( does it say much about her? astarion probably doesn't realize how sad and mopey he sounds, even behind the clown mask. it seemed, at the time, like the only thing to make him feel betterβ
I was hoping you'd ask or I would have written you off as a fool.
I have a business opportunity, of sorts. A lightening of the load of some of the wealthier patrons of a club I frequent. And while I happen to be an expert in my own field, someone with additional slight of hand expertise would ensure greater profits.
It's a quick way to make a few joolies and redistribute the wealth of Panorama, when you think about it.
( he isn't actively asking her to use her powers, to mind control others as a distraction or otherwise, so there's a tinge of hope that he's really considering her someone who can properly manage some amount of stealth, but...
astarion could have asked literally anyone else.
and yet she is burdened by the fact that there are two more people in her shared room arrangement, she's worried about having enough food, and extra joolies in her pocket sounds like the perfect balm for her current anxieties. )
i'm not helping you for anything less than a 50-50 cut.
[ 50-50 cut...ugh. Astarion doesn't like sharing the spoils much, but this is a test run. He wants to see what she can do--what she's willing to do. So part of the reward is her participation. ]
Anything less? Darling, I'm hurt. I would never undercut my partners.
i'm just letting you know what i want in exchange.
( besides, it'd make her worth her time. wanda doesn't think she's told astarion to keep her powers secret, for her sake, but she thinks that he would rather not everyone else knowβjust so he can take advantage of them.
( wanda doesn't respond to him because she's making her way to decker hall. she isn't very familiar with the location, but after putting together an excuse for needing to go out and shoving her boots on, she asks for some directions at the motel's reception.
she walks most of it, using the cover of night to hide the fact that she levitates up onto ceilings to make her path shorter. )
Though the evening takes a little set up with Astarion doing his rounds, his targets make themselves known soon enough. Astarion puts on his best face, all charming smiles and flirtatious banter. Promises are made that won't be kept all the while Wanda proves herself to be an ideal accomplice.
It's after they've left the club, Astarion flips through the stack of joolies they acquired over the course of a couple of hours, counting each one with growing pride. ]
Well, well. I would call that a lucrative evening.
( it felt a little odd, to use her powers for this. when pietro gained his speed, he would use it to steal, but to give goods to those affected by the war and chaos in novi grad. though she'd berate him about it, she can no longer say that she wouldn't have stooped to such efforts now. things here, they are better than in sokovia, but it also feels more desperate.
like there's less of a community, perhaps, to hold on to and make ends meet properly.
sleep tugs at her eyes, it being later than what she's used to staying up, but she follows after astarion, several inches shorter and getting into his space regardless. )
[ Relying on other people is dangerous. The nice things about these sorts of relationships is both parties benefit, which ensures that they will work together for the greater profit. That he can put some trust in rather than the random generosity of strangers.
Never trust that.
Speaking of, he isn't sure he trusts her enough just yet. Handing her over the joolies feels...foolish. But Astarion also understands he needs to prove himself worth working with. And she'd made it a point that she was also in it for the money.
It's a rare show of good faith, then, that Astarion hands her over the stack of joolies with a bit of a flourish, to cover that he'd rather not be doing so. ]
I count three-hundred and sixty-two.
[ Which is the true amount. A test to see if Wanda claims the same. ]
( he may feel foolish, but astarion can rest assured that wanda isn't thinking of bailing with the money they both worked to get. even if it would seem an easy thing to do, the trouble that would come afterwards, the repercussions to this acquaintanceship between them? it would not be worth it.
she takes the stack of joolies, slowing down as she walks, pausing just before a corner, and quickly counts the notes. )
βthis one's fake. ( she tugs a 10 joolie note from the stash and hands it over to him. the colors aren't quite right, the images and text slightly smaller, and it feels strange to the touch compared to the others.
wanda has seen a few of them at the thrift store. ) But you can still use it if you're exchanging joolies directly with others.
( once she's done counting, she does a little bit of mathsβhands the stash back to him. )
176 each, unless you want to count the fake bill. Then it's 181.
[ He watches her very closely. It's more of a reflection of Astarion than Wanda, for just because he's working with someone, it doesn't mean he immediately trusts them. Not yet.
When she pulls out a fake joolie, however, his brows raise up to his hairline and he readily snatches it. Scrunching his nose and squinting, he holds it up to towards the streetlights. Disgusting. ]
Ugh, I really hate these things...gold and silver are so much simpler.
