Closed The Jade Koi Heist (Julia Tristal)

[Autumn Leithea]

1st of Summer, 515 AV "Do you think she'll come?" asked Marjorie "She will." stated Autumn as if it was a fact. Autumn and Marjorie sat next to the building on the corner where they were supposed to meet, Autumn smoking her pipe as they talked amongst one another, waiting for their two comrades to show. The sun was just going down, still a little hazy over the far buildings, and the street was growing darker. Though Autumn and Marjorie could handle themselves with most foes, it was still not a good idea to be out on the streets after dark. Autumn paid no attention to this fact whilst Marjorie was more realistic. "If they don't show in a few more minutes we have to go." "Nonsense!" The streets were growing ever darker now... and almost all the people on the streets had found refuge, as if there was an unofficial curfew set in place. The streets were officially barren save for a few commoners hurrying back to their homes in the ever growing darkness. Just then a shadow approached, Autumn and Marjorie putting their hands on their daggers. "Hey!" Autumn shouted, hopefully loud enough to startle their could-be assailant, but despite her loudness the shadow grew closer without flinching. "Boo." said the figure flatly. They could tell that voice from a mile away. "Jake! You scared us half to death!" Autumn said punching him in the arm. "Don't do that!". Jake gave Autumn a big hug. Marjorie laughed. "Hey Jake." said Marjorie as she gave him a hug. "How are you lovely ladies this fine evening?" "Fine actually. Now that we're three we don't have to sit here scared to death anymore." stated Autumn. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't we expecting four?" "She's on her way, I know it." said Autumn without an ounce of doubt in her voice. She went back to smoking her pipe. "You're sure Autumn?" "Yes."

[Julia Tristal]

Julia had met a couple of fine ladies yesterday, saying something about a little job they were planning to pull. Or at least that's what she thinks she understood, she wasn't exactly smart, but what they said intrigued her.

It could have been a trap... but a trap for what exactly? She had never met the two and the only thing she had done to them was stealing their money, they could have just as easily shanked her in the alley-way where they met.

She was skeptical but she was very interested in what these two girls were up to. She didn't know much of the area where they were suppose to meet, it seemed like it was a really bad idea to go there, but still, she was curious and liked to live dangerously.

She had gotten lost, streets? in Sunberth? Hah! Any sign or indication of streets would usually be painted over by graffiti or other markings or just be taken down outright. She didn't even know the name of her own street let alone someplace else, and asking for directions in the city of liars, thieves and con men was just a bad idea.

She had eventually found where they were planning to meet, though it was after sundown now, and she could only vaguely make out three shapes where they were supposed to meet. She stayed back for a little bit, it seemed like they haven't spotted her yet.

It seemed like these guys are pretty touchy-feely. Maybe they were a nice bunch, they seemed to be okay with her stealing from her though. She sneaked up behind Autumn and grabbed her from the back. "Hey~"

[Autumn Leithea]

Autumn turned sharply to twist the arm that grabbed her about it's socket, but almost immediately found herself staring into the face of the young girl they had recruited the day before. Autumn smiled. "Hey!" she said, relieved that she didn't have to hurt the person that was only trying to spook her. "You see, I told you she'd come!" said Autumn confidently to the other two. "Welcome! I'm sure we've met but anyways this is Marjorie." Autumn motioned to her side. "Hey, you can just call me Jorie. Nice to meet you again." "And this is Jake..." Autumn motioned behind her at the young man standing there. "Hey girl, nice to meet you!" "And my name's Autumn, but you can call me Autumn." "Oh stop playing Autumn." stated Marjorie with a smile. "Oh fine." said Autumn in a bored tone. "We picked this one up at the markets, she pickpocketed Autumn without her noticing." stated Marjorie. Jake chuckled. "Getting old in our young age, huh Autumn?" "Oh shut up it was just once." They laughed for a bit, until Jake noticed that they were alienating their young friend. "Alright alright. And what is your name my fine young lady?" Jake asked. Autumn went back to smoking her pipe, putting some more tobacco into it and began puffing slowly and sultry, making love to the smoke in her mouth.

