Honor Among Thieves (PM to join)

[Brutality]

Honor Bailey was a thief.

The sad thing was, he wasn't even a good thief. He had just now learned the art of pick-pocketing from other vampires, and had found that sometimes, just chasing after the many humans in the city and stealing their wallets was so much more productive. Even so, the thrill of stealing from one of his kind - a vampire - was enthralling. One of these days, he'll probably steal from the wrong person, but untli that time, he'd keep it up until he mastered the art completely and didn't have to worry about being caught very often anymore.

----

For early Spring, it was a chilly day, with a high of 52 degrees Fahrenheit, and a low of 36 degrees. The wind whistled around Bru as he walked to the store, acting as if he were picking up some late-night items such as toiletries, or candy. But really, he was scoping out for humans and other vampires, his sensitive nose able to pick the two apart easily.

The first person he came to was a human. She was a pretty little thing of maybe 18 years old and, vaguely, Brutality wondered why she wasn't in bed at that time of the night. But, no matter, he soon convinced the naive girl to come to an alleyway with him, in which he relieved her of some of her blood, her wallet, and a kiss. She left him distraught, confused, and stumbling, and the thief couldn't help but smile as he licked his blood-stained lips and pocketed the girl's wallet. Inside, was 100 dollar bills and enough change to run a Gumball machine dry.

Stalking along the road, the moon shone bright above Bru's head, illuminating his dark hair like a haloed wreath around his head. The sight was probably beautiful to anyone who saw, but no one was around to witness it. Bru was all alone.

His hunger for blood and coins still not satiated, he stepped into a Rite Mart convenience store, and inside, there was at least 4 people milling about along with the cashier. Perfect. Honor traipsed up and down the aisles, seemingly interested in some after-shave, before he managed to get one older lady alone, stealing her wallet briskly. He didn't take any blood from her, but the next one, a young man of maybe 35 years of age, was cornered in the back of the store with him, and he took two or so pints of blood along with 60 dollars.

Bru left not too long after, not wanting either the older lady or the man to say something to the cashier, who could very well call the police on him. And a night in jail, to be let out when the sun was shining, would not be a very wise idea. In fact, it would really suck. So he high-tailed it out of there, stepping past the automatic doors with a shudder - he hated automatic doors - before stepping out to the night air. The cool breeze chilled the warm sweat on the back of his neck, the adrenaline pumping through his veins along with the blood he had stolen. It was a light-headed feeling, this adrenaline rush, and he instantly wanted more.

I'm turning into an adrenaline junkie.., he thought to himself grudgingly, hands thrust deep into his pockets as he walked along Aardvark and 63rd.

It was then that he smelled it. A vampire. Like me, his inner demons reminded him, and he grinned. The ultimate adrenaline rush for him (at that time), was stealing from a more powerful vampire. Someone who could take him down in seconds-flat. Someone who wouldn't take shit. If he could steal from them...The very thought made his palms wet with perspiration, and he clenched them into tight fists, walking a bit faster.

At this angle, he couldn't tell if it were a male vampire or a female vampire, just that it had the distinct stench of blood and death on them, hidden under whatever other smells they had been around. This one had fed not too long ago, and he could hear the jingle of coins in his pocket. Those wonderful, silver and gold coins that he needed so much to learn how to better pick-pocket, and how to steal more. He needed those coins for the Guilds he had been relentlessly chasing.

Sneaking up behind this vampire, Bru prayed to God, if there was a God, that they didn't notice him. His hand reached out, slipping into the pocket of the other vampire...

...and then they turned around.

[Elektra]

Despite it being a chilly night, Elektra ventured from the warmth of her home that she shared with her husband. She was hiding something from him, something she didn't want him to discover just yet, because she didn't want to burden him with the sorrow that dragged down her spirits. Her childe had come to her the evening before, asking a favour of her that she could not bring herself to do. Yet the love for her childe was great, so great that she had no choice but to comply. So she waited. Waited until the deed would be done. Until then, she wanted to deal with it on her own, in her own way.

Unfortunately, her way meant carnage and death of anyone in her path. This time, though, she was selective in her choice of prey. Singling out young women, she stole their life-giving blood quickly and silently, leaving their bodies pale and lifeless without a mark on them save for two prick-holes where she had bitten them. It was not her usual method of killing, but then again, she wasn't in her usual mood that night. No, she wanted the girls' mothers to feel her own pain and anguish. The pain of losing someone close to their heart. A daughter.

