FIC: Practicality (BtVS/SH), and some stuff

[mhalachai]

Three announcements! First, this is the first anniversary of my writing livejournal! You can see what I said on this date, one year ago, if you want. I've only been writing fanfic since Sept. 13, 2004, do you believe it? Such a short time...

Second, I've decided to pull out of tth100. I have too much on the go right now to give my Dawn claim enough love. I'm going to revamp the index page and just leave everything the way it is.

Lastly, a one-shot fic! BtVS/Sherlock Holmes crossover. Am I nuts? Read and decide.

---

Title: Practicality
Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Whedon and Co. The Sherlock Holmes universe belongs to Arthur Conan Doyle. Only the story is my own.
Rating: PG
Summary: A portal throws Dawn into a new world... one she finds that she can never leave.
Note: Ever had a fic spring fully formed into your brain? This came to me this afternoon over a croissant and a cup of dark coffee. I've always been a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories. This seemed to make sense to me, as Dawn always was the practical one...

~~~*~~~
Buffy.

By the time you read this, I will likely be dead.

Dawn paused, staring at the words. The familiar tinge of sadness was pushed down by a sense of amusement. Melodramatic much? She scratched out the lines with her pen, and began again.

Buffy,

When you read this, I will likely have already fallen through a portal that we were trying to close over the Cleveland hellmouth. So far, Willow hasn't been able to find me. I choose to believe that is because she did not know where to look, not that she was injured. I know you will be looking. I know you, even if it has been over ten years for me.

I love you, Buffy.

The pen hesitated over the sentence. It was very melodramatic, but Dawn meant it. Over the last ten years, she had come to realize a lot of things about herself. So many things in her life had been turned upside down, truths she had known turned inside out, but one thing always remained. Buffy was Dawn's family, and Dawn would always love Buffy.

The portal didn't throw me to another dimension, although I spent about a year trying to prove to myself that it did. It threw me back in time, as stupid as that sounds. I suppose Andrew was right about time travel after all.

I landed in London, with only the clothes on my back, your leather jacket, and Kennedy's axe. I might have been able to climb back up to the portal, before it winked out, but I heard someone yelling for help. I guess I made a choice that night. Some days, I'm sorry that I did, and other days, I can't imagine doing it any other way.

Outside Dawn's window came the sound of raised voices, and the shrill trill of the police whistle. Dawn put down her pen and stood, stretching the kinks out of her spine as best she could in her corset as she walked to the window. The altercation between cabbies wasn't enough to distract her for long, however, and soon she was back in her chair. She had put off writing this letter for long enough. Every preparation was complete. All she needed to do was write the letter, and she would be done.

A pair of vampires were attacking an older man, just in the alley off a street. I don't know what the vampires were expecting, but you know how sharp Kennedy keeps her weapons. Luckily, the man had been knocked down and didn't see me decapitating two of London's vermin. I explained that they'd run off as I helped him up. By then, the portal was gone.

The man I saved was a doctor. He was surprised to see me in pants, and I was surprised to find myself in 1880s England. Sometimes I wonder about the coincidences of fate. John took me to a friend of his, who didn't throw me out when I started ranting about how I was stuck here. After a great deal of explaining, and a little showing, he believed me. It also didn't hurt that he'd run into vampires before.

Dawn turned up her lamp, smiling at the recollection of how John had reacted when his friend explained, in that dry sardonic voice, all about vampires and demons, just as if he were talking about taking tea.

The friend, who was a sort of detective, has a brother, who got me a job. I can't really explain what I do, even I don't really know all of what I do, but it's save-the-world stuff.

And I'm not coming back.

I know we thought the Watchers' Council was always just a bunch of idiots. We were always right. There's a department in the British government that deals with the supernatural, and the Watchers refuse to work with them. You can guess whose side I'm on. I have work to do here, books to translate and demons to stop. But that's not all I've been doing.

Dawn touched the ornate key that lay on the desk. She'd had a coven of witches in Scotland charm it, so that only Dawn's blood, or a close relative such as Buffy, would be able to use it to open the vault the key fit. It was a similar spell to what the coven had laid on King Arthur's sword in the stone, centuries before, but that little story was not Dawn's secret to tell.

