Gangs on the Streets - Private/Sands

[Ava]

Gyasi

It was unusual for a particular thief to walk into Moonlight Village at night, but she was just scanning. There were many potential targets, but Ava had to plan before she committed theft. The Liepard had a wide smile upon her face as she thought of all the brilliant things she could do.

That was when her eye caught something, a broken lock on one of the smaller stands. Her smile went even wider, and she headed in its direction. Ava could never resist a robbery when she could do it in the cover of night. She lifted the cover on the stand, and smiled as about 2 orbs and a few berries were behind it.

Some pokemon must've had a lot of buyers, but now they would have less merchandise. Ava slipped her bag off, then she grabbed each item, carefully placing it in her bag. The bag was old, but not very worn considering it, making her rather pleased.

When she had each item, she grabbed her bag until it was hanging around her shoulders. Carefully, she closed the cover, and began to walk away from the stand. Her emerald eyes darted about, checking to see if any pokemon had remembered the lock was broken, or was a witness.

[Gyasi]

Most days, Gyasi was an adventurer, as normal as anyone with a journal and a big bag could be. But every once in a while he diverged from the rest of his community. He unpacked his bag, bringing only the lightest minimums. Even his journal was left on his side table. Donning his black scarf and leaving by the light of the moon, Gyasi went about the town while it blissfully slept. 

Most of the time, when a pokemon complained of thievery, it was of coin or a useful item. Adventurers and shopkeepers seemed to be the ones to complain. However, The days following Gyasi’s trips, it was the scholars who had woes to tell. Gyasi wasn’t interested in items. Those he could buy or find. What he wanted was information. 

Two months ago, Gyasi had asked a local scholar if he could borrow a collection of notes and accounts of a dungeon. The old alakazam refused him twice, and the third time threw him out. A week later a request went on the job board for a missing book of dungeon accounts. 

This was the same man who, recently, had refused Gyasi the opportunity to even look at an old and rare book of legends, and thrown him out twice more for asking again. The alakazam wasn’t the only one on Gyasi’s “not sharing” list, in fact a large number of the older and therefore more learned scholars and researchers were grumpy when sharing with friends, let alone a new arrival to their very exclusive party, but Gyasi had a particular dislike for the alakazam and his physical ability to remove unwanted guests from his abode. 

So now, black scarf pulled over his nose and staying close to the shadows, Gyasi snuck his way toward his target house. His lightened bag made his shoulders feel light, and he moved with more precision and speed than normal, without the adrenaline that gave him similar results in a dungeon. He had his eyes open for anything, anyone, that would spot him, scanning the shadows, windows, and streets. 

Movement caught his eye. Gyasi retreated further into the shadows, he saw a figure in by the stall across from the building's wall he stood against. The lid to something closed, the soft click amplified by the midnight silence. He edged closer. A worried shopkeeper? A fellow thief? At this time of night, the latter was almost certainly the case. 

The pokemon looked around, bright green eyes the only color he could make out. For a moment it seemed as if their eyes had met- though perhaps the figure had not seen him when they looked his way. Gyasi had an odd feeling. A good odd feeling, and the reason he didn’t leave in fear of being found. Rather, he took a step out, to see the pokemon more clearly as well as make himself more visible. He didn’t dare to say anything.

[Ava]

Unfortunately, Ava hadn't noticed the pokemon behind her. Her careless glances may have become her downfall, but Ava felt as though she wasn't alone. It wasn't the fact that the stars were our, nor any other spiritual reason, but a sense deep inside her.

Her mind nagged her as she walked, her paws hitting the cool dirt with each step. Her green eyes gazed over each booth, in hopes to find a broken lock, or a careless shopkeeper. Yet, the feeling still pulled at her as she wandered down the dirt road.

That was when her head turned, just in time to see someone emerge from the shadows. Her quick scanning eyes looked at the pokemon, an angered glare on her face. She turned herself to face the pokemon, shifting into a comfortable position, for she presumed this would turn into a battle.

That was when the Liepard noticed something, there was something familiar about this pokemon. Her eyes softened as her mind pieced together a few fragments of memory. "Gyasi?" Ava said quietly.

[Gyasi]

The weird feeling grew stronger as Gyasi made out the pokemon’s form. They were tall but thin, sleek and dark, fur lit by the moon’s light. The tail gave it away; she was a liepard. And Gyasi felt like he knew her. 

