Story #1

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

The first man is looking out to sea tonight, staring off across the waves. He's supposed to be paying attention to the world around him, and making sure no-one is wandering where they shouldn't be, but it's proving tricky this time. His mind is in a million different places, and all of them are the same place. It's just a few miles North, but there's something about it that keeps bringing his mind back there.

London.

It's been years now since he's belonged there, and he's found a new home. But every time he visits now, he can feel the city, calling him back. Like it's where he's supposed to be. Like it's got a grip on him, and it just won't let go.

*******************

The second man is in bed right now. He should be up – there's things to be done, and not much time to do them in. It's a busy life, in this busy town, and there's always something else that needs to be done, that needs to be thought of, and discussed. There are plans to be made, and deals to be cut, and more and more people to see.

But right now, London can wait.

Just for a little while. Because he's not alone right now, and his companion is, as ever, proving to be very distracting. And it'd be rude not to be at least a little distracted from business.

But the nice thing about being who he is, is that London will wait. Or at least some of it will.

*******************

The third man is also asleep at the minute, but he's having a much less entertaining night. It's been a long day for him, with work, and too many other projects, and not enough time to just sit back and relax.

But the harder he works through the day, the more vivid his dreams are. Time spent in another world, that's changed his view on this world. He's realising that it's all just kind of dull. There's a prettier world, a more exciting one, and it's lying over the top of this London.

He knows he doesn't belong there. It's not where he's supposed to be. But at night, when he sleeps, his dreams are always of that place, and of what the world could be like.

*******************

The fourth man is studying. Candles are lit in the library, and he's poring over a tome, muttering to himself absently in words few people would understand. Every bit of knowledge he can find is another weapon, or another shield, but he's not sure who it's for any more.

Does he belong in London anymore? Should he be with these people now?

He needs to be loyal to them, because that's what he knows. But some of what they're doing seems to be wrong, in his eyes. It's not what they should be doing, and so he's watching them. For the time when they cross a line, and something needs to be done.

So, he studies, and he waits, and he watches. So someone, at least, will know where that line is.

*******************

The last man is busy. There are people relying on him again tonight, and if he's not very careful, then it might go very badly wrong for him, and everyone else. There's a man, in the front of the room, talking quietly, but firmly, to the rest.

About London. About how it's an oyster, or something like that. About how it's ripe for the taking, and that the right people can just move in, and take over part of it. To start supplying drugs to those that want them, to 'protect' those who need it.

The last thing this town needs is yet another gang. So, it's time to put a stop to this one. And the next one. And the next one. Until the place is safe for people again.