From City to City (Anyone)

[Alex Behrens]

Whump.

"Oh, sorry 'bout that, sir," the young man said, turning and biting his lip, and offering a friendly wave in apology.

"Ah, well, no worries, I suppose, no harm, no foul, right?"

"My thoughts exactly, sir. Have a good day, I'll watch where I'm going next time."

With that, Alex Behrens made his way from the older man, a brand new wallet in the folds of his coat. A slight smile crossed his face as he ducked into a nearby alley to further inspect his catch. Pulling the wallet out, he opened it and leafed through the family pictures, musing as to how nice his family seemed. Setting aside the credit cards and such, as he wouldn't want them, Alex went for the cash, pocketing the three hundred dollars the man carried. His smile widened; this was quite a mark, he'd be able to eat for a while now. Alex shook his head, it really was way too easy this time.

Sucker.

Stepping out of the alley, Alex quickly flagged down the first person he saw heading the same direction of his former mark. "Hey, buddy, c'mere."

Confused, the man cautiously approached the taller Alex. "Y-yes?"

"That guy, he dropped this earlier, if you're headed that way, y'think you could give it back to him for me?"

"Y-yeah... sure," came the reply, still a little hesitant.

"Hey, it's alright, buddy, just give him his wallet back. No games, I promise."

A last nod, and the man went off to return the wallet. Alex let a little laugh escape his lips, the smirk returning after. The first mark would've just been a few hundred dollars poorer, but he would keep his identity, and the biggest majority of his funding.

The second one, however, Alex thought as he deftly pocketed the second wallet of the evening, wouldn't be so lucky. Alex just hoped that he'd cancel his credit cards soon and save himself the trouble.

From city to city, it's just another day in the life...

[Keiko Nihara]

"You totally ripped that guy off!" came the appreciative voice of the young and very hyper active redhead. She giggled softly as she came into view her tight tank top hugged her petite fram and the skirt flared out at her hips. Both were a soft yello color but the shirt had lavender stripes too.

"That was pretty nifty, I gotta admit. But hey I guess what ever floats your boat right?" she chuckled.

"I'm Keiko. Keiko Nihara. And it's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Thief. I guess since I don't know you're name you get to go by that. Maybe you should wear a name badge but then that would be bad if you're trying to be all discrete now wouldn't it. Hmmmm... well anyway, maybe you could teach me that. Wouldn't it be neat to have a buddy? I like buddies don't you. You never have to be or work alone if you have a buddy right?!"

She smiled brightly as she basically danced while she was in front of the boy that was there. She still thought that he had pulled it off rather smoothely and just though it would be neat to learn how but he didn't have to.

[Alex Behrens]

Out of nowhere, Alex was assaulted by some kind of hyperactive little chipmunk of a girl. Ambushing him with words, the girl happily started trying to pry information out of the older thief, going so far as to label him with a rather fitting epithet. Alex raised an eyebrow in amusement, his smirk widening into a little grin as she asked to be his partner.

"Y'know, most dames would turn in a thief they saw on the street, not run up to them and excitedly try to learn their craft. Come this way," Alex mentioned with a jerk of his head back to the alley he had recently emerged from before slinking back into the darkness.

If the girl followed, Alex would continue with their conversation in a slightly more private place. "Name's Alex. As far as buddies go, well, they can definitely be a good thing, and a definite help in some rough places. You want to be a buddy with a thief, Keiko?"

Alex let out a little scoff and leaned against the alley wall, regarding the girl before him.

"Well, alright, I'm fine with that. I'm sure if you really wanna learn my trade, I could give you some tips, too. Of course, it's not just something you can learn, you've gotta have some natural talent for it, too. I'll ask you once more to make sure, you gonna be alright if you're running with thieves?"

Alex grinned down at her, eager to see just exactly how far she would go for a little thrill.

[Keiko Nihara]

"Well I think you'll find Mr. Theif that I'm not most girls. I can get annoying real fast. Five seconds on an average person and they're annoyed. It's a great talent it might even help you, ya know." she giggled.

He told her his name was Alex and she smiled. Fastest way to get a name out of someone was to call them by thier most obvious feature. In his case it was his occupation where in Mr. Vampire's case it was his race. She smiled happily and didn't even think about going into the alley. Nope. She just went. She didn't care about that kind of thing or those inhibitions women these days were supposed to have. To learn new things was fun!

