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And what does it look like?

[Pandora pockets her prize. It's a little petty theft, but she's getting pretty quick about it. It's not his pocket, but she hadn't intending for anyone to see her.]

That's a very good question. What does it look like?

Someone who is a little too slow with their slight of hand and needs to work on their distraction.

[That... was not the response she was expecting. She blinks at him blankly.]

What.

[Repeats what he just said, this time in Hindi.]

[It's unfortunate that she hasn't had the opportunity to learn another language, just yet. But she gets the fact that he's making fun of her a little.]

Shockingly, that doesn't make any more sense to me. [So very dry.]

Sloppy work.

[Bare facts.]

You need to practice your technique.

[She thinks she ought to be offended, actually. She's not, but she should be.]

And I suppose you're an expert, then.

Edited 2016-04-11 23:43 (UTC)

I don't always win at poker. [shoulder lifts and drops smoothly]

[She crosses her arms. It's a fair point, actually.] I thought you were already gainfully employed.

Skills hard won shouldn't be let go.

[Opens his hand and nestled in his palm is a 20 pound note, recently lifted. One handed, it is folded, and held out between two fingers, index and middle finger.]

Here.

No, thank you. [It's prideful, sure, but he's made her a little wary now. She's not quite sure what his game is, really, and everyone around here seems to have one. His actions now are far more difficult to predict than their earlier conversation had been. It makes her want to maintain distance, physically, until she's got his pattern down.

And, well, one shouldn't accept things from strange men.] Who did that come from?

I do not take from those who cannot afford it.

[A woman passes with a pram, a young boy by her side.]

Pardon me? [putting on his best accent and a polite smile] Ma'am? This slipped from your pocket.

[Pandora's arms cross tight over her chest, but she keeps her mouth shut to watch the exchange. It's certainly a curious show. The woman's polite confusion and baffled gratitude. Jack could certainly seem to be solicitous when he chose to be.

She waits until the woman moves on her way. Her dark-eyed gaze is slightly narrowed. Quite abruptly, the expression turns into a teasing smirk.] Did you come all this way to critique my methods and illustrate that, in your advanced age, you've fine-tuned such skills?

Edited 2016-04-12 00:17 (UTC)

[He had been watching as she moved around, what was becoming again, his city. The Holmes boys weren't the only one with a network.]

Drawing attention to your youth and inexperience again. Shall we practice away from your last trick? Or would you like me to release you to the shopkeeper who believes he has caught on?

[Well. She quirks an eyebrow up, but she's not going to apologize for playing up her youth. It's beneficial, being underestimated. People do that all the time, when they think you're young.

Though, she risks half a glance back at the mention of nearly getting caught. Fantastic.] Practice it is, then. [She says it so brightly.]

Smart girl. Key to London is stay away from busybodies, the bored, and those who are better cons.

[CCTV cameras and the METs facial recognition provgram was in that number as well.
A vague gesture, an elbow offered, should she like to lay claim to it, and the journey is begun.]

[She checks her gloves. How many girls her apparent age cover every inch of skin below their chin? This one does. But once she's sure there won't be any accidental skin contact, she delicately takes the elbow offered.

It doesn't stop her from being tense, uncertain of him.] Like you.

[It comes out a little rueful. She should have caught on to that. It wasn't a new pattern.]

[Sure, her mode of dress is different than typical local customs, but he's been to Muslim countries and there's plenty of them here as well. Unphased. He's wearing layers, peacoat, button shirt and tie, dark denim trousers, sturdy hiking boots and leather gloves.]

Like me.

[She tries to keep an eye on where they're going, to mark the way back in case she needs to make a quick exit. That is, at least, one thing she's good at. After all, she's had to ditch her father's men twice now. It's why she was even on this side of town.]

Which one do you count as, then? Bored, busybody, or better at cons?

And here I thought you had already decided and determined everything you should know about me.

[A location thick with tourists. No thought for fashion, for blending in, they gape at old buildings, heads tipping back, belongings left unguarded.

A safe place for the young to practice, I should think. [Discretely pointing out the camera that should be avoided.]

Only enough to arrive at an initial conclusion.

[She's quick to withdraw her hand, as she looks around.] You're not expecting me to ... while you watch, are you?

Oh now, you're just making me sound like a dirty old man. (*winks*)
I'm here for a job.
[a pause]
Would you like to see the crown jewels after you are finished?

[She raises her brows.] Well. You are a dirty old man. [It's the twitch of her lips that give away her amusement. But the mention of his job makes her curious.

Mercenary or spy?]

Yes. Alright. And it's your turn to tell a story.

Better than that. I'll let you watch me.

[Laughs as he leaves her to buy tickets for the Tower of London.]