45.5 Thick as Thieves
General Summary
I handwaved that Marwa was chatting with Beni when they left, mostly to explain why she wasn't right next to Mika, but I wonder what they were talking about
Did beni grow up with these guys? Shes feral for young midnight gang stories
He'd tell stories about house parties at Storm's
The time they accidentally burnt part of this beautiful full-room rug and everybody was panicking so much like omg were never allowed over again
so they all had to do hijinks to find a rug that wasn't the EXACT same but was PRETTY CLOSE in the middle of the gd night (which is where having some rogues in the literal-party helped ngl)
and then get it back to Storm's place and unroll it and put the furniture back on top of it and also clean up regular party mess before they got home
and then they sold the rug like, a week later because his mom never liked it.
Beni's cadence of speech is very steady and like, bedtimestory its not a monotone, but it is kind of an amazing juxtaposition to the chaos he's describing whole thing was very Benny Hill
This has Mirage CRACKING up and reminds her of her own shenanigans in Auria, so I think it turns into a trade a story for story. "Mama got so mad at me, her winds stilled. She was silent, it was absolutely terrifying. Oh, hey babe!" She smiles at Mika as he enters and also glances at Eli, gauging the emotions on their faces.
"yeah I Bet." Beni, the one who fully knows who your mom is, sounds a little scared on your behalf lol
Follows your gaze over to the others. He's a little preoccupied but mostly relaxed. Eli's about the same, but zeroed in on you.
"hey," Mika smiles and goes for a peck on the cheek as he heads over to you both. "Was just saying to Eli about fucking up that asshole's place back in Lantern Hill."
"Shoulda heard this howler, I swear. Snapping at the barmaid, drunk in the afternoon, going on 'do you know who I am', geez"
"Mika's playing coy with the details," Elijah says, amused. "Which works out for me because we didn't actually get a chance to talk shop the other night."
"I would love NOTHING more than to regale you with tales of how we fucked this guy's whole day up. Talks a big game but his security was a joke, he clearly hadn't pissed off the right people yet."
She describes the route they took to get in, she describes the booby-trapped locks in the desk. She's proud of that one, but she's even more proud of the fact that they found proof of his corruption. And also that she stole a single one of his chess pieces, so his set was no longer complete.
"Also I carved a dick near the opening of his helmet, which he'd clearly never used. And also gave the big feather plume on top a trim. Seemed like the kind of guy to find those two things really emasculating, you know?"
The chess piece thing makes Eli laugh, "damn, I'll be using that thanks, that's great."
When you describe your artwork I think everyone in company is laughing. Beni loves the detail of the feather, confirms that'll be a pain to fix, Eli's nodding at your estimation of the guy's fragility
"Oh man, truly. Geez, I've met that kinda dude, you are absolutely not wrong. Glass, for sure."
Mika snorts, "in more ways than one."
Which gets him a reaction like he made a pun from the Midnighters present.
"Glass?"
"oh, like, from a nice neighborhood?" Mika catches himself, "Someplace with panes in the windows instead of shutters. Which is also kind of a fragile position, given how quick the winds can change."
Mika could clock a twitch in her facial features if he was looking for it, because he knows her, but I think her tenseness would probably go unnoticed by the others.
"it's not like, a mean thing," he adds, "s'just a description. Shiv's glass, so's Beni."
Beni nods acknowledgement, Eli's fascinated by this ubiquitous term (for him) needing explanation. It never struck him as being unique to the city. And Mika's correct that this is a neutral descriptive term, but he's also heard Mika use it derisively enough times to know he's peacemaking rn. "you got different words for the kinda-rich-and-almost-powerful where you're from, I take it?"
"Yeah. In Auria, somebody who's well-off is often referred to as living "on the sunny side". Doesn't have to deal with the inclement weather of life's ups and downs so much, kind of a thing." She gives a half-smile. "Heard that term thrown my way more than once, which is fair. But we're getting off topic - thievery. You've had a long, fruitful career. What's the coolest thing you've ever swiped?"
"oh that's easy," Eli grins, "My kit." This with a glance at the assembled drums behind you. "Not as subtle as a chess piece, but I'm not a subtle person."
(The 'boy you're really not' faces from Mika and Beni lol)
"No shit! How'd you get it out quietly? That sounds like it would be a pain in the ass."
He grins. "One piece at a time. The floor bass was the biggest pain, couldn't move it through a doorway except sideways, and that leaves you either backing through or holding it in front of you. Place I nabbed that little souvenir also had - you've probably dealt with light detection, yeah?"
"Oh yeah! You a bit of an acrobat? I admit I have a leg up on that kind of stuff given that I can float, but I've definitely triggered those alarms before. How'd you do it?"
