undergrounds | RESTING, WANDERING, BUT ALWAYS LOOKING

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RESTING, WANDERING, BUT ALWAYS LOOKING

CLOSED TO HILLINGDON HOUSE

[Lying outside by the waters, he rests his hands over his bare chest – fingers lightly scratching at the tattoo of an engine that he has etched into his skin. He had gone out earlier in search of answers, of whispers, of where the other War Boys are, but came up with nothing. Nux isn't sure how he fits in with the other hunters; they were not raised on the same beliefs as he was, but they were still human. They still wanted to make a world safe for humans and that is more than enough for nonbelievers.

It isn't that he's lounging. Though, he does like to give the impression that is what he is doing. It is honestly that he has quite winded. Nux does what he can to build his strength up enough to move about, but sometimes, it does get the better of him. At least, the war paint that he still coats his skin in covers up how pale that he is actually getting.]

All I need to do is find the others, or find the one who did it. That's all.

[An easy task, he tells himself. He will be given great treasures in the afterlife once he has completed either goal. He takes a breath in and slowly turns his head to look toward the house. Nothing like his kind. It'll be all right. He'll protect them. Keep 'em safe any hunter would.

Already, he thinks that he can hear the war drums.]

OPEN: WANDERING THE STREETS

[His pants make an almost jiggling noise as he walks. It'd probably be better if it was bells, but it is mostly due to spare chains and bullets that he keeps in his pockets. Nux has become aware in the two years that he has lived out in the world that people do not like how he looks. His saved head and painted white skin tends to make them back away from him. But that's the point, isn't it? Humans are safe and hunters hunt. They're supposed to be frightening like guard dogs.

Or so he thinks.

At the moment, it isn't as serious as that. He's looking for his brothers as always, but he can't do that on an empty stomach. Nux isn't sure how long he has been wandering the alleys, and streets, but night has already fallen. He runs his hands along the glass of where there is some baked goods. But the lights are off given the indication that it's closed.]

Maybe should pop over to some store? How long do they stay open, anyway? [He is asking no one but is already starting to try to walk to find the fabled open shop in the middle of the night.]

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Nux still had his hands against the glass, staring at the various pastries and the like. He thinks -- as he dragged his hands away from the window -- most will probably be thrown out tomorrow, won't they? Should he got back tomorrow when they'd be a little cheaper?

"Hm?" He didn't expect someone to else be out, let alone speak to him willingly. Norms don't do that, do they? Or they stop after they get a good look at him. "Yes, just need a bit of a tip off for the night. It's going to be a long one." But he smiled, happy about the idea that he would be wandering around the dark.

"Well... I got a late-night diner I like to go to sometimes, and it's near here. You want, we could pay it a visit." From the way Nux was eyeing those pastries, Heiji could certainly believe he was out for a snack.

"They got the best cherry pie in London -- in my opinion, of course."

"Do you intend to walk down there?" Nux seemed all right with the idea of going down to the diner. He was already headed towards one of the parked cars on the street. His eyes lifted up to scan the area to see if there was anyone that was planning on a late night ride.

"You should ride instead!" Norms were too easy of targets. What hunter would he be if he let them die? He was digging through his pockets once more to find the necessary items to unlock the car. Then the fun would come in hot-wiring it to drive it down to the diner.

"What, you wanna drive? I mean, I guess we could -- " Wait. What was that. What was Nux digging for? Because those didn't sound like just car keys jingling about in there...

"I didn't think I'd be driving tonight." Most of what was out during this moon -- his head snapped up to look up toward the sky -- wouldn't be taken down by simply running over it. He dug around his pockets until he located his blade. Turning it round his hand, he started to beat the handle against the driver-side window.

"Just a second." If nothing, he was persistent in slamming repeatedly against glass with a knife. "I remember when it was a lot easier to break these windows. Maybe they aren't so useless."

Jesus christ, was this guy really trying to break into a car with a knife? Was that what was happening? True, Heiji didn't always strictly follow the rules, but this was something of a first for him.

