Blair's heart would sink a little as she'd feel a pang of disappointment hit her. Being over eager, she had got cocky, hasty and sloppy. Biting onto her lip to fight back her pout, she'd run her fingers gingerly up and down her companions body. Hoping to turn things around a little bit, Blair would nuzzle into the Flames neck, kissing and nipping at it gently. She smelt like sweet cinnamon. "All to myself then." She'd keep her voice soft and sultry. Refocusing, she'd work her way to tease at her chest, then down to her navel. The redhead would release her grip with her thighs, grabbing her pets hips and flipping her back over, pinning her beneath her again. She'd pull on her bound arms as she'd lean in to breathe on her neck. "And you will, again." Blair would reach back.

Murph, you find a watchmaker store close to the Smilin' Boar inn. You're hesitant at first, as you see lights on in the upper floor, but as you get close to one of the windows to peer inside, you see that that shop floor looks deserted. Passing by the door, you can tell that the security system involves both a deadbolt and a lock, but the windows are simply latched. Deciding to go for one of those, you insert the blade of your dagger between the two halves of the shutters, and slowly push upwards, until you feel the resistance of the latch. WIth a small lever action, you quickly lift the latch out and then pull the shutters open.

You step through the windowand find yourself in front of a des kwith drawers. To your right is a small table with an empty display cushion, and a at the end of the room, before a wall lined with bookshelves, you see a large display table with a safe underneath. To the left of the large table is a suit of armour, and a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. The top of the stairs are illuminated by a light from upstairs, and you can see a corner behind the bookshlfs illuminated as well.

What would you like to do?

Murph drops down into a low crouch, examining the floor for any spilled powder that might leave tracks, any tripwires to step over, or loose floorboards that may have some squeak to them. He moves forward slowly, first toward the desk with all the drawers, mindful of anything that'd make noise, and slowly looks through some drawers for anything useful. He's not looking to clean out the place per se -- he's got an idea in mind and is looking for useful parts. If he does see something valuable, he'd consider pocketing it.

He'd then want to make his way to the safe and search it for traps. (Before he does so, he'd peek around the corner behind the bookshelves where the light's coming from to make sure there's no one on the first floor.) If there are no traps, or he sees none, he'd try to crack the safe. 

The whole time, he's listening for any movement from upstairs, moving very slowly, and ready to dart back to the window. He'd been able to survive this long by exercising caution and keeping his ambitions low. No reason to change that now.

Parker is making his way to the meeting point, semi meandering and taking everything in

“I think I’ve found what I’ve been sent to find.” I say holding out the plans. “I’ll need to take these to my superiors for their inspection and I can bring it back tomorrow most likely. ... Is there anything you can tell me about the empress from your time working here? Any secret compartments or anything?” I make my way towards the door, readying myself to leave after his reply. 

Murph investigation: 10

Thieves' tools check to pick locks: 20

"I've never been on the ship, but any such thing would most likely be close to the officers quarters, no?" WIth that, the clerk goes back to shuttering the office for the evening, bidding the peculiarly jovial member of the Watch goodnight.

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Murph, you can make out the slight hint of a silver thread at the bottom of the stairs, indicating to you that the watchmaker might well be acquainted with arcane means of protecting their goods. You make sure to approach the drawer carefully, checking for any pressure based mechanisms surrounding it. Once you're satisfied, you take out your thieves' tools and carefully insert the tension bar ito the bottom of the lock, before using your rake to feel for the tumblers inside the lock. Moving the tool slowly forwards while maintaining pressure towards the top, you can feel the first two tumblers set in place. The third requires a little more finesse, but you get it too, and as you withdraw the rake, the last tumbler falls in place as well. With a very satisfying click, the lock turns under the tension of your other hand, and the top drawer swings open.

You're thrilled at the sight of the luxurious pocket watches, outlined through the faint moonlight from the outside, this was exactly what you came looking for!

Leaving the drawers open for now, he carefully makes his way around the suit of armour leaning against the wall, and carefully avoids the silver thread on the ground to peer behind the bookshelf. You see a low candle burning, next to an unfinished pocket watch still laid out on the table, with a set of tools nearby. The watchmaker themselves is not present though.

Turning around the bookshelf, you approach the safe and fall into a crouch behind the desk, just as hear movement from over at the door, and hear a partition being pushed aside, when you suddenly see light under the slit of the door towards the left hand corner of the room, from underneath the stairs. You're immediate instinct is to hide, but you see that the drawer is still left open. What do you do?

Blair would spend some time working the Flame with her hand, focusing on her pleasure before trying again. She desired to build a rapport with her companion and didn't want to become too hasty. She'd pour her attention over her, ensuring to bring more positive sounds out of her again.

Eventually Blair would remember her mission. She'd pull back to build tension once again. Pulling out her wax kit again, she'd pull the still malleable wax left over from the candles previous use, reserving it for the impression of the seal. Blair would light the candle once again to get it burning, building up scent and anticipation for the wax to drip over her clients back. She wouldn't let her lay there too comfortably. With a playful tug, she'd pull on the flames bound arms to stretch them a little. Blair would sit on her hands and pin them between herself and her back. She'd flex her thighs, keeping her pinned.

Now she'd try

Sleight of hand: 27

I feel a bit turned around with the place description if I'm being perfectly honest -- Murph came in through the western window and the desk is the brown horizonally-aligned brown rectangle by the stairway, correct? And then the safe is toward the southeast, but not on the other side of the eastern bookshelves? So the footsteps are coming from the area under the stairs that Murph walked right past as he entered the house? If I've got that right, the open drawer and the person is between Murph and the open window. Assuming this is right, and Murph can't get to the drawer to close it quietly in time to be able to hide before this person walks in, then he'll go for distraction...

