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Dawn crept along the streets of London as if chasing the shadowed heels of the lean figure as it lept a fence and scaled a wall, delicately prising open a second-floor window. Special attention was paid to a small black plastic nub, a silvery cap placed over it, before the figure slithered through the window, landing with the lightest of thuds.
The figure padded down the corridor, deftly dancing over pockets of worn wood and ducking to avoid the occasional camera, to pause at the top of the stairs. A large hard case was removed from their back, and from within was withdrawn a bag. Onto the balustrade's finial was hooked a garland of yellow gerbera daisies, and down the stairs were scattered the wide, yellow petals of a rose. Sweetness filled the stairwell as the rose's gentle perfume osmosed through the space.
The figure paused a few steps away from the bottom of the stair, wary of the black-suited guard posted there. The guard made no move indicating that they had noticed the figure's presence, save for a light sniffing of the air. A small pebble was sent flying over the guard's head, to rattle somewhere in the dining room. The guard twisted towards the sound, hand hovering on his comms. The figure sent another pebble chiming to join the first. When the guard moved to investigate, the figure trotted down the stairs, and, on light feet, slipped through the door to the kitchen.
There, the figure hurried. From a cabinet came two vases, their bottoms filled with water, and a bouquet of black-eyed susans, yellow roses, pale carnations and emerald foliage was arranged in each. From the very bottom of the hard case came a cast iron pan, yellow ribbon arranged on the handle as it was placed between the vases on the kitchen's island counter.
The figure stood back, taking a moment to admire the arrangement. A bird sang outside, the dawn reaching golden fingers to peak over the back fence at it. With a tip of the head, the figure turned towards the kitchen door.
In the hallway, the guard was nowhere to be seen. The figure slipped from the kitchen, across the hall, and into the lounge.
As they closed the door, there came a noise from behind. The figure turned. A hulking man bore down upon them. The figure hissed as they were scooped up, one meaty hand around their neck, the other reaching for a radio
"Isaryo!" The figure yanked up their balaclava, revealing a pale, freckled face, cobalt-bright blue eyes and wisps of auburn hair. "It's me!"
"Čort vaźmi!" Belisarius hissed back, lowering his hands. "Rook. What are you doing?"
"Anniversary business. Plus a little light PEN test. What're you doing?"
Belisarius grinned. "Same," he said, jutting his head towards a stack of books sitting on the coffee table, surrounded by a spray of red roses, purple irises, miniature sunflowers and pink poppies. "You planned egress through patio?
"'S easier to pick than the back door, yeah?"
"Ne." Belisarius nodded his head, scratching at his collarbone, over which spidered a traditional embroidery pattern, rendered in red ink. "If you are PEN test, I have caught you, da? Egress through the front door."
Aderyn sucked on her teeth. "I coulda tased ya. Carry on through the patio, over the fence and down next-door's side wall?"
He cocked an eyebrow. "I am big man. I make a loud noise when I fall."
"Aww, c'mon Isaryo. I go back out there, Maborel Junior's gonna pitch a fit and ruin the surprise for both of 'em."
Belisarius shook his head. "Da, is true." He clicked his tongue with a hint of a smile. "My mother tells me – do not argue with the red-haired woman. Fine. We do it your way. Come come."
Carefully they passed the display and Belisarius keyed open the patio door.
"I see you at 6:30, da? For dinner."
Aderyn frowned as she slipped out. "I thought they was going to some fancy schmoozy place?"
"Da. But I have permission to use the kitchen. Is much bigger than my place, eh? I make you, Jena and some of the boys traditional dinner from home."
"Oh. Cheers. Want me to bring anything?"
Belisarius huffed out a chuckle. "A bottle of red and your appetite."
"Gotcha." Aderyn grinned. "Later then."
"Later."