"...You know, we could just walk. I mean, I like shortcuts as much as the next guy, but it's a pretty nice night out, and it's only a few blocks away."

He slammed the handle once more against the glass before he let his hand drop down to his side. Nux pointed towards the window, looking a little winded, but he soon was filled with excitement.

"There's a crack in it!" A beat. "Walkin' the way. But there's a crack in the window already."

"Yeah, sure, there's a crack, but -- " Suddenly, a car alarm began blaring and the lights started flashing on and off. Welp. Apparently, better late than never.

The sudden addition of lights and loud noises seemed only to agitate Heiji more; he tugged at Nux's dropped hand in urgent fashion. "Come on! You want the cops to nab you?"

...He couldn't believe he was doing this.

"All we need to do is break the car, cut the alarm--" But he was already letting himself be tugged along with an urgent manner. Explaining will take time that he won't be able to finish what he's doing.

Nux reached out to grab onto the other's shirt and swiftly brought his head forwardly like he may crash it into the new acquaintance's nose. He stopped before he completed the action and already starting to head away from the "scene of the crime."

"Too much time wasted. Won't be able to get that car now for sweeties." He grumbled as he started down one of the alleys. The blade was still held in his hand, for worry of what might come out while they're running away.

"I can't believe this. Do you hotwire cars every time you wanna go somewhere? How are you not in jail?" Although maybe that weird aborted headbutt was part of the reason Nux was not in jail. God, there were so many weirdos in this town.

"C'mon, we can cut through here and be there in a couple minutes, tops. And we won't have to worry about someone showin' up wondering why there's a car with a busted window sittin' around while we eat."

He navigated the alleys like someone who'd cut through them quite often (which he was) to avoid notice (which he had). "I'm Heiji, by the way."

"Don't keep the cars, leave the cars. Only keep 'em if someone needs 'em." It seemed like that was simple enough. He needed to get from point a to point b; no reason not to take a car if he could take one. Next time he was out, he'd be sure to bring the proper tools in order to break in.

"Nux." He can only run so far before he became winded. His strength wasn't as great as he liked it to be. Nux thought that he just needed to rest more so that he could build it up again for an outing like this -- well, maybe, not quite like this. Resting his hands on his knees, he has to take a few labored breathes as soon as they exited the alley.

"Hey, you okay?" There was the sound of a siren as a police car rolled by, fading quickly. Nevertheless, as the edges of its headlight illuminated the alleyway, the light cast a rather ghastly pall over Nux's face. The guy was already pale, though, so.

"We can rest here a minute, I think..."

Holding his hand over his mouth, he continued to cough and hack until the attack eventually fades. His eyes looked a little more red but he straightened as best as he could. "It's fine. Just a bit of dust in the lungs."

He patted his fist over his chest a few times. "Got it out now." His voice was softer, quieter, but did not lose the fire behind it. Already, he was pushing himself forward. "Let's go. Can't stand 'round forever."

It sure didn't sound like a cough that was 'fine', but Nux was right about not being able to stay stopped forever.

"Alright, just this way."

The diner, as promised, was open and fairly well-attended for the time of night. A giant neon sign with a couple of letters unlit was bolted to the side of the building.

"Wonder what they got."

He may have been talking to his companion, or wondering aloud. Being alone for a few years, he did notice that he talked a bit more to himself. Scratching the side of his face, he looked down at his attire -- or lack of there of. His black jacket hung open to show the tattoo of the engine upon his chest (something that the dark probably hid, but now in front of the lit diner, was more obvious). He already was zipping up the jacket. Wouldn't want to be kicked up for not having a shirt underneath.

"Right, then!" Swinging his foot back, he looked like he may just as well kick the door in, but opted to grab onto the handle at the last second to step in.

Thank goodness Nux was familiar with the maxim No shirt, no shoes, no service. Or whatever the British equivalent was. As they swung into the diner, the waitress looked up. "Heiji, haven't seen you in a while! This a friend of yours?"

He responded without a pause to think. "Yeah, just thought we'd stop for a bite to eat! Okay if we sit in the back?"

"Sure, just pick a seat; I'll bring your menus over."