"I mean it was less of a problem when it wasn't holding on to something that not only cannot bend, but that will pretty much not work ever again if it tries. But when life shuts a door you head through a window and make the company wizard swear on everything he won't drop Floating Disc over the stone pavilion no matter how funny it would be to wake up the neighborhood."
Mika grins "it does sound pretty funny though."
"Bass doesn't even do long notes! It'd just-" <imitates bass note> " -maybe, and then the frame would do a lot of normal noise rolling around, if it didn't crack."
"That's why it's funny," Mika laughs, "that huge thing that's made to be loud and then all of does is 'bomp!' amazing."
Marwa points her finger at Eli in vindication hearing him say, "When life shuts a door, you head through a window", like she clearly agrees with him.
"That's what I'm saying! See, you get it. Well credit where credit is due, that sounds like a hell of a heist. Gotta respect it."
"hey I'm not out here trying to be respectable but I'll take it. What about you? Giving some boondocks prick a helmet to match his personality can't be your finest accomplishment."
"Oh friend, don't you worry - you and I can remain fools for as long as we like, but our skills are worthy of respect, no? My favorite heist has to be the one where the thing in the vault was not a thing but a whole ass PERSON. A PRINCESS. It was wild, dude."
She gets so animated telling the story of rescuing Asmira - sneaking in via the water barrel because she doesn't have to breathe, using her air blade to cut herself out of the closet (and then shoving a big floppy disguise hat underneath it to keep it shut after), triggering the blob trap above the door, fighting the guards, BUSTING OUT COBBLES.
Her hands are like, waving in the air and she's adding sound effects and she is like, SO engaged in this conversation with Eli specifically. Her eyes are just locked onto him, imploring him to understand how fucking SIDEWAYS this 'quick' job went.
He's so into it lmao, I feel like a sticking point of this story that marwa maybe glosses over because this is kind of a granted for most of her stories about home, but that seems to affect him greatly is that this whole thing also takes place several million feet in the air!
And then you busted out the bottom of the thing?! Yeah, the desperation is coming through
"Oh. Yeah, that's fair. I didn't even think about it to be honest, I'm in the air more often than not!"
"Mad respect from the groundbound" with comedic solemnity
"But no enough about me floating, I want to hear how the fuck you and I do the same job with such different anatomies, because you've clearly come up with other solutions to these kinds of problems. I want to hear everything! You must be some kind of genius, or the most resourceful dude on the planet."
A somewhat uncomfortable cough "it's really not that hard when you're never more than forty feet above the stone. I been picking locks and pockets since I was a rugrat. Like, literal kids can do it."
"I can't." Mika, quiet, "still looks like witchcraft to me, even knowing how it works."
"Witchcraft is a little strong, man, half the locks in this city can be slapped open, and the other half take a shim. I'll swap you whatever for something that even needs a pick if you find one, I swear."
"I still don't know which of you is right, any more than why I ever bothered lending this guy a key," Beni adds, which Eli waves off, "it's the locks. They're just not that hard to work, and then getaways are 90% just playing with assumptions. Feel like everyone present has some experience on that front."
"As someone who knows what you're talking about, it's not that simple, dude. If you can do this work as well as it sounds, then that's pretty fucking impressive. Busting into something with a lock on it...anybody can do it, given enough time and tools. But to do it unseen, while the adrenaline is up, and then make a clean getaway - that's talent. I'm kind of simultaneously tooting my own here, which feels awkward, but yeah. You'd probably beat my time on a lockpick, if we ever tried to compete."
"Or would you?" She raises an eyebrow in playful challenge.
"there's one way to find out" grinned
yeah, Mirage is raring to go. Looking around like, who's got something under lock and key? how do we get two of same lock, or do we both try to bust into the same lock individually? Who's timing us?
all the particulars
I feel like, I said before that Eli is the type who is always trying to make sure the people around them are doing okay, I feel like all of Eli's friends have decent fucking locks on their doors
like when two kids at a party get a stupid idea in their head for a stunt and can't be dissuaded from trying it, no matter how little everybody else at the party cares.
To make it fair since he chose/installed this lock, Eli will tell Marwa this is a 6-pin mixed-spool lock with an anti shimming plate and a corrosive acid release on oversets. Also this goes without saying but non-violent subversion methods only, he would like his friend to still have a working front door afterwards.
"Oh, of course!"
"Pitch. After you, then"
She gives a bit of a confused look at "Pitch", but doesn't say anything.
Marwa 5 Eli 4
Raj counts time, I think Beni ducks out of this, he knows that there is no such thing as an unpickable lock because he is friends with Eli, but he's not sure he's comfortable seeing firsthand how fast that can happen on his own home.