[ He really cannot fault anyone for making fake paper money either. It seems simple enough. ]
If the fake one is enough to fool, it counts.
[ He looks at it again, unimpressed, then folds it up. The math, then, does add-up. At least she isn't trying to steal from him. He could have even avoided pointing out the fake bill and slipped it into his pile. Therefore... ]
I'll take it and enjoy the satisfaction of pulling the wool over someone else's eyes.
[ Astarion holds out his hand expectantly for the rest of his share. And yes, he will count it again. ]
( 'pulling the wool over someone else's eyes'; finding joy in that seems like such an astarion thing. wanda counts up the money again, splits it into a a neat pile of 181 joolies, and hands him the rest. she is quick to pocket her share on the inside pocket of her denim jacket.
hands go into the lower pockets, arms shaping into small triangles at her sides.
in any case... )
It felt like you were testing me tonight. ( her powers, her honesty towards himβ well, it's fair. she doesn't mind so much. she shrugs. ) I had fun.
( because it was. in this city of people doing their utmost to get by, of actions being but a few steps away from petty crime, it feels good to use her powers in such simple, non-damaging ways to fill up astarion's pockets and her own, too. )
[ He does count it, seeing no reason to hide that he feels the need to verify. (Even though if the roles were reversed, he'd absolutely make comments like "You don't trust me, darling?" etc etc.) ]
As do I, my dear. As do I.
[ Satisfied, he rolls up the rest of the joolies and slips them into his coin purse. Because, no, he has not yet made it a habit to get a wallet. ]
Did it?
[ He asks somewhat absently as he slips the purse away. Then his expression quickly shifts to something more animated and amuse. ]
Well that's good, because I was. And I am happy to say that you have proven yourself an adequate accomplice.
[ And Astarion speaks with all the flourish like this is somehow the greatest compliment he could offer. Which, given their limited interaction, it probably is one of the nicest thing he's said thus far. It's likely clear that genuine commendations from him are rare things. And he's glad to see that she's not beyond taking advantage of others.
This can work out. ]
There are quicker ways to line our pockets, of course, but I find that leaving a...bloodied trail leaves, well, a trail. Best save that for when it's necessary, hm?
[ He has zero issue killing the men back at the Kolliery, but he plays it safer where he needs to hunt repeatedly. ]
I trust this will keep a roof over your head and fill your belly for a few days, won't it?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Now she has HIS number. Congratulations. ]
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can i know why the interrogation ?
besides i don't know what you mean. that's a weird question to ask.
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[ Maiming and/or killing raiders? Acceptable.
Making fun of Astarion's clown mask? Out of line. ]
How about I rephrase it: how funny are you feeling this evening?
Better?
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definitely weird.
i'm feeling my usual amount of funny.
how funny are *you* feeling ?
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Me? I'm feeling quite hilarious.
Which brings me to my second question: are you free?
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but now wanda is burdened by #this. )
'free' as in i'm not busy ? sure.
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Excellent. I'm in need of a woman of your, shall we say, talents.
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( she knows what's up, it's just wild he asks so directly. )
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technically i'm typing with my fingers , so
do you really think i'm just going to agree to what you're asking without context ?
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I was hoping you'd ask or I would have written you off as a fool.
I have a business opportunity, of sorts. A lightening of the load of some of the wealthier patrons of a club I frequent. And while I happen to be an expert in my own field, someone with additional slight of hand expertise would ensure greater profits.
It's a quick way to make a few joolies and redistribute the wealth of Panorama, when you think about it.
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( he isn't actively asking her to use her powers, to mind control others as a distraction or otherwise, so there's a tinge of hope that he's really considering her someone who can properly manage some amount of stealth, but...
astarion could have asked literally anyone else.
and yet she is burdened by the fact that there are two more people in her shared room arrangement, she's worried about having enough food, and extra joolies in her pocket sounds like the perfect balm for her current anxieties. )
i'm not helping you for anything less than a 50-50 cut.
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[ 50-50 cut...ugh. Astarion doesn't like sharing the spoils much, but this is a test run. He wants to see what she can do--what she's willing to do. So part of the reward is her participation. ]
Anything less? Darling, I'm hurt. I would never undercut my partners.
[ Lies, lies. ]
You have a deal.
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( besides, it'd make her worth her time. wanda doesn't think she's told astarion to keep her powers secret, for her sake, but she thinks that he would rather not everyone else knowβjust so he can take advantage of them.
whatever, she'll let him have it. )
when and where ? right now ?
