[Flashback]Wrong pocket to pick[Nai'shee]

[Leigo]

Winter, 504 AV – the day is yours Half dozed off, boy tried his best to keep his back straight while it arched dangerously closer to the desk with each breath. He really tried to stay awake and alert while studying his father’s travelling records, but the most he could make out were boring trading facts and advice that was never asked for – but that was his father, as per usual. Gripping his other hand around the mug, he could feel a little kelp juice oozing from within. Ah, if only his father could see him… he’d probably get a beating of some sort. Not that his father was a cruel man, but some things were deserved. Turning to the other clientele, he could recognize a few. Some even worked with his father on occasion, but none of them he felt particularly friendly with. After all, as he told his own parent many times, he had no intention what-so-ever in taking over the family business. They would have to make more children to fit that bill, Leigo was born free, and he would stay that way as long as it concerned him. Standing up, he found a seat closer to the flames in hopes of warming up his hands a bit. It wasn’t a particularly harsh winter that they’ve been dealing with, but it was winter alright. Only for a moment he could hear old Bert the drunkard telling another tall tale. No one ever believed them. And they were usually followed by laughter. This time however, the mockers were creative somewhat. And what happened when you woke up, ha Bert?! And that was enough to have the old man diving back into the mug for the rest of the bell. Turning to face the fire again, Leigo threw his father’s letter onto the burning wood. It burned quickly. Someone more sentimental might have scolded him for what he had just done, but it didn’t matter to him. The entire letter contained a bunch of impersonal stuff he never wanted to know in the first place. His father might have been a genius merchant, but he was one idiot father. And then he was gone….like usual. The letter was gone and the boy could relax. It was the first time in days he was truly enjoying his loneliness. What could people do in such petching cold anyway?

[Nai'shee]

Timestamp: 19th of Winter, 504AV Little girl was sleeping in some random inn, in the cheapest room she could find. She barely had money for it and she had to steal food, but she was glad she didn't spend this winter sleeping around in people's barns. Most of them became aware of her, anyways, so she didn't have much choice but to rent a room. She mostly went out only to eat or get money for next day's rent. She owed a bit to innkeeper by now, but he was seemingly sorry for nine year old girl without place to spend this though winter, so he allowed her to pay few days later. But her deadline was approaching anyways and she needed money. Obviously, she was in the main room, searching for someone who seemed like caring few mizas around. She spotted the man, sitting besides fire, warming up, occupied by his own thoughts. Most importantly, he was seemingly alone. Lack of companions to notice a thief was one of the nicest things she relied to. He didn't seem like rich bastard, but few mizas were visible trough material of his pocket and it was probably just enough to pay for a room. She approached, from what she hoped was a dead angle and sat besides him. At first, she did nothing, checking if she have drawn his attention. When she was sure she haven't, she slowly reached for his pocket, without pulling any part of his clothes or touching skin. She would have maybe got away with that, but suddenly one of the drunk customers tripped. Most of his beer ended up on some lady who pretended to be classy, which was only an act, considering the fact she was staying in this inn of all the places. Unfortunately, it made Nai'shee surpass her laughter and move a bit, which gave the man a sign he was being robbed. She pulled her hand out of his pocket in panic, stunned. She didn't move or say anything, just quietly panicked.

[Leigo]

Leigo’s leg twitched barely upon a foreign touch close to the money sack. Interesting, someone actually dared to try and rob him in broad daylight? Turning around slowly to make sure of the source of this laughter, he found a scrawny little street urchin. She couldn’t have been more than, what, ten? Shaking his head slowly, he eyed the girl a bit. It seemed panic had gotten the best of her. “Don’t worry” he let himself say “I won’t tell anyone…” besides, by the looks of them, half the people inside the room were well aware of what would happen if she got too close. The girl reminded him off his own issues regarding other people’s property. He still considered stealing to be beneath him, but he could see why it appealed to the girl. “Do you usually steal that well?” sarcasm obviously, but he doubted the child would get it.

[Nai'shee]

"I wasn't- I'm not-", she muttered helplessly. She wasn't a thief. She still didn't feel it. She was stealing for almost a year now, but she was still barely able to pick one's pocket, not to mention something more. What saved her was the fact it was somewhat easier to steal food, even from salesman. Food actually equals money, but for some reason people cared less about one miza of food than shiny one. Still, she had to pay for inn during winter and she still didn't see other way to survive, even in far future, so larceny was the only option. She turned her head and pursed up her lips. He surely didn't know first thing about stealing, anyways. After all, even he would laugh at that if he wasn't too busy burning down letter somebody cared to write. She wouldn't be stealing now if she had someone caring to mail her. Her eyes escaped her few times, observing the man, but she was giving her best to pout around.

