[Early December, Coop]

[sicparvasmagna]

Coop's been something of a sad sack lately. Nate didn't know Philip, never met the guy, and he's never been good at finding the right thing to say to comfort someone. He's just as likely to say something stupid or piss Coop off, so he decides the best course of action is to keep his mouth shut and cheer him up another way. His first thought is a case of beer and maybe something to set on fire, but considering the luck he and Coop normally have, they're just as likely to set each other on fire.

Then it comes to him.

He first hears about the supposed Pandora's Box from Errol, in one of his droning stories that Nate normally tunes out. The guy manages to make even the most outlandish stories sound boring as all hell, but Nate had perked up when he caught the tail end of this one. It took a little bit of digging after that, but now he has enough to be reasonably sure that the whole thing might not be bullshit. There's enough weird magical shit in Darrow that Nate's willing to go along with the idea on the hope that it might even turn out to be a proper pay off.

Supposedly, Pandora's Box is real and in Darrow, and about to be displayed at some fancy Gala event.

It's maybe not the kind of job he's used to going in for, but he knows this is a little more up Coop's alley, and maybe that's just what he needs. Something easy and familiar and that will hopefully end with a lot of money in both of their pockets. Besides, it's hardly his first rodeo.

The first step is to get them access to the event, which is easy enough. Nate calls in a favour, gets them a couple of forged invitations that are almost impossible to discern from the real thing, and then he goes shopping. He buys them each a new suit, fancy enough that they won't look out of place, and when the night rolls around he instructs Coop to wear it and not spill anything on it. He's told Chloe where he'll be, just in case they need an emergency getaway, but he hasn't asked her to come along this time. If all goes according to plan and they make some money out of this, she might be a little pissed off, but he's hoping she doesn't get too mad at him for cutting her out. It's not like she hasn't done her fair share of jobs without him.

Their meeting place is just around the corner from the hall where the event is being held and Nate waits, fiddling with his cufflinks. Some early people are already starting to arrive, but he plans on entering in the midst of the main throng, neither early or late. He just needs his partner in crime.

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[sicparvasmagna]

While he waits, Nate walks a casual circle around the display case, his eyes on the crowd more than anything as he works out his plan of attack. Even with the lights off he's sure that picking the lock on the case will take too long and get him noticed, but he doesn't really want to smash and grab the thing either. Too much noise, too much mess, and he doesn't really fancy the idea of cutting up his hand.

His luck comes in two parts: first, the gala begins proper and the host steps up on the stage, drawing people's attention. The crowd immediately begins to move closer to the stage and the display cases are left blessedly alone. Nate hovers near the one he's got his eye on, and after a few more moments the lights die and people startle.

At least he can trust Coop to do his job properly. It's not something he ever necessarily doubted, but it's nice to see it confirmed. The hushed murmuring of the crowd gets louder as people try and work out what's going on, the host trying to calm everyone down, and Nate takes his moment, stepping up to the display case.

His second stroke of luck is that it's just an alarmed case, no locks in sight. They'd clearly trusted their security or their guests more than they should have, and it only takes Nate a second to lift the glass, swipe his prize and tuck it into his pocket. He slides the glass box back into place, takes a few quick strides away from the display, and he's already halfway towards the door when the lights flicker back on.

[rancho_weirdo]

Coop slipped out the door just as the lights came back to life. He took a cursory look behind him, making sure that no one was none the wiser before he slipped out, tucking his hands into his pockets and affecting a casual stroll as he made his way to the meeting place. A part of him wanted to run, to take off and get there first just in case the building decide to explode or he caught the sight of flashing lights from the corner of his eyes.

But everything remained quiet so Coop kept calm, kept focused. He stopped to peer in a window, like he was checking out the horribly expensive televisions within before moving along. He nodded and smiled at the few passersby before he ducked into an alley and cut across to where he was due to meet Nate.

[sicparvasmagna]

Nate doesn't see Coop as he slips out of the party, which he's counting as a good sign. Hopefully, that means Coop has gotten the hell out of dodge and is waiting for him at their agreed meeting spot. He doesn't bother to look behind him as he strides right out the front door, the box safely in his jacket pocket.

He's about halfway down the drive when someone calls out to him, and Nate stops. It would be suspicious to keep walking, and so instead he turns with a polite but question smile as the doorman approaches.

"You dropped your invitation," he says, holding out the forged piece of paper with a friendly smile. "Some people like to keep them as souvenirs."

Nate flashes him a grin back, taking the invitation back and stashing it into his other pocket. He would like to keep it as a souvenir in fact, but not for the reasons this man is suggesting. He thanks him, wishes him a good night and turns again, moving quickly away. When he turns the first corner he lets out a breath, and then it's not long before he can cut across the backstreets, finding Coop waiting.

"What'd I say?" he says as he approaches, giving Coop a grin. "Easy money."

[rancho_weirdo]

Coop still wasn't convinced. They'd gotten away and Nate presumably had what they were after but it just felt too easy and after the last few times, Coop knew nothing was easy. He kept looking around to see if that girl with the webs would pop up and finally decide to take him to jail.

But, the area was quiet and Coop couldn't help but relax some. Maybe this truly had gone off easy. Maybe his streak of shitty, awful luck was ending. Maybe he was going to finally get paid.

"How's the box look?" Coop asked, nodding in Nate's direction. "You check to make sure it was the real box and not some replica put out to fool idiots like you and me?"