[Julia Tristal]

"Right, Jorie, Jake, and Autumn. Nice to meet you lovely ladies and a fine gentleman." She gave a small bow and wrapped her arms around Jorie and Jake in a small friendly hug. Though after the hug she stepped back and pulled out their coin purses. "Hehe~ Sorry, couldn't help myself." She handed them back without a second glance and looked over to Autumn.

"So... What are we doing?" She asked and leaned on the wall of a rickety looking building. "What's the plan, what are we stealing, and why am I here? Seems like you three got it covered, who knows, a random girl you met that was picking your pockets into your crew could possibly screw you guys over." She said and crossed her arms across her chest.

The night had started, usually the streets were empty and the taverns were full, and tonight was no different, a few stray souls here and there, but it was too early for anyone to get tossed out the taverns, if they had coin in their pockets then they can stay at any tavern they like. Money talks, that's how Sunberth works.

She looked over to Jorie and Jake. "So, you three know each other long? You all seem rather close... Are you blackmailing each other? Are you all in a relationship or something? I don't judge, I'm just... curious is all...~"

[Autumn Leithea]

Autumn laughed at how the girl had taken their belongings so easily. "Hands in your pockets guys, we're in the presence of a natural thief!" "As for the job, we don't know yet actually, we're getting the job from an old friend of ours. He has something in store for us and it's always good, and the pay is usually wondrous as well." Autumn stated. "And no we don't trust you, but I'm sure you trust money, and that's enough for us." Changing the mood, Jake jumped in. "And yeah ,we've known each other since we were kids, playing around back with our set of the gang when we were still little." Jake said. "Yeah we've been through a lot together. And this city has made us strong. No we are not blackmailing each other, and yes we are free enough to be autonomous. We've gone our separate ways, yes, but we come together sometimes for... special occasions." Jake smiled a wry grin. "This is such an occasion, and we need four people for a full crew for whatever we're doing, that's why you're here." "You're important to us, we need you." said Jorie trying to build trust without money, always the empathetic spirit. "Aah, tonight's a good night." Jake said. Autumn chimed in... "Alright are we all ready to go? Everyone good?" "Yeah." said Marjorie. "Ready when you are." said Jake. "You ready... Whats your name again hun?"

[Julia Tristal]

She looked over to Autumn and then Marjorie. It seems that there was no plan at all. Julia smiled a bit with the three, good friends were hard to come by. "You three seem really chummy. That's a nice change from the usual 'being forced to work together' thing most crews have."

She looked around and watched the three banter a bit. "Aah, tonight's a good night." She heard Jake said, she gave a tiny smile to the only male in the group. He seemed quite handsome, and the two girls didn't look bad either.

"Oh, you would say that~ Three lovely ladies out on the town with you. Sounds like a perfect night." She smiled and looked down on her nails, dirty and chipped, just the way she liked them. "Right, let me get this straight, we have no idea what we're stealing, but we do know who are mark is, right? Of course we do, if not what the hai are we doing here?"

She flicked her wrists and cracked them to ready herself. "Yeah, I'm ready and my name is Julia. Pretty standard name, unlike Autumn and Marjorie, but it's a good one. Are we going to split up?" She asked the three, hoping she would the one that was less grouchy than the others, she might make some of them mad.

[Autumn Leithea]

