undergrounds | I'm fairly local; I've been around (OPEN)

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I'm fairly local; I've been around (OPEN)

A. DAY:

[ creature of the night he may be, Derek's life is far from nocturnal. admittedly, this is partially because he sleeps less than he probably ought to, especially these days. however, it's also because even in London, there are places that aren't 24/7. yet. a bank. a decent mechanic. somewhere that sells smores flavoured pop tarts. combined with his own restlessness, and a sense that he still doesn't quite belong, Derek is unable to hang around at the den all day.

when he's out, he's watchful. even on the streets of the city centre, Derek has come to learn that he can't afford to overlook anything. perhaps it's an inhuman kind of scent that has his gaze catching, lingering, or perhaps a face he recognizes from the Redbright ball has him staring in heavy, curious scrutiny. maybe he simply has to squeeze past the same PETA collector on the street, muttering something about no goddamn escape. ]

B. NIGHT:

[ after the sun sets, Derek retreats to his own territory. generally speaking, he's not looking for a fight, and lurking around other areas of London at night is sometimes as much a provocation as is necessary. he keeps to the east end, hemming along every county line like a sentry, watching - waiting, maybe - for any suggestion that things are not as they should be on his turf. his. he'd never considered it in those terms when he'd been following Laura's lead, when there had been another alpha running things. aside from an inherent wolfish sense of territory, he'd felt little investment. now, his position has changed, but the disconnect here lingers. in the wake of his own hasty decision making, he still feels like he's standing in. that only makes him all the more tense.

and all the more eager to work. he covers a surprising amount of distance on foot, keeps his ear to the ground to keep track of what's going on. maybe it's quiet. maybe it's not. but he stays out late.

if, on his unofficial patrol, he comes across something or someone that seems like they shouldn't be here - well, Derek follows. ]

C. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!

( catch all! feel free to tag in with your own starter - just give me a heads up if you're looking for anything in particular - or let me know if you'd like a specific heading! 8] )

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He does not submit, per say, but it seems to be a struggle for him, a man who knew power when he could sense it. He has power of his own, not the same kind as her own but it is there, prickling beneath his skin, even dormant as it was now. Werewolves tended to bristle when a predator challenged them and she was delighted to see he had enough control not to do so himself. But he was smart enough not to back away either. And ahhh... he met her eyes. Very nice.

"Derek Hale." She even had the California accent correct as she repeated his name, like she was tasting it, trying it on for size and there was power in the saying of it.

His question, she decided, was bold as though he was slowly regaining his strength in the face of meeting a Lady of the Unseelie court. She lifted a hand slowly, her lips curling up a little at the corners as she considered the question. If he didn't step away nor stop her, that hand would touch his cheek. "I am here to determine what is to be done." She replied finally, "The witches overstep." Something in her eyes flashed irritation at the audacity and cold pushed out around them making more puddles freeze though her hand was still warm.

Derek did move away. He did. But it was not how it should have been, was not the immediate, instinctive reaction he usually favoured. Usually, the first fractional movement would be enough to have him recoiling, but with her - with her he waited, waited until her fingers - soft as falling snow - rasped against his stubbled skin. Sucking in a sharp breath, he stepped backwards, gaze sweeping between her face and her outstretched hand as though she held a weapon. The cold, the mist, even the way she says his name - it was weird, for lack of a better word, and it made Derek's skin crawl, but stubbornness and some strange magnetism kept him rooted where he was.

Daybreak. Slowly, the rational thread of thought started to sink in, to take hold, and Derek welcomed it, seized reason like a lifeline. She had to be talking about Daybreak. He'd heard about the actions taken against the fae, even before meeting with Heiji and Stiles. Logic was a welcome distraction right now. While losing his head didn't exactly come easily to Derek, he was acutely aware of how wound up he was, and the fae Lady wasn't even doing anything. At least, he didn't think so. At least, he hoped she wasn't.

"Daybreak don't operate out of here."

Her hand stayed raised though she did not follow him back, the rasp of his beard still a shadowy prickling sensation on her fingertips. So much power held inside this young man. It made her smile. Oh yes, he would be a wonderful tool if she could find a way to wield him. His instincts were clearly warring with his rational mind. It wasn't often one had to find a way to deal with the fae and unless you had experience it could be dangerous in so many ways.

