ᴛʜᴇ ᴅaɴɢeʀ ɪs I'ᴍ ᴅaɴɢeʀoᴜs. aɴᴅ I ᴍiɢʜᴛ ᴊusᴛ ᴛeaʀ ʏou aᴘaʀᴛ.

[vampiracy]

ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ Nᴀɴᴄʏ.

He promised the girl a night out, and the night out he's going to give. He's arguably a bit late in keeping up with his promise, yet Killian isn't always known for his promptness. There were things that required his attention at the Nest, after his long stay away, and now it's a matter of putting all ducks in a row again. There's unrest about all the territories being siezed around them, but for all the whispers about it, Hook cares little for it. As long as the wolves don't accumulate much more land, he hopes to stay out of it. He likely won't be that lucky.

Perhaps this will be a welcome distraction for him as well as Nancy. He'd picked her up like a proper gentleman, and food had gone first — he may not eat much anymore, but he'd made sure to do it well for her sake — and now they're off to the second part of their adventure. It's not far a walk, so he suggested they do that, though that's perhaps hard on the poor girl's feet.

"If you can guess what's next I might have to give you a prize," he teases her with what is very nearly a grin. She's been a bit odd tonight, he has to say, yet it's been some time he spent time with someone he's genuinely fond of. Probably because he is not genuinely fond of many.

ᴛʜᴇ Jᴏʟʟʏ Rᴏɢᴇʀ. ( ᴏᴘᴇɴ )

Hook is nearly always at his pub by night, though not always in the front. He'll invite certain people to the back room — generally vampires, who are welcome to have a little blood with their alcohol thanks to the fangbangers that are friendly with the nest, but not necessarily just them. The only rule is no fighting on the premises, and if you break the rules you're not likely to stay long.

If Killian isn't found in the bar itself, he's probably in his office. At times working on problems for the nest. And if you're really lucky, you might spot him in the company of a small, precocious grey kitten. She has a bed in the corner but she always sleeps in the most inconvenient place imaginable.

ᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴏғ Lᴏɴᴅᴏɴ. ( ᴏᴘᴇɴ )

It doesn't matter how long it's been since his epic, sea-faring adventures; the pirate will always exist in him, and that means that he spends a lot of time by the water when he's landlocked to London. He is often there close to evening, wishing for the city lights to be a little dimmer so he can catch a glimpse at the stars, but sometimes he's there during the day.

He even takes on odd jobs aboard on occasion, when he misses being out on the water enough. It's not that he doesn't have his own boats, he just misses the sensation of working on a crew. If you spot him, don't expect him to stop until the day's work is done.

will match prose or brackets! if you'd like a specific something, catch me via pm or goplayzelda!

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy was indeed acting oddly. Any question he asked, she answered truthfully, trying not to wince when things she'd rather not say came out. It was awful, the curse. At least dinner meant she could eat and drink and make it all just a bit easier.

Her feet were, surprisingly not hurting as she walked with him, her arm looped through his. He was so handsome, and she'd already told him that tonight, because it was the truth.

"I have no idea where we're going, but I'll try for a prize. You know, I've had a crush on you since I was little." She blushed fiercely under the wine blush already on her cheeks. He already knew, he had to. But still. It was embarrassing.

[vampiracy]

It perhaps hinted at how superficial the questions he tended to ask, how he hadn't quite caught on to the fact she couldn't help but tell the truth. If he had any idea, well... that was quite a state to be in. To a man that lied as easily as he breathed, he could understand the value in the things left unsaid.

He glanced down at her with perked brows at that rather revealing confession. Yes, he had been aware. It was exactly the sort of reaction he tried to draw out of people, though generally it was from a great deal more manipulation. He saw too much familiar in Nancy, it drew parts of him out he'd like to pretend no longer existed. She'd known him since she was very young, it made a great deal of sense.

He could pretend it was the wine that had her so free, yet it was curious. "A bit too much wine, Nance?" he inquired, though he was gracious enough to not let her dwell on the embarrassment. He flicked a curl over her shoulder, trying to distract her with something else. "Come on then, have a guess. You get it right, I'll have to think of a prize."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy wrinkled the end of her nose as he teased her across the table. He was always kind to her, and with that roguish twinkle in his eyes, what young girl would be able to resist? Crushes like that, they never fully went away, no matter how hard you tried.

"No-though I wish it was. It's a- a curse. I have to tell the truth." And it was making life really, really hard. It was astounding, how many white lies there were in her every-day vernacular. Or simply how much she avoided speaking the truth at all. It was easier around people like Hook and Kenzi, who knew her, who didn't care. But it put her in awful situations already. She was dreading the day she had to talk to Stiles.

