I had, very consciously, curled up as far away from Rajan as was physically possible within the confines of the van.
Though I wouldn't have necessarily minded ending up cuddling him again, I would have minded waking up to Lindsey laughing like a deranged fangirl. That said, I also went out of my way to make sure I wasn't close enough to the other two to end up cuddling them in the middle of the night either. I wasn't taking chances.
Though I hadn't ever actually dug my blanket out, I still woke up at some point to someone laying one over me. The precious few seconds I was awake to tuck it closer around myself proved to me it was mine. Lindsey must have found it.
I dropped back to sleep.
Waking up, sweating, some time later than that, I gathered enough understanding of my location and situation a little quicker than usual, and chose to toss the blanket across the space of the van. It landed in an over-warm pile on a shivering Lindsey, who was sure to appreciate the heat literally radiating off of it in the cold of the van.
Okay, so that's an exaggeration, but it was warm to the touch.
She rolled into it, wrapping herself up in the fabric, and I counted it as a win.
I may have also muttered something along the lines of, "Like a boss," when it landed on her. I don't remember for sure if I thought it or if I said it out loud.
Feeling that I wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, I tucked myself up in the front seat with my laptop and opened Paint. I didn't have anything better to do with my time―couldn't plan any heists until Lindsey was awake to brainstorm with. Couldn't think of anything else useful to do, either.
Well, I did turn the van on long enough to dispel most of the unholy chill that definitely bothered the other three more than it was bothering me.
Given that they all stopped shivering after a time, I deemed it was warm enough and shut the van off, returning to my drawing.
It took another few hours for anyone to wake up, and I spent the whole time doodling away at one picture. I didn't usually have the patience to spend that much time on one MSPaint doodle, but I had a specific idea that I couldn't really pull off if I wasn't patient.
It was pretty much done by the time that Lindsey roused herself and plopped down at her little command center.
She seemed a little surprised I was already awake, and of course asked what exactly I was doing. Shrugging, I showed her my doodle. She blinked at it for a moment, shook her head, and turned back to her command center.
"Artistic thieves…" She muttered, somewhat disbelieving, "Didn't realize I was teaming up with Daisuke."
I suppressed a snort at the comment. I hadn't realized that show existed here―or a variation of it, anyway.
That had to be interesting.
I'd put it on the list of things I needed to check out when we got somewhere with wifi.
It took a couple more hours after that for the boys to wake up, with Rajan rousing first and remaining where he was to watch Lindsey and I go about our business. By this time, I'd finished my drawing and was leaning over the back of the seat to watch Lindsey and occasionally offer my input on the plan she seemed to be trying to put together.
Some time after that, Rudy finally blinked himself awake and sat up.
Almost as if in response, Lindsey hopped out of her seat and left the van. Rudy hopped out behind her, ears alert. I imagined he was probably worried.
Can't say I blamed him, considering the blast of cold air that entered the van as soon as she opened the door.
After a short silence, Rajan spoke up, looking a little awkward.
"Sorry about… Er, yesterday? I don't know why I―"
I shook my head, "Don't sweat it. It was comfy." I assured him, "Lindsey's just a squealing fangirl."
His lips lifted into a slight smile, "So you didn't mind?" He asked, just to be sure.
"Not at all," I smiled in return, "It was really comfy," I repeated, "And Lindsey's squealing put me off of it, sure, but…"
His smile must have widened a whole inch.
Unfortunately, our heart-to-heart was cut short by Lindsey and Rudy's very sudden, very windy return to the van. Both of them were thoroughly windswept and covered head to toe in fluffy white snow. Though saddened by my loss of ability to have a private conversation, I decided not to be a child. No reason to complain, after all. They were my friends and what was I going to say? 'Go back out in the obvious snowstorm so I can talk to the guy we just met a week ago'? Yeah, no.
"Okay, so," Lindsey began, shuddering as she tried to shake off the snow, "Get in there."
I must have blinked at her for a second too long or given her an uncomprehending look, because she gave a half-exasperated sigh that lost all of its steam because of the way her voice shook from the cold.
"After examining our avail-vailable information," She said, "I have formally d-decided that 'busting up in there like w-we own the place' is the best pos- possible strategy. Past wh-where we hid the van, there are very few viable hiding pl-places, so staging a sneak attack isn't likely to work." Pausing and shaking herself again, she seemed to think for a second, "And you've got the thickest fur, so you should just be able to duck out and run in. The doors are wide open and there's currently a blizzard with frick-all in terms of visibility so all the guards are somewhere else. Kind of like I want to be."
"So, basically, if I go out there I'll be covered in snow in less than five seconds." I asked, just to be sure. "Which will let me get to the door without anyone noticing me."
"Yes, precisely." She sighed, sounding relieved, "And I mean, you don't have to go now, but you should go before the blizzard lets up."
"Then I'd better go now," I snorted, hopping over the back of the seat and stretching, "Or else I'll break out in a nasty rash of procrastination."
