The Heist

[crypddyd]

They had been investigating for weeks, planning and setting up for what seemed like forever. But now was the time for everything to go into action. One team dressed up and settled into various undercover positions in the casino- including Lion himself over at the slots, in case he needed to call Greta and let her know someone was calling her out. Though hopefully, word of mouth would find her first.

Another at the bank, Mona using her Executor weapon to prove they could break-in at any time. It was all or nothing now- either way Greta was about to learn there were way more Executors than she previously assumed.

That is, if the Executors were right in their assumptions. But after last time who knows what might happen...

Comments

The Casino

[crypddyd]

[Ruin is set up at the high roller table like usual, the others heading to their positions to start funneling money to him. Surely if he makes enough of a scene it will get her attention... but just in case Lion looms by the slots, ready to call her with 'concern' later if needed.]

The Bank

[crypddyd]

[The larger group gathers, with Mona leading the plan- but can they really manage this without being caught? Or even break-in at all...?]

The Heist

[alcahest]

[ two weeks before the date they're going to strike, a Phantom Thief puts out a heist notice across the city, a shower of papers scattered from rooftops all bearing the same message: tomorrow night, I will steal from the Mona Lisa herself. the next night, Mona's ranseur "disappears" from her vault, mysteriously and with no known culprit.

she makes a fuss — as politely as she can, but enough of a scene to draw attention to it. a lot of hand-wringing and concern about the security of the vault, how she just doesn't feel safe leaving her items here if they can be stolen so easily... "that Phantom Thief is definitely a threat," is what she wants people to be thinking. "what else are they going to take right from under our noses?"

one week before the plan, another heist notice goes out: one week from now, I will steal all the wealth in Invidia.

Mona gets the other Executors to discuss it in public, in the week leading up to the night it will happen. the excitement and anticipation surrounding this night has to be built up as much as possible; a lot of did you hear and what do you think conversations had on the streets, at a louder volume than strictly necessary. the infiltration at the Bank depends on her plan's success here, and she doesn't want to let anyone down. there's not a lot to prepare for the actual heist itself — they're causing a scene, more than anything, and they don't actually need to succeed in anything themselves. they're just the set-up so that if— when Greta loses, it really feels like she's been robbed.

getting into the vaults is easy. Mona has an account. one of the employees kindly takes her to the back of the building where the first floor of vaults is located, unlocks the doors, and Mona freezes the employee in place with a Chronolock.

everyone hurries inside, and the doors close behind them. Mona is looking significantly more nervous now that this is actually happening, although she does her best to appear determined and not extremely rattled. ]

Right — so, the more important vaults are on a deeper level, if we want to try and find our way down there. I think we're already causing a scene, at least... and the longer it takes for security to actually subdue us, the more of a threat we'll seem, I suppose.

( a note that HEIST TEAM DOESN'T NEED TO BE RESPONDING TO MONA HERE branch off into your own top levels and threads in replies to this header and cause some chaos...!! i just wanted to establish the context around the heist since Mona was the one planning it. )

[heir_to_ruin]

[He's being extra obnoxious tonight, chatting up the younger guy at the table with proclamations that it's been long enough.]

It's not just dreaming, anymore my friend. Time to start scheming.

[Gosh where in the worlds could he have gotten that idea from? But he is in full schmooze, epic flirt mode. So much so that he even went and bought new clothes for this~ Including a fair amount of leather. just toeing the line between classy and trashy.

Come at him.]

[schardynfreude]

[Chiron isn't dressed any differently than his usual loud(ly mismatched) outfits so as to not draw...any more undue attention than he already gets. He's been around the casino, in and out and about, ever since they landed on this level, so his appearance should gain no strange attention. A little poker, a little blackjack, occasionally tries his hand at more luck-based games but always drifts back to the surefire cards. Buys drinks, for himself and for others, either to get on their good side or to annoy them. Strolls by the high roller table to watch, now and then.

Just a bystander having fun. Definitely not involved, no sir.]

[daughterofthemark]

[You'd think this was literally Royal Veil's first day not only in the casino, but in Avaritia. She seems to just wander in, marveling at the decor, at the people, at the games, at the high rollers whom she clearly has never met in her life.

It's not at all long before she gets suckered into a game of poker.

It might be a little longer before her opponents realize their mistake. Veil is having fun, and she's not worrying too much about whether she wins or loses, and she doesn't have a damn clue how to strategize in this game, and the result of all this is that nobody has any idea what she's going to do at any time. Her expression goes from :> to :> to :> regardless of her situation, and she bets, folds, discards, and draws based on mysterious criteria known only to herself, if that. To make matters worse, she is also undeniably extremely cute. It's like playing against a puppy, except puppies don't occasionally proudly proclaim that they have a full house.]

