✦ duality ✦
You have a constant inner struggle between right and wrong. There is a side of you that does not want to be doing what you are doing in the slightest, but once you've tasted the forbidden fruit and done something wrong, you're hungry for more.
Perhaps this evil side of you takes shape as simply talking to yourself, a sort of Jekyll and Hyde split, or perhaps its voice is backed up by a demon within you, a parasite that whispers temptations, or a monster that your body reshapes itself into when your own desires become too great.
Whatever the case, you take great care to keep the evil within a closely guarded secret. Nobody can know, lest the monster you are take complete control.
[ villain type test here, thank you @iron-roots for the tag ]
It wasn't easy walking the straight and narrow. Playing by the rules and keeping it all on the up-and-up. Real proper-like. Up before dawn and out to put out the day's figurative fires for an alchemical venture that was slowly sinking and taking him down with it. Back well after dusk to scrape together a meal and pore over the ledgers he had brought home. What made it even harder was how this fully-diurnal schedule was at perfect odds with the other Keeper. They were two ships in the night in the truest sense, just missing each other constantly, sometimes for a sennight or more before the stars aligned to allow their paths to cross. Something one would /think/ would happen more often when it came to a fate-witch and the luckiest catte ever to prowl the jewel of the desert. Yet still the fates and stars and the ruthless god of commerce conspired against them.
Nonetheless Eight found evidence near constantly of Rashk's presence. Leftovers of meals he prepared gone from the icebox. Long, dark strands clinging to pillows he could almost imagine were still warm when he returned home at night. Fresh fish wrapped in parchment in the kitchen or shiny little trinkets left around the house. Scattered paperwork neatened while he was out. The last place he had expected to find such evidence was in the laundry room.
Eight dumped out the hamper of clothes, sorting them out as he hummed a tune he'd heard long ago. A poorly remembered shanty filled in with bits of other melodies to make an off-key jumble of sound. Work clothes, home clothes, crime clothes sorted into piles rather than any sensible method of sorting laundry. He didn't dare wash Rashk's things, frothy bits of silk and convoluted straps made for a disaster when the rogue attempted and those things were /expensive/. Yet something caught his eye when he pulled a shirt out. A strange smudge of black right across the front of it. The humming stopped and the rogue picked it up, bringing it closer as he rubbed at the mark with his thumb.
It smeared easily, made immediately worse by the rubbing. But from this close he could see more strange marks on the crimson fabric. Powdery grey and shimmering silver. Flecks of gold. How in the hells? After some mulling it finally it dawned on him and a grin slowly spread across his face until it split to reveal small fangs. He held the shirt up and surely enough, the marks aligned near perfectly with his mouth and his eyes. From this close he could also smell faint traces of alcohol.
The scene played out clearly enough from there… Rashk had come home after a night of drinking and when he hadn't found the rogue at home he'd settled for nuzzling into the next best thing; the clothes that still carried his scent. Eight held the fabric close, pressing his own lips to the dark smudge before he balled up the shirt and tossed it into pile of laundry. Mayhaps it was about time he took a vacation from working so hard being proper-like. Mayhaps there was something more important he was losing sight of. Mayhaps he should just let it burn…
Smoke hung heavy in the small bar tucked away at the back of a used bookshop. The sort of place you could only get into with a knowing nod and a magic word to make the shelves swing open to reveal a haven for sinners and their sins. In a few bells' time the place would be full of laughter, the clinking of glasses and half-hushed chatter about the next job. Yet for the moment there was only this card game. Two miqo'te sat at either ends of the round table littered with the debris accumulated throughout the length of their game. Masks set aside so they could both drink from glasses of dark liquor already near-drained with accompanying bottles. An ashtray where the remains of a fragrant cigar burned idly. Maps and notes for the upcoming job. Then on top of it all was the bets...
Mismatched rings, unmarked vials of reagents, bits of string, a packet of aldgoat jerky, one harlequin-patterned sock that had been missing for a sennight, an Ishgardian teacup, candies one would find at the bottom of an old woman's purse and the crowning glory was slightly dog-eared triple triad card. That final bet was flicked onto the pile with a graceful turn of Charlatan's wrist. "Call." They declared smugly.
Knave flashed a dagger-toothed grin over the top edge of his hand. "Real shame 'bout that." He apologized sarcastically as he laid out his hand onto the table. "Full house." He declared proudly as he displayed a hand with a few too many cards that matched suits.
"You're right. It's a real damned shame, indeed." Charlatan agreed as they laid out their own hand with a flourish. "Royal flush." They declared, proudly displaying an impressive array of mismatched cards that even included a Lady and a Lord amongst the usual Kings, Queens and Jacks.
