RP:Honor Among Thieves

LOCATION: Rynvale, Bustling Street

This street, a forgotten traveler's pursuit from the invasion of the chaos creatures, has once again reopened to the city. It bustles with travelers and peddlers of wares as the Empire has brought not only security to the residents, but a sense of future and hope that was long misplaced. Some deckhands go by, on their way to the shipyards to the south as a few merchants head off to the west. Amongst the weary are a few pirates, their eye patches and striped shirts long giving them away, though they appear more at home and pleasant than the usual scally-wags that are talked about in tales of lore.

Mellie wanders along, keeping her stride casual and her expression carefully composed into one of disinterest. However, beneath the shadow of her hood, an ever vigilant sapphire gaze flicks restlessly from person to person, gauging the probability of an easy target. As always, a light beige ferret, his chocolate mask around the beady black of his eyes, stays close at the young thief's heels. Mellie stops just at the corner of the sign serving as a map, and draws her arms within her dark cloak. One booted foot flicks behind the other as she comes to a lean against the post.

Morning had found Finn particularly moody, the night not quite having unfolded precisely as he would have wished. Falling asleep in the taproom of the Barrel with Bane alone for company and protection was not what he’d had in mind when he’d made plans to meet a certain sea witch there. Thus, he had not yet returned to his quarters and was still cloaked in the gear in which his night’s illicit labors had been done- he was a dark shadow flittering along the bustling street in broad daylight, drawing a curious look here and there. Most left him alone, his reputation in Rynvale’s underbelly enough for those familiar with him to give him a wide berth. The aroma of fresh baked bread floating from a nearby stall reminded of the last hour he had eaten, and his path diverted on sudden impulse, his leather duster fluttering about his ankles, making a direct trail for the familiar stall. “ Mornin’ Zahra..” He flashed the grin that had melted a thousand hearts. “You smell almost as good as the bread darlin’..it’s been a while..” He leaned against one of the poles supporting the stand. The buxom blonde handling the wares was quite..familiar to the male. It was amazing how satisfying the lack of strings could be at times.

Mellie was turning a few heads, herself, due to the dark colors cladding her petite form when the sun shone so brightly overhead. Didn't matter. She would take being viewed with a curious eye over an accusatory one any day. The past few nights had been rather unsuccessful in her line of 'business'. The jingle of coins in the leather coin pouch was getting quieter, and this was enough to engrave a near constant line of concern across her forehead. No, today would be different. The flow of people around the thief earned a twitch of her maroon painted lips and a silent 'thank you' to Lady Luck. One form in particular caught the girl's eye; a tall, dark, and ... ruggedly handsome one that was preoccupied with a late breakfast and busty blonde. She scanned him from his boots to his head, finding very little of certain interest. That was when -she- came into view. The woman was tall and graceful, with hair flowing in brunette curls down her back, and curves that would make any other woman take a hit on her ego just being in the same vicinity. The jewels adorning this woman were ridiculously gaudy. She was clearly just passing through. Target spotted. Mellie hefted herself from the sign, and moved casually to follow.

Finn had turned to observe the bustle of the street idly, warm bread torn off in chunks and lifted to firm lips. Gold flecked gaze swept the perimeter, of a habit reading between the lines of life on the street and seeing things others wouldn’t. How many hours had he spent staked out, watching, waiting, noticing patterns? It had been a while since he’d had to himself resort to petty thievery, his fortunes had changed and with them the level of the stakes for which he played. He was amused however, to watch others at work, often recruiting those who showed initiative. She was easy to spot..as was her mark, and he shook his head slightly. She stood out, too much, she’d never get close enough, even if the woman in question was screaming ‘easy mark’ Eyes tracked her progress as another morsel was popped into his mouth. He’d see what she had.. A movement behind her, a certain parting of humanity drew his gaze. Port Authority. He hoped she was aware of them for it was the worse possible circumstance in which to bungle a lift. He straightened his stance slightly. If he needed to intervene to keep her out of trouble he might-he was inclined to generosity today..and the slender curves beneath the cloak..appealed. He wouldn’t mind seeing the face that accompanied it.

Mellie moved in closer, following this goddess of a woman to a rickety looking fruit stand. The elderly gentleman manning the market stared wide-eyed at the tall beauty, having to blink himself back to reality before he could stutter the words, "M-might I help ya, Miss?" Mellie meanwhile biding her time, feigning sudden interest in a lightly bruised apple. She was, unfortunately, unaware of the authority bustling about behind her. She was hardly professional, but nearing desperation. Nights sleeping alone on a bed of forest foliage muted her conscience, turning it into nothing more than white noise playing in the background of her thoughts. A simple signal -the light nudge of her beloved partner in crime with the heel of her boot-, and Nabit moved snaked into position, ready to pounce upon the woman at just the perfect opportunity, likely when she turned back to the public.

