Caught In the Act

[Talia Bracken]

A bloody knife. Carefully handled, precisely pointed. It was a simple task. At least to her it was. The killing itself had been beyond easy. An act in the night. Deed done unseen. Silently. Masterfully. It had to be. Especially when it was her doing it. That was the easy part. The next part was where she had to be thoughtful. Stage a scene. Frame a murder.

It had to look like the work of an amateur. Or what she would call amateurish. A few subtle changes here and there. A ruffled sheet. Misplaced items. The slightest signs of a struggle. A little mess. A forgotten token left behind to incriminate. She'd done this dance a thousand times. Yet this time she wasn't alone. There was a sound that made Talia whirl her head around. Knife at the ready. Who else had gotten into the minor noble's house this late?

[Lucy Serrano]

Stealing from someone nameless was a set of steps easily done in sleep. Locks were all about tumblers, when people remembered to lock them at all. There was usually a window left slightly, unknowingly ajar, and that made things a lot easier. Dusting off a set of lockpicks felt tedious against the back door of a relatively decent home to mark.

Once passed the locked door, Lucy almost closed it behind her, leaving the slightest gap before it was completely sealed back shut. But it was only a few silent steps in before she stumbled across the scene she really shouldn't have.

It wasn't what she was used to walking into. In fact, she hadn't ever walked on a scene like this before. She parted her lips because she dropped her jaw and couldn't quite pick it back up again a second later. Nor could she properly think of what to say.

It was also why she made the sound that got herself caught. The barest knock to a side table and a single piece of silverware crashed to the floor. At least she didn't look like she belonged in the home, either.

"Well..." Lucy dragged the word out. There wasn't much to be poised about now, anyway; "Fuck."

[Talia Bracken]

Blue eyes flicked to the fallen piece of silverware. A noise that should've been so minuscule had sounded practically deafening in the void of silence she had been working in. Talia looked back at the intruder. Surprise was shared between them. Neither looked like they belonged in the house. Well fuck. A simple phrase. Yet a perfect summary.

This was going to be a problem. She was going to be a problem. Yet not one Talia necessarily wanted eliminated. The fact the girl was even in this place at this hour proved she wasn't a saint. She was probably a thief. A skilled one to get in here. That could be valuable. Although right now that had created the dilemma they were in. And Talia desperately needed to get out. "What are you here for?" She finally decided to ask, eyeing the thief with her blades still drawn.

[Lucy Serrano]

Lucy sort of laughed when she was questioning. It was sharp; sharp like the blades still very willing to strike at her. She wasn't stepping into the scene before her willingly, but she did raise a boot from the ground and take one step in her direction. Her own hands, luckily, were completely empty. She held her palms out flat, downward facing. There were no threats here.

"Definitely not here to bloody well kill anyone." She admitted. Not that she would ever be one to criticise how or why a person went about something as they did. Dead people were a lot easier to rob, so at least she had that going for her now.

For all she knew - and it was her assumption now - she'd walked on a messy end to a probable messy affair. People did a lot of stupid things for love.

"Lower the weapons, mate." She tried then, but she wasn't about to be stern with the person who had the upper hand here, "Dunno why you had the desire to take the life, and I really don't care."

[Talia Bracken]

She sort of laughed. Which made Talia's eyes narrow. She gripped her blades a little more tightly when the girl took a step forward. Yet the gesture proved she was unarmed. Unthreatening. She wasn't here to kill anyone. That much Talia had guessed already. No other assassin had this job. Of that, she was certain. So Talia smirked. "Just here to rob them blind instead?" It was almost a joke. A tease. Annoyed as she was, she couldn't help the quip.

Lower her weapons. She didn't know or care why Talia killed the man. Talia studied the girl for a few seconds. Debated. Then let herself relax outwardly. Although she was still very ready to kill if she'd have to. "Smart answer." She walked back to the bed. Cleaned off the blades on the dead man's shirt. Then blue eyes turned back to the thief inquisitively. "You got in here pretty easy." A remark more than anything. Talia was slightly impressed. Slightly.

[Lucy Serrano]

"Not so much of a challenge now." Lucy offered smartly. With the home owner well and truly gone from this world, everything of value was up for grabs. Everything she didn't take would be stolen within days, #surely. At least she still got the jump on that.

