"You remember what we're doing, right?"
"Of course I do. Do you really think I'd've gotten us here if I did?" Alistair asked, giving his twin a crooked grin as he plopped down in a nearby chair.
Damien scoffed, "Right, of course. No need to worry when my life is in the hands of such a prodigal strategist. So are you making me wield the gun?"
Alistair shrugged, "Pretty girl, I might lose my nerve!" He laughed loudly, smacking his hand down on the blueprint in front of him, "But I guess I could try. When's the job set for?"
"Whenever Cypher said. I mean, he's the one who wants to take over for the girl." Damien tilted his head, circling around his twin to view the blueprints from the back, "Maybe a couple of days? A week?"
"And figureheading her isn't an option?" Alistair asked, frowning and leaning forward, his elbows on the table.
"Guess not. She's pretty smart, strong willed, I guess.”
“So, what exactly’s his beef with her?” Alistair asked.
“You don’t pay attention to anything that goes on around you, do you?” Damien teased.
“Only if it concerns me.” Alistair responded sincerely.
“Well, if you must know, he's stuck as a counselor." Damien said, "So we're taking out the girl."
“Not just any mere female.” A voice echoed through the basement as the twins looked up, spying a figure standing in the doorway. Shadowed from the dingy light bulb, the figure descended the stairs, each step creaking dangerously, though his stride never broke. “No female in this twisted world of ours is just ‘the girl’. She just so happens to be the most important one of all, or she will be, in a matter of weeks.”
"Don't be trying to scare us, Cypher." Alistair laughed raucously, earning a disapproving look from his brother, a scowl that deepened with his next words, "Or at least Damien. We have to pretend she's nothing just to accept this crazy scheme of yours!"
Damien groaned, "Nobody's worried of her importance beyond that you won't listen to my plans to get past her defenses. Every single upper-level guard will be assigned to her over the next few months."
The sound of creaking footsteps silenced everyone in the room as eyes darted up to the ceiling boards warily. A few voice mixed with the ancient groans of floorboard, coupled with a pair of shrilled laughter as the footsteps moved away.
“Is there any particular reason we chose to convene under the most prominent boutique in the city?” Alistair hissed, “I fail to see the security perks.”
"No one will expect us to meet with these intentions in public." Cypher said coolly, his dark hair shadowing his sharp, pinched and almost delicate features, "People don't pay attention unless someone starts shouting."
Both twins remained still as the man took a seat across from Alistair, sliding the blueprints across the table and looking it over in silent contemplation, running his finger down traced routes, never once making a sound. “Damien,” His voice cut through the silence, “Could you ask that brother of yours to stop bouncing around like an impatient child? These plans need finalization, and unless you two want to get captured, I suggest you let me review what we’ve come up with so far.”
Alistair glowered at him, the easy grin of a moment before disappearing, "I'm not saying anything you haven't let spill at all those high-society parties you engineer-- I mean attend." He said, tone all nonchalance and barely concealed edges. Damien groaned, gesturing him over.
"Come on, Al. He hired us, we may as well listen.”
“I still think this is too good to be true!” Alistair hissed, glancing back as their employer continued to look over the blueprints.
