✧ same target

[quicksilverwings]

[That had been... an interesting job.

Somehow, Ciar--Wing to his teammates and clients--hadn't anticipated other people going after one of their marks, but that sure is what happened. Now, Ciar can't personally say he minds. They were tackling it from different angles, and now he can't help but think that it was even more effective.

... And maybe he dragged along the mark a little more for the sake of showing off to that handsome (and clearly adorably smitten) blond.

(He still got the desired results, it was fine.)

Speaking of that aforementioned handsome blond, though, Ciar's on a mission today, to track that man down, wherever in the city he might be. He wanted to see that guy again anyway, and he has a question.]

Comments

[quicksilverwings]

Completely sure.

[Ciar meanwhile is opting for a stuffed crust pizza himself, with several varieties of meat and also mushrooms. And also a couple of cheese sticks.

He takes a seat again so he can start sprinkling a couple packets of red pepper flakes onto his pizza.]

We're not exactly hurting for money.

[destinetmalediction]

How do you get paid? Or does the bar make that much?

[quicksilverwings]

The bar helps, but it's mostly our hacker working some kind of stock market witchcraft I don't dare ask about.

[A beat.]

Also our first job together had a really good payout, since that was less about helping someone who really needed it and more punishing a client who double-crossed us.

[destinetmalediction]

All stock market anything is witchcraft. Trust me, I tried to make sense of it a few years ago.

[Nope.]

Oh? Tell me more.

[quicksilverwings]

[The first part earns a laugh.]

The client had come to us saying someone had stolen his work and had hired us to get those back, but... no, those designs hadn't been stolen at all in the first place. The client had just wanted to get his hands on them and was willing to let us take the fall for it. We weren't going to let that stand.

[destinetmalediction]

...what was his name? This sounds familiar...

[quicksilverwings]

Marcel Voclain. Told him if he fucked with us again, the kid gloves were coming off.

[destinetmalediction]

Well, do I have good news for you, if you want to take those gloves off. He tried to hire me to "clean up" some loose ends, but I told him I didn't do that sort of work and stole his coin collection. I suspect he meant you.

[quicksilverwings]

[Ciar makes a face at the mention of Voclain trying to hire Hugo.]

I'll tell our hacker to keep an eye on things so if he tries anything, he won't catch us unaware. The coin collection is in better hands now, though, sounds like~

[destinetmalediction]

Oh it most certainly is. There's a museum in Austria making great use of it~

[quicksilverwings]

Wonderful~

[He sighs and shakes his head though.]

Voclain thinks he's smarter and a lot more clever than he is, so at least we'll probably have advance warning if he does start trying to pull something.

[Still... what a pain.]

Well, no use dwelling on that now, right?

[destinetmalediction]

Agreed. What desserts are there--?

[quicksilverwings]

[Ciar peers back over at the spread.]

Mini cinnamon rolls and a few lava cakes, looks like. There's also more fruit around here, and vanilla ice cream, if the rest doesn't appeal.

[destinetmalediction]

Ooh, lava cake with vanilla ice cream is always good...

[quicksilverwings]

I'll get the ice cream, then.

[It's a good night, even if Ciar has to endure so much teasing from the rest of the team once Hugo's no longer in earshot.

A few days later, Sabine Tasse has gone down in a spectacular fashion thanks to the help from Hugo, and Ciar, for one, couldn't be more pleased.

They're back at the bar to celebrate a job well done--or at least Ciar and Hugo are. Everyone else has given some excuse or another as to why they couldn't linger for long, whether it's handling the financial loose ends or simply needing rest (okay, Ciar could actually buy that one being legit. Poor Alix).

Ciar just chuckles as he slides over a proper Negroni.]

You know, I have to admit, I think that was the most fun I've had on a job for a while.

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo is exhausted, but also exhilarated. He takes the drink and takes a sip with a smile.]

It certainly was for me. It's been a while since I didn't have to plan a heist.

[quicksilverwings]

I don't think we could've pulled that off without you.

[As he takes a seat next to Hugo with his own drink. He takes a sip, then chuckles.]

Honestly, if you weren't already doing your own thing, I'd ask if you'd like to join up with us proper.

[destinetmalediction]

Doing what? I am, primarily, a thief, after all.

[quicksilverwings]

You made a damn good face in that job, and you were a huge help when things nearly went sideways for Ange.

[... And while Ange is good, Ciar can't deny that she could learn a lot from Hugo.]

[destinetmalediction]

She very nearly had it, but unfortunately most newer thieves don't know quite what to do when faced with an old-fashioned lock you can pick with a bobby pin and not a fancy electric lock.

[And being stymied by that naturally caused the almost-disaster.]

She's fairly good at being sneaky, but no panache.

[quicksilverwings]

Yeah. Locks have been a work in progress for a while for her... but she was basically starting from nothing there, so it's to be expected.

[destinetmalediction]

Really? Completely new to it all?

[quicksilverwings]

Mhm. She was a pickpocket first. The rest of us have been working on teaching her stuff since she joined up.

[destinetmalediction]

...well, I can at least help with that, even if I don't know about signing on full time with your crew.

[quicksilverwings]

That'd be helpful, thank you.

[He lets his head rest on one hand and he smiles.]

If you want to join in on a few more jobs without signing on full time, you'd be welcome to, too. [A beat.] ... I'll admit, though, the offer might've been a little bit of an excuse to spend more time with you.