Alley(#1718RAJ)
Tall tenements to either side block most of the light from this narrow alley. Two flimsy doors open to the alley, leading up small flights of stairs from basements to either side. The rows of trashcans stand at attention like little battered knights, just returned from a losing battle with the town's strays, homeless, and drunks. The dead end of the alley is actually a bit cleaner than the surrounding area, most stray trash cleared away, and a new cardboard box spreads over the concrete. The end of the alley opens out onto the main street.
Obvious exits:
Stairs Street

Faintly muffled curses at best pour from a length down the alley, barely audible above the city traffic. Off to the side and sitting upon a crate, Yi holds a small bottle in hand and peers at it with a bit of scrutiny. Only the dim lights from the windows of the tenement buildings surrounding this inlet of the streets lights the graffiti and trash littered area.

John's footsteps slow to a halt as he stands just outside the alley entrance, tipping back a not-so-small bottle, and scanning the alley out of the corner of his eye. He's doing his best to act nochalant, and it almost looks right. Except for the fact that he gives off the air of a coiled spring, ready to pounce at any moment. Twitching, almost.

About fifty feet or more separate the newmoon from the alley entrance, her body turned mostly with her back to the entranceway. She's talking to someone, apparently, or maybe she's talking to herself. But nonetheless, the language is her native one, flowing easily from her like water from a pitcher. Another light from a window above switches on, and she looks up. Here there's a dim view of her profile. A man lies beyond, eyes covered with a black bandanna and clearly restrained from any real movement. He's also gagged with what is likely a piece of trash from the dumpster nearby. Yi continues pondering the bottle as she speaks to the man in Cantonese.

You paged John with 'From what you can translate, depending, she's just raving on about her home, and how the streets are fucked up, and how gangs and things think they have it made when everything is really messed...etc.'.

John stops, and tilts his head, looking at the Gnawer. "{Am I interrupting anything?}" he calls over, fairly quietly, as he steps into the alley. He wears his usual impassive mask of neutrality, investigating the alley quickly then acting as if he owns it.

Yi turns her head, deliberately slow it seems, and the bottle in her hand gets set down on the crate she sits upon. "{How long have you been watching?}" she asks, acting as if not surprised the man speaks Cantonese to her. The sound of a gun cocking (or uncocking) is heard and the currently gagged man whimpers suddenly.

John shrugs, and tilts his bottle back to take another swing, as he eyes the gagged man. Trying to find some sort of gang identity. "{Not long.}" he says, with a slightly stilted accent. He gives the captive a nod, and adds, "{Who's your friend?}"

Yi swings up a gun, a nice, cheap revolver normally given to thugs for a small price, and aims at the man's cowed head. The man himself seems to collapse more upon himself, something producing a very uncomfortable feeling upon him with the audible appearance of John. "{Someone tailing me,}" Yi replies, giving something a consideration as she uncocks the hammer again and sets the gun back down on the crate. "{I'm not exactly sure.}" She coughs a little laugh, then looks up at John. In the dim light, he can see she's rather sullen eyed, like she hasn't slept in a few days. "{What brings you in here?}"

John considers Yi for a few moments, and shrugs "{I prefer to know what's happening when I hear struggle.}" He offers the bottle. "Whiskey." he states flatly, turning his head to peer at the increasingly frightened man. "{My Cantonese is not so good. Does he understand it?}"

Yi looks from the bottle to John. For a period of silence broken only by quiet whimpering, she turns her head to regard the bottle she set onto the crate. Her free hand picks this bottle up, to regard it again. "{Cheap wine, bought from the liquor store down the street perhaps,}" she says after a little, standing up and pouring the rest of the bottle onto the man with little regard for how he feels about it. Then she stoops down, gun stuck to his cheek as she slowly takes out the impromptu gag from the man's mouth. "{Do you understand what I'm saying?}" she queries the man lowly, quietly, in all effects like a snake hissing in his ear. The man, once his gag is removed, whimpers between gasps. The cold barrel on his cheek isn't doing his wits very good, but what does come out is, "Please.. don't kill me..."