He clung to shards of memories, old feelings from when he was young. He tried shifting them so they made sense. When she spoke his name, everything fell into place. 

“Ava?” He whispered, pulling down his scarf. 

He glanced around for anyone else, and finding none, stepped closer. It had to be her. There was no one else like that cat. It’d been forever, not since their childhood, but his memories weren’t betraying him. 

“No way!” He said as loud as he wanted to risk. “What're you doing here?”

[Ava]

Ava waited for a reply, her green eyes had barely managed to make out the figure and who it could've been. Then the voice replied, and more memories came into her mind.

Her lips drew back into a smile, and she walked closer until she could see the face of her friend. Getting caught by someone she knew well wasn't as large of an issue, this meant that she would be off the hook.

She had partially expected the question to come, since it had been a while since she had seen Gyasi. "Oh, just doing my job." Ava explained, not going into detail. "And what about you? Ava asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

[Gyasi]

By “job”, she meant suspiciously rummaging through merchant’s stalls in the middle of the night. In other words, the same thing Gyasi was up to. 

“What a stroke of luck,” Gyasi said, “so am I.” 

Gyasi had wondered if the two of them would meet again, but he’d never thought it’d be under these circumstances. A sensible pokemon would look on the situation and think, “what has become of us?”. Gyasi couldn’t believe his good fortune. 

He looked over his shoulder, in the direction of the alakazam’s residence. “Specifically, I’ve got a job in a house two streets down. Wanna come?” 

Teaming up was always enjoyable for a solo explorer like him. A chance to work with an old friend was an opportunity he didn’t want to miss.

[Ava]

Her job wasn't a good job, for the victims that was. Thievery was her way of life, and something she wouldn't let go of. Her ears were happy to hear that it was the same for Gyasi. Her smile got a little wider, this meant she wouldn't get ratted out.

The invitation to join provided further happiness. "Of course, besides, then you have someone with great skills." Ava teased, heading towards the directions given. She was pleased to be teaming up with an old friend, and as always do her best.

"What do you know about this soon-to-be victim?" Ava asked curiously. If there were any tidbits of information he had, Ava wanted to hear, especially since this was a house. It wasn't just some random shop stall, but a place where this future victim called home. The last thing this meant was that there would be most likely a pokemon slumbering within its confines.

[Gyasi]

Gyasi chuckled. He wondered how much she’d grown, and how much she could live up to this great claim of hers. But Gyasi wasn’t about to be shown up, either. He’d grown too; put on a healthy eighty pounds, learned a good few moves, and was even been practising a new one. Though Ava had evolved. While she had matured from her purrloin evolution, Gyasi had yet to move on from his form of a larvitar. He felt young, and beside his friend, very short. 

But that was a matter for another time. Anything short of focus could get them into trouble. 

“An old Alakazam lives there.” Gyasi answered, beginning the walk to the said house. “He’s a dungeon and legends researcher like your’s truly. He can’t go out into the field anymore, but isn’t keen on sharing his knowledge with those of us who can. There’s a book of his I want.”  

Though Ava probably wasn't interested in the same old dusty notes. “He should also have some old relics and rare books that would fetch a high price.” He said, tilting his head to the side. 

Before them lay the abode, made sturdy of stone to prevent fire. Gyasi pressed into the shadows of the neighbouring house. The house’s windows were dark, lacking even a candle for reading. Chances were the old man was asleep. 

“So, Master Thief, what do you propose we do?” Gyasi asked with a sly smile.

[Ava]

Ava felt at home in the night, but she was cautious. She had listened to the notion of this Alakazam not being keen on sharing. This pokemon Gyasi had mentioned was old, and Ava would guess thought that younger pokemon would say the knowledge was incorrect or something similar.

The high priced items is what got the thief's attention, she had contacts, pokemon who would pay a good price for it. She quietly walked into the shadows, her dark pelt having good contrast with the night. Her mind began to plot how to get into the stone house, and she had two options.

One was using her claws to cut open the window, but that was likely to make a smash. Ava thought for a moment, then an idea came to mind, this house was old and most likely had a backdoor. "The backdoor, I can use my claws to pick the lock. Plus it is unlikely we will make noise or be seen." Ava decided, continuing along towards the back of the house.