His breaking contact with her eyes likely helped a little with his trouble thinking. The shifting colors could really do a number on someone caught in their snare without her even making any effort to ensnare at all. His voice is rough like the animal inside him when he speaks and she wonders if it is like that always or if it is just the struggle to come back to himself that makes it thus.

She finally turns her head, allowing her hand to fall back to her side and looks out across what she can see of the street, pools of light showing empty sidewalks. "You are correct." She agreed, a soft sigh of breath cooling the air again, keeping that low fog rolling away from her feet. "We are patient." Meaning they weren't like the wolves, they wouldn't go haring in and attacking at the heart of Daybreak's power. Though some of them might like to. It is more Mab's style to encroach slow and steady, glacial in her progress, inevitable.

"I understand some of your brethren will ally with us." Let's see if Mab can avoid making the wolves take that back. Sometimes she can freak people out.

He found himself watching the mist still spilling from her, his eyes tracking the way it unfurled across the ground. Not so distantly, Derek could hear a cacophony of city life; cars and laughter and the rumble of the underground. It felt a world apart from this, from her. It was not the chill that had his hair standing on end. Her voice did not make him feel cold, slow and steady as it may have been. He was quickly learning just how difficult it was to look away from her for long. Eventually, he met her eyes again. Her meaning (patience) wasn't exactly cryptic, but he considered that a mercy.

Slowly, he breathed out. It misted in the winter air.

"That's right," he replied, simply. Vaguely, he wondered what her connection was to Heiji - beyond them being fae. Were they friends? Allies? It mattered little, because it had little bearing on how much he could trust either of them. At least, he told himself as much. But, despite his trepidation, her power served more to intrigue than dissuade. This was why he'd made the deal, after all. Safety. Security, questionable as it was. Mutuality in power.

The alliance might have been a fledgling one, but it was something that had never happened before. Something they needed. Derek hoped that spoke well of him as alpha, but he could never be so sure.

"You'll have most of the pack."

There was a restlessness about him. Like he wanted to move, to pace but he was either too determined to show it, or he was as enthralled with her as he looked. That second thought made her lips curl just a little at the corners. It was always nice to be appreciated for what she was. The mortals so rarely grasped it. One nice thing about dealing with creatures that listened more often to their instincts.

And to have the support of his pack was delightfully heady. Of their own free will they offered alliance as it should be. Heiji did good work. He came across better to people than she did. His power was less overbearing. Heiji seemed like a friend. Mab didn't really project friendliness and camaraderie, she probably didn't have the ability to do so as she was. Considering she'd suborned Malia into being her introduction to humanity it could be a while before she managed to pull off anything remotely normal. But she definitely came across as capable. So long as she was working on your side you could at least assume your enemies would have their hands full. And possibly completely frozen.

Mab dipped her head a little, acknowledging his explanation of the alliance. Most of, not all. Interesting. Some Alpha's wouldn't give such things as an option. Perhaps some were staying in the wolf territories to defend them. Which would be the smart thing to do. "A generous alliance." She replied. "What has Sir Heiji offered in return?" She was not there for negotiations. It is good to know how she is expected to hold up her end of the bargain. Obviously they would allow free use of their own territories for the wolves. She did not know how much Heiji had offered in defense of the wolf territories though.

Assessing, his eyes flicked over her expression. It gave him a grand total of nothing to work with - Derek was faced with the suspicion that it would always be that way, unless she wanted otherwise. That was the sort of control he aimed for, the composure he sought, but it felt like a losing battle. When he had to, he could put on a face, but it was ever a struggle to maintain anything that wasn't raw and impulsive, hot with emotion. He had to admire it in her, even if it only made him more suspicious. Cold had never been his territory, perhaps because he could always smell charred wood in every breath.

It was curious to him that she needed to ask - if she knew the deal was in place, it seemed amiss that she wouldn't know the details. But he reminded himself that he had scant idea on how the fae operated together, how they worked as a whole. It was not a reassuring thought, throwing into sharp relief just how tenuous his alliances were. But he had made the bed. He supposed that, in this much, it was better to be upfront.

"It's a non-aggression agreement," he began, just as Heiji had, and it was clear that the words were a little alien to him, the mantle of command still new and perhaps ill-fitting. "You don't try to move on our territory, and we give you the same. My pack have free passes for any turf you claim, and you'll have the same in the east end, so long as you're not treating my wolves like playthings."

