A Simple Heist (Rachel/Arsene)

[Augustine]

It was an unusual request for Rachel, which was saying something.  The odd looking half-devil was used to some pretty out there requests, and even came up with a lot of them herself.  Being asked to vet a potential new recruit though?  That was new.  "You sure I'm the best pick for somethin' like this?"  She could remember asking, before being assured that given the candidate and nature of things she was indeed a good pick for this.  Well hey, she was never one to dismiss praise so she might as well give it a shot right?

If it had turned into some kind of sit down interview or professional review she'd have given a hard pass, just thinking about it made her want to run to the nearest mountains and go cave diving.  Vetting him in the field though?  Way more interesting.  So here she sat in a cheap motel in Novosibirsk, Russia.  Nothing but two beds, a window, honestly motels like this tended to be pretty similar across borders, there were differences, and Rachel had noted a fair few in her travels across the world, but a lot of things were very similar.  General, pleasant atmospheres, or at least attempts at them.  The person she was meeting 'Arsene' should be meeting her here soon, where they'd then discuss the job.  She had all the details, all he knew was that he was going to have a partner who would be observing him and helping him with a heist in the city.

He'd been given an address, a copy of the keycard to get into the room, and the name and description of who he was meeting.  Rachel Anselm, half-devil and Strigoi 'researcher.'    At the moment she was sitting in one of the room's two chairs, feet propped up on the table with the television on, watching Russian news.  Her hair was cut a bit short and rough, but came in two colors, dark blue outside and light blue teal inside.  More noticeably though she wasn't wearing her eyepatch, so that bizarre left eye of hers was completely exposed, and her tail was curled around to rest on her lap. 

Supposedly Strigoi had already confirmed that this wasn't a trap and it was just a question of how capable he was, but if there was anything funny going on Rachel wanted to figure it out quickly, and any reaction to her clearly inhuman traits would be a fantastic way to start gauging him.  Now he just had to show up, and she could get to explaining the job and see how he did.

[kyubbifox9]

For a moment it was quiet besides the noises of the television and wind outside, only for it to be interrupted by the polite knocking upon the room door, followed by a tired voice "domashneye khozyaystvo." With a bit of impatience the door was clicked unlocked and the worker came in, dressed in a maroon bellhop's uniform, the hat barely hanging off his head of orange hair. A young man, face worn down with wrinkles from an underpaid job and little sign of accomplishment, a cigarette pack bulging from the breast pocket of his outfit.

It took three steps for him to enter the room, foot casually clicking the door shut behind, before his entire aura changed. Not like a demon switching forms, but as if an entirely different person had taken over the body, energy flooding his graceful steps and a vibrancy of life on his face as he gave a bow. "Apologies madam, I typically take the window or other such entrances, but you'd be amazed how little people pay attention to you once you rest this hat atop your head," Arsene let out an easy chuckle, taking the free chair and sitting before her with crossed legs. The demon could barely contain his excitement at the moment, having wondered how he'd introduce himself to the temporary partner and organization interviewer. The Strigoi organization had made its ripples and he couldn't ignore them, but he didn't want to frighten them or reveal too much, so he went with the same treatment he gave Maurice. He wasn't surprised he could get an interview with them, but to have it be a heist, he'd think they were spoiling him or trying to butter him up...Perhaps both.

"Ah! How rude of me, I am Arsene, a pleasure to make your acquaintance and share this opportunity with you Miss Anselm" Arsene declared with a clap of his hands, delight twinkling in his eyes, "so what shall we be purloining tonight?"

[Augustine]

The door opened and Rachel looked right towards it as what looked like a normal worker walked in. She didn't seem worried though, even if it was she'd just pass it as a cosplay, wasn't the first time she'd done something like that when getting caught. Sure it meant people thought she was one of those furry folks, but she didn't really care about that. Then...it turned out to indeed be who she was expecting.