I've put the address of the bank, and the key, in the envelope with this letter. When I left you, we still had no money and very little material from the Council. I can't do anything about that, but I can help you with this. It's money, to help you get the Slayers up and running and properly armed. There's as much research material as I could find in the British Museum vaults. More importantly, there's a list of contacts that I hope Willow can use. Most of them will probably still be alive. They're demons, but for the most part, they're on the no-apocalypse side of the game.

It's not a lot, but it's as much as I can do. I can't come back, but I wanted to help you out as much as I could.

Would Buffy believe her? Would she even care? Dawn could imagine Buffy, reading the letter, screaming for Willow, demanding that the witch find Dawn, bring her back. It wouldn't work, not without an important component.

The only way to get Dawn back to Buffy's time was Dawn's blood and Willow's power. Dawn knew she wasn't going back.

Maybe you're wondering if I've changed history by being here. I know I thought about it, at first. But I'm not changing history. I'm a part of it. Last month, while I was out on a walk, I saved a child from running into the road and being trampled by a horse. The child's important, in a way. Not him, but he does something that made our world like it was. If I hadn't been there, would he have lived? Would he even have been there? I can't know, but I'm not sorry I was there to save him.

Dawn knew that she needed to end the letter, but she didn't want to say goodbye to Buffy It would seem ... like it was over. Ten years of not admitting that it was over, what was one more minute, in the grand scheme of things?

If I die, I have instructions in my will to have another letter delivered to you a day after this letter. I know it might seem like a long time to wait, but I can't risk the letters crossing. There's a reason, but I can't explain that right now.

I love you, Buffy, and Willow and Xander and Giles and everyone. I'm only able to do what I can, help the way I am, because of what you taught me.

Dawn Summers,
London, England
28 September, 1896

Placing the pen aside, Dawn watched as the ink dried on the page, sealing her decision into permanence.

The air moved slightly, and Dawn knew without looking who had come into the room. How a man as large as Mycroft Holmes could move so silently was always a curiously to Dawn. She'd wondered idly if he was part-cat. That might explain some of the tendencies of his brother, Sherlock.

"It is done?"

"It's done." Dawn slipped the letter into the envelope, along with the key. "They'll get this to her on the right day?"

"As long as everything works out, then yes."

"And if not, I guess I'll have to live long enough to deliver it to her in person," Dawn finished. "I suppose living to one-hundred and fifty isn't so bad."

Mycroft stepped forward and took the envelope from Dawn's hands. "You look doubtful."

Raising an eyebrow at the man in charge of her department, Dawn said dryly, "I think I lost my right to be doubtful last month."

"Ah, yes, when you plucked your great-grandfather from certain death at the feet of a horse," Mycroft said.

"Yes." Dawn swallowed, looking out into the gathering gloom of London. "Makes me wonder what else I can stop, and what I can't."

"We have your information, on future events," Mycroft told her. "We will do what we can."

Dawn stood, absently brushing her long skirt into place. "I will see you when I get back from Egypt, Mr. Holmes."

"Indeed, Miss Summers."

When Mycroft's large form cleared the door, Dawn stood still for a moment, then briskly set about packing her carrying case with the last-minute items she needed from her office. The movement didn't stop her wondering. Would Buffy understand why Dawn hadn't sent that letter before Mom died? Before Tara died? Before everything with Glory happened? Probably not. There were probably a million things about the world Dawn could change, but there were something things that needed to happen.

It was just the practical way. And in the last ten years, Dawn had become very practical.

Enough introspection. Dawn picked up her satchel and walked out of her office. Her ferry across the Enough Channel left early in the morning, and there was much to do in the meantime.

Soon, if all went according to plan, she'd have her hands on an Urn of Osiris, to place in the hands of a magics dealer who would keep it safe, waiting for Anya's request, when her friends set about raising Buffy from the dead in the early days of the twenty-first century..

