undergrounds | (no subject)

1. His plans for London mostly went like this: try to avoid dying, and don't make any unnecessary enemies. Simple, straightforward, and unfortunately, harder than one might hope considering Millicent's recent edicts. Let's kill humans, let's kill werewolves, let's piss off half the known factions. The vampires back home didn't exactly value lives, and certainly most of them wouldn't care about humans or werewolves, but at least they valued subtlety.

His concern, of course, was that when those other factions got angry they wouldn't target the one who had made the edict, but rather, the ones that were far more accessible and easier to kill. Namely the newer vampires, like himself. Not that he was going to hole away and hide. Instead, he was going to head out and go drinking. After all, if all of this led to an all out war, Thomas might as well enjoy things before they got worse. Besides, maybe hitting the bars he'd learn something useful. Or meet a delectable new friend. Having relocated, he did need to rebuild a network of people he could rely on for a bite, after all.

That was his excuse, at least, for going to the bar, throwing back cheap alcohol (why pay more when nothing tasted right, after all), and flirting with anyone who caught his eye.

2. After dining on a nice young lady that night, Thomas noticed she seemed a bit woozy, like maybe he'd had too much to drink. Or maybe she had, since he did notice her drinking a glass of wine before she'd gone with him. Either way, he was not letting her walk home on her own. That was why he currently was walking around the dark streets of London, a woman leaning heavily against him, quietly directing him to her apartment.

An apartment where, apparently, the entrance that she needed was around the side of the building, toward the back. Well, in that case he was particularly glad he didn't let her walk back on her own, he thought as she directed them into the dark, secluded area. This certainly didn't seem like the best area for a woman who couldn't even walk straight. He focused on their surroundings more, taking advantage of the fact that he could see just fine in this lack of light to keep an eye out for potential dangers.

3. The downside to needing to operate at night, of course, was the fact that most businesses were only open during the day. This meant that Thomas had to wake up as soon as the sun set sometimes, and rush out to get any errands done that he needed to get done, unless he wanted to use the last few minutes of darkness in the morning. That, however, left the risk of the sun rising while he was out, which was far too dangerous.

Which, of course, left him with a very impatient cashier at the local beauty supply store as he decided just what product would be the best to take care of his gorgeous, perfect locks.

"Come on, we close in five minutes," he heard her snap, and so he grabbed both bottles he was looking at.

Slowly sauntering out of the aisle, one bottle in each hand, Thomas made eye contact with the woman, a slow, apologetic smile creeping across his features. "I'm sorry," he said, "You didn't have my usual brand, and I wasn't sure what to go with. Although I suppose with hair as lovely as yours, I should have just come to you for advice in the first place."

Because flattery and flirtation were the way to get out of every problem...including getting a few more minutes to make shopping decisions.

4. Choose Your Own Adventure

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It might not have worked on a lot of vampires, but Thomas was very young and didn't have much experience under his belt. He hadn't even realized his mistake, though he was quite aware of the fact that his hand was bleeding, until he heard the command, and a compulsion came over him to stop attacking the other vampire. As he slid off the other vampire, climbing to his feet, Thomas began to panic. He wanted to put some distance between himself and the other vampire, but it didn't seem like it would do much good when the other vampire could just command him to stop and take a beating.

So instead, after taking a couple steps back so he wouldn't be in immediate swinging range, asked, "I don't suppose there's any chance you'll just chalk this up to me being young and dumb and let me walk away, is there?"

And from there, there wasn't much to do other than brace himself for whatever was coming next.

Edited 2016-05-27 23:31 (UTC)

Cooper got back to his feet, massaging the edge of his temple where he had been clipped. He was going to be bruised tomorrow, that was certain. "At least you have the sense t'admit it," Cooper said irritably. He hadn't retracted his fangs. Frankly, he was mad and intended to stay mad a good while longer. "I've a good mind to tell you t'go stand in traffic till you get hit by a bus." He would do so in good conscience knowing that Thomas would survive. That wouldn't prevent it from also hurting like hell.