She narrowed her eyes to make out a doorknob jutting out, this made her smile. The Liepard trotted forward until she was in front of door. She lifted her right paw, and quietly slid out a set of three white claws. The thief smiled, lifting her paw and poking one of her claws into the lock mechanism.

"Now I just need silence." Ava said, making sure she had the quietness she needed. With that she closed the distance from her ear to the door. When her ear touched, she began maneuvering her claw, waiting to hear the satisfying click. It took a few seconds until the charming sound of the click filled her ears.

She removed her claw from the door and soon all three of her claws disappeared. Lastly, she nudged the door open, revealing the inside of the house. "See why I am the master?" Ava said quietly, adding a small laugh.

[Gyasi]

Coming to stand behind her, Gyasi could really see the master at work. She picked the lock so easily - Gyasi was impressed. 

“Just like the millions before, right?” Gyasi whispered. 

As Ava had bayed, the night was silent. Gyasi took care to make as little noise as possible, as it’d only be amplified. He slid into the house. 

It was the same as last time he’d been allowed this far back. Books, opened, stacked, and otherwise thrown about covered whatever surface the loose sheets of paper didn’t. Other papers, in various stages of wear, were taped to the wall. Some overlapped each other, some stood alone, and others, together, formed a large picture. Items that weren’t paper-based were seemingly randomly placed about the room. Gyasi spotted what he assumed to be a forgotten half-eaten lunch underneath an upturned chair. He couldn’t see the alakazam himself, but he could see a few closed doors. His sleeping room was probably behind one. 

Last time he had come in through luck and an unlocked window into the room on his right. Ava certainly made things easier with a quiet backdoor. 

Though he knew what it looked like, Gyasi only had a mild idea where the book he wanted was. It was one of the researcher's better books, bound in soft, violet purple material marked with intricate designs, and even illustrated in color, so it’d probably be in a nice spot. Gyasi stepped carefully through the house, careful not to crunch any papers or old lunches, scanning tables for the book. 

The book wasn’t the only thing he’d be content with taking. He slid a couple sheets of sketches into his bag. 

“That room there, the door by the big table, has some protective boxes in it.” Gyasi remembered, offering it to Ava. “Might have something good in it.”

[Ava]

Ava smiled and nodded at the comment. She had picked locks before, but during her town rounds she checked for broken locks or careless pokemon.

The thief was use to being light and quiet on her paws, making it so when she entered, she was quiet. Stealth was something she knew and learned. The familiarity of sneaking into a house came into her within seconds. Memories of her younger days came into her mind like a fast moving slideshow.

Ava moved through the shadows of the inner areas of the house, and she smiled. Her green eyes scanned the shelves, and everything was making her smile. Artifacts were all over the rooms, and in various places, things that she could steal to sell.

She took a few moments to grab a few objects, this would make it look like a robbery rather then some pokemon coming in for something. She placed each thing gently in her bag, it may fill soon, but while she had the time she would grab anything.

Then she used her ears to hear Gyasi suggest an area for her to raid. With that she opened the unlock door and was introduced to multiple boxes and protective casings. "Looks like a gold mine." Ava whispered, a large grin on her face.

With that, the cat-like pokemon entered the room, and began to slowly grab some rare items. With cases she held the glass surrounding with her tail, boxes she gently cut the tape with her claws.

Ava hoped that after this they could leave, and that Gyasi would get what he came for. Once that happened they would just have to get out and perhaps she would lock the door again. Play some mind games so this pokemon wouldn't get new locks, and she could get in again.

[Gyasi]

The book had to be somewhere. Gyasi scanned the dark room one last time, hoping he had missed it, but failing in that as well, followed Ava into the next. He hoped he could actually find the thing. An image of the alakazam sleeping with the book tucked under his arm unwillingly made an appearance. 

In the next room,the liepard was going to town on the old man’s stuff. Her efficiency was impressive, but at this point Gyasi wasn’t surprised. What a thief his friend’d come to be. 

“What’d I tell you? Researchers have the best stuff.” For both of them. 

Gyasi studied the room. As he’d remembered, it was filled with boxes, some for display, others for storage. Though the trail of food had not continued into the room, the random sprawl of papers had. A few more sheets and a simple book of dungeon logs and sketches he doubted would be missed compared to Ava’s bounty were placed neatly in his bag. 

