and diamonds...

       *           𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐄  𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐖𝐀𝐘       ,             ──────              [  …  ]

is  an  american  business  owner  and  con  woman,  as  written  by  isa  and  featured  on  onelasthq.   looking  great  in  pink   &   diamonds  since  nineteen  -  sixty  seven .

WHEN & WHERE: november 24th, 2021, 16:47  ;  le cafe marly, paris, fr.

WHO: angie, the distraction ( @angiestrick​ )

“and? what did you think?” rick asked, tapping the surface of the illy cup before taking a sip of the espresso. he took a moment to look at angie, a smile on his disposition. he’d missed her company, and he missed this kind of rhythm. after angie and zena’s reconnaissance, it’d only seemed fitting to celebrate with some coffee. it felt as though they hadn’t had time to catch up properly since the start. 

“doesn’t get better than the louvre, does it?” he asked, as if that made for a proper greeting, as if they had not ceased to speak to each other years ago and were now trying pick back up on where they’d left off and as if they had it in them to seamlessly dive back into blissful oblivion.

It hurt to be there, she couldn’t deny it, be it that place or simply his presence. Not for all of the reasons she held as grudges after all those years, but for the way their meetings used to be. Full of life, and laughter and teasing  -  in a most healthy, signature Angie way. She was good at faking happy, always have, but around Rick things weren’t as simple. “That it doesn’t. Disputing people’s attention with the Monalisa and the Venus will be a new one, I’ll give you that, but consider the challenge accepted.” she delights herself in her own words, as she had a way of turning most sentences into a drama of its own, only to finally top it off with a sip of her own beverage.

While more than two decades had past, he was confident in his fellow teammate’s abilities. Each one of them, to varying degrees, were replaceable if Rick and Fiona thought there were better candidates to pull off the job. “Certainly. I’m sure you’ve got it all in your head.”  Jack gave an amused sigh, “Oh, I think it’ll be fine. We’re both professional enough not to let personal problems get the better of us while on the job.” While he mostly believed it, he wasn’t completely naive to believe that their strained relationship wasn’t going to affect overall team performance. So long as Hugo didn’t do anything foolish like the last time he worked with the safe cracker, things would probably be fine. Which was why Jack was determined to smooth things over with the other man as well as he could. “He hasn’t said anything to you, has he?”

“Oh, professional you are.” the both of them, she meant, a sentence that takes much longer than needed to fully leave her lips. A bit of a smug smile follows him through her hand mirror as the woman applies her makeup. “Well, Hugo dear tells me all kinds of things, you know that. What exactly concerns you?” it didn’t take a genius to discern what were the terms of the relationship going on between Hugo and Bailey, of course. Angelina wasn’t new to the scene, not a stranger to their constant bickering, and despite lacking a few key details about the boys’ little feud, looked at it from the outside quite amusedly. She turns around on her chair and leans against the vanity behind her, “The part that concerns me, darling, is how this is precisely the kind of thing that weakened us last time. Huh? Archie was just here, like you and me, and I don’t think he blinked before deciding to dismiss all of us.” her tone is half resentful, half ironic at the mention of their former fellow crew member. There was a thing or two Angie had to say to the man that had brought her into that scheme only to later on double cross the team, and the thought of seeing history repeat itself wasn’t one she held dear to her heart. “Trust is a tricky thing, isn’t it?”

hugo rests his chin in his palm, rolling his head to the side to get a look from every angle as if he’s inspecting a new painting in the louvre, which, obviously, would have nothing on angie. “ see, i’m a little biased because your redhead phase was my favourite phase, and since we’ve all been jerking off to nostalgia lately, i think it feels fitting. ” he only wishes he could witness angie back in action again – maybe he could ask ash to save a copy of the security footage. “ might as well go all out whilst you’re at it, no? ” 

“What?! Really?” now that was quite the revelation. Angie sure missed her red hair at times, but not being blonde simply had too much of an impact on herself. Who was Angelina, if not a middle aged, really tall Barbie doll? “I’d just be much more believable as a tourist with this on. Come on,” she carefully fixes the wig on her head, drastically turning around to give her dear friend a determined look. “Am I an american woman first time visiting France or what?! All I’m missing is a camera. Next thing you’ll know I’ll take a picture holding the Eiffel Tower,”  and she mimicks the cliché photograph, one arm up to the top of the imaginary french construction and one heel spiking up on a nonchalant pose. Doesn’t last long, though, and soon enough she’s throwing herself on the couch by his side, laughing as loudly and openly as his presence usually provoked. “God, this is ridiculous. Maybe you should take it, love,” she moves the wig from her head to his, recovering her breath. “I’m sure the ginger waves will get that vault person on our side.”

