The Merry Men Masquerade

Ronan Hastings thought in lists.

Depending on who you asked, this might be called a strategy, a shortcoming, a merit, or a crutch. Maybe even a coping mechanism. If he had to make a list to sum up his life at the moment, it would look something like this:

1. He was one of six in a group of thieves, and a good one at that.
2. He only had four friends in the world.
3. He was probably in love, and it didn't feel good.
4. Stealing didn't feel too good anymore, either, but he didn't have anything else.
5. He was the type of person others cared for enough to make promises to, but never enough to keep them.
6. There was something about the newest member of their team that he couldn't bring himself to trust.