"Ah nah, I totally get it.  Welcome, dobro pozhalovat'!" Rachel replied with a wave of her hand. Her tail moved, sliding off of her lap and flicking to grip the handle of an attache case and lift it up, which she picked up to set on the table and click open. "Arsene right? Ya gotta preferred language or is Romanian fine?" Naturally that was her primary language, same for most Strigoi given they were based in Romania. She'd pull out a neat little stack of papers and, "Our target's the home of one Alyokhin Jaroslav Pavlovich. Politically and economically speaking, just one more of those weirdos in suits that don't seem to do anything, but got a fancy executive job title and rake in way too much money. Recently though he purchased an...interesting item."

One of the paper was a photo of the man's residence, a very tall building, it almost looked like an apartment or condo complex, but it was all one home owned by one man. Then a simple portfolio of the man himself. "Near as I can tell there's no info on the Velvet Underground giving any indication that he's on the up and up about this stuff, but the seller? Totally different story. As for the artifact." Another picture, it was a tablet, some kind of dark red stone, engraved and carved in detail, showing some kind of...vaguely humanoid figure, but way too many legs extending outwards, piercing people who were either begging or worshipping...hard to tell.

"Thing's about seventy centimeters wide, 25 tall, and maybe 10 thick. A bit awkward but you can carry something like that under one arm. Don't know how heavy it is, or what the stone's made of though. Most importantly, I don't know what it does, I was only able to confirm it's got a devilish property and it was sold by a known purveyor of those types of goods."

[kyubbifox9]

"In the flesh and nonsense, it would be rude having you change languages on my behalf" he waved his hand at the suggestion, sticking to Romanian was easy enough. "Too much money and not clue what to do with it, I know the type well" Arsene had one hand cupping his chin while the other grabbed paper after paper to examine them, "least in my time the suits had enough color and flair to act like the individual personality...well least til I took that from them as well." A quiet fond chuckle left his lips, before a shake of his head dimmed that playful light in his eyes, nostalgia could be later for now he had to be professional.

Eventually he held the picture of their target, and ran his eyes over it again and again, a  spark of greed bursting in his chest. It was far from the usual target, as the paintings that humanity put so much time into always had a delicious  bit of greed and pride to them, and without getting a hold of it he couldn't tell if it was the genuine article. It did not help that his knowledge of demons was slightly lacking, it was what came with focusing more on humanity, so he had no regrets. Still what could it represent? Spider or octopus demon perhaps? All the while he nodded to the summary and plotting, to show he was paying attention and pleasantly surprised at her own effort. A good future accomplice whether or not this Strigoi business panned out for him.

"Hardly the heaviest valuable I've run off with, and the fact you've confirmed its genuine is a relief on my mind as that is a frighteningly common problem." he leaned over the table now, watching her with some interest as he asked his next question, "So before we begin the discussion I must ask how much reign I have over the plan, am I meant to assist or lead?"

Like all demons, Arsene was chaos, legends, and sin personified, and most would gladly take control of the operation without a second thought. But he held himself to the standards he acquired a long time ago. Plus it served as a simple test, to see how she'd respond. She certainly wasn't afraid of demons at the very least, its why he hadn't given a flourish and shown his true form.

[Augustine]

"I am here to observe, advise, assist, and bail you out if shit hits the fan. This is your show, your chance to show your stuff." Rachel replied with a toothy grin, her teeth were sharpened, like a shark's or a lizard's. "I've compiled as much info as you could want, we got blueprints of the building, a list of major renovations since it was built. I've got lists of staff and regular guests to the building." She'd spread the papers out across the table as she spoke. "We've got access to a decent budget for tools and items necessary for the job, and you've got an extra pair of hands via me."

She'd continue on, "The tablet is on the eighth floor, both seventh and eighth are devoted to showing off his 'collection', seventh for modern media trinkets, eighth for the older stuff. Everything's kept in their own neat little bullet proof cases with non-digital locks. The man himself keeps a key on him at all times but from what I could gather there is one spare kept in a safe hidden in his bedroom. Alternatively you can always try picking the lock. I've heard it's supposed to be really top class stuff but in my experience that doesn't always mean much."  Of course those were hardly his only options, just the most readily apparent as suggested by Rachel.

