RP:Go on... Fly free

Part of the Seven Dwarves All Around Me Arc

This is a Rogue's Guild RP.

Previous scene: "Steal it, if you have to."

Summary: All plans laid out, "Lady Rona Ele" and her masked accomplice venture to make a deposit at their local bank, and end up withdrawing far more than expected.

Bank of Rynvale

A pair of armed guards stand just inside the doors to the newly-erected banking hub in Rynvale, which serves as the final piece to the puzzle of complete self-reliance for the island city. It appears with the shady characters known to frequent the Broken Barrel and the current state of world affairs, the bank overseers are taking no chances against possible mayhem descending. While the two guards stand sentinel in the forefront of this elaborate stone building, a gaggle of wizards stand near the vault, keeping the bankroll safe from those who would seek to plunder it. A hefty queue exists to be seen by the tellers, but once at the head of the line you can store money, withdraw, see your balance, or even change money.

Eleanor's grin darkened, her eyes sharpened on Leo. "Aye," she confirmed. "No' a one." Her chin dropped, and she regarded the pirate for the span of a heartbeat. "Issat goin' to be a problem?" There was her usual undercurrent of teasing behind the challenge, but beyond lurked something else entirely. She didn't wait around for an answer to her rhetorical question and addressed his concerns instead. "I don't see trouble, mo ghaol," she purred, her words sneaking right up to the edges of overconfidence. "I am trouble." His return stoked something in her, and she had to give him credit: he looked damn good back at her side. Angling her chin down in a deliberate nod, she regretted having to withdraw but turned to enact their plan with composed, purposeful steps carrying her into the evening. Approaching the street, she glanced toward the bay and then sunset, brow furrowing against the waning light. Tossing one last grin toward Leo, she crossed with steeled nerves, knowing he wouldn't be far behind. Inside the bank, Rona was immediately flanked by the armed guards, each sizing her up with eyes that wandered a bit too much while she passed between them. Her gaze clandestinely moved toward the wizards that stood near the vault before shifting toward one of the tellers. They'd arrived at the perfect time; there didn't appear to be any bank customers in the main lobby as far as the rogue could tell. Her lips spread into a toothy grin, and she approached the nearest teller, leisurely pulling her gloves off one finger at a time. The teller, a plain-looking half-elf with platinum hair twisted into a bun high on her head and shallow grey eyes, greeted her with, "Welcome to the Bank of Rynvale. How can I help you today?" Rona's green eyes honed in on the woman, flitting toward the name badge pinned to her blue-and-yellow smock. Moistening her lips, the spellrogue leaned against the counter, setting her gloves on its surface and twisting the ring so that its black stone glittered under the bank's cold interior lighting. Beyond that, she didn't draw any attention to the jewelry yet. "I need to open an executive account, Meghyn. I was told the manager would be able to help with that." The teller's expression belied her relief that she'd get to pawn the task of helping the dark-haired woman on someone else. "Yes, of course, let me go find him for you." She followed with cold green eyes as the teller retreated into another part of the bank searching for her employer, at which point she looked along her shoulder with a subtle invitation.

Leoxander, for a moment, had his own instinct flare up. Backyard doubts that he’d always face. Could this be revenge? Was she seeking to have him locked up to make certain that nest remained ‘hers’ and not ‘ours’? He still followed behind her, weighing the risk. The most important question: was she worth it? He kept walking. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman had dropped him into trouble but he hoped it might be the last. Taking a breath of resolve, he decided to risk it, all in, cards in hand. And it was not but moments later lost in his train of thought that he crossed that threshold into the recited welcome. He assumed the role of a guard to the renowned woman making a precious deposit, arms crossing over his chest and cleverly hiding any flickers of blue light should they occur. His eyes scanned the building and committed the interior into mind as the teller spoke. He squared his shoulders, his lengthy, knotted hair and renewed physique helping what little disguise he had, but he felt his blades itching and thirsty, already. Wolf instincts were gone, and it was now the anger that these interlopers were on his territory that fueled his heated blood. Spoiled, after all this time, they didn’t even seem to suspect a problem. They only wanted to pass it on to the next fool. Achilles was meanwhile looking for a means to get behind that counter and into the fold for when the time came.

