Supernatural AU - The Backstory

WHO IS THE "CUSTOMIZER"?

Claudia Donovan has no family left, not really. Her parents were brutally murdered when she was four, and the case is still unsolved. After that, her older brother Joshua raised her. They traveled all over the United States, both determined to find out what had really happened to their parents. Along the way, they learned of spirits, vampires, demons, and many other supernatural things that go bump in the night. It became clear that their parents murder.. fell into that supernatural category.

In fact, when she turned eleven, Josh found a new lead. But it was dangerous, more dangerous than the things they'd encountered before (which had already led to Claudia learning weaponry and self-defense, as well as a wealth of computer knowledge, at quite a young age). Promising he'd return, he left to follow the lead on his own, and dropped Claudia off at a bed and breakfast well known to wandering demon hunters: Mrs. Frederick's. She has neither seen nor heard from him since, and most presume him dead.

As the years went on, she also became well-known to wandering demon hunters... As "the customizer". She experiments with weapons constantly, and is always building and improving them for herself and for others. And yes, she takes requests for cold-hard cash.

It's also rumored that she can hack her way into almost any database on the web. But ask her about it and she's likely to be quite enigmatic. She only hacks as a favor to friends or on her own personal whims. She doesn't take money to do it. And if the hacking job isn't enough of a challenge for her? Then you'd better be willing to do favors in return.

WELCOME TO MRS. FREDERICK'S B&B

Nestled somewhere off the main road, between towns in South Dakota, sits an old Victorian-style bed and breakfast simply called Mrs. Frederick's. It's not exactly a romantic honeymoon getaway type, though the scenery in the large, treeless area is fairly breathtaking at night, lit up by a blanket of stars up above. It's so far from the main road you'd have to be looking for it to find it. And there are no advertisements around for it. It gets new customers by word-of-mouth alone. Because Mrs. Frederick's is a perfect little rest-stop for wandering demon hunters, and has been for decades, with its home-cooked style meals and endless quantities of alcohol, and its small but incredibly cozy rooms.

It's also been Claudia Donovan's home for exactly one decade. She's practically the inn's mascot. At eleven she was the little girl that begged to hold your weapons and hear all your demon stories. She was the little girl who's apparent fearlessness caused many a smile and a laugh. She'd reminded older demon hunters of the kids they'd lost, or the kids they'd left behind.

And now, at twenty-one, she's the chick that admires your car, gives you a beer, tells you that your scars are cool... and cleans, upgrades, and customizes all your weapons for a price. She's the chick with her own weapons workshop in the basement, one that no one dares enter without permission for fear of being blown up. She's the chick you know not to ask for warranties on anything you get customized by her, because experimenting is her hobby, and you, my friend, are the beloved and sometimes unfortunate guinea pig.

NOTE: Though written with Supernatural in mind, this AU can also easily fit into Buffyverse, as well as other supernatural-esque universes. :D