[open] From the Cripples to St. James'...

[knowntohisfriends]

There's a right nip in the air when the Dodger steps out in the early morning to begin his business for the day. Well, his business, Fagin's business, it's all the same when it comes down to brass coins dragged from the bottom of pockets. He rubs his hands together, making a note to lift himself some gloves at some point during the day - if he recollects correctly, the ones from last year weren't really as decent as he would have liked. Not terrible, but for a gent of taste like himself, they weren't up to scratch.

Scratch... scratchings... pork scratchings. Hm. His stomach grumbled a bit. Looks like the sausages at the den weren't enough. Right, well that decided the plan for the day then. Breakfast first, and then on with the work of the day. The markets would be the best places to check. Maybe the one down by St James, folks would be too distracted to pay attention to a kid nipping among them.

Seemed like a good plan, and the Dodger grinned, adjusting his hat to just the right angle.

Right. Time for work.

Comments

[freelife]

Evie wasn't most folks. Evie Frye was a vampire who had been dealing with kidsman and their pickpockets for over a hundred years. She was an Assassin. So, really, noticing things other people didn't was part of her job. It didn't help that she could smell him, the fae blood that flowed through his veins.

She waited, keeping an eye carefully on the boy as he lifted from a few purses and pockets. It was when he seemed preoccupied that Evie made her move to approach him. She places a hand on his shoulder.

"Let me buy you breakfast."

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger did not freeze when the hand was placed on his shoulder but he did carefully slow down what he was doing. Turning his head, he tried to place the face and came up blank. Well, sort of blank. He'd seen this one in passing - she did that stuff where you could run and jump from building to building. He'd tried it once. Almost broke his neck. Question was, what was the vampire doin' wantin' to get him a meal?

It bore playing out, at any rate.

"Reckon I could do that," he doffed his hat respectfully at her. It could never be said that Fagin didn't make sure his kids had manners.

[freelife]

"Choose a place," she said, coming to stand next to him with a smile. Good to know he had manners, ones that appealed to her old sensibilities. "I'd like to talk, if you don't mind. I assure you, you're safe with me."

She flashes her completely normal looking teeth, her fangs not out. Her reasons for approaching Dodger aren't entirely altruistic, though she never minds paying for a meal for those who need it. No, she knows the importance of having allies throughout the city, and the streets were always rife with gossip and truths.

And children were always a perfect way to gather information.

[knowntohisfriends]

"Ain't bein' safe I concern meself with," the Dodger answered with a grin, hopping off on a path down one of the side streets. There were too many fancy cafés in the area now, but if you went down, followed the twists, you came to one that were a good place for a decent cup of tea. An' frankly, that was most important. He nods his head at it, showing the choice to the lady.

"This alright or we wantin' somewhere that'll cater to your tastes an' all? Cause I think we'll need to walk a bit more fer that." The Dodger was never one for mincing his words, even if he did keep his manners close to the surface.

[freelife]

He's a quick one. She'd made a good choice.

"This will suit just fine," she says. It's odd, how he assumes she's some swanky person. Then again, for as plainly as she chose to dress, she had gotten herself a decent bit of money in the last century or so. Her over-the-knee boots are designer.

"It's not my tastes I'm here for, anyway. I asked you to pick a place, didn't I?"

[knowntohisfriends]

"Might have asked, but that don't mean you have to like the choice." It doesn't seem wrong to point that out, though he's aware it's more cheek that he would usually chance with someone he wasn't entirely sure of - especially when they clearly wanted something that he wasn't clear on yet.

"An', well, your dietary requirements might not be met here." Fagin had always insisted it was rude to be too obvious as to a lady's species. The Dodger didn't quite get that bit, but the old man had eyes an' ears all over the city - wasn't he a set of them, himself - so it was always best to keep to the manners.

[freelife]

Thoughtful. She'll keep that in mind. Evie gives a vague noise of agreement. "I appreciate you taking my appetite into concern." One way or the other. It doesn't matter, though. Either way.

"Thank you, however. But you need'nt worry about that. I ate before I left my flat." Plus, she happened to enjoy human food, still.

"Let's have a seat, order whatever you want."

[emotioneater]

Cooper was out and about running errands, his motorcycle parked on the side of the road. He barely noticed when Dodger brushed up against him, only muttering "Watch it" in his Irish accent. Not until he found himself missing both his watch and the keys to his bike. Now, Cooper was generally easygoing as a rule, though his temper was never far from the surface. But mess with his bike and all bets were off.

He was two-hundred plus years old and knew what had most likely happened. He turned around and began immediately scanning the people on the street, looking for a very distinctive hat. Oh, he was going to wallop that little thief a good one when he found him.

[knowntohisfriends]

The watch was alright, could get a good bit for it if it went to the right market. The Dodger had buffed it, and checked to make sure it wasn't a cheap knock-off. He knew a guy who did the knock-offs who could confirm for sure, but some people didn't pay much attention to anything other than the watch keeping the right time. The bike keys were a little more interested, lifted more for the sake of it than any other reason - if he'd wanted the bike, hot-wiring was a better option.

A part of him vaguely wondered if the mark would still be there. He hadn't had a ride on a bike in a while; last one he'd got shunted off by some of Fagin's ... associates. He had time still; he could have a little spree round the city before anyone noticed.