"Now here's where things get interesting.  Recently he hired an actual security team.  About ten strong, five for the day, five for the night.  They predate him purchasing the tablet by about two weeks, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a coincidence.  I've checked them out, and aside from being pricey they don't have any supernatural connections that I could find, but they are armed, and one is set to patrol and monitor the two collection floors."

[kyubbifox9]

There was no way containing that full-blown smile at those words, it was his show, and he refused to disappoint. He had a target, an item, and a location, the rest was just a massive bonus. Routes constructed in his mind for the pair to enter, to escape, and to make a fool of their soon-to-be victim.

"Well it appears I could not ask for a better accomplice," he declared, standing up with a grin, taking off the coat of his uniform and flipping it inside out to reveal a black suit jacket. A hand going through his hair to comb it and a pair of glasses appearing in his hand. "Now let's go, I refuse to keep a client waiting, plus I wonder if we can't obtain some on the side," the thief was already heading out the door, "how bout it Rachel, some artwork to liven up your home or my future work place?"

The playful tone came natural, even with the new formal attire, so it was a touch difficult to tell whether he was joking or serious about stealing more. A look of surprise and snap of his fingers brought him out of it, "oh do you have a way of hiding your features? We're going to walk through the front door and I don't think they'll appreciate two blatant demons walking in."

[Augustine]

"Oho? Heading out just like that? Haha, I like your style, and hey! Not like the guy's got a small little collection, I'm sure he won't miss a couple more items." Rachel replied, hopping up to her feet and grinning herself. She turned around to grab something off the nightstand, tail swaying as she brought it over her head before turning around. There was now a normal medical eyepatch over that unusual demonic eye. "Give me just one minute to change. I might not have any magic, but I've had years to learn how to cover up the oddities."

A quick trip to the room's bathroom and indeed in about a minute she'd be stepping back out. The woman could change clothes remarkably fast it seemed, but form fitting pants had been traded for big cargo pants. Her tail had to be in there somewhere, but he'd have to look really closely to figure out where. There was also a large, poofy yellow winter coat, and a baseball cap. It helped hide how odd her two toned hair was, and even then that was an actual style that was just very high effort. Her teeth and the odd color of her mouth couldn't be helped but they were much harder to see and more importantly.

"Rachel Anselm, the social media daredevil at your service. The teeth? Dentalwork.  The tongue? Tattoo." She snickered, "Not even my idea, I only came up with the story when I found out all my followers were convinced that's what it was. Tail and the eye are the only real hitch and I've had years to practice keeping my tail still in a big pair of pants."

She spread her arms wide as if doing a pose. "So, this good enough, or are ya gonna have to rethink your strategy?" She would never pass as a normal woman, but in this day and age, young folk following trends and trying to make it big on social media was its own specific kind of normal. The mundanity of the bizarre one might say. From the sounds of it she even did do social media and had a following, so it really was the best possible cover for her odd appearance.

[kyubbifox9]

"Times waits for no man, I keep no one waiting," the boast was followed by a nod, calmly whistling a tune as he awaited her new wardrobe, scribbling on a small piece of paper. When she finally stepped out, he gave her an appraising eye, before once again clapping his hands together. "Bien Fait my dear, all perfectly justifiable and fitting well into my plan. Why if Strigoi does not continue to employ you, I would be happy to!"

Though if he were completely honest, which he never truly was, he would've gone through with the heist no matter her appearance. He had a reputation to uphold, and he would never allow a silly thing like her attire or looks challenge or stop him from obtaining whatever he desired. And at the current moment that desire was to impress the masses while making a fool of the rest. He held the door open with a bow and soon they were both walking to the site, Arsene chatting amicably.

"Dental work has gone a far way since my time I must confess, to allow you to get away with that, its impressive and you're a daredevil online? What convinced you to take your current work then?" he couldn't deny some curiousity on why she had gone this route, was it similar to himself or Maurice? A different route? And would he have to find her channel to see the answer for himself. He'd like still search for it even if she did answer, always good to keep tabs on the people who know you, plus he could see tonight shows definitely be worthy of some fans.

