I feel it in the air

[stauncherhearted]

[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!]

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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!

Comments

[knightscode]

"Dulac," he fills in, "Lance Dulac. I can write it down, if you like." He flashes her a smile, warm and easy, before shrugging -- as if he doesn't mind either way. "If you think you can't make it, equally, I can keep a few things aside for you behind the desk. Just make sure you don't test the alarms inside the building. People's ears will be ringing for days and they might blame me."

(He's already made that mistake once. How loud are these? The answer is very.)

[stauncherhearted]

"That's far too kind of you, Officer Dulac," she says, not offering her own name in exchange. Safety precaution, even if there were a thousand Nancys in the city alone. "We'll have to see, I guess." She neatly folded the paper and tucked it inside her purse.

"I'm guessing you speak from experience." There's no need not to lay the charms on him. It would help to have a friend in high places. Or at least, the police.

[knightscode]

His face screws up at that in a wince, nose wrinkling, and he takes a slow breath before letting it out.

"They have two buttons on the top," he says, as if excusing his mistake. "One is the light, one sets off the alarm -- although you can pull the pin out too, so it won't stop even if someone grabs it off you. I was... curious how loud it was, but I only meant to test the light first. Made myself and everyone else jump. Either way, I can definitely tell you they work -- I am fairly sure I got the attention of the entire office."

[stauncherhearted]

"I see," she says, affording him a smile. "Well then, honest mistake. I'll be sure to try not to make the same one."

[knightscode]

He lets out an awkward sort of laugh, suddenly very aware she probably wants him to go away as soon as possible. A police officer standing around is likely not the sort of attention she wants. He drops his eyes awkwardly, lifts them long enough to afford her a last smile -- slightly concerned.

"Well, I won't keep you. Have a good night, miss, and be careful."

[stauncherhearted]

It really, really isn't the sort of attention she wants. Anyone who'd come to her for any reason, blood, sex, drugs rock and roll, was going to be hanging far back. But thankfully, she didn't have to tell Officer Lance to shove off.

"Thank you, Officer. I'll do what I can. Maybe I'll see you at the station." But not around. That was a sure way to imply that she was indeed a prostitute.

With a quick wave, she took off, walking towards the bus stop as she'd promised. Maybe she'd have better luck on the other side of the Thames.