We're running with the shadows of the night (Lark and Haelan)

[havinalark]

The temple was quiet, the only movement being the patrolling of the guards outside. In the dormitories the priests slept peacefully, trusting in the guards to protect the treasures hidden within the deepest sanctuary of the temple.

The guards, unfortunately, are not prepared for the dark shadow that knows exactly where they are patrolling and where their blindspots are, and slips through without them noticing. Nobody expects the soft, barely-there footfalls of the black-clad figure slipping through the darkened temple corridors, and they certainly don't expect someone to be able to pick the lock of the large oak door protecting the inner sanctuary and slip in, ready to do the same to the heavy padlock holding closed the chest that contains the temple's most sacred artefact - a golden statue that somebody has paid the Wing very, very good money to steal.

No, the are not prepared for any of that. Unfortunately, the wing was not prepared for what came next.

The slim redhead was crouched in front of the chest, working carefully at the padlock. As usual Lark was clad in simple black leggings and tunic, baggy enough to hide the femininity of her form, the black hood hiding her hair and a half mask covering her nose and mouth all helping to keep her identity - and gender - a secret. She appeared completely focused on the task at hand, but she had half an ear out for any disturbance, and when she heard a noise she was sweeping her tools into a pouch and disappearing into a shadowy corner, waiting to see who was coming.

Comments

[bad_thief]

Haelan looks back at the knife again, fingers gently moving over all the stones inlaid in it, the careful work of a craftsman. Gods only know how long it took to make something like this, how much such a thing would cost. More than he'd ever afforded, and he'd never have the guts to steal something so showy, so easily identifiable.

He's only ever had a simple knife, bone-handled. He's never tried to use one as a weapon.

He smirks a little, lips turning up higher on one side than the other. "Someone said to me once that if you don't want to be stabbed, you shouldn't carry a dagger."

[havinalark]

"Only if you don't know how to use one," Lark said with a faint smile. People who inexpertly waved weapons about thinking they knew what they were doing usually did end up on the receiving end of violence, and it often was at the hands of the very weapon they'd been using as a threat - at least, when they waved weapons at some of the kind of people Lark knew.

Someone who actually did know what they were doing was usually better off.

"Don't use it as a threat, don't wave it about like you're tough, it's there if you need it." she added simply "You do know how to fight with a dagger, don't you? Or have you never had the need to before?"

[bad_thief]

Well that's the thing isn't it? Orphanages don't tend to teach their charges basic dagger skills. And as a thief you only really get one chance with a knife before they upgrade you to murderer or downgrade you to prisoner. So for Haelan there has only ever been one real option.

"Before I met you, running away very fast and hiding was my preferred method of fighting. Always worked too."

Sometimes you had to lay low for a day or so but the city had been big enough for one small street rat to cope reasonably well without ever having to threaten anyone at all.

[havinalark]

"Running away and hiding is still a pretty good option," Lark nodded, she didn't want him putting himself in danger when he had an escape route - but she wanted him to have the means to defend himself in a tight spot, especially when she knew people were after him. Or them.

"But if you don't have that option, it's good to have a back up. I can teach you how to use it." They may as well do something interesting while they were still lying low, and she knew she'd feel better the safer he was. She didn't really want to think too deeply about why that was.