The ring around her was wooden, made with old timber sheets and the people all around where screaming and hollering, small pouches of money kept getting tossed at one another making bets on who would win, how long she would last. The water around them on the Thames calm but the loud roar of barges passing wasn't so distracting,her coat having been shrugged off and handed to her twin as well as her gauntlet and other various weapons. she waited patiently for the first bloke to approach. Her fists up in anticipation, she smiled a coy smile.

"Take e'm out Evie!" she faintly heard her brother Jacob bark out as she lunged for the poor guy in front of her. Her fist connected with his jaw stunning the poor sod. She then she grabbed for his bleeding face, curled in to herself bringing her knee to his face with a loud crack he dropped to the ground, the brown mucky water of a puddle slathering his now obviously broken face.

She didn't have time to enjoy the victory as two more burly shirtless blokes came at her from behind. She kicked backwards connecting with ones gut, she heard him fall to his knees clutching himself. The next guy, caught off guard she grabbed at his arm, twist it behind his back. shoving him to the ground all the while twisting his arm more and pulling it up she heard the sickening pop and crack of bones, she then tossed him from his limp arm into the sod still on his knees beside him taking them both out.

The rhythm of the match continued on. more and more people entered the fight, she dropped them. Broke their jaws... dislocated arms, shoulders and more than likely broken bones.
All for what; the sick enjoyment of the spectators around betting on how long she would last.

It had to be around the 6th wave of the fight when the organiser called her to the edge handing her a large pouch, behind him her brother; a grin from ear to ear giving her 2 thumbs up. She accepted the money and leapt over the side to come beside her darling brat of a twin.

"Look here sister dearest!" he motioned to a pouch alike hers
"Where you... Jacob Frye! you bet on me!" she was angry and frustrated. taking bets on his own sister. of course she would beat everyone they threw at her... she was an assassin. How could she not!
"That's cheating Jacob!" she jabbed him in the gut playfully, unwrapping her hands from the bloodied wraps and dropping them into the murky water of the Thames bellow. she let Jacob help her back into her frock coat. Once on she adjusted her hood back into place and her gauntlet tightened on her arm.

"Now sister dearest. what else shall we do on this lovely day in London?" he tucked his money pouch away into his own coat and pulled out his pocket watch "look at the time, our train should be this way shortly. W shall wait and get food on the train together."
"you know brother. Your way of celebrating our birthday isn't the way I saw us celebrating." she poked him in the pout on his face was clear. she couldn't say no to it either, he knew exactly how to

make her smile, even just a little.

(earlier that morning)

She had spent her birthday morning by herself, reading in bed enjoying the views of the train passing through a calm city morning sun just glinting off the window panes. hair down, tea beside her and pillows stuffed all around her. it was a great start to her first day off in months.

They had only just finished off Starick weeks ago, the Queen had then called on her and her brother a few times and Henry had taken to her a bit more.

it had only been a week since she turned Mr. Green down from his proposal and she hadn't talked much to him since then but he was still around and he always brought her books. The one she was now reading had even been a present left by him the night before.

Soon though her peaceful morning came crashing down as her twin sailed into her cart with a handful of flowers. they where white calla lilies. He differently did not talk to henry before getting those she had laughed to herself.

He had then goaded her into running the roof tops with him. because of course it was also his birthday and she whined that

"well it OUR birthday sister dearest! we NEED to spend it TOGETHERRRRRRR"

He had whined and pleaded that she spend the day with him and do everything together.

Since the defeat of starick and all the fighting she had sworn to make an effort to see things the way Jacob did a little more. and so they raced the roof tops, took out some blighter's, stole what looked like precious cargo. they had laughed when they discovered it was only tea! and then... then they had come across the fighting pit here on a large vessel in the middle of the Thames.

How Jacob ever found these things she wouldn't know but it had been right after passing over the bridge to head back to the boroughs of the city of London. She had, had plans to settle in for the evening even if Jacob wanted to take her drinking at one of the pubs with a bunch of rooks. She out right denied that. After the day she had already had. this was it!

She would indulge in his supper plans on the train finally but that was it.

