in which the hunter becomes the hunted

[was_no_monster]

[sometimes, the woods and the mountains and the wilds aren't enough for him. while he's at home in them, that doesn't make them home.

on those nights, when he wants to run but feels out of place in his usual haunts, he slips out and heads not away from humanity, but toward it. he flies between tall buildings, jumps from roof to roof; pads silently through alleyways and past doorways on four feet and two.

the city was his home first, and in many ways his heart never left it.]

Comments

until I get a modern!Hiyamas account this will have to do

[inshepherdscloth]

[between the two of them, Damon and Kiyoteru Hiyama have broken nearly every rule in the Surveillance Department's book. they are probably breaking one now.

but the first rule is always "use your judgement", whether it's written down or not. Damon would rather sit through a thousand disciplinary meetings than let bureaucratic rules stop them from possibly ending a threat before it begins, and Kiyoteru seldom needs very much convincing.

especially not when Damon's uniquely heightened senses detect a vampire nearby, unmistakably stalking the streets in the dead of night, moving through the city like a predator. that is almost never the behavior of an innocent vampire just "out for a walk".

and so they stalk in turn, hunting out the nighttime prowler. their pistol is loaded with blessed bullets, just in case.]

8D

[was_no_monster]

[it takes him almost four blocks to realize someone's tailing him— literally, at the moment, seeing as he's trotting down the street on all fours. that in itself is alarming, though; he'd expect that if he were in his usual shape (there's always some idiot who thinks they can mug him...), but who would follow a dog his size?

he's careful not to telegraph that he's heard his follower, even though he badly wants to stop and puzzle out details from either scent or the sound of footfalls. instead, he turns into the next alley he comes across as though that were his destination all along— and promptly wedges himself into the corner formed by the alley wall and a dumpster. not the most glamorous, and it'll do to keep his back covered; and if it's Megurine looking for a late night sparring match ("to keep him on his toes" his ass) she might think twice about jumping him somewhere where he can throw her into filth.]

[inshepherdscloth]

[... the prowler has stopped. that means they've been noticed.

it's Kiyoteru's hand that falls to the pistol - Damon is too likely to provoke, as they've discovered through painful experience. Kiyoteru always gets first contact]

Paranormal Surveillance Department. Please come out peacefully.

[was_no_monster]

[—are you fucking kidding me]

Rrrrrrrrrr— [the growl turns into a coughing snarl, and then into just a cough] Are you kidding me?

[inshepherdscloth]

Sir, please come out and speak to me face-to-face. I hope that we can resolve this without any trouble.

[was_no_monster]

[I am so tempted to either sass or nope out of here 8| thanks to feeding regularly with Shion, he's in good shape; he could totally take the other man.

but he is not quite that level of stupid even if he is feeling that level of rebellious, so after a moment he sighs loudly and slips out of the shadows of the alleyway, hands shoved in his pockets

dry] How can I help you, "officer"?

[inshepherdscloth]

[that's... actually a lot less trouble than they expected :|a not taking his hand away from his hip, but...]

Good evening, sir. I was hoping you could explain to me why you were out stalking tonight? We detected several form changes and a considerable amount of predatory movement.

[was_no_monster]

[...oh. well. when put like that...]

Ah— restlessness, mostly, and a desire to make it at least somewhat constructive? It's good practice, and if I catch someone up to no good, all to the better.

...We?

[inshepherdscloth]

[raises his eyebrows. a vigilante vampire? not unheard of, but definitely a surprise

... and oops. makes a slight face]

My partner and I. He is very adept at sensing the presence and movements of paranormal beings.

Ah, but if I might ask... "good practice" for what?

[was_no_monster]

[frowning slightly. he hadn't either scented or heard anybody else, and there was no way that was a bluff; that had been habit.

...also I am not admitting I'm terrible at shapeshifting voluntarily in front of you. crossing his arms]

Hunting. I don't precisely have the luxury of buying a salad when I'm hungry.

[inshepherdscloth]

I understand that. But it is generally frowned on for vampires to hunt in the city, especially this one. If the Surveillance Department doesn't catch you, the elder vampire who considers this city to be under his protection will.

We don't take kindly to vampires hunting our kind, sir - even if you hunt criminals.

[was_no_monster]

[...slkdjlsdjf okay I can't tell which of us is stupider. FACEPALMING]

I don't hunt people, I hunt animals. I'm not some fool to think that having been given a few advantages means a right to others' lives.

As for my father, he's aware that I police this area, as are the two hunters that recently set up shop here.

[inshepherdscloth]

[... please hold while our assessment of you drastically recalibrates

pulls off his glasses]

You're the kid Megurine and Sakine told us about? Hell, you could've said something.

[was_no_monster]

[baring his fangs, irritated]

Pardon me for not having gained telepathy along with everything else. Was there a reason I should have known that you had met?

retcon the agency is now called the Ecumenical Agency for Paranormal Surveillance

[inshepherdscloth]

[wry smirk. taking their hand away from the pistol and tucking the glasses in a shirt pocket]

Nah, I can't think of a single reason two different paranormal monitoring agencies working in the same area would share information with each other about the local elder vampire's first progeny, who made a mess before getting his head screwed back on straight. What was I thinking?

Anyway, sorry about that. Didn't know you were Kagamine's kid - we thought you might be some new guy without as many scruples.

Re: retcon the agency is now called the Ecumenical Agency for Paranormal Surveillance

[was_no_monster]

Ah, of course. I'd completely forgotten about how your organizations announce both themselves and the ways they coordinate with each other to the general public, as well as to the beings they occasionally hunt.

...It's fine, though I'm starting to consider getting t-shirts printed. Something along the lines of "Friendly Neighborhood Vampire" or something stating that I'm a vegetarian.

[inshepherdscloth]

[snorts a little, grinning]

You're kind of a celebrity in the paranormal circles, you know. If you ever get a hunter tailing you again, just say who you are and they'll probably lay off.

Anyway, I'm Damon. The four-eyes you were just talking to is Kiyoteru.

/2

[was_no_monster]

[...blinks, then tilts his head]

...Huh. Well, I suppose my senses weren't failing, then. Nice to meet you both?

[he sounds vaguely skeptical about that, in a... mostly joking manner. mostly.]

[was_no_monster]

... Did I really make that much of a mess, to be that well known?

[inshepherdscloth]

Nah, it's mostly because of Kagamine. He's been around here longer than some of us have been alive, so when he sired, it was big news.

... The mess doesn't help, but honestly we've seen worse.

[was_no_monster]

[snorts a little at the mention of his father before sobering]

I can imagine.

...I don't suppose your group will accept vampires? Megurine said hers didn't.

[specifically she'd said they were too much of a liability, but.]

[inshepherdscloth]

[his eyebrows rise]

Whoa, you want to talk recruitment? Let me pass you back to Kiyoteru, he's the one who knows about that.

[inshepherdscloth]

[putting the glasses on]

Hmm... to my knowledge, we've never had one ask, so I don't know if there's an official policy in place... however, although we're sponsored by the local diocese, we are ultimately a private organization. I suppose if it turns out we don't, and if it is very important to you, you could try and contact the head of the organization and make your case...

[was_no_monster]

Huh. ...I'll have to check, and think on it.

I mostly want to help prevent messes like mine. It just seems like it would be easier if I did so with some kind of backing.

[inshepherdscloth]

... Well, that's a worthy cause. I'm sure the agency would be willing to support you in that, even if we couldn't formally employ you.