It was her own turn to watch now; one didn't achieve a legendary status without understanding the way a body moved. There might not have been comfort shared in the space between them, but at least no knives were threatening her. At least she looked relaxed. She moved about the body like it hadn't just been the vessel for a human life.

"You're not striking me as the jilted sort." Lucy replied instead. It probably meant something to be slightly impressive, but she was more interested in learning more. There weren't many who caught her attention likewise; "So... Not a scorned lover, then?"

[Talia Bracken]

Not so much of a challenge now. Talia supposed that much was true. With the lord of the house dead, this place had suddenly turned into a prime spot for thieves. Like inadvertent cleaners to finish off a place after Talia was done with it. In a way she suppose there were benefits for them both. So long as Talia's work had the desired affect, the thieves could do what they wanted. It wasn't her house to care about.

She felt the eyes on the back of her head. She was being watched. Observed. Evaluated. She still posed a threat, as she should. Fortunately for the theif, Talia wasn't going to kill her. Yet. There wasn't any danger with her knowing. The blame could easily be put elsewhere. The theif spoke up. She didn't seem like the jilted sort. She wasn't a scorned lover then? Talia blinked and looked back at the dead man in his bed. Then she laughed softly.

"You really think I'd want anything to do with this one?" She tilted his head back with one of her daggers. "Oh please." She rolled her eyes and let his head fall back to his chest. "I have standards. And I wouldn't want to deal with his wife." The remark brought with it a realization. "Which reminds me that I really should be getting out of here, and you should too."

[Lucy Serrano]

Now they were taking about leaving? Lucy couldn't help the way her face echoed how irked she was by it. A missing wife in this instance could only prove messy, and she quickly had to wonder if this woman had sudden qualms with killing another person if they got in her way. She had, after all, threatened the life of the thief who still had empty pockets.

"I just got here." She replied, confusion colouring her features. Though she didn't want a shred of herself in that murder scene, she had to drag herself closer. She had to see his face, then hers so she could easily say; "You're right, though. You look way too good for him."

And then the corner of her mouth dragged upward, searching for a stint of humour in the relatively dreary moment she'd walked into; "And besides, I might like the wife. Is she nice to look at?"

[Talia Bracken]

Her expression shifted and twisted. Talia read irritation. Clearly she wasn't so happy to have to leave the house. She just got there. Confusion was in her voice as she approached. Talia eyed her carefully. It was habit now. Second nature. Even if the thief proved no threat. Talia let her walk up to the dead man. It didn't matter now. Talia was right; she looked way too good for him. The compliment made her quirk a brow and smirk. "Thanks."

She smirked too. She might like the wife. Was she nice to look at? Talia laughed softly again. Shook her head. She couldn't help but be slightly amused. "Pleasing to the eyes or not, I doubt she'd be very willing for extra company when she comes in on this scene." She pointed at the dead man with one of her blades. "As lovely looking as the company might be." She added with a quick assessment. But then she heard something. Her memory clicked.

"Well if you want to steal anything, I suggest you take his ring." She said, swiftly sheathing her daggers and heading for the window. She threw them open. Then glanced back at the thief with a smirk. "And I also suggest you hurry. The wife will be back soon." Days had gone into observing the house's goings-on to select a perfect witness to the crime. Who better than the wife? "Unless you would like to take the blame." It came with a wink before Talia leapt out the window and dashed away from the place. Her escape route had been perfectly planned out from the beginning.

[Lucy Serrano]

Truth be told, it was rare for Lucy to ever get remotely close to someone recently dead. There was a kind of code among thieves not to kll people; it was enough to get a person tossed out of an institution entirely. An entire network could turn on a dime. There was more than one reason not to have this pinned on her.

Lucy was almost willing to make a better quip about scorned company, but she didn't get a chance. The thought was chased away by the notion of being quick. She supposed that was the proverbial name of the game anyway. The lack of weapons out in her company at least meant she wasn't a known threat. So eyes dwindled to a ring; perhaps on some level, she was going to help this woman in whatever it was she was keen on staging.

