[PSL] You put that urban fantasy right back where you found it (for zunesareawesome)

[cahooted]

Flynn doesn't get involved.

Not anymore; there had once been a time where he had been involved in many things. Wonderful things, adventurous things – but that time was long gone, that life lay behind him now. It had ended when he had convinced Simone to let him stay with her, to bite and turn him. He had looked forward to a lifetime, no, countless lifetimes, with her, spending eternity together. Had been ready for it, or so he had thought.

After three days, three frightening, wonderful and confusing days with Simone, it had ended. Kubichek had not been killed by the grenade (of course not, that wasn't how vampires died, they should have known, stupid, stupid) and he had come back for his revenge, taking them by surprise. They had defeated him but it had cost Flynn dearly.

Now Simone is gone (forever) and Flynn is more lost than ever before in his life. He has taken refuge in Simone's old hideout, living off the remaining blood bags and postponing finding another place to live that isn't full of painful memories. He has secluded himself in here and here he will stay.

Alone.

He can't go back to the Library, he knows he can't. He turned his back on it and maybe he deserves the earth-shattering loss and loneliness of his rash decision; he has eternity to brood over that question. Part of him wishes he could see Judson and Charlene, just one last time, but he knows he wouldn't be able to face them after letting them down like he did. Sometimes he feels like he's catching Judson out of the corner of his eye, in a mirror, a movement of a reflection that can't be Flynn's, but when he looks there's nothing.

Flynn spends the days reading. About vampires, mostly, trying to catch up on his new existence. Most of the nights he spends reading, too, and really, if it were up to him he would never leave the apartment. But spending all his time reading also means he has to go out from time to time to find new material. Tonight is one of these nights and he already regrets it.

They're werewolves, he's pretty sure. It's like his gift to read people has been transferred to the supernatural and he can sense what these creatures are, can see it in their movements, feel it in the air, he just knows. They haven't changed form, only partially, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight, feral and dangerous and... mean. They have circled someone and Flynn can tell that this someone is a werewolf, too. A werewolf that the others don't seem to like for some reason. At all.

Flynn knows bullies when he sees them. They take their time, circling their victim, sometimes attacking for a punch or a scratch or a bite. Flynn pulls a face as he watches from the shadows of the trees before turning his back on the scene. Whatever. This is stupid. It's not his problem. He will seek out the trader he is supposed to meet for a stack of rare books, go home and hate life. Or unlife. Whatever he is supposed to call himself these days. 'Idiot', maybe. Yes, he thinks he'll go with that.

Flynn doesn't get involved, not anymore.

He makes it two steps back into the underwood, trying to ignore the snarling and growling, before he slows and stops. He closes his eyes, exhaling sharply at the sudden fear of a decision already made, before he turns and, with a gust of a dramatic whoosh ports himself forward and onto the clearing. He miscalculates and stumbles on a stone but thankfully for him the werewolves are too busy with their prey to notice his little mishap.

Or... anything about his dramatic entry really as nobody has even noticed him appear. Well, that was a colossal waste of time and energy? The old-fashioned way then.

"Hey! Leave him alone!"

Comments

All the urban fantasy \o/

[zunesareawesome]

Peter doesn't fit in with them.

Other werewolves.

He's always been an outcast, one way or another, and well, he thought that getting bit by a freakin' werewolf just ensured that he'd forever be an outcast. Someone who's lost stuff, someone who's now lost any attempt at a normal life.

But there was some instinctual knowledge, now. An aching, yearning need to be part of a group, have friends, a pack, and well--he was kinda sorta failing big time on that front. Even though he hated these jerks, there was some stupid, dog-like part of him that whines in the back of his mind, desperate for a connection, for a bit of kindness.

"Look, I was just passing through. I don't want any trouble!"

Peter's voice couldn't hide that whine in the back of his throat, his eyes turning gold, he didn't even know they'd turned gold. Was he in the wrong territory? He didn't know what the scents meant. He didn't know how any of this worked!

And then all of a sudden--a new voice. A new scent.

He was still getting used to these senses, and man, sometimes they knocked him for a loop--but something told him there was something wrong with the way this dude smelled. Something that made him instantly on edge. It smelled like danger.

[cahooted]

Heads turned, fangs were bared and Flynn felt instant regret wash over him like ice water. Nevertheless he stood his ground, raising his chin defiantly and trying to stare them down. And realized that werewolves were pretty good at staring back.

"And who do you think you are, Bitey?" One of the werewolves approached, sniffing, but kept his distance when he realized his buddies weren't following suit. "Flutter off, this doesn't concern you."

"Me? I'm..." Flynn's mouth suddenly felt dry because he knew what he wanted to say but he couldn't, not anymore. And he could tell they would sense his insecurity in a second and then probably charge and rip him apart. Time for a big-time bluff. Spreading his arms wide he dropped his voice dramatically and really hoped it would not crack. "I'm the Keeper of the Chalice!"

There was a short pause in which the wolves exchanged glances. "... You guys really do all have stupid pretentious names, don't you."

Only the werewolf furthest away suddenly paled, backing off a little. "Wait a second. That's the one. The one who bested Dracul! The one who ripped the Judas Chalice from his hands and then his head from his accursed torso!"

Wow, what? "That's, uh, not exactly how it..." Flynn began but didn't get very far.

"He filled the Chalice with the Impaler's blood sprouting into the night and drank from it until he inherited all his powers!"

"That, no, okay, first of all? That is disgusting, you have some of the facts really backwards there, and..."

"That one?" The pack leader pointed at Flynn with such rude incredulity that Flynn couldn't help but purse his lips, bristling. "Don't be ridiculous. Look at him! That guy couldn't bite a cow if bored teenagers had already pushed it over!"

"Well, I'm not risking it!"

"You're not going anywhere!"

As the argument between the wolves unfolded Flynn realized that this wasn't getting him anywhere. After watching them for an awkward moment he just tried the first thing that came to mind – bringing up his hands, baring his fangs and snarling like Simone had done when she had given him a heart attack. These guys still had hearts that were beating. Maybe it worked on them, too.

[zunesareawesome]

Peter has no idea what a Keeper of the Whatever is, but he's unconsciously baring his teeth, snarling like the rest of them. He can't help it, he doesn't know who this guy is, except that he's causing a really weird reaction in him and he tried to...help him? What is this? Why would he--

--Peter remembered when he stood up to bullies when he was a kid just because of a frog. And now mystery creep is doing the same thing.

Mystery creep who killed...Dracul? Dracula?

"Dude!" Peter can't help but pipe up. "That's awesome? Dracula's real?"

The guy must be a vampire then, based on what they were saying. It would explain the scent, his reaction.

He's slowly backing away now, while they're arguing. He attempts to slip further into the trees, when this dude does his snarly thing--which sets his instincts off wildly, he can feel his own canines lengthening on both the top and bottom set of teeth and the hair on his head stand on end. Still, the guy was giving him an out? Or he just got lucky. Either way, he's gonna try to run further into the trees.

[cahooted]

It's working; in fact it's working extremely well. Flynn can feel their adrenaline spiking, the blood in their veins pumping rapidly which fills him with a feral excitement that he doesn't want and that is deeply repulsive to the rational part of him. And then, as if they can sense his reaction in turn, the bully-wolves run from him.

In fact everybody runs and it brings a sudden pang of sadness. Flynn knows it's because they can feel the monster inside and this isn't fun. This isn't who or what he wants to be. But there is no way to change that now. He made his bed and now he has to lie in it and bemoan his bad decisions.

Oh well.

It looks like he at least helped someone in need which makes him feel a little better about himself. Sighing, he lowers his hands, the fangs retracting and shakes his head as he watches the wolves scatter between the trees. Whatever. He's just going to get his books and then he is out of this creepy forest.

[zunesareawesome]

Peter's running.

His senses feel alive, and there's a weird kind of sheer joy to just run.

He can hear the other wolves scattering, for a second he feared they were running after him, but...wasn't the case. He could smell their scent fading. Phew. That was a tight spot earlier, he--

--he slowed down.

That one guy, the badass vampire dude--he really did try to help him, didn't he? Peter looked behind him, his eyes burning gold in the darkness. Maybe he should...like, say thank you. At least figure out why he did in the first place.

Turning (not literal) tail, he sped back in the direction that he came from, trying to pick up that weird scent.

"Hey!" Peter calls out when he's still a bit far, instinctual wariness getting the better of him. Peter's wearing a red motorcycle jacket over a gray shirt, slightly scruffy, he could use several shaves. Werewolfism? Or he was just a scruffy dude. His teeth had gone back to normal, even if his eyes haven't.

"Why'd you help me?"

[cahooted]

When the werewolf calls out for him Flynn stops, looking back over his shoulder in surprise. He came back? "Hi."

Flynn is still wearing his white shirt with the vest and corduroy jacket. He had briefly considered getting some dramatic black clothes to go with his mood, but really, that would just be silly. Black had never been his color and he isn't about to start with that notion now. No need to play into cheap clichés, is there?

He watches the golden eyes with a sudden fascination, realizing that he doesn't know all that much about werewolves. Well no, he actually knows a lot about werewolves, he just doesn't know which parts are accurate much as with his own newfound supernatural existence.

The question gives him pause and he heaves a breath, raising his shoulders and dropping them down again. "It was the right thing to do." Something that lately he has been spectacular at screwing up. "Those guys were jerks."

He rubs the back of his neck, glancing at the bruises and scratches on the guy's face. "Are you okay?"

[zunesareawesome]

Peter's brow is furrowed, that wary part of him is suspicious, thinking this is some kind of trick. That the vampire (vampires were real, why is this surprising he's a damn werewolf) was going to attack him or something. But the normal part of his brain refuses to believe those instincts.

"Most people wouldn't do that," he looked behind him, guesturing in the general direction of where the other wolves have gone. Vampire or not.

"They were jerks." Peter rubs the stinging scratches on his face. "I'm fine, thanks. I mean, it's not so bad. I've had worse." The embarrassment was probably worse. He was being straight-out bullied, and both the wolf instincts and human ones agreed that despite how awful they'd been, it still hurt. Here he was, an adult, and he still felt like he was a kid. He should have been able to defend himself better. But there were so many of him, and the wolf in him immediately wanted him to acquiesce to them, to make friends, to let them do what they wanted, since he was alone and needed a pack.

He held out his hand, to this dude that was probably super dangerous.

"I'm Peter Quill. Did you really kill Dracula?" His wariness is being replaced by curiosity.

[cahooted]

"I guess." That's a fair assessment. Most of the vampires Flynn met haven't exactly been the nicest guys out there. With the exception of Simone maybe who doesn't count because she had spent her life apart from the community. If there even was a secret vampire community. Flynn doesn't know and, honestly, doesn't care all that much.

"Flynn Carsen." He shakes the hand, not thinking much of it. If he knew how dangerous Peter teems him to be he would be genuinely surprised, flattered and... amused, to be honest.

"I... yeah, I did that. But it wasn't anything like that guy just said. Why would I drink blood from a sprouting torso, I mean, who does that? That's just nasty." He pulls a face. "We don't even sprout blood when we're decapitated. We just disappear."

[zunesareawesome]

Peter's still expecting this to get weird or dangerous somehow, but it's surprisingly going normal? That wasn't a vampire-sounding name at all. He was expecting something dramatic and flowy like, Flynn the Butcher, at least.

"I've never shaken hands with a dead guy before," he looks at his own hand, as if he could catch the 'dead', and then back up to Flynn. "Really? You just disappear? How does that work? You just go 'poof', dust everywhere? Or fade out like a ghost?"

He rubs his scruffy hair. "Sorry man, I'm just...really new to this whole thing. I only got bitten last month, so I don't know much about being a werewolf either. I mean, this is...wild. Actual vampires, actual werewolves? I don't know what's going on with me half the time, and then you got those assholes..." He rubs a large bruise on his jawline.

[cahooted]

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Flynn still remembers how weird he had felt when he found out he had been (intimately) dating a dead woman, so the comment doesn't really faze him all that much. Can you blame the guy? Thinking back of his own frantic trying to get away from Simone he has to hand it to Peter that he is taking this with much more grace.

"Uh, it's the poof-dust thing." Is he supposed to talk about this? He isn't sure. "It's really fast. I've only seen it once but it's so rapid. Like a vacuum bag exploding, only less gross." A beat. "Maybe more gross, if you really think about it."

When Peter gets to his jumbled explanations Flynn smiles and something in his stance relaxes. "Right? I know what you mean. I'm really new to all this, too and it would be really nice if there would be guides? Something to help you navigate all this? But no, it's all buried under centuries of different versions and interpretations of what the rules are and when you try to work your way through them you never know is this a story? Is this accurate? Can I drink animal blood? Turns out I can't, not unless I want to get violently sick, but are there different vampires with different rules? Can they drink animal blood?" He raises his hands and lets them fall back down in frustration. "I don't know."

[zunesareawesome]

"...yeah, it's...weird." He's staring. Is it rude to stare? He's still totally staring. "No offense, dude. I mean, it's pretty cool, when it comes down to it. Never thought I'd be talking to a dead guy, either."

"Gnarly. I hope you got it on video." Because that would also be cool. Peter sounds almost excited about it.

"You're new too? Man. Does the creepy critter community need to fulfill its monthly quotas or something? And yeah, guides would have been awesome. Or a guide. Anything. The wolf that turned me ran off. Probably didn't even realize what he or she did."

A pause. "You can't drink animal blood? Does that include--" He points to himself. Not entirely all animal, but he could breathe easier if he knew he wasn't about to get jumped by this perfectly nice dead guy.

[cahooted]

That sounds like an extremely rough patch and he sobers, the agitation subsiding a bit. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

Flynn chose this – regrets it terribly, now that it all went wrong, true, but it wasn't an attack, it was a turning that happened consensually. On top of that he already had insight into this world; the world of magic and artifacts, the world of there being more than meets the eye. And he knows where to get information, where to look. To be attacked and mauled, only to be flung into this world all on your own must be so confusing and horrible.

"I don't know. Probably?" He frowns, suddenly reminded of the fears he must elicit in others. "Hey, I'm not going to bite you. I don't bite people."

[zunesareawesome]

A shrug. "It's fine."

It wasn't fine. Not by a long shot. There's a crack in his easy-going smile, something haunted in his eyes. He was terrified, he's been terrified for a few weeks now and it wasn't letting up. Flynn was right, he's been struggling ever since it happened. Not even his sad childhood and rough upbringing could have prepared him for the level of horror he's experiencing.

Probably was hopeful, at least. Peter frowns. "Wait, you don't bite people? Isn't that a vampire's whole thing? How do you eat? Steal from hospitals?"

[cahooted]

Flynn hasn't lost his ability to deduce a considerable amount of information by just looking at a person and looking at Peter now tells him enough. It's uncomfortable and he glances away, unwilling to deal with the terror in his eyes. It's not his problem. They all have it rough these days.

"Yes. No. Maybe? I don't, I haven't figured that out yet. I have a stash of blood bags, they're gonna last for a while."

He should just leave it at that. The guy is okay. Okay, maybe he is so not okay but he is fine. The wolves are gone. Peter needs to learn the ropes somehow but hey, don't we all. Flynn doesn't get involved.

Only there seems to be a disconnect between his mouth and his brain because suddenly there is voice piping up that sounds way too much like his own. "Look, I... I probably have some ice and band-aids somewhere around my place, do you want to..."

[zunesareawesome]

"Really? Have you ever, like, hunted at all?" Peter's super curious, this guy was completely destroying all his pre-conceived notions about vampires, real or not. And what happens if the blood bags ran out and he couldn't get access to a blood bank?

His eyes widen in surprise. He looks down for a second. He really shouldn't. The dude could be setting him up. He smelled like danger. His instincts were telling him to be careful, to not trust him.

