January Catchall!

[cleptes]

WHO: Bela and YOU
WHERE: Maurtia Falls, De Chima
WHEN: Now to late January
WHAT: General prompts and closed prompts (in the comments)
WARNINGS: None anticipated, but will update if necessary

1) Herodotus Antiques:

Dividing her time between De Chima and Maurtia Falls had proved itself to be an arduous task. The more Bela thought about it, the more she wondered if she should just completely relocate her business. It meant that her customers in Maurtia Falls would have to travel further, but it’d also make Bela's life a lot easier. De Chima wasn't perfect, she knew that. However, Bela felt a lot safer in that city as opposed to Maurtia Falls. While her murder happened three months ago, she still didn't believe that she was completely over it.

For now though, she is opening the doors of Herodotus Antiques, five days a week from nine to five. Whatever her future plans were, they would have to be set aside in lieu of building up some much needed income to help make those plans become a reality. Her business had suffered for several reasons, one of them being that she was in space for three weeks (ask her about it. She will tell you. Promise.)

To make this even better, Bela has launched a sale on most of her items and if you're really good at haggling, maybe she will bring the price down further.


2) De Chima:

Bela has gotten to know De Chima quite well over the past few months. She knows where the best shops were, the best coffee places and the best bars. The best place to get her hair done. Bela made a point of knowing everything she could about a place she was in, especially when she considered making a permanent move to it. For all the time she has spent in the city, she may as well be living there on a permanent basis.

You may find her at a coffee spot or a chic boutique store. Maybe even a bar later on in the evening. Bela didn't stay out too late at night if she didn't have to, so she will probably only have a few drinks. You could also find her outside a property agency, looking at what business spaces were available to buy or rent. Whatever could that mean?

Sometimes, she visited a gym and did some light weight training and cardio classes, just to keep herself fit and healthy. The colder weather didn't exactly enthuse Bela to exercising outside so the gym would have to suffice until the spring time. Even when it begins to warm up she probably wouldn't stop from taking classes.

[WILDCARD: Hit me up!]

Comments

For Jon

[cleptes]

[Staying with Jon had enabled Bela to learn a lot about taking care of animals, farming and just doing general chores around that. The kind of chores that she would have never ever dared to do back home for several reasons. But she felt like she had to earn her keep somehow in the farmhouse as Jon had very kindly let her live there for the past few months. So Bela rolled up her sleeves and mucked (sometimes, literally) in, doing her best to learn from him.

Of course that wasn't the only thing that he knew how to do. He was a trained swordsman and fighter; Bela was interested in learning more about that. Being able to defend herself was important and she knew that she couldn't always rely on a firearm to do the job. She didn't have a gun three months ago. Something had to be done.

Somehow, Bela had managed to find a couple of wooden training swords to help her with the basics. There was no chance of her using a real one, and besides, Jon had to agree to train her first. Hopefully he would say yes.

She approached him one afternoon in the farmhouse, holding the swords behind her back. ]

Jon. I want to ask you something.

[song_of_ice]

[After Lucy had disappeared, he felt obligated to look after her numerous animals. There had been a benefit for him, as it meant that he now owned several horses. The dogs followed the family whenever someone was home, never receiving enough attention. And the cats seemed content in the barn where they could hunt for mice. While he knew Bela had no previous experience on a farm, she had showed a great deal of determination to learn what she could and carry her share of the work.

There were still a number of repairs to do, especially during the winter. He was patching the side of the barn when Bela approached him. Over the sound of his hammering, he didn't hear her until she spoke to him. He glanced up at her in surprise.]

What is it?

[cleptes]

Will you train me in the use of a sword?

[There didn't seem to be a need for a dramatic build up before her question. What Bela does do is present the wooden swords to him, bringing them around from behind her back.]

I know you're the best person for the job and I could use some form of defense for myself, as well as exercise. If you say yes, I promise to work hard and listen to your instructions carefully.

[song_of_ice]

[He chuckles when he sees the sword, turning the wooden blade around in his hand. He got to his feet, wiping the sweat from his hands on his jeans. Even if it was winter, the work had been hard and it felt as warm as Dragonstone.]

Of course. [He twirled it around idly, the callouses of his fingers familiar to the weight and feel.]

You were right to choose a training blade first. Most would assume that you start with steel. This is safer.

For Arthur

[cleptes]

[Arthur had told Bela that he wasn't much of a holiday person, but she was eager to get him out for one evening in the New Year and hopefully lift his spirits. Her text to him was vague: Meet me at 112nd street at 8 o'clock. Wear a tuxedo. The reason for this is that Bela wanted her plans to remain a surprise until the very last second. Arthur may be able to suss out what it could be, but she still wasn't going to tell him.