But let's not talk about the curse. Let's drink more wine- which she did- and guess where they were going. "A show? I've always wanted to see Ghost of the Opera."

[vampiracy]

"A curse?" He frowned at that, and his attention was delayed for a bit. He knew Nancy was too smart to go around without a protection against compulsion, especially in her line of work, so how had that happened? All the same, he had to ask: "You weren't compelled, were you?" If it were someone in the nest, they could very easily be convinced to remove it. The pirate could be very, very convincing.

A show was a pretty good guess, but, not quite the right one. He at least moved on from the subject he had to imagine she was unhappy with. He might even manage to avoid questions that might lean too personal... probably.

"Haven't seen that one either, I'm afraid. No, it's closer than that." Just about a block away, though it wasn't exactly a prominent dance club. It might not help her a great deal.

[stauncherhearted]

"A curse." Because she just had to answer the rhetorical question. Because curses can't tell intentions. Jerks. "No. I don't take my charm off." a small opal that hung around her neck. "Cephei said it could be a random curse, imps having fun at my expense. They couldn't have picked a worse person for this." She sighed, irritably stabbing at her plate.

After a moment, she sighed again and dropped her fork, leaning back slightly. "Well it's not a film, nothing in the area. Killian, are you taking me bowling?" She fixed him with an incredulous look.

Port of London

[rules_winter]

Mab had to move into Southwark to meet the captain who carried her cargo. Fortunately it wasn't that far out of the way for her as she'd been spending time in Lewisham of late anyway. Grimalking was still strolling the streets of the territory she was claiming along with several others so it gave her a moment to slip away to pick up the order of rare books she'd been expecting. Sometimes it was very convenient to be the type of thing that lived for ages. It meant she had plenty of time to accumulate wealth enough to indulge in her own pursuit of useful tomes. Not that the fae really needed to worry about money anyway, a little glamor and they could hand over gold bars if they needed to. It was unnecessary now.

She stood on the stone wall of the lock and looked out over the smaller craft waiting for the captain to meet her when he'd promised. She had gone to a lot of trouble for this but it was rare to get access to books from the middle east. The humans there were nearly as exclusionary as the fae and guarded their treasures like dragons. The sun had set an hour ago and it was probably not the safest place for a woman to wait for a shady captain but if she was worried it did not even remotely appear on her face. Other sailors moved around her, only glancing occasionally in curiosity other than an occasional offer from a sailor coming back from a pub. She simply fixed the sailor with her coldest look and then turned away dismissing his importance completely. The most recent time with less than positive results. It took the sailor a moment to understand he'd been rejected, and then a moment longer for his face to turn red with embarrassment and anger.

From the outside it probably looked like she didn't notice the man advancing threateningly toward her back.

[vampiracy]

It was funny how the docks seemed to change with the falling of the sun. It was not quite the unruly state he remembered from centuries ago, back when he was more than just a pencil pusher for the nest, back when he could sail the seas and punish the crown that deserved it, yet it was similar. It makes him feel nostalgic more than anything. It's been a very long time since then... a part of him will always miss it.

The darkness is supposedly his hour, considering what he is now. It doesn't bother him to be out at the docks as things grow a little more grim and dangerous. There's not much that could trouble him, after all. He's not even headed anywhere in particular, since he's got nowhere in particular to go, when he notices an incensed man advancing on a woman that seemed severely out of place.

Whether she doesn't notice or not, he doesn't want to risk it. He zips forward a few steps, far too fast to be appropriately human, before he snags the man with one fist in the back of his jacket. "Take a hike or take a swim, your choice." Even as a pirate, he had no fondness for such things. He still had some faith in good form.

[vampiracy]

"That's bloody odd, isn't it?" He'd have to ask Tink if those wretched little things were getting a little more uppity than usual. The one thing he had to give her was how frustrating it must be. In fact she likely wouldn't be quite as fond of him if she knew how often and how fluidly he lied. "I'll avoid questions, love." Barring that last one, obviously.

He had to laugh at her inquiry. "Gods, no. I said I'd give you a good night, I don't think bowling qualifies." And one probably could not pay the old man enough to actually bowl. If he'd ever tried (and he had) he wasn't good at it. He waved for the waiter to call for the bill. "I guess it will be a surprise then, sweetheart."

[stauncherhearted]

"Extremely." Of course she had to answer. She rolled her eyes at that, stabbing at her plate again. "Thank you, Killian." That got him a solemn nod. "I just want to forget about this stupid curse and concentrate on something else." And what do you know, he was offering one.