“Not interrupting preparations, am I,” Jack asked as he entered the room. A smug expression grew across his face. “Pretty exciting though. I had a feeling you wouldn’t walk away from it despite not having all the details. So, how are you planning to scope the place?”

“I can still put on my face with you around,” chuckles the woman, keeping the eyeliner brush near her eyelid with medical precision as she glares at the man entering the room. “What can I say? You all had me at Paris.” despite the usual sarcastic tone that Angie reserved for Bailey on most occasions, there’s a painful tilt of honesty behind her words. There were a few asterisks on her returnal to the crew, but most of them must have known she was bound to say yes sooner or later. “I’m thinking the usual. Not really my scene, but I guess I could be popular amongst the art admirers.” a dramatic wave sets an end to her extensive, well thought-out plan. “You? Hugo told me you boys will be... hanging out while we’re at it. How concerning is that?”

The museum is a far cry from Fen’s usual stomping grounds and she feels even more out of place in her bright blue coat and shiny white sneakers. From what Fen had gathered in her short time here, her typical all-black looks were a bit too Parisian to blend in among the tourists. “Well, Ange, I hate to break it to you, but you already look the part,” Fen teases good-naturedly, “Add in that dress of yours and you scream ‘classic museum goer’. But believe me, I’d give anything to hit up the restaurants or outdoor markets, instead.” Slinging her almost comically large handbag over her shoulder Fen nods, “Lead the way, my friend.”

“Argh,” sighs the woman, “I don’t think you understand how aggravating this is.” Angie Hemingway? Looking like a tourist? In a floral dress, no less. God, she could shed a tear or two about it. “I don’t get it with the markets, love... I miss the days our marks were millionaires in parties, Fen. That’s what I mean.” removing the sunglasses from her features, Angelina starts leading them towards the uninviting mass of fellow tourists. Up until the moment Rick had told them this step of the plan, all Angie really knew about that place was could be seen in that one Tom Hanks movie. She quickly resorted to the Tour Guide for a little help, as well as a few hours on youtube, figuring out whatever about that museum could be so attractive  -  catching herself surprised by some of the historical pieces there stored. “Did you know they have like, three hundred thousand pieces in here? I hope we get to see the Greek display.” a little accent starts to slip into her words, marking the beginning of her personal act. Deep down, she really did hope to catch a glimpse at the Greek department - but that much she’ll deny to the end of her days on earth.

Ash was sitting comfortably in the warehouse, their equipment was set up first without worrying about the rest of the place, they were in communication with several members of the team and trying to hack into the camera as fast as possible. “I missed doing this.” Ash said, a smile on their faces, “And miss being in your ear too, let’s hope the rest feel the same as you.” Ash always tried to be efficient, giving information when the team needs them and answering any question they might have for them. “You’re doing great, Angie. And I’ll be able to see you as soon as your step out of the ladies’, if there was a camera in there, I would’ve been pissed.” Ash said casually, clicking away in their hacking program, then their fingers stopped when they realized the joke Angie was going for. “Oh,” They chuckled. “You look beautiful. I assume.” Because Angie always looked great. “I’m sure you have plenty of people being distracted by you.”

