Falcon's Stealth *Plot thread 4.1*

[Monthu]

Monthu reached into a breast pocket and pulled out his small monocular with a wry smile. "You do realize that I have this right..? NV, IR, x12. This baby handles everything." He slipped it back into his pocket before setting off behind Bast. "But I appreciate the thought Bassy, really, I do!" He listened to the prospect of teamwork and gave a small shrug.

"Oooh... I don't know about that one though, Bassy, do you think you could work with a 'hardened killer' like me?" He asked with a false scowl on his face, puffing up his cheeks, trying his best to look as intimidating as possible.

[Bast]

"If you'll give me your supplier's number, I will," she said, only half-joking. "Not many people who can keep up with eyes like mine." She winked. "Remind me to dump the goggles on Ra or Set when we join back up, though... Don't want to be carrying them if I don't have to."

[Monthu]

"A magician never reveals his tricks!" He said, tapping his nose, returning the wink.

"But I'll make sure to remind you pretty sharpish when we get back... So, what's the plan? I mean, I know that we're waiting until nightfall, but that's a fair hour or two away yet..." He looked up to the setting sun before his face lit up slightly. "Actually..." He said "I have an idea!" He jogged past Bast, grabbing her hand as he went.

"Come on!" He called, before leading her through town towards one of the larger buildings in the village.

[Bast]

"And where are we going?" she asked, following briskly along. She didn't have any trouble keeping up - a life's work of scaling unscalable skyscrapers and running around digging in the dirt had gotten her in pretty good shape.

[Monthu]

"Up." He replied as they ran around the side of the building. Releasing her hand he pressed a foot against the wall and vaulted himself up, the building was leveled with three different roofs and appeared to be some sort of town hall. Gripping onto a windowsill, he rested his foot against a thick bolt sticking from the wall, clearly intended on being repaired, before leaning back, keeping one hand on his grip and holding the other out below.

"Come on! I'll boost you up!" He whispered, not wanting to garner the attention of anyone who spent time in this place.

[Bast]

As lightly as a real cat, she swarmed her own way up several improvised handholds, until she perched, hanging, a level above Monthu. "How about I give you a boost?" she teased near-silently.

[Monthu]

"Oooh, la-di-da!" He hissed, rolling his eyes, before continuing his way up the building, this time not bothering to wait for Bast, it was obvious that she could make her own way up, besides! If need be, she could easily swallow her pride and ask for his help.

He ended up sitting on the edge of the roof, legs dangling over the sides and staring out at the sunset, thankfully, the building faced Eastwards, to see the sun rise rather than set, so nobody could really see him unless they were up to something shady around the back of the building. He was leaning back slightly, resting on the palms of his hands outstretched behind him, smiling somewhat. His monocular and knife were both next to him just in case, but he severely doubted he'd need them.

[Bast]

She sat next to him, smiling as she looked out over the sunset. "One thing about no urban development," she said, "there's always beautiful scenery to see..." She shook her head. "When I wasn't plundering shiny baubles from rich witches, I was digging up places like these. Trying to imagine what their lives were like. It was the only thing in my life I never got bored with..."

[Monthu]

"It's why I love China so much..." He muttered, almost whispering as a small smile crept across his face, he was looking out at the scenery almost wistfully. "Despite the huge population, the pollution and the cities... You step into the countryside and, well, it's like stepping back in time. People still tend to their rice paddies and go about their day in their silly straw hats. The clothing's the only thing that's changed really, and the occasional tractor depending where you are. The Sun always used to be a constant for me... It was always the one thing that would never change in my lifetime..." He looked across at Bast, head cocked to the side slightly, still smiling.

"But here I am. In possibly the one situation I'd never expect myself to be in." He chuckled softly. "Sat on a roof, watching a completely different Sun fall down over the horizon whilst quite frankly, one of the most devious, yet beautiful women I'd ever met sat next to me."

He coughed into his fist. "Oh sorry, 'Hardened Killer' and all that." He quickly altered his statement, in a loud booming voice, no longer bothered if he was heard, he doubted anyone would be able to climb up here, and they'd only be able to see his feet anyway, thanks to the flat land.

"OH YEAH! This is a perfect position to shoot stuff! Because of the angle and such, YEAH! I could totally hold off an entire army on my own from this rooftop with only 50 arrows because I'm such a BADASS!" He flexed his arms in perfect time with a growl.

[Bast]

She broke down giggling, thanking whatever gods were worshipped here that nobody was around to hear his rather unsettling outburst. It seemed rather... un-Bast-like. Perhaps it was the spoiled little girl, Maeve, beneath the Bast mask showing through. She didn't really know, she didn't really care.

[Monthu]

Monthu couldn't help but laugh alongside her, what could he say? She was contagious!

He had to admit, he felt somewhat awkward in the current situation, truth be told he had never really held any steady relationships, or even friendships for that matter, archery had always been his only passion. It was the only time he ever truly felt alive. But now here he was truly enjoying himself without a bow in his hand, or even in his presence.

"Y'know what, Maeve?" He asked leaning his head back again to gaze upwards at the sky, which had now turned a deep orange. "I think, that underneath that exotic, thieving, pretty exterior of yours, I think you're just like every other girl in the world! Well... Our world, that is... As in, Earth... You just want chocolate, ice cream, cuddles and a boyfriend with stupid amounts of money. I am afraid to admit that I'm poor, and lactose intolerant, so if you are like every other girl in the world, I can only fulfill one of those."

[Bast]

She laughed, patting him on the head. "Don't worry, Jin," she told him, grinning. "I have stupid amounts of money all by myself, so I only need three things. Which means you have slightly better odds now...."

[Monthu]

"L-lactose intolerant!" He pointed out again, his mouth a thin line as he said it. "I wasn't joking about that! I really am. Chocolate? Ice cream? No go for me."

[Bast]

She chuckled. "Still, one out of three isn't bad. I suppose we should see how good you are at it before we rule you out, since I can afford my own chocolate and ice cream."

Then she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Hmmm," she teased. "Four out of five for comfort...."

[Monthu]

"What?!" He proclaimed with a shake of his head "You're there for like, one second! And you're already rating me?!" He gave a melodramatic tut before wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Give me a chance, at least! I have to be a five, I won't settle for less, I mean, I have to make up for the other three things, right?"