"Not bowling, alright." She set the fork down and looked up once more at Hook. "alright, a surprise it is. It better be a good one, mind you." She pointed a finger at him as threateningly as she could with a smile on her face.

[rules_winter]

Well, it was probably better that the vampire handled it than she did, it would be difficult to explain a human iceblock in the middle of August. She turned as he spoke to the gentleman who was spluttering profanities now and jerking in his jacket trying to get free. Her eyes moved from the indignant and definitely drunk sailor, to Killian.

His movement had been too quick to be human, and his magic was not fae or wolf so it made the conclusion that he was a vampire easier. That his magic felt a little like Baron Coopers helped as well. She'd already been propositioned for her blood once this month but he didn't seem to be high on it at least so perhaps it was just a coincidence that he decided to step in. The sailor settled a little in Hook's grip, drooping like he was giving up and Mab watched the Vampire with some interest to see what he would do.

[vampiracy]

If the situation were reversed, Killian probably wouldn't have left his flat. Nancy might have lied to protect herself, he lied because it was easier to get what he wanted that way. He had too many balls in the air to risk dropping one by an errant truth. The problem with a vampire staying in was they really couldn't take ill, now could they? No excuse for disappearing.

"I'll spare both of us those dreadful shoes." It was not the most attractive quality to be so vain, yet the pirate was pretty determined to stay stylish and bowling shoes didn't qualify. He put a few bills down for their meal, before rising and offering an arm. "I never disappoint a lady, Nance, I should think you'd know that."

[vampiracy]

A part of him was almost disappointed by the lack of reaction. A bit of splutter and bluster and then ducking down and muttering apologies and promises he was just trying to head home, honest. Hook missed the bared teeth and sharp personalities he used to run into centuries ago. It was easy to get into a fight then, and there was some kind of thrill in it. For a man that had been dead for so long, he was running out of ways to feel alive.

He begrudgingly released the man, with enough of a shove that he nearly lost his feet. "See that you do," he muttered, wiping off his hands like he'd been touching filth. He didn't pay much mind to the man as he scampered away. If he came back (or laid in wait) he'd certainly hear it. His eyebrows lifted at the picture she painted, but unlike the lady herself, he had no way of knowing he was looking at something supernatural. "A bit of an odd place to find a lady. Especially at this hour." It's not exactly condemnation, just curiosity. "Looking for someone in particular, love? Perhaps I can help you."

[rules_winter]

Considering the man thought he'd be assaulting a lone woman, and instead found himself dealing with a clearly in shape man, took a lot of wind out of the man's sails. He glared at Hook before stomping away, weaving a little on his trek. Mab ignored him in favor of the vampire who moved as though he'd spent some time in a different century. Something closer to her own natural movements.

"Mmm." The sound came out low and considering. "Is it?" She didn't look around though, or take in how much quieter it was now aside from the occasional call from a ship, or group of tourists passing by on the street above. "I have found it makes life more interesting if one is willing to step outside of other's comfort zone." There was a hint of amusement in her eyes and they might look a little bright as the sky darkened through twilight into true night. The charcoal grey suit she wore made her hair and skin almost glow as the streetlights turned on and a whisp of fog curled around her feet before disappearing again.

Her fingers moved to touch where a watch would be if she wore one and she lifted one shoulder. "I am to meet the captain of this vessel in ten minutes to pick up some inventory promised." Her teeth flashed, small and white and possibly a little sharp in a smile. "How fortunate for me that you happened along." Assuming he wasn't just chasing off competition to try to rob her or drain her. Of course if he was she did not look the least bit concerned about the prospect.

[stauncherhearted]

"and I thank you for that. I'll stick to my heels thank you." that, at least, made her somewhat taller than she would have been otherwise.

Nancy opened her purse for a moment, looking around for a compact to check her lipstick. "so. not bowling. can I get a hint?" unable to locate the desired item, she snapped her purse shut and accepted his hand.

She came to stand three inches taller than she otherwise was, following Killian's lead out. "Good- you've got a high bar set for you, so I best enjoy myself." She hadn't ever been on a real date date anyway, not that this was what that was. unfortunately.

[vampiracy]

"Always thought that myself." It'd been a bit of a troublesome habit back when he was human, had ended up with scars and injuries he certainly didn't need, yet he'd possessed a real skill for avoiding death until he'd given it up for revenge. Technically, he still had skill in survival, it just wasn't exactly life he was so determined to protect.

