aterat | I azure you that I’m not up to anything, sir.

Entry tags:

I azure you that I’m not up to anything, sir.

Who; Closed to 'Fox' and Drizzt
What; Sneaky post-heist getaways
Where; Somewhere between the Noble district and the Harbor district
When; Forward dated to early August
Warnings; None but will update if something comes up

The evening had grown quite late at this point, the streets largely empty aside from a few stragglers from the tavern, the sewer dwellers who sometimes ventured to the streets under the cover of darkness, and (of course) the evening guard running its patrols sparsely through certain parts of the city. Namely, the nicer ones.

It was the latter that Yusuke found himself keeping out of the line of sight of, having just had to split off from his group after a particularly successful mission in the noble district. It was soon agreed upon that it would be less conspicuous for them to go their separate ways with their findings and regroup later in the harbor district where there would be no prying eyes.

So off he’d gone to the shadows between the fancier houses, keeping low and silent save for a light whisper of fabric now and again. His eyes darting to pick out the details of the streets before him when it came time to cross from one district to the next. Eager to return to his friends and empty his puffy sleeves of their shiny baubles hidden within that would fund the plan Ren had so cleverly devised for them as they settled into this world and actually help the more neglected parts of the city. The majority would be pawned for coin to pay for supplies and necessities, while others would undoubtedly end up as decor in the hideout that was slowly starting to feel less like an abandoned warehouse and more like a proper base of operations.

But first he had to make it there.

As he rounded one corner, he came to an abrupt halt as a uniformed guard was walking on the other side of the road. The masked teen flattened himself against a wall and waiting for footsteps to pass and fade into the distance, breath slow and practiced from spending so much time exploring palaces with the others. In this, there was little difference between a person and a shadow you didn’t want to face, was there?

And… If he was being entirely honest? There was some excitement in it. A particular thrill that had been missing since he arrived here, that he hadn’t even really realized he’d missed. Sneaking around, the comforting weight of a sword at his side should they run into a creature, the building expectation as they checked behind a door or searched a room for treasure. By the end of the night, he was either full of creative inspiration or ready to actually have a proper night’s sleep.

The former was the more likely to occur, of course, but stranger things did happen.

The footsteps were gone, and peering around the corner through the eye-holes of his mask, off he went again. Darting quietly forward and in between another couple of buildings, weaving his way down side streets as he moved ever closer to his goal.

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Drizzt was a creature of the night. While he cherished the day and the proof it provided that he was different from his people, he could not deny how painful the sun was to his eyes, how it made his head pound, and so he moved about at night, and not only because it was more comfortable. Areas of the city came alive at night, places the watch never wandered but that were still plagued by kabolds, wererats, or worse. He honed his skills in those areas, keeping sharp in a place all to easily allowing you to be lax.

He cheated as he stalked those who may have ill intention, letting his eyes shift in the darker areas into the infrared spectrum. Far more finely adapted to heat vision than the most sophisticated of technology, he was able to see the contours of buildings using the residual heat of the day and nothing warm-blooded was able to hide from him.

Which was how he found such a strange sight as a young human in a costume, flitting from one building to the next, from shadow to shadow, certain in his invisibility but unable to hide the warmth of his own body from the Drow's keen vision. He followed the form for a moment, wondering what this curiously clad young man was up to, before finally allowing his curiosity to get the better of him.

He dropped from above, in front of the boy, but far enough to remain beyond instant reach of Yusuke's blade, a deeper shadow in the gloom. A soft lavender sheen glowed from his eyes for a moment as his vision shifted from the infrared to normal vision spectrum. His own blades were fixed securely in their scabbards, strapped to his thighs to hinder their movement and their sound as he landed.

"And what is this, then? A burglar or something more?"

Yusuke had been very careful once he parted ways with the other, trying to keep aware of his surroundings and potential run-ins with people, whether they were of the guard or not. So it was more than a little startling to be confronted so suddenly by someone else that he certainly had not known was there. A figuring dropping down from above was alarming enough to have him skip backwards a couple steps lightly himself, hands darting to the katana at his side. Not drawing it, though, he did loosen it from its scabbard in case of the event that this was an ambush in which the stranger meant harm.

His gaze carrying some steel as he studied the other man carefully, ignoring the light instinctual buzz of Goemon in the back of his subconscious. The stranger was… Surprisingly short by comparison, not that he would write that off as harmless. Yusuke wasn’t quite so foolish to make such assumptions… Not when he noted the other was also armed and looked rather ready for a fight should one occur. This was certainly not what he needed this evening, not when the others would be waiting for him.

