I made a lupin the third self insert!
more info below the cut, it’s v dramatic
She’s stressed! She’s depressed! She’s rich as sin and honestly that’s one of the few things she’s got goin for her. She’s the would-be heir to her parent’s shipping business, had it not been for their mysterious deaths and the immediate takeover by her greedy relations. She’s lived under her great uncle’s thumb since she was a teen, controlled by him, witnessed his shady side hustles, forced to help him with some and she’s OVER IT! she’s got a plan to get out during her uncle’s mansion warming party, but it requires a little assistance….
ENTER: THE GANG
Fujiko Mine is the first person Dell meets, though she’s there on her own behalf at first, disguised as a party planner. Her target? Senior Whitney’s prized art collection. Dell intercepts her and strikes up a deal; bring on Lupin the Third in exchange for riches beyond imagining. Their relationship starts as a business one. Dell admires her skill first and foremost, but would be lying if she didn’t admit what an absolute babe she is. If only she could trust her. Later on, they build more of a rapport; though Dell knows better than to let her guard down completely.
Daisuke Jigen is probably the easiest to work with in the gang, with how similar the two can be. He knows when to pry and when to mind his business. He really likes minding his business. Like Fujiko, he keeps it professional, almost to the point of being cold, which Dell appreciates. As their relationship progresses, Jigen becomes one Dell can be around when her social battery runs out; as well as one to have her back when they’re on a job.
Goemon Ishikawa XIII freaks Dell the hell out at first. What do you MEAN he can cut speeding bullets in half??? Or vehicles??? Or BUILDINGS????? She respects the skill but also fears it. And then there’s his senses, as sharp as his blade. She appreciates that he’s polite enough, when he does eventually talk. At least to her. As she gets closer to everyone, she comes to admire his quirks more than fear them, and above all is grateful she’s not on his bad side.
Arsene Lupin III is everything the rumors said he would be when they first meet; highly intelligent, effortlessly charming and unabashedly flirtatious. It’s kind of a lot if you aren’t used to it, which Dell was not, upon their first meeting. As their plotting progresses, she gets used to his antics and even gets comfortable enough to tease back, but keeps a cautious distance as she does with everyone. It’s not until he saves her life that she feels safe enough to be completely open around him. He becomes the person she’s closest to within the gang, catching the barest hint of feelings at one point; though they keep it platonic.
Koichi Zenigata was supposed to be just another pawn in her plan. Where the money goes, Lupin goes; and where Lupin goes, Zenigata goes. She needed to plant the seed of doubt for what she was about to do somewhere, and he was the perfect soil with his sense of justice and need to protect. But that was before her carefully crafted plan fell apart. She’d never been good at improvising. When the dust settled, she was fine, technically; safe, but alone again. The gang had split and now she had a new job, keeping the fuzz off their collective tail. Enter the Inspector. Brash, earnest, sweet Zenigata made it much more difficult to lie, something that had come naturally to Dell her entire life. Little did she know, their meeting led the inspector to act out of character himself; choosing to help her figure out who caused the untimely demise of her great uncle, instead of continuing his dogged pursuit of Lupin III. They work together, and put a man behind bars. Dell receives her overdue inheritance, and they put the men in former cahoots with her uncle behind bars too. Somewhere between her bringing food to the office to share and him lending her his coat on a chilly day, she figures out just how much she’s been endeared to his habits, and maybe him to hers. Then the guilt catches up.
OBLIGATORY TAG @soft-citrus-central @black-cat-express