[Leigo]

He didn't want to poke and prod the girl with his questions any further. He clearly had many, but they mostly kept answering themselves without aid. She didn't look particularly able, nor rich, nor pretty, nor well nourished – she did what she did because she had to. Leigo could understand that even if he couldn't find it particularly sad. People did what they had to and when they had to. There was nothing wrong with this picture in his mind – everyone catered to their needs after all. „If it's really so bad, shouldn't your parents be the ones...“ he stopped, avoiding the world stealing „...providing?“ he made yet another pause and added thoughtfully „An older sibling perhaps?“ he never meant to be cruel, but it might've ended like that regardless.

[Nai'shee]

"Maybe if I had them", replied the girl, trying to seem cold-blooded about situation. It was, however, obvious that child was repressing emotions. Her arms were crossed and she still refused to look at Leigo, but it wasn't out of anger anymore. She knew he didn't mean anything bad. She didn't care about her real parents or siblings much, but wounds her step-father's death left were still pretty sore on little girl. She didn't have anybody to understand and comfort her anymore. Yes, she had few friends, but she needed parental figure in her life. Not to provide anything, she felt as if she was fine by herself, but she wanted someone to understand. Of course, she wasn't the only urchin out there left without parents and forced to steal and she didn't want anybody to pity her, but yet... her life felt empty. She was getting sick of this night. Nothing gone according to plans. She didn't mind it, but she'll probably get stuck talking to this man for a while. After that she'll have to go outside with terrible wind around and her poor clothes trying to steal. She was already nervous, she even felt a bit aggressive and she wanted to end the day already. However, she stayed still, not showing anything, waiting for Leigo's reply. What could man possibly reply to that? The one who just burned down a latter, probably from his parents? She imagined pieces of ash slowly disappearing, since she couldn't see them from that angle. Maybe he learns something from seeing her fate...

[Leigo]

For a moment, if one really looked, they could see some form of sadness obscuring Leigo’s features. Just a mere glimpse and it was gone. Looking down at the girl squarely, the blond wasn’t really afraid of being direct with people – especially not when it came to such a little squirt. “Then you’ll have to get better at this.” It was easy enough for the boy to expect his thoughts taking such a turn. As for the girl, for all he knew, she might’ve been expecting a preach about how stealing was ba..bla bla bla… Without giving this urchin the time to relax completely, he would ask her a simple question. Pointing over his own shoulder, the finger traced across several drunken men. Then he casually asked. “How about we try to rob that one?” he didn’t pick out anyone in particular, but there was no doubt the girl would see something he hadn’t. She was much better at this than him, surely.

[Nai'shee]

This time little urchin swallowed her pride and accepted piece of advice. She knew she has to get better, but she didn't know how exactly. Not laughing while pickpocketing would probably help, for the beginning. "You're right", she said, not facing him directly again. She was afraid he would figure that she wasn't as confident as she wanted to be.

Looking in the direction man pointed at, she spotted an old man. He wasn't really old, maybe in his late thirties, but to little girl he seemed as if he was already one leg in grave. He was wearing expensive suit, but he was drinking with some dirty (compared to him) buddies. He probably didn't have much money with himself, but he surely had enough to pay next few rounds of alcohol, therefore he had enough for Nai'shee's room.

"Okay", she responded, whispering without any real reason. "Let's go", one could see determination in child's eyes. However, she really stood to go, without any plan. She didn't even think about that.

OOCPlease stop her, too lazy to think up another target.XD

[Leigo]

Surprised by her sudden change of heart, Leigo would still remember to reach his hand out and wave at the girl, which would hopefully get her attention. “Stop” he said “Are you usually this dimwitted?” without waiting for her to get aggressive, pout or actually give him an honest answer, Leigo brushed it aside and kept talking. “We need some sort of a plan. Do you have any ideas?” surely he could’ve thought of something, but he wasn’t a thief. It didn’t take a thief to think up basic strategy for this, but that didn’t mean he was by any means willing. “It’s your heist after all…” he’d add half amused, but curious. She probably had more grain in that head than she was letting on – yeah that would’ve been a reassuring thought.

[Nai'shee]

Little girl got really annoyed by man's comments. He acted as if he was so superior. Still, there was something that attracted the girl in his personality. Perhaps, she felt as if he knew something she doesn't, or it was just the fact he was an adult. All kids want to impress adults. However, she sighed at his comment.

"You're right", she admitted, looking at some point on her left instead of him. "Well, I need a plan to approach him at first, then I just have to pickpocket him without his companions noticing and get away. I guess excuse for approaching would help. Like, dropping something of begging or anything. But it draws attention, so I'll have to be even more subtle." When she stole she usually put her bet on target not noticing and herself being able to escape. She couldn't manipulate her target as a professional would do. She always told herself she was just a kid, so now she did her best not to notice how much man was right about her getting better at this. She was standing, as if she waited for his approval, but she would prefer some better suggestion.