He opened his mouth to speak, only to hear Drizzt speak up first and pause. A burglar?? A burglar? How mundane sounding, how utterly inelegant compared to the moniker of phantom thief! The teen practically bristled dramatically at what seemed to him to be a slight. “That is quite the accusation to make of someone when you’ve ambushed them in an ally like a ruffian intending to mug them for their valuables.” He responded with a deep, clipped tone, at least resisting the knee-jerk reaction of stating he was an artist.

And Yusuke at least realized that he couldn’t really deny that he was a thief considering he was wandering around with his disguise to obscure his identity, so pointing out Drizzt’s own suspicious entrance seemed a better alternative in an attempt to turn the tables while he tried to decide on how worried he should be and what his exit route would be.

As they squared off toward one another, Drizzt not reaching for his blades but keeping their hilts in ready reach should this become a confrontation, he studied this young man before him. The outfit he wore reminded the drow of stagewear, perhaps costuming from a play or some street performance of mysterious origin. It was somewhat fox-like, the mask, and the tail affixed to the boy's belt behind lended substance to the disguise.

A disguise. Was that what it was? Perhaps, given how the lad had been stealing through the back streets, as though evading some pursuer, though Drizzt had seen no one tailing the young man. Well, no one save himself that was.

He raised an eyebrow at the accusation, the corner of his mouth twitching up slightly at the question. He crossed his arms, satisfied that, for the moment, the lad with the large blade wasn't going to attack him with it. "I can assure you, if my intention was to rob you, I would have already done so and been another shadow fleeing in the night."

Lavender eyes moved over Yusuke's form once more before he continued, and he tilted his head to the side curiously. "If not a burglar, then what is this fox costume your wear? It's quite distinctive."

That was a rather confident claim to make, now wasn’t it? Not that Yusuke could entirely deny the probability that Drizzt could have managed that, given he hadn’t even known the man was following him. Who knew how long he had been on his trail before making his appearance known? There was some comfort, he supposed, in knowing it was at least him and not one of the other two. They would at least have plenty of time to get back to the hideout, and hopefully they would have made it there already without delays like he had currently found himself confronted with.

“I see, then what is your intention of ambushing me in this alleyway? Are you with the night guard patrols or something of that nature?” Yusuke didn’t relax entirely, still a little on edge from the surprise and the concern that he might still be in a bad spot. Still, he at least lost a little of the tension in his arms as Drizzt’s hands moved away from his own weapons to cross his arms instead.

It probably wouldn’t even be considered strange to liken Yusuke’s disguise to costuming from a play of some sort. Goemon, his persona, was only as well known as it was through the kabuki plays that kept the historic figures story alive when there was so little known about the man himself. Though even Yusuke questioned the fox motif that he seemed to have been granted, it had always seemed a little odd to him. Even if it fit like a glove and he found himself moving about it with ease enough that he hardly noticed the shift between this and his usual clothing like the other thieves. Perhaps it just added a slightly dramatic, artistic flair. With a traditional energy, given kitsune were well known trickster spirits… And drama and art went hand in hand where Yusuke was involved.

But denying it was a disguise to hide his identity would be foolish, because that was specifically what it was. He refused to go by burglar though, even if they had just burgled a house in the noble district. “It is the guise of a phantom, far more noble a denizen of the night than a petty burglar, I assure you.” He dropped ‘thief,’ if only because he still didn’t know if the man was with the guard. Yusuke would let the man decide if that was what he meant, or let him answer the earlier question and ask for clarification on that detail, the teen decided.

Either way, it gave him time to decide if he needed to move.

It was indeed a confident claim, and while Drizzt was ready with caution when it was necessary, he was certain Yusuke was a being of flesh and bone, and those could react to the rending end of his scimitars, should the need arise. He also noted while Yusuke moved in shadow, his eyes still seemed to rely on light; another advantage Drizzt could turn against him.

Ah, and the boy asked a worthy question, if a little misguided. "Nothing of the sort, though I have come to understand I'm to call this place home for a time, and is it not one's nature to protect his home from those who may be doing it harm? I didn't attack, I'm simply curious what you may be up to."

He tilted his head to the side as Yusuke explained, delicate white eyebrows raising in curious amusement. "A phantom? You seem well and truly alive to me." Spirits did not cast the heat of a warm body, after all, and were invisible to his heat vision, but he also got the impression the youth meant it as a term of reference, a title, and that suggested something even more interesting. 'A' phantom rather than 'the'? There were others, then? Curiouser and curiouser, though nothing heinous as of yet.