Murph swears at himself silently as he realizes he somehow forgot to close the drawer. Assuming he pocketed the watches he discovered, his only thought is escape. As there is no chance entry will not be discovered, his eyes dart around the room for a possible distraction. He spies a jeweler's eyepiece on the table in front of him (or something similarly sized and shaped, perhaps a pincushion with a lot of pins, or a roll of leather), and then looks at the suit of armor. He steps forward quietly to get within easier range and throws it into the faceplate of the suit of armor's helmet, hoping that whoever it is will hear something over by the suit of armor, and move to inspect it, allowing Murph to dart out to the window while their back is turned.

Blair, without breaking from your routine, you stetch out and press the malleable wax onto the two halves of the seal, getting a perfect imprint. As well as a very satisfied client.

Quickly tucking away both the impression mould and the letter, while the flame is still panting, you let her catch her breath for a while. You can't help the growing smile on your face.

---------------------------------------------

Murph, grabbing the next best thing, you hurl the eyepiece at the suit of armor. The sound it makes is not as loud as you'd hoped, but as you're getting ready to do the whole thing over again, you see the arms of the armour shoot out, as it starts to move on it's own! You hear some muffled sounds from behind the door under the stairs, and see the light go out, as the suit of armour slowly steps forward, towards you!

Roll initiative, please!

Murph would definitely have pocketed any of the watches he saw in the drawer, as he'd absolutely consider them both useful and valuable per this post. 

Initiative: 23

Insight: 13

Blair would have to bite down on her lip to stop herself from grinning too widely, but she was practically purring like a kitten herself which made her affectionate. With a satisfied Flame still pinned beneath her, she’d massage and caress her back and shoulders, working them to help bring her companion through to an after glow state. She’d lighten her grip on her hips, backing up as she’d bring an arm around bring the flame back up to her knees, back against her. Blair would slowly start undoing the belt to free her clients arms as she’d breathe against her neck. Then with a quick flick of her wrist, folded belt in hand, she’d give the Flame one last hearty spank on her rear. “Next, I come to you.” Her voice was soft and sultry, but firm, with a hint of a sly smirk on her lips. It was up to the Flame to decide if Blair was actually asking, but yet, it was practically a statement. A challenge? A promise? She’d tug the blindfold fold free.

 Overwhelmed by her service, the flame stammers something inaudible at your suggestion, Blair. You quickly correct her: "Speak up!" She clears her throat. "I'd like that, but I'm stationed out in the harbour, I doubt you can come out and meet me there." She seems sad about that fact, as far as you can tell.

-----------------------------------------

Murph, while you're trying to figure out what is going on behind that door, the suit of armour lumbers forwards towards you. Thinking that it won't know where you are, you're somewhat caught by surprise, when the steel-gauntleted fist of the suit of armour slams into your stomach, winding you terribly. Before you can manage to react, it's second fist manages to strike you as well, this time to the side of the head. Your vision goes dark for a second, as you blink, trying to regain your focus.

You're up!

Murph staggers, nearly dumb from the shockingly fast hits and the pain. Escape. Need to get out. He barely has a chance to do a barrel roll over the desk, trying to disengage from the violent set of armor. He uses his movement to dart to the window (and if he hadn't emptied the drawer he'd lockpicked open earlier of watches, he'd grab anything else he could on the way). His action would be to dash out the window and out into the night.

Murph grabs two more pocket watches and then run over to the window, leaping through it and landing on the street, before quickly turning a corner. You can hear the suit of armour rush up to the window as well, but then stop there and as you get around sixty feet away, it seems to lose you. Catching your breath in a dark corner, you catch your breath, before feeling the warm blood from a cut just above your left ear draws your attention to your injuries. 

Wiping it away, you climb onto a nearby roof and make your way back to your attic, three pocket watches in your posession.

“You’d be surprised what I can accomplish with the right encouragement.” Blair would purr softly. “I can bring you an evening full of delight, and delectable entertainment.” She’d gently brush her finger up the Flames neck, holding her chin gently. “Just ask.”

Persuasion: 22 

The flame turns bright red, excited by the prospect: "Well, why don't you come to visit me tonight then? But make sure to bring other girls for the men on board, I doubt they'd take too kindly to only me being entertained."

Thatta girl. Blair would smile with satisfaction looking over her content new pet with a sultry look. “As you wish.” She’d wink, letting go of her chin. And with one last open palmed spank for her companion, Blair would take her time to strut out of their room. She’d leave her client desiring more with her afterglow and the privacy to clean herself up, this time.

Having secured her way onto the ship and provided a distraction for the boys, Blair couldn't help but smile at what she'd achieved. As she hears the bells chime ten o'clock, she makes sure to freshen up, and get to the waterfront, to fill them in and maybe hand them the seal that they were looking for. Mentally, she was already preparing for the latter part of the evening though. Although she had been able to get what she wanted with the Flame, what would follow would have to be a performance of a lifetime. She'd need reinforcements.

About thirty minutes later, Blair arrives at the agreed upon meeting place at the docks, where she sees both Dart and Parker already present, pouring over some document. Magnus isn't here yet, but given how things went, Blair was likely to leave beforehand, so as not to raise suspicions about possible connections to the inspection team.