"Well yes of course I do. Sneaking around in the dark like a stealthy cat she prowls. Her new prey spotted. Their pockets thick with the doe they carry and her eager fingers reach... and BAM Keiko strikes again!" she said with a bright smile her silver eyes flashing beautifully.

"See how fun! I can be like Super Keiko in one of those comic books or manga. My line can be: Magical life took so much from Keiko now she's takin' it back!" she giggled. "Haha that's awesome. See!"

[Alex Behrens]

"Girl, you just might be the craziest person on these streets right now."

Alex shook his head and laughed it off. Keiko was definitely cute, bubbly, and extremely energetic, and if Alex hadn't been accustomed to a life of patience, always waiting for the right mark, for the right moment in everything, she might have driven him completely nuts by now. As it were, however, he was fairly amused by her presence.

"There's not much glamour in this life, Keiko. First off, if you're studying under me, you have to abide by my rules. We don't steal from those who look like they couldn't handle the monetary loss. If they look affluent, or in a posiition where the loss of a few hundred dollars or more wouldn't drop them into poverty, they're fair game. You don't roll a bum walking the street, or young people. Young people may be just starting their own life away from home, and won't have much to go on. I may be a thief, but I'm not ruining anyone's life."

Alex shrugs a bit, stopping to make sure Keiko was listening. After a short pause, he went right back to explaining.

"Speaking of ruining lives, we'll steal cash only. Credit card theft has much greater consequences on the mark, and jewelry and expensive items may have sentimental value. If you take a wallet and can't return the credit cards yourself, cut them up and ensure that no one else can use them, either. Jewelry and accessories are just a complete no-no.

"Finally, if you can, try fleecing your mark through a game of chance or streetside entertainment before outright pick-pocketing him. Better to have them give you money than to take it. Also, you best be ready to fight, just in case you get caught. Because, well, I'll be honest, you're going to get caught a few times."

Almost as if on cue, a voice was heard at the end of the alley. "That guy!"

"Like I said," Alex began, shaking his head and looking in the direction of the voice.

"Yeah! That's the one! He jacked our cash! Let's get him!"

The three men, not from directly earlier, but from about a week ago, began walking menacingly forward. Alex had picked all three of their pockets, nearly at once, in desperate needs of funds. Altogether, they only carried about fifty dollars, just enough to get a new pair of pants and a hot meal, but, it seems that money lost is money lost, and these men were definitely unhappy, and looked to be ready to do something about their misplaced funds. Alex turned his head to look at Keiko one last time before his hand went to the small footlong cylindrical object at his belt.

"Alright, love, how 'bout this: You help me get away from these guys, and I'll see if you're really cut out for this sort of lifestyle."

[Keiko Nihara]

Keiko listened but only half really because HE WAS GOING TO LET HER WORK WITH HIM!!!! That was all she really needed to know. Where was the money! She was so excited. She almost wanted to dance. She didn't really hear what he said only the key elements.

1. Money from the rich not from the poor. Check.

2. No credit cards. Check.

3. Try to get them to give not take. Check.

She heard him say that it wasn't all glory and that wasn't why she was in it anyway. Really she just wanted to do something. She was bored. And this was exciting. But then someone yelled out and she turned. Time for Super Keiko action. She grinned softly as he told her if she helped him get out of this and she could do it singlehandedly.

"Hello Scarymen. It's a pleasant day don't you agree!" she said to the three individuals that came up to them. "We should have a party. I've got the confetti!!" she giggled.

This cute little girl was totally throwing them off guard she looked up at Alex.

"Good thing it's our anniversary honey, else I wouldn't have been prepared." she said with a bright smile.

She reached into her bag and pulled out large sheets of paper and threw them up in the air. With a wink at the Scarymen she quickly began her work. The paper flew at their wrists strengthening quickly to cuff them all together and then she tied them haning from the street light at the corner. She giggled as she quickly wrote on paper and then sent three sheets out one for each person on their chest..

We.. are .. mean..

After that she placed paper over their mouths so they could scream and waved at them.

"Well my my dont' you guys look cute. Look honey! We have a pinata. Party time!" she giggled.