Perhaps someday he can ask her for lessons. Mab is a very good teacher, depending on who you ask, other's might think she's a terrifying teacher. She gets results though. It helps not to be as emotional as a mortal.

Mab had only recently allied with Heiji and the fae had not invited her to the actual negotiations so everything she was getting was second hand. She would ask Heiji what was decided later as well, but why not get it straight from the wolf's mouth? Such a lovely mouth. She lifted her eyes from his lips back to his eyes and assessed his explanation. Non-aggression was what she'd agreed to with Heiji as well.

One had to assume not treating the wolves as playthings meant no hurting his people. Which was non-agression anyway and Mab was fine with that. Teasing though, well, they would come to it if the issue arose. No harm would come of anyone allied with the fae in their territory so long as they abided themselves as guests and the fae would in fact assist an ally should someone threaten them in the fae territory. Any fae in wolf territory would comport themselves as a guest as well, and expect the same. Someone who did not abide but this rule would be immediately considered hostile and could be treated as such. Mab was a litte more strict about such rules herself. The seelie seemed a little more laid back. "Guesting laws were agreed upon with the Seelie. Have you also agreed to allow well managed doorway use?" She asked. If Heiji hadn't added that to the deal she'd be irritated. It was really the only way to keep the lesser fae from snatching people when the mood hit anyway. But the whole point was to have exit opportunities if something happened.

It was a topic that he and Heiji had not discussed in any great detail, but in the time since their talk Derek has considered. Ruling it out seemed not only unfair - Derek was opportunistic, but he'd abide by his word - but unnecessary. If they were going to be allies, if they were going to have free roaming, then allowing the use of doorways only seemed logical and reasonable. While it had occurred to him that the Night Council might not take kindly to finding out about it, they were already in low enough standing. Derek didn't see that as a reason to tiptoe. He was gambling, allying with the fae like this, allowing them this - but one way or another he was going to have to take a risk. Hopefully this was the one that would pay off.

Regarding her, apparently thoughtful, he nodded.

"Yeah. You let me know the details, you can travel back and forth here. I think that's more than fair."

Mab looked pleased with his answer. "If you find a doorway left open in your territory without your permission, inform me. I will find the offending party and deal with them personally." Yeah, Mab pretty much walked the walk in taking responsibility. He could tell Heiji too but the uneelie Lady thought the fox would be less influential in instilling the fear of god in offenders.

"What details would you require? Location and length of viable time as a portal?" She was thoughtful for a moment. In an emergency a door might have to be opened on the fly. But such emergencies also required immediate closure in general. "So long as it might be opened for more than thirty seconds?" She added on just to give herself a little wiggle room.

Fair. He was so cute.

He considered her question, eyes narrowing at the clause she added on. It was clearly something she was introducing in order to grant herself more freedom, and that immediately had his paranoia spiking. But it did make sense, he was forced to accept. He knew that he couldn't keep tabs on every door that they made. If anything, this was efficiency.

Eventually, Derek nodded.

"That's right," he said, "if it's something immediate, it's not necessary. But anything longer comes to me, whether it's going to last five minutes or five years." Straightening up, he tilted his chin up. However worthy of awe she was, he was the alpha here. He had to take charge. "This is my territory, and it's gonna stay that way. Abide by that, and you have my support."

Oh she likes that. He went from puppy to alpha so quickly. The look in her eyes is appreciative, interested. "There is nothing more you wish of the fae territories?" She asked to assuage any concerns that he might be giving too much to the fae. She was being reasonable, you see?

The wolves probably had few needs besides being able to roam without harassment. They would have to eventually find a way the wolves could tell a door was a door either way, but she wasn't going to just hand him terms. It was important for him to think of them himself. It might be interesting if the wolves knew how to find the doors to the other realm. They might even find hunting there agreeable. The Other Realm still had large swaths of forest and game that could truly challenge a pack.

The focus in her jewel-bright eyes made his blood run hot. There was an appraisal there that was perhaps different from before; Derek was far from a stranger to it, but the subtle shift was unexpected. She riled him too easily, he thought, willing the warmth away. Slowly, he let out a breath.

