Who: Jack O’Neill and Six What: Some thievery is afoot When: Mid-Day Where: The Market Rating: low
They were running low on funds and Jack didn’t like to run low. They had enough to pawn for money and the like for a few days, but that never set well with Jack. He liked to be more prepared if he could. He was a thinker-aheader, you see. Someone who had vision. This was a business after all and he eventually wanted to make enough where he didn’t have to go out with the kids and do anything. That’d be living the dream - have others do your dirty work for you.
As it was, he was still working alongside the kids. It was only on the peripheral, mind, since the kids did all the heavy lifting, but he was the mastermind. Today they decided to set up in the market that was in full swing. Jack had with him a monkey he had gotten from a Romani in a card game not too long ago - he managed to out-swindle a swindler then - so he was providing entertainment to the masses while his children - as he liked to call them - were roaming looking for loose pockets to pick.
Six had never known her parents, having lost them at a young age and becoming an orphan. Ever since then she never had a family. She didn't even know her real name, having gone by Six since she was little. She was also quite feral and whenever she was starving, she ate anything and everything she could get her hands on. That included things she probably shouldn't eat, things like rats and mice and other animals.
That mostly stopped when she met Jack and became part of his pickpocket ring a few years ago. Now she worked as his number one, having become quite adept at stealing money from unsuspecting victims. The fact that she was young and looked cute helped.
Today, Jack had wanted them to look for coins now that funds were low. Six followed along, sticking close by. She glanced around silently before pointing to a woman who had a child with her. "She looks like a good target." Mothers were always easy for her. She just had to turn on the waterworks and they almost always took pity on her. It would be easy for Six to take from the lady, unless Jack had another target in mind.
Six had the benefit of being an adorable child. Despite how she grew up, she managed not to look as unruly as some of the others. The cuter ones were always better at manipulating. Adults thought them less miscreants when they looked innocent which was why Jack also didn’t employ anyone over the age of thirteen.
He considered the woman for a moment while pretending still to just be an entertainer with a monkey. The woman looked rich enough. Finally he nodded. “She’s got on a big ring too.” Which meant Jack wanted it along with whatever else Six could manage to take from the woman.
Six was aware that Jack kicked anyone out of the ring once they turned thirteen. She wouldn't be surprised if he did the same to her, even if a small part of her hoped he wouldn't. But that was probably just wishful thinking, though. Besides, if she was kicked out, at least she'd be fine. Six had always been a survivor and she always would be.
That was something to worry about in a few years. Now she had to focus on the task at hand. She hadn't seen the ring at first but now she saw it as it sparkled and glittered. "Should be easy enough," she wore a wicked smile on her cute little face before heading over to the lady.
It didn't take her too long before she returned, carrying a piece of bread with her. But little did the lady know, Six had also pickpocketed several coins and a few rings, including the ring Jack mentioned, placing it into her own pockets without anyone noticing. It wasn't until she was close to Jack that she pulled out the coins and rings and handed it all to him before taking a bite of the bread.
In truth he hadn’t decided what he was going to do with Six. It was true that he gave her preferences he didn’t afford other kids and certainly not some of the others that had come before him. While he was a man of planning, this was something he conveniently tried not to think about.
He excused himself for a moment, thanking the crowd for the pitiful coins they had given him for the performance of the monkey. He took the small hat and pocketed the change while moving off to the side to meet with Six. Some of the others were still working their magic on the crowd.
“Have a productive meeting with the lady, Six?”
Stealing from the lady was easy for Six. A bit too easy, she almost wished it had been more of a challenge. Ever since joining Jack's ring, she'd always been the best at pickpocketing. It was like she was a natural at it and it wasn't surprising she became his number one.
She took a bite of bread and nodded, pulling out some coins and rings, holding them out in her hand. "I even got you the ring you wanted," she told him.
He took the jewels, pocketing the ring he knew to be real already and then brought each of the other ones discreetly up and then bit against the gold. He grinned each time it was confirmed that each were real. “You done good, Six. Your eyes are one of the best for what’s valuable.” Some of the younger ones were annoying slow at figuring it out. Sigh.
“Got another job for you, if you’re up to it.” There was a silent expectation that she would be regardless. “Heard the orphanage has some new kids yesterday. Thought maybe you and I could take a stroll down there and if we find anyone who might be useful, you could convince them to come join us.”
"Thank you," Six replied simply. She didn't smile or anything but deep down, she did appreciate the compliment on a job well done. She was just not quite used to it and she doubted she'd ever really be.
She ate some bread as Jack mentioned another job for it. She listened to his idea as she chewed. "I can do that," she said. It wouldn't be the first time and she had recruited a few kids before. She could tell which ones were strong and which were weak.
“Good. As always, the younger and the cuter, the better, but if they can’t walk, they’re useless until they learn.” They had a toddler in their group who was good for specific cons, but they were also more of a handful than he wanted to deal with usually. “Don’t disappoint me. I sent William to recruit a month ago and he not only came back with nothing, he then left to stay at the damned place.”
Six was a quiet little girl who never spoke against Jack or really anyone. No, she showed her attitude through actions and at the moment, she simply rolled her eyes. She was well aware of what he was looking for and what would happen if she didn't recruit anyone. She knew all that already.
"I'll go see who's there," she said before leaving.