#fortislapidem

     Most times, Garrett would get so caught up in his own work, and his own ego, that he would forget the existence of other partakers in the City's underground. As far as he was concerned, he was the only one. The only good one, anyway. The best, as he'd been called many a time by his top contractor, Basso. Which is why it came as a surprise to the thief when he came across another, apparently after the same loot. Or at least he assumed.

     Yet another commission from his frequent and aforementioned employer. A particular scroll with old writing on it. Some language he didn't speak, and didn't care to speak. All he cared about was getting it back to Basso and collecting the coin. And, of course, snagging a few treasures here and there along the way.

     Giving the unwelcome guest a fierce glare, his fingers drummed on the glass display case near the back of an old philosopher's study, where the scroll was kept. A simple pick of the lock, and he'd have it. Though the woman in front of him was an unexpected variable.

#6 | gentle peck

     Being chased by the City Watch is never enjoyable, Corvo finds, and he sweeps around a corner, shoes sliding on the wet pavement as he sprints down the way, vanishes and reappears further. He cannot throw away the mask and he cannot hide his clothing; they will know him if they see him, and that cannot be. 

     There is a woman, he sees, form masked by shadow as she is, and Corvo whips the mask off before she looks at him. The mask is held in hand, an attempt to shield it as he ducks under the small roof that protects the woman from the thin drizzle in the air, and he throws his hood down and presses a finger to his lips, a plead for her to shhh.

     Footsteps grow nearer, and he kisses her before even a hello.

     It is a gentle, soft, pliant thing — this is not an assault, he wishes to promise, but the walls are too high even for he who can blink and be anywhere, and so he promises it with his kiss, so carefully. 

     The soft thump of her foot bashing against the wooden crate she sat upon echoed through the back of the empty alley. Waiting was something Erin despised, it was wasting time that could be better spent elsewhere. But she was given a job to do, as much as protested to Basso that she could do it alone, he wouldn’t let her. The deal had been made. So here she was, sitting, waiting for her “partner” to show up.

     The job sounded interesting though, something different from what Erin would normally expect the fence to pass off to her. It was a challenge, if anything. Especially given the fact she would have to work with someone, to trust them. The last time she was made to work with someone didn’t turn out so well… Here she was, hoping this time would go slightly smoother.

     A sound made her jump up and assume a defensive position, crouching behind the crate she previously sat on. A figure could be seen at the entrance of the alley, silhouetted by the moonlight. This had to be her associate, who else could it have been?

     Slowly, Erin eased out from behind cover and stood tall, a hand resting on her hip, the other hovering over her claw, just in case. She waited for the figure to move closer to the back of the alley so she wouldn’t have to shout.