He’s the devil in disguise a snake with blue eyes

[godofcologne]

Characters: Thomas, Harry, and whoever else might want to come along
Time: Sunday/Monday, before sunset (playing a little loose with time here)
Location: 26th and Federal; Parking lot off the freeway
Content: Thomas and Harry have A Plan to find one of the new, less savory denizens of Chicago. It is the best, most simple plan ever and nothing could go

Comments

[nowhere_winry]

The evening air was chillier than Winry had expected. She really needed a jacket - and warmer clothes - if she was going to be walking around in the late afternoon. Or in this city in winter anyway.

The people of the city seemed to be thrilled with the cooler weather, from the chattering Winry heard as she walked. Some of them were even willing to tell her where she could find more suitable clothes.

Arms wrapped around her self, Winry caught sight of a familiar vehicle, realizing the person with it was also familiar. "Thomas?"

[godofcologne]

At the sound of his name, Thomas turned towards Winry, having already caught her scent on the wind halfway up the block. Something vaguely floral mixed with the distinctive sharp tang of metal. "Hey cutie. I didn't expect to see you here," he answered, giving her an easy grin and a wink. "You're not following me, are you?"

[nowhere_winry]

Winry huffed, her cheeks pinking. "No! No, not at all! I was," she glanced sideways, realizing this was not the area where she'd be able to even find the things she was about to say she was looking for. There weren't any toolshops, or clothing stores, or places where she could get metal for automail.

"I was out for a walk."

[godofcologne]

At the colour rising in Winry's cheeks, Thomas' grin broadened and he laughed. The fact that there was just the tiniest bit of paranoia in the question was ignored completely as he glanced around. "Long way from the hotel for a walk," he observed, glancing at the sky. He rapped the Hummer's hood and continued apologetically. "I'd offer you a ride back, but I think it'll be a while before I'm done."

[killswithclips]

Ziva zipped up her jacket a little higher, making a beeline towards the hotel she was staying at. It was getting colder as the sun was going down, and at this point, she really wasn't keen on being outside too long after dark. Especially with the things that had been going on lately.

As she wandered, she noticed a familiar car parking in a parking lot she was cutting through, and she changed directions, walking towards it, and the familiar figure leaning against the car. She stopped at the front quarter panel of the car, leaning her elbow on it and resting her chin in her hand.

"Do I want to ask what you are up to this time?"

[godofcologne]

The sun was dropping fast and the mercury with it, but Thomas didn't seem terribly bothered by the cold. If anyone asked, he'd have said something about being hot enough to outlast the weather, or something else eyerolling.

When Ziva stopped to chat, Thomas grinned, wide and inviting. "Would you believe me if I said a quiet night out with friends?"

[killswithclips]

"No. But would you really try to get me to believe that?" She shifted, leaning against the car now, and looking around. "I remember that video of your hotel room, and I believe that is what you define of a 'quiet' night." She rolled her eyes. She would have expected this line of conversation from people she knew from home.

"Now really, what are you doing out here, and should I be worried about supernatural beings coming out to play?"

[godofcologne]

At the mention of the video, Thomas made a face somewhere between indignant and offended. "I didn't turn it on!" he protested, knowing it was probably useless, but satisfying his own ego with a token protest made him feel better.

He shook his head, keeping an eye on the street for the supernatural beings Ziva mentioned. "Second question first: I hope not but probably." He paused as his eyes subconsciously following a group of young men and women in oversized suits and fringed dresses as they disappeared around the corner. Thomas grinned as he continued, "As for the first question, looking for a woman."

[burnoutthenight]

All things considered, the comparatively cool temperature of the night didn't bother Axel too much. One of the advantages of having a sort of built-in heater, not that his customary leather coat itself wasn't enough to handle this sort of chill. After all, it would have been a problem otherwise. The night was the best time to find things.

All the interesting people came out then. Himself included.

Tonight, he even had his hood down. If he couldn't blend in in a city like this one, then he'd grossly misjudged its character. Besides, he told himself, it wasn't like there was really a need for secrecy here. If he hadn't heard of the place, than odds were that the people here hadn't heard of them.

[godofcologne]

The approach of a figure in a long, dark coat made Thomas straighten, a sarcastic greeting for Harry on his lips, before he noticed the shock of bright red hair. He eyed the figure warily as it neared, taking in the sense of confidence that coloured his steps. "Hope you didn't mug some gangly idiot for that coat," he called out, still leaning on his elbows against the car.

[burnoutthenight]

Well, that was certainly something you didn't hear every day. Either he knew someone else with a habit of wearing a long, leather coat or he was just naturally suspicious. At the moment, he was more inclined to believe the former, but hey, you never knew.

"Nah," he answered with a shrug and a grin. "Not really my style. Beside, it probably wouldn't fit as nice as this one."

Which fit almost as if it had been made for him, and really, it ought to have. Mostly because it might as well have been, but that wasn't something he was about to mention. Not just yet, and possibly not ever.

"You know a lot of guys who wander around in coats like this?"

[godofcologne]

"Met more than my share the last month or so," Thomas drawled back. "Must've missed the memo that it's the hot new look for fall."

The individual had looked familiar before, but Thomas had chalked the vague recognition up to the long coat; seemed practically everyone he met here in this Chicago wore one of some make. But the voice pinged his memory and he tried to place it. It wasn't one of the usuals in the Hard Rock's bar, or one of the children he'd met under the Bean, or one of the more frequent netw--

Right, the network. Thomas tried to remember the redhead's name, for some reason gravitating towards names like Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger. He suspected the kid wasn't some time traveling member of Aerosmith or the Stones, but for some reason his brain insisted. He shifted, feeling the familiar weight of the Desert Eagle at his back--

Guns. Guns and Roses. Axl Rose. Right. "It's Axel, right?"

[outtabubblegum]

Zero. Harry hated the club and everything it stood for with a vehemence that had startled him at first. It was a utter perversion of love, the fount of magic, trying to twist and corrupt it until it was a word utterly without meaning and the emotion behind it had been perverted the feed the White Court. After the last visit he had been happy to leave the place behind him and hope that he would never have to stroll through its decadent halls again in his life

[godofcologne]

Watching Harry climb out of the car that was distinctly not Blue Beetle like in any way, shape, or form, Thomas excused himself from the small group gathered around his car and met Harry half way. "Watch it, or the next thing you know you'll be grumbling about kids these days like that curmudgeon on the network," Thomas answered, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He liked texting. It was words without context, without tone or the nuances of emotion. It was safe.

And handy.

Following Harry's glance with eyes somewhere between blue and grey, Thomas looked at the non-descript door with a thoughtful expression. Maybe it was the muted presence of people here, but he couldn't feel Zero from far away like he normally could, a caress of lust and abandon like opium smoke against his demon's senses. Now it was like music out of reach, a sense of something that his senses couldn't quite catch

[nowhere_winry]

Winry followed Thomas away from the Hummer and toward Harry, wondering if everyone had an automobile here in Chicago, and if she might be able to get one herself. It'd be nicer than walking around on cold days. Or nights, as the case might be.

"I think I'd be happier knowing you're drinking a gin and tonic," she told Thomas when she was close enough. "The other's a little creepy." Nodding, she said, "Hi, Harry. Are you two really here to get a drink?"

[burnoutthenight]

Backup. Curiouser and curiouser, to borrow a phrase from another world. As was the comment about not blowing open the door. Whatever Thomas and his friend were here for it wasn't anything mundane. But that was fine by him. A place couldn't get by on the mundane things forever.

"I'm guessing no," he answered, even though he was almost positive the comment hadn't been directed at him.