[Alex Behrens]

Alex watched in relative surprise, his hand still nearing his extendable staff weapon, ready to draw it and use it against the approaching men, up until Keiko, out of nowhere, tossed sheets of paper from her bag and somehow managed to manipulate it into ties that bound the three men and strung them up from a light-post. To add insult to injury, it seemed, she even plastered three sheets of paper upon them, one on each, stating "We Are Mean." To this, Alex could barely suppress a snicker. To top it all off, she magically slapped paper over their mouths, stopping their ability to cry out for help or otherwise, leaving them up there and referring back to Alex, now, apparently, her 'honey', that they had festivities for the 'party' they apparently were now having. Alex, a little caught up in the moment, laughed along with her, putting an arm over her shoulders for a moment, regarding them with a smile on his face.

"You see a pinata, honey, but I'm looking more at the subjects of my next magic trick."

The men's eyes went wide, and muffled mutters came from behind the paper, which, if one were to strain their ears, sounded to be variants of the words 'no, please.'

"It's quite a simple one, really. A disappearing act. Now you see us... now you DON'T!"

Upon his last word, Alex snapped his fingers on his hand not around Keiko, and three tiny explosions 'poof'ed in front of each man's face. The light from the sudden combustion blinded each of them, which would leave them in darkness for a few moments. Quickly, with a slight jerk of his head, Alex motioned which way for Keiko to go, and took off in that direction himself, heading down the alley in the direction the men came from only to take a sudden sharp left in the middle of it, heading back in the space between two rows of apartment buildings. His arm had slipped from around Keiko's shoulders and instinctively taken her hand, pulling her along with him as he swiftly took off through the alleys.

Once he'd reachd a suitable distance, he stopped, his breathing sped up a bit from the exertion, but a big grin on his face. He looked back to the girl, his hand leaving hers now that the danger was gone, and spoke with a smile.

"I blinded 'em, they'll never know which way we went now. We're safe, if not for just now, than for a good while, at least."

Sinking back into the usual calm Alex, he leaned against the back wall of the apartment complex, just next to the back door and the dumpsters, instinctively peeking into the trash receptacle to see if there was anything of value inside.

"So, little Keiko, this is your last chance, now that you've seen what kinda dangers we face out here. Do you want to be my new straight man, er, woman, as the case may be?"

[Keiko Nihara]

The men hanging from the street lamp were not pleased to say the least. In fact pissed and upset were closer to the truth as now Keiko had truly humiliated them by hanging them up like that and putting a sign on them as well. But the deserved it if anyone esle did thought so did she and Alex. But that wasn't the point and she wasn't going to dwell on that.

Alex did a nifty trick as he blinded them with some sort of thing and then put his arm around her shoulder leading her through the alley system. She ran along side him as happy as could be a happy smile on her face. When they got a bit away he took her hand and they fan off together in that fashion. It was only a few minutes later they stopped.

Keiko began to giggle. They made a good team and she was never caught without her papers. That was just who she was. She carried them around with her no matter where she was going and that was all that mattered these days. She leaned against the wall opposite her litteral partner in crime and smiled at him her silver eyes dancing in the shade.

"Well of course I want to still join. Do you have any idea how fun that was? It was sooo fun. I can't wait to do it again. just look we make a great team I bet I'd be a great asset to you and your findings. I could be a regular Olivia Twist. I'd say Oliver but I'm not a boy so that doesn't work but the Olivia would." she giggled.

She closed the gap between her and Alex and hugged him her arms around his waist and her head in his chest just because he was taller than her and this was how she liked to hug anyway. Pulling back she looked up into his eyes and blinked.

"So can I?"

[Alex Behrens]

"If you want it, kiddo, then you've got it."

Alex conceded to Keiko's requests with a wry smirk on his face. She was definitely cute, in that little kid sort of way, as well as the other, and it was obvious she could be distracting enough to most people as to leave them open for thievery. Also, she was small and unassuming enough so as that no one would likely suspect her of being part of the job. Alex's smirk widened. Now, if only he could figure out a way to ensure that he kept all of the findings, this would be the perfect plan indeed.

"Alright, the first thing is to spot potential marks. Just try to find someone that looks like they have a lot of money, not a lot of real use for it, and that are completely oblivious to the world around one. If you see one, let me know, and I'll tell you if you picked correctly or not, alright?"

Alex smiled and leaned against the wall, surveying the girl from his taller height. He hadn't hugged her back earlier because, in all honesty, Alex wasn't exactly used to such behaviors in his day. As it were, this simple act had intrigued him, and now Alex was watching Keiko about as observantly as he watched for makrs on the street.