To be fair, Drizzt had still dropped down from above and startled him. It was hard for the teen’s mind to not go there. Ambush from shadows was not something to take lightly, and the same undoubtedly went for people. But he wasn’t with the guard… Small a comfort as it was, at least there was that much. “I see… Well, I can put your concerns on that particular matter to rest. I am not out with the intent to do anyone actual harm. This blade is merely for defense if needed. If you truly have no intent to use yours, then I have no need of mine.” Not that he needed the sword either, it was just more… subtle than other means of defence. He was still not keen on defaulting to Goemon unless necessary. Those attacks were large and somewhat destructive.

The question remained how Drizzt had even come to see him, he had been sure he was being careful… “You only startled me considering your approach was not unlike an ambush, and not something taken lightly. I had not been aware that I picked up attention. Clearly I was not as careful as I thought I’d been.” Yusuke didn’t think he was exactly an expert or anything, but he was experienced enough with staying out of sight, along with the thieves. Especially when security in a palace was heightened. Perhaps two months had left him rusty?

Yusuke would have been slightly dismayed that he potentially let on to the fact that there were others like him out there, but they were well away from here at least… So there was some safety in that. It was only that he might not want to head back to the hideout while he had someone’s attention, so hiding somewhere else for the night might be necessary.

The question gets an awkward pause. He really did feel backed into a corner and he didn’t like it… “If I meant in the literal sense, I expect I would have faded from view by now to be on my way.” Rolling his neck lightly, working out some of his tension, he supposed he was going to have to say what needed to be said and if he had to run, he’d run. “If you won’t be satisfied with that… The whole title would be phantom thief. But we hardly steal for petty reasons that a common burglar would, not from those who can’t afford or replace their goods. There’s a whole district full of riches and even empty buildings far more protected than other areas of the city. I am simply working on evening that imbalance.” He finally admitted and watched Drizzt very carefully through the eyes of his mask. Looking for hints of something in the man’s expression, even something concealed beneath it.

Drizzt's countenance broke, then. He'd been maintaining an air of mystique, of potentially sinister intent, but the more he spoke this is young man, a boy from what Drizzt could tell, the more he could see this was, in fact, no villain, at least not outright. A "phantom thief" was he? Perhaps the lad thought himself a vigilante, such a moniker suggested as much.

A grin spread across his face. "A Phantom Thief, then. No specter would possess the warmth of the living." He raised a hand, motioning to his own eyes.

"Elves can see the warmth of your body as clearly as the hue of your mask. There is no hiding from a Drow." Or a dwarf, but the boy need not know that just yet. Let him think the ability something unique to Drizzt a while longer. "You piqued my curiosity, though I do apologize for my introduction. I could have used more tact."

Drizzt was at least on the mark with his guess concerning the title, and Yusuke himself seemed to relax some as the other’s demeanor shifted somewhat now that there was more truth out in the air between them. His brow raised behind his mask at the explanation, so he hadn’t been careless… Instead, it seemed this man had an ability that allowed him to see more in the dark than the average person could. “I see, so it was less carelessness on my part and more that it was hard for your to miss something out of place in the shadows of the evening.”

The apology that followed gets a slight bow of his head. He could accept that easily enough, considering the shift in the atmosphere and the clear explanation. He seemed honest enough, and there was little reason to lie. “I accept the apology. I do somewhat understand how awkward such approaches can be.” Truly, Yusuke had some fairly awkward introductions himself in the past. Misunderstandings were easy enough, and he often didn’t understand that till after the fact. “In return, I offer one of my own for responding as I did to your appearance.”

"Your reaction was understandable, given my entrance. No apology is necessary." But Drizzt was certainly intrigued by this most curious of 'phantom thieves'. A fox burglar wasn't unheard of, at least it could exist, but one to be so polite in light of being revealed? What a curious individual this thief was.

"And what am I to call you, Phantom Thief?"

That was kind of the man to say, and so it seemed as though the tension had melted away completely now that they were on the same page. Even if there were undoubtedly other questions between the two of them.

The first question, and probably the most important at the moment, was a matter of introductions. He doesn’t take much time to think about it, though. It slips out as easily as his own name would, considering the code names were second nature when decked out as he was. “You can call me Fox, sir. Might I inquire as to what I can call you in return?”