“As long as the others don’t come for my post as your favorite ear to be in,” shrugs Angie, neverminding the fact that her own statement probably wasn’t that accurate after all. She was well aware most people weren’t as big fans of her as she claimed them to be, but the woman has learned to dig her way into their liking by those means. And, well, Ash knew her better than to take most of her teases any more seriously than needed. The extra moments that the other takes to discern her tone bring a pleased smirk to her lips, a little chuckle, almost as if trying not to break character in front of a mark. “Thank you,” finally she adds, half accepting the compliment and half grateful for having Ash going along with it. “I’d be doing better if there wasn’t a life - size Barbie in her thirties walking around the place. You definitely spotted her on the cameras, trust me.” the spoiled tourist, is the one she means, who had caught her attention for more reasons than one. “I tried to get to her earlier, but the husband wouldn’t let go of her arm. Can’t say I judge the man,” it’s when she starts to retouch her mascara, “It’s Vera and Jason... was it Jason?! Something Everett. It’s all I could hear from afar, anyway. Do we have anything on them, hun?”

“Ma’am, please, that hallway is currently off limits for renovations. Note the sign.” 

“Oh! If that were a snake it would have bit me. It’s a shame... I was looking forward the most for that part. You don’t happen to have any idea of when it’s gonna be open again, do you? I’ll have to stop by again if I’m still on the city...”

“You think being the damsel in distress is bad, I’ve been relegated to box mover. That’s a real fine use of my skills that have been latent for so long.” 

“Have you tried that little pout on Rick? I’m pretty sure it could change his mind. They’re just saving your best for last, darling. No one’s getting anywhere without your fine skills when it comes to getting into that place. Plus, can’t you just... not do that? Go out touring or something. At least you know your time is coming... poor little me will be the damsel in distress ‘til the end of my days here.”

“I should’ve seen it coming, though.” Ash confessed quietly. “I should’ve been smarter than him, should’ve done a double check background on him or whatever to find out his plan to screw us over.” Yet they didn’t and it resulted on everything being over between the member of the group, Rick was in jail and all of them disappeared from one another. “So no, Angie, not all of us were perfect.” Ash saw themselves as the smartest person in the room, they were a genius - they could hack something in seconds to minutes and find all type of information - anything that the team needed but in that moment? With Archie? Ash never felt dumber and they’ll never feel that feeling again. 

Angie’s words really resonated with Ash, in a way that they should’ve known they would - Angie was always good with them, even when Ash didn’t really need it. “If I agree to do this, you’re gonna bet that every angle will be covered.” Because if Ash was going to go for one last heist, it’s gonna be perfect and well executed with nobody to fuck them over. “It has to be perfect, Angie.” Ash didn’t know if they could fail and after twenty years fail again, they didn’t know if they could take it. 

“You’re not that old, Angie, you look as good as you did twenty years ago.” Ash still smiled and shook their head. “Nobody can do what I do anyway, just like I couldn’t do what you do.” They nudged Angie a little. “I’ll need to hear details before I say yes but-” They paused. “But- I’m gonna have your back 100% and make sure you’re safe.”

Ash’s personal distress reminds Angie of her own. It wasn’t only the pain of being double crossed, it was the crippling impotence at see it coming that hurt the most. “Honestly, Ash, all of us should.” she was tired of pretending she didn’t feel like a little bit of that guilt fell on her own hands as well. “Or did you forget how he was the one that brought me into this whole thing?” Archie, the one person to scoop her and Hugo into that whole crew enterprise. She should have guessed a man whose ambition saw no limits wouldn’t set for a portion of a jackpot. She should have guessed it was her time to be the punchline after so many times being the one calling the odds. “We all fucked up a little at that, honey, but we did all that we could. I don’t want you to feel like all of us being betrayed was your fault. Or anyone’s fault, for that matter, but Archie’s.”

As much as it was all merely hypotetical, Angie could barely hold back a signature bright smile as Ash even mentions the possibility of a yes. “With all of us, hun? It’ll be completely flawless.” She knew convincing her friend into the game again wouldn’t be easy, but even the prospect of having them consider it brought a wave of positivity into her chest. Being quite honest, Angie would never feel as safe with someone new into the crew  -  and there was no way they’d be able to make it without a hacker. But what seemed the most wrong was to imagine all of it without Ash.

“Hmm. You don’t look so bad yourself, alright.” a bubbly smile is given, properly indulging on the compliment with a wink. “You know you’re the only one I trust with that. And if you decide to do this, Ash... you’ll 100% thank me for coming all the way from America to bug you about it in person. Promise.”

It’s the whiff of Angie’s undeniably sweet perfume that has Fen spiraling down memory lane. As much as they were competitors, it was their partnership that Fen looked back upon so fondly. If the thrill was what Fen missed most about her time with the team, it was always Angie who helped add to the stakes of Fen’s every mission, pushing her to the limits and then some more. It was their competition that pushed Fen to new heights, but their friendship that always kept Fen feeling secure and grounded. 

She watches as Angie’s theatrics begin, all eyes glued on her almost immediately. It was quite an effective move, but Fen always preferred to work more subtly, weaving her way in and out of the margins before her targets could even realize what had happened. Fen studies her mark before approaching, noting the way his eyes seem to linger on the commotion taking place a few rows away. Clearly, he could be swayed by the promise of something more interesting than whatever dull work had been keeping him so engrossed. Fen couldn’t push too hard, though, lest she scare him away, so as she slides into the seat beside him, she knows balance is most certainly the key.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a phone charger, would you?” Fen asks, with the oh-so-subtle flutter of her lashes, “I’m afraid mine’s gotten a bit too tangled to use.” It’s innocent enough to conceal any ulterior motives and yet bold enough to break the ground of favors, right away. Fen glances at his left hand, no ring in sight. It wasn’t necessarily an indicator of relationship status, but it was enough to give her the push she needs to move forward with her plan. When he offers her a small smile, producing a charger from his designer laptop bag, Fen can’t help but cheer internally. After all, all Fen needed was that first “yes” and her targets became like putty in her hands. 

“You’re such a lifesaver,” Fen grins prettily, placing a brief hand on his shoulder before drawing it away and chancing a look in Angie’s direction, who appeared to practically be charming the jewels off the older woman. Clearly, Fen needed to start working a little faster if she was going to keep up with her counterpart. “Long flights like these can be so dull and I’d hate to have to endure an entire flight without my phone or any good company.” 

Oh, that’s where they were at their best; opposite sides of the room, glances momentarily meeting before giving it their very best to beat the other. It wasn’t like they didn’t know what was coming  -  a common win,  with both their successes granting a satisfying end of the road  -  but it was the challenge that gave Angie that so wanted thrill. She doubted things would be half as fun without a fellow stunning woman aiming to set the bar even higher - and even Angelina, in all of her experience, still found herself amused by Fen’s methods and ways into everyone’s heart.

A weight is lifted off her shoulders as Fen kickstarts her own act. Sure, Angie would never complain about getting attention from strange men (most of all when all she had to gain with it was a little spoiling in the end)  -  but multitasking between a figure from afar and her chosen mark were quickly draining her mood. No, no  -  to each of them their own, and as she catches the man already engaging in Fen’s game, Angelina knows it’s time to fully immerse her new friend in her own shenanigans.

A couple of minutes and she had already taken a good glimpse into the older woman’s life. Not so recently widowed, mother of two and - bling, bling, bling! Former art curator. That’s where the jewels come from, Angie thought to herself; can’t be poor looking at pricey art all day. Of course, it only made things more interesting. Angie herself, narrates the blonde, is quite the art enthusiast  -  she and her husband used to collect, but that of course was before they split up; none of it factual, evidently, and Angelina was as likely to have a husband as she was to wear all black  -  but none of it mattered to a much interested listener. Besides, every story became more believable with a man as the bad guy, and Angie had all intentions of making that the tale that would consolidate the woman’s sympathy for herself. “But I’m keeping most of it myself, of course, the art and the children. You know how kids just can’t stay away from their mommy.” Oh, come on. She had the lady at the children.

