undergrounds | I feel it in the air

[A July catch-all! Pick an option and say hello, or start something more specific in the comments. Hit me up on plurk if you want a specific starter!]

-

Option One
Nancy had gotten her start picking pockets as just a child. It was so easy, when you were so close to the ground, to look in purses, to bump into people and distract them while your friend grabbed their wallet or their iPod. Picking pockets wasn't hard at all, if you knew what you were doing.

Shoplifting had come next, as it often did for teenage girls looking for a quick high. It wasn't that for Nancy, unfortunately. It was a way to make money, to get what she wanted. Slide an important object into her purse and no one was any smarter. Wrap a scarf around her neck and pretend she'd been wearing it when she walked in. It was cake.

And okay, yes, it was a great way to get a quick high. This was what brought Nancy to Spittalfields market. It was a busy afternoon, the stalls were bustling, and no one was paying any sort of attention to what a petite girl like her was doing. So a few pieces of jewelry here, a few wallets there- tourists were idiots. They saw the 'Beware Pickpockets' signs and instantly checked where they kept their valuables. Easy marks.

Besides, she had to make up for the first week or so of the month when she'd been holed up in her flat, escaping the Hunt.

Option Two
The Thames was beautiful at night. The lights reflected off the surface, you couldn't tell how dirty it was, either. You could walk along, cross over bridges, watch people stumble home from clubs. There was a lot of time to think, too.

Of course, down by the water anywhere was where you could find her sort. A pair of fish-nets and high-heels, tiny dress. She hadn't had much luck in pubs earlier that evening, so now it was time to wait till bar close, when men started stumbling home, desperate for a woman. That, also happened to be when many vampires chose to feed. And that's where she made the real money.

Option Three
"I'm tired of having these bloody conversations!" Through grit teeth, a petite ginger paced quickly in front of the tube station. "No- no, you stop it.- Stop talking, and let me explain you devil!" On the other end of the line, a man prattled about, his condescending tone loud. If Nancy had been paying attention to him, he assumed so, unaware that, mid-way through his diatribe, she was rolling her eyes.

Finally, she'd had enough. "Listen here; I'm about to get on the tube. I can't talk. I'll come over before work tonight, talk with him- yes, yes, you'll have it, I got it all sorted, you'll have your potions!" Nancy nearly tosses the phone into her purse, violently pressing on her touch-screen to end the call.

"Bloody bastard."

Option Four
Wild card. Make your own, drop me a line, whatever. A few private starters in the comments!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nancy raised both her eyebrows for a moment before laughing. How absolutely adorable! "Of course- that's my plan, anyway."

She paused a moment, unsure what to do with his hand before she took it. "Nice to meet you, Doctor Faust. I'm Nancy. Not a doctor, unfortunately."

"That's perfectly all right. I understand we're getting a bit rare these days." He leaned forward, lowering his voice as if to impart a secret. "School costs, you know. Terrible."

Nancy! Of course. Now he remembered. "Pardon me, but I believe I may have seen you around before. I buy a lot of supplies, you see. For my practice."

(Medical or otherwise.)

"Oh, absolutely!" But you wouldn't know from her tone that she had absolutely no experience with that.

Wait.

"Oh. I see. You know the old one, my father?" Best not to say his name, just in case.

"Well, know is a bit strong, but yes. It's hard to get the sort of 'pharmaceuticals' I need sometimes. I had to search high and low trying to find this particular item. But then someone told me your father might be able to get some for me."

He shook his head. "The modern world has so many advances. But sadly, a lot of... manufacturers... are tightening their belts. The recession, perhaps."

"Perhaps." Redbright probably had something to do with it, as well. "He's good at getting what people need." Not asking why or how, but just getting it. Though really, it was the others who brought these things in for him. He just made a profit and kept his name out of it in the end. Bastard.

Perhaps sensing a little awkwardness ('he's good at getting what people need' was not really a shining endorsement of one's inner character), Faust paused for a moment.

"Well. This is definitely something that I need, so I do hope he'll be able to deliver. It can't be easy for you, though. Not with all the rules."

aka crackdowns on anything dark magic-related, which Faust specialized in. There was an edge of bitterness in his voice. What right had they to deny him what he needed to continue with his work?

"I did try going through other channels. But the establishment is brittle and unbending. Even more so than where I used to live."

Nancy pursed her lips just slightly. "Right."

Glancing around to make sure they were decently alone, she looked up at Faust. "What is it you need from him?"

"What I ordered was a quantity of Liliceae Mbwunensis," said Faust. It seemed safe enough to mention, as very few knew it at all, least of all by its scientific name.

"Do you, ah, take orders?"

"You already did," she made the note. "Right. I, no, I don't. I can speak with him about the order, however."

"Would you? That would be much appreciated." Another smile, warm and sunny. "They're so delicate, you know; they need the proper pH just to germinate! I sent the instructions for their packing and storage, of course."

What a nice girl Nancy was, and so conscientious. He had high hopes for this shipment.

He was so happy. It was unnerving. She blinked, but nodded, pulling her phone out again and hastily typing away. In a few moments though, she put the phone away and looked up.

"Right, got that down. I'll give him a call back, to remind him." This poor fellow. There was no way in hell that Fagin was even going to care at all about the plants. He'd get them out in whatever shape he saw fit. It wasn't as if he had a huge place to keep everything, either. He just had the attic store-room he'd turned into a home for the boys' years and years ago. You think he would have moved on, but he was a miser, for all that he loved his gold.

"I really hope your shipment gets to you in good shape, I want you to know that," she said looking up into his eyes. But it wouldn't.

Maybe that should have served as some warning that all was not aboveboard. Maybe it should have softened the future blow. But his current, slightly fractured state of mind had left Faust unable to detect certain subtle nuances at times, and in any case it had been a while since someone had tried to cheat him.

"Thank you, Nancy. I appreciate it." He reached into his pocket and took out a white business card, which had an address and name printed on it. "By the way, if you're ever in need of treatment, I run a clinic in Lambeth."

Kind of an unusual place to have a medical clinic... or perhaps not?

"Of course," she said with a smile, reaching out to take the card. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

A very unusual place to have a clinic, she thought, looking over the card before placing it in her pocket. "I take it it's a unique sort of clinic." Specialized in people like them, she assumed.

"You might say that," said Faust. Goodness, he was sounding cheery (but still tired). "I used to run one in Germany, with my wife. We worked side-by-side..."

He trailed off for a moment, then seemed to remember he was in the middle of a conversation. "It's a medical clinic, but I run it on a very flexible basis. All kinds of clientele in the area. We try to be accommodating."

And low-key. Mostly. "You'd be surprised what kind of patients turn up, even at a humble door like mine."

She nods. "I see. Well, if I'm in need, you'll be my first stop. I'll be sure to pass it on to like-minded individuals."

She paused.

"Thank you, Doctor Faust."

"No problem at all," said Faust, giving Nancy a little bow. "I'd appreciate the business. Though I really should be going. Thank you again, Nancy."

"Of course. I'll make sure to remind him about your order right away." And after that, she would have done her part of the job. It was out of her hands.

Hopefully, Faust would see that.

I feel it in the air

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject