bakerstreet | (no subject)

— city at night meme

You've got the world around you yawning with potential, possibilities fanning out before your very eyes—after all, they say the city doesn't sleep at night. The skyline's illuminated with glittering lights, and even now, the streets are bustling with activity. So here's the real question: where are you at this hour?

— scenario prompts

1) WORKING.
You're still caught up at the office or wherever it is you're holed up. It's getting late, but there's work to be done.

2) RELAXING.
You're warm and comfortable someplace indoors, whether it's in a cozy nook of a café or maybe just in your own apartment. There's no other place you really need to be, is there?

3) MEET-UP/DATE.
Is there someone you're seeing for dinner? A date? Maybe you're going bar-hopping together with some friends, or your attendance is expected at some special event. Alternatively, there's someone you're meeting with to make a deal of some kind, whether it's perfectly legitimate or something that might invite trouble with local enforcement.

4) OUT FOR A WALK.
Sometimes, it's nice to get out for some fresh air—or, well, as fresh as it gets with all the air pollution around you. The park's not too far away; it might be nice and quiet at this hour, if you don't run into any...

5) TROUBLE.
It's getting late and it's dark outside, but someone has been tailing you for a while. Walking faster only makes them speed up; they're doggedly persistent. What to do now? Is there a busy street you can turn on to for help? Or maybe it's time to confront your pursuer... On the flip side, you're the one tracking someone. For what reason? Well, only you would know, right?

6) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!

— setting prompts

A) STREETS/ALLEYS.
Are you visiting a busy district teeming with people? Or are you out on a quieter street? It can be dark out there, especially if you turn onto a smaller one without many streetlamps. Watch your step. Some of the alleyways might make good shortcuts if you're trying to get somewhere fast, but there's also trouble to be found sometimes. Don't get cornered anywhere, and especially don't get too curious if you see something suspicious in one of the dumpsters...

B) IN TRANSIT.
You're between locations right now, just trying to get on with your evening. You have some options, like public transportation: the bus, the train, the subway. Alternatively, you're a fancier kind of person: you've got your own car that you're driving, or better yet, you have a chauffeur and a private car. Or, you know, you're just taking a taxi or using a ride-share app. There are also transitional spaces like parking lots or garages.

C) DINING.
Some cities are melting pots of different cultures; you're bound to find countless spots at which to eat. There are small cafés if you want a quick bite, or fancier restaurants where you can wine and dine. You could support a small family business by dropping by at a local hole in the wall—sometimes the most authentic spots with the best food are nondescript locations. Or if you're really trying to impress, go for some famous Michelin three-star.

D) NIGHT LIFE.
Bars, clubs, lounges—all of it's fair game. Remember to drink responsibly—or don't, if you're looking to really forget about your troubles for a while. Just know that you'll only have yourself to blame for that raging hangover in the morning.

E) CORPORATE BUILDING.
In a larger city, major corporations might be headquartered in the glittering skyscrapers that line the most expensive districts. There are all kinds of businesses—banks, law firms, finance companies, tech groups, to state just a few. Some places might keep their lights on pretty late at night for the white-collar workers burning the midnight oil; others, perhaps not. Do you fit somewhere in this equation? Or if you're here for something more exciting, there's always corporate espionage...

F) SHOPS.
A lot of shops could be closed by now, but maybe it's that final hour before that mall or outlet you wanted to visit locks their doors for the evening. Time for some last-second shopping! Snatch up that deal before it's gone, or be sure to buy a gift for your date before it's too late!

G) HOME.
You're at home, wherever that is—an apartment, a condo, a house somewhere, or maybe something more extravagant. Real estate can get expensive in the city, especially in popular locations. Do you have a tiny apartment that covers all your basic needs? Or something much nicer, like the type of penthouse people usually only see in movies, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows?

H) CITY SQUARE.
Some city squares are hubs of activity, filled with street performers, pop-up stores, or food stalls. There's a lot you could do, especially when it's nighttime and the little lights strung around the place look so pretty.

I) ABANDONED SPACE.
Every city has its fair share of abandoned warehouses or other buildings that are slated for demolition. Sometimes they attract certain types of crowds that would make your average person think twice before confronting. A lot of places are off-limits, but every so often, the no-trespassing sign is more of a suggestion than a real threat, right?

J) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!

original by sockupo

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ooc: FREE FOOD--! I mean... ofc he would! ]

[ ooc: please don't eat her!! let me know if this works. ]

Mary pulls her coat further around herself. Even though it's cold out, she's absolutely fuming. She dressed herself, snuck out of the house and walked several miles in London to meet John Carrington, who had managed to convince her to come out and see him. Now he's a no-show. Mary has to wonder if he got caught up in something or if it's a deliberate prank, but she's mad either way. How dare he drag her all the way out here for nothing? No liaison was worth this.

Now Mary thinks she might be lost. All the streets are starting to look the same in the dark and she can't remember which way she came from. Her anger starts to give way to nervousness. This doesn't seem to be a very safe part of town, with the few people that she sees around looking quite sketchy. She knows she's a target.

Mary stands on a corner, trying to maintain her composure and hoping that a cab will pass by soon.

Quarantine barricades discourage even the most persistent of London's citizens. Whitechapel most of all, the streets at this time of night are lit up with a few light Priwen patrols, hunting for immortals in the deep of the night. Jonathan, unfortunately, has to be out here as well, making the usual rounds, following the blood trails of frenzied Skals, often taken as crazed mobs of infected. Mary Reid has been put to rest, but there's still blood running on the streets, and more chilling howls every night.

He inhales deeply — human scent, followed by hurried feet. Prime target, if he was out looking for food, but he's come to check on Dorothy Crane first, and wonders if it's someone looking for her clinic but got lost. Darius can be discouraging, but he certainly wouldn't turn away someone who needed real help.

'Excuse me,' he calls to the figure, walking slowly towards them. 'Are you lost?'

Mary turns at the sound of the voice, her eyes wide as she takes in the man approaching her. "I-I believe that I am," she responds.

This city is too unpredictable for Mary to not be on her guard. Mary hopes that she'll be able to tell if this man is the honorable sort or not. So far, his tone at least conveys concern, not someone who sees an opportunity.

A young lady, out here this late... It reeks of the penny dreadfuls. He hopes she's not to meet a lover, or a blackmailer of some kind; the night is a good cloak, for many hungry things.

Himself among them. He's learning to think of himself as a stalker, dramatic though it might be. It's the truth now.

'I'm a doctor,' he assures her, as he comes close enough to touch his hat politely. 'You shouldn't be out this late, Miss. Do you live nearby?'

She feels at least marginally better when he says that he's a doctor... if he's telling the truth at least. Fortunately, she can see the hospital nearby, so perhaps this man is being honest. Despite the cut on his face, he looks affable enough.

"Belgravia," she says with a sigh, knowing what he's thinking - what the hell is she doing all the way out here? "I'm afraid I've made a terrible mistake. Perhaps you can help me find a telephone?"

Then she can call for a cab and get home before her parents are any the wiser.