June Catch All for Dodger

[knowntohisfriends]

[The Artful Dodger can be found anywhere about London during the course of a full month. Anywhere there's a crowd, there's work to be done, and if you know the hat, you'll be able to spot him easily. Or if you want to be spotted... well, he's always paying attention]

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[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy had been in a nearby abandoned building, the sort of place he frequently spent time in when he wanted to let his rat instincts run wild without fear of being spotted by quite as many humans or predators.

Of course, once his 'rat time' was done, he shifted back to human, got dressed, and carefully snuck back out of the abandoned building through a window since the doors had been boarded. He moved cautiously as he headed out to rejoin civilization, his eyes, ears and nose focused completely on the world around him as his rat instincts lingered a bit, reminding him of all the potential dangers of the world.

It wasn't long before he noticed someone not far away, though he doubted he really needed his rat senses for that. He may have only seen the guy once, but he'd recognize that hat anywhere.

Quickly deciding that since while what he was doing was technically illegal, he didn't have too much to worry about, Roddy kept walking, acting like climbing out the window of an abandoned building had been a perfectly normal pastime and why should anyone find that suspicious at all?

[knowntohisfriends]

"You don't need to act like that, ain't no coppers around," the Dodger said cheerfully, calling over to Roddy with a bright grin. "Even if there were, people are climbin' in an' out of that place all the time. They ain't goin' to bother about you."

[roddy_reinigen]

"Yeah, I knew that."

Even though his paranoid demeanor seemed to imply otherwise. Of course, a lot of that was his paranoid rat instincts, but not all of it. Although at the moment he was more worried about witches retaliating for the things he did to the Innovation Center than police. Not that he'd mind doing it again if it would help make his point that the summoning and familiar crap was not okay.

[knowntohisfriends]

"You're all twitchy."

The Dodger looks at him, then shrugs.

"Suppose that works, what with turnin' into a rat."

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy was about to try and think of some excuse about being twitchy when Dodger followed up his thought with something that he really was not expecting the kid to know.

"Wait, how do you..."

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger gave a grin. "I got eyes, an' I watch. People don't expect a bloke like me to be payin' attention," he explains. "Meant to be more interested in me own stuff. But I like lookin' about. Never know what you might find out."

He grins, and comes over. "Thing is... work I'm in, could use someone like you."

[roddy_reinigen]

Huh. He'd have to figure out where he slipped up and fix that, but since this guy seemed to be pretty relaxed about it, Roddy figured he could work that out later. For now, he wanted to hear more about this work. Being perpetually broke, Roddy could use an extra revenue stream.

"Yeah? For what?"

[knowntohisfriends]

"Well, here's the thing. Some jobs require gettin' in places what ain't that easy. For me at least." He looks at Roddy, and shrugs causally. "But for a rat? For a rat, they'd be right easy."

[roddy_reinigen]

Huh. Well, that sounded interesting. And the thing was, the risk for Roddy...well, it would be pretty high, to be honest, since if he was caught as a rat he could be killed, but if he got away he'd be able to get off easy, because who reported the activities of a rat to the police?

"What kind of jobs are we talking?"

[falsify]

If it seems like Fagin's in a bad mood today, the reason becomes fairly obvious when he comes out of his office with Eames and points Dodger out. He'd come asking for his best thief, promised a decent pay if the kid's successful, but then Fagin points out a changeling and Eames can't help but feel like the old man's intentionally sabotaging him.

It's just gonna have to work. Eames certainly isn't about to give Fagin any more details than he has to, and telling him a fae won't work isn't information he fancies sharing.

"Dodger, right?" He flick's the kid's hat, not hard enough to knock it off but it'll probably knock it at an angle, "I'm buying you lunch, come on."

[knowntohisfriends]

Fagin being in a bad mood was never a good thing for any of them. Being called along to the office was even worse - he never did that, preferred stuff to be dealt with at the den so that none of his co-workers could see how he treated his "dear little lads." The Dodger didn't like being called there, anyway. People always stared, like they were waiting on him stealing stuff.

He did, but it was the expectation people had that annoyed him.

He gives an annoyed glare at his hat being flicked into the wrong angle, jerking his head to get it sitting the right way again. Then the words have him frowning.

"... What's the Old Crook told you?"

'Lunch' was always code for something. He just hoped it was the work he preferred doing.

[falsify]

"A nuisance," Eames answers dismissively, ignoring the way Fagin forces a laugh like it's a joke between friends and not an insult. He's not interested in being here any longer than he has to be, it stinks of rotten memories and cheap gin, and he nudges Dodger's shoulder on his way out.

"That free meal's not going to be on the table forever."

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger glances back at Fagin, a bit concerned as to what actually he's meant to be doing for this bloke. But he rolls his shoulders, straightens his blazer - bit thread-bare, but still respectable enough - and gives a nod.

"Lead the way then, Mister," he gives a bright grin. "Ain't had a decent meal in a bit, an' if I ain't payin', I'll eat well."

