice.'

Claire didn't need much. Just enough to highlight her features. Specifically drawing attention to those sparkling blue eyes, and her lips...

 
"..Kid knows her stuff."

"I know, right? Seems like just yesterday she was still begging for that puppy. Now she's all grown up and advising me on fashion."

Leon chuckled at that. 

"She's grown up fast, that's for sure."

The breeze picked up a little and he saw Claire suppress a shiver. Her dress might be gorgeous, but it didn't do much to keep out the cold.

He offered his arm to her, once again pushing that feeling down as far as he could.

"Come on. I'll put the heater on in the car."

Claire smiled, taking his arm.

"So long as it just keeps the breeze out I'll be fine."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Claire knew the party was going to be big. She knew that everyone there would be some big and important government or business official. She knew she would be dealing with elites and by this point she knew she was capable of dealing with them.

Even so, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous as they walked into the event.

"God, Leon. A little warning next time?"

"I told you it'd be a big event."

"Bit of an understatement don't you think?"

"Why do you think I didn't want to come?"

Claire suppressed the urge to snort at that. Yeah, and he invited her to shield him from the social aspects of the party. What a hero..

"Come on. I'll introduce you to some people."

Claire swallowed down her nerves and followed Leon's lead. He may hate these things, but it looked like he was used to them at this point. He introduced her to government officials. People he worked with. Business leaders. He set her up easily to segue into bringing up her work with TerraSave and after a while though she'd been initially nervous walking in, she was more than pleased with the progress she'd made. She'd managed to arrange a few potential meetings with her group and offers for support. Every bit went a lot way. It really was worth it coming along.

She'd almost forgotten the other reason she was here.

Which was honestly a mercy to Leon.

He'd put the mask back in place as soon as they'd left her apartment, and spent a good deal of the drive to the party mentally chastising himself for the way he knew he'd looked at her. Even now, well into the night he had trouble keeping his eyes off of her. Anytime they spoke he had to put considerable effort to keep his eyes on her face and not let them wander. He'd almost considered inviting her a mistake...if not for the fact that he could see how happy she was with every bit of support she managed to get from the people he introduced her to. He knew how much helping people meant to her. He chose to fight literally. She would fight the same way when needed, but so much of her energy went into healing, rather than fighting. The effort she put into helping the people who'd been affected by the horrors of biowarfare was nothing short of incredible.

Whatever his godforsaken hormones were trying to pull on him, he wouldn't let that take away from what he invited her for.