She's waiting outside a building on the aforementioned street, dressed in a gorgeous, elegant gown with a wrap around her arms and shoulders to keep out the chill. Perhaps she should be wearing a jacket but her presentation was for dramatic effect and to show off a new dress, picked specifically for this evening. Bela will likely wear it again at some point in the future, at the right event.

Her focus was just on tonight.]

[aloadeddie]

[ Arthur isn't a fan of the holidays, it's true. He claims it's because he gets bored, with work essentially drying up for like six weeks or more, but it's a little more complicated than that. It's really been since Mal's death that Arthur has started being a Scrooge - he usually spent the holidays with the Cobbs but in the past few years that tapered off and the best he could do was send gifts to the kids. This year, for obvious reasons, he couldn't even do that.

So yeah, not a fan. But it's fine - they're over, and as January gets going he gets a bit more work. And then Bela sends her cryptic message. A tux? He can do a tux. It's a rental, but it's a good rental, and he whistles low and impressed when he spots her. ]

Happy New Year. You look fantastic.

[cleptes]

Happy New Year, Arthur. [ Bela smiles brightly, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek. ] I'm not the only one who looks fantastic. I love the tux.

[ Rental or not, he knew what looked good on him and had an impeccable style. It was one of the qualities that Bela liked about Arthur.]

Shall we head inside?

[aloadeddie]

Let's.

[ He smiles, offering his arm for her as they step inside. ]

I need a break from the enforced holiday cheer, that's for sure. How were your holidays?

For Hans

[cleptes]

[They had previously discussed pulling off a heist together and now those plans were hopefully going to be put into place. It had been a long time since Bela had done a job so she was keen to do it and get it right. She agreed to meet Hans before they were going to carry out the heist to iron out any last minute details or changes to their plan.

Part of her was nervous since they had never worked together and she normally did this sort of thing by herself back home. Bela was also concerned about being off her game or out of practice. Maybe this would be the last heist for a while. Possibly even her last ever one. It would probably bring in enough money for her to make her plans a reality. Bela was beginning to think that she had grown a conscience over time and that did not exactly align with stealing.

Those kind of thoughts were for another night. She didn't want to think about her conscience now.]

[exceptionalthief]

[Ever the Man with a Plan, Hans doesn't enjoy leaving things to chance, always making it a point to painstakingly research prospective targets down to the finest details—at least, that's what he did back home in the absence of personal superpowers. Now however, that amount of effort seems excessive and possibly a pointless waste of time, given his new (albeit untested) abilities.

Which is not to say he feels entirely comfortable 'winging it,' even as he accepts such is the nature of experimentation. He has, in any event, already done some preliminary reconnaissance of the De Chima Grand Hotel, attending the recent New Year's Eve gala and unobtrusively poking his nose around, coming to the conclusion it would adequately serve his purposes, the manager's office having the potential as it did for containing a good-sized amount of cash and valuables, while not being as high security as say, a bank.

He'd arranged to meet Bela in the lobby, suitcase in hand, looking like any other guest checking in.]

[cleptes]

[With a confident stride, Bela makes her way over to where Hans was waiting for her, offering him a polite nod. Everyone around them were caught up in their own business but she's not going to openly talk about their plans.

She brought along a small suitcase as well, knowing that she had to fit into the environment without arousing any suspicion. If it came down to it, Bela was prepared to make a reservation underneath a fake name to really sell that she was just a guest and nothing more.]

Hello, Hans. It's good to see you.

[exceptionalthief]

[His next move might be a little surprising, given it hadn't been part of the plan per se, but it might be considered a logical one, considering they're two adults, meeting in a hotel with suitcases.]

So glad you could make it, Darling.

[After which, he'll lean in to give her cheek the briefest of kisses, accompanied by a loving glance. If they look surreptitious at all, it could be put down an apparent lover's tryst, rather than anything more criminal.]

For Hux

[cleptes]

[It had been difficult but she managed to get one of the parts on Hux's list. Bela didn't know what the part would do, she is more interested in the payment and the knowledge that would hopefully come along with it. Hux wasn't a man who parted with information so readily - not a crime of course - she just knows what he was capable of and therefore she had to be very careful around him. He probably didn't trust Bela either.

Getting him what he wanted though? That was a step towards him being open to the idea of trusting her. Hopefully a step towards her gleaning something about him that she could use against Hux later on. Essentially, Bela was going to be a spy. And get paid for doing it.