From then on, Angie had her on her hands. Interested in the story of the divorce, concerned about the absolutely outrageous way the blonde had been cheated on, and hooked on every single part of that made-believe tale. “Oh, I myself never had a problem like that, thank God;” said her new good friend Ellie, “My Ernest was a good man.“ She recalls with a smile, eyes traveling down to rest at the beautiful piece on her ring finger, manicured fingertips tracing the highs and lows of the jewel. Angie can’t help herself at the sight. She always had a soft spot for tragic, lonely rich ladies. “Well, I suppose you were just really lucky then.” a shy smile, “And so was your Ernest, too. You’re a strinkingly elegant woman yourself.” said rather gently, but with the unmistakeable glimpse of a flirt on her eyes. It takes Ellie off guard, but not negatively as to set her off. A few moments later, Angelina dismisses the new found tension with a giggle, reaching for her phone inside her purse. “I’ll show you my little ones,” and proceeds to pick a photograph from her gallery  -  luckily capturing Angie and her two nieces last christmas. “Aren’t they so cute?” and as the old woman points out how they look quite exactly like their mom  -  as gorgeous as her, in her own words  -  the woman knows she still got it. She has to supress the urge to glimpse on Fen’s way, curios of how were things rolling with her couple of new pals - but things were simply too good with her own mark to be put at risk.

Her composure was something she was known for, so even as Angelina tried to push her buttons by pointing out the fact that Angie had gotten her to plead, she offered the same placating smile that didn’t quite reach the eyes that she always had. It was silence for a long time as she listened to what Angelina was saying, impassive in “her expression and somehow still looking thoughtful — an enigma in her own right — and then she parted her lips, “This would all go a lot smoother if everyone would just tell me what their issues were so I could attempt to fix them. I feel like everyone I have spoken to has some nebulous idea of what’s wrong without saying exactly what it is. I cannot fix something unspoken for fear of breaking something else entirely.”

“I’ve spoken about my issues before, Fi.” she’s hesitant as she speaks, a look not often seen upon the woman’s features. “I’ve spoken about them to our dear old Rick, no less, and I didn’t see anything being done about it.” now that’s where that dash of bitterness comes into scene, staining her words in a way she’s not particularly proud of. Angie takes a few moments; takes a deep breath, too, and finally gives in. “I’m sure you’re together in this so I hope when he hears about this, you let him know.  I know what I’m good at and capable of but he’s always chosen to dismiss me.” no matter how close they were, how they would confide in each other and form a bond  -  when she asked him for a chance, he dismissed the possibility seemingly without much thought. That was precisely what stained her will to be in that crew, even before the Archie factor of it all. “I’ve told him time and time again, you know- I know this is what I’m good at, keeping our marks busy, making a huge fucking fool of myself while everyone else does their part. But it doesn’t mean that’s all I can do.” a frustration so long kept tight inside her chest finally spilled out; Angie doesn’t recall mentioning any of it to anyone but Zena, and even though the mere prospect of appearing so vulnerable to Fiona gives her a chill, it feels right to finally address it. “So, Fi. Is it something you can fix?”

“ oh, i think i’d rather listen to one of max’s lectures, ” he chuckles lowly. whatever ridiculous thing hugo would spout as a way of deflection, angie would always match it effortlessly. the thought brings a smile to his face, dimpling his cheeks.

decades could pass, and whilst everything around them will change, the way they step right back into the swing of things like no time has passed will remain and that’s something he’ll forever be grateful for. it’s always so easy with her, which he’s learned is pretty damn hard to come by, but seeing angie with the rest of the crew reminds him of a fact he’s been avoiding: there aren’t a lot of people he’s been able to connect with, but these people certainly are some of them. and maybe that’s why he’s here. 

gross. he almost shudders. instead he leans in, nose merely an inch or two away from her finger that could almost pass as a weapon. “ angie, as always, you’re never wrong. in fact, i think it was buddha who said: let the past make you better, not bitter. and what are we doing? being better. ”

“ hm, you smell good, ” he comments to himself he follows her as she takes them somewhere more private. truthfully, they could be in the middle of a beyoncé concert and he’d still feel like they were in their own little bubble. “ i’ve been good. fine. things are quiet. slow. the jobs take longer, the kids are getting younger. i was in shanghai for a year and a fucking half, can you believe that? and every crew i come across i feel like i’m looking at creedence without tom fogerty or destiny’s child with three michelle’s. and they’re always on their fucking phones, ” he says, then pulls out his phone from his back pocket, and goes through his photo gallery. “ oh, and the twins– ” his daughters, “ –they turned fifteen today. no, sixteen. yeah. aren’t they cute? ” he smiles softly. 