"You dirty cheat, you stole that Queen that from me!" Knave exclaimed with a cackle as he rose to his feet, slamming his hands down on the table hard enough to rattle the bet pile.
"You stole it from me first, so I stole it back! All is fair~" Charlatan yowled smugly in return. "I'm just the better thief. Pay up!"
"I'll bet you pilfered my pocket aces too! Lemme check!" Knave laughed as he dove across the table towards the smaller miqo'te in a flash of black and red. Scattering the bet pile and the remaining cards in a flutter of paper.
Charlatan screeched in mock-horror though the sound quickly dissolved into laughter as the miqo'te tussled, rolling off of well-padded bench seats onto the floor. "I played them two hands ago and you didn't even notice!!" They howled. The play-fighting and pocket-checking dragged on for some time until the contents of both of their waistcoats, sleeves and so on were littered across the hardwood floors with the two panting miqo'te in a tangle at the epicenter of the mess.
Knave flopped over onto Charlatan with a sigh, signaling the end of the post-game brawl and the other miqo'te responded by swatting the taller thief in the face with their tail. Leaving a smudge of white dust on one cheek. "Alright, you win this time." The red-and-black cad allowed with a noise akin to a chainsaw attempting to start, and failing miserably. "Someday we're gonna write the rules down proper-like then your days are numbered-" He threatened.
"I always win." The Charlatan countered, curling lazily around the other. "Can't write the rules down if we change 'em every game. Where's the fun in that?" They teased, ears perking at the sound of footsteps in the bookstore beyond. They groaned and started to disentangle themselves from the pile. "Alright, mask up. Now for the real games..."
Midday breaks from duties tended to stretch on to half-day breaks on the few occasions Lebeaux and Rashk were getting on well enough to take them together. It was rare indeed to catch the catte skulking about the Order during daylight hours and rarer still that he did not flee via the most convenient escape route when he heard the familiar clicking of the Ishgardian's heels on polished marble floors. On those days bells were whiled away at a local cafe, sipping overly sugared teas and dueling dessert forks over last bites of sweets as they traded cutting commentary on the fashions of who wandered by on the nearby street. By the end of their extended break the cafe staff were oftentimes glad to see them leave.
This day was a bit stranger than usual. After they had long since worn out their welcomes a strange slip of paper arrived alongside the final dish of sweets. It was politely folded in half and placed face-down in the center of the table beside the plate. Rashk casually ignored it as he grabbed for a handful of tartlets while Lebeaux was staring at the slip of paper in open confusion.
"What is this, then." The medic asked as he reached for the slip and turned it over. "I suppose the serving girl was simply so enamored that she is inviting me over later." He decided as his eyes drifted over the note's contents. Rashk scoffed, stuffing a few more tartlets into his pockets. Knowing full well what was going on there. It was not an address, nor an invitation but rather a list of everything they had eaten and drank that afternoon. Alongside of which was a series of numbers. Underneath that was a similar number listed from previous dates, all in all totaling a rather impressive sum.
"It's a check, Lebeaux." Rashk drawled sweetly, anything else that hadn't been eaten already on the table secreted away into various pockets. "It tells you how much you have to pay for what you've eaten." He explained as though dealing with a particularly slow student. The miqo'te settled his elbows on the table and rested his chin in his palm, fluttering his lashes. "And since you've picked this one up, you're paying it. Thanks for lunch." He added on, painted lips curled in a delighted smile.
"That is impossible. I have a tab. It should be sent directly to the Order and taken care of by the Sister's assistant." Lebeaux explained, incredulous. The nerve. The audacity. Expecting him to pay for his own meals?!
"Seems like your tab's been closed. The dear Sister must be mad at you. If you can't pay it maybe they'll let you work it off washing dishes instead of calling in the Brass Blades~" Rashk continued to tease, absolutely delighted with this twist.
"Hardly. There must be some mistake." The Ishgardian insisted, turning in his seat to snap his fingers for the waitress's attention. Instead it was a portly lalafel that waddled over, a falsely-apologetic look on his face. "Now see, there is a mistake here. My bill should be sent directly to the Order of Nald, specifically to Sister Irara…" When Lebeaux turned to ensure Rashk was going to back him up he found the seat across from him empty. The miqo'te had already silently fled the scene, leaving only crumbs behind.
"Dinner always tastes better when you catch it yourself!" Eight had boldly boasted as he sat cross-legged on a pier with an assortment of makeshift fishing gear strewn about him. His grin bright and a sparkle in mismatched eyes, though the off-kilter tilt of dark ears paired with a vicious flicking of his tail hinted that he was growing frustrated with the attempts.
