A Thief in the Night

[Anonymous]

For nearly a week, Sy had been scoping out the manor in the cities wealthier district. After deciding that the payment would be worth the risks, the rogue had started to devise a plan of action. These sorts of raids were becoming common practice for him. Find a nice looking mark, scope out the house for a few nights to get a feel for how well it was guarded, then break in and rob the place. It was a one-man job. A quick in and out. Mansions like this had plenty of valuable trinkets around that could be sold for a modest price on the streets. It would be enough to cover his exploits in the tavern for the next few nights. In that time he'd find another mark, or some other paying job, and start it all again.

Dressed in dark clothing, the rogue scaled the outer wall of the balcony with each. His thin fingers were well used to finding every brick and crack and vine, and his body was toned from years of doing just this sort of exercise. The street below him was quiet and dark, and Sy had made sure to track the usual patterns of the midnight watch to make sure no passing patrol happened to spot him up here.

Pulling himself up onto the ledge of the window, it didn't take him long to shimmy open the wooden shutter with the thin blade of his knife. Slipping inside, it took his eyes a few moments to adjust to the moonlit darkness of the room. Blinking his eyes, he kept his body low and prowled around for any sign of those glittery-shiny things he had come here to steal. He knew he'd have to make this visit worthwhile. In and out, he reminded himself as he approached a heavy wooden desk. Silence was key. He wasn't sure if this room was occupied. Even if it wasn't, the stone walls might be thick, but sound still had a way of carrying, and he'd hate to accidentally wake someone up. That could get messy. And Sy didn't like messy.

[Anonymous]

For whatever reason, he couldn't sleep tonight.  And Cali wasn't patient enough to lay in bed, tossing and turning, until sleep returned.  Besides, the master probably would have kicked him out of the bed if the elf had started moving around.  He'd wriggled out from under the covers, slid out of the bed, and slipped out the door, all with barely a sound.  

Padding through the manor in nothing more than a simple pair of light pants, the elf yawned and rubbed at his eyes.  Maybe a treat would help.  He knew the master kept some of those cinnamon candies in his office.  The simple scolding from the master later wouldn't be half as bad as the hassle of finding the darn things.  As long as he didn't disturb anything else, anyways.

Nudging the wooden door open, Cali paused in confusion as he realized the window was open.  Tilting his head to the side, the slave boy glanced around the room, wondering if the master had just forgotten to shut it earlier.  

Spotting the other man in the room, Cali let out a soft gasp and froze to the spot, eyes wide.

[Anonymous]

With quiet, careful hands, Sy had picked the lock on a small wooden chest, and swiped the coins and few small jewels held inside. He'd kept a small beg tied to the belt at his hip, and he slipped them inside. Sy knew what to grab and what to ignore. Certain things - jewels and gold, find cloth, ornate weapons - were worth more then others, and sometimes you simply had to let something go, no matter how nice it might look.

Behind him he heard the sound of wood scraping lightly on the floor, and froze. Mentally, he utter one unspoken curse, then turned enough to see the figure in the doorway. The figure who, by the looks of things, could see him. He cursed himself for being so careless, but his cover wasn't necessarily broken. Turning casually, trying not to look too intimidating, he grinned in the moonlight and rose one single finger to his lips.

Meanwhile, his other hand slipped behind his back, and he slid free a concealed dagger. Taking two careful steps forward, he stood in front of the door, and made another gesture with his hand. A silent beckoning for the poor stranger to come in. Behind him, the knife was ready. He would use if it he had to. He wouldn't enjoy it, mind you, but he wouldn't hesitate, either.

[Anonymous]

The elf's eyes were glued to the figure, and he opened his mouth, ready to scream...  And then the man smiled, and gestured for him to come closer, as if he belonged in here.  Still wary of the man, Cali crept forward, two small steps, eyes narrowing as he tried to peer through the darkened room.

Very quietly, he finally spoke.  "You're not one of the servants, are you?"

((OOC:  Sorry for the shortness, wanted to give Sy the chance to grab him before he started screaming.))

[Anonymous]

(( No worries! ))

When it seemed like the stranger wasn't going to scream, Sy reached out to put a hand on his shoulder and lead him into the room. He gave the door a gentle kick with his foot, and it closed with a quiet thud. Safely in the room, he put his first finger near the boys lips, offering the same silent advice,  before revealing the silver blade of his knife. He wiggled it a few feet away from the boy and whispered, "I am nobodies servant. I'm just a cat, prowling the night. Keep quiet, and I'll vanish without a trace. Make any noise, well..." he flipped the knife gracefully in his hand.

He needed to find something tie the boy up with. And a gag. Then he could just dump the young man here, and vanish out the window. He was still silently cursing himself for being so careless. Still, the situation was hardly out of his hands. This could still be salvaged, and he could still get out of this with the loot in his bag.

[Anonymous]

Stupidly, Cali followed the stranger's lead, remaining quiet just as implored.  He sucked in a quick breath, eyes widening in shock as the man spoke up, displaying a sharp knife.  Thief!  The master would be so angry, and if he let this man get away, the master would be angry with him as well.  But...the young elf's eyes followed the blade as the man flipped it, and shuddered.  If the man cut him, it'd leave scars, and Cali couldn't bear the thought of being scarred.

And yet, if he said nothing, the master would know.  Somehow.  And he'd be punished.  The elf opened his mouth as if to say something, then shut it again, realizing that no matter what he did, this was going to end badly for him.  ...But, if he yelled, maybe the thief would just run away, and if he got hurt...the master would fuss over him for being a loyal slave.  

He took a step away from the thief, further into the room.  Taking a quick breath, he shrieked as loudly as he could.  "Thief!  Help!"  Wide eyes locked on the man now, he backed up quickly, flinching as his back hit the wall and he realized, the thief was between him and the door.  Bad idea.

((OOC:  Don't hurt him too badly.))

[Anonymous]

Taking a swift step forward, Sy punched out his fist hard, aiming for the boys face. Sy was a good brawler and knew how to throw a punch. Time was suddenly very, very limited, and his patients had very nearly run out. While it wasn't in his spirit to kill the stranger, he was suddenly in a very poor mood and hoped the punch would shut him up and subdue him a little. It wasn't his intention to knock him out or anything. He simply wanted to show the boy that when orders were disobeyed, punishment followed.

Listening for any signs of movement in the house, Sy gaged what time he had. He needed to cut his loses and escape. A small purse-full of loot was a good enough gain, if the alternative were a swift execution at the hands of the city watch.

(( Short post. Also, I'm leaving for a little holiday tomorrow and will be gone about a week/week and a half. ))

[Anonymous]

Cali crumbled to the floor soundlessly, one hand over the side of his face where the punch had landed.  The worst he'd ever gotten from a master was an open-handed slap, and those had been enough to get him to do whatever was being asked of him.  The punch to the face was unexpected, and it really, really hurt.  His eyes watered and he blinked rapidly, trying to keep from sobbing, though he couldn't quite suppress the whimpers.  

Elsewhere in the manor, the master had routed his eldest son out of bed, and started searching.  They'd be at the door any moment now.