Eleanor; While waiting for Leo to join her, her gaze honed in on the wizards, and the rogue counted three among them, making five souls visible in the lobby. Seven, as the manager, presumably, joined Meghyn the half-elf from some back office. The rogue leader figured him to be at least a few hundred years old, in long robes stitched in the bold colors of Port Rynvale. Tall tapered ears poked through a thick mane of rust-colored hair, and dark eyes peered at Rona from behind half-moon spectacles before shifting to inspect the rugged-looking man who'd just entered. Rona's eyes glittered as she fixed them on the elf, who introduced himself as Master Teodore, interim senior accountant, in a tone as weary as he looked. He dismissed Meghyn for the day, and she scurried off in gratitude. Six, El made a mental note of. Flashing the accountant a brilliant and no-doubt conniving grin, she offered up a coy, "Lady Rona Ele," with ease, but deferred to Leo to supply his own name, if he chose to at all. Meanwhile, she moved deeper into the bank and concurrently closer to the elf. Holding both of her gloves in her left hand, she pulled the ring off her right. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Teodore." Only hints of her accent curled around the Rs, and her grin broadened. She presented it for his inspection, daring a quick glance in Leoxander's direction and beyond him to the guards. The accountant took the ring from Rona and held it up, producing a magnifying monocle from within his robes, and as he took a moment to inspect it, she proceeded with careful words, her eyes tumbling around the rest of the lobby. "As you can see, this is an extraordinarily valuable piece. I am looking for the right place to keep it for the foreseeable future, but … I was hoping I might be able to examine the security of your vault before I make a decision." Her stare honed in on the account, her expression affectedly apologetic. "Please forgive me; we've been to two other banks," she professed with a sigh. "I cannot keep this just anywhere, not with... " She sucked in a shallow breath and dropped her voice a half-step. "Well, there is just so much strife in these lands. I have to be certain my property is going to be safe with you."

Leoxander seemed to hear a curious question in his own ears as he surveyed his surroundings; ‘Are you a man, or a monster?’ Then he heard Eleanor’s answer earlier. ‘Why not both?’ Some rush of warmth spread through him and his anxiety, his doubts and wariness faded as a calm expression took over his face behind the mask. Lycanthrope senses started to blend with the murderous thief he’d once been, pinpointing every beating heart in that building. It would be a pity to waste the years of the eldest - he would save him for last, just in case there was use for spreading word: Leo was back. He had no aches, no pains, no regrets, and no past biting at his heels. Seven? His lucky number. He stepped away from Eleanor as she began the ‘transaction’, a heat-seeking missile seeking the weakest among the guards while he nonchalantly strolled, no name supplied. He was just sight seeing. Although this roused suspicion from the guard he was closest to, it wasn’t enough time. He had to buy time for her to get into the vault, so he played at some displayed artifact and purposefully attracted the attention of one, which, in domino effect, roused the interest of the other guards who immediately suspected this masked individual and not the woman, drawing them closer like sheep to a hollering hearder. She had a minute or two to carry out her task before activity ensued.

Eleanor could feel the tension in the room change as quickly as she could sense the presence and location of magical artifacts despite the wards no doubt in place to protect them from prying eyes. The accountant didn't know it yet, but he was prey, and the predators were moving in. Still, Rona maintained perfect composure as she waited calmly for the old elf's answer. "Aah, uhh," he hemmed and hawed, his attention momentarily drifting toward the other wizards attending the vault. One of them was making their way down the narrow hallway toward the back offices, a folder in one gnarled hand. "Filing these then heading out," he called over his shoulder. "See ya Monday, Master Teo." The robed figure left the lobby, and out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the third wizard collecting the folders at his desk as well to carry back to what she assumed was a records room. She didn't care for the idea of them all spreading out; it would have been much easier to deal with them en masse, and yet, her smile was shadowed with excitement for the hunt ahead. Stepping toward the accountant, she reached out for the ring, cupping her hand around his and lingering there a moment with the delicate piece of jewelry pinched between thumb and forefinger. "Master Teodore," Rona pressed her luck with an earnest tone, "It would mean … the world to me if I could have this reassurance." Master Teodore cleared his throat, eyeing the dark-haired woman dubiously. Sighing, he gave her a wan smile. "Yes, of course," he conceded with a nod, relinquishing the ring back to her and quickly pulling his hand away to tug pridefully on his robs. "Here at the Bank of Rynvale, we take satisfaction in our state-of-the-art inscriptions and spells." He turned away from her, then gestured toward the vault in a stiff 'after you,' which Rona wasted little time in accepting, her chin rising with her pleasure. Restoring the ring to her right hand, she spared a crafty glance along her sculpted shoulder, back toward where she could see Leo drawing the guards away. Her full lips twisted into an even deeper smirk when she stole her stare away to soak in the sight of the vault. The accountant droned on about the security measures in place, which she dutifully pretended to pay attention to; the truth was, she only cared that they existed at all, in which case she may be able to use them to her advantage. The elder elf stepped ahead of the rogue to disarm at least one of them as well, inspiring a curious gleam to the woman's icy gaze. Unlocking the vault took precious moments, but at last, it creaked open, and she was motioned inside.