For the moment, the outside of the diner was police siren-free. Probably they'd dismissed the damage as the doing of some drunk kid. Heiji sat down in one of the booths, speaking in a lowered voice -- but not so low that it would attract attention. "So you do this kinda thing all the time, huh?"

"Bit of a lie, ain't it?"

Nux decided that was the best reply that he could give to Heiji before answering the question. He turned his hand a few times, checking on how bony the fingers looked. The two of them just exchanged names; that doesn't mean that they're friends.

"What kind? Follow people to places to eat? Sometimes. Seems like it'd be all right. Lots to do and eat out here and seems wrong not to go and try it while I can." Larry and Barry were always going to be an issue. But, he drew smilie faces on 'em and felt a little more like they were his mates.

"Well, I mean. You did kinda just drag me into an impromptu attempted carjacking." Moreover, Heiji had discouraged Nux from proceeding further along in that vein instead of just bailing, which really probably was what he should have done. So he figured it was a good a term as any.

"London is a pretty great place to find some food." He paused to thank the waitress as she showed up with a pair of menus. "The coffee's pretty good here, even if it ain't hand-pour. Some places you go in and it's like it's been sittin' at the bottom of some pitcher for six hours."

And then: "...I'm kinda surprised people let you follow 'em."

"Could've gotten the car." Just that it might end in a high-speed chase with the police afterwards. Scratching underneath his chin, lines of pink immediately blossomed as he accidentally wiped off some of the paint.

Nux lifted his head up toward the waitress before taking the menu, but it seemed like the thanks was already handled. "Those places ain't so bad. Means that you get something black and full of stuff." He made a gesture with his other hand, but he wasn't sure where he was going with it.

"Not for long, they don't." Of course, it wasn't as ominous as all that. Usually, if he felt like someone was headed toward a cheap place to eat, he would follow. Eventually, the people would realize they were being followed and kick up a fuss about it.

"I'd rather not accumulate a record out here. 'Specially not with law enforcement." He glanced over at Nux, who was rubbing a bit of his paint off.

"So what's up with the face paint? You don't look like you're off to a party." The face paint was probably one of the reasons people didn't like him tailing them. Granted, it would be uncomfortable under most circumstances, provided you didn't make sure you went unnoticed.

"Ain't so bad." He pulled one hand away to use his thumb to start pressing down on each finger, cracking his knuckles one-handed, as he finally scanned over the menu.

"Ain't face paint, either. War paint. Goin' to war. Eventually." Find the person who did in his brothers and that would be it. The Hunt would be on and it would be his last hunt. Be the last anything. Nux flexed his fingers as he brought it back to hold the menu.

"...To war?" For someone who came from a country that had been at peace for well over half a century, this concept seemed a little bizarre. Especially hearing it in Britain. "With who, exactly?"

The waitress sidled on back to the table. "Get you guys something to drink?"

"Dunno. Gonna find 'em, though." It won't matter what they are. Demon, fae, werewolf. It won't matter. He'll die in the Hunt if he has to, but he'll take them to justice. That's what will have to be done. Proper, right. Let everyone know what happened to his family.

Nux lifted his head up from the menu, finally. "Water."

"One water," she said, nodding at Nux.

This situation started surreal and somehow has never stopped being thus. Heiji turned his face up towards the woman. "I'll take the blend!"

Her expression cracked with the faintest hint of a smile. "'Black as midnight on a moonless night', right?"

"You know it!"

"Okay. Be right back." She slotted her pad back into one of her pockets and bustled back towards the counter.

"It doesn't get that dark."

He pointed upward toward the sky, before turning his hand to scratch underneath his chin again. "Black, yeah, but -- ain't really the point." There was a point that he was trying to make, but he wasn't sure anymore what it was.

Reaching underneath his jacket, he lightly scratched the top of the two mates -- Larry and Barry. His fingers gently poke the tumors as he wondered if they were getting larger or not. "You got like other questions and stuff, yeah? 'bout me or somethin'? Or just want to eat and not worry 'bout it?"

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is nux wearing a shirt?

nope!

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