Snippet #1486850

"Oh shi-" James uttered as a familiar figure rounded a corner, quite... Dramatically "The hell did I piss off now?" He said rather friendlily. Usually when ever he saw this man, that meant he had won something of some value from someone important... Now doubt from his latest set of victims... His mind flashed through the three men, Patchy, Top Hat, and Cigar... He had his money on Top hat.. He seemed especially pissed at his recent... Misfortune.

Then man leaned forward and snatched something from James's pocket. It flashed with a sheen in the low-light of the ally. "A watch?" He asked incredulously... He didn't remember a watch. However, it was probably hidden in the rolls of twenties and hundreds... A simply thought crossed his mind, what other crap had he won? He turned as the man bounded pass him, and nonchalantly slid his hands in the pockets of his soggy trousers... And waited...

Almost as if on cue, a black tabby darted from somewhere to the side of the man and tripped him up. A smirk curled around a corner of James's lips, like he was expecting that to happen. He slowly loped over the the fallen man, taking his time and enjoying it. The man was Gabriel, a professional thief who James usually had the luck to run into after gambling. Usually because some pompous ass decides that he wants his stuff back from the unusually lucky fellow with the black fedora and leather jacket. Can't fault them, not like he won it legitimately, unlike they would know. And neither could he fault Gabriel for what he does, using the powers he had to his advantage. In fact, they had made a game out of the ordeal...

"I think that makes it 54-55, your favor"

"Ah, good ol' Gabriel, looks like I'm winning now," He said with good humor as he took the watch from the Gabriel's hand and then helped him up with the other, showing good will. He then examined the golden watch in his other hand. Gold, of course. No one who dressed like those men would settle for anything less... Except for maybe Patchy. But this was real gold. Plus it told the correct time! Well, at least it did for now.. James tapped the watch with a finger curiously while he listened to the man. He wondered how long it would last with James's flippant luck.

"I must admit, I am rather happy to know that something unfortunate will happen to you eventually because of this."

"Yeah... I am not looking forward to that at all.. Jerk," James said with a laugh and a smile. "Lady Luck is a fickle bitch and karmic justice just sucks." He said shaking his head. He then took a last look at the watch and handed it back to Gabriel, "Here, it wouldn't last with me. I'd do something small and it'd either tarnish on me or plain out break. You can use it better than I can. Besides, no telling what else I got in here," he said, patting his bulky pocket. He then snarked, "Plus, I'm winning. That's all I really need... That and maybe a drink." When Gabriel then spoke of being better with heists than pickpocketing, James shrugged, "Keep telling yourself that. Skill is good and all, but it can go to hell in a second if you throw a black cat in the works." He said, smirk still readily apparent. While Gabriel did have skill, James wouldn't argue that, he was much more comfortable with the ability to pick and choose who and when Lady Luck decides to smile or forsake. Even if she would turn on him within moments afterward.

"Drinks sounds good right now, I'll buy them, as long as they aren't on me..." He said with a bit of wordplay, taking the black hat off of his head. The whiff of the drying scotch was strong, a testament to James's flippant luck. "Since I'm buying," He pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket as he flipped the hat back on his head, "You can choose where." James said, thinking of the thief's work place. He rather liked the thieving phantom's tales of his exploits. Plus, James was rather sure Gabriel liked to hear his latest hauls, as well... Or perhaps it was the karmic justice afterward he liked... Either way, the two were good drinking buddies. The man was a high-class bartender, and usually had good information dealing with gamblers with more money than sense. James as well could provide tips on work, if he was not the subject of work himself, to Gabriel. One tends to learn things when one gambles with connected people. He chuckled. Rich people always wanted other rich folk crap.