True to his word, he walked through the front door, once again holding the door for her and went straight for the front desk. "I am terribly sorry for the late arrival, some urgent business has come up with Mister Pavlovich's collection and security, but his security and him have agreed this matter is best kept under the radar" Arsene's lies flowed off the tongue like a river of honey, hints of the truth sprinkled in its deception, as his fingers slid an almost business-like card across the counter, "this recently arrived and we were called out to make sure it was dealt with properly, some extra security and variables to make sure this insect is crushed and made a show of." The card itself was a declaration that Arsene Lupin would arrive tonight and claim at least half of the man's collection for himself, unless he decided to wrap and ship it (including the tablet). A brief look of panic overtook the woman's business demeanor til Lupin held up a palm. "Take a breath, don't worry your young beauty over this, my associate and I are merely insurance. This fool won't know what hit him and the only worry on your mind, should be allowing a cleaning crew up later this evening...And perhaps dinner with me if you are free."

Seriousness, panic, nervousness, and flattery, all emotions that could be tugged and played with by a silver tongue and subtle words. With a parting wink, the pair of thieves were in the elevator, rising up the floors. Arsene wasn't certain if they'd be alone, but he had gotten them entrance to the floor at least. Out the corner of his eye, he gave his partner a raised eyebrow and grin, "impressed?"

[Augustine]

With no complaints about her 'disguise' they'd step out of the motel and into the streets. As they walked she'd pull out her phone to show him some images. "Heh, yeah honestly I didn't know it was a thing either, but there was one particular video my followers were passing around, some years old meme."

"Apparently it's not that new, some ancient cultures did it and oh man that sounds awful to experience." The images looked clean at least. Of course, they were human teeth sharpened, her teeth were wider at the base than these could be, their triangular shape not possible to emulate so cleanly. Without a close look though, and without any reason to suspect she wasn't fully human, there really wasn't another explanation!

"Anyways reason I took up this line of work is because I was asked." She put her phone away with a chuckle. "Before Strigoi I was and am a pretty famous daredevil, pun intended. I've been all across the world, big mountains, canyons, jungles, dangerous rivers and more. There's not many folks with my level of globetrotting experience and willingness to throw themselves into dangerous situations. Add in that me being a half-devil is honestly not that hard to figure out if someone in the know is willing to spend some time really investigating me?" She shrugged. "Guess Strigoi thought I'd be a good fit, and I'm inclined to agree with 'em."

Eventually they got to the home of the rich man himself and well, it was styled like some kind of office. She couldn't imagine modeling a home after work, well not off of office work at least. She'd follow behind him, hands in the pockets of her coat, just idly looking around with a small grin on her face as she listened to him talk. Now that was a bold strategy! It was the kind of absurd thing that people just didn't expect and soon the two were walking into the elevator up.

"Heh, not bad. I don't see many people going for something that brazen. Can't wait to see what you say to the actual security."

[kyubbifox9]

“Not many have my charm, passion, and insanity” Arsene explained with a chuckle, silently counting down the dings of the elevator as a signal to his soon to be Strigoi premier. “And that is the crux of the matter isn’t? What shall our devilishly witty hero say to the guards awaiting him?”

With the thirteen ding the metal plates seperated just in time for an arm, the size of a tree, to fly through and smash into the hat that floated in the air where Arsene’s head had been. “He will no doubt know that his target will have seen through his deception but accepted the challenge due to either believing the thief to be caught unawares or the more likely option, delusional arrogance.” The thief spoke from his position kneeling on the floor, before springing Howard’s just as the guard’s second fist flew.

“And then he shall request his partner prepare to watch or stream the performance of a lifetime!” he proudly declared hands landing on the ceiling and pushing him and his feet down onto the outstretched arm, shoving it into the floor, before he ran past the first guard. For a brief moment there was a shimmer of gold on his person from his manic glee being unable to hide his true self. The tingle of demonic and other energies flowing off the rooms relics, the frustration pouring off the first guard who spun around to give chase, and the second guard’s confidence at aiming a revolver for his head, all fueled him to weave his way through the bullets that were tinged yellow with their own energy. This was his show, and in the name of his frust confidant, he refused to disappoint.