John stares at the man, with hard, ice-cold eyes. "You should have thought of that, earlier. Now shut up." he says coldly. The Walker's voice is harsh. He looks back to Yi. "{Forgive my fumbling.}" he says, apologetically, as he moves to find a seat next to her. "{How's life, Three-Blades?}"

The man looks like a hired thug, likely from one of the local gangs. He doesn't seem to have any apparent markings visible under a now dripping t-shirt, black polyester jacket, jeans and cheap boots to top it off. Shut up he does, until his short whimpering and praying starts back up again. Yi smiles quietly, the gun having not been cocked at all taken away from the man's cheek. She reclaims a seat on the crate before, and idly peers at John. "{Oh, it's fine. The pack is fine. The church is fine. Everything, is fucking fine.}" For a mere moment, she looks regretful that she wasted the wine from the bottle. "{How is she?}" The Gnawer inquires with vaguest of terms, though it's obvious she is implying someone.

John lowers his head, and looks at the ground. His eyes flick to the Whiskey, longingly, then back to the ground. "{She's fine. Healthy, anyway.}" There's a hint of regret to his tone. A strange wistfulness, tinted with worry. "{I never stop worrying, though.}"

Yi looks about to say something, just as a thought occurs to her. "{It has been so long, since I have actually spoken Cantonese to anyone... not even the girls at Tin-Yen speak it. Only Mandarin.}" Her dark gaze lifts up to John. "{Where did you learn how to speak?}" The man against the wall looks like he is trying to shuffle away, worm-like.

John looks up to the man against the wall. "Every action has consequences." he lectures him, with a cold, heartless stare. "And we're not done with yours. Grow some balls and take it like a man." he grunts, disgustedly. Looking back at the ground, he shrugs. "{My mentor. Hides-In-Innocence. That, and a few months in Hong Kong on business.}" He sighs a little. "{Hides always said, a true Walker has many skills, and is nothing if not adaptable. I still have to live up to that, though.}"

Yi looks over at the man as well, momentarily. She decides to let him attempt his getaway. "{On business?}" she arches a brow. She looks as if to query after John's mentor, then shrugs. "{Why should I ask... no one in Hong Kong is free from the triads. Everyone is like neighbors, brothers, sisters, relatives. You were hired?}" She cocks the gun again, aiming at the guy's leg. Then the Gnawer shakes her head and uncocks it. The hint at a smirk fleets across her face.

John grunts. "{Hired. It is a dirty word. And so appropriate. No, I have always followed orders. And now there are no orders to follow.}" The Walker shrugs, kicking about a little rolled up scrap of paper. "{Which feels wrong. Like the end of Grey Sky, all over again. We need leaders.}"

Yi gets up from her crate, slipping the gun into her vest pocket before sliding sinuously over to a dumpster to fish out a greasy piece of newspaper. This she crumples into a ball and moves over towards the worm of a man, grabbing his hair unmercifully. At his cry, she shoves the newspaper ball into his mouth and looks at him sternly though it is lost in the black bandanna around his eyes. "No no no no no..." she says quietly, exaggerating her accent all too well. With barely any effort she flips the man over and sits upon his squirming, crying body. The gun comes out of her pocket, gets cocked and pointed on one of his ass cheeks like she'd be giving an animal a tranq shot. The gun doesn't fire yet. "{Leaders? You mean here?}" The conversation goes on.

John watches the scene with mild disinterest. "{Yes. I'm a thug. I follow orders. I do not pack. This is how I have always worked, and this is how I prefer to work. I do what I do, and I do it well. Nothing has changed, except there are no more orders, but I'm seeing more problems than ever before. And they're not being taken care of. Our elders have plans, but they are of politics. And I'm getting bored with that.}" He peers at Yi. "{How does the Gnawer chain of command work here?}"

Yi uncocks the gun though the barrel is kept pointed down. "{Here? Why not ask the Big Dog? Or rather, the Big Dog who is not around very often.}" Those sullen eyes simply cloud over with a sort of mutual feeling she might have towards John's words. "{Shadow Eyes, seems to have control over it all. But we Gnawers have always been loose, on either side of the ocean. Politics are little to us.}" She slams the butt of the pistol into the nads of the man beneath her, with a command in Cantonese to stop worming around before returning her gaze with a smirk to the Walker. "{'Kaz' is perhaps the best we have for an active elder, even if she doesn't want the status. I'm sure she knows she has the respect of all of us, including me. Her challenge for higher rank hasn't been answered, yet, but it will come.}" The man beneath her seems to have gone limp. "{If you are so dissatisfied with the leadership, why not become the leader?}"

