All right, so once upon a time there was a huge museum. Two really ambitious thieves dreamed of bein' the best the world had ever seen, so they knew they had to take something big. A museum sounded like a pretty good idea, so they cased the place. Except there was too much loot and they'd have no way to fence it all. But they couldn't just give up, so...
[He's embellishing a little, because Isaac and Miria hardly put that much thought into it. He pauses before the punchline, remembering how annoyed he'd felt hearing the story from them. He's not even sure if it's true, but at least it's off-the-wall enough that maybe it has a chance of amusing her.]
[Miriam throws her head back and laughs, clapping her hands together in delight. Barnaby adds his own howl to the racket, tail wagging the whole time.] That's a good one! That's a really good one! What'd they do with the door?
Prolly not. [Miriam wipes chocolate off the back of her hand.] Unless it was, like, a really fancy door. With gold hinges and stuff. Maybe they sold the metal. Not as good as robbin' a museum or anything, but there's something.
Maybe! [Miriam bets she'd make a pretty good thief. She doesn't usually bother with that sort of thing, not when she can just ask and get people to give her what she wants. All you need is the proper question and just the right smile.] Guess it's my turn, then?
[It has to be a good story, Miriam decides. One that'll make Firo laugh.] Okay. So, once upon a time, there was a thief who lived on a place called Strata. And maybe he wasn't a thief all the time, but he was a pretty good one. But he started thinkin', maybe life'd be easier if he didn't get shot at all the time. 'cause people don't like thieves. So he decided he'd do something different. He set up and started selling people back their stuff. And you know why they never got mad at him, even though he'd taken their stuff in the first place?
[Firo nods his understanding. It's rough being on the front lines stealing from people.
He thinks hard about that question, not wanting to appear like an amateur. People may not know about the Martillos here, but he still has a reputation to uphold.]
Was it like a protection racket? Like a thing where you 'find' somebody's lost stuff for 'em?
Kinda! [Miriam laughs a little. She likes this story. It helps that it's true.] What he'd do, he'd go hang around the bars at closing time and take everybody's shoes while they're passed out. Sometimes the rest of their clothes too. And in the morning you could get 'em back, all nice like, if you gave him a tip. Better than fishin' them outta the sewer!
[That's clever, really clever--more neatly-wrapped up than a lot of schemes he's heard. He chuckles along with her; if a story deserves a laugh, this definitely does.]
[Miriam nods, though there's a hint of sadness to it this time. Not her intention with the story, but there it is.] Yeah. His name's Gilly and he's my best friend. And--and he's really smart, so he's probably fine!
[She said that name a moment ago, and he tries to remember what it was she was talking about.]
He's the one you said was a top-earner, right? Those guys are usually okay.
[Mafia Families, at least, value a guy who can bring in the cash (and thus kick it up to his bosses) more than anything. Firo assumes that it's the same for her friend's organization.
He doesn't want to give any false hope, but it can't hurt if he's thinking about it realistically, right?]
If the guys they work for don't watch their backs, they're the ones who're smart enough to figure it out, if anybody is.
Yeah. [Miriam runs a hand through her hair.] Bad things were happening, when I came here. That's all. But you're right! Gilly's really smart, so he must've found a way out. He'll be fine. He'll like that you laughed at the story.
Yeah. [Besides, the Sons aren't here and neither is Gilly. So there's no point in thinking about that. Miriam fluffs up Barnaby's ears again, giggling when he grunts in protest.] I'm gonna make another. You want one?
They're great, aren't they? Gilly says they made 'em back on Earth all the time. [Miriam hums to herself, getting another marshmallow for her stick. She tosses one to Barnaby in the meantime.] I guess some things stick.
Maybe not. [Miriam pauses, holding her stick over the fire.] What if they're like...just different times? But the same place. Like you're from way back when and I'm from the future! Or something like that. I saw a movie about that one time.
Yeah. Couple hundred years, at least. [Which is weird to think about, but not impossible. They live in a place where gods come down and talk at you. There's lots of weird shit in Hadriel.] Oh yeah! I like movies, all kinds of 'em. But my favorite's Barnaby Fitzgerald. There's a whole bunch of 'em and they're all about this detective. He goes around solving mysteries. He's a mapmaker, but somehow he's always running into trouble.
[Miriam grins at Firo.] They're my favorite. 's how I named my dude.
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[Something about Isaac and Miria has to work. What kid doesn't love weirdo thieves?]
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All right, so once upon a time there was a huge museum. Two really ambitious thieves dreamed of bein' the best the world had ever seen, so they knew they had to take something big. A museum sounded like a pretty good idea, so they cased the place. Except there was too much loot and they'd have no way to fence it all. But they couldn't just give up, so...
[He's embellishing a little, because Isaac and Miria hardly put that much thought into it. He pauses before the punchline, remembering how annoyed he'd felt hearing the story from them. He's not even sure if it's true, but at least it's off-the-wall enough that maybe it has a chance of amusing her.]
So they stole the door. To keep everybody out.
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Firo scratches his head, then shrugs a shoulder.]
I have no idea--I didn't think to ask 'em. They said it was pretty big, so I don't think they coulda' gotten it very far with just the two of 'em.
Maybe it wasn't such a successful heist, huh?
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[Miriam is an opportunist to a fault.]
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Not a chance they did--they'd never think of somethin' like that. Too bad they're not here, or else you could show them a few things.
[For all their experience, Isaac and Miria are hardly good at their job.]
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[He spreads one arm out to gesture for her to continue.]
Shoot.
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He thinks hard about that question, not wanting to appear like an amateur. People may not know about the Martillos here, but he still has a reputation to uphold.]
Was it like a protection racket? Like a thing where you 'find' somebody's lost stuff for 'em?
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[That's clever, really clever--more neatly-wrapped up than a lot of schemes he's heard. He chuckles along with her; if a story deserves a laugh, this definitely does.]
He's a pretty bright guy, huh?
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He's the one you said was a top-earner, right? Those guys are usually okay.
[Mafia Families, at least, value a guy who can bring in the cash (and thus kick it up to his bosses) more than anything. Firo assumes that it's the same for her friend's organization.
He doesn't want to give any false hope, but it can't hurt if he's thinking about it realistically, right?]
If the guys they work for don't watch their backs, they're the ones who're smart enough to figure it out, if anybody is.
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[She had said it was all on fire--that's pretty damn bad.]
Yeah, you'll have to tell him next time you see him.
[If. But he doesn't think that's exactly necessary to say. He sighs and tries to smile reassuringly.]
It's not like worryin' now is gonna do anything for him, so just try to relax.
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All right, sure. Those things really aren't too bad, you know.
[Czes would probably love them.]
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Guess so. Who knows, maybe my Earth and the place you're from aren't even different at all. The people sound about the same.
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[There's something nice about thinking they could still have a world in common, no matter how different their times are.
Movies! Maybe the future isn't that strange if they have gambling and movies.]
At least they've still got movies in the future. That one sounds complicated--is that the stuff you like to watch?
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[Miriam grins at Firo.] They're my favorite. 's how I named my dude.
[Barnaby barks happily.]
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