Still, he must be a young one, less than fifty years old if Cooper was able to control him. He wasn't about to order him off to his doom without first giving him a lecture. "You must be new, so as a general tip, I'd recommend not attackin' the locals unless you know who they are. Islington doesn't take kindly to having their members attacked." Yes, he was blaming this entirely on Thomas despite the fact he was the one who had been picking a fight.

Thomas's own fangs had retracted. There was literally no point in being ready to fight if he could not make himself do so. If anything, the only thing that might pay off is trying to make it clear that he considered the fight over. Naturally, he picked up on the fact that he was being blamed entirely, but he wasn't going to point that out. As much as he didn't want to be hit by a bus, there were certainly worse things to make a vampire do. Thomas didn't want to convince him to consider those things.

Even if Cooper landed the first blow, and was the one to get Thomas riles up in the first place.

"Actually, I'm a member, too. Just a very new one." So it was understandable that most of the vampires in the nest wouldn't recognize him. "But I'll keep that in mind. I didn't even realize you were a vampire until it was too late to turn back."

He hadn't known for certain until the other vampire had extended his fangs and said he was a vampire. Super strength didn't always equal vampire, after all. Not that he necessarily would have stopped even if he'd had the chance. He'd been far too riled up at that point to want to do anything other than fight.

Edited 2016-05-28 15:12 (UTC)

"You're a member?" Well, that certainly surprised Cooper. He made a sound of disapproval, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Tch. Standards must really be slipping." He didn't think much of Thomas to begin with, but this really sealed the deal.

"I am serious about watching yourself around here. You never know whose a fae, a hunter, a fae hunter." It would have sounded more absurd had Cooper not tangled with one not six months prior. It had led to only bad things like going on an out of control fae blood bender.

He tilted his head, watching Thomas with a studied air. He wasn't just going to let the young vampire go. A suitable punishment would have to be thought of. He was just as likely to let his anger as his mischievous side decide this.

Well it wasn't like he had any rank of any sort, but he was indeed a part of the nest. He let out a soft, irritable snort when the other vampire said their standards must be slipping, but he couldn't say he was surprised at the comment. They hadn't exactly gotten off to the best start, and it wasn't like most of the vampires had thought that highly of him at the last nest he was with, either.

"I'll be more careful."

He meant it, too. He usually didn't get this sloppy, and while this time was entirely because this guy had pissed him off, the fact was, a hunter could realistically do the same thing. Get him angry, get him sloppy, get him to confirm for them that he was a vampire.

He waited while the other vampire studied him, wondering what he was going to decide to do, since he clearly wasn't done. Still, the advice made him feel a little less nervous. It could be worse, he told himself. At least this guy didn't want him to go off and get himself killed. By a fae hunter. Which Thomas was absolutely sure could be a thing, because sure, why not? It wasn't like he knew what sorts of vocations fae could take up, he generally didn't hang around them.

For all his dismissive talk and anger, there was a genuine sentiment behind Cooper's words. He remembered very distinctly what it was like to be a young vampire and all the perils that had come with the territory. How he'd survived getting staked in his early years was more due to luck than anything else he'd done back in the nineteenth century. If Thomas was Islington, that made it one of Cooper's duties to make sure he didn't get staked at the earliest opportunity.

"Now, what to do with you?" Cooper narrowed his eyes, which then lit up with a glint that promised nothing that Thomas would like. He grinned, his fangs on prominent display. "I've got it! I command you to go home...and shave your head bald." Just about the only thing that Cooper had been able to pick up about this vampire (besides the fact he was as dumb as those bunnies that ran across the road right in front of cars) was that he was probably a vain little fucker. Men didn't usually care that much about shampoo and conditioner unless they were. He figured that was a just punishment for tangling with him.

Thomas's eyes went wide with far more shock and offense than when Cooper suggested that he should have him stand in traffic. Even more, in fact, than if he'd gone through with that plan.

"You bastard!"

Clearly, Cooper knew how to hit someone where it would hurt. Not that he could do anything about it. Thomas already felt his legs moving, so he snatched up his bag. Sure, he wasn't going to have a chance to make use of his conditioner now, but his hair would grow back one day. And when it did...he'd be ready.