Dark eyes glanced to the ring residing on a still-warm hand. She turned her nose up at the thought. And when she looked back, she was bolting out the window.

She left everything in the house as it was and darted out the just-used window to follow. There was more interest in a cloaked woman than there was a cold body and a free set of items.

[Talia Bracken]

Talia didn't see what the theif had chosen to do. She was far busier dashing away from her target's house to concern herself with that. Yet to her surprise she heard footsteps behind her as she fled. The thief had followed. For what reason, Talia had no idea. The questioning could wait. For now Talia took various turns to get her to a nice spot. She'd heard the screams on the way there and smiled. Another job well done.

Which left her with her oddly inquisitive thief. Talia turned back to her now. They were hidden between one of the small alleys separating two buildings. Far enough away from the crime scene that Talia could breath easy. She noticed no ring in her possession, although it might already be hidden away. Still, she was with Talia despite knowing what she was. Strange. "I don't know many who would willingly follow an assassin right after seeing their work." It was the truth. Talia was a little shocked, if not entertained.

[Lucy Serrano]

Most people likely would have been easily lost in the twists and turns an incredibly skilled set of feet took to make an escape. There was a kind of impressed nature about Lucy's thoughts the more she followed a person who didn't want any kind of company. Fortunately for herself, she knew the streets on a similar level. There wasn't so much different about those lives led.

But when she hooked herself around the corner, there was a woman stopped and waiting. So cool and so collected that it wasn't fair how good she looked standing between those two buildings. Lucy stalled with a slight drag, exhaling a heavy breath and pressing a palm to the side of the nearby wall immediately.

"Oh, that's what that was." She replied finally, glancing up the length of the unfamiliar form before her slowly before she finally reached her face, "Glad you're not just doing it for fun."

[Talia Bracken]

She stalled slightly, leaned again the wall with an exhale. So that's what she had been doing, and not just as a hobby. Talia smirked at that. And didn't fail to notice the slow study she got from the thief in the meantime. Talia responded in kind, but it was a swift glance over. She'd been trained to size up aperson fast, even in the second time doing it. "Breaking into a house just to kill a man and stage a murder for fun?" The way she posed it was slightly teasing.

"Even if that were the case, I might as well become an assassin to get paid for my hobby." It wasn't her hobby. Not particularly. Although Talia wouldn't even try to deny how much she loved her work. There was a thrill to it she couldn't resist. "What about you then?" Her held tilted to the side slightly and she leaned against a building with crossed arms. "You break into places just for fun? You seem like a professional." That or simply experienced enough. She had kept up with Talia in her escape after all.

[Lucy Serrano]

On the contrary; where time was given, Lucy had every intention of taking it. She was granted a spare moment or two in an alleyway with a woman who seemed interesting enough, so she looked. She had the chance. Why not?

The notion of assassination being a hobby had Lucy raising her eyebrows at the thought. The corner of her mouth dragged again, and this time she allowed it to overcome her features in a more pointed smirk. "Sure, it's fun." She replied, nonchalantly. "I mean come on. Test your skills. Get paid. All that sorta shit. Its a bit like you, I gather, but a bit less messy." Her nose twitched again, but she did her best not to let it turn upwards. Killing people was hardly the life she would prefer, but to each their own.

"So how about you tell me why I'm not dead with him?"

[Talia Bracken]

She smirked a little more pointedly. Sure it was fun. A way to test skills and get paid; a bit like her but less messy. Talia noticed the small nose twitch that came with the response. A chuckle left her. "It's only messy when I want it that way." That much was true. There were numerous other ways for her to have disposed the man tonight. Subtler ones. Quieter ones. The kind of method that wouldn't be discovered until the morning. "It's all about what the job requires."

Then came the question. The one bouncing around in Talia's own head already. Why wasn't the thief dead with him? Talia arched a brow at first. Then smiled sweetly. But there was a taunting bite to it. "It almost sounds like you want to join him. Which could be easily arranged." It was a teasing joke. Not completely serious, even if it could be. "But you're not dead because you're not my target. And what are you going to do anyways? Tell on me? Oh my." A hand went to her heart in a gesture of fake worry. "I'm so scared. A thief telling on an assassin after breaking into the same house to steal anyways."