She drew her coat closer around her body as the cold breeze caressed her cheek, suddenly grateful for the hood that kept most of her head warm. Elektra lurked in the shadows as she watched the crowd of humans and vampires passing her by, waiting and watching for her fifth - no, sixth - victim. Had it been that many already, she wondered to herself. She'd lost count, as the vampiress was wont to do when she had other things on her mind. In spite of her preoccupied thoughts, the feeling of a hand slipping into her pocket failed to escape her.

With reflexes that were too fast to be seen by a human, she had the pickpocket wannabe by the wrist and twisted his arm behind his back, pinning him to the wall - all in less than two seconds. He was a vampire, that much she could tell, and a very young one at that. "Foolish boy..." she hissed at him. Elektra wasn't exactly in a forgiving mood, given the current state she was in. "Did you think you could steal from me without being caught?"

Her hood had fallen back with the sudden movement, revealing her long, dark hair that fell past her shoulders. Dark eyes narrowed at the taller man, gazing at him intently as she took in his features that showed his wide-eyed surprise. It was ironic that she was reprimanding a vampire for picking her pockets, considering she did it herself, as did just about every other immortal being in the city. However, on her better days, she made a game of it, training her agility and dexterity as she stole right back from the offenders as if they were duelling with each other, but with coins as the ultimate prize. But this fledgling was unlucky to have caught her at this moment, while she was brooding over her impending loss.

[Brutality]

The vampire spun around and Honor saw that...it was a woman. A very beautiful woman at that. Before he could even say "Sorry!" she had spun him around and pinned his arm behind his back, hissing in a low voice, "Foolish boy...Did you think you could steal from me without being caught?"

The smart-ass in him wanted to pipe up "Yes, actually, I did," but he quickly shut that part of him up with one silencing cough. "N-no..," he mumbled instead, but even that sounded weird. Either way, he'd get caught. The man inwardly groaned at his situation, shaking his head. My luck, he thought to himself, eyes rolling skyward.

The woman's hood had fallen back and he looked to the side, coming cheek-to-cheek with a rather beautiful woman. This surprised him, because the malice in the voice he heard did not belong to a face so pretty. His light eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, before deciding that...wouldn't be very wise.

His mind was going a mile-a-minute at that point. What the hell do I do? he thought, looking around for possible escapes and ways to free himself from her vice-like grip. "I'm s-..sorry..," he managed to mumble, hoping apologizing would help this lady get off his back - literally.

Even though he wasn't really sorry.

Honor Bailey was a thief and a liar. He didn't feel sorry for doing what he does, and he doesn't feel bad about lying about it, either. It's his job. He has to learn how to steal some way or another, and if any of these vampires were to complain about him stealing...well they were damned hypocrites because he knew they did it just the same as he did.

Idly, he wondered what had bothered this woman so much that she'd snap from a simple robbing. A failed robbing at that. The most he would have taken from her is a couple hundred coins, and even that would be considered a "big rob" for Brutality Bailey.

Bru almost asked what was wrong but he decided that...wouldn't be very intelligent of him. But then again, he was a rather slow vampire...



Sorry so short. My brain is dead.

[Nemesis]

Nemesis watched from above, high up on the City’s rooftops. She had been tailing Elektra, trying to ascertain where the childes grief was coming from. She took so many victims this evening, it was unlike her.

Then came the thief.

Nemesis knew, but hoped it wouldn’t happen, that the two would inevitably collide.

The young thief was good, but he didn’t have the years of knowledge that Elektra had. Nor had he the training.
Nemesis eyed him; he was a handsome young thing, cocky and brash. He made her smile, that is, up until Elektra caught him. She fiercely pinned him to the wall and hissed at him. Nemesis’ hand rose to her forehead and slid down her face ~oh, that girl, she has my temper it seems~ She thought to herself.

She continued to watch how these events would play out. Would Elektra pull a weapon and teach the young thief ‘a lesson’, or would she simply break his arm and give him a scolding. There really was no lesson to be learned here this night other than ‘don’t get caught’.

Vampires spent their evenings both thieving and feeding from one another; it came as naturally to them as taking a life for sustenance. The trick was knowing who to thieve from and who to steer clear of, but this young male didn’t seem old enough in the ways of Ravenblack to know.

Reaching out with her vampiric gifts, she saw the male was still lacking on all there was to know about thievery, and he had yet to acquire perception. He needed a mentor or a sire that one did.

Her attention turned back to Elektra. She wondered if she should intervene. That would be giving herself up and having to admit to her daughter that she’d been following her. Nemesis only wanted to ease whatever burden it was that Elektra was trying to lock away.