She had to make it worth the risk.]

[therewillbeorder]

[It hadn't been difficult to have Eli arrange for him to have use of a back room at Pour Decisions. He arrived first, ordering a drink for himself as he waited for Bela. It was good to be out of the house, despite his promises to Ren and Anakin he needed to get out. He kept his blaster concealed but within within easy reach, just in case.

By the time she arrived he had his drink in hand, checking his phone for any updates. That was set aside as she came in and he tried to see what she had managed to get.]

Right on time. Please, sit. We won't be disturbed here.

[cleptes]

[The back room was a perfect meeting point for the exchange and it was also in a place that Bela had been before. She doesn't order anything alcoholic for herself - just water- and then heads in to meet Hux, nodding at him in greeting.]

Thank you. [Bela takes a seat, setting down the duffle bag she had brought with her on the ground.]

I appreciate you allowing me to use this space for our meeting. It's suitable.

[therewillbeorder]

Of course. It seemed like a suitable space.

[He wasn't going to advertise his connection to Eli Vanto. He glanced at the duffle bag, raising his eyebrows before looking back at her.]

So what were you able to get?

De Chima - tea

[dun_moch]

[A rare deviation from Dooku's pattern: for once, he is meeting someone for tea in De Chima, instead of his usual Brew World Order haunt in Maurtia Falls. Bela is a dependable ally though, and he trusts her to have selected a suitably discreet location with decent blends available. He arrives wearing a suit and a smile.]

Hello, Bela. A pleasure to see you again.

[cleptes]

[De Chima had some very fine tea shops and she was delighted to show a friend just how nice this particular place was.]

Hello, Count Dooku. [A smile.] It's lovely to see you as well. I'm glad you could make it.

Please, sit.

[dun_moch]

With pleasure.

[The Count does seat himself, his cape kind of pooling around him and draping over the back of the seat as he lowers himself into the chair.]

Do you recommend any particular blend here?

[drivesadesk]

[As Jonathan promised, he stopped by the antique shop. He was bundled up in a winter coat, scarf and gloves, to try and hold in the heat he built up sitting next to a space heater at home, because he knew Maurtia Falls was much colder than Heropa. Of course, once he hurried inside he was far more comfortable, and when he spotted Bela, he smiled.]

Hey, what's up? I told you I'd come. I do have to warn you, though, I don't know anything about antiques.

[cleptes]

Hello, Jonathan. [Bela smiled in return, ushering him further inside the shop.] I'm glad to see you again.

Well, I can teach you about antiques. Show you a few pieces and the store room where I keep the stock. Before I came here, my knowledge about antiques and the care of them was very basic, so I had to do my own research.

[drivesadesk]

Good, because the only antique I know anything about is my old boss.

[He laughed to himself as he followed behind her.]

Yeah...he was over two hundred years old.

[And that last part wasn't actually a joke.]

antiques!

[littlemissfutility]

Beth's been meaning to stop in for a while now, but between jingles, BlueTube, studying, and the usual craziness of living in a house with other people, time just slips away. (It's kind of weird, being so busy, though it's mostly in a nice way. Better than the times when days boiled down to the bare necessities of survival: find food, find water, keep walking, build camp.) Eventually, though, she ends up in Maurtia Falls, walking into the antiques shop a little hesitantly.

"Bela?" She calls it softly, already a little distracted by everything on display. It's beautiful--well, most of it is, and some of it is ugly in that old-lady way that other people like. Even at a glance, she can tell that this is the kind of place a person could lose an hour in without noticing.

[cleptes]

The shop had been steady for most of the day and Bela was fine with it, wanting to slowly ease herself back into a usual routine. She didn't mind being busy of course (it meant more profit) but she did not want to run out of steam halfway through the month and have to take a few days off just to recuperate.

She was in the stockroom when she heard her name being called, heading out from the room to the main area of the shop; Bela watches Beth for a moment as she looks around, smiling to herself. But she doesn't keep her waiting too long, coming over to greet her with a warm smile and a wave.

"Hi, Beth. I'm glad to see you here."

[littlemissfutility]

This is the kind of setting that appeals to her more magpie-ish tendencies. The same little spark that urges her to decorate with whatever interesting things she can find or pick up knickknacks from the dead--that makes her want to buy half the store's inventory. This hanging bird ornament, that tiered serving-plate, those earrings...she could probably spend all day (and most of her money) here if she wanted to.

Luckily, Bela rescues her from that fate.

"Thanks." She sets down a little figurine she'd been looking at and comes over. "Your shop's beautiful. Do you find everything yourself?"