undergrounds | 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] )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No Heiji, you're just meant to know what he's on about. Derek nods again, but it isn't a great means of answering when it doesn't actually specify anything. Still, although Derek had meant the latter, when asked he realizes it's more like both. The answer is somewhat disquieting - the brief account does not make Derek think of his own experience, but it evokes a similar kind of response, a tightening in his chest and tensing in his shoulders.

"That affected your world too?" Japan, he's sure, is what the fox is talking about, but it's still a surprise that such a cultural shift would matter to the fae. Reflecting on it, however, he supposes it really isn't surprising at all. "Why'd you come here?"

Their worlds were, after all, connected. It was not such a stretch to imagine one would be affected by the other, no matter how much the denizens of either world might want to ignore it.

The tip of one of Heiji's tails twitched in amusement. "My old man told me to get lost."

Then, because he'd had a little time now to consider it further: "He probably had some purpose in sending me here, though."

Derek spares a moment to privately lament how weird things are here. Somehow, in his estimation of fairies, family politics hadn't filtered in to his expectations. Unsure of how to proceed, Derek's mouth clamps shut as he eyes the fox. The conversation almost smacks of an attempt to lull him into a false sense of security.

"Like what? Scoping out the competition?"

Heiji tried to stifle a snort of laughter and was mostly successful. "London fae, movin' in on Osaka? Where would they get their fish and chips? Besides, folks here don't know how to haggle. They'd be bankrupt in a week."

"Anyhow, it's not like him to give me reasons. Mostly he just does things and then I gotta guess." Not that Heiji really cared. Whatever whatever, he did what he wanted.

"But if I had to guess, it's probably to watch."

It almost feels like prying, like he's being privy to more information than he needs, and therefore wants. Derek holds enough guilt, however, that the prospect of offending some fae stranger is easily set aside.

Thinking of Peter is harder to ignore, but Derek's had to get pretty decent at deflecting - at least in this much. He gestures vaguely at the garden.

"And this is what he wants to see?"

Heiji almost seemed to be smiling at Derek, though of course foxes didn't really smile the way humans did. "Never said I was great at following orders."

In fact, Heiji had already done a great deal beyond simply 'watching'. Though along that same line of thought, one might also consider the possibility that Heiji's father would have taken his son's personality into account when sending him off to another country.

"But why all the questions? My story's not all that unique, is it?"

Derek's mouth twitches, but the amusement doesn't go far. He ends up shrugging, resuming his wary study of the fox.

"Not exactly used to hearing a lot of them," he replies, and he's never really felt remiss about it until now. His knowledge of fae is mostly second-hand, and it had always seemed like enough. Speaking to the fox, he's not so sure. Still, he draws himself up, frowning. It's less like his usual surliness, however, and more like an attempt to look stern. "I think questions are the least you should expect, when you're out here."

"You think someone's gonna take a swipe at me?" Now the smile was audible as well -- if that was even possible.

"I can take care of myself. But thanks for the concern." This entire encounter seemed to be Derek fighting with himself, though why he should feel so conflicted about a conversation was a bit of a mystery. Hmm. "So are you pretty typical for a werewolf?"

This time, he smiles, but it does little to detract from his overall sharpness. "Not unless they get a reason," he replies, and he's generally confident in that. The pack have other enemies, and while they might be watchful of the fae, they don't have a need to start a whole new fight.

Apparently considering the question, he tilts his head from side to side, shrugging. "Guess I should be."

Heiji looked Derek up and down -- the clothes, the stance, the eyebrows.

"Hmm. You're not what I expected," he said finally. "But I guess that makes sense. Life ain't like the movies." Congratulations, Derek, you didn't seem like a remorseless, ravenous beast out to bite people and participate in complex dance numbers with zombies.

He stood and shook himself off. "I think it's time I got going, though. I'll see ya around sometime."

Almost, Derek asks for elaboration - what the fae expected, what he found instead, and privately he wonders if he's exceeded or, as feels more likely in some dark and hushed part of him, disappointed. But he says none of these things, merely offers the fox a nod. It's a city of over eight million people, but Derek doesn't doubt that he will see him around. Sometime.

"Yeah. I'll keep an eye on any flower patches I find," he says, drily, but he waits for the fox to go before he does.

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

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