But what was the point of luring him away when he could just attack him here and now?

"...okay. Yeah, dude, I mean...that'd be great," he's just as surprised when he answers back.

[cahooted]

"No, I don't like the idea of chasing someone. Or, you know, murdering them." The thought of becoming a glow-eyed feral like Vlad's minions sends a cold shiver down Flynn's spine. In a way he feels blessed that Simone showed him that a different way is possible. It's a hope to draw from and it helps him keep his fear in check.

She did it for 400 years. Surely Flynn can figure out a way to do the same.

"Okay. It's not far from here, I have a place back in the city." It's not exactly his place and he feels a twang of guilt calling it such but part of him knows Simone wouldn't mind. Would want him to have a place, actually, to stay safe and hidden during the day.

Flynn makes an awkward hand gesture because he doesn't know what else to add and when Peter seems to have the same problem he just starts walking ahead to lead the way.

[zunesareawesome]

"Yeah? I gotta say that's kind of not what I was expecting from the dude that killed Dracula."

Peter has to admit that the answer, if true, is pretty relieving. It's enough to allow him to let down his guard a tiny bit. Though his instincts were still refusing to listen to his brain. Stupid wolf-self, shut up and get in line.

"I'm just passin' through myself. All I got is my bike, but that's all I need."

Living in crummy motels wasn't ideal, but he didn't want to settle down. Especially after the rap sheet behind his name. And he made his way by stealing stuff, so there was that, too. And he'd been stuck here since it happened, but he hasn't found any answers yet. Except maybe today.

He awkwardly walks alongside, normally he's pretty chill but he can't let go of the edge. He stuffs his hands in the pockets of his jacket, and after an equally awkward silence, he pipes up.

"Do you know anything about werewolves?" It's almost sheepish. But curiously, the gold in his eyes has faded and they've gone back to their normal shade.

[cahooted]

"Well, he tried to bring on the end of the world, so I didn't really have much choice, you know?"

Flynn can sense Peter's apprehension, the way the beast inside the man snarls at his presence but it would be hypocritical to be insulted by it. Instead, he tries to find the same amused mildness that Simone had regarded him with, back then, when he had still been human. It's surprisingly difficult and Flynn wonders how she did it. And if, underneath the faint ironic and humorous approach to his fear, his actions had actually hurt her. He hopes not; he wishes he could ask and apologize.

"I know a little bit. I have a lot of books that I use for research? The golden eyes are actually really helpful to narrow it down, I guess if you told me more about yourself I could have a look. See if I find something that could help you."

Right. Looks like maybe he'll get a little involved after all. Old habits die hard, apparently even when you're already dead.

[zunesareawesome]

"Huh. Well, considering that the world looks like it's still doing it's thing, you were pretty successful, so thanks." The smile was a little less guarded.

An offer of help? This is more than he'd expected. His gait gets slightly bouncy as his voice can't hold back his excitement. "Seriously, that would be so awesome of you, you have no idea how unhelpful movies have been. Which is like, wrong, right? Movies, unhelpful? Psh. But I sound like a loser movie critic when I complain how inaccurate so many movies about werewolves have been and I just--I need to know the real deal." A pause after that rant. "Golden eyes? Did...did my eyes turn golden again?"

But he nodded eagerly. He doesn't mind telling Flynn about his past, or how he lived if it came up, dude was a vampire, he doubted he'd care or judge. "Sure! I still haven't actually seen what I look like as a wolf, I tried to set up a camera on the second night I changed but I chewed up the phone. I found some fur in my stuff, though. Uhhh...where to start? After I got bit, I don't really remember the next couple of days afterwards, I was so sick. I ended up in my motel room and when I finally snapped out of it a couple days later, all the weirdness started happening. And like, at this point I wasn't sure if it was a bigass coyote or dog that got me."

[cahooted]

"Yes, they did. I suppose that means you and the others can transform partially. At least with practice, who knows how long these jerks have been doing it. I'm still trying to figure out my own skills, it's ridiculously complicated."