I slipped out of the van as quietly as I could after that, trying to keep too much snow from blowing in. I also threw an order at Rudy to start the van and run the heat for a while so they wouldn't all get sick, which he obediently did.
Good.
The wind immediately ruffled most of me, and before I even got the chance to be mad about that I was covered in snow. Okay. That was fine. I blinked and swept as much snow out of my face as I could. Squinting, I tried to remember which way the temple was, and when I was able to orient myself properly I began walking. When the open doorway became visible I saw exactly no one guarding it and decided I might as well head on in anyway.
Worst case scenario I ran into an ambush and had to have a crash course in butt-kicking.
That'd be fine.
My dad taught me how to protect my face so I should be fine.
I walked in, glanced around for a moment, and found the main room deserted.
Standing there for a moment, I shook myself off and just kind of hoped that I didn't end up with soaked through clothes. I didn't really have any other replacements on hand.
"So what's this Acanthus guy like, anyways?" I asked, glancing around again as I walked further into the temple.
"Easy-going, kind, not all that opposed to tricking people, not likely to care if you steal that statue over there…" I did so, because there was no real reason not to, "He was a good friend to… Well, they'd be your parents, technically."
"Good friend like part of their gang?" I paused, glancing at the window next to me to see if they'd choose to appear there.
They did, and gave me a pleased smile and nod of agreement. "He was primarily a sponsor―financed ventures, managed their sales on ThiefNet, stuff like that."
I smiled, choosing to continue on.
I didn't bother much with stealth―there wasn't much reason to. In my wandering I ran into exactly one guard who just kind of looked at me, looked around, and then… Just. Turned around and walked out of the room.
No alarms, no screaming.
Just a silent retreat.
It was a welcome change of pace from what I learned to expect in the games.
And aside from wandering along and interacting with that single guard, I spent most of my trip to the room I'd seen Acanthus in snagging anything that looked like it might be worth some money. I needed to save up for a real hideout, after all. It'd be kind of funny to save up using money I got from selling Acanthus' stuff on ThiefNet… If only because he'd be able to see it.
Shaking my head and readjusting my bag full of pilfered loot, I finally found the room I was looking for.
It was empty, for the moment, but it wasn't as if I couldn't just sit down and wait for him. I was a big girl. I could be patient.
I just had to find something to do in the meantime.
Eventually, I got myself a cup of coffee and sat down to stare at the door. It took probably an additional hour after that for him to show up, so let's call it an hour and a half just to be safe. I made sure to contact Lindsey with the limited audio tech in the Binoc-U-Com to let her know I was going to be a while and that I wanted to talk to this guy. I may have implied to her that I was going to tease him for having such lax security, which wasn't exactly untrue.
But I got the feeling I wouldn't be talking to him.
No use figuring out what I planned to say if I wasn't really going to be part of the conversation.
But after that hour and a half, in walked Acanthus, who then paused to stare at me for a second. He was… Just a little bewildered. But then he smiled, laughed, and shook his head. He moved toward the coffee pot to get himself a cup and sat down across from me in the chair I hadn't taken.
"Always one or two steps ahead, aren't you?" He asked, almost seeming fond.
And at about that second I figured out I'd been right to assume that I wouldn't be talking to him. Everything goes fuzzy around the edges for me―but I know someone who can tell you exactly how things went down.
Well, I guess that I'm telling this part. Can't blame her for asking me, though, considering me being in control makes things hard for her to remember, if she remembers them at all.
I'll skip any introductions to get right to the point and back into the story.
At about that moment, I pushed forward to respond and, contrary to what she's said implies, Sophie willingly moved out of the way. Or at least it felt like it was willing, because it was so easy to nudge her aside. I dunno, maybe my familiarity with Acanthus overwhelmed the need to ask for permission.
Regardless, I got control in short order and shot him a grin, "Oh, I suppose I am." I rolled my eyes, good-natured and oh-so-glad to be with someone familiar who I could actually sass, "But really, 'Canny, you should have expected it―I knew it was you. You may as well have said 'hey kiddo, I live in a temple full of pricey statues and jewelry, and I would so love to talk to you after you rob me blind in it'."
Snickering, he nodded along in acknowledgment, "I have to try, don't I?" He asked, eyebrow quirked, "Now, about me getting you up here…"
He trailed for a moment―long enough for me to get just a little bit concerned. Acanthus usually had everything he wanted to say planned out in advance, like any well put-together rich man. He had an image to uphold. Hesitations were… Rare. And I'll be honest: they were freaky.
"Solnyshko," He began again, slowly, and part of me settled hearing him call me that again after all this time―he'd always called me that. Henry told me it meant 'little sun'. "You know I have no shortage of money or items to give or for you to take. And I know you aren't particularly fond of receiving outright help from anyone when you've already decided to do it on your own… But I also know you are probably without a hideout right now. Is that correct?"
"Aye," I agreed, slowly, more than a little bit nervous, "It is, 'Canny, but why bring me all the way up here just to remind me of that?"
"Because I can get you one," He said, "In Paris, if you'd like."