She paced the rooftop, peeking over the ledge every so often. The thief had apologized, good. But Elektra still had her vise like grip on him.

What to do, what to do, Nemesis thought as she paced, then stole quick peeks over the ledge.

No.

She would allow her daughter to handle this on her own, for now. Nemesis sure as hell didn’t want to face her daughter’s fury for tailing her.

She’d make her presence known eventually, and then perhaps she could get a better look at this brash young thief that had perked her curiosity.

[Elektra]

"I'm s-..sorry.."

He apologised. Of course he did - she had him pinned against the wall, didn't she? He would have said anything to get her to let go of him. It didn't take a genius to know he didn't mean what he said and there was no doubt that he would continue to steal from other vampires. Not that she had anything against that. She was a thief herself. A rogue. And she carried that title proudly.

With a sigh, she released her hold on him. Elektra didn't even bother to warn him not to do it again. They both knew it was impossible to do, everyone in the city was a thief - it was just a matter of what they stole, and how much of it. Her gaze flickered over him, taking in his appearance from head to toe. "You're new." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Everything about him screamed fledgling. Even his aura. "How long have you been in the city?" she asked out of curiosity.

The boy had much to learn. Boy, she snickered inwardly. It was an old habit of hers, calling teenagers who had been newly turned 'children'. So she had been an immortal for decades. No big deal, most in the city were far older than she was. And he... He was about the age she was turned herself. Shrugging lightly, she returned her attention to him. "Looks like you've got a long way to go..." she nodded at his hands, a reference to his thieving skills. She refused to use her second-sight on him, not when he was standing right there in front of her. What good were communication skills if she couldn't just ask?

Had she glanced up, she would have seen the wisps of red hair against the moonlight and instantly recognised her mother. But she didn't. Her mind absently wandered, pondering over a thought that tugged at her mind. Should she give him pointers? Advice? Elektra wasn't sure. But she figured she owed him an explanation of some kind at least, especially since it wasn't her usual reaction towards a pickpocket.

The vampiress ran a hand through her dark hair as she sighed softly. "Sorry about the overreaction. I've been in the slumps for a couple of days now..." She didn't offer any further information. She didn't know him, neither did she expect him to care. He was a thief, she was a thief. And if he wished to carry on with his petty thieving, she wouldn't hold him back any longer.

He should count himself lucky, really. There were so many things she could have done to him - douse him with garlic, break his arm, drink from him until he was almost dry, zero him... all without so much as a bat of an eyelash. She could be merciless without reason, and she would - were she in the right mood.


(OOC: Perfectly all right. No worries.

[Brutality]

Honor breathed a sigh of relief as the woman let go of him, popping his shoulder back into its rightful place. He rubbed at his wrists begrudgingly and looked up at the moon. A breeze wafted his way and he smelt, distinctly, the smell of another immortal and his gaze roamed over the tops of the buildings, sure he had seen something bright red, before it disappeared.

"You're new." It wasn't a question, but Brutality nodded anyway, his head tilting a little to examine this woman with bright eyes. He could smell blood on her, and a lot of it. She must be older to be able to take that much without killing...that or she felt no guilt over killing humans like he did. He was weak like that.

He had a lot to learn, but he was used to his robs failing when it came to robbing other vampires instead of humans. In fact, it didn't work half of the time, but he kept it up, hoping that he'd get better with time. Maybe if he could finally buy that last Thievery power, he wouldn't get caught so much...

"Looks like you've got a long way to go..." It was as if she had read his mind as he thought the words. He nodded again, a determined look crossing his face.

"I know, but I'll get there eventually. I know it." He was more than sure of it, in fact. It would take time, but he'd eventually be as strong as the woman that stood before him.

"Sorry about the overreaction. I've been in the slumps for a couple of days now..." The woman didn't explain, and he didn't ask. He liked the don't-ask-don't-tell relationship that had already formed between them. It was almost a semblance of respect - on his side, at least - and it made him smile... Well, inwardly at least. It would be rude to smile at that moment...She'd think he was smiling at her misfortune of being "in the slumps" for a while.

He kept his mouth firmly shut, face blank.

Bru was walking on eggshells there, and if he made one wrong move, his feet would get cut up and he'd never walk straight again. Obviously, he didn't want that, so he kept quiet, kept low, and kept his mind off the smell of another vampire in the direct vicinity.

Best to concentrate on the here, the now, the woman right in front of him.

"I'm Bru."