She was a curious creature, and he couldn't exactly pin why. Despite being very close with at least one fae, he knew enough of them to know that they were as widely different as humans were. They generally didn't care to show their nature very easily, especially not around something like him. She seemed abnormal at best, and that honestly didn't give a man too much. There were plenty of abnormal people running about London and they weren't magical in the slightest, just entirely too eccentric for their own good. The lack of consideration to where she was, the eerie confidence, was the strangest of all... but she could just have been naive, stupid, or both, to think she'd have no trouble after dark at the docks.

He glanced at the ship she referenced, frowning a little. He knew the captains and vessels fairly well, and if he wasn't mistaken, the one she was waiting for was quietly known for his willingness to smuggle rare items into port for those willing to pay enough. "You seem a capable lady, but I'd be a horrible gentleman if I just walked by. Care for company until he arrives?"

[vampiracy]

"Might not be the best shoes for what I've got planned, but I think you'll manage, anyway." Most ladies he knew danced just fine with heels on, after all, even though Nancy did tend toward taller ones than most. If her feet tired, well, they could always head home for the night.

He wasn't perilously tall, close enough to six feet to call it even, but even with three extra inches Nancy was quite a bit shorter than he was. He tucked her hand around her arm, ever the perfect gentleman — or, well, close enough — and once they were out the door turned them in the direction of the club. It was only a few feet, no need for a cab or to jump on transportation.

"I'm not sure I could show my face again if you didn't." Being entertaining was just about one of his only applicable skills these days, much to his own distaste.

[rules_winter]

"A rare quality I have found." She replied, "But it makes you more interesting." He assessed things and she didn't rush him while he did so. He was clearly at home down here next to the river, with boats creaking along the shore in the slight waves from the evening breeze and other passing ships. Not generally a place you'd think to find a vampire. But then again, many people along the shores of the Thames did not venture out for long spells in which anemic crews would cause a stir. They moved up and down the river mooring where desired especially the smaller vehicles.

Her head dipped, acknowledging the politeness of him noting she could likely handle herself. Even if it was more flattery than true belief. "You may linger if it suits you." She offered, lifting a hand in invitation that seemed to present the stones of the lock in general. They were, for the most part, alone and she played her hand a bit just to see how he'd handle it. "I hope I have not interrupted your hunt, Gentleman Vampire."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy gave him a pointed look. "I'm not helping you bury a body." Seriously, it would ruin her shoes, and even if she hadn't technically bought them, she didn't want to waste them. Immediately after finishing her thought, she grinned up at him, following his lead down the street towards their final destination for the evening.

"I'd be incredibly upset if you stopped showing your face," she pointed out, "which would really just make things all the worse for you, I'm sure. You've got a lot riding on this, Kill." She had no doubts that he would wow her with his entertaining.

[vampiracy]

That does provoke a laugh. "What sort of dates are you used to, darling?" Fact of the matter was, if somebody needed to be buried, he'd toss them in the ocean, and not the ground. A bit of a macabre thought, though. He may be undead, but he generally did try to avoid burials during his nights out. Most people did.

"Perhaps we'll just compromise and try again if I muck this one up horribly." She was right, there was little chance he'd disappear. He needed this connection just as he needed to stay on good terms with her father. It was not the most happy of thoughts to try and consider who his loyalty would fall to, so he'd rather not think on it at all.

They were close enough to see a short line lingering outside of a darkened, rather ominous looking set of doors. "Just there," he pointed out, wondering how she'd take the club from the outside. It did look like a depressing, dreary place from the street. Inside it was far more lively.

[vampiracy]

Yes, a vampire fond of sailing was quite an odd condition indeed. It'd made his exploits in the past even more dangerous, and his bloodythirsty reputation quite literal. It had unnerved his men to keep live prisoners in the brig, but they'd been happy to tell him whatever useful thing they had in their miserable heads once he'd fed on them. He compelled them to all remember him as terrifying and brutal and set them on their way, miserable and confused. Sometimes it was more important to build infamy than it was to kill.

He had no particularly reason to stay, yet he had no particular reason to go, either. Which was enough reason to linger for him. He didn't suspect she needed defending and honestly he liked to call himself a gentleman, but he really didn't try terribly hard to uphold it. He was more curious than anything, though it seemed a dangerous curiosity when she guessed at something she really shouldn't have known.

There was a tick in his jaw, a slight tensing she'd really have to look for. He didn't think she was a hunter, but this would be a rather annoying night if she was. "Surely not, it'd be foolish to piss in the well." He didn't actually work around here, but he was around enough that he didn't need to cause unnecessary trouble for himself. "Would you stop me if you had?" Hunters aren't much for bargaining, he has found, but they did like to announce themselves. She was either a hunter or magical of some sort, to have sensed what he was.