The three smiled. "What's your rush? Come on..." They turned, with Autumn leading the way proudly. Marjorie and Jake talking a little bit as they went. Autumn felt like Julia was being left out, but she knew it would be different when they got to their destination. They were traveling at a breakneck pace, just short of running. This was so their new friend Julia would have trouble remembering the way. Right turn here, down the street, through the alley, down the other street, left turn, right turn, to the end of the street, and left down a cramped little alley somewhere in the heard of Sunberth. Jake walked up to a doorway and knocked three times, then two, then three. There they waited, the three ready for Julia to be inducted into a club of sorts. Just then a man came to the door and opened a slit at the top. "Who wanders the dusk?" "Four walkers waiting for the wind." The door opened as a large muscular hulk of a man stepped aside and motioned them down a hallway, Autumn, Marjorie, and Jake taking a smiling look at Jules. The hallway opened up to reveal a large room with tables strewn neatly everywhere, occupied by all sorts of men and women drinking, playing cards, and carrying on. It was a wonderful gallery of all sorts of people from all walks of life playing there. The bar was full of people making a ruckus, and there were rooms to the right up some stairs that had curtains covering them. Another man waited at the end of the hall in the room. "Weapons." Autumn gave her assassin's beads, and dagger, but kept her bladed boots just in case. Jake gave up his dagger, and Marjorie hers "Ya scoundrel!" Autumn yelled playfully. The man didn't smile, but Autumn knew he found it funny. "Cover charge." The man then said after placing their weapons in another room. Each paid a single gold miza to get in, the guard stamping their right hand with an eagle stamp, and then let them go to frolic throughout the room. "Welcome Jules! This place is called The Dusk. It's a speakeasy wherein all types of people are allowed to come and have a good time. You'll notice no gang colors, they're forbidden, there are many Daggerhands, Sun's Berth, and probably Nighteyes in here, and they all use this fragile peace to have some, well, peace in their lives. Weapons are also forbidden, but most people could handle themselves in a fight unarmed. You'll notice the crafted candlelights and the candle-lit chandeliers, the man who owns this place is damn rich for what he's done here. A cut of the booze sales, a cut of any gambling, cover charges, and of course, some of the best jobs you can get in Sunberth. That's where he makes his millions. Smoke wafted upwards throughout the place, some of it tobacco, some of it... not, and in the haze of smoke everyone enjoyed themselves. "Lets find a table and sit down." Autumn said.

[Julia Tristal]

What they were doing was a common tactic, moving around quickly and with lots of curves and turns around the street, if they were trying to confuse Julia they didn't need to work too hard, and she would most likely forget the directions anyway.

She was keeping up with the three of them quite happily, it was nice to be with friends or at the very least not alone in night, despite being a cheerful soul and happy person she didn't have a lot of people she hung out with, except for Vince maybe, but she hasn't talked to him in a long time.

After a little talk with the bouncer, she didn't really feel all that safe here, she was never good with guards of any kind. As they walked into the building, dropping down a gold miza for entrance fee, and reluctantly gave her dagger to the bouncer, the room they were in was stunning, several beautiful, elegant chandeliers were hanging overhead, and the tables and chairs were in fine condition, in fact these were one of the finest things that Julia has ever seen.

She looked over to Autumn and Marjorie. "The Dusk huh? If this place didn't have a fee I would try to get in more often, do many people know about this, or just the elite class?" She asked and folded her arms, trying to cover herself up, she felt exposed here for some reason. She was usually upbeat and such, but this place just felt different and hard to blend it. Not to mention several gangs all in this shaky peace Autumn was talking about.

Julia had found a small reclusive table at the back of the establishment, it could fit all of them and looked like no one was using it. "Hey, guys over there." She said and ran over to the table and quickly sat down. She didn't like this place, she was out of her element, the was used to a rowdy crowded bar of angry and drunk people, not someplace where everyone was at peace, though tense, but still at peace, and someplace somewhat so sophisticated.

And to top it all off, there was very calming music being played somewhere, it just felt wrong to her. She was a rough girl, and she was being shown some sort of civility here and she was not use to it. She looked over to the crew. "So... Who's our contact?"

[Autumn Leithea]