Total: 4
5 to 4! Marwa's faster but it's close I don't think he's a sore loser about it. Congratulatory handshake between professionals. "Whole point of the acid wash is it slows picking down, so at least that's working as intended." (Not whinging/making excuses, sounds genuinely pleased that the locks quality is holding up) " Also damn I knew they were electrum but I didn't figure the pins were that light, can you imagine trying to bump that thing? You'd lose your hand."
Marwa is fascinated watching him work, comparing her methods with his, doesn't even care about the time.
It's very tactile, without investigative winds or echolocation to help them figure out what's going on inside the lock he's working entirely by feel.
You may be expected him to ask people to be quiet so he could hear the pins set, but like, he doesn't always have the luxury of perfect quiet at work why should he have it here? On the real though he is curious if you've encountered any like weird locks or even ones that were just especially impressive. "Manufacturing in this city is garbage."
"do arcane ones count?" - Mika
"If it's a combination of arcane and mechanical, yes. Otherwise no, that's a ward."
I don't have your actual knowledge of locks, so I feel like Marwa is much more educated about it than I am, but she'd mention the locks in the "haunted" mansion! The ones that triggered fireball, & disintigrate. She'd also share a story of a security system she tested where she couldn't actually open the small personal safe in time to avoid detection, so she hauled it wholesale out with her. And she is a weak, weak babygirl when it comes to lifting weights lmao.
"The combination of arcane and mechanical locks are always the toughest, but they're the most satisfying to crack, right?"
Oh yeah I wasn't looking for technical specs, just thought I'd give you a chance to bullshit some like, cool lock/trap encounters
Re: weights "Start drumming for this asshole, fix you up in no time," with a not sincere glare toward the one who picked a five minute drum solo earlier from the one who is starting to feel it catch up to him.
"Yeah we pretty much always have some kind of caster on deck for the dispels, that is a downside of working for someone else, you're not really allowed to argue with smart risk reduction. Be nice to try one with the safeties off sometime, though." The disintegrate lock is bananas, by the way, I think he probably makes some kind of comment about like what the hell was the loot that you didn't fucking nope out for that like, there's pride and then there's self-preservation
"Oh come on, the adrenaline rush doesn't hook you, too? I don't believe it, you look just as insane as I am." She responds laughing
"yeah all right, I'm not trying to front like I've never taken a risk before," he'll concede your point lol
I think they probably go back to swapping stories from there
One time he broke into a place with just 'Ams,' a friend from work that nobody present knows, who's talents are mostly bardic, but their caser made kind of a huge mistake and the mark was home almost the whole time they were in there
You wanna talk about adrenaline -!
Marwa is riveted, trying not to laugh as he tells this story.
She can laugh, it's a funny story if for nothing else than his exasperation in telling it.
"And then Ams asks if we're souvenir shopping and I'm like-!" <bug-eyed silent are you kidding me right now face>
"we had words for recon on that one, tell you what*
Marwa admits that before she joined this adventuring party, all of her roguing was done alone, so she can commiserate - learning to work with others wasn't easy in the beginning. Says it would be fucking awesome to have another thief along sometime, though.
"Ams is good company, you'd probably get along. Not a single ounce of ego on that man." "that's important, y'know? You can't get into a pissing contest in the middle of a job, throws everything off. Only works if everyone present understands it's not their show."
"Too true." She looks over at Mika warmly. "Having buddies to complement your skills - I don't know if I could go back, to be honest. To doing it exclusively on my own." I think Mika intuits, although they've done several heists together over the years, that she's talking specifically about Amir, and what he did for her there when she lost herself a bit.
"Helps when your co-thief is hot as fuck, too." She kisses him on the cheek and smirks.
Mika reddens though a smile.
Eli nose-laughs "I bet, huh? But any level of fooling around on a gig would definitely get me fired. Whether it'd be worth it probably depends on the thief." He looks contemplative and you cannot tell if he's actually thinking about it or if it's a bit.
Marwa assumes he's genuinely considering it. She would.
"pity I like my job. Be a good way to go out if I ever decide to quit though"
"Go out with a bang? Absolutely!" She laughs at her own bad joke lol slaps her knee
He laughs too, I think you have a similarly crass brand of humor At some point people disperse for the rest of their days Raj and Eli have boxing with Molly and Storm later and have stuff they wanna do first. Beni has family plans There are general inquiries how long they're in town When they might come by next
"Long enough for you and I to schedule a grudge match, if you're interested?" but I'd look to Mika to see if he has anything else to add about timing - "oh you're so on. I'll keep an eye open for a decent challenge." I think people are putting shoes on at that point Eli finishes lacing his boots, stands, and hesitates - or maybe he's just waiting for Raj, who's kneeling behind him tying his own?