Leoxander waited for that sound he knew by heard, of steel creaking on hinges, the sense of some guarding magic dispersed. Finally, it was his turn to join the fun, and for some reason he couldn’t fathom, he had been eager for it. Step one: Vambrace eject blade into trachea, guard one - wide eyed surprise and grip on left arm, anticipated. Step two: stronger right hand finding the first of two twin blades for a clean slash adaptly across the throat of the second guard - stunned victim. It was almost slow motion for him as blood decorated his black attire. Step three: Victim one weakened to the point his left hand was released, second twin steel blade taken into grip to use the velocity of third guard’s approach to impale stomach, then straight down into shoulder toward heart in succession. In those moments taken, the three would fall almost in synchronized pattern. Thump, thump-.... Thump. Leo’s eyes were alight with destruction by then, a sinner’s smile hidden behind black, before he marched forward to hunt down the last of the sheep. Three down, four to go. Wizards… never an easy task, particularly if alerted, and he intended to used a second mechanism in that vambrace before he realized two of three had made their way out of sight, down the hall, or into some room to file files… damn it all. It was likely some alarm might be set off, by then. But who was still present was the female bank teller, and… Rona. After a dodge behind the teller’s station to avoid their sights, the rogue was suddenly grabbing up the dark haired beauty in an arm with a wrist blade at her throat. “Down!” He gruffly demanded, using his lover as a shield. “NOW!” Then a careful murmur into her ear while they scurried. “Play along till I get the two. Or keep your promise an’ get rid of ‘em.”

Eleanor felt something swell in her chest, almost like a burning sensation in her sternum that then subsided until it was a strangely … familiar tingling. Reflexively, she lifted a hand to her neutral-toned bandana, feeling the hard metal of the medallion underneath the makeshift scarf. Before stepping into the vault, she took careful note of how cramped it was, rows of lockers lining a narrow corridor that led deeper into the complex, where larger, more private vaults were housed. Disregarding that path unless necessary, she leaned toward the old elf, expression blossoming with superficial gratitude and respect that didn't reach her cold celadon twins. "How remarkable," she told him emphatically. "Tell me, how many people are usually allowed in such a sacred space?" The accountant was quick to assure her with a blustery, "Only me and our keepers, although once you have an account with us, you shall be permitted to review your items whenever needed. We provide a room further in for your pleasure." He gesticulated widely toward the vault at large, waiting for Rona to enter it under his supervision. The old accountant's eyes suddenly widened, and the spellrogue reacted quickly, falling into the pirate's welcome embrace with flawlessly executed fear mirroring the old elf's current features. Rona cried out in alarm, even as the very corners of her mouth curled up in wicked understanding. Her heart began to pound in her chest, and she drew in deliberately shaky, shallow breaths as her own eyes grew round. She feigned a struggle against Leoxander, and were it any other situation, she might have had a shot at breaking his vice-like grip. Truthfully, she was enjoying herself way too much and especially relished in the unexpected terror that seized the 'senior interim account' as he stumbled backward, fingers scrambling with his keyring. The spellrogue didn't bother trying to answer the whispered words, nor hiding the shiver they gave her, but it was evident by her all-in reaction she'd follow through on any scheme he was laying out with zeal.

Leoxander had anticipated some reprisal, and despite that the few left alive, or at least not breathing blood didn’t pose the same physical threat that guards had, he wasn’t going to underestimate the elder or the frightened teller. “Takin’ too damn long…” He breathed against the dark hair that toppled over her shoulders, before he aimed a crimson stained blade at the other female, voice gruff and demanding. “Call yer friends in, calm like. You scream an’ it’ll be yer last.” The teller was frozen at first, but she would be the first to comply with the man for fear of her own young life, and made the mistake of identifying the two by name in a shaky but earnest call. The sharpened vambrace was still at Rona’s throat, and as dangerous as it was, he had the control to pale her runeless skin with pressure and not puncture it. Yet the deceased’s blood that dripped down her throat played for more fear, as an untrained eye could easily think the poor woman was already suffering. Hopefully the elder accountant had the weakness of compassion. “Open ‘em. None of yer bulls***e excuse, I know you got the keys, keeper.” Magic the man may have, but Leo could guess how frequently customers of the vault mysteriously disappeared to some tragic end or imprisonment, and it could be suspected that those ownerless valuables are what kept that place of business going in a seaside port fading and falling apart. Too bad the greedy bastards hadn’t put that profit into better security or more employment. “An’ you, little minx…” His attention went to his captive and Leo couldn’t help but traumatize the poor woman further in the eyes of witness, sliding the hand that held the larger blade intrusively down her corset front as though threatening to nip the strings. “You got some pretty treasure to show me…?” Sure, his method was a lot more messy than her logical approach to gain entry into the vault, but the moment she’d instructed him not to leave survivors, the pirate had a familiar thirst for sin burning in his blood.

