messianic | IC

[HE'S WAKING UP JEEZE...!!

Minato was definitely not expecting that, either--Minato's still half asleep, so it takes him a moment to even process that something's being tossed into his bedroom (seriously, no self-preservation whatsoever--)...

And then there's smoke.

Oh.

Minato...blinks. Huh...? He's not actually all-too-concerned for his safety (nothing dangerous has shown up in the town yet), but...

What is this?]

[ the moment Minato turns away from the window, he'll feel an arm quickly wrap around his chest and a gloved hand clap over his mouth - and just like that, Lupin yanks him right out of his room. He doesn't weigh too much, which is fortunate; it's easy for the phantom thief to both keep a hold on him and vault up from the windowsill to the roof, although it's probably not that comfortable for Minato. That, too, is fixed momentarily; as soon as Lupin's got steady footing, he hoists him into a princess carry.

This all happens in a matter of seconds. With the stars recently returned, though, it's easy to see who his captor is in the moonlight: Lupin, of course. However, he looks slightly different - he's got a plain white opera mask on, a black suit complete with billowing cape, and what looks like some kind of giant triangle strapped to his back. None of that is getting an explanation. All he does is offer Minato a wink before he starts running. ]

Hold on tight, monsieur.

[ he's jumping to the next roof! ]

[Holy shit, he's really being kidnapped here. Minato's honestly not going to be much of a pain about it, though; Lupin wraps an arm around his chest and a hand over his mouth, but Minato doesn't make a sound anyway as he's yanked right out of the window.

It's only a matter of seconds, almost impressively swift, that he's hoisted onto the roof, and then...into a princess carry...

The's the first time Minato properly opens his mouth as if to say something, but Lupin's winking at him instead from behind that ridiculous mask and ensemble, and instead even Minato's finding it hard to find something to say to this entire situation.

He blinks, and shuts his mouth.

Um.

You know, any thoughts of not holding on are promptly lost when Lupin flings himself to the next roof; Minato's definitely going to go ahead and hold on tight, because he'd rather not fall, thanks, even if he does trust Lupin a lot. His brain is still catching up to this whole situation, and even for him, it's a lot to be yanked out of bed for a moonlit rooftop jaunt.]

[ this is totally bizarre. Lupin knows it - but he's known that since he started being a gentleman thief in the first place. If you're going to wear a cape and cavort around Paris at night stealing jewels, you have to be okay with being at least a little bizarre.

It's the only thing he could think of that a boy who fought evil and summoned demons and lived in the future probably hadn't experienced: being whisked away by a phantom thief in the dead of night. However, it's also been a long time since he got to don the mask and get some midnight exercise like this, and while he wishes he had something a little bit more dangerous to steal than Minato, he still can't help enjoying himself. There's a big grin on his face as he lands with a thump on the next building.

The night is bright, and he seems very sure on his feet, rushing around bits of debris and obstacles on the roof without missing a beat. He leaps the gap between adjacent homes again, and then again, confidence never faltering. Where is he even taking Minato? Well, it looks like he's heading straight towards the docks, actually. ]

[Honestly? Lupin's right. Minato's not only never experienced this before, he's never even considered it. That's more than enough to keep him engrossed (and really, there's something kind of astonishing about it, in a way he's not even thinking of for himself, not yet.

But in his heart, the feeling is something like--if he can still experience new things that make his heart skip a beat from sheer shock here, then he's still living, isn't he...?)

But Lupin's sure on his feet, and Lupin's having a great time, and Minato relaxes a bit, because really...he trusts Lupin. And the more he relaxes, the more he can process just how incredible this really is. Lupin's a normal human being (he's...pretty sure?) but here he is cavorting across rooftops as if somehow part cat, and really, with the stars back and the temperature a lot less frigid than it was before...

It's fun. This is fun, and despite himself, Minato's expression melds from that surprise from before to something a touch more awed, looking around more properly as they go.]

[ He told you before, Minato - a little adventure is good for you. Though he hadn't exactly planned on literally stealing him away in the middle of the night back when they were talking about that. The moonlit water draws nearer as Lupin crosses the last building before Bluo gives way to the docks themselves. This is the part that's actually tricky. ]

Don't be afraid, [ he murmurs - and then, he jumps right off the edge of the building, splattering onto the pavement below...

except he doesn't at all. Imperceptibly, he pulls a string hanging from the weird object on his back, and suddenly, it kicks out, expanding into an even bigger triangle over his back, making its actual identity clear: it's some sort of hand-rigged hangglider. Part of the reason it took him a while to grant this wish is because it took him a while to think of something - the other part is because it took him a while to put this together, and then he had to wait for a clear, windy night when he could be certain it would work, of course.