"Be seeing you, I guess." - to Mika
"Sure."
"Um, about the thing with your druid-"
"I'll let you know. You still in the same place?"
"Home sweet matchbox."
"I'll write you, or she will."
"Okay. Okay. Thanks. Later, then."
Mirage goes in for a fist bump or hug or handshake, whatever they did upon meeting each other. "Great to see you again, dude. Can't wait to swap more stories and kick your ass a second time." She winks playfully.
but also her tone is genuine - it was really cool talking to someone else who can understand why she likes doing this stuff.
Eli's a fistbumper, except for Storm and Beni who get brohugs
I think she coudl have clocked that Eli doesn't have a lot of people he can speak openly about his work with, either like there's people who won't judge but they also don't get it
Raj also gives Mika a fistbump and Marwa a hug, then those two head out
I think there's a faint "whats that about a druid" followed by the start of some flippant bullshit lie like "oh she's gonna show me how to turn into an actual snake, its gonna be dope"
like, as the door closes behind them lol Beni asks if Marwa's still a hugger today and if she is she gets a thanks-for-coming-over-and-for-the-snacks hug
Mika gets a fistbump and a good-to-see-you-man-don't-be-such-a-stranger-we-were-kinda-worried-yanno?
"I know. Dunno when we're in town next, but it already feels like I'm writing half the Realms now so if you want on the mailing list I guess I could add you."
Beni will accept this
I think the mood's better when Marika are walking back to the inn
Mika still has stuff on his mind, visibly from failing his pokerface check back there, but it was overall a good visit
she's quiet on the walk back, just thinking. Holding his hand, of course, but letting him speak up if he wants to.
maybe she's humming the chorus of one of the songs she heard the band play tonight, got stuck in her head.
Ooh, Beni only sings in draconic, and Mika speaks draconic!
He'd translate the chorus for her, if he noticed her humming it
"Oh cool! That song was catchy as fuck, I'm gonna have it stuck in my head for a while, I think."
a smile, "They're pretty good, huh? Forgot to ask if they ever picked a band name."
"Oh, I didn't ask either. When we meet up again - depending on how long we plan to stay here - we can ask. I gotta cement my reputation as the baddest bitch around by out-lock picking Eli again." "Although I feel like he took it easy on me - do you think he went easy on me?"
"he went easy on Beni, I think. I don't know, you're the experts in this stuff. He used to talk about how the faster you work the easier it is to tell a lock's been picked. Probably figures if someone can tell it's been picked before they might be more likely to give it a try, themselves. He's the one picked that one out for Beni, you know. Gave him a regular lecture over what he had on there before."
"Ah. Worries about his friends - that's sweet. Using your powers for good, and all that."
Mika huffs a laugh through his nose. "He has his moments." Squeezes your hand, "I'm glad you get along with everyone, really. Wouldn't have blamed you for keeping distance after the comments last night."
"He did make me very angry on your behalf, but. I didn't want to cause a scene or ruin Shiv's party, and it's not like you need me stepping in anytime someone mouths off to you anyway, you can handle yourself just fine, and - I guess I just wanted to see. Today. If he was more than what he seemed at first glance. After tonight, I get the impression that he is."
He's smiling appreciatively as you talk about not seeing him as being in need of rescue, but then you talk about 'more than he seemed' and he frowns, looking at the black cobblestones as you walk over them.
I think he's thinking she really has no idea, that last night was pretty normal and familiar - the stilted pleasantry, the reflexive jabs, clinging to the mitigation of additional company. Today was a pleasant change of pace, but he can't help thinking where the hell was this guy years ago. How could things have been if he could have managed even a fragment of the vulnerability he showed today back then. Wasted. Bullshit. But if he'd never left the city, he never would have met Marwa. His time out of town has been rough overall, but it taught him patience, focus, listening, trust. Why should he be the only one to grow? Distance, it seems, is a bitter but effective medicine. Friendship is good. He appreciates it, genuinely. But knowing he had the potential for this all along, it just still feels unfair.
But I don't think he'd say any of that. Your current boo is not the person to discuss belated closure of your previous one with, any more than the new flavour of grief and regret it brings.
"We've all got layers, I guess."
She sees him thinking, and maybe his expression is a little mournful? She won't pry, but she will give his hand a squeeze and walk closer to him so their shoulders bump.