Eleanor played the part of the damsel in distress with impeccable expertise. The only flaw in her act was the effect Leo's role was having on her. She was acutely aware of his blade pressed against her column of throat, and from Leo's angle, it might even look like she was leaning into the knife and its dangerously attractive wielder. "Please don' hurt me," she wheezed, squirming against the pirate's hold. Rona chanced a glance askance toward the would-be robber before directing her regard toward the elderly elf, whose gray eyes were wide behind the glass half-moons. He bounced his terrified look between Rona, Leo, and the teller, fumbling so much with his keyring that he nearly dropped it, twice, before he had a master key in his gnarled grasp. "There's— there's nothing here; we are a m-m-modest b-bank—" Rona bawled out in a panic, startling the elderly wizard from his paralysis, and this time, he did drop the keys. With a high-pitched sound in the back of his throat, the accountant dove after them, old joints cracking and popping. His body was not as spry as in his youth, and he let out a rasping groan, gripping his knee for support, back hunched over in agony. This delay incited Rona to faux-struggle more with urgent alarm dominating her expression, and giant alligator tears streamed down her cheeks in dark rivers, thanks to day-old eyeliner. "P-please, do what he says!" The two other wizards meandered down the hallway, chatting to each other about the banker's union dues being ridiculous this quarter when they joined the older elf in the lobby at the entrance to the vault. It took them a long moment of staring at the scene before the dusty gears in their brains started shifting. One of them, a middle-aged wizard with wispy salt-and-pepper hair and beard, reached into his robes and thrust out a twisted wooden rod, pointing it at Leo and Rona with false bravado, the anemic-looking stick shaking in his hand. The other wizard tried to reach for Meghyn, pulling her back out of the immediate area and toward the hallway, using the corner to shield from the raggedy criminal holding the customer hostage. Meanwhile, said hostage was doing her best not to explode in titters at the sorry excuse for a wand, and she was /severely/ motivated to show him what a real spell channeler could do. Nevertheless, Rona was fully committed to the narrative Leoxander was establishing, and again, she ventured to jerk her shoulder against him, pressing herself up against the pirate as much as she appeared to be tearing away. After all, if she was to play the weaker sex, emphasis on weaker, she would have fun with it. Perhaps luckily for the line-walking femme, it made it even simpler for his blade to saw at the laces; the most trivial bit of added pressure was sure to see them snap. "No, no!" she exclaimed in mock-disgust, thrashing against her assailant with renewed enthusiasm. "D-don't hurt her!" The senior accountant forced himself upright, stumbling into the vault antechamber and giving his coworkers desperately apologetic, beseeching looks. Favoring the boxes lining the narrow chamber's left side, he stabbed the key at the first lock several times before pushing it in and turning. The initial click of the lock was like a hit of dopamine for the junkie spellrogue, and for the first time since she'd entered the bank, she looked properly toward Leo, her eyes, and that damned gem adopting feisty glints. It was all she could do not to force her way out of Leo's hold and take the senior wizard by surprise, pulling a blade on him as Leo had done to her. But she was certainly thinking about it. She put a pin in that for now, the wheels of her mind spinning as she considered how to lure the remaining bank employees into the vault. "Please—" Her brows furrowed sharply over a tear-shined stare. "Please help me," she gasped out, trying to meet the anxious gaze of the wizard with the wand. "P-please, you have to help me. Please, jus— I beg of you—"

