Faustite knew the dangers of powering up without any real combat experience. He endured such repercussions once already, and Umber later chastised him for it in his own way. But the allure of seeing the deeper sides of the city held its own allure, like the rustic fascinations found in nearly every Neil Gaiman novel. He wanted a taste of his own rare mysteries, his own London Underground without the stark punishment of never being able to leave. And in this, the Negaverse allowed him passage. He need only think a single thought, and the world of magic opens to him anew.

His curiosity often seized him on weekends, when social responsibilities dwindled and the looser expectations for teenagers allowed him a few hours of time to himself. In this, he visited the wide metropolis of Destiny City with the Negaverse's assistance, and explored areas not normally viable for one Elex Yorke. Rooftops offered seldom-sighted vantage points for eavesdropping and stealth observation. The anonymity of the uniform shifted his visage from recognizable to completely obscured. As Faustite, he had the freedom of a nobody that he often craved.

That afternoon delivered him to the regional jurisdiction of Romano's, a more militaristic school from his memory, and the gates stood empty in the Sunday afternoon lull. In passing it, Faustite discovered other venues of interest where lively activities took place despite the time of day. Closest to him was a roller rink, advertising half price admission on Sundays during the daylight hours. Groups of interested parties ranged from teens to burgeoning families, where the eldest of children could barely walk. Even on the rooftop area, Faustite heard the vague signs of music playing from within. Beyond that, a churning populace surrounded the grand opening of a bubble tea café. A barbecue pit across the street offered lunch options for hungry skaters. If nothing else, Faustite learned that DC businesses coordinated nicely in the face of adversity.

Still, he couldn't spend the rest of forever looking over the side of the parapet at the roller rink residents. He needed energy for the quota Umber expected of him, and he needed it soon - his CO would not wait. But how was he to do that here, in broad daylight, or at any other time?

a-disgrutled-dragon
sorry about the crappy start @_@