they used to sing about the birds and the bees;

[tippytoes]

dirty paws and furry coat; (a)

It’s easier, now, to be human. Now that she has something like a pack. It doesn’t mean she prefers it by any means. Being human is still difficult, still something she doesn’t ‘get’. It might be easier to blend into the streets of London as a human, but Malia’s never really cared about easy.

Which is why she’s back to old habits, trotting around an area with multiple coffee shops, looking for breakfast. Or lunch. It’s late enough in the day to be either, at this point. It’s a particularly busy one that’s she decided to poke her face into the dumpster for, and she’s just managed to catch them after their morning rush, which means a lot of half eaten scones or donuts or toast or some kind of breakfast sandwich.

Her back paws are scrambling on the side of the dumpster as she tries to climb inside, and she finally does with a loud ‘Oof’. With that, she starts tearing through the bags.

After she’s eaten, she sticks to the shadows as best as she can as she makes her way around the city, doing her best to stay out of the way of people. She’s really not in the mood to deal with animal control now, thanks.


she ran down the forest slope; (b)

Sometimes, she remains human, because it’s the right thing to do. She has to learn eventually to navigate her way through this space. She can’t stay an animal forever. It helps having a family, even if it’s a small one. The gaping wound in her heart is still there, but it’s slowly starting to scab over.

She really hates having to pay for things, though. Malia may have found a family, but she has no income to speak of, and absolutely no job. She probably couldn’t get one even if she wanted one; she never went to school, still doesn’t go, and she has no credentials that she knows where to find them.

Malia’s standing outside that same coffee shop she was at for breakfast, now at the front door instead of the back. She’s got her arms crossed and she’s glaring at it like it’s personally offended her. It smells great, and her stomach is growling and she’d like to go inside, but--

But she can’t buy anything. And she’s sincerely contemplating just turning into a coyote and snagging lunch that way.

Ugh. Humanity.


the forest of the talking trees; (closed to derek hale)

Malia wasn’t going to argue that she probably needed a phone. Allying herself with her cousin’s pack meant that they were going to need a way to communicate with one another when they weren’t close by that wasn’t a series of complicated howls.

She was seated in the passenger side of his car, wrinkling her nose a little at the plastic smell of it.

“You really don’t have to do this,” she says, fastening her belt. Even though she knows that, yes, he kind of does. There was just some vague memory of her mother teaching her to be polite when it came to expensive gifts, and maybe still a little bit of wariness because of who Derek shared a surname with. She knows enough about Peter to know he probably won’t be an issue. It doesn’t keep her skin from crawling when she thinks about it.


( brackets or prose is fine, and if you have a different idea for a thread you'd like to use, feel free to leave it as a starter!! )

Comments

A

[constantprisoner]

Sirius has been sticking to human form for the time being, at least while he reacquaints himself with the city. His dog form is useful for not being noticed, but it's hard to try to make contacts or get people to tell him things. Plus the hassle of shifting back and forth.

Even so, he keeps to the alleys and sidestreets, not wanting to draw attention to himself. He's still a wanted criminal after all, and the last place he wants to go back to is prison.

At least, that's the plan until a coyote catches his eye, and Sirius is pretty sure those are rare around these parts. Curiosity overrules logic in this situation and he goes to follow it.

[tippytoes]

She's being followed.

Malia doesn't notice it at first, keeping her gait casual and a clear attempt at being a normal dog. People usually think she's some kind of strange German Shepard mix -- you don't get a lot of people who've seen coyotes in London. It doesn't make her any less a 'stray', and it doesn't make people less prone to throwing things at her, but it's better than being picked up and being carted off to the local zoo.

Her ears catch the sound of footsteps following her, and not in the sense that someone's just going the same way she is. It's morning, and shifting back in an alleyway would just get her caught, let alone naked. She'd left her clothes back at pack headquarters and she'd be damned if she was going to lead a human (or worse) back to the building. So she starts to panic a little and after a minute or so of trying to figure out what to do—

She starts to run. Stupid to get caught out like this. Stupid that she doesn't have any backup.

[constantprisoner]

Well, that was not how Sirius had hoped this would go. Clearly he's losing his touch.

But what else was there to do but follow? He quickens his pace to keep her in sight. This is probably not the smartest idea he's had, but hopefully it's lower down on that list compared to others.

He resists the urge to call out, since that definitely wouldn't help. There had to be something that would.