[rules_winter]

It took a certain sense of humor to spread rumors about being bloodthirsty when one was actually bloodthirsty. Mab enjoyed the macabre humor in such things if she knew he'd done so. Though going easy on his enemies was perhaps a softness she didn't agree with.

She smiled a little as his jaw tensed, pleased that she had put him on edge. And putting him on edge brought out the sailor in him if his language was anything to go by. "Fools are not difficult to find in a city of this size." She pointed out and then tilted her head a little at his question. "I imagine it would depend on who you were hunting. I have allies in the area and I would certainly defend myself. I see no need to interfere otherwise." That's right, she's ok with draining the odd Tourist here and there. It was in his nature and Mab could understand a predator's nature.

Which meant she was likely not a hunter. And left Hook with his other option. But what would he suspect her to be. Not a light witch, likely as they had a bad habit of sticking their noses in where they didn't belong. She looked at him expectantly, waiting to see what conclusions her newly appointed bodyguard would draw.

[stauncherhearted]

"The ones where I'm only there to get them off," she said, cringing at the straightforwardness that the curse operated on. "Suffice to say, it's not a very high bar you've got to pass." She smiled over at him, unaware. Truthfully, she always expected people to side with Fagin over her. Why would they?

Nancy's smile quickly slid into a frown as they approached the dark doors. She could feel the bass from out here.

"A club." She said as she was sliding into line with other girls who were, actually, wearing far less clothing than her. Not that she was judging. Honestly, she's pretty impressed with Killian's decision. Already, people were starting to look at him, and glance her way with jealousy.

[vampiracy]

It was not that he was incapable of taking a life. He was more than capable of that, he'd killed plenty in his extended lifetime and he had dreams of at least one more stain of blood on his hands. It's just that he had an odd fancy of who deserved it and who didn't. Good form was a questionable concept, really, but one he'd followed his entire life. He'd kill in self defense, and he'd kill those who had wronged him. Poor fools working in the Navy weren't guilty of the crown's crimes.

"You don't get to be as old as I am acting a fool." He had to be careful, and his temper was quick enough and his nature dangerous enough that sometimes he slipped, but that was hardly something one would openly admit to. His expression was calculating as she answered, half looking for deception and half trying to piece together exactly what he was dealing with.

There were a few options, and he rifled through them, but in the end he doubted she was a witch. They didn't have to cater to the light to have little fondness for vampires. Not a hunter, probably not a witch, and excluding far more confidence than most would in face of a creature like himself... "A bit strange for your kind to play their hand with mine." If she was a fae, being too obvious seemed downright foolish. There were plenty like them that would attempt to attack just at the idea of fae blood in their system.

[vampiracy]

"That's not a date, it's business." He's rather matter-of-fact about it, too. If he's supposed to feel oddly about such a blunt reference, well, that's never been the sort of man he is. He thinks there's a great deal of power in sexuality, especially a woman's. If she can get what she wants out of it, who had any right to stop her? He'd never used sex for money, but he'd used it for just about anything and everything else.

After all, he was good looking, always had been. He'd used it to his advantage for his entire lifetime, it'd be very hypocritical to judge her for the same. He might have preferred she make that choice for herself, instead of the dreadful man that kept her.

"Probably not the kind that you're used to," he warned, directing them past the line and toward the door. There was some sound of protest at that when the bouncer let them through, but he paid it little mind. The music was lively once they made it through the door, even if the darkened halls with the coat check were still a bit from the floor. "Ever tried salsa, Nancy?" he leaned a bit closer to make sure she could hear him, over the noise. He didn't go to places like this often, the noise was terrible on already sensitive hearing, but it'd be worth it for the night.

[stauncherhearted]

"Some have treated it like a date," she pointed out. They wined her and dined her in a nice hotel, then left the money on the night stand with the room paid until 1 and brunch already ordered for you. Those were always the best sorts of nights. The ones that she found herself enjoying. There was nothing wrong with that, either.

"But I don't actually date-date." See? Very low bar. If she did date-date... No one would be comfortable dating a prostitute. "Oh! Wow, that's some high-class there, slipping past the velvet ropes." She grinned at him, the smallest of dimples appearing on her cheeks.

She was about to question him about his sort of club when he brought her in and she could properly hear the music. She raised an eyebrow. "Can't say that I have. But let's see if I can rise to the occasion."