He'd put his arm around her and give a lil squeeze like a walking side-hug.
she kisses his cheek and tells him she loves him, just real simple and casual.
the simplicity of it melts his heart.
they've only been together like, a week at this point, but she says it every time she's thinking it, which is often. No shame.
the openness "I love you, too. You know -" hesitates cause she might get annoyed but whatever its true, "-I'd do it all again. Everything. To end up here." Squeezes her hand, plants a lil kiss on the tip of her nose, "meu docinho"*
*"sweetheart"
Did beni grow up with these guys? Shes feral for young midnight gang stories
He'd tell stories about house parties at Storm's
The time they accidentally burnt part of this beautiful full-room rug and everybody was panicking so much like omg were never allowed over again
so they all had to do hijinks to find a rug that wasn't the EXACT same but was PRETTY CLOSE in the middle of the gd night (which is where having some rogues in the literal-party helped ngl)
and then get it back to Storm's place and unroll it and put the furniture back on top of it and also clean up regular party mess before they got home
and then they sold the rug like, a week later because his mom never liked it.
Beni's cadence of speech is very steady and like, bedtimestory its not a monotone, but it is kind of an amazing juxtaposition to the chaos he's describing whole thing was very Benny Hill
This has Mirage CRACKING up and reminds her of her own shenanigans in Auria, so I think it turns into a trade a story for story. "Mama got so mad at me, her winds stilled. She was silent, it was absolutely terrifying. Oh, hey babe!" She smiles at Mika as he enters and also glances at Eli, gauging the emotions on their faces.
"yeah I Bet." Beni, the one who fully knows who your mom is, sounds a little scared on your behalf lol
Follows your gaze over to the others. He's a little preoccupied but mostly relaxed. Eli's about the same, but zeroed in on you.
"hey," Mika smiles and goes for a peck on the cheek as he heads over to you both. "Was just saying to Eli about fucking up that asshole's place back in Lantern Hill."
"Shoulda heard this howler, I swear. Snapping at the barmaid, drunk in the afternoon, going on 'do you know who I am', geez"
"Mika's playing coy with the details," Elijah says, amused. "Which works out for me because we didn't actually get a chance to talk shop the other night."
"I would love NOTHING more than to regale you with tales of how we fucked this guy's whole day up. Talks a big game but his security was a joke, he clearly hadn't pissed off the right people yet."
She describes the route they took to get in, she describes the booby-trapped locks in the desk. She's proud of that one, but she's even more proud of the fact that they found proof of his corruption. And also that she stole a single one of his chess pieces, so his set was no longer complete.
"Also I carved a dick near the opening of his helmet, which he'd clearly never used. And also gave the big feather plume on top a trim. Seemed like the kind of guy to find those two things really emasculating, you know?"
The chess piece thing makes Eli laugh, "damn, I'll be using that thanks, that's great."
When you describe your artwork I think everyone in company is laughing. Beni loves the detail of the feather, confirms that'll be a pain to fix, Eli's nodding at your estimation of the guy's fragility
"Oh man, truly. Geez, I've met that kinda dude, you are absolutely not wrong. Glass, for sure."
Mika snorts, "in more ways than one."
Which gets him a reaction like he made a pun from the Midnighters present.
"Glass?"
"oh, like, from a nice neighborhood?" Mika catches himself, "Someplace with panes in the windows instead of shutters. Which is also kind of a fragile position, given how quick the winds can change."
Mika could clock a twitch in her facial features if he was looking for it, because he knows her, but I think her tenseness would probably go unnoticed by the others.
"it's not like, a mean thing," he adds, "s'just a description. Shiv's glass, so's Beni."
Beni nods acknowledgement, Eli's fascinated by this ubiquitous term (for him) needing explanation. It never struck him as being unique to the city. And Mika's correct that this is a neutral descriptive term, but he's also heard Mika use it derisively enough times to know he's peacemaking rn. "you got different words for the kinda-rich-and-almost-powerful where you're from, I take it?"
"Yeah. In Auria, somebody who's well-off is often referred to as living "on the sunny side". Doesn't have to deal with the inclement weather of life's ups and downs so much, kind of a thing." She gives a half-smile. "Heard that term thrown my way more than once, which is fair. But we're getting off topic - thievery. You've had a long, fruitful career. What's the coolest thing you've ever swiped?"
"oh that's easy," Eli grins, "My kit." This with a glance at the assembled drums behind you. "Not as subtle as a chess piece, but I'm not a subtle person."
(The 'boy you're really not' faces from Mika and Beni lol)
"No shit! How'd you get it out quietly? That sounds like it would be a pain in the ass."
He grins. "One piece at a time. The floor bass was the biggest pain, couldn't move it through a doorway except sideways, and that leaves you either backing through or holding it in front of you. Place I nabbed that little souvenir also had - you've probably dealt with light detection, yeah?"
"Oh yeah! You a bit of an acrobat? I admit I have a leg up on that kind of stuff given that I can float, but I've definitely triggered those alarms before. How'd you do it?"