Autumn and the gang followed Julia to the back of the room. "Why'd you choose this table Jules? We could sit anywhere in the house. You look nervous, don't worry, nobody will harm you here, that is, unless you provoke them. There have been a handful of brawls, but look over there." Some of the guards around the place looked like they were holding something underneath their shirts, hiding something from the people that they didn't want known. They also carried shortswords on their backs. "Those guys are armed with single-handed crossbows and shortswords, if anything gets out of hand, bolts fly. So yeah they're protecting you, but get on their bad side and bolts will fly. Does that make you feel any better?" said Autumn jokingly. A dull roar could be heard throughout the establishment, people paying attention to their drinks and gambling and their cronies' stories shared with a gusto most storytellers lack. As they looked about the room, a servant walked by. Autumn stopped him. "Could you tell Boss Reya Autumn and her crew are here to see him?" "Yes maam." The man walked off toward the restricted section and pushed a curtain aside, saying something to the occupants within. The servant walked back to the group and said to Autumn; "Mr. Boss Reya is with a client right now, he will be with you in thirty minutes." "Thank you." Autumn stated. "Would you like anything while you wait?" Autumn looked around at the group, they needed something to do. She could tell simply waiting was not enough and she could feel with her Auristics that the mood had changed, but she couldn't tell how. Her regular senses realized that everyone was either bored waiting, or in Jule's case a little frightened. "We'll have a hooka, with your finest unflavored shisha." Autumn stated. The servant bowed, going to the end of the bar where the hookas were kept and returned, setting up the hookah in front of them. Autumn then grabbed one hose, Jake the other. "One two three..." They both pulled on the hookah until the coal finally started smoking the tobacco. It was delicious. "Remind me to ask that servant what type of tobacco this is you guys." Jake offered some hookah to Jules, and Autumn passed hers to Marjorie. "How about a story you guys?" Autumn stated. "Care to share until Boss is ready?"

[Julia Tristal]

She watched as her two new friends ordered a hookah, she rarely smokes, and only when she's nervous, and she's plenty nervous right now. She looked at the two suck the smoke filled air. They looked like they were starting to relax. She couldn't remember the last time she smoked... anything. Though it was probably good she doesn't remember.

Apparently she had ran out onto the street naked, stabbed someone and proceeded to vomit and pass out on someone's roof. She had also stolen several masks and wore them through her bad trip. So she had only heard rumors of a crazy lady in a mask that ran around naked in SB.

"How about a story you guys? Care to share until Boss is ready?"

She took one of the hose and inhaled a small puff of the flavored smoke, she coughed a bit and pulled the hose back out of her mouth. "Yeah, sorry. Not much of a smoker." She coughed a bit more to clear her throat. "I have a story, for you all."

She took another small puff of smoke before continuing. "Once upon a day... last winter..."

"I was on a job, not a stealing job mind you, but just a job to deliver an important package to a young handsome lad, a secret admirer thing. It was supposed to be 'romantic' but things got... very out of hand." She took another drag on her hose and continued her story.

"So I get to the meeting place, and give the guy a box of chocolates and a letter, I did everything right, didn't touch the expensive Kanesh chocolates, didn't open the letter, got to the meeting point on time and so on and so forth. I gave him the chocolates and the letter, and the worst thing could possibly happen. The girl, my client, forgot to put a name on the letter, so the dumb guy thought I was the one that wrote the letter! He tried to make his moves on me after that, tried to touch me and kiss me, he was a real slimeball, don't know what that girl sees in him. But anyway, this guy tried to kiss me and touch me and thought that I wanted that." She took a deep drag from the hookah and sighed contently, she was relaxing a bit now.

"Right, so struggle and stuff and such, the girl had hidden along and saw what was happening, you would think she would try to help me, but instead she got angry at ME! Like I was the one in the wrong! Well, after a little bit, I finally pushed the guy off of me and sent him straight towards the girl, and I jest you not, those two kissed, completely by accident! After that those two became all lovey dovey and it was pretty... meh... At least I got paid though."

She placed the hose back on to the pipe. "You would never catch me snogging someone like that. Ew, I mean, he was a looker, don't get me wrong and I'm faltered that he tried to kiss me, but I don't roll that way. I mean, I don't just kiss people because they look cute or whatever, it's about personality, like my friend Raffy, he's not that good looking, more like a childish cute that Sunberth is trying to rub away, but just can't, he's a thief too, though I haven't seen him in action, the only thing he's stolen from me was... well, a nice little peck on the lips and that's about it. I didn't lash out or anything, but it still felt sudden so I sorta just left the following day." She sighed and bit and took the hose from the pipe again and took another drag. "This stuff is pretty good."