[Nemesis]

Nemesis watched the two thieves in the night interact. Elektra hadnt killed the young male, so that was good. He had piqued Nemesis’ curiosity. Nemesis knew they both sensed another vampire, Elektra’s trained senses wouldn’t allow for something like that to slip by unnoticed, so Nemesis decided to just make a game of it and allow herself to be seen.

Thieves by trade usually ended up quite like Nemesis in the end. Watchers, observers….spies. Nemesis letting any detail of information slip away unnoticed. Thieves were always weary of their surroundings, or should be, and always weary of their prey.

She hopped up on the ledge of the mid sized building and sat down, her feet dangling merrily as if she were a child. From her small backpack she pulled a few dandelions, content to pull each petal from them on by one, watching them flitter in the light breeze to dance around Elektra and the little thief.

Nemesis gave a little wave of her fingers and one of her most cheeky of smiles. She would have been caught spying sooner or later, she might as well make the most of it and out herself.

Now all she had to worry about is Elektra. Would she question her adopted mother as to why they were in the same district, so far from either of their homes? Nemesis pondered what sort of bullcrap story she could come up with, but she wasn’t so good at lying to her one and only daughter, so she simply settled on letting the truth spill if the subject even came around.

[Seppuku]

He didn’t pry…

Seppuku knew something was wrong and he wanted so desperately to ease whatever it was that brought the somber aura, but he kept to himself and waited – she would reveal her most recent troubles eventually. But in the meantime, while she was out and about, he took to his own ways of passing time.

He was quiet by nature, and enjoyed the calmer districts that outlined the busy metropolis. They weren’t exactly flourishing with pale, virgin necks, but under these circumstances, any human would do. Besides, it was becoming harder and harder to find those of pure, untainted blood... even children. Perhaps those unfortunate enough to be parents caught wind of the ‘baby killer’ and decided it was best to keep their young ones indoors… Ah, well - who had the time to be picky, anyway?

Pausing by an alleyway’s welcoming mouth of brick and concrete, Seppuku could sense a familiar presence that seemed important enough to bring him out of his hunger-driven thoughts. He gazed above him, eyeing the decorative edge that lined the nearest rooftop as his mind worked to put a face to this one specific scent. Most of the time, it wasn’t him who looked for others, as he was shy and reluctant to approach those he hardly knew – even for a friendly chat – and those he did know were few and far between.

This particular vampiress, however, had slowly, but surely grew on him.

It was time to put his dinner plans on hold and see what his dear, sweet mother-in-law was up to. And with a single, swift motion, Seppuku leapt onto the roof, clinging to the very edge as he proceeded to make himself comfortable (at least as comfortable as you can get with concrete). He kept his greeting at bay, immediately picking up on Nemesis’ distress…

She must be worried about her too, he mused.

His gaze now shifted towards the opposite end, noticing how the vampiress drew her attention over the edge in a series of quick peeks. She then took her place upon the ledge and it was this that drove him from his own perch and to her side...

"Boo," he whispered.

He then placed his hands against the ledge and peered over, watching the scene unfold on the ground below. For a moment, he thought Elektra was going to kill the thief - a young and uneducated one, it seems - and perhaps a little part of him had hoped she would, if it made her feel any better. Seppuku hung his head, giving a slight glance in Nemesis' direction, as if she had the answers to his beloved's grief.

[Elektra]

"I'm Bru."

His introduction, although succinct, caught her by surprise. She had expected him to turn and walk away, to go about his business, stealing from vampires more powerful than he was. But since he had made his name known, it was only polite to return the courtesy.

Holding out her hand to him as a show of friendliness, or at least one of peace, she murmured softly. "My name is Elektra D'dary." Short and sweet. Her last name meant nothing to him, which was why she allowed herself to reveal it to the young man. He hadn't been around long enough to know, and she expected - and wanted - no reaction.

The vampiress cast him a smile, a smile that soon gave way to astonishment as petals from a yellow dandelion fluttered around the both of them. It was only then that her senses picked up on a vampire's presence. No, not one, but two. Were they being watched? Recognising her husband's presence, she could only conclude that the other 'pire was someone familiar. The slight breeze brought the answer to her. Nemesis.

Lifting her gaze to where the flower petals had floated down, she saw them both as clear as day. What on earth were they doing here? Had they been following her? Glancing back at the vampire called Bru, she nodded towards the other pair. "Looks like we've got company..." she grinned. "Care to stay for an introduction?" That was, of course, if Nemesis and Seppuku would come down from their perch to join them on the ground.