undergrounds | (no subject)

1. Arrival in London - Open

No one had noticed a cat slip onto the Tube at Heathrow Airport. A few perhaps noticed the cat get off at Blackfriars, but said cat quite obviously didn't care. He made his way up to street level and darted into an alleyway at the first opportunity. And, a few moments later a man walked out, brushing imaginary dirt off the sleeves of his shirt. He looked around and headed off down the street towards the reconstructed Globe theatre. Unlike the most of the people heading for the theater, he didn't join the press at the box office. Instead, he worked his way around the outside of the building, occasionally trailing his fingers along the theatre's outside wall.

"You're not the same, old friend," he said quietly. "But perhaps you have the same soul."

2. At the Unseelie Court - Closed to Court members

Tybalt had presented himself as was proper, and swore fealty to the Unseelie Court. Mostly because there apparently wasn't much other choice here. But for all London had changed in the centuries he'd been away, it was almost nice to see that at least the fae hadn't changed. He'd just gotten spoiled in San Francisco, where the Seelie and Unseelie Courts were weak enough that he'd been able to declare himself and his independent of that little war. But things were different here, and he would adapt. What he needed to do now was meet the other members of the Court, and get a better idea of how things really worked around here.

3. Taking in the local culture

Unlike a lot of his fae brethren, Tybalt was perfectly comfortable in the mortal world. Sometimes more so than in the Other Realms, truth be told. Not that he had any particular affection for mortals on the whole, except in how they might benefit him. But they could be beneficial, he knew. Like the young woman who was currently handing him his basket of fish and chips. Terrible food, health wise, but oh so delicious. There were small tables outside the shop, and he claimed one for himself where he could watch people pass by. He fastidiously wiped his hands on one of the brown paper napkins, and began to eat his food, all while watching for anything interesting to happen.

4. Wildcard!

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"Keeps the rain off though," Tybalt said with a quirk of a smile. As building materials went, he personally thought cement was better than a lot of them. "And stays cooler in the summer." Which, he supposed wasn't as big a deal in London. Or maybe it was. It had been a long time since he'd spent a summer here.

"Fortunately we have choices when it comes to where to live," he commented, polishing off the last of his fish. He licked his fingers clean and then wiped them carefully on a paper napkin.

"You know what keeps things nice and cool? Central air." He could take or leave gaming systems and automobiles. Central air conditioning was one of the best things humans had ever invented.

"Oh, speaking of which -- where are you staying? Or have you not decided yet?" He took a sip of his drink as he watched Tybalt clean his fingers.

"Mmm" The noise is approving and sounds very close to a purr. "That is a change worth celebrating. And central heating."

He paused a moment, considering Heiji's question. They were both fae, but still, the idea of personal security was deeply ingrained in Tybalt's psyche. "I sleep here and there," he said, with a vague wave of his hand. Which was more or less true, if only because like a cat, he did enjoy his naps.

Heiji briefly wondered if this was Tybalt being catlike, suggesting he slept in other people's houses, or if he was some kind of one-fae flash mob, showing up somewhere and aggressively taking naps. "I been thinking about renting a place in London," he said, looking up from his drink. "Nothing fancy, just someplace consistent to pop in and out when I need to. Of course, it'd need to be somewhere Daybreak's not just gonna swoop in and seal off. Otherwise I might have to break the lease."

It was true that he didn't really have to worry about money, but it was still good to be economical.

Tybalt gave a disdainful snort at the mention of Daybreak. "Foolish idiots," he said with a hint of a snarl. "Who do they think they are, anyway?" But then he shook his head slightly. It didn't matter. If they truly became annoying, they could be gotten rid of. It might take time, but he was fae. What did he have but time?

So instead he sat back and considered Heiji's idea. It wasn't something he would do, but he had advantages many other fae did not. Not the least of which was a greater familiarity with the mortal world than most. He gave Heiji an appraising look, trying to decide what the other fae's experience was in that regard. Finally he just said, "One can't pay a lease in fae gold"

"Arbiters of who can go where and do what." The words sounded a bit cynical; Heiji had seen several such organizations come and go and they rarely lived up to their lofty-sounding ideals. In any case, he turned his attention to Tybalt's question.

"The Treasure Act of 1996," said Heiji, leaning one forearm on the table. "Applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It requires finders of any object legally defined as treasure to report their find within fourteen days. Unfortunately, a lot of gold falls under that umbrella. But even if it didn't, payin' for something in gold these days would raise suspicion."

He gave another snort at that entirely accurate description of Daybreak. Once he was a bit more established he really was going to have to look into yanking their tails a bit. For the fun of it if nothing else.

"That too," Tybalt said with a slight smile, since that hadn't been the problem he'd been thinking of. Nor, in honestly had he heard of that law. Unsurprising, due to his long absence. "I prefer not to worry about such things anyway."

"It is kind of a pain," Heiji agreed. "'Specially if you wanna maintain a solid presence. If you're not careful, y'could end up with the neighbor next door phonin' the police about how you're secretly a werewolf."

Not that that would ever happen anytime in the near future.

"Say, I been meaning to ask. You're a cait sidhe, aren't you?"

"I am, yes," he said in answer to Heiji's question, mildly interested in exactly why the other fae was asking. "Recently returned, and looking to reestablish myself here."

He nodded. There were quite a few catlike fae about, but that was the first that came to mind when he thought Europe.

"Anything in particular brought you to London? Lotta cities in the world, after all."

That brought a nostalgic smile to Tybalt's face. "Indeed there are. But London is where I was born. And where I first became King instead of just a Prince of Cats."

"Your hometown, huh?" That prompted a fond, slightly distant expression. "There a lot of princes around? Human succession battles can get pretty bloody."

And of course foxes didn't really have kings.

Tybalt leaned back in his chair, eyes half closing. He was full, and having at least halfway decent conversation. It was hard not to feel at least a little content. "Princes are rare," he acknowledged. "And Princesses of course. It's a quirk of birth, and..." He let his words trail off with a shrug. Fae never had particularly high birthrates to begin with.

Heiji nodded, but he'd also sort of run out of (polite) questions to ask. So he stood and picked up his drink.

"Alright, well. Just thought I should drop by and say hello. Thanks for chattin' with me."

Tybalt nodded and offered a polite smile. "Indeed. If you have need of me, you can always ask a cat. I'm sure they'll pass on the message." Whether he'd respond was a different matter, but then again, he was cait sidhe.