Leoxander was skilled in some sleight of hand and the weight of that blade in his grip was a trusted and familiar friend. Between Rona’s struggle sessions, she might feel the business end dragging bluntly against her thigh, the sharpened edges horizontal as not to cut a slit in her borrowed skirt - not yet, at least. Meanwhile, the conversation continued as Leo chuffed a sound in his throat. “I’m bettin’ your personal vault ain’t quite so modest as these. Don’t make me hurt your newest client, old man. You’ve already failed her an’ now Junior over there’s got his toy stick trained right at her. Hell of a service.” His sharp eyes moved to the apprentice taking a trembling aim, and using her full skirt to hide the movement, Eleanor would feel the lift of his knee right up into the back of her thighs, dagger stealthily sheathed in her belt to free that hand wrapped around her corset shaped waist. He might just be reading her thoughts like she’d caught whispers of his, but he had secretly armed her for a reason. In the snap of a second, one of the small throwing blades was taken from his boot in hand, and as he released his partner in crime, he flicked his wrist forward with aim for the wand wielding elf’s aiming hand. It was rare for Achilles to miss, particularly with full health and a high from these sinister acts he loved. Just in case a blast of magic went off with an unpredictable aim, he half threw his former lover toward the aged accountant to let her switch gears, and personalities at her will. He knew she could only play the victim for so long, but it had been long enough to get a distraction and a master key into view. Rather than spare the terrified elf that did in fact manage to blast a burn across Leo’s shoulder, marring skin and ink that exposed from his coverings, a few determined steps closed the distance between pirate and victim, and that twin to the weapon he’d armed Rona with found it’s way under ribs after a spin and flip to grip at a thirty degree angle. “Shouldn’t’a tried to be a hero. They don’t live long…” He spoke almost apologetic to the rookie, but his flag was flying crimson and no quarter, that night. Seemed two turns of the season as a beast had welcomed back a murderous attribute in the savage rogue. Leaving his bank robbing date to her own devices, he snapped his attention in the direction he’d seen the girl hastened away by advocate number two, likely to find the pair huddled low in a corner since there was only one way in or out of the vault. Two voices in his head competed, and as the mark on his chest faintly flickered through the fabric of his shirt, Eleanor might even feel a tug of the war mentally waged as he took a few slow steps toward the terrified teller and her less courageous defender. This one not stupid enough to draw a weapon on him. “Meghyn…” Her name had been displayed at her station at the front. “Peregrin…” He’d heard the girl call for him. “Bid yer farewells to yer Master. Anyone gets word of this, I see or hear a damn thing, I know who to look for. Savvy?” The masked scoundrel waited for their panicked nods and with blade in hand, used it to issue them to their feet. He then pointed it to the vault door. “Consider it a gift. We’ll be watching you…” His cryptic pitch leveled out neutral for a low, “Go on... Fly free.”

Master Teodore had been the interim senior accountant for the last several months. The previous bank manager was forced into retirement following a scandal of embezzlement and paid companions, while the elder high elf's only vices included naivety and a penchant for piss-water grog. Some of the junior accountants had joked amongst themselves upon his reassignment that the position was cursed, and as he stood like a deer in coach lanterns, he was beginning to believe them. There was no other way to describe the abruptly terrible turn his luck was taking this evening but to blame it on some cosmic design, his fate sealed. The gray of his eyes was overwhelmed by how much white was visible and he shifted his attention rapidly between Rona, Leo, Rona, Leo, Rona … Leo. He gulped, mind reeling through his options, which were, much to his withering disappointment, less than ideal and far too few. Both of the older elf's prime flaws would be coming back to haunt him later, he was sure of it — if he could just make it out of this bank alive. Detesting and immediately regretting the decision to take his attention off the bank robber, he nodded dejectedly. "Fine, take whatever you want." Resignation hung heavy on his ancient shoulders when he started to shuffle deeper into the vault, prepared to lead the pirate into the private quarters of the labyrinth. Master Teo can't have taken more than three steps in that direction, however, when he felt an immeasurable coldness seize his chest. He felt like he had just swallowed an entire glacier, but when he stumbled forward another half-step, he lowered his disbelieving stare to see darkness spreading outward from his chest. Another step deeper into the vaults, and the overhead lights cast a reddish color across his robes.

