#notallshapeshifters

[protagonized]

Dates: October 6 and 8.
What: Simon tries to keep his head down.
[ooc: This is a completely open post! Come torment him.]

Covent Garden - Late Evening

Starbucks closed at ten most evenings, and given Simon's class schedule he tended to work closing shifts. That suited him just fine. During peak tourist season it tended to be crowded late at night, but weeknights were almost pleasant now that they were well into October. Tonight, the shop was almost deserted, save for a table of Korean tourists off in a corner, and they'd been nursing their drinks and chatting for over an hour now. Simon was thoroughly bored. He snuck a peek at the phone he'd secreted away in his apron pocket: 21:22. Only forty more minutes until he could kick them out and start closing up shop. Only an hour and a half until he could go home and start drafting that Craigslist ad for a new flatmate.

Only eight hours until he had to wake up and be back in the lab.

He sighed and went back to watching the door, hoping no one else came in.


Redbright Institute - Mid-morning

Simon could have been doing any number of things right now--first and foremost among them being sleeping--but for some reason he found himself drawn to Redbright Institute. His feelings about the place were ambivalent at best; sure, they'd helped him through a particularly tough time in his life, but he still found the place intensely weird and a bit uncomfortable. All logic said that magic shouldn't exist outside of fantasy novels and Disney films, and yet here it was. In London.

He strolled through the library, looking for volumes on shapeshifting. He knew there was plenty of lore about people with his particular condition going back centuries, but what he wanted was something that treated the subject a little more objectively. He needed a history.

Simon paused at a likely volume. Maybe this one, finally, contained the answers he was looking for.

Comments

covent gardens

[stauncherhearted]

Too bad, kid. There's a new customer pushing her way in through the door. Her heels of her knee-high boots clicked on the tile floor as the door shut behind her. Her makeup was dark, nearly over-done, and her ginger hair curled. Nancy had been in on and off, especially around this time of night. It got darker earlier, and that meant vampires came out sooner, and so did all sorts of men that would happily take her into their bed for a few bucks.

Leather jacket zipped up to cover herself as best she could, she could only hope she looked like an early club-goer. But around Covent Gardens? Okay maybe if she were in Spitalfields. But this was Covent Garden, and she had an appointment.

One that she needed- "Grande latte, extra shot, if you don't mind-" in order to get to. She flashed the barista her best smile, fishing around in her purse for some loose change.

Redbright Institute

[wolfmarked]

"And this is our library! We have over--"

"I really appreciate the tour." If Skip had to listen to Miss Posh and Perky for any longer, she was going to kill her. Which meant it was time to ditch the guide and find something else to do. "You know, I think I'd really like to look around here, but I wouldn't want to keep you."

"I'd be happy to--"

"No, I insist. I can wait here. You said Mrs Redbright will be back at three?"

"Yes, she will. Are you sure--"

"I promise. I'll be fine. Thank you very much."

Of course, Skip's voice might well be hard to recognise. Rather than the spirited Irish accent that came to her naturally, she, instead, sounded like a complete Londoner from the best neighbourhoods, educated in the best schools. She'd learned to sound as posh as anyone born with a silver spoon in their mouth when she was young, and it helped in places like this.

While she was here, though... She might as well look at some of their books. The wandering led her through various aisles, including down one with books on shapeshifting.

Convent Garden

[constantprisoner]

It's not often that Sirius has money.

He's grown used to being broke most of the time. It comes with the territory of being on the run from the law. So far, he's managed to get by without it. Of course that's meant giving up his dignity a few times, but that also, he figured, comes with the territory. But scrounging around trashcans had actually helped for once. He'd managed to find five pounds, likely dropped by the last person to throw something out. And since there was no way for him to find that person (though he probably could have if he tried really hard), Sirius figured he could make the best use of it.

Which led him to the Starbucks since that was the only thing open. He could probably find something there to eat. Even if it was just a scone or something.

He stares at the cabinets, trying to figure out how much he could stretch the five pounds.

Covent Garden

[acrookedchild]

"Mocha latte with a shot of espresso, please," Abigail said as she leaned against the counter a bit. She tried to hide a yawn behind her hand, but it was obvious what she was doing. Then again, it was late. Especially since she'd been up early. And still had a few hours of her day left to go.

Only way that was happening? Caffeine. Lots and lots of caffeine.

She smiled a bit. No reason not to try for a little conversation. "Hope it hasn't been too bad a night for you."

covent garden

[specifiercity]

Arthur didn't go to Starbucks very often - in fact, he actively avoided it whenever he could. There were far better coffee places around where he lived and he didn't have the taste for sugary drinks. But tonight was a dire circumstance. He was following a lead that ended up taking far longer than he expected, and considering he hadn't had a lot of sleep the night before he really needed some caffeine to fuel him through a couple more hours.

Even as he approached the counter, he seemed a bit distracted. "Whatever the medium roast is, size large," he said, frowning down at his wallet as he counted enough money to cover it.