Finn’s gaze narrowed, taking in every player in the little act. As of yet, the would- be thief was not in danger of being made out- all eyes resting upon the stunning woman she had chosen to be her target. The choice would either be her salvation, or her undoing, depending on her following actions. Most eyes were already locked upon the proximity in which she was about to work..which meant many witnesses if something went wrong- and they still hung for larceny on the isle, especially under imperial control. Hazel gaze dropped to the animal that suddenly skittered in reaction to some signal or another from the female. Ahh.. clarity dawned..and some measure of appreciation for the tactic. Still, it was a risk; she would have to be almost invisibly quick with her hands to escape unseen once the creature played its role. Almost without realizing it, the male was moving..crossing the street with a leggy prowl that drew appreciative gazes, highlights in the auburn hair drawn together at his nape, glinting n the noonday sun. Reaching the stall he moved into position behind her, his significant height advantage and general breadth creating a shield now from probing eyes on the street. A tanned arm reached out over her shoulder, the rogue leaning in to grab an apple of his own. Brushing her ear, a smoky murmur might be heard providing directions only she alone would hear. “ You’ve got company darlin’.. of the legal kind. You’ll want to be waitin’ another thirty seconds before you let your friend there get to work.” There would be humor couched in his tone, and the arm would brush lightly against her form as he retreated back to his shielding and protective stance.

Mellie froze in her movements as she suddenly felt the claustrophobic effect of her personal space being invaded. The apple in her hand was bruised just a bit more with her grip tightening in annoyance at the feel of the rogue's arm -no doubt easily, due to her petite stature and mere five foot-four inch frame- reaching over her. Nabit remained in position, his whiskers twitching feverishly, waiting for the inevitable whistle that would send him flying up the target's leg. The rogue's whisper was heard all too clearly, sinking in the same as if he had shouted it directly in her face. Her head rose, allowing a swift shift of her baby blues to glance over her shoulder, just beyond the hulking figure, to the uniformed guards unspeakingly demanding space of their own with their intimidating presence. The thief snapped her attention back to the apple, just as one of the guards glanced her way and eye contact was made. A low swear was muttered, sounding odd coming from such a soprano, childish tone. Beside the two, the lovely target had finished her purchase, and pivoted on her toes to move on, no doubt uneasy with the feel of two figures so darkly shrouded standing in such close proximity. The lady shot a nervous gaze back over her shoulder toward Mellie, but it was Finn that earned a much longer stare and coy smile, before she flitted back into the crowd. Mellie dropped the apple, her jaw line taut, and reached up to pull the hood from her head. What was revealed was little more than plain: darkly tanned features, surrounded with gently tousled ebon tendrils that fell long into two braids. She turned her sights upon Finn, staring at him with piqued curiosity.

Finn was aware of the subtle series of movements taking place in the diminutive form before him as she registered and responded to his murmured warning. He likewise sensed the moment that they lost her mark to the recognition that something was not quite right in the world around her, and he sought in his way, to diffuse the woman’s suspicious tension. Even while making a subtle shift to his stance over the would be thief that might make it appear to a casual observer that he was somehow partnered with her-in the more traditional sense- he allowed gold flecked gaze to meet the doe eyes of the mark with wolfish hunger, before raking her body with the same in a manner that almost guaranteed that the woman would feel herself stripped bare and wanted, with that single look. Finn knew the power of a look, of a message. He’d as much as told her, ‘what I have will not satisfy the way you would.’ It was a stroke to the ego of the goddess that was almost certain to have the desired effect of distracting her from the thoughts that were infinitely more dangerous to the female he was, for some reason, protecting. It was only after becoming the recipient of that coy smile, and the assurance that she had indeed disappeared into the swell of city street that he allowed himself to relax. In what appeared an almost coordinated motion, the rogue tossed the stall owner a few coppers and sank white teeth in to the apple he still retained in his grasp. It was then that he allowed himself to acknowledge the inquisitive gaze of his unwitting damsel in distress. He grinned, murmuring to her in that husky drawl. “ Well now then darlin’.. that turned out alright, didn’t it?” His gaze dropped to baby blue gaze and narrowed slightly, taking in the apparent youthfulness of her appearance. “ How old are you anyway?..Seem a little young to be workin’ unsupported by a crew.” He’d been on the streets himself from the age of eleven, but most young thieves were quickly snapped up by working crews that could find use for their size and ‘innocence.’ They could often get places a grown man could not. He cut her off before she could reply. “ On second thought..this isn’t the time nor place for it hun..’” His gaze raked her again. Simple enough appeal.. not unpleasant, but no great beauty either..just the sort to blend into the background with a little more training. He nodded to himself, making an impulse decision almost on the spot. “ If you’re interested in work that’ll keep you fed an’ housed, make it your business to find me. Ask for Finn at the Barrel..somebody’ll point you the right way.” Above stairs to the rooms he was still renting there until he finished his permanent quarters in the city. He dropped her a wink and a flash of too white teeth again, before spinning on his heel and melting into the bustling crowd, leaving her before she could say a word.