Eleanor had wasted no time at all rising to the occasion, so to speak. With sturdy legs under her once more, she gripped the unfamiliar blade as deftly as if it was her own, and leapt up behind the elf in a blur of shadow. She quickly hooked her left arm around the elder elf when his knees buckled under him, but she didn't yet withdraw her newly-acquired blade from the back. The bloodthirsty female held him there, cradling him as a flurry of emotions sped through his graying gaze, and he slowly shook his head. She smiled down at him, almost serenely and leaned in until her cheek brushed alongside his. "Tapadh leat gu mòr," she hissed into his ear, then she lowered her mouth as if to kiss the confused, dying elf. Leaving the span of two fingers between them, she inhaled deeply, and his mouth contorted in a scream. No sound came out, but rather a glowing blue light Leoxander was sure to recognize in hue if not source. She sucked it right up in an enormous lungful, and the life dissolved from the bank manager's eyes. The spellrogue left just enough of a pulse that they may be able to save him later, if needed. Despite that precautionary measure, El wasn't placing any bets that he'd survive as he slumped to the floor of the antechamber. With a squelching sound, she pulled the blade out of the elf's back and lifted her attention to the wolf. Her normally pale green eyes harbored a vibrant cerulean glow, and she breathed heavily, a few beads of perspiration along her brow. Whatever glamor she'd put on earlier either wasn't working, or wasn't working hard enough as the gem mirrored her mana-mad gleam, and in scattered freckles along her skin, her tattoos strived to glow through the camouflage. El paid no mind to her physical changes, whether it was the same for Leo, she didn't have time to guess. Her mind was instead pulled toward his chest, and the symbol of their enigmatic bond, through a few hammering heartbeats. She tried to reconcile what she felt with what she saw and heard, but adrenaline compelled her forward; she can sort out her thoughts later. Lifting her intense luminescent ocean eyes toward the teller and junior accountant remaining, she stepped over the other fallen wizard. They stumbled over each other, each more anxious than the other to get out of the bank first. Pausing just long enough to slide a devious grin toward Leo, she followed Meghyn and Peregrin out into the lobby. Solely focused on escaping the nightmare they were suddenly in, they didn't bother collecting any personal belongings. It made no difference to Eleanor if they had, she was feeling more alive than she had in months with the freshly-stolen arcana coursing through her. On top of that, she was after the queen, and they were just pawns. Disposable. Thrusting both arms toward the pair, cords of blue magic whipped out from her hands, coiling around each of their necks, and she yanked back, knocking both of them off their feet. The spellrogue disapprovingly clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she advanced, outwardly remorseless for the horror gripping their features. They tossed about on the lobby floor, trying to pull the bindings free. El squeezed her right fist in the air, and the conjured ropes tightened around the employee's throats until neither moved.

Leoxander had been busy with the youth, but something caused the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck to rise beneath that wrecked, hooded jacket. He forced himself not to look back and witness the feast, but he felt it, and it recalled memories he’d since tried to bury deeper than deep. Not sin, but life was consumed, energy. Not a black of shadow but a blue of magic that he refused to turn his head to see. It was a wicked cycle, but he couldn’t take the time to dwell on the coincidence as he sought to free a couple captives who he would sure would value their second chance over a risk of the brutal end their associates had met. Apparently the revived assassin in the leader of crows had other plans, and Leo watched without too much emotion, simply sheathing his blade under his shirt as he watched the two meet an inevitable end. He turned and approached the body of the elder as they took their last breaths with fear frozen on their face. Full circle, with a magic-eater and blood on his hands again. A second chance, or a second fall? “He said to take whatever we want…” He murmured once she was finished with her prey, studying the already paling, terrorized face of the elder. “I think I’ve got an idea for that potion of yours. This place is gonna need some new employment.” He turned a look to Rona, who might be fading back into Eleanor, by then. It was more than likely any wards and enchantments had been diminished with the rise of fear and the fall of bodies. It was a hell of a mess to clean up. “We put Teodore here into early retirement.” A subtle gesture to his own face, since she could probably manage a convincing look for enough time needed. “Find a few loyal to keep this place goin’, keep the vaults as they were. Mostly.” Save his, which probably had the only stash worth emptying, contribution to the cause. “Our first mark on the map, best beside the shipyard we could claim.” His gaze shifted through the messed up, blood and sweat touched hair in his eyes as he pulled down his mask to see what she made of the idea. “Like this never happened.” It would achieve their goal and more: access to the bank and a bit of laundering on the side, so long as they found the right people for the job.

Eleanor felt more than saw the change in Leoxander's demeanor, but she was too far gone on the high from the high elf's sacrifice to give into guilt over elation. Although that could change at any moment, for the time being, she stood between the lifeless teller and junior wizard, her bluer-than-blue stare boring into each in turn. Assessing. Reading. Were they worth a similar kiss of death to draw the dregs of magic out of them, however tainted it may be at that point? With a nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist, the arcane nooses snaked back into the spellrogue's waiting hands, disappearing past the cuff of her sleeves to settle into their former position on the back of her upper arm, the azure ink flaring through the black tunic before going as dearly departed as the corpses littering the bank floors. A deep, exhausted sigh answered Leo, but all she could offer on top of that was a weak jerk of her chin toward the walls of lockers, the master key still protruding from one. Any gesture that wasn't dedicated to feeding the monster in her mind felt like moving through molasses, and yet, the moment she even considered succumbing to the hunger, she could feel a rush of warmth up her spine. Another, heavier sigh came next, and she had to fixate on the lockboxes to be able to concentrate on what Leo was saying, her empty hand seeking purchase against one of them. When at last, she spoke, her voice was husky and thinly-guarded. "Four … four … toos-one." She gestured loosely with Leo's blade toward the nearest locker, the gilded engraving labeling it '1287'. Her shallow, ragged breathing punctuated the silence as she tried to compose herself and digest the next steps of the plan. "We get th' diamonds first, then Ah'll help ye set up haur." Hell, she'd help him set up anywhere had she the energy to at that moment. Unfortunately, when taking magic, she had to give a part of herself, too, and it showed in the fine lines around her eyes, which slowly returned to their usual crystalline green.