John's eyes flash angrily. "{It's not my place to lead. Must I throat the next person to suggest it?}" he mutters under his breath to himself. The accent gets worse, his tongue sloppy with annoyance. "{Not for me.}" he states, flatly. "{We have put out the call. We will wait for one ready to accept eldership. If it helps me to move, less hindered, I may challenge for rank, sometime. But I am satisfied for the moment.}" He folds his arms, and leans back a little, staring at the limp man, then up to Yi. "{You harbour ambitions?}"

Yi shakes her head slightly, though the movement is decisive enough. "{I am not one to lead, either. Only a scout, and barely a fighter, a foreigner in a foreign land.}" She looks down as well, and briefly recoils in disgust at what she was sitting on. "{I will not be Big Sister here,}" she says again to confirm it to herself. "{I would almost suggest calling another from Hong Kong over here to lead, if it were so desperate a situation. But, that I doubt would be appreciated.}" She smirks, then gets up off the limp man to undo his bindings. As she unties him, he stirs slightly but otherwise doesn't move. "{There may not be a set leader, but there are groups of leaders. I was the one to call out during moot that the sewers needed a new force. The city stinks of worms.}"

One she finishes untying the man, the thin plastic ties are slipped back into one of her many pockets. The gag comes out, the black bandanna taken off. The gun is cocked, and pointed to the guy's head as he awakens and becomes aware of his surroundings again. "Don't look at me," she commands firmly. "Shut your eyes and get up." The man stands slowly. "Climb back over that wall you slithered over, and don't ever tail me again. If you do, you will be sorry. Go." The prod of the gun is sufficient enough to send the man running and scrambling back over the wall. Once his footsteps fade off into the night, Yi sighs, uncocks the hammer and slips the gun into a vest pocket. "Love the city life."

John watches the man scampering off, and watches Yi with his arms folded. "I'd have killed him." he says quietly, looking at Yi's face, carefully. A hint of question in his eyes.

Yi turns back to John. "Why? He would have been another body to dispose of. I'd rather not fill the river with skeletons. He hasn't seen me, anyway. Only heard." The black bandanna is wrung out before her eyes return to meet John's. "What?"

John tilts his head, and shrugs. "Why fill the river? That's what police are for." he murmurs. "Just curious as to how you feel about someone tailing you. I wouldn't risk it, that's all."

Yi shrugs. "Or with ashes. It's just more convenient. If I was going to, I would've done it long before you showed up." Her eyes go back to the wall for a second. "And I've had people tailing me for quite a while. Here is no different. Always look in all directions." She moves to the shadows and looks up, habitually.

John's mouth twists wryly, and a slightly haunted look comes to his eyes. "A lesson hard learned, when those who stalk you can turn invisible, or turn into mist at will." he says darkly. "His hand reaches up to gesture to his scarred face. "Very hard learned. Cunning and guile are not the strong points of our race... they are those of our prey."

Yi chuckles lowly, in the dark. "I'll remember that, when I go back home," she says quietly. Then her form tenses visibly for the barest of seconds, as if she slipped that out. "{Damn.}"

John frowns, and inclines his head, standing now. "Home." he says, flatly. "When, and why? You know you're needed here..."

Yi looks away from John, her glare lost upon the wall. "No comment," she states firmly before walking down the alley, shoulders slightly hunched.

"{Family is useful for more than just fighting besides.}" comes his sharp bark. He follows slowly, stepping with a lazy grace. "Unless it's one of those dark secrets you'd rather not think about. In which case... I understand better than you'll ever imagine." he says lowly, but simply.