It does creak rather ominously at first - but then, miraculously, their descent slows, and they drift out over the lake while Lupin chuckles. ]

Hah! It worked! You've still got it, Arsène...!

[He's not--afraid, that is. He's not afraid at all, because Lupin seems so in control, so assured of what he's doing that when they jump, he assumes he has some sort of plan--

And so he does.

Minato's breath catches despite himself as they do drop... but only for a moment, and then they're gliding instead. He's not afraid of heights at all, thankfully--which means Minato's able to just look down, and then out as they glide, admiring the view more than anything as his fingers continue to grip Lupin's sleeve lightly.

In fact, he's entirely calm until Lupin offers up those words, and then...even Minato has to look at him a little askance. And finally, he finds his voice.]

You weren't sure it would...?

[ inwardly, he's actually impressed at how calm Minato is. He shouldn't have expected less from him - he always seems cool-headed and accepting of whatever comes his way. Lupin keeps his eyes forward, concentrating on maneuvering the slapdash tool towards one of the ramshackle wooden boats in the dock that he must have set up before mounting this so-called heist. Doing this while carrying someone at the same time is considerably harder than doing it on his own... His arms hurt.

But he's not about to say that out loud! He has a reputation to uphold. ]

I hadn't used it before tonight. I knew it wouldn't fail, though. My success rate is 100%.

[ the chilly night wind keeping them aloft is slowly losing in its tug-of-war with gravity, but, just as he said, it looks like they'll land in the boat just fine. ]

[Lupin... well, you gotta admire that assuredness, at least. He's not even aware that Lupin's suffering with holding his weight, because he's so confident and assured and focused.

Nice job, Lupin.

And as they descend towards the boat, Minato has to admit:]

I guess I can see why you're so famous, Lupin-san.

[This.....was pretty astonishing and eye-opening in a lot of ways. Honestly, he can still feel the way his heart is thumping in his chest from the thrill, even if his outward expression is still pretty calm (he's smiling, though; this.....has been really fun).]

Heh. Are you saying it wasn't my good looks and charming personality?

[ he can't help but slide one last quip in as they make their landing on the boat. It's not particularly large - it's a big canoe at best, really - and so, in order to not stumble off the edge, he unhooks himself from the hang glider entirely, allowing him to plop down with Minato while his oversized kite keeps sailing on. Eventually, it crashes into the water somewhere; Lupin, however, doesn't seem particularly concerned about it. Maybe it was a one-time use tool. Instead, he focuses on Minato, setting him down gently once the boat's stopped rocking enough to stand up. ]

[Oh my god Lupin. Minato watches it crash off into the darkness, blinking slowly... and then finally drags in a slow breath when he's put down. P... phew. That was a thrill, and he's not used to experiencing crazy things like that out of nowhere.

Thanks for that, Lupin; you've definitely managed to startle him the most out of anything here thus far (sans Ryoji existing).]

Well... I can't deny that that was pretty charming all around, too. But I definitely never expected to be kidnapped by a gentleman thief.

[Dang.... words are hard, and eventually he has to admit:]

I think I'm still a little overwhelmed...

[ this can be considered a victory, he thinks. Lupin shakes out his arms a little bit, then plops backwards into a sitting position on one of the boat's bars, grinning widely at his victim under his asymmetrical mask. ]

In other words, it was "something you've never done before?" [ he's not going to outright say what he was doing unless Minato asks - that would feel too crass for his tastes - but he calls back to that conversation with a knowing look in his eye. ] Normally, I'd show you something more exciting than that, but there's not much to work with in this place. You can consider yourself lucky, though. I'm not in the habit of stealing people.

[Lupin's so happy too... and it strikes Minato that it must feel a little cramped sometimes for Lupin, in a small town without anything of great importance to steal or anything to mess with.

Hm...]

It was definitely something I've never done before. [Minato smiles a little in response, and:] You granted my wish, Lupin-san.

[...And he adds, amusedly:]

I'll also feel extra special, that Arsène Lupin stole me away instead of a special gem or something like that.

