fatherswatch: (Default)
Illya Nikovitch Kuryakin ([personal profile] fatherswatch) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2016-01-08 11:33 pm

The Newcomer Affair

i) The security
Redbright Institute, early January

Overall, he had no strong opinion of the woman in charge of the Redbright Institute. He had been sent to observe and carefully decide what he thought of everything. That was what he was to report to UNCLE. So superficial meetings? Weren't important. In a few months, he'd be more certain.

The school was interesting. Russia had their own, but they tended to be more segmented. After his father had been arrested, he'd attended one that could closely be called a military school. Still, it seemed like a proper way to educate young people able the abilities they were born with.

His job in and of itself was uneventful. He basically only had to stand in the hallways and make eye contact with the obvious troublemakers. Everyone else understood not to even try. With his fellow staff, he was just as quiet, but he didn't look at them like he was daring them to attempt making trouble. If anything, at times, he ignored them more often than not.


ii) The scout
Enfield, early January

Part of his real job was to monitor the situation in London as a whole. Which was why he found his way to the borough claimed by Circle Midnight.

On the outside, it looked no different than anything else in London. The supernatural community kept their heads down, and he approved.

Magic wasn't something he could sense, so he could do nothing but walk the streets, casually sipping a cup of coffee. It would take some time to gain access to the varying groups, but it was what he needed to do.

However, it had been easy enough to follow a trail of paperwork. Not that it hadn't been well done, plenty of proxies and the like. But with a computer and time (both of which he had and knew how to properly use), it could be traced.

Which was how he came to the Seven Sisters. A cute little psychic shop that was a front for the Shadow Coven. The outside was entirely unassuming, and he looked at it like a proper sceptic. Which was why it was easy enough to glance to the side, where someone else was.

"Have you ever been here?"


iii) The renter
Ealing, mid January

"I'm sorry, sir," the girl at the counter said. "That card isn't working."

Even though he knew that it was likely Waverly who had figured the budget incorrectly, Illya's first inclination was to blame Solo. To be sure it was the thief who'd somehow 'changed' where his funds were.

"Do you have another form of payment?"

"No," he replied, a bit more sharply than he meant to. "I'm sorry."

Even if he didn't sound like he meant it, he did.

But he stepped out of line and some distance away before he began texting on his phone, swearing under his breath in Russian.


iv) The observant
Westminster, mid January

The Night Council headquarters had a small, somewhat expensive little deli across from them. It was there that Illya sat, enjoying his light lunch. A bit of soup to keep the chill out, and a sandwich to fortify the meal further. For a drink, he had only ice water.

From his seat inside, he could see the building across the way. He watched the people come and go, made mental notes of who he saw talking to whom, and who seemed to be intentionally avoiding people. The game was ancient, but London was a different board, and he had little information about the players. Whatever files UNCLE could provide were useless for really knowing someone.

After all, there had been a lot his files hand't said about Miss Teller and Mister Solo.

All he could do now was watch and learn. His presence at the Institute would help, he thought. Establish him and let him learn about all of these people.


v) The watchful
Croydon, late January

Fae were disinclined to ignore insults. And from what he'd heard of the matters in this borough? The fae were no doubt thoroughly insulted. Which made the small victory gained recently an indication of danger to come. At least to him.

So, he walked the streets after dark with only a few days until the full moon. His nerves were frayed, and his senses were sharpened. Every corner threatened to have something dangerous around it. Of course, he also knew he was probably just as threatening to quite a few people.

But he heard something. A little hint of noise that certainly didn't come from a car or the like.

"Who's there? Show yourself."
kleptofaeniac: (2ksh19)

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-14 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Kenzi grins wide and bright. She doesn't mind him thinking she has that policy for everything - it works to her advantage if she ever has to play him.

Which she hopes won't have to happen. Cause she actually likes Illya.

"I'm too young for subtle. I'll leave that for when I'm thirty."
kleptofaeniac: (pic#6409527)

it bears repeating - i hate you.

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-16 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
"Guess I'll live forever then," She shot back - as only someone who was accustomed to being the younger sibling in these sort of snappy arguments could.
kleptofaeniac: (pic#6438546)

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-20 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah well. At least having 'Old Country' blood will actually turn out to be useful."

She didn't put too much stock in her family heritage, apparently.
kleptofaeniac: (2759822 (1))

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-21 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Okay fine, she'll give you that.

"It's a good consolation prize," she sighs, unwilling to make it an easy victory for him.
kleptofaeniac: (pic#6429538)

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-26 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Kenzi's mouth twists unpleasantly and she takes a large sip of her coffee before glaring at the building across from them.

"Just had to make a little appearance that's all," she's stopped speaking in Russian. Apparently the mere subject was enough to make her switch back.
kleptofaeniac: (pic#6409527)

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-28 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wish I could say otherwise," she grumbled. She wasn't going to even pretend to be nice right now.
kleptofaeniac: (2759822 (8))

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-29 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Psh. I'm always careful, cuz."

Kenzi liked walking with a swagger, not letting anyone in on her fears or insecurities. No one could know you were afraid on the street. It meant you were an easier target for whatever sicko that could manage to grab you. She'd seen it a million times.

There was no way she'd change that life saving pattern of behavior now.
kleptofaeniac: (pic#6409527)

[personal profile] kleptofaeniac 2016-01-31 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Kenzi couldn't help the laughter at hearing the proverb. He either didn't know how appropriate it was, or he knew exactly what she was. Whatever the case may be it didn't really concern her. Kenzi didn't try to hide what she was unless it meant a payday.

"Cute."