That was the other reason Dawn couldn't go back. In order to save the world, Dawn had made choices that Buffy wouldn't understand, and could never forgive.

-- fin

Comments

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

Mmm... *glee*

Wonderful. Time travel paradoxes (ones that are consistent) are a favourite of mine, but so rarely done well; I like that Dawn has been thinking about it, and planning accordingly. Makes some of the coincidences in the Buffy-verse less coincidental :).

I also love your inclusion of Mycroft and his mysterious work in the government - it makes such perfect sense, I'm surprised it hasn't been used more.

If any more of this particular crossover pops into your head, let us know, huh? It's interesting, and unusual, and fun.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I simply had to put this one to paper once I got it in my head. It's not very Sherlockian, but it made sense for Mycroft to know about the vamps and such. Sherlock too. Can't you just see Dawn in there in 1890s England, fighting the good fight and all that?

If I ever get anymore up, I'll be sure to let you know.

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

Aha! I should have known you, too, were a Holmesian. And yes, the second Holmes figured out who -- or rather, what -- Dawn was, you bet your boots he'd have her working with Brother Mycroft. I wouldn't be surprised if Mycroft knows about the wizarding world, too.

And don't ever think your crossover ideas are too odd. I myself spent my lunch break today mulling over M. and Q. introducing James Bond to a very young new agent trainee, a scruffy, skinny lad named Potter, and having him be the lad's main trainer and mentor.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I've got a huge Sherlock Holmes book, with all the stories. It was the first book I ever bought with my own money. I love those stories.

To be fair, I've spent how long writing an AB/HP crossover, plus I think that Different Eyes still stands as the only AB/Firefly crossover in existance.

I totally want to see that JB/HP crossover now, you know. What a facintating idea. (I lurve fanfic)

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

You need to get a copy of The Annotated Sherlock Holmes. I don't know if it's been reprinted in paperback recently, but it's an excellent guide to the stories, to Victorian London and environs, and to the first Holmes fanficcers (who called and still call themselves "pastiche authors").

The popularity of Holmes -- and Conan Doyle's increasing reluctance to write stories about him -- led to the birth of the modern fan fiction hobby. (Even Mark Twain wrote Holmes pastiches!)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's a good idea. Thanks!

You know, you keep talking about SH fanfic, I'm going to have to go find myself some :P

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

Haven't kept up on the web-based (aka: free amateur) fanfics, but type in "Baker Street Irregulars" and you'll find references to plenty of professional authors using the Sherlockian universe (that is, those fanfic/pastiche-writers who actually get paid to do it!). You'll see names like August Derleth (his "Solar Pons" series of books), Vincent Starrett, and bunches of others. (Hell, even Basil Rathbone wrote at least one little ficlet (http://www.basilrathbone.net/potpourri/daydream.htm) that we know of!)

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

Oh, and check out the Wiki link on Holmes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes), with particular attention to the section marked "The Hiatus", which had the same stimulating effect on fans' writing glands as the long delay between GoF and OoP had on the HP fandom.

[child-labor.livejournal.com]

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I figured it would take Dawn about 10 years to first realize what she would do, and then figure a way to justify it to herself. It's a hard thing to realize about yourself, that you'd let your own sister be ripped out of heaven, in order to save everyone else in the world.

If Sherlock Holmes were part cat, so much would be explained.

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

If Sherlock Holmes were part cat, so much would be explained.

Like the hairballs he leaves on Mrs. Hudson's sideboard...

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Except that.

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

Of course, now I'm imagining him as a Nimir-Ra of a London pard. :-)

[child-labor.livejournal.com]

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

There are a few more Dawn/FF stories in me yet, I think. Namely, dealing with River and Dawn, and how Simon's more than a little curious as to how much Dawn knows about River.

One day.