"I mean it was less of a problem when it wasn't holding on to something that not only cannot bend, but that will pretty much not work ever again if it tries. But when life shuts a door you head through a window and make the company wizard swear on everything he won't drop Floating Disc over the stone pavilion no matter how funny it would be to wake up the neighborhood."
Mika grins "it does sound pretty funny though."
"Bass doesn't even do long notes! It'd just-" <imitates bass note> " -maybe, and then the frame would do a lot of normal noise rolling around, if it didn't crack."
"That's why it's funny," Mika laughs, "that huge thing that's made to be loud and then all of does is 'bomp!' amazing."
Marwa points her finger at Eli in vindication hearing him say, "When life shuts a door, you head through a window", like she clearly agrees with him.
"That's what I'm saying! See, you get it. Well credit where credit is due, that sounds like a hell of a heist. Gotta respect it."
"hey I'm not out here trying to be respectable but I'll take it. What about you? Giving some boondocks prick a helmet to match his personality can't be your finest accomplishment."
"Oh friend, don't you worry - you and I can remain fools for as long as we like, but our skills are worthy of respect, no? My favorite heist has to be the one where the thing in the vault was not a thing but a whole ass PERSON. A PRINCESS. It was wild, dude."
She gets so animated telling the story of rescuing Asmira - sneaking in via the water barrel because she doesn't have to breathe, using her air blade to cut herself out of the closet (and then shoving a big floppy disguise hat underneath it to keep it shut after), triggering the blob trap above the door, fighting the guards, BUSTING OUT COBBLES.
Her hands are like, waving in the air and she's adding sound effects and she is like, SO engaged in this conversation with Eli specifically. Her eyes are just locked onto him, imploring him to understand how fucking SIDEWAYS this 'quick' job went.
He's so into it lmao, I feel like a sticking point of this story that marwa maybe glosses over because this is kind of a granted for most of her stories about home, but that seems to affect him greatly is that this whole thing also takes place several million feet in the air!
And then you busted out the bottom of the thing?! Yeah, the desperation is coming through
"Oh. Yeah, that's fair. I didn't even think about it to be honest, I'm in the air more often than not!"
"Mad respect from the groundbound" with comedic solemnity
"But no enough about me floating, I want to hear how the fuck you and I do the same job with such different anatomies, because you've clearly come up with other solutions to these kinds of problems. I want to hear everything! You must be some kind of genius, or the most resourceful dude on the planet."
A somewhat uncomfortable cough "it's really not that hard when you're never more than forty feet above the stone. I been picking locks and pockets since I was a rugrat. Like, literal kids can do it."
"I can't." Mika, quiet, "still looks like witchcraft to me, even knowing how it works."
"Witchcraft is a little strong, man, half the locks in this city can be slapped open, and the other half take a shim. I'll swap you whatever for something that even needs a pick if you find one, I swear."
"I still don't know which of you is right, any more than why I ever bothered lending this guy a key," Beni adds, which Eli waves off, "it's the locks. They're just not that hard to work, and then getaways are 90% just playing with assumptions. Feel like everyone present has some experience on that front."
"As someone who knows what you're talking about, it's not that simple, dude. If you can do this work as well as it sounds, then that's pretty fucking impressive. Busting into something with a lock on it...anybody can do it, given enough time and tools. But to do it unseen, while the adrenaline is up, and then make a clean getaway - that's talent. I'm kind of simultaneously tooting my own here, which feels awkward, but yeah. You'd probably beat my time on a lockpick, if we ever tried to compete."
"Or would you?" She raises an eyebrow in playful challenge.
"there's one way to find out" grinned
yeah, Mirage is raring to go. Looking around like, who's got something under lock and key? how do we get two of same lock, or do we both try to bust into the same lock individually? Who's timing us?
all the particulars
I feel like, I said before that Eli is the type who is always trying to make sure the people around them are doing okay, I feel like all of Eli's friends have decent fucking locks on their doors
like when two kids at a party get a stupid idea in their head for a stunt and can't be dissuaded from trying it, no matter how little everybody else at the party cares.
To make it fair since he chose/installed this lock, Eli will tell Marwa this is a 6-pin mixed-spool lock with an anti shimming plate and a corrosive acid release on oversets. Also this goes without saying but non-violent subversion methods only, he would like his friend to still have a working front door afterwards.
"Oh, of course!"
"Pitch. After you, then"
She gives a bit of a confused look at "Pitch", but doesn't say anything.
Marwa 5 Eli 4
Raj counts time, I think Beni ducks out of this, he knows that there is no such thing as an unpickable lock because he is friends with Eli, but he's not sure he's comfortable seeing firsthand how fast that can happen on his own home.
