milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

One thief, inna bar.

He's cold. London streets aren't kind at this time of year. And there's a large bruise across one cheekbone. Bill Sykes isn't kind at any time of the year.

But at the same time, he's got a bit of money for once so that's kind of helping him have a better Christmas.

He's looking out for one or two people, so he can avoid them. Other than that, he's staring at his drink a little sadly. Cheer him up please?

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There is a Tim, morosely nursing a beer. Is he one of the ones Dodger is trying to avoid?

He is. Which is why Dodger's face is now a little horrified and he's trying to be oh-so-casual about edging out of his booth.

Shame he's just knocked his drink over, right? Things like that tend to draw attention to a kid.

Tim turns his attention towards the drink...and his demeanor changes. From morose, to completely alert.

He approaches Dodger, arms crossed across his chest.

"Dodger."

He swallows a bit and eyes flick to the side to see if there's time to make a run for it. But no, because this guy has magic - he's not about to risk getting zapped with something. So he shrinks back into his booth and just mutters, 'Awright?'

"You could have asked."

Tim isn't glaring. In fact, he seems more sad then angry.

That throws him. He just gawps for a minute because he was expected to get thumped for it. Prison is, also, on his mind.

'Yoo wouldn'a gev me none.'

In his world, he's not given anything. Which is why he felt bad for stealing them after Tim gave him the money.

"Yes, I would've. That's what they are for, to help people."

A shake of his head.

"There is one gold pellet amongst the ones you took. May I have that one back?"

He chews a grubby thumbnail for a minute, then asks, 'Wossit do?'

He really is curious more than anything.

"Turns the user intoa dragon."

Yeh. Not just elemental things in there.

His mouth drops open a little and there's a pause while his brain goes 'COR!' really loudly.

And then he says, 'I'll give yer the cash back if I kin keep i'?'

Because some things? Too cool not to try.

"Can I show you which other ones do shapeshifting? I only was able to make one of the dragon ones."

Tim thinks a moment.

"There's griffins and things."

'Woss a griffin?'

He sighs inwardly though. Because a guy with this much magic, he shouldn't have hoped to get away with it. So he turns out his pockets and produces all the ones he stole - and the pouch of money.

'I sol' two.'

Technically he'd sold six but he nicked four back. He's just hoping Tim won't take the money back for them as well.

"S' lion with an eagles head and wings."

Tim reaches out, plucks forth the gold pellet, and stuffs it up a sleeve.

"Good fer you."

He pushes the other pills towards him. 'Fink th' blokes weren' tha' 'appy - I dunno wha' these do. Bet'er keep 'em. 'ave yer money back an' all, I go' th' cash off 'im fer ones 'ee din't take.'

He doesn't understand why he doesn't seem to be in trouble here.

'Yer gonna lock me up?'

Tim waves off the other pills.

"Keep them. For when you get into a jam. Might be better to keep them to yourself, however."

Tim is weird, sometimes.

Dodger looks at him suspiciously.

'Why? I nicked 'em. Why yoo bein' nice?'

His eyes glance at the money though. He doesn't like charity but...it's thirty quid.

Tim shrugs at the question.

"Why not? I get no profit from being mean. And, if you felt the need to steal them, then obviously you have more need of them then I."

And Tim says all this with complete sincerety.

He doesn't really know what to say to this, at all. He just stares at them, and then up at Tim, then back down.

'They all good fer trouble? Like, I kin use any an' they'll help?'

He drags them back towards him and stares at the heap, then pushes the pouch a bit closer to him. But doesn't say anything about it.

'If I turn inter tha' fing yoo said, will I be able ter talk an' stuff?'

"Most of them should help. If nothing else, it'll scare the hell out of people long enough to get away."

A nod.

"Yup. Speech and intelligent thought is retained."

He grins, he can't help it. That's just neat.

'Wha' yoo wan' then?'

Something for something, after all.

Tim considers this for a moment.

"All I ask in return is you do your best not to steal from other here. If you need money, come see me, I'll help you out."

He shifts a bit and seriously considers just walking away, leaving the pills and the money behind. Milliways is fertile ground after all...though he does admit that the amount of magic is a bit overwhelming.

There's more contamplative chewing on his thumbnail. 'Spose.'

It's not like he's that good at keeping promises after all. And he'd rather break this one and not ask for money, than keep it and have to beg. Boy's got his pride, after all.

And Tim only asked him to try, after all.

"Good then."

He blinks and looks at him for a moment, then busies himself with scooping the pills up and sliding them back into his pocket.

'Yoo go' kids then?'

He figures that only people who have their own kids would be this nice for the sake of it.

Tim face goes completely neutral.

"No. Recently divorced. Wish I had, actually."

Which might explaina lot.

'Huh.'

Dodger's ten. Man of the world he might be, or so he likes to think, but subtleties concerning divorce and kids don't really register.

And he can't stand the suspense any longer. He points at the pouch containing the thirty quid and says, 'Yoo gonna take tha' back then?'

He doesn't think he'll say no. The question then is, whether to accept it or not. Quite a dilemma really.

"Was it too much?"

Tim worries he's too generous.

He fidgets. Kind of hard for a thief to say 'yes' - but Tim's being nice. And anyway, he made another thirty from the pills.

'More'n I ever sin in me life.'

Tim considers this

"Would you like me to take some back?"

He fidgets a bit more. No.

But just shrugs. 's'yor money. Up ter you.'

Tim considers this, then waves his hand above the money.

"Take it all. If nothing else, give it to bar, have her put it on your tab."

His face splits into a grin and suddenly the pouch is gone, slipped quickly into a deep pocket somewhere in the dark recesses of the coat.

'Fanks guv. Yer a toff.'

He can hardly believe this - he got to keep the money, most of the pills and wasn't locked up. And all he had to do was promise to try not to steal off other people in the bar. Sounds like a good deal to him.

'Anyfing you wan' doin'? No' used ter chari'y.'

Tim cocks his head.

"I'll think about it. In the meantime, Merry Christmas Dodger."

Tim bows, and vanishes.

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