undergrounds | I Steal Everything [Jan Open Post]

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I Steal Everything [Jan Open Post]

[Even with the New Year, not much changes for the Dodger. Life is always as it was: stealing, avoiding the law, and keeping an eye on what people he needs to keep an eye on. So, as always, if you know who you're looking for, it's easy enough to find him around London. Especially near the markets. Because people are always a little less watchful of their own stuff near the markets]

[It's a fine, fine life...]

[[Open post for Dodger for January. If you want to do anything, feel free to hit me up at

werepuppy or just post in here!]]

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"Plummy and slam!"

The password comes easily as Nancy pushes open the door to the den. She's got a bag of food in one hand, her purse in the other. She'd come by to drop some things off, including the money for Fagin, but mostly she'd wanted to get out of the flat. She was planning on speaking to Cooper later tonight and staying in the flat was stifling her. She needed to get out, and going over was a perfect excuse. Even if no one was there, it was still something to do other than replaying the potential conversation over and over again.

She was breaking her own heart before she even got started.

"Alright, who's around?"

The Dodger climbed down from one of the bedding areas, putting his hat back on his head as he did so. He'd come in to crash for a little bit, while the others were out. He'd been out working late the night before. Fagin had asked him to do some favours for a friend of his, and it had made the Dodger just want to sleep. He'd need to get back out and do some grafting, he'd slept longer than he meant to.

He blinked at the sight of Nancy.

"Alright, Nance, early for you to be here, innit?"

"Sorry, love," she says, whisking her jacket off and putting it down on the back of one of the chairs. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

She doesn't address that she's here early, just as she hadn't before the hundreds of other times she was having relationship trouble.

Well. hopefully he was too sleepy to pick up on it.

"Nah, I'm always awake, you know that," it's a vague answer as he potters around, going over to the teapot to see if there's anything left. It's still warm to the touch, and he glances inside.

"Fancy a cup of tea, then?"

"If you don't mind. It's right cold out there," her gloves are off now, too, the ones the boys had saved to buy her for her birthday.

"Brought by a few things for you all." She gestures to the bag, that not only has food but important things for growing young boys like deodorant and socks.

The Dodger busies himself with pouring out two mugs of tea, into mugs that look well used. They're clean, though, Fagin would never let them have dirty things around the place. He glances back over at her.

"That's nice of you, Nance," he said, bringing her mug over to her, and pulling out one of the chairs at the table for himself to sit at. He goes back to get him mug, before coming over and sitting on the chair.

"An' how's things been?"

"It's no trouble," she says, accepting the mug. Dodger may sit, but Nancy remains standing.

"Things are good." She swallows some of the tea to try to keep her voice from getting tight. She's stressed out. So, casually: "Cooper's running for the Night Council."

That sentence had him looking up, frowning at her as if knowing what she's planning. Probably does, he's known her long enough to know how she thinks.

"An' you'll be breakin' up with him soon, then?"

She swallows. She didn't come here planning to talk about it. But here she was.

"Yeah. Tonight, when he gets back." She doesn't look at Dodger.

He gives a nod, sipping from his mug as he listens. There's a few minutes of silence before he speaks up again.

"Not that I'm tellin' you what to do, wouldn't dare, but... is it really gonna be worth the effort of breakin' up with him? You'll only make yerself miserable."

Nancy rolls her shoulders slightly. "He deserves the seat. And he'll lose it, because of me. God- I was with one of the other candidates regularly before. Half of Islington knows what I am. They won't vote for him."

"Then they're wankers, Nance," he says. "It shouldn't matter what you do, just whether or not he c'n do the damn job." There's an irritated note in his voice. This is why he doesn't really pay attention to the political stuff - it gets really damned stupid. "Anyway, don't that mean you got somethin' they might not want comin' out? People who go in fer politics always try to seem ... what's the word ... wholesome?"

"And he can- he used to run part of a Nest back in America, before he came back here. He's got the experience." She was so proud of him.

"I have a lot of skeletons in my closet I'd rather keep buried," Nancy says calmly. "I just don't think I'll be good for his political aspirations. And I want him to have this." Breaking up with him because she loved him. It made total sense.

It might have made sense to Nancy, but it had the Dodger rolling his eyes and giving a groan.

"Nance, what you doin'?" He asked, leaning forward and looking at her. "I know it ain't like this was gonna be forever, but it's like yer shootin' yerself in the foot here."

"And I'm shooting him in the chest if I stay!" there's a tense moment, before she takes a sip of tea.

Nancy rolls her eyes at him, suddenly perking up. "What would you know, anyway? You ain't ever been in love."