[emotioneater]

Cooper caught the boy's scent before he caught sight of him. As a good thief, he could appreciate the fact he'd managed to lift the keys and watch without the vampire noticing. Hell, if it had just been the watch, he probably would have let him go. But no one got on his bike without his permission, not even Nancy. When he saw the hat bobbing its way through the crowd, he knew he had the right kid.

He marched up to him, one hand snaking out, and ensnaring Dodger's wrist. There was much more strength in that iron grip that a simple scrawny teenager should have had. He looked very serious. "Alright, give it back."

[knowntohisfriends]

He'd been on his way back to the bike when he felt the hand grabbing his wrist. Now, this wasn't the first time the Dodger had been caught - it happened a little more than he would like, but he knew that it wasn't always just easy marks out there. The important thing, really, was how he played after being caught. In this case?

"Here, mate, you're hurtin' me," just loud enough to be over-heard in the crowd. "Don't even know what you're on about, so let go!"

[emotioneater]

People started to look at the pair of them, what appeared to be a seventeen year old accosting the younger teen. That was the last thing Cooper wanted. He let Dodger go, but like hell was he letting the little nuisance disappear back into the crowd now that he had found him.

Cooper's mouth is in a thin line. "You want me t'shake 'em outta you? Hand 'em over or one of us is gonna be in a heap of trouble in about two minutes." He was not above yanking Dodger down the nearest alleyway and then hanging him from the nearest rooftop to get back his keys.

[knowntohisfriends]

"Shake what outta me? Ain't done nothin'," he backed a few steps away, keeping his voice deliberately louder. Get people's attention, make them aware. It was always best when a mark confronted you - especially when they were older an' looked older.

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy had taken to busking as of late. He needed the money, he had the skill and a very nice violin, it was practically an inevitable conclusion. And so, as he finished up his show, letting the crowd toss a few pounds into his open violin case as they commented on his skill, Roddy grinned and thanked them, informing them that he'd be sure to come back here again soon. As he gathered up his tips and packed up his violin, he chatted and attempted to charm bystanders, when he spotted a young figure moving around the crowd. He continued chatting, but his eyes tracked the boy, as something about his movements struck Roddy as suspicious.

[knowntohisfriends]

Suspicious? The Dodger? He never! He's just strollin' around the place, hands behind his back, looking at everything there is to look at. He likes bein' among crowds, that's true, but he's that unique Londoner who takes the hustle and bustle of the city in his stride. There ain't nothin' suspicious about him, that much is certain. Look, he even tips his hat in greetin' - see his good manners!

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy didn't know anyone who was that polite. Although...he certainly didn't see the kid doing anything wrong. It seemed really strange that he was just wandering around in the crowd, but then, Roddy thought, he could just be getting old. Eighteen seemed a bit young to start being suspicious of random teenagers, but hey, it hit everyone at a different age.

Violin case in hand, Roddy began making his way to the tube. It wasn't long before his path went near the way the kid was walking, and he couldn't help but watch the kid out of the corner of his eye, his keen hearing trained on the kid. Just in case.

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger was polite. Yeah, it was partly to put people on edge when they started staring at him - a polite smile and tilt of the hat did a lot to throw people - but he did like just... bein' nice for the sake of it. He was an odd sort, for his line of work at least.

He could feel the eyes on him though, an' it wasn't half annoyin'.

[roddy_reinigen]

"You know," Roddy said as he passed near him, "I've never seen someone so go around acting that polite unless they were getting something out of it."

Sure, Roddy was super polite when he performed, but that was because he was hoping for tips.

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger turned, finding the source of the voice easily, and raising an eyebrow.

"Just so 'appens that I've been raised up to have right good manners." There was a sniff at the end. "Ain't costin' no one nuthin' to show 'em, is it?"

[vampire_barbie_girl]

It was getting late - or early, depending on your perspective - and Caroline knew she had to get home soon. She liked walking around the city these hours though, when it was so quiet. There were some other people around but not even close to as many as there would be in a few hours, or so she assumed, since she hadn't exactly witnessed a real London morning yet.

It was the hat that attracted her attention to the kid just ahead of her, walking her way. You didn't see many of those these days. "Nice hat," she commented as she got closer.

[knowntohisfriends]

Now, this early? Only people that are out are the traders settin' up for the days an' the people like the Dodger. An', of course, the vampires. The Dodger lifts his hat, greeting the lady like he was taught.

"All me own, miss," he grins. He stood, waiting for her to get a bit closer. Vampires were generally not the best marks in the world - the sensitive hearing and sense of smell made it easier for them to pick up on tells that anyone else could miss. That bein' said, he wasn't the Artful Dodger for no reason - this life? He made it art

"Awful early to be out on yer own, Miss."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline laughed. "Yes, I guess it is. But don't worry about me, I can take of myself. What about you? Isn't it a bit early for to be out here?"

Growing up in a small town, pickpockets aren't exactly something she'd had a lot of experience with. And so, even with her vampire abilities, she's probably not that hard a mark.

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger falls into step close to her, making it seem like he's just staying close because, well, it is very early morning.

"M'always up this early. It's colder at home than it is out here."

The best covers always have a ring of truth. The Dodger has managed to nudge into her purse, carefully lifting out any wallet he can find. He's being careful, this close even with attention drawn it can be easy to be spotted.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline isn't paying any attention to her purse, focused instead on his story. "I'm sorry to hear that. Isn't there anywhere else you could go, that's warmer and safer?"

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger answers truthfully.

"I'll probably go round to my sister's."

Well, for a given value of truth, at least.