A hook abandoned in a tree branch where it had been lost. A length of wire generally used for more dubious purposes. A stick. A stolen earring for a sparkling lure and a bit of spiced mole jerky for tastier bait. All of it came together to make a sad looking attempt at a fishing pole and the starry-haired Keeper did not seem impressed by his dusty companion's masterpiece.
"It's gonna work!" Eight insisted, settling himself down on the dock's edge to dangle his feet in the water and cast his line to secure the two miqo'te a fine fish supper. Rashk was not convinced, yet managed to keep his complaining to a minimum of whining... and none of it very serious at all. There were worse ways to while away an afternoon than lounging by the water.
The line did not twitch at all for the entire afternoon as they chatted, drank and ate up the rest of the myriad snacks they had brought to use as 'bait'. Not that Rashk suspected fish really cared for rice balls and jerky, but Eight had insisted. Conversation had calmed to a comfortable silence and during those quiet moments the miqo'te forgot the fish all together.
By the time the sun threatened to slip below the horizon, Eight had sprawled out on his side, a cheek propped up on his palm while Rashk leaned back onto him. His head resting on the rogue's side and the generous fluff of his tail draped over the taller Keeper's legs as his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm of light sleep. Eight's fingers stroked idly through raven curls, blinking a losing battle again a nap of his own.
It was then that the pole bent, wire pulling tight with the surely-impressive size of the long-awaited catch. Ears perked immediately but Eight did not move. Rashk shifted slightly against him and the decision was made. The rogue curled around the smaller keeper, twining his tail around the other's as the line went limp again.
Eight could always tell him later he'd caught a mermaid while he slept and kindly let her off the hook in exchange for wishes...
Birthday Gift by the incredibly talented @guttergodsknife of our trashy crime cattes. They're here to sell you a used chocobo and a lifetime supply of snake oil.
Ul'dah is known as the ‘Jewel of the Desert’ throughout Eorzea. One of the many reasons the moniker has stuck is the rich gemstone and goldsmithing trade that goes on behind the city’s walls which is then shipped out across the Alliance. Yet not all that glitters is gold and not every precious material sparkles. Ul'dahn mines produce more than just gold, silver and gemstones. Valuable mineral and ores are also mined from the many mountains to then be shipped off for processing by Limsa Lominsa’s formidable metallurgic guilds.
The Ul'ana Mining Concern is a collective of a few wealthy landowners who combine the results of their mining companies to demand higher prices from foreign markets. (As well as claiming false ties to the royal line) For the past few moons the Concern seems to be operating just above 'breaking even’… yet the landowners still seem to be rolling in riches. They’re frequently spotted at society events and along the Gold Court flaunting their material wealth. Something isn’t quite adding up.
Despite turning almost no profit the Concern is very adamant about their charitable missions to the outer edges of the Thanalans. Port towns in particular. Twice a moon a shipment of 'relief’ consisting of food and second-hand clothing is shipped out to the Silver Bazaar. Yet a short trip reveals that often times the villagers receive little more than some moth-eaten blankets and a few rotten cabbages. It’s become obvious that the Concern is far more concerned with lining their pockets than the well-being of the Bazaar residents.
Any self-respecting citizen would feel compelled to act. To correct these wrongful actions. Filing a formal complaint would take moons and give the Concern far too much warning to clean up their act before inspection. It would be much faster and far more effective to teach them a valuable lesson out on the open road.
keywords: ul'dah, light crime, thievery, heist aesthetics, masked hijinks, rogues with hearts of gold (or at least a semi-precious metal)
Upon reaching the upper floors of the mansion, the crew was rejoined by Felica. While the others had been busy rubbing elbows and creating a diversion she had been busily mapping out the upper floors. It was a simple enough matter to find where they were supposed to be going but far more difficult to get there.
They were blocked by a strange security system. While they had previously lifted a key they soon found, after Frey’s suggestion, that the scanner could be interrupted by dumping a convenient pot overtop of it. Knave proved to have less of an aether signature than a dinner roll and was therefore able to sneak up close enough to drop the pot into place. The crew was then free to move on.
Using a tip found hastily scribbled on a note dropped into Knave’s pocket, Aurum managed to trip a clock-puzzle-lock, opening the secret staircase that comes standard-issue in any self-respecting villains personal lair.
From there chaos ensued as the crew was unable to crack a safe. Seeing no other option, the crew decided that the only option left to them was to blow the safe and run. Knave remained in the secret room with Remy to rig the explosives while the others left to start looting. They were nearly cut off from their prizes by wandering guards but a twist of fate and one overly-dramatic socialite with champagned spilled on his beautiful dress (again) saved their chance to grab whatever they could land their grubby paws on.
Documents destroyed, paintings grabbed, haunted music boxes looted and one terrible prize (that only Aurum was mad enough to touch) taken… all in all a job well pulled.
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