Leoxander gave her a look that was not as hungry as the many looks offered in the last few days, but he knew her hunger as well as he’d sated his own. He decided to follow her lead to approach that specific locker, well aware some lingering charms may last. But he’d survived blue dust, drow-spider imprisonment, a lich’s death duel. Just maybe he could survive Eleanor’s plans. The code twisted in, he took a breath in through his nose and chanced the deposit chest, tense and ready to try to defend what might rear it’s angry head in turn. But the elder spoke surprisingly true, it was a modest place, with new blood running through the place that definitely underestimated the vile nature of Rynvale residents. Not to say that chest wasn’t packing, but a lot of it seemed… fairly useless to one who didn’t put merit on magic. Tomes, tokens, a bit of gold and some memorabilia that an elder might have foolishly trusted to a whopping three guards and a few youth to secure. He dared to dig in and found a deed, to a title, which had a crest and a name that made his eyes squint on the print. “House Illaren is currently the ruling House of the democratic government in Rynvale.” Where did he know that name? He was staring at the unfurled scroll for a long while, barely registering her response. “An elf…” He murmured under his breath. But it didn’t take too long to snap out of it, letting the scroll seal back up in it’s pattern before he tucked that away, along with a few little trinkets or stones that would fund the next part of their plan. “You got wings for this or we cleaning it up? I’m in.” He abruptly decided that was the moment to accept her invitation.

Eleanor tuned into Leo, braving the risk of opening the safety deposit box. In the corner of her mouth, a weary smile curled. Eventually, she pulled herself away from the lockers, moving alongside the pirate to peer around his shoulder at the bounty they reaped. "First ay many," she reminded him hoarsely. Her brows twitched in uncertainty before one of them rose. "House Illaren?" The rogue shook her head and turned her attention to Leo's blade, still slick with the elf's warm blood. Wiping it on her skirt — Sorry, Lita — she tried to pass the borrowed knife back to Hound, but with the words he delivered next, her fingers tightened around the hilt. "Yer in?" she repeated. "Yer in." Her gaze flickered between either of Leo's eyes before she angled her chin down in a sober nod. "Aye, we'll hae wings fur this, dornt ye farsh—Hound." She flipped the blade tip to pommel, gingerly wielding the edge for his retrieval. "They shoods be able tae come within a bell," the rogue leader added. She pulled her gaze away from Leo only long enough to sweep around what some might call a massacre. Seven bodies stacked up on the red-stained tiles, but her focus soon returned to the pirate with a quiet intensity. "Suin as, we can leave."

Leoxander didn’t even glance her way as he took the blade and twisted it back into it’s holster, his shirt and jacket lifted while it’s shoulder was marred, blood already cauterizing and healing from the off target attack. He did seem to notice that she held the edge and was careful enough not to draw more blood, at least not with that dagger’s bite. His mind was still reeling, that name of Illaren stuck in there like a fly to a web, but her fading glamour recaptured his attention as he caught his arm around her and led, if not followed her lead toward the door. “By morning, we need this done.” He wasn’t taking charge, recognizing her authority, but she had offered ‘ours’ and he had agreed to that contract. “Let’s clean up and send the crows.” One in blue he remembered that might rally necessary assistance while they fled the bloody scene. Not like Rynvale Bank was a popular social spot these days, anyhow. “Hope you stuck his face in yer head. Gonna take a miracle to make me look that damn old.” He teased, as he nosed into hair that was melting back into that flaxen shade, and he seemed drunk on the horrible crime they’d just committed.