[tippytoes]

She's not thinking straight and as a result, she turns a corner into a dead end, skittering and sliding to a halt before she runs into the wall. Malia turns to face him, backing up, tail tucked between her legs because this is it, this is—

Malia catches his scent, and she stops, blinking a couple of times. Another shapeshifter? Then why was he chasing her?

She cocks her head to the side, still wary, but not frightened.

A

[detectiveofthewest]

"Hey!" By now, Heiji's sort of used to chasing animals out of the dumpster; there was a surprising amount of them in London, including his own (very) distant relatives. "It's garbage day today, you shouldn't be -- oh."

Well. The animal inside wasn't quite what he'd expected. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else. ...But you still shouldn't be in the dumpster."

Heiji himself smelled rather distinctly of fox, at least to a sensitive nose.

[tippytoes]

It's nearly comical how Malia's head snaps up, a half eaten bacon and egg sandwich hanging from her mouth. She stares at Heiji with wide eyes, trying to process what he's even trying to say when the scent hits her, and her eyes narrow. Fae? But why does he care.

She tries to remember what she was told about the Fae and settles on basic politeness. Ducking her head back down, Malia drops the sandwich and pulls out a scone that hasn't been eaten yet. Standing up on her hind legs, Malia puts her front paws on the edge of the dumpster--

And offers it.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji made a face. "Oh, come on, I'm not gonna eat that! You just got your mouth all over it!" Sick, Malia.

"...Anyhow, I work here, so I don't need to dumpster dive. You shouldn't, either. The London Police shot a coyote earlier this year." He rubbed at the back of his neck, frowning a little. "People are scared of wild animals."

[tippytoes]

Wow, rude. She drops the scone at his feet, staring at him flatly as if to say 'yeah, but I'm not a wild animal, idiot'.

She drops back into the dumpster, and when she pops back up, she's human and naked as a jaybird. She folds her arms on the edge of the dumpster and stares at him.

"I'm not a normal coyote."

B

[rules_winter]

Traveling the wolf territories during the day is less likely to cause her problems just yet and so that is what she is doing, looking for a cellular phone store, when she sees a girl, standing outside a coffee shop, glaring at it as though it has done her a personal wrong. Mab paused on the sidewalk to watch her, cool gaze fascinated for a moment. Perhaps a fight with a friend who'd gone inside? The girl has an odd signature magic about her, like a wolf but not. It is always fun to catch the attention of a high ranking fae. In that usually it's not great for your personal well being. But who knew. Mab was trying to be friendly with the wolves for now.

Finally her curiosity got the better of her and she stepped up next to the girl, looking at the door that has her so upset. She can see their reflections in it and that is how she looks the girl in the eye, through her reflection. "You are angry with the store or someone inside?" She asks, all polite curiosity.

[tippytoes]

Malia turns her head slightly to look at the woman, eyes narrowing. There's something... off about the woman but Malia can't put her finger on it. Not yet. She taps her heel impatiently and then turns back to the door.

"I'm hungry," she finally says with no small amount of annoyance. "But I don't have any money and I already went dumpster diving once today."

[rules_winter]

The girl is delightfully straightforward. Mab, living in a world of fae who will talk in circles, and humans who know to take care delights in the young woman's bare response. Although she has to wonder "What is... dumpster diving?"

Mab will certainly get to an offer, but some things are important to understand.

[tippytoes]

Mab gets another odd look, but Malia jerks her head towards the alley.

"You go find what you need in the garbage. For me it's usually food."

B

[looksatkings]

Tybalt was not a reckless man, but neither was he overly cautious. Perhaps a fae shouldn't be wandering around wolf territory, but he had been born and raised in London, had first ascended to his role as King of Cats here. Why should he obey some arbitrary territorial borders? At least not during the day. He wasn't going anywhere particular, just wandering the streets, getting a feel for this newer, flashier London.

The scent of wolf hung over the area, faint, but obvious to his heightened senses. But that was to be expected. What he hadn't expected was the scent of something different. Still canine - his nose wrinkled in disgust at that. Far too many dogs here already. But his interest was piqued, so he followed the scent to it's source - a girl glaring at a coffee shop, but seeming to make no move to go inside. Well. Even more interesting.

"If you're hoping for a handout, you're going about it all wrong," he said in a totally conversational tone.

[tippytoes]

Malia looks over at him sharply, and stills a little bit. Cat? No, not quite. Similar, but not the same. He's absolutely not human, that she's sure of, and that informs her answer more than anythings else.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't ask for one," she replies, turning her gaze back to the door. "I'm not a homeless person."