He knew that there were some places that did that. Put a copy out so the tourists could ooh and aah but never get close to the real thing.

[sicparvasmagna]

Nate doesn't take the box out of his pocket to show Coop just yet, but he nods. He's not going to show the thing off in the middle of an open street, but he'd felt the weight of it in his hands and the detailing was definitely not that of a replica.

"It's real silver, looks 19th century." He cocks his head a little, musing. "I'd guess Viennese. It's definitely what they think it is - that is, worth a buck - but I won't know if it's what we think it is until we get a proper look."

Maybe this will be the result of another trumped up legend like he's beginning to think the compass is, but it'll at least be worth something. Nate knows a good piece when he's looking at it, and even if it's not Pandora's Box at all, he knows they'll be able to make some money off it.

[rancho_weirdo]

"And you didn't have any issue getting out?" He can see that Nate is standing in front of him but he wanted to know if he'd been seen, been stopped, had anything strange happen to him on the way out. Anything, in this city, could mean trouble even if it was as simple as someone bumping into him as he left.

Coop peered around to double check the area but it was quiet and clear. "You didn't step on a bug that would have potentially cured cancer or something?"

Nate would be the guy to do that, accidentally step on something that could change the world. Coop would do it too but they weren't talking about Coop's stupidity right now.

[sicparvasmagna]

He resists the urge to roll his eyes. For all that Coop is being panicky and paranoid, he does, admittedly have a point. It's a rare day that things go according to plan for them, Nate knows, but just once he'd like to have a job come off successfully and reap the rewards.

"Doorman stopped me for half a second, but I'd just dropped the invitation." It's nothing to worry about, he's confident about that. The invitation had a fake name on it and Nate hadn't stopped long enough for the guy to remember anything significant about him even if he was suspicious. "No stepping on bugs."

This isn't time travel, so Nate's not sure why he's freaking out about potentially cancer curing bugs, but he doesn't really care. He claps Coop on the shoulder, starts to walk down the alley and gestures for Coop to follow him. It's not far back to Nate's apartment, and there he can show him the piece and hopefully reassure him that they're didn't fuck this up. "Relax, would you?"

[rancho_weirdo]

"I'm trying," Coop admitted with a scowl. He really was. "The last few times I've been out, trying to do my thing, some lady who could shoot glue or something stopped me. Kept me trapped in a store for hours on Halloween night while -- "

While Philip was being killed. It was hard to forget something like that. Logically, Coop knew that his being stuck didn't hasten Philip's death but he couldn't really stop himself from thinking that he could have been some help. Maybe if he'd been better, he would have gotten over to Philip's and stopped whatever happened before it got bad.

"It's been a bad few months," he said apologetically. "I would really love it if this turns it around. I will owe you drinks and...whatever the hell else someone like you can think up for payment."

[sicparvasmagna]

Nate raises an eyebrow at that, turning to Coop with a concerned look. He hasn't met anyone who can shoot glue, but on some level he's not all that surprised. Every time he thinks he understands Darrow, something else ridiculous happens, so he's given up trying to stay one step ahead. He hadn't known Coop had been busted by somebody, though.

It maybe explains a little of Coop's recent mood, compounded with everything else. He definitely needs a win, Nate decides, which is why it's good he has a priceless artefact in his pocket. Well. Possibly not priceless, if it's not what he thinks it is, but it's at least a pay day. One they both apparently sorely need.

"I'm not going to ask what someone like you is supposed to mean," Nate tells him, rounding the corner onto his street. "I'll just pretend you're being nice to me for once." If this turns out, they're definitely having drinks, but if all goes according to plan, Nate will well and truly be able to afford his own.

[rancho_weirdo]

"I'm always nice to you," Coop told Nate's back, sticking his tongue out as he did. "You haven't decided to stab me in the back so we're good. The minute you do that, hen we're not good even if you decide to let me sleep on your couch."

Morty, God love him (because Coop didn't), was trying but it was a little too late after he'd spent a chunk of the last few years locked up because Morty was a chickenshit Benedict Arnold.

"But, you have to admit, trouble seems to love to find you," Coop continued as they walked. "I think you could walk into an old folks home and cause an international incident."

[sicparvasmagna]

He's heard a little about Coop's past with Morty, and at least Nate knows that if nothing else, neither of them are likely to turn on the other. They've both been stabbed in the back before and gone to prison for it, and neither of them are keen to repeat the experience.

Coop might be an asshole half the time, might needle Nate more than most people, but he trusts him. More than he trusts most people.

"That's not my fault," he protests, leading Coop to the front of Candlewood. He glances around them, does a quick check to make sure they haven't been watched or followed before he unlocks the door. "Besides, I haven't caused any international incidents here. How could I, when we can't even get beyond the borders?"

[rancho_weirdo]

"Don't remind me about that," Coop said, making a face. "Someone tells me I can't leave, I'm just reminded of Surf City and I try my best to forget that place."

Darrow was much nicer and gave him much more freedom than Surf City but it was still a prison of a sort. It still prevented him from leaving and Coop wasn't going to give it a pass just because he didn't have a cellmate named Rodney and he wasn't confined to a small cell.

"But fine, you haven't caused any international incidents," Coop relented, waiting for Nate to open the door before he stepped in and let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Just some domestic ones."