She was testing him, testing what boundaries he would set. Derek had never been raised to lead. He was, essentially, winging everything since stepping into the too-big shoes of his alpha, and his sister. But in this much, his stubbornness served him well - he did not appear as uncertain as he was. If she wanted to leave an opening there, a flexibility, so could he.

"I think keeping each others' backs is a good place to start," he replied, steady. He didn't truth the fae to keep him alive. He barely trusted his pack with that. But he, too, could be reasonable.

She can almost feel his reaction to her interest in the expression his face. And it makes her smile a little. His calming breath ticks the corner of her lips up a couple of centimeters. He was absolutely delightful.

She lifted a hand, palm up in acknowledgement to his request. "I had assumed this was expected in the alliance." She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before closing her fingers and opening them back up reveal a card. "You may contact me there, should a problem arise." Implying both of the aggressive sort or the gate left open and wolves going missing sort. Mab had a pretty terrible teacher for the phone but she can manage phone calls and emails.

Derek's eyes flicked down to the card. In a way, accepting it struck him as something to be tentative about. It felt like it set things in stone. Perhaps taking the card was like taking the pomegranate, but Derek was hesitant to be that theatrical about it. And he was no coward. Reaching out, he took it, studying it briefly. His eyes caught on her name. Mab.

Tucking it into his jacket, he nodded in thanks. "Heiji said you'd be making a move soon. You're involved?"

Mab had been passing the cards out like candy. Though most had her pseudonym instead of her real name. There was the real danger to him. She would not be happy if everyone and their dog knew her name. It was a sign of something close to respect that he had one with her real name on it. Also a double edged sword as saying her name aloud tended to draw her attention even if she wasn't present.

"I am assisting both Sir Heiji and the Lord of Stars this month. I imagine I will make my own personal foray into this realm not long afterward." And she wasn't going for something simple when she did it. Perhaps one of the lawless territories. Mab was fond of laws.

Later, he would reflect on the significance in the fact that she'd given her name - what he thought must be her true name. They're important amongst the fae, he'd heard. He will perceive the gesture to be one of goodwill, and of fledgling trust, but also a test. Later, when he is alone, he will decide to keep it private, secure, safe. At least, for now.

And Mab certainly had no trouble in piquing his curiosity. The other title mentioned was filed away - although unfamiliar, he had to assume his path would cross with the Lord of Stars eventually. The stylings of the fae, in all their strangeness, all their pomp and circumstances, had always been weird to him, if not funny, but the laughter felt far away when he was dealing with one of them.

He didn't promise his further assistance. It felt too early for that. First, he wanted to see how their initial cooperation worked out. Instead, something else caught his attention - recalling Stiles' intervention in his conversation with Heiji, he asked: "South of the river?"

It was good that he took a moment to really let her information sink in. If he had dismissed it too easily she'd have been disappointed in his forethought. Everything Mab did was sort of a test. She was fairly judgy.

Her hand fell back to her side now that he had the card and she looked curious about the question. "I believe both will be south of the Thames, yes." She hadn't heard that there was any reason for the fae to avoid North of the river though.

Satisfied, he nodded. Derek had not made plans yet, had not allowed himself to set anything up, still too tentative and hesitant in his new position, still too engrossed in a hunt that was proving ever fruitless. But he wasn't about to admit as much; besides, doing so seemed unnecessary. While he hadn't made his mind up yet, he had beginnings, starts of something more.

Havering was only the logical step, after all.

"I'm keeping an eye on Havering for now," he offered, by way of gruff explanation. There was a request there, but he wouldn't word it as such.

Keeping an eye on it. As far as she knew it was surrounded by his own territory, it seemed like a logical choice to her to claim it officially. "You need but ask for assistance should you decide to make your move." She replied, not knowing his inner turmoil but the lack of decision on Havering seemed to say something about his mental state none the less. "I believe the others are selecting Bromley and Bexley." Though her being north of the river now meant she'd been looking at Havering for a reason. Perhaps to see if it would pose a problem. If the wolves claimed it and the alliance stuck it would pose no problems. It narrowed down quite a bit of her own land she would need to cover.

She considered the place herself. "I imagine I will eventually move on Greenwich or Lewisham myself if not Croydon. I am still assessing the situation."

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I'm fairly local; I've been around (OPEN)

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