[Augustine]

Rachel blinked as the arm came smashing through the opened elevator door, narrowly missing Arsene by a thin margin. That was a nice dodge, so was his leap up and push down to get the guard's arm down as he dashed past him and into the gallery. It dominated an entire floor of the building, but that wasn't that big of a space, enough for about two inner walls standing in the middle, turning the floor into three aisles of various artifacts and items. Not so big that Rachel could avoid getting sucked into any conflict by just hanging sufficiently back.

She had her phone out though, turning on the camera as she stepped out of the elevator to follow him. Must be nice having a boss who put all the stuff in bulletproof glass, these guys could open fire without worrying about damaging anything. From her right rushing down the aisle she could see another of the guards, a baton in hand that he was clearly going to swing at her head, shouting at her to get down on her knees as he lifted it upwards. "Ya mind pal? I'm a little busy." She said nonchalantly as she ducked low, and stepped in, driving her shoulder into his gut, trying to keep the phone framed on Arsene before he turned into an aisle. Her body shifted, going lower and then hoisting up, flipping the man up over her to slam hard onto the floor on his back.

Not enough to knock him out, but enough to stun him as she started running, racing to keep up and make sure she could see what was going on! So far, Arsene was putting on a great show, but how was he going to pick the lock while being chased by security? Was he going to take them out first? Or did he have another trick up his sleeve?

[kyubbifox9]

"5...6...reload" Arsene declared tilting his head to let the sixth bullet nearly graze his cheek, closing the distance between himself and the gunmen just enough to be right in front of him. Close enough to push said firearm just straight into as it fired a beam of pure yellow power into the ceiling, "is what someone unaware of cursed firearms would say, not to worry though I mean you no harm." While spoken honestly the grin upon the thief's face promised anything but that, his body twirling unnaturally around the man's body, ending with the bottom of his designer shoe's heel sinking into his head and kicking off...Mere moments before the initial guard's goliath right hook swing the air, the pressure of which sending the thief careening down the hall.

"Well it heh appears our thief finds himself in quite the puzzle...No key, reinforced and charmed glass sealing his prize, and a brute the equivalent of a force of nature marching towards him' Arsene continued to play the role of a showman, even with his body quivering to stand up right, a hand using the tablet's glass barrier for support. It was then that he unveiled the prize hidden in his left hand, the guard's revolver glowing a dark scarlet as he fired round after round into the reinforced giant. All it took to stop the magical lead assault was for one of those arms to raise up in front of his face as a wall of meat, those trunk like legs picking up speed as he ran forward in a blind charge.

"My dear I have but one question for you and our audience joining us this moonlit heist, what separates myself from the common rogue, thief, and burglar?" the demon asked over the booms of his new firearm and stomps of his current opposition. The timer to reply was counting down. The revolver clicking empty. The last step taken between his foe and himself. The arm that wasn't bullet ridden being tugged for one hell of a haymaker. And finally a sickeningly loud CRACK!

"The answer my dear recruiter..." Arsene said in the dead silence, the glass behind him now sporting a spider web of cracks spreading out of it's center where a cane's tip made of darkness and ashes rested...The handle of which buried into the knuckles of the titan. "Is Manners."

[Augustine]

It was kind of difficult, trying to film someone, keep the phone stable, while big, beefy security were trying to attack her. Their intel said they didn't have any supernatural connections and yet those yellow trailing bullets told a different story. Either that or their current employer was up to more than it seemed. Eh who knew, maybe Rachel's next job would be figuring out which it was. Bad intel or the eccentric rich man giving his hired thugs magic weapons. A man lunged at her and she went into a low slide right between his legs, one hand grabbing an ankle and flipping hard as she sprang to her feet to pull his leg back and send him down onto his face.

