|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 6:52:31 GMT -5
(( Move from: New York City :: A hotel as a place to hide ))
Gambit didn't have that much to buy; a few padlocks and other kinds of locks to practice on, a pair of binoculars and a few other things that he considered necessary for the day and the things they had planned. Then he called the real estate agent, telling him to start looking for another apartment and sell the old one. Half a year in one place - that was a lot by any thief's standards, though he took consolation in the fact that the total time he'd spent there was barely above a month.
After that he gave a call to an old friend of his, someone who'd help them to fix the car afterwards, and arranged a meeting. A few more calls, and his matters that could be solved over the phone were solved. Only then he sent Shade a message telling where he was waiting for her, and hid in a small cafe nearby, having a good view of the street.
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 7:15:09 GMT -5
Shade was content. As she had planned, she had been to an internet café as soon as Gambit had been out of sight, spending the next few minutes at a computer to search for a good and trustworthy photographer. For what she had in mind, she wouldn´t have wanted some dubious photo shop but someone who knew how to take good pictures. She found someone with an internet page that looked good to her and had taken a cab there - it was just round the corner as she noticed with content.
She had no idea how much it might cost her to get her present for Gambit realised, but didn´t really give it much thought. Wouldn´t bee too much and even if it had been... She had felt somewhat nervous walking into the photo studio, never having done anything of the like before, had taken her time to have a look at various sample works and eventually decided that this was the place she had been looking for. Gambit had mentioned photos twice already, jokingly in Tunisia and once when they had been at Hellfire. Now she intended to pick up on that suggestion, but in a somewhat more creative way.
The photographer had been a friendly and energetic looking woman around her 40s which took away some part of Shade´s nervousness. She had explained what she wanted, wondering if it was realisable and the photographer had nodded and made some suggestions. Shade had had this idea the previous evening. If she thought about Gambit and things Gambit liked the first object that came to her mind were playing cards. The photo shop did some print and commercial stuff too, so it would be an easy thing for them to design a card game for her. No usual card game, but one about three times as large as an ordinary one and one that was a lot more personal, because Shade intended to have pictures of herself taken for the face cards. The photographer had had a lot of ideas for motifs of Queens, Jacks and Kings ranging from playfully sexy to artistic. They had agreed on an appointment in a few days, because it would take time and Shade had no idea how long Gambit would need.
After that, she had indeed gone shopping, buying a new pair of jeans and a neckholder top. She didn´t really need new clothes that desperately, but one could always need something new and it was a nice disguise. Gambit would surely raise an eyebrow at her if she returned with completely empty hands.
When she reached the café, he was already waiting for her. "Hello there." she said, walking towards him with a huge cheshire cat grin.
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 7:25:14 GMT -5
"Bon jour," Gambit smirked. "Coffee?" She looked extremely cheerful and much like she'd been up to something, but he decided not to ask - either he'd find out sooner or later, or it wasn't Gambit-related and therefore he didn't care.
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 7:28:30 GMT -5
Shade let herself drop on a chair next to Gambit, leaning in for a brief kiss before she dropped her bags. She only realised now that she had not had breakfast yet and was hungry. "Oh, defenitely." she said. "You had breakfast already?"
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 7:42:19 GMT -5
"A little," Gambit nodded. It was enough for him, and he had his thoughts fixed on things other than food. Still, he nodded to the waitress to come over so that Shade could get something. "Had fun shoppin'?"
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 7:46:52 GMT -5
"I did." Shade said with a smile. "Didn´t buy too much, but it was fun anyways." She ordered a roll with honey. "Bought something nice too?" she aked, leaning back. It was no shopping question, rather one that showed she was interested in where he had been and whether he already had plans for the car.
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 7:50:35 GMT -5
"Lotsa locks," Gambit replied. "So, about dat car..." he didn't lower his voice but instead pretended they were buying a car, which was nothing illegal to discuss openly. "D'ya want it from de shop or from de owner?"
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 7:58:16 GMT -5
Shade had no idea what was easier to steal. Owner probably meant less public whereas a car they got from an owner would also mean it might not be a new one. Unless they decided for one that had been bought only recently. "Owner." she therefore replied in the same normal voice, reasoning mostly with the idea that there would be less witnesses. Part of herself rolled eyes at her inwardly and refused to think in such ways but she didn´t pay attention to it. "but a relatively new one."
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 8:05:55 GMT -5
"Bon," Gambit agreed. Stealing a car from the owner was easier for him now that he couldn't be as good a thief as he used to be, and getting past the alarm systems and motion detectors at a car shop wasn't too appealing to him at the moment. However, he would've been able to manage, he was sure of that, he simply didn't want to risk it with Shade involved.
He glanced at his cellphone. It was only half past one. "We need t' wait until de evenin' peak hour. Den we go."
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 8:17:49 GMT -5
"Okay." Shade nodded and gave the waitress a polite smile when she returned with the orders. She wanted to ask where he thought they could best get one, but didn´t, as she figured that although their conversation did not sound suspicious, Gambit would not want to discuss details in public.
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 8:24:09 GMT -5
They still had plenty of time, and the cafe was small enough for Gambit to not be afraid to be discovered there by anybody who would be following him. He knew if they went out into the city, he'd make it difficult for them to go anywhere, so they spent the next couple of hours there, chatting about things.
After that, they went to Central park and spent the rest of the time until the evening peak hours there.
Just before Gambit felt it was the right time to go, he decided to give Shade some brief overview of what and why they were about to do.
"We're not gonna steal a car today," he said. "First, we're gonna look for it an' watch."
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 8:27:23 GMT -5
Gambit´s words showed her how little she knew about that sort of thing. She nodded. "All right." she said, nodding. "Where will we go?"
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 8:29:23 GMT -5
"We'll go wit' de traffic an' you choose whatever car you like. Den you watch de licence plates, ya know why?"
|
|
|
Post by Shade on Sept 14, 2007 8:31:40 GMT -5
It was as if he was teaching her how to steal and Shade had to inwardly smirk at that. "So we can come back, identify the owner and find out where he lives?" she suggested.
|
|
|
Post by Gambit on Sept 14, 2007 8:34:39 GMT -5
"Non," Gambit said. "So we know whether de car is from dis state or de other one. If it's from Georgia, you don't want dat car jus' because de owner is probably jus' visiting someone here an' watchin' dis car will be a waste of time. So you'll have t' see whether de licence plate is New York."
|
|