Jacob had apparently arranged for food as the clock struck 7. they has sat in her cart on the train relaxing and just laughing about the day they had, had.

Jacob had tried to impersonate one of the looks they had gotten while taking out the blighter's in Westminster. the contorted look on his face had made her burst into laughter. she didn't laugh often as their job was mostly dreary and somber. the amount of killing and fighting they did... didn't always allow for laughter, that seemed to gruesome and sadistic.

it hadn't taken long for food to show up. A rook knocking on the door to the cart as they entered the next station. Jacob being the brother he was had gotten 4 Rooks to bring in all her favorite foods.

she couldn't help but think this feast had cost more than she had even made today in the fights. Jacob only shrugged off the passing comment and handed the last Rook out a handful of Pounds.

As they settled on her bed pulling over all the food. she gasped.

"Did you really even get Jellied eels!?" she had always loved them and it wasn't always easy to find them made right in the city.
"Sister of mine, of course I did!"

The smile on her face was of pure happiness when she took her first bites.

In front of them was platters of fabulous street food and even a few pastries.
From fresh-baked muffins (she swore if they were custard filled she would die), fresh cooked peas and pork and much more including the jellied eels.

Her brother had a strange smile on her face. Like he was just enjoying her enjoyment. she couldn't help but continue to indulge.

taking off her coat and knife pouch, then bomb pouch carefully. she shed her boots ready to get comfortable.

With most of the food done with she wrapped the rest up into a neatly wrapped meal. whistling to send for a Rook, she handed the girl the food.
"Please find Clara Odea, you know where she should be this time of day right Amelie?"
This Rook in particular had always been kind and helpful to Evie. she had even taken to helping her train more and be a better fighter.

"As you wish Boss! anything else for..." she got closer and asked the last part in a whisper "anything else for the boss on her birthday?" Evie swatted at her.

"Do all the Rooks know?" she blurted at her twin.
A sly smile on his face told it all.
"I may have told a few... and those few may have spread it around." his arms came up in shrug.
"No big deal sister of mine" he continued wiping his dirty face with his sleeve. "Maybe I have one last surprise up my sleeve for us"

The look she gave him, if it could have... would have killed him right where he sat/stood. she was getting up and holding up something he had just pulled from under her bed.

"one last present for you sister dearest." he handed her the parcel.

"When did you hid this here!" she slapped at his hand "I didn't get you anything because we promised we wouldn't!" she wanted to punch him in the gut for real this time, unlike how earlier in the day she had done so playfully.

"Well I couldn't not get you this when I found it." she started unwrapping the bundle and swore he hadn't found this. he had to have had it made... and made especially for her.

It was like she remembered it from the picture. the one picture she had of her father and mother. The Coat was red like the wine she enjoyed. long in style and the thick quilted twill was soft but sturdy.

The Coat was a near replica from the photo of what their mother had worn. she would say near because it had a place for her shoulder cape to be buckled in and the sleeves where longer and more sturdy built for their line of work.

Their father had never talked about mother much, but when he passed, they had found a picture of them both together. their mother sitting on a bench in an apple orchard with their father standing behind her. It was always clear their mother had not been the assassin type. She had wanted to find the coat after finding the picture, if not to wear but to have... but alas it was never found. only a small wooden box in their fathers study with 2 rings within and the assassins mark upon them. they both now wore those rings with pride.

She couldn't believe Jacob had gone and had this coat made for her. She wasn't always the emotional type but a few stray tears fell from her face.

"Jacob... thank you.." she rose and pulled it on. it fit her like a glove. the hidden pockets inside the coat already containing an arsenal of throwing knives and various other smaller weapons.

She reached for his hand and held it between hers. "You know, I have to pay you back for this right?"

"Sure you can sister dearest!" a coy smile coming to his lips. "Join me at the slipt arse pub tonight to celebrate with style and the rooks and I shall say we are even!"

She honestly hated that pub with the Rooks, she never ever went unless it was to drag her twin from his seat and sober him up. she did not drink much and the rowdiness of the Irish Pub was not her style. she much preferred the tavern in Westminster or having wine with the queen when invited... but now she couldn't say no. especially not wrapped in the coat he had given her.

"brother of mine, how could I say no?