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Decker Hall on Jordings. As soon as you're available, I'll be here all night.
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she walks most of it, using the cover of night to hide the fact that she levitates up onto ceilings to make her path shorter. )
where are you ? i'm on the corner store.
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[ He doesn't leave her outside for long.
Though the evening takes a little set up with Astarion doing his rounds, his targets make themselves known soon enough. Astarion puts on his best face, all charming smiles and flirtatious banter. Promises are made that won't be kept all the while Wanda proves herself to be an ideal accomplice.
It's after they've left the club, Astarion flips through the stack of joolies they acquired over the course of a couple of hours, counting each one with growing pride. ]
Well, well. I would call that a lucrative evening.
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like there's less of a community, perhaps, to hold on to and make ends meet properly.
sleep tugs at her eyes, it being later than what she's used to staying up, but she follows after astarion, several inches shorter and getting into his space regardless. )
How much did you get? Let me count them, too.
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Never trust that.
Speaking of, he isn't sure he trusts her enough just yet. Handing her over the joolies feels...foolish. But Astarion also understands he needs to prove himself worth working with. And she'd made it a point that she was also in it for the money.
It's a rare show of good faith, then, that Astarion hands her over the stack of joolies with a bit of a flourish, to cover that he'd rather not be doing so. ]
I count three-hundred and sixty-two.
[ Which is the true amount. A test to see if Wanda claims the same. ]
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she takes the stack of joolies, slowing down as she walks, pausing just before a corner, and quickly counts the notes. )
βthis one's fake. ( she tugs a 10 joolie note from the stash and hands it over to him. the colors aren't quite right, the images and text slightly smaller, and it feels strange to the touch compared to the others.
wanda has seen a few of them at the thrift store. ) But you can still use it if you're exchanging joolies directly with others.
( once she's done counting, she does a little bit of mathsβhands the stash back to him. )
176 each, unless you want to count the fake bill. Then it's 181.
( your call. )
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When she pulls out a fake joolie, however, his brows raise up to his hairline and he readily snatches it. Scrunching his nose and squinting, he holds it up to towards the streetlights. Disgusting. ]
Ugh, I really hate these things...gold and silver are so much simpler.
[ He really cannot fault anyone for making fake paper money either. It seems simple enough. ]
If the fake one is enough to fool, it counts.
[ He looks at it again, unimpressed, then folds it up. The math, then, does add-up. At least she isn't trying to steal from him. He could have even avoided pointing out the fake bill and slipped it into his pile. Therefore... ]
I'll take it and enjoy the satisfaction of pulling the wool over someone else's eyes.
[ Astarion holds out his hand expectantly for the rest of his share. And yes, he will count it again. ]
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( 'pulling the wool over someone else's eyes'; finding joy in that seems like such an astarion thing. wanda counts up the money again, splits it into a a neat pile of 181 joolies, and hands him the rest. she is quick to pocket her share on the inside pocket of her denim jacket.
hands go into the lower pockets, arms shaping into small triangles at her sides.
in any case... )
It felt like you were testing me tonight. ( her powers, her honesty towards himβ well, it's fair. she doesn't mind so much. she shrugs. ) I had fun.
( because it was. in this city of people doing their utmost to get by, of actions being but a few steps away from petty crime, it feels good to use her powers in such simple, non-damaging ways to fill up astarion's pockets and her own, too. )
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As do I, my dear. As do I.
[ Satisfied, he rolls up the rest of the joolies and slips them into his coin purse. Because, no, he has not yet made it a habit to get a wallet. ]
Did it?
[ He asks somewhat absently as he slips the purse away. Then his expression quickly shifts to something more animated and amuse. ]
Well that's good, because I was. And I am happy to say that you have proven yourself an adequate accomplice.
[ And Astarion speaks with all the flourish like this is somehow the greatest compliment he could offer. Which, given their limited interaction, it probably is one of the nicest thing he's said thus far. It's likely clear that genuine commendations from him are rare things. And he's glad to see that she's not beyond taking advantage of others.
This can work out. ]
There are quicker ways to line our pockets, of course, but I find that leaving a...bloodied trail leaves, well, a trail. Best save that for when it's necessary, hm?
[ He has zero issue killing the men back at the Kolliery, but he plays it safer where he needs to hunt repeatedly. ]
I trust this will keep a roof over your head and fill your belly for a few days, won't it?