[falsify]

Eames does exactly that-- Lewisham's managed to stay away from the wave of gentrification so far, so there's a pretty decent greasy spoon nearby. He doesn't fancy taking the kid to somewhere nice, but moreover it seems a little more Dodger's speed than some upscale bar or fancy Italian place anyway.

He's also not hugely in the mood for small talk, so unless the kid has any questions they'll be travelling in silence.

[knowntohisfriends]

There isn't usually small talk when he's sent off with someone for Lunch. Not until they get what they want. This one, he's seen this one with Nancy. Eames, that's his name. Not sure what side of the business he's after, but the Dodger knows the rules. Knows how it works. Do the job. Get paid.

Bite down any shame

[falsify]

He knows Dodger's probably trying to figure out what kind of business Eames wants him for exactly, not exactly like Eames doesn't know all the ways Fagin keeps himself afloat, he's seen enough kids fall into the old bastard's clutches, but he doesn't care to dispel any anxieties about it just yet.

Eames is all smiles with the owners, a bit of polite "how's it going?" and all that chit chat, and he orders a couple of cups of tea and takes two menus to a table near the back with a good view of the door and the rest of the place. He slides one across the table, noticeably more relaxed now they're out of the den, and offers a tired smile, "said you're going to eat well, right?"

[knowntohisfriends]

There's a nod of agreement. "You heard that, then," he said, taking the menu to look over it. He knew the type of stuff he could get here, same as he could in cafes just like it all over the city. What he was really doing was trying to figure out what this job was. Table's been chosen well - no one can say they can't see the bloke be nice to the kid.

"What's the job?"

[stauncherhearted]

Inside the den, the angry footfalls of a petite ginger storming up the stairs could be heard before her voice called out, "Plummy and slam-!" No sooner did Nancy slam the door behind her did she look around the room. "Everyone out! Except you, Dodger." She pointed a dark-painted nail at him.

"Nancy, my dear, surely-" Fagin started as he approached the girl, his hands out to calm her.

"And you too, Fagin, you make sure to leave as well," she turned to the old man. "I've got words for the Dodger and they ain't for any of your ears."

Rather than risk the wrath of a very upset Nancy, and judging by the way the glassware was clattering around her, it was far better to disappear out the front door. Keeping her finger on admittedly her favorite of the whole gang of thieves, she waited until the last of the boys and the old devil himself was out before she spoke again.

"Where the fuck d'you go about getting off, Jack Dawkins, telling Cooper something that wasn't none of his business?"

[knowntohisfriends]

He'd been expecting this. He didn't move from his seat, didn't even trust himself to turn and look at Nancy. Of course she'd shove the ol' devil out, when it was his fault the Dodger went and opened his mouth in the first place.

"Alright, Nance?" he said, trying for a smile. It didn't really come, but then, he wasn't really trying. "Ain't ... rightly sure what you're goin' on about there. Speak about a lot of things, I do."

[stauncherhearted]

Oh, there are no smiles in the den today. Just Nancy's lips set in a firm line as she puts her hands on her hips, glaring at the boy.

"You know exactly wot I'm referring to, Jack, don't play dumb with me." The Cockney in her accent always seems to rise whenever she's mad, with no need to try to disguise it.

[knowntohisfriends]

"Ain't playin' dumb," he muttered, he was playing for time. He sighed, and swung round on the seat. He kept his eyes lowered, gaze on the floor rather than trying to meet with Nancy's own glare. He felt... Well, many things came to mind and none of them were good. He knew he had to tell Cooper what he did, but he'd not liked doing it, and had felt worse since.

"Nance, there's a lot you don't know about that..." he starts, trying to think of the right way to say it. "Got me reasons, an' good ones they are, too."

[stauncherhearted]

"Oh, are they?" She crossed her arms over her chest, continuing to glare at him. A few cabinets opened and closed.

"What are they then? Come on. let's hear the brilliant reasons you've got to tell my boyfriend about Bill!"

[knowntohisfriends]

She's angry. Oh great. The Dodger swallows heavily, screwing his eyes shut. He wishes she'd let some of the others stay, it would be easier to deflect with the others around.

"Well, thing is, Nance," he starts, his voice not really up to the words, "people were talkin', an' things were bein' said, an' it needed to be done..."

[stauncherhearted]

"People an' things? Oh, real specific, Dodger. Real bloody specific. D'you know what else? Cooper an' I've been talkin' and things were bein' said and NONE OF IT needed to be done! Why do you fucking thing I hadn't told him a damn thing about BIll? That wasn't your story to tell! D'you know what that does t'me?"

If anyone was going to know anything about her, she had to be the one to tell them.

[knowntohisfriends]

"Reckon I've got an idea." Oh this was not going well, and it was going to get worse before it got better. "The old man, Nance, he's been blowin' air only it ain't just air lately, an' if he speaks to people... Well... Had to get in before him, keep it from gettin' bad."