(Untitled)

[bass_line_blues]

It's easy to track Russ if you've got the nose for it - and, as it happens, Preston does. Even in human form, which is the form he's currently in. He prefers it, and in any case it's easier to communicate; to explain why he's leading the leader of the vampires straight towards the alpha, if any of the Pack wolves come across them and decide to

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[rebelw_outclaws]

Russ is up by the Cloud Gate, facing out towards the water, smoking.

At the sound of footsteps, though, and the scents, he whirls, not quite snarling.

He's a little on edge, maybe.

[undermyheel]

Claire's lips are peeled back from her teeth, less in a smiling, lovely-to-see-you-Russ way and more in a don't-try-to-push-me-around-tonight way.

She waits for Preston to make the first move.

[bass_line_blues]

"Hey, Russ," Preston says, quietly.

His hands are hanging at his sides. Palms, very clearly, flat.

"'s me. And Claire."

He tries to say this as if it is very normal for Russ, Claire, and Preston to be hanging out. Half-succeeds.

"Sorry for tracking you down. Got some news I thought you might want to hear."

[rebelw_outclaws]

"That so."

He tosses away the cigarette and shoves his hands in his pockets.

[undermyheel]

"Lovely, Russ. Show some enthusiasm. This has to do with the dead kids."

She hesitates on the word. Under her jacket, she's still in mourning clothes.

"Bass. Tell him."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston glances at her.

It goes against the grain to follow an order; it sets him on a side.

But it's not as if he hadn't been going to do it anyways, so he launches into the pertinent facts: "Other night, I got chased by a wolf with what you might call murderous intent. Not one of yours. Not part of a pack - and not outside like I'm outside, either. Real fucking lone wolf.

"Except not so much. 'cause it turns out the wolf had two vampire friends."

He pauses, here.

[rebelw_outclaws]

Russ frowns at him.

"Okay."

[undermyheel]

Claire snorts. "It's our guys," she says, assertive.

[bass_line_blues]

"I think it might be," says Preston - more cautious, less assertive.

"It felt fucking off, anyways."

He glances from Russ, to Claire.

"Anyways, I got a pretty good noseful of them even if I didn't get a look."

[rebelw_outclaws]

"--Off how?"

He's suddenly intent on Preston.

(And ignoring Claire.)

"Can you describe it?"

[bass_line_blues]

Preston shakes his head, though more thoughtful than in negation.

"It just . . . man, it shouldn't be happening, not the way tensions are rising. Kind of wolf that's crazy enough to attack someone else, another wolf, for no reason - and it was for no reason; I know when I'm prey and that was it - he isn't going to randomly pal up with a couple of vamps, you know?"

[undermyheel]

"I haven't ever heard of a vamp making friends with a feral wolf and making it out alive unless they were controlling the wolf," Claire says.

She puts her hands in her pockets.

[rebelw_outclaws]

He finally looks at Claire.

"Same. How do you know it's our guys?"

[undermyheel]

"If I know it's not mine," she says. "And I can make a guess it's not yours, that leaves all the rogues in the city. And you and I both at least have an ear to the ground about them. This is our best lead."

[rebelw_outclaws]

"Hn."

To Preston -- "Can you track 'em?"

[bass_line_blues]

"To an extent, yeah. Long as it's soon. And I'd recognize them if I smelled them."