[looksatkings]

"Then one has to wonder why you're out here, looking in, rather than inside enjoying a drink and a pastry." His tone was mildly curious, not accusing.

[tippytoes]

"Because I don't have any money to go inside and buy anything," comes the retort, with no small hint of 'duh' layered over it. Malia raises both her eyebrows at him.

B

[mensrea]

Stiles Stilinski is not a morning person. If he had his way, he would sleep until early afternoon every day with no regrets. In fact, he’s already planning on applying to a college where he can do just that. For now, however, he’s wide awake after a long night of insomnia. He figures if he fills his gullet with something to eat, he can head back to Sutton for a quick nap before heading out. Stiles doesn’t expect to run into Malia outside the coffee shop he’d chosen, though it’s a pleasant surprise.

“Hey,” he greets her, and if his voice is croaky it’s because he’s still groggy from not-sleeping. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “Hey Malia. You waiting for someone…?”

[tippytoes]

She's not used to people sneaking up on her (not that Stiles really did). Malia's just so focused on trying to figure out how to get inside that she doesn't hear him approach, and he's downwind, so she doesn't smell him, either. Her look of surprise when she turns to see him is completely genuine.

"No. I'm just... hungry. And I can't go dumpster diving again because it's too risky, I was here earlier this morning." Malia grimaces, turning her glare back to the door.

"But I don't have any money."

[mensrea]

“Dumpster…diving…”

Oh my god, please tell him that he misheard. Gaping at her, he tries to wrap his head around the idea that this young and pretty girl would be reduced to scavenging through filth to feed herself. He can’t believe it. It makes sense, given their first encounter in the tube, but he’s still in shock. After a moment he shakes himself out of it, gently takes her by the arm, and pulls her inside.

“Okay. No more dumpster diving. That’s just disgusting. If you need food, you let me know. I can help.”

[viduation]

Derek takes one look at that crooked expression and understands. He might, in other circumstances, be moved to protect his car's dignity, but thinking about it now - well, he supposes he gets it. There have been times where he's went through the shift outdoors, ran as a wolf out in the wild. After, he remembers, everything felt weird and claustrophobic. Malia has spent most of her time as a coyote. The camaro can probably endure her scrutiny.

Her comment has him rolling his eyes, albeit half-heartedly at best. "Yeah, I do," he replies, dry but not particularly scornful. "We can't exactly stick our heads out a window and howl anytime we need to talk."

She knows that, and he knows that she does, but - well, maybe he feels like making an effort. Even if it's a poor one. Sorry Malia.

[tippytoes]

It's almost hilarious how much Malia knows she doesn't fit in to this world. She's trying, but it's hard. Making friends is helping, spending time with Derek is helping, but her skin still crawls from time to time with the urge to just flee back to her coyote body, maybe go make a life for herself on the moors somewhere.

None of that stops her from rolling her eyes and looking at him, crossing her arms.

"I know that. But how often are you going to need to talk to me when I'm not there? I'm not—" She stops, sighing.

"I'm not really that useful to the pack."

[viduation]

Tilting his head to her, Derek's frown returns, deeper this time. Her remark might have nothing to do with him, but it's cause enough to doubt. Has he spurred her to feel this way? Has he been negligent in his duty, ignorant of her position? It's absolutely possible, he's forced to admit, but he hopes - he's trying --

"That's not true," he says, looking away from her resolutely as the car rolls out of the driveway. Hesitation has him falling silent again; he rifles through his mind for something, anything, that sounds like the right thing to say. "You're here because you have a place here. That means you're part of the pack. And that means you're useful."

B, latest party crasher

[eyeforaneye]

His lunch breaks aren't long and thus they're dependent on his speed, normally rushing to the nearest stand to get something quick to tide him over so that he doesn't have to eat at his desk and can instead enjoy the... terrible... weather... Alright, fine, he just likes having time to himself to brood in an open space.

That said he actually slows his entire routine down when he notices how impressive her glower is, drawn in by such obvious ire, and Sasuke stills right by her side.

He then crosses his arms, looks at the shop, and glares with her.

Solidarity. Let me help you with that.

this reply is even later

[tippytoes]

She stands there in solidarity with him (thanks bro) for a long moment before she even realizes he's there. Malia turns to him slightly, looking him up and down.

"Can I help you?"

world's slowest thread, nbd

[eyeforaneye]

"I doubt it." In a very general sense, anyway; he has no idea what her talents might be and she has no idea what his problems might be, after all. He's a pretty literal guy.

"What did they do to you?"