Total: 4
5 to 4! Marwa's faster but it's close I don't think he's a sore loser about it. Congratulatory handshake between professionals. "Whole point of the acid wash is it slows picking down, so at least that's working as intended." (Not whinging/making excuses, sounds genuinely pleased that the locks quality is holding up) " Also damn I knew they were electrum but I didn't figure the pins were that light, can you imagine trying to bump that thing? You'd lose your hand."
Marwa is fascinated watching him work, comparing her methods with his, doesn't even care about the time.
It's very tactile, without investigative winds or echolocation to help them figure out what's going on inside the lock he's working entirely by feel.
You may be expected him to ask people to be quiet so he could hear the pins set, but like, he doesn't always have the luxury of perfect quiet at work why should he have it here? On the real though he is curious if you've encountered any like weird locks or even ones that were just especially impressive. "Manufacturing in this city is garbage."
"do arcane ones count?" - Mika
"If it's a combination of arcane and mechanical, yes. Otherwise no, that's a ward."
I don't have your actual knowledge of locks, so I feel like Marwa is much more educated about it than I am, but she'd mention the locks in the "haunted" mansion! The ones that triggered fireball, & disintigrate. She'd also share a story of a security system she tested where she couldn't actually open the small personal safe in time to avoid detection, so she hauled it wholesale out with her. And she is a weak, weak babygirl when it comes to lifting weights lmao.
"The combination of arcane and mechanical locks are always the toughest, but they're the most satisfying to crack, right?"
Oh yeah I wasn't looking for technical specs, just thought I'd give you a chance to bullshit some like, cool lock/trap encounters
Re: weights "Start drumming for this asshole, fix you up in no time," with a not sincere glare toward the one who picked a five minute drum solo earlier from the one who is starting to feel it catch up to him.
"Yeah we pretty much always have some kind of caster on deck for the dispels, that is a downside of working for someone else, you're not really allowed to argue with smart risk reduction. Be nice to try one with the safeties off sometime, though." The disintegrate lock is bananas, by the way, I think he probably makes some kind of comment about like what the hell was the loot that you didn't fucking nope out for that like, there's pride and then there's self-preservation
"Oh come on, the adrenaline rush doesn't hook you, too? I don't believe it, you look just as insane as I am." She responds laughing
"yeah all right, I'm not trying to front like I've never taken a risk before," he'll concede your point lol
I think they probably go back to swapping stories from there
One time he broke into a place with just 'Ams,' a friend from work that nobody present knows, who's talents are mostly bardic, but their caser made kind of a huge mistake and the mark was home almost the whole time they were in there
You wanna talk about adrenaline -!
Marwa is riveted, trying not to laugh as he tells this story.
She can laugh, it's a funny story if for nothing else than his exasperation in telling it.
"And then Ams asks if we're souvenir shopping and I'm like-!" <bug-eyed silent are you kidding me right now face>
"we had words for recon on that one, tell you what*
Marwa admits that before she joined this adventuring party, all of her roguing was done alone, so she can commiserate - learning to work with others wasn't easy in the beginning. Says it would be fucking awesome to have another thief along sometime, though.
"Ams is good company, you'd probably get along. Not a single ounce of ego on that man." "that's important, y'know? You can't get into a pissing contest in the middle of a job, throws everything off. Only works if everyone present understands it's not their show."
"Too true." She looks over at Mika warmly. "Having buddies to complement your skills - I don't know if I could go back, to be honest. To doing it exclusively on my own." I think Mika intuits, although they've done several heists together over the years, that she's talking specifically about Amir, and what he did for her there when she lost herself a bit.
"Helps when your co-thief is hot as fuck, too." She kisses him on the cheek and smirks.
Mika reddens though a smile.
Eli nose-laughs "I bet, huh? But any level of fooling around on a gig would definitely get me fired. Whether it'd be worth it probably depends on the thief." He looks contemplative and you cannot tell if he's actually thinking about it or if it's a bit.
Marwa assumes he's genuinely considering it. She would.
"pity I like my job. Be a good way to go out if I ever decide to quit though"
"Go out with a bang? Absolutely!" She laughs at her own bad joke lol slaps her knee
He laughs too, I think you have a similarly crass brand of humor At some point people disperse for the rest of their days Raj and Eli have boxing with Molly and Storm later and have stuff they wanna do first. Beni has family plans There are general inquiries how long they're in town When they might come by next
"Long enough for you and I to schedule a grudge match, if you're interested?" but I'd look to Mika to see if he has anything else to add about timing - "oh you're so on. I'll keep an eye open for a decent challenge." I think people are putting shoes on at that point Eli finishes lacing his boots, stands, and hesitates - or maybe he's just waiting for Raj, who's kneeling behind him tying his own?
"Be seeing you, I guess." - to Mika
"Sure."
"Um, about the thing with your druid-"
"I'll let you know. You still in the same place?"
