[Kenshi certainly presents the perfect target. Even if he weren't clearly wearing a blindfold, he seems preoccupied by someone outside of one of the restaurants trying to entice him inside.
For a moment, he's actually thankful that someone has bumped into him. It's a perfect excuse to more firmly turn the man down.]
Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Not a problem. [If Jake has fast enough fingers, he should have no problem lifting Kenshi's watch or an item or two from the bag on his arm, which held a few things he'd bought that day. Or, perhaps Jake goes for the ultimate prize, an expensive-looking katana sheathed at his side. It looks easy enough to simply cut the leather loop keeping it on his belt.]
Good, not sure my karma could handle me taking someone out just before bed. [ No. No his karma cannot. Evidenced by his deft removal of the topmost item from Kenshi's bag, aiming for what will be both the easiest to remove and the least noticeable when gone. Lightweight, hopefully valuable, and easy to miss. ]
–hey, pal, why don't you take it easy? I'm sure if he wanted cheap dumplings he would've gone in already. [ He even addresses the pushy restauranteur, offering Kenshi a steadying clap to the shoulder before turning away. ]
[He offers the stranger a somewhat forced, but ultimately polite and reassuring smile.] Hardly. It was just an accident.
[He straightens when the stranger perhaps tries to save him from his fate with the restaurateur, low-key mortified. It works, though. The man just sighs and rolls his eyes, walking away and leaving Kenshi be, as Jake also continues along the road.
Something about the whole interaction feels off, though, but he can't quite put his finger on it. He almost reflexively feels his pocket to make sure he still has his phone. That's when things click for him. The street, while busy, is not crowded enough to really be bumping into people. He turns to follow after the man, still trying to figure out if he is actually missing anything. He's almost surprised to find that the man had managed to slip the expensive dress shirts he'd just purchased out of his bag without him noticing.]
Hey! Wait a moment. I have a question for you. [Surely, they could settle this quietly and save them both a headache.]
[ Maybe he should've left him to his own devices. Maybe that restauranteur could've done him a solid and kept him distracted, even. That would've been a hell of a lot better than getting yelled after in the street, debating his options in the few scant seconds he has. Surprisingly, he actually slows, looking back over his shoulder with mock interest. ]
Yeah?
If it's "why the hell are you so clumsy" I'm just gonna' turn around and go, spare myself the embarrassment. Otherwise I'm listening, so what's up?
[Kenshi doesn't slow down, which should maybe be Jake's first inclination that he wasn't the vulnerable, helpless target he'd thought.]
Not to worry. My question is - are you going to give back what you took, or am I going to have to take it back?
[His hand naturally drifts to the hilt of his sword, though using it is the last thing he'd do. Patho-Gen had made it very clear that he could have his sword, but only if he promised not to use it in the city.
What Kenshi doesn't see is the police that have perked up from the commotion, more than ready to ensure that no one disturbs the peace.]
Whoa, whoa– hey, there's no need for all that. What's going on, man?
[ Officers are close and Jake, realizing his own mistake in choice of target, doesn't do what a rudimentary criminal might. Running would only immediately solidify his guilt and get him chased, so what does he do instead? He raises a hand to the police, urging them to hold on as if Kenshi is the problem. ]
Hang on, guys, I don't think he's actually gonna' do anything violent. Seems like there's just a misunderstanding. I don't have anything to give back to you, pal, and I really don't think getting violent with the wrong guy is worth putting on your record.
[He tilts his head, following the direction the man is speaking in. Police. Great.
Kenshi turns back to him, opening his mouth, when yet another voice chimes in.]
They're both causing trouble! That one's a thief, and they're both disturbing the peace. Please, do something about them! [Kenshi turns to look in the opposite direction, and who was it but their old friend, the restaurateur. Fucking great.]
Alright, both of you, hands where we can see them. [One of the police demands.]
You see what you've done now? [Kenshi's voice is a low, harsh whisper, so only Jake can hear. He has no plans of just letting himself be arrested, though, and pushes past Jake to jog toward a busy section of the market and a maze of alleyways.]
[ Oh great, that miserable sack of shit. Going from harassing customers to being a narc? Bad to worse. Much, much worse. ]
Right 'cause you gearing up to draw a sword wasn't a problem at all, [ Jake grumbles back, hands about to lift so that he can engage in one of his favorite pastimes – talking himself out of trouble – when his new brother in "crime" takes off. ]
Hey... hey! You gotta' be fucking with me... and you guys? [ Here he gestures to the policemen as he too steps backward, weight on one heel to prep a sharp turn. ] Jokes, seriously. You're gonna' treat a guy who got robbed the same as the robber?
[ Even as the liar and thief himself, he sees the ridiculousness of the situation. And it's all he says before he takes off after Kenshi, sprinting forward to catch up with that jogging speed and leave the shouting officers behind. ]
Hey! [ Another shout, this time paired with a clap of his hand on Kenshi's shoulder as he passes. ] Veer left, we can lose 'em in the crowd!
He's the thief! Not me! [Is it extremely childish and petty to yell this back in the direction of the police and the stranger? Absolutely, and he does it anyway.