[emberserker]

Very well. [A shimmer, and she's in Executor mode.] So we've just got to break through the doors, or has someone got a key or spell for that?

[ourtomorrow]

This is Monarch.

[ Monarch is hiding in the shadows between buildings, not yet Executored up - after all, he has a pass to get into the bank tower, he just needs an excuse for why he's at work after hours if security inquires. Anyone else who's come with him....well, "divide and conquer" is the theme, isn't it? If security is busy with others, perhaps no one will notice, or be ready, to stop Monarch from emptying Greta's account until it's too late.

So here he is, on his cell phone, letting team heist know: ] Ready to enter.

[swordofajerk]

[Sword just. Ignores Wolfsbane (as he does) and goes to start digging through the employee's pockets, pulling out anything that might vaguely resemble a key or has the words "pass" on it.]

[cancrymods]

He ends up with a whole load of pocket junk and two likely looking things: an employee ID card and a weird, silvery looking tube that's dotted with holes in a precise pattern.

[swordofajerk]

Found something.

[He holds up the card and the tube.]

That ID card will probably be useful, at least.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dx-oeQzUUAAKwwZ.jpg

[cancrymods]

Ruin's new look certainly gets him some uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh attention, let's say, and his sudden switch in style and attitude seems to have caught the usual suspects at the table off-guard. Off-guard enough that he gets onto a pretty nice roll and starts raking in a pretty respectable amount of cash as his wins pile up.

Apart from taking out everyone's eyes with his cleavage, what's his long-term strategy here?

[emberserker]

The tube looks like an answer key for deciphering code.

[You're ignoring her? Too bad. She's headed to the nearest door to check for any alarms and a way to disarm them.]

[crypddyd]

[Lion is over by the slots, playing for a little bit (losing, mostly) while keeping an ear out for Ruin. Once people really start talking he takes out his phone and texts Greta]

i hope this isn't a bad time, but I am at the casino and there is a man winning at the highbroller table and... he has said he is going to clean out the table. I am not sure but I believe I even heard your name used?

[cancrymods]

[ The response comes back almost immediately. ]

Do you believe him?

[ It's a pretty dismissive response, but the speed with which she pinged that back is pretty telling. ]

[crypddyd]

i do not know card games that well, but from watching him it seems that he's very good. and even when he loses hands or only wins small pots his chip pile keeps growing. I suspect he might either have a very large savings or someone is helping him.

I attempted to get closer to get a count of his winnings but he slapped my ass :(

[cancrymods]

[ There's a pause while Greta closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and counts to ten before responding. ]

Keep watching him for now. I'll make my way down to see if he's worth dealing with, or if we can just dismiss him. Be sure to keep me updated.

[cancrymods]

How is she checking that door? There's nothing really visible, at least not anything that's immediately apparent, but the door is locked up pretty nice and tight and it doesn't look like it would be easy to force open.

[crypddyd]

Understood.

[He then switches to the executor chat:]

Greta is on her way to the Casino!

[heir_to_ruin]

He's been playing it safe for too long and once the heist nonsense was organized he had to change tactics. But the couple of people he's been talking to shouldn't be too surprised at the shift from just daydreaming about things turns towards action. (And, let's be real, he never stopped flirting)

It's only when a few rounds have passed with him winning but still not really being taken seriously that he gives Lion a subtle glance and goes as far as name dropping Greta. Not just that he's going to be as wealthy as her but that she'll be jealous when she finds out how big he's gonna win.

[karappo]

[Second has, so far, been attempting to blend in as well as possible. It's...difficult for someone as outrageous as he can be, but if he takes any attention away from what Ruin is doing their plan is going to go immediately belly up. Fortunately, it seems that most around are kindof either ignoring or giving him a wide berth anyway...which is basically par the course.

When the executor chat is pinged, he'll respond as he watches the others mill about the slots from afar as he occupies one of the machines himself.]

Everyone is playing their roles well. Did she seem suspicious of anything?

[crypddyd]

Not that I could tell. But the odds are good that I will have to 'fight' Ruin at least, and possibly the rest of you. Please do not panic if that happens- I'll be gentle.

[karappo]

Fear not, Lion. You have been watching us train along with you, have you not? We may give you a run for your money.

[Second says as if he hasn't been just mostly watching...he's only just gotten used to summoning his weapon and using his abilities, so yeah. He's not going to serve as much of a threat probably...]

[daughterofthemark]

[Veil turns her attention to her phone, absentmindedly raising the bet by a weird amount.]

I cannot wait to meet her!

[She remembers what their goal is! Probably.]

[emberserker]

Ugh, of course it has to make itself difficult.

[If looking the door over doesn't yield anything, then she'll let Sword use the key card, all the while checking the area for anything else of note.]