[ what a cute thing to say... he can't help but grin even wider at that, laughing a little bit. It looks like his message was received, one way or another - and it felt good to get out and actually do something like this, as frivolous and silly as it was. ]

It was my pleasure, monsieur. [ he doffs his hat theatrically, although it's a bit muted - the first suggestion that he actually did get tired out by all that, if only a little. ] Rest assured that our friendship is worth as much as a special jewel to me.

[Lupin is definitely a bit tired out, but also, who's the one saying cute things here? God damn, Lupin. Their friendship is worth just as much as a special jewel?

Lupin is dangerously charming, and Minato's torn between amusement and being legitimately a little swept off his feet by it.]

... Wow. [He'll admit it!!] That was... very charming, Lupin-san. Do sentences like that just come to you naturally?

[ honestly, these things just come out of his mouth, and he doesn't care to stop them - especially not when he's still riding out the adrenaline rush coming from sailing out over a (possibly cursed) lake on a hastily-constructed glider. Minato's reaction seems to entertain him. ]

That? Charming? That was nothing more than my honest feelings. [ he wasn't even trying... but he keeps that to himself. ] Even in a situation like this one, you've been nothing but cool, kind, and reliable. People like you aren't easy to come by.

[He thinks it's charming...!! It's also endearing that Lupin seems to think that Minato's inability to emote makes him reliable or special in some way; his lips quirk at that.]

Hm... well, I'm just glad you don't think it's weird.

[Because he sure...remembers when people did, when he was tossed from household to household after his parents' death because nobody wanted to keep someone as peculiar and unnatural as him.

It's still nice sometimes to hear when people think more highly of his natural traits.]

But you really did surprise me, even if I didn't look like it.

[ he honestly just thinks Minato is just super level-headed... maybe it's because Lupin's known a variety of oddballs in his life already, but nothing about his quiet demeanor strikes him as particularly abnormal. He's just quiet and calm. And, to be honest, he thinks they could use more people like that around here. ]

Heh. Well, I did steal you out of your own bedroom. I'd be a little worried if you weren't. [ he picks up one of the old oars sitting in the boat and starts rowing it back towards the dock. ] -- By the way, you sleep like the dead.

[Let's leave it at that, okay... It's for the better.]

Mm, yeah.

[He will...not argue that at all?]

I really like to sleep. [Understatement.] And I got used to people trying to wake me up in the middle of the night over the last year, so...

[Sleeping like the dead is a self-defense mechanism.]

[ that must have something to do with fighting Shadows, like he mentioned before. Lupin chuckles warmly at the admission, shaking his head gently. There's something sort of endearing about it, somehow. ]

Sorry for reopening old wounds, then, [ he says lightly. ] I'll have you back and tucked in before anyone even notices you're gone.

[The gentle teasing makes him smile, at least, if a small smile.]

Hm... that's probably for the better. Vriska-chan would probably yell.

[Y...yeah.]

There's no rush yet, though. This was worth giving up the sleep for.

[ oh... vriska. It's easy to forget she lives with him. Lupin makes a slightly difficult expression at the mention of her name, but shakes it off quickly enough. ]

She definitely would.

[ and she'd hate him more for kidnapping Minato, probably, even if it was just for fun... ]

No rush, though... Don't tell me you're trying to prolong a moonlit boat ride with me. I suppose it is a privilege.

[Oh my god Lupin....... He definitely notices that expression, but... Vriska is a difficult person, so difficult expressions are to be expected when she comes up, probably...]

It's not like that, Lupin-san. I'm pretty sure we're not each other's type. [So, so dryly.]

... But even so, I can't deny that it does feel like a privilege. This entire situation, I mean.

[ excuse you, Minato, he's everyone's type!!

as usual, his answer is charmingly sincere, and he just smiles, shaking his head. he's going to get stuck in a positive feedback loop of flattery, at this rate. ]

It's one I wanted to give you. Just keep it in your memories for me - that's all I ask.

[ the boat gently bumps against the dock, and he springs up and out without missing a beat, as if he hadn't just been catching his breath a few moments ago; naturally, he leans down to offer Minato a hand. ]

Watch your step.

[Hey, for the record, "Just keep it in your memories for me" is also charmingly sincere. But Minato just flashes Lupin a small smile at that, and obediently takes Lupin's hand, standing up carefully to get out of the boat and onto solid ground.

And.

Quite frankly, he has to ask:]

How did you plan all of this...?

[That was all very impressive.]

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