"Home sweet matchbox."
"I'll write you, or she will."
"Okay. Okay. Thanks. Later, then."
Mirage goes in for a fist bump or hug or handshake, whatever they did upon meeting each other. "Great to see you again, dude. Can't wait to swap more stories and kick your ass a second time." She winks playfully.
but also her tone is genuine - it was really cool talking to someone else who can understand why she likes doing this stuff.
Eli's a fistbumper, except for Storm and Beni who get brohugs
I think she coudl have clocked that Eli doesn't have a lot of people he can speak openly about his work with, either like there's people who won't judge but they also don't get it
Raj also gives Mika a fistbump and Marwa a hug, then those two head out
I think there's a faint "whats that about a druid" followed by the start of some flippant bullshit lie like "oh she's gonna show me how to turn into an actual snake, its gonna be dope"
like, as the door closes behind them lol Beni asks if Marwa's still a hugger today and if she is she gets a thanks-for-coming-over-and-for-the-snacks hug
Mika gets a fistbump and a good-to-see-you-man-don't-be-such-a-stranger-we-were-kinda-worried-yanno?
"I know. Dunno when we're in town next, but it already feels like I'm writing half the Realms now so if you want on the mailing list I guess I could add you."
Beni will accept this
I think the mood's better when Marika are walking back to the inn
Mika still has stuff on his mind, visibly from failing his pokerface check back there, but it was overall a good visit
she's quiet on the walk back, just thinking. Holding his hand, of course, but letting him speak up if he wants to.
maybe she's humming the chorus of one of the songs she heard the band play tonight, got stuck in her head.
Ooh, Beni only sings in draconic, and Mika speaks draconic!
He'd translate the chorus for her, if he noticed her humming it
"Oh cool! That song was catchy as fuck, I'm gonna have it stuck in my head for a while, I think."
a smile, "They're pretty good, huh? Forgot to ask if they ever picked a band name."
"Oh, I didn't ask either. When we meet up again - depending on how long we plan to stay here - we can ask. I gotta cement my reputation as the baddest bitch around by out-lock picking Eli again." "Although I feel like he took it easy on me - do you think he went easy on me?"
"he went easy on Beni, I think. I don't know, you're the experts in this stuff. He used to talk about how the faster you work the easier it is to tell a lock's been picked. Probably figures if someone can tell it's been picked before they might be more likely to give it a try, themselves. He's the one picked that one out for Beni, you know. Gave him a regular lecture over what he had on there before."
"Ah. Worries about his friends - that's sweet. Using your powers for good, and all that."
Mika huffs a laugh through his nose. "He has his moments." Squeezes your hand, "I'm glad you get along with everyone, really. Wouldn't have blamed you for keeping distance after the comments last night."
"He did make me very angry on your behalf, but. I didn't want to cause a scene or ruin Shiv's party, and it's not like you need me stepping in anytime someone mouths off to you anyway, you can handle yourself just fine, and - I guess I just wanted to see. Today. If he was more than what he seemed at first glance. After tonight, I get the impression that he is."
He's smiling appreciatively as you talk about not seeing him as being in need of rescue, but then you talk about 'more than he seemed' and he frowns, looking at the black cobblestones as you walk over them.
I think he's thinking she really has no idea, that last night was pretty normal and familiar - the stilted pleasantry, the reflexive jabs, clinging to the mitigation of additional company. Today was a pleasant change of pace, but he can't help thinking where the hell was this guy years ago. How could things have been if he could have managed even a fragment of the vulnerability he showed today back then. Wasted. Bullshit. But if he'd never left the city, he never would have met Marwa. His time out of town has been rough overall, but it taught him patience, focus, listening, trust. Why should he be the only one to grow? Distance, it seems, is a bitter but effective medicine. Friendship is good. He appreciates it, genuinely. But knowing he had the potential for this all along, it just still feels unfair.
But I don't think he'd say any of that. Your current boo is not the person to discuss belated closure of your previous one with, any more than the new flavour of grief and regret it brings.
"We've all got layers, I guess."
She sees him thinking, and maybe his expression is a little mournful? She won't pry, but she will give his hand a squeeze and walk closer to him so their shoulders bump.
He'd put his arm around her and give a lil squeeze like a walking side-hug.
she kisses his cheek and tells him she loves him, just real simple and casual.
the simplicity of it melts his heart.
they've only been together like, a week at this point, but she says it every time she's thinking it, which is often. No shame.
the openness "I love you, too. You know -" hesitates cause she might get annoyed but whatever its true, "-I'd do it all again. Everything. To end up here." Squeezes her hand, plants a lil kiss on the tip of her nose, "meu docinho"*
*"sweetheart"
Report Date
07 Aug 2025