Private A Very Peaceful Walk on a Very Peaceful Day

[Elyadre Velding]

Terminus

To say Elyadre maintained a sense of urgency in just about anything she did would be to spit in the face of any inkling of truth. Some may call it laziness, others, more accurately, would simply acknowledge it as a lack of sense of danger. It served her well in the instances she felt compelled to lift items that might not have been hers to begin with. After all, who would question the individual who wasn't unnerved by confrontation? Surely, it was a clear sign she had nothing to hide rather than that the consequences of getting caught didn't scare her.

The sensation was perhaps a double edged sword. After all, she'd gotten away with it so many times, surely consequences didn't actually apply after all. Either way, it was how she moved with confidence in the undercity of Terminus, pace even after she'd bumped into an unfortunate (and admittedly, rather dashing) fellow. Any awkward fumbling was more from making accidental eye contact, actually seeing the individual rather than keeping them faceless as quick fingers took advantage of bumping into him. "So sorry, I wasn't paying attention." She'd offered in explanation, personable voice being of one who was frequently caught unaware - both the undeniable truth and a fantastic cover.

And she'd continued on her way, thinking nothing more of the interaction. Her plan was to repeat the process one or two more times as the mod struck her and then find somewhere to see what goodies she had uncovered. Rinse, wash, repeat.

Wynter Rackham ​

 

[Wynter Rackham]

Elyadre Velding

And for a while she'd think she got away with it.

Why wouldn't she after all? She had done it a hundred times, a thousand times, each one leading to the same inevitable conclusion. Her own wallet just a bit heavier at the end of the day and without anyone chasing after her. A trade refined into perfection and a career that was, if not profitable, then at least comfortable.

It was a shame she decided to rob someone who had the devil's luck behind him.

It was just chance that made him shift just so for him to feel the emptiness where his credit chit had been hiding out. He turned and watched as the pickpocket disappeared into the crowd. Terminus was a busy place and that would be the end of it. But luck had a way of working out for him. He didn't force it and just went about his day.

Somehow he drifted closer and closer to Elyadre... right until their shoulders bumped and his hand would move to grab her wrist before it could make another credit chit disappear into her pocket.

"My oh my." He murmured in her ear. "Loose hands... they sink ships almost as quickly as loose lips, has anyone ever told you that?"

 

[Elyadre Velding]

Wynter Rackham
​

By the time he'd caught up to her, Elyadre had almost forgotten about her first mark of the day. Almost - that accidental eye contact had thrown a fold into her usual modus operandi. If the marks were anonymous, it made any potential confrontation that much easier, didn't it? It'd certainly make it harder for them to point her out in a lineup at least.

It was because of that approach that she didn't feel a spark of panic when a hand took hold of her wrist. Her shoulders rose involuntarily as the bristles of a beard tickled the shell of her ear. The murmured words were just loud enough to cut through the city ambiance without creating a new layer of overstimulation.

"You oh you," she drawled in an echo, turning to better face he who had currently caught her. "Oh, you-" An expression of cool confidence was shattered by eyes widening in recognition when she met his gaze. What was little more than a game suddenly stood to become very real. Bad move. Bad move.

The next logical move was to distract recognition with sheer personality, at least that was how Adre took it. "Uh, no, can't say I'm familiar with that phrase. Haven't been on many seafaring ships, y'feel?" With a casual shrug, she took a step back, trying to slip her hand out of his grasp while she spoke. "I take it you have, mystery man?"