"Got eyes though," he shoots back. "C'n see what it does to people. C'n see what it does to you." His hand is gripped around his mug, the other tracing a finger on the table in idle thought. "What if he don't care?"

Nancy stills, her shoulders tense. What he could see- He couldn't see anything. He was far too young.

Nevermind that she was with Bill by the time she was his age.

"Then he's shooting himself in the foot, in turn."

He shakes his head, taking some more of the tea from his mug.

"Reckon you're bein' daft about this whole thing," he said. "But like what I said, can't tell you to do anythin'." He paused and shrugged at her. "Though what'll happen if he don't win?"

"Then I'll be back with him, again." Because it was the simplest thing in the world. "But he will win." And she'll be alone.

"What'll you do then?"

He's curious.

"I've been working out of a flat in Canary Warf," she explains. "I'll go there." Returning to Fagin was not an option.

"Canary Warf?" There was a low whistle. "Right nice places round there, Nance, right expensive too." Because of course he knew that. He knew the whole city. "I'll need to come see the place."

"Eames is letting it to me," she says by way of explanation. "He knew I needed someplace safe, after I lost the flat in Enfield." Which was what brought her to living with Cooper.

"I call it my office."

"Nice name for it." He's sincere. An office is a play you do work. Nancy does her work in the flat. Thus it can be considered an office. "How much he lettin' it to you for?"

"Thank you." She nods. "It's nice to have a place to bring people that Cooper wouldn't necessarily want at his place." She'd had Eames there, for example, and Lance. And had her birthday celebration with Caroline.

"And, of course, a steady place t'work. Safer'n the streets, and I still don't feel right at the Anglo." Thanks, Cesare. Even if he'd long since forgotten their fights, she still wanted to do him the favor and steer clear, since she'd essentially fired him as a client.

"Wonder how long till I'm on that list," it's said with a cheery voice. The Dodger is well aware that he can put people off easily, mostly because he can't stop himself from lifting. After a life of it being taught to him, it comes as easily as breathing does and the idea of not doing it never even enters his head.

"The Anglo? Oh, that big place?" Because he never really remembers the names of places, just where they are.

Nancy gives a bit of a snort. "No, he knows better'n to put you on that list. Just don't steal anything, and we'll be alright." Seriously, don't steal from her boyfriend, that would put her in a weird spot.

"Yeah, that place." It was a really nice hotel.

Especially when you were working with the owner.

"Might have already nicked his watch, but that was before I knew he was yer bloke," that made it alright. Not knowing. Well, not alright, but at least then she knew it wasn't done because of who he was. Cooper - before the Dodger knew - was just another mark.

"Dodger!" Nancy scolds him, giving him a soft whack on the shoulder.

"Gave that one to Fagin, too, did you?" Of course he had. Fagin took everything he could.

"Didn't give it," the Dodger says, but doesn't correct her otherwise. They didn't get to keep anything, she knew that. Fagin had a sixth sense for what they managed to get while out doing their work.

She was pretty certain that being able to detect valuables was part of Fagin's power set, truthfully.

"Shit," she swears low. "Well, now I know what t'get him for his birthday." That was in March.

"...Is this where I say yer welcome?"

Because of course he defaulted to cheek. He had too.

"Oi," she whacks at his arm again.

"But yeah, thank you. Find him something real nice." She had to, with the size of this place. They had a freaking maid.

But Nancy was sure never to take advantage of it, to get used to it. She knew now that things that were too good to be true often were.

There was a laugh after the arm was whacked, though he did rub it when he thought Nance wasn't looking.

"Willin' to help out if you need a light touch."

"I knew I could count on you!" She gives him a smile and a warm pat on the arm.

"You know you c'n always count on me." He paused, and pulled a face. "Well, long as the old devil don't stick his nose in, that is." He was more reliable than Fagin, as long as Fagin didn't intefere. That was something, at the very least.

"I know I can," Nancy says, glancing up at him with a soft sort of smile. "and I appreciate it. More'n you know."

"I know, Nance," there's a smile. "So what you up to the day, then?" Because he never could let a sincere moment hang in the air long enough to settle. It made him feel... well, a little uncomfortable. He could handle joking much easier. Nancy knew, he knew that.

She takes the sincere comment, and tucks it away.

"Help with the campaign," she told him. "And then talk with Cooper."

"Sounds like you've got it all worked out, then," Dodger said. "Anythin' you want me doin'?"

"keep your nose clean," she told him and reached out to boop him on the nose.

"Always do." Yeah, he was grinning that grin. At least, he kept himself from being caught. That was enough

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I Steal Everything [Jan Open Post]

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