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

This is *fantastic*. I have much Holmes love, so this hit all my literary-love buttons. This is wonderfully in character for Dawn and for the Holmes clan. I just...love. There's much love. And the best part is you've left me craving more. Not that I'm begging, though I would if you thought it would help, but that kind of story telling is just wonderful. The kind that both tantalizes and encourages. Marvellous stuff.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it! I think I'm pulling in new readers over at TTH... thre reviews by people I've never heard from before :)

I think the best stories leave you to wonder what will happen next. I spent all last night wondering that myself... and have a good idea. I may write it, one day, if I ever find myself done all those other stories.

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

Now you've got me going. Hope this serves to spur you on, if only to make sure I don't commandeer your infant crossover-verse :-)....

----------

Fitting into late-19th-century London was both harder and easier than Dawn had imagined. Yes, it sucked not to be able to wear jeans (and corsets pinched like the dickens); and yes, it sucked not to be able to go into a bar without everyone assuming you were a whore (because ladies simply didn't do That Sort Of Thing); and yes, it sucked not to be able to use the word "suck" out loud.

But actually finding a plausible persona -- that was astonishingly easy. It took Sherlock all of about five minutes to figure it out.

"Miss Summers," he had said, leaning forward in his chair, his sharp grey eyes glittering with inspiration and enthusiasm, "from this point forward, you are an actress. An American actress. This will limit your acceptance in polite society, but only the most stuffy and boring people would refuse to accept you -- and you don't want to be wasting your time with them in any event. It give you a freedom of movement that more 'respectable' women simply do not have in this day and age. Furthermore, it will serve to explain your accent."

"Ummm, there's one small problem, Mr. Holmes. I'm not an actress. I don't have the talent."

"Nonsense, Miss Summers. Not only do you have the talent to act, but --" here he gave her a thin-lipped, yet good-natured smile "-- I surmise that you have spent much of your life acting out a personality that is not entirely yours."

Dawn had no choice but to chuckle at that. He was absolutely right -- she, Buffy, all of their close friends, had spent their lives pretending to be nice, "normal" (whatever that was) people, when in fact they were anything but.

"I have ties to a theatre troupe in Yorkshire. We'll start you out there, then slowly bring you to the metropolis as your skills increase, and all the while Brother Mycroft will keep tabs on you and you can report to him. How does that sound?"

Dawn grinned wholeheartedly for the first time since she'd fallen through the portal. "That would -- that would suit me down to the ground, Mr. Holmes," she replied, trying out an expression she'd heard Dr. Watson use.

"Tut-tut, Miss Summers," Holmes replied, waving a long finger. "That's a very masculine phrase to be coming out of your mouth. Say instead 'I would like that very much'."

"I would like that very much, Mr. Holmes."

"Much better. Now let's inform Mycroft and he will help make the necessary arrangements."

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

his sharp grey eyes glittering with inspiration and enthusiasm

Oh, we all love Sherlock with a challenge!

This was brilliant. Thanks for the "incentive" ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Meep! I thought it was Mhalachai Swords. Mhalachai's Words make ever so much more sense.

The story was very cute, and the last line, wonderfully ambiguous.

E.A.V.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

yeah, it only LJ had punctuation in its usernames.

Glad you liked the story. The best things usually end with ambiguity :)

[thymidinekinase.livejournal.com]

I'm not as steeped in Holmes as I am in the modern stuff, but I've always enjoyed it. Thanks for a fun read.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome. It's a bit of change from my normal fare (I usually avoid time travel at all costs) but the idea was too entertaining to pass up :)

[lillithj.livejournal.com]

::clears throat::

Um, Hi!

I found this entry thanks to catherinecookmm, who left it in my journal as consolation for yesterday's Bronco's loss.

It is an excellent link. I like Dawn's letter. I'm marginally conversant with the Buffy-verse, but I do think that Brother Mycroft would find someone from that universe to be quite helpful to his work in keeping accounts.

I also like the idea of time paradoxes and circular time operating on different levels.

As some one else said, the last line is very good. I'd love to know more about Dawn's choices.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it. I think that of all the people to recignize Dawn's potential, it would be Mycroft (once he got past the rather Victorian "But she's a lady" mentality)

One day, I may go more into the Dawn/Sherlock Holmes world... we'll see :)