Though he lacked Ava’s claws, a nearby pen did just as well in Gyasi’s steady hands. The ones that held ink were surprisingly sharp. He’d have to remember to pack one for his next midnight outing. The box he’d bothered opening did not contain the exact book of legends he wanted, but another one decorated with what he recognized as Lugia and Ho-oh. Both legendaries had a gem placed carefully for their eyes - that level of craftsmanship was sure to signify its worth. A quick flip through solidated his resolve, and into the bag it went. The stone beside it found a place as well. If he couldn’t find its use, he was sure Ava could make one. 

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. Inside a glass box, set carefully above a wooden drawer, the purple book sat on a tilted shelf lined with cloth. He used another pen, thin on the end, to fiddle the lock open. The latch clicked up, and Gyasi carefully lifted the top, setting the lid back until it rested against the wall. He lifted the book up. It was prettier than he remembered; the purple color shone in the dim room, and the silver-like wood inlays sparkled. When pokemon went all-out, they really went all-out. 

The item set beside it took his interest as well. Shaped like a sphere, about the same size as a an oran berry, with bits sticking out with weird shapes and angles, he doubted many would recognize it for what it was; a rare dungeon item. It, along with the book, were also placed in his steadily heavier bag. 

He returned to Ava, and whispered, “I’ve got what I want.”

[Ava]

Ava was rather pleased with her bounty of loot so far. Her bag was nearly full, and if she ran out of room she would have to leave and possibly return later. Her emerald eyes glanced at Gyasi to see him take a few papers and to hear the question.

"Yeah, I am going to make a lot on this, my contacts will have smiles for a long time." Ava whispered back. Her lips were curled into a smile, as she quietly began to continue though the various boxes. As she rummaged her head kept track of how long they were in the house.

Ava knew that the longer they stayed, the more likely they could get caught. This was when the phrase 'get in, get out' would enter her mind. Despite just being a phrase, Ava pretty much made it a treasured rule when she was stealing. As her mind calculated, she figured they didn't have much longer in here, if they wanted to make sure they weren't caught.

She hadn't even noticed Gyasi had gone into a different room, until he returned. When he returned with the book, Ava smiled. "Now we better get out of here, we've been here for a while," Ava whispered, a while not actually being that long.

With that the cat-like pokemon began to trot back the way they came, heading towards the door.

[Gyasi]

Gyasi nodded. The quicker they got out, the better. He followed close behind Ava, keeping an eye on the doors they hadn’t opened. He thought he could hear the old alakazam snoring. A loud hiccup from the back and a moment of silence sent a chill down his back. 

At the same time, he felt the familiar rush. The one that came in an intense battle in a dungeon, or that moment he made a new advancement in his studies. He felt alive. The nights alone, crooked over a book, looking at all the same information he’d read over and over and still had yet to connect, scratching hopelessly with a pen until his arm hurt; this, these books, this adrenaline, solved that. He felt like he’d just found the puzzle piece he’d dropped and let roll under the bed. He would do this again. 

Gyasi pushed the back door open, taking care to not let it creak. With the coste clear, he slipped back out into the night. The stars and their silence greeted him. The air was cool tonight, a light breeze from the west, blowing in clouds that threatened rain tomorrow. He stepped into the shadows cast by the house next door and waited for his friend, unable to keep the grin from his face.

[Ava]

Ava gently shut the door after Gyasi was out. It make a small click, but not audible enough to wake the sleeping elder within the household. With that, Ava put her ear back against the door, gently moving her unsheathed claw.

The thief wanted to lock the door again, she wanted the elder to think they got in some other way. If he thought that, then she could sneak back and steal a few mores items once the news died down about their abduction. When she heard the lock click back into place, she smiled.

"Now he might not change the locks, I will be able to pick it easier." Ava said quietly, explaining why she locked the door. With that the thief trotted away from the home, and away from the possible sight of the alakazam. Her bounty of loot hanged around her neck, letting her know that it was full.

She looked up at the moon, it wasn't too far from the past location. "We could probably break into one more house, I doubt anybody will be awake yet." Ava mentioned, using the word 'we'. She wasn't sure if Gyasi wanted to keep stealing from other pokemon, since he got what he wanted.