Flynn listens and he can feel his resolve weaken further in the wake of sympathy. That sounds like the worst possible way to turn. "And a couple of days incubation period, alright. That's another clue that might help getting us on the right track. It might take me a while, though, these books don't really come with an index."

Keeping a lookout for more unwanted attackers he leads them back into the city and to his – Simone's – apartment. He's even attentive enough to buy some take-out for Peter along the way. His fridge isn't exactly well-stocked these days, even though he does enjoy to nibble on some real food now and then.

[zunesareawesome]

"Dude. Transform partially? You mean like, on purpose? How can anybody practice...that?" It seemed beyond him. Why would anyone want to? Well, maybe in a fight or something. Teeth and claws were a pretty big advantage. "Oh! That's right, do you have superpowers? Can you turn into a bat?"

"Gross. That makes it sound like a disease. Which it probably is," a grumble.

Peter's stomach is growling just as much as his wolf side when he enters the place. It's super thoughtful of Flynn. But all thoughts of food disappeared when he entered. It smelled like vampire, if that's what that scent that set him off was, and his instincts were going absolutely haywire when he entered. It's a nice place, really, but he's frozen only a few steps into the apartment, his eyes turning gold again.

Den. Enemy. Danger. Trap.

No, this was stupid.

One foot in front of the other. He was certain by now this wasn't a trap--he'd be dead or captured already.

[cahooted]

"Yes, I do." He sounds entirely unenthusiastic about it. Really, he'd give them up in a heartbeat if he could just undo everything. And since he doesn't go out because he doesn't want to hunt people it's not like they do him any good anyway. "No. I don't think so? I haven't tried. I guess I could hang from a tree upside down and pretend to be one but why would I want to? It just makes me dizzy."

Entering the apartment Flynn drops the take-out on the table. "I'll go see if I have some ice for your face there..." he starts, turning around...

... and winces back, drawing in a sharp breath when he stumbles backwards against one of the antique chairs, banging his hip painfully on its edge. "Ooookay. Eyes. You're, uh, you're doing the eye thing? What does that mean, does that mean anything?"

Looks like Peter's not the only one who's nervous here.

[zunesareawesome]

"Dude, that would be awesome if you could. You have to try! Superpowers are fantastic!" He sounds extremely excited about this. He may be having a real sucky time right now but people, even dead people, with superpowers is just too cool.

"Eyes?" He frowns, he's concentrating very hard on not bolting or trying to scramble under a table or something. Or worse, attack. He didn't think he would, the instincts were begging him to get out of here. "Sorry, I just--" His voice is a little distorted, there's a gruff texture to his words, a growl in his throat. His teeth felt crowded again, his canines probably lengthened again on both his top and bottom teeth. "It's the scent, it's--there's something telling me it's dangerous. You're dangerous. This place is dangerous."

...except how dangerous can this guy be? He just tripped.

[cahooted]

Flynn straightens up quickly and dusts himself off in search for some dignity. The growly voice is disconcerting and his heart would be hammering in his chest by now – if it were still beating. Nevertheless, just because he doesn't have a pulse that can pick up doesn't mean he can't feel fear.

"It's probably your instincts reacting to, uh... me." Flynn watches him uneasily. "You're not gonna attack me, are you?" Backing off a little, just in case.

"I'm not dangerous." He sounds stunned, almost perplexed by the idea. "I have a freezer full of blood bags like the world's most ridiculous Capri Sun collection. I don't even want to be a vampire."

[zunesareawesome]

That seems to shake Peter out of it. Even his inner wolf is baffled. He still sounds growly, but it's laced with confusion and curiousity.

"You smell dangerous. This place smells like a death-trap." He squints, and then rubs his face. Calm the hell down, Peter, he chastised himself. The dude was only trying to help. He takes a couple of deep breaths, before he can feel his instincts settle. The longer he's here without being attacked, the less of an effect they had on him. Clearly he was safe.

"I'm sorry, man. No, I'm not gonna attack you," he rubs his eyes again as if that would help, but they remain gold, as he's still slightly on edge. "How'd you become a vampire, anyway?" His tone is sympathetic, considering what he's been through himself.