Eleanor did not dare put up a fight when the pirate's arm hooked around her and guided her toward the door. She did her best not to lean too heavily into Leo, heavy feet under her as the entire ordeal weighed on sculpted shoulders. "Aye, Ah can try tae seal th' buildin' in th' meantime." A generous helping of the elf's old magic still coursed through her, and gossamer wisps of blue arcana occasionally crackled along her re-inked skin. Edging a glance sidelong toward the wolf, she added a husky-voiced, "Back tae Jackal's?" Her gaze slid away from the Clyde to her Bonnie, and she harbored a satisfied smile at the scene that lay before them. "Ah tol' ye, no' a one." It was only then that she withdrew from Leo's support, stepping over dead bodies until she came to the entrance of the bank. Opening the front door just enough to peek outside, she was greeted by a susurration. This blue blur flew inside and circled once around the lobby ceiling before alighting on the spellrogue's left shoulder. Eun's claws curled around the beige material of El's bandana and the bonded bird chittered animatedly at its keeper. El appeared to be listening to whatever news it had to impart, but she shifted her pale seafoam eyes toward the wolf. "Ah willnae hae tae," she told him with a slight smirk as she bolted the bank's front entrance. When she moved to return to his side, the bird swooped off, heading into other parts of the building for reasons unknown. El joined Leo just in time for that nuzzle, which had her drawing in a steadying breath before she continued. "We hae his blud," staining the skirt, "an' his body," just barely visible from inside the vault through a sideways glance. "Th' potion shoods nae need more — bu' we'll wan' tae collec' as much as we can, ye ken?" The rogue leader jerked her chin toward the vault and the victim within, but she was in no rush to do anything about him. She was instead just as preoccupied with the enduring rush they felt in the wake of their brief killing spree, high off the warring aftereffects of her magic-harvesting. Not to mention, ever drawn in as she was to the man who stayed and slayed at her side. "Jus' as weel," she began, digging for the devil amidst the pirate's rugged blond mess. Breathing him in, she continued, "Ah'd hate tae hae his face in mah head, when thaur is anither already thaur."

Leoxander acknowledged her offer with a nod, holding the door open and separating slightly from her as he turned around and stood back to give her the space to apply her refueled magic. Confident that the strength of her runes would be more than competent to keep the scene a secret until they collected their cleaning crew. He spared a glance at the crow when it prompt arrived, no coincidence there, but he was relieved that both of the spellrogue’s familiars had not fallen into the witch’s custody. “Least we don’ have to worry about that one bleedin’ out…” The murmured response as he rubbed at his arm, the jacket sleeve concealing the rise of blonde hair as he recalled the vision of her ‘eating’ the elf’s magic. The touch brought some ache to his shoulder, and he was reminded of the burn that took some leather and cloth from the corner of his jacket and shirt, his blistered and bloody skin showing through with some sooted smears, just a small bit of the edge of his skull and crossed bones ink marred from the hastily aimed attack. He sucked a breath and cursed under it through his teeth as he inspected it for a moment, but it would heal - the process had already started with his adrenaline running high. Distracted focus returned to her as she closed the distance between them again, an arm across the corset, low back, bringing her body in. “Not to Ace’s. We’re home owners, now, Fox.” He smirked that smirk as he patted his jacket with his free hand, where the folded parchment he’d taken from the vault was tucked on the inside pocket. “Le’s check out the gov’nor’s digs, eh? I remember that long eared matron. Fought her damn war for her. But she ain’t been around a long while, far as I know.” He lifted his gaze and drug his mask down to his throat, taking a scrutinizing look along the streets to make certain no one was present to witness the two. “Neighbors, once, when she built a pad on the beach. Not sure if she set up better’n the city. Either way, m’sure she had a taste for the finer sh** in life.” He turned to get them moving as they spoke, figuring it wise not to loiter too long at the scene of their crime.

Eleanor traced up Leoxander's jacket with fingers still lacking the rune-hiding gloves, but with nails that bore dry flakes of the elf's blood. Leaving the lapel, she sucked in a gasp through her teeth, a furrow quickly descending into her brow as she took stock of the wand blast that had escaped her notice until now. Her hand immediately sought purchase on his arm as she turned to examine it closer. "Gods, Leo, yoo're hur'." It was said, as a matter of fact, only a faint tremor of concern caught in her throat. She could already see his preternatural healing at play through the tattered layers of cotton and leather, hints of ink peeking through, and she was inwardly grateful for the cursed affliction that so often haunted him. "Yoo're gods-damned lucky the puir lad cannae shoot fur 'is life." The good-natured, familiar, comfortable teasing that filled the space between them returned to curl around her accented words, almost a sickening contrast to the brutality left behind. " 'ome owners?" she repeated with intrigue pulling at her brows. "Ye dinnae ken it's a wee bi' early fur that, hm?" It was only the night before he'd promised to stay, and now her darkly playful nature tugged her full lips into a crooked grin. As they departed the freshly-warded bank, El's arm mirrored Leo's. At the same time, her other she lifted to coax a few shadows from her rogue's medallion, shrouding the bank robbers in the umbral caress of night. A whisper of feathers gave away that Eun had rejoined the murderous duo, and contrary to her words, Eleanor's boots were eager to keep pace with Leo, following him into the dark.

Later that night: Deliver, Post-Heist