She was focused on trying to film Arsene and there were already more than enough bullets, one slamming...directly into her head as she staggered to the side and, "Ow! Bitch!" With a streak of blood running down the side of her face she turned to flip the guard off, seemingly utterly unphased by the bullet wound in her skull. She at least kept the phone pointed at Arsene even if she missed his stunning maneuver, getting the thug to help slam that sturdy cane directly into the case, cracks spreading as it weakened.

"Oh hey, nice work pal! Now just gotta bust it all the way op-uh...hey you might wanna back away from it!" That long stone tablet, with its stunning carving, seemed to have darkness shrouding it, like wisps of shadow manifested into some kind of clothing growing around it to fill the case, as if disturbed by the violence around it. A moment later, the case would shatter, sending hard plastic fragments flying outwards as a figure shot up. That cloth like shadow wreathing it, a hat on its head, a menacing figure of white with what looked like shiny white hair flowing around its head. Prominent hands tipped with menacing claws that glowed red before shooting out, extending like beams of light! One of the guards was going to be impaled several times, and if Arsene didn't move quick one of those extending claws might pierce him too!

Well hey, they now had an idea of what the tablet did?

[kyubbifox9]

In that momentary burst of demonic energy, the thiefs true form was unveiled, a mask coating his eternally grinning face and gold flickering off his flexible body. Said body was now in the air, being held up by one arm and using his cane to gain just bit of extra height.

"Hmph I'd expect nothin' less from a demonic treasure," Arsene said with a tinge of disgust to his voice twisting his wrist and shoulder to rotate his body, the chaotic flailing of his joints actually coordinated to dodge a wide slash of those beam like claws. "I mean truly a Faust, you lot haven't heard that name like I have mine," Arsene growled having always had a personal distaste for the lower class demon, who seemed to lazily glare back at him from beneath that wide brimmed hat.

"Oh no you don't!" was the shout as Arsene showed his impressive dexterity, flinging himself off the floor with a twist of his hips and cane, getting into the demon's personal space...Just as several wisps turned into spectral blades around him. "Good keep those blades steady" he growled arm tugged back to prepare the point of 'Manners' to impale its cloak, mere moments before its tail shot out at him, nearly removing his arm. There was a hiss as the overcharged barrel of a luger pressed down on its tail, before it shattered itself with the resulting BANG.

[Augustine]

Well that was a devil of a thing to see. Pun fully intended. Rachel watched as Arsene got into a battle with the 'Faust'? Was that the name of the species or did he like actually know this devil personally? Rachel didn't recognize it herself at least, even an information seeker could only know so many things!

Unfortunately her attempts to watch and record Arsene's impressive fight with the Faust were interrupted by the guards. Some were still intending to interfere with Arsene and Faust, although whether they were shooting at him or the newly arrived devil was hard to tell. A couple though were insistent to try and manhandle what must have looked like some slender party girl, including the one she'd knocked down mere moments ago.

"Hey! Stop getting in the shot!" She commented as she stepped backwards, a lumbering hulk of a man rushing through the air in front of her. Another came, swinging his baton at the side of her head as she ducked low, her tail slipping out of her baggy pants and seizing his ankle, yanking hard as she quickly darted to the side and toppling him. "I'm warning ya!" The guard she first dodged had drawn his gun now and with a sharp bang any attempts to back up the warning with a threat were cut off as it struck her squarely in the side of the head, rocking it to the side.

"Oww! Fine! I wasn't expecting to only watch anyways!" Despite taking a bullet in the head, the girl seemed if anything more annoyed, despite the blood clearly running down one side of her face. Her free hand reached into her pants as she dashed towards the guard that shot her, the other trying to keep the phone pointed at a fight she couldn't see at the moment. From within her pants came out...a black, single-edged short sword, the actual blade an almost glowing neon green. It wasn't that long and slender enough that it could easily fit into a false pocket. She swung the blunt edge towards the man harshly across the wrist, the gun toppling from his hand as he cried out in pain, before she then followed up with a firm strike across the jaw to send him toppling backwards, clutching his face.

After that she immediately turned her attention back to Arsene, hoping her phone had been pointed right. "How's it going over there? I'm having a blast on my end!"