Yi stops at the alleywall, glaring at the graffiti. If looks could kill, the wall would have been smashed into millions of pieces. "{The family is fighting, they all are.}" she says quietly. She half turns back to John, her eyes gazing at him with a sullen stare. "{They need all the help they can get, this time. And I will be there to help.}" She straightens her hunch, jaw tensing. "{No blood sucker is going to take my home and my family. I will make sure of it.}"

The snarl is frightening in its intensity. John's face, slightly more angular now, with prominent, pointed teeth, and nearly red eyes, is a rictus of hate, barely restrained anger. ~I will pay your passage, and fight by your side, if it means death for the leeches.~

Yi turns to face the ahroun fully and dips her head to him. She looks up at him with those same dark gazed eyes. "{I don't want anyone to know, yet. And it is not that easy. I did not come here legally. I imagine going back would not be as easy.}" Her shoulders straighten, and she regards him cooly now. "{I appreciate your willingness to fight, but I won't drag you to fight my battles. You, as well, are needed here. And your cub, Sophia.}"

John ducks his head, twitching a little. ~They destroyed my home, and everyone I ever held dear. I have yet to see enough revenge to quell the screaming. I will aid you, somehow.~ he growls, lowly.

Yi steps closer a moment, and reaches up to lay a hand on his shoulder. "Shift down, John. This isn't the place to be cursing a vampire, na?" She tilts her head some to look for his eyes. "And you have Sophia and Rina to worry about, here. Should I need your aid, though, I'll ask. Good enough for now?"

The Ahroun tilts his head, looking at her with a neutral expression, though the lines of his face are taut. Slowly the giant becomes just a very large man, the folds of his clothing loosening around him, and flapping free slightly as he changes shape. His face returns to the more chiselled, appealing lines and features, and he stares sullenly at Yi. "Sophia has teachers. Rina..." he pauses, and the haunted look returns. "Money. Whatever. It's yours." he says quietly, balling his fists.

Yi takes her hand off his shoulder, withdrawing it as if physical contact was taboo. She swallows dryly a moment, then smiles wryly. "Then, I might ask if you have some connections to get me a few legal papers..."

John nods tightly. "The Glass Walkers here are a small family, but with means. We /will/ help." he says quietly. He's still dwelling on her dissuading argument, though... biting his lip. "When?" he asks softly. Mastering the anger against those who destroyed his Caern.

"Soon," Yi replies darkly. "Within two months. I don't look upon the Walkers here like they are wells to be drawing from, John. All the favors you offer, eventually must be repaid. You know that is the way of my culture. Nothing is without a price. So, name yours." Her hands cross over her chest, lip biting echoed briefly. "None of the others can know. I don't want them finding out until it is the right time. You must promise me, you won't breathe a word of it to anyone. For the legal papers, just say that I asked for them, as a precaution from recent events."

John nods slowly, folding his arms. He looks her in the eye. "The Glass Walkers don't give anything away for free, anyway. Consider this something the Gnawers owe the Walkers. And no-one will know, unless you stay away for too long. In which case I /will/ come looking for you. You are part of this Sept, yes? Or do you wish for your body to remain in Hong Kong?"

Yi looks at John with some narrowed gaze. What did he mean by that? "I will return, when it is done. If I die, then word will be sent here. The Gnawers here will not owe the Walkers for my matters, I'll make sure of that before I leave. Only my pack knows this, and now you."

John shrugs lightly. "{You're quick to cut yourself from your family.}" he says mildly, watching her with disinterest.

Yi had turned away as she said her words, but now her glare whips back. "{Cut myself from them? No, John... Only weaned myself from suckling on their tits for comfort,}" she retorts, bitingly. "{I am not ungrateful to the Sunset wolves for helping me. They've provided for me more than I could ever imagine. I will return to pay them back. If not this life, then the next...}" She cuts off her words with an invisible knife, and looks away again.

John stirs, and starts to step towards the exit of the alley. He murmurs quietly to her as he approaches, then passes. "You watch the others fall, one by one, and assume that you'll never outlive your family. It's usually true. I meant your new family, Yi. What I know of Gnawer honour... they'd probably die for you if you asked them to join you." Close enough that he nearly touches arms when he walks past, but not close enough... John steps past her, stepping out onto the street. "You're lucky. You don't have to be a lone wolf. Consider taking advantage of it."

Yi tenses again, her hand clenching into a fist as the Walker steps past. She says nothing in reply to his words, giving him silence as her answer as he steps out of the alley.