undergrounds | do you fly in the day, darling

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do you fly in the day, darling

[A June 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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A Just another Saturday night out, Nancy's lips painted blood red and staining the side of her low-ball glass. Her legs are crossed at the ankles, black pumps and fishnets on full display under her short leather skirt. It's a night out, another night working. People around here knew who she was, what she offered. It was easier in supernatural bars, Nancy knew, to find vampires looking for a feeding, or even just a john wanting some company.

She props an elbow up on the bar, and looks down the the way, eyes peeled for any familiar, or unfamiliar, face. She'll just try not to think about how great it would be to be watching Netflix right now instead of work.

B Do you believe in fate, baby, ask me, ask me, the music played in her earbuds as Nancy jogged in place at a cross-walk. Trainers on her feet and hair pulled up in a pony-tail, she was doing her usual exercise routine. Always good to be fast on your feet, she'd learned as a child, and running was a great way to keep that up. Even if she had ways to get away, her feet were still just as important.

Besides, there was something relaxing about running, she'd found. She could shove the world away and concentrate on the music and running and the city. She'd found her way down to the Thames, and was running on the paths near it, past youths with skateboards and graffiti'd walls, business men grabbing a bite to eat right outside the Globe. It was astounding the way the culture and history blended together so seamlessly. She'd never get over that.

The light turned green, and on she ran.

C Choose your own! Private starters in the comments.

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"Depends on what you want," she explained. Not one to reveal herself immediately, at least in terms of magic, she started slow. "We start at 20 pounds, go up from there."

"Twenty quid. Fair enough."

When he reaches into his pocket for his wallet he attempts some sense of discretion, actually eyeing the note in his hands for a moment or two before sliding it across the bar.

"that gets my hands below your belt," she explained, pocketing the note. She stood up, finishing her drink and setting it down on the bar with a meaningful glance at the man behind the counter. He knew Nancy, kept a vague eye out for her in case something happened. and if she forgot to pay her tab.

she extended her hand to Sasuke. "lead the way."

The explanation's met with an almost odd look but it's partnered with a nod of confirmation, his hand taking hers. If she's an unusual patron of a bar like this then he's certainly an unusual john, not seeming like the type who'd need to pay. What he has in looks he makes up for in a total lack of social skills, at least, showcased by his lack of effort to make conversation when he leads her from the pub.

It's a short walk to a cheap hotel and he pays for the room in cash, getting a second glance from the man running the front desk but at least he doesn't ask any questions. It's only when they're actually in the room that he speaks again, taking the time to pour himself some water.

"Do you need anything? I doubt they serve food in a place like this."

no such thing. she's had men that could get any girl they wanted. she'd had awful mouth breathers from hell. the unusual was usual.

she didn't say anything either, didn't try to get to know him. if he wanted to, he would. Once they're in the room, though, she doffs her coat and sits on the edge of the bed.

"Water's fine. So- tell me what you want and I'll give you a sum. minus the 20 pound deposit." business first. The idea that he actually may have just wanted to talk not even on her mind.

It doesn't offend him; in actuality he prefers it. His history of chit-chat -- especially with women -- is bleak and framing it as business makes it easier.

"I want to talk to you," he repeats, pouring the second cup of water before extending it to her. "What's the charge for that?"

really just talk? she raises an eyebrow skeptically. "that's hourly." she just made that up. "but 20 is good for now." this guy clearly wanted to talk.

she leaned forward. "what's on your mind?" she patted the spot on the bed next to her. "cuddling is included." if he needed it.

Okay, this time a reaction is harder to hide, though he does his best. Cuddling... Sasuke sits all the same, downing half that cup in one go.

"I wanted to talk to you about your former clients. What sort of trends you've seen, if any were violent or raised flags, if there are new vampires in this city. That sort of thing." ... "Is it better if I ask how your day is going, first?"

"oh." one of those talks. Nancy frowned.

"I don't talk about my clients." she said simply. "and vampires don't exist." beneath a simple illusion she had healing bite marks on her wrists and neck, as well as a few other marks over her body. but she didn't know this man, she wasn't going to parade the Underground in front of someone she didn't know.

"You know as well as I do that that isn't true. I know the types that frequent that pub, and I know that you do more than talk to a lot of them. I told you that I'm not going to hurt you, and I meant it, but you don't need to lie to me."

Nancy say up, her face as neutral as possible. "I don't talk about my clients," she repeated. "and don't even think of trying to blackmail me because it won't work."

"Why would I blackmail you when I already paid you money?" This seems like a fair point, and a good time to finish off his water. If only it were alcohol. Or not.

"Names aren't really what I'm interested in, more just the knowledge of how things are in this district right now. I'd prefer it if it were at least somewhat peaceful."

"that's why it wouldn't work." he was smart, she could work with that.

"what's it to you? You with Redbright?"

"Redbright, huh. It's good to know that we've at least moved past denying the existence of the place altogether." For shame.

"They have enough help without adding me to their list. I'm asking these questions for myself. I don't have an agenda."

"shut up," she told him shortly. she didn't need sass if she was being interrogated.

"Look. I don't know you. I don't know how you know me. I stay out of politics as much as I can." everything she did was pretty much illegal anyway.

"So do I; I hate politics." If he's offended by her outburst then he's doing a very good job of hiding it.

"Your life and job are both difficult. I'm not trying to make them even worse, I just had a few questions. It's easier if we're straightforward."

she looks at him carefully. "how dare you come in here and presume to tell me how hard my life is? you have no idea who I am. do no speak that way to me." she was on her feet now, pacing slowly. sitting down was now an impossibility.

so was cuddling.

"I'm being straightforward. all I know is there's apparently a newborn around. that's all. I haven't run into him and haven't planned on it." she looked at him. "are you happy? or is there more you want to know?" if she had information, he'd have had to pay more. "because I don't know and I don't care. that's it."

"... No. That's plenty." And it's not, really, but... maybe now is one time when he actually wishes he'd kept his mouth shut, unpracticed at empathy but it'd been a less than successful attempt.

"I wasn't trying to make you angry. If you want compensation for that information, I'm willing to offer that. Otherwise I won't bother you further. You're free to have the room if you want it."

"it's fine," she said shortly. "but it's my turn now: how do you know who I am? someone mention me?" she crossed her arms, looking at him pointedly.

He thinks to point out that it's clearly not fine and realizes that this is probably part of his problem. Mouth. Shut. Sasuke does however have the audacity to glance around the room as if puzzled, and wondering how he's the one she could be talking to.

"... I'm the one that paid you money. Why would I have to answer?"

"Because I want to bloody know! if people are telling others that I'm the girl to go to for information, I want to know." and she would find them. and she would kill them.

"That's why."

"I understand your reason for concern, but I can assure you it's just me. I didn't get my information from anyone but myself; I'm good at watching people and catching sight of a few trends in behavior. I'm quiet, so it's easy to go unnoticed." Almost like a ninja, but we don't need to get into that comparison.

"You're yelling at me but I haven't given your name to anyone."

"I am not yelling!" yeah, she was. taking a breath, she started again. "fine. say I believe you. but since I'm not charging, I would like to get back to the bar."

this would have been easier to have done publicly.

Well not with the yelling.

"I paid you twenty quid and secured the room." Young people these days. "If you have anything else you can tell me, it would help."

oh he'd love that wouldn't he? "Nope. nothing to add." nothing about her plans of further illegal activities with Kenzi, or who told her about the newborn, certainly nothing Fae she had access too.

"I appreciate the room." at least.

do you fly in the day, darling

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