Turning his head, he's a little surprised to see the thief running after him and not in some other direction. Bold of him to assume he'd work with him after he'd stolen from him, but they're unfortunately both in trouble. And the bastard is faster than him.
He smacks harmlessly at the hand on his shoulder, but scopes out the direction Jake has suggested before heading in that direction, breaking into a run to keep up with him though he's immediately slowed back down as they get into the crowd and he needs to snake around people to get through.]
Do you see all the trouble you've created? Should've just given me my things back.
- Alley behind that cart! [It looks like the perfect place to duck down, not easy to get to or see from the other side of the street where they, and thus the police, came from.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Comments
For a moment, he's actually thankful that someone has bumped into him. It's a perfect excuse to more firmly turn the man down.]
Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Not a problem. [If Jake has fast enough fingers, he should have no problem lifting Kenshi's watch or an item or two from the bag on his arm, which held a few things he'd bought that day. Or, perhaps Jake goes for the ultimate prize, an expensive-looking katana sheathed at his side. It looks easy enough to simply cut the leather loop keeping it on his belt.]
–hey, pal, why don't you take it easy? I'm sure if he wanted cheap dumplings he would've gone in already. [ He even addresses the pushy restauranteur, offering Kenshi a steadying clap to the shoulder before turning away. ]
Well, see you around.
[He straightens when the stranger perhaps tries to save him from his fate with the restaurateur, low-key mortified. It works, though. The man just sighs and rolls his eyes, walking away and leaving Kenshi be, as Jake also continues along the road.
Something about the whole interaction feels off, though, but he can't quite put his finger on it. He almost reflexively feels his pocket to make sure he still has his phone. That's when things click for him. The street, while busy, is not crowded enough to really be bumping into people. He turns to follow after the man, still trying to figure out if he is actually missing anything. He's almost surprised to find that the man had managed to slip the expensive dress shirts he'd just purchased out of his bag without him noticing.]
Hey! Wait a moment. I have a question for you. [Surely, they could settle this quietly and save them both a headache.]
Yeah?
If it's "why the hell are you so clumsy" I'm just gonna' turn around and go, spare myself the embarrassment. Otherwise I'm listening, so what's up?
Not to worry. My question is - are you going to give back what you took, or am I going to have to take it back?
[His hand naturally drifts to the hilt of his sword, though using it is the last thing he'd do. Patho-Gen had made it very clear that he could have his sword, but only if he promised not to use it in the city.
What Kenshi doesn't see is the police that have perked up from the commotion, more than ready to ensure that no one disturbs the peace.]
[ Officers are close and Jake, realizing his own mistake in choice of target, doesn't do what a rudimentary criminal might. Running would only immediately solidify his guilt and get him chased, so what does he do instead? He raises a hand to the police, urging them to hold on as if Kenshi is the problem. ]
Hang on, guys, I don't think he's actually gonna' do anything violent. Seems like there's just a misunderstanding. I don't have anything to give back to you, pal, and I really don't think getting violent with the wrong guy is worth putting on your record.
Kenshi turns back to him, opening his mouth, when yet another voice chimes in.]
They're both causing trouble! That one's a thief, and they're both disturbing the peace. Please, do something about them! [Kenshi turns to look in the opposite direction, and who was it but their old friend, the restaurateur. Fucking great.]
Alright, both of you, hands where we can see them. [One of the police demands.]
You see what you've done now? [Kenshi's voice is a low, harsh whisper, so only Jake can hear. He has no plans of just letting himself be arrested, though, and pushes past Jake to jog toward a busy section of the market and a maze of alleyways.]
Right 'cause you gearing up to draw a sword wasn't a problem at all, [ Jake grumbles back, hands about to lift so that he can engage in one of his favorite pastimes – talking himself out of trouble – when his new brother in "crime" takes off. ]
Hey... hey! You gotta' be fucking with me... and you guys? [ Here he gestures to the policemen as he too steps backward, weight on one heel to prep a sharp turn. ] Jokes, seriously. You're gonna' treat a guy who got robbed the same as the robber?
[ Even as the liar and thief himself, he sees the ridiculousness of the situation. And it's all he says before he takes off after Kenshi, sprinting forward to catch up with that jogging speed and leave the shouting officers behind. ]
Hey! [ Another shout, this time paired with a clap of his hand on Kenshi's shoulder as he passes. ] Veer left, we can lose 'em in the crowd!
Turning his head, he's a little surprised to see the thief running after him and not in some other direction. Bold of him to assume he'd work with him after he'd stolen from him, but they're unfortunately both in trouble. And the bastard is faster than him.
He smacks harmlessly at the hand on his shoulder, but scopes out the direction Jake has suggested before heading in that direction, breaking into a run to keep up with him though he's immediately slowed back down as they get into the crowd and he needs to snake around people to get through.]
Do you see all the trouble you've created? Should've just given me my things back.
- Alley behind that cart! [It looks like the perfect place to duck down, not easy to get to or see from the other side of the street where they, and thus the police, came from.]