Fox, a sly and clever creature, mischievous and wily. He smiled in response. It was a fitting moniker, and he wondered again at the complete motif. Just who were these Phantom Thieves, for surely there was more than only the one. He had, after all, said he was a Phantom Thief, not the Phantom Thief. How curious. At least his nights would be more entertaining has he hunted ghosts.

He inclined his head in response, amusement dancing in his eyes. He hadn't expected the thief to use his true name, but he was finding the lad more entertaining than dangerous. "I am called many things, few of them kind. The Drow is common enough, but you may call me Drizzt."

Truthfully, Yusuke would admit he hadn’t chosen the codename himself. No one had liked his own ideas, though, and Fox had been fitting the more he looked at the mask and his disguise. How his disguise had come to be so fox-like was still somewhat odd for the teen to think about, but it had grown on him over time. Become fitting in its own way, even if he still found it in him to question it now and again.

What an odd response to the question, Yusuke mused, with a tilt of his head. What kind of place was this man from that he was called ‘many things, few of them kind?’ Perhaps he was prone to sudden appearances like the one he’d made that night that had put Yusuke so on guard. Being awkward in social situations was at least something he could understand… But the longer he spoke with the man, the less on edge he felt. “Then it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Drizzt.” He responded with a bow of his head.

“Do you spend your nights looking for trouble to intervene in across this city?” Their meetings may be a regular occurrence if that were the case, but he hoped that now the man wasn’t going to try to put a stop to the thieving now that he knew about it. The man did seem to have relaxed since he explained himself, at least.

He laughed at the question, crossing his arms and moving to a nearby stack of crates, taking a seat atop them and reaching into a small pouch at his waist, producing an apple from its depths.

"I spend my evenings as most spend their days. My eyes are more attuned to night vision and the sun causes headaches after a time. I investigate curiosities, and you certainly qualify." He held up the ripe red fruit, a sheen of lamplight from the end of the alleyway glinting on its skin. "Apple?"

He could not deny, he would probably count as a curiosity to most people who happened to notice him and the other thieves in the middle of the night as Drizzt had. It was only that most didn’t see them as the other man had. “I see, so this is more like your daytime compared to most of us who have arrived. I suppose I do count as a curiosity in that sense!” That made two evening denizens that he’d become acquainted with now. At least this one didn’t need a donation of sorts. He would still have to mention it to the other two phantoms, just in case they happened to be noticed by the man as well. To avoid the potential complications in the future, at least.

He did hesitate as he looked at the offered apple, if only because he knew everyone was waiting for him and this was something of a delay on his part… But his stomach grumbled its usual protest at the very idea of turning down a snack the minute he saw the apple.

How embarrassing.

So he leaned against the wall next to the crates and folded his arms lightly. “If it would not be putting you out, then I would not mind an apple, thank you.” He responded with a smile from beneath his mask.

"It is." Day and night were opposites for Drizzt Do'Urden.

And so his experiment proved useful. This 'Fox', for all his mystery, was a young man with an appetite to match. He gave the apple a deft toss in the boy's direction, pulling another apple from the pouch afterward, taking a bite of his own and smirking slightly.

"Whatever business you had has left you hungry, has it? Then I shan't keep you. Good evening, Phantom Thief, and good luck." He didn't take to the rooftops again, but simply stood from the crates, taking another bite of his apple, curiosity momentarily satisfied. While Drizzt didn't have other places to be precisely, it seemed 'Fox' did.

Yusuke’s hand snatched out to catch the apple tossed his way with a fluid movement. He had pretty decent reflexes, considering Goemon’s assistance. His tone was both polite and grateful as he turned the fruit in his hand. “Embarrassingly, I believe it has, but thank you, Drizzt. This shall sustain me well enough until I get to where I need to be.” He explained with a nod in thanks, before taking a bite of the apple with a delighted little hum.

Yes, food was a good way to make friends with this fox. Especially when he so often forgets to eat until he was reminded he was hungry as he was now, he should probably learn to keep snacks on hand as Drizzt seemed to. But as the man seemed to have noted his hesitation (very observant, clearly) at lingering in the alleyway much longer. He offered a polite bow after he pushed away from the wall. “Good evening. It was nice to make your acquaintance. I shall keep an eye out for you in the future.” He added with a grin, knowing full well the other might be more likely to spot him first if it was in the evening. He was going to have to mention the kind man to his group. Should they ever run into him as well?

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I azure you that I’m not up to anything, sir.

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