putting his phone away, he looks up at angie. “ how about you? hit me with the updates. ”

“Please. You couldn’t turn me down if your life depended on it,” smirk grows mischievous, as she holds the man’s chin and gives it a little playful nudge. She had lost count of how many of those meetings had happened throughout the years, though still caught herself surprised by the thrill of meeting Hugo again after so long. Being in his company never ceased to warm up her soul, but this time things managed to be different. It wasn’t just a casual meet up for drinks and gossip, thank you very much. It was that with a sad of what they did best: catwalk their way around the law. “Oh, we’re always getting better. And this time we’re setting up quite the high standards, aren’t we? Even for us.”

The remark regarding her classic perfume steal from her a sway of her hips and a squeeze on his hand as they walk, her very own rendition of a thank you very much. As they settle, there’s already a sense of familiarity  -  at how everyone else has already dwelved into their own matters and how she sat so very close to him, almost as if cutting the distance short could make up for the years and years gone by. “Shanghai?! You’re just not taking it easy on the air miles, are you now?” amusedly laughs the woman, partially wishing that could be her own story for the past couple of years. It was weird for Angelina to look at herself or whatever she had become  -  no more singing, no more stealing, and certainly no more going out into the world with the richest women she happened to meet. “At least you’re still active. It’s good that I can rest peacefully knowing you’re safely breaking into some vaults around the world, darling.”

Now, the portrait of his daughters has its role in her losing the entire femme fatale role. Hugo himself had special knowledge of her more intimate, less dolled-up pageant personality  -  one that is as caring as could be, and showed up from time to time as something appealed to her familiar side. “Oh, God. Sixteen! We’re old.” she laughs, eyes lovingly staring at the screen where two little versions of her friend smiled. “Adorable. You should be proud of them, honey, they’re growing into beautiful young women. And I also hope you got them some very good gifts for not being there for their sweet sixteen.”

Ash chuckled, they could just imagine themselves in a hotel room, checking it for cameras and bugs for the off chance of someone recording them, a little paranoid that someone would be watching. “I don’t know if I could relax in a hotel room, but it’s a nice idea never the less.” Angie gave a strong argument, but, no. They weren’t prefect. Ash wasn’t prefect, they should’ve been. Ash should’ve dug deeper into Archie’s background. They would’ve found something, they are sure of it. But that is a burden and a guilt that they’ll carry with them forever. If they join this heist, that mistake will never happen again. “We got screwed, Angie, none of that was perfect.” Even if their last heist worked so well. “We need to make sure that everything that could go wrong this time around, won’t.” Ash needed details of the heist to get their brain working and they were itching to get it working. “We need a back up plan for the back up plan, you know what I mean?” 

There wasn’t anything quite as sweet as Ash’s presence  -  and simply by exchanging a few texts or spending a few minutes in their company, Angie is instantly reminded of the instincts to keep them safe and spoiled even from a distance. Smile turns into a loving pout, “Oh, honey, you know I’d take care of everything so that you would.” granted, it’d probably take a lot of the smart tech stuff Ash always did to make sure they’re perfectly safe  -  but that much was a given. If Angie could get her friend to relax a little, she’d always go out of her way to get it. “No, Ash... we were perfect. Archie was an asshole. None of that would have happened if it wasn’t for his traitor little ass, and now... we’re obviously better off without him.” so certain was the woman, she could probably convince the cops to let them go only by explaining how much it made sense in her head. “I know exactly what you mean, trust me. And I know no one would have bothered to come after us if it wasn’t really worth it. We know better this time. We won’t make the same mistakes, and we’ll know exactly what to do if anything goes out of the plan.” she leans forward, as serious and honest as one Angelina Hemingway could sound. “And who’s better than you to help us with that? There’s a reason why we need you, honey, and the way you’re so reluctant to even hear about it just proves you’re fit for the job. We need your double, triple, whatever checking to make this work. Besides, which one of these old queens do you think is gonna know how to do those things you do and hack us in and out of that place?”