mrzanebastias

[mrzanebastias]

who: Olivia @criminvls

where: Camden Market

Some figured that when his simple life had burned, Zane had reverted back to his old one, but really he found a new one. Before, he did heists for fun, for his crew. Now, he did them for focus. Tinkering with his little side projects, cracking new safes, and planning new heists kept his mind busy. Granted it also meant he hardly left his place, when he did he preferred crowds. There was a certain anonymity in Camden market, with so many people he could hide easily. It was rare someone would recognize him.

As he made his way through the market, his eyes caught on one face in the market and he froze. Doing a double take his body moved of its own accord stepping closer to a face he'd never thought he'd see again. He was clearly losing his mind. "Liv?"

[mrzanebastias]

Who: Malachai (@malachixdubois)

Where: the gym

Zane stretches his arm across his chest ringing out his muscles for what was to come. The heist at the racetrack had gone off without a hitch, he'd been right out the door before the smoke went off, literally. Granted that was likely Mal's doing. Though he rarely talked about his past since coming to London, Mal and Elias knew some of it. Granted the scars on his arms weren't exactly easily hidden, but his struggles with fire since, the flashbacks and nightmares flames tended to trigger, that was a well guarded secret. Mal had once promised to literally carry him out if needed and he pretty sure it wasn't a joke. He couldn't help but be thankful the man had his back.

His head tilting toward the man, "What are you up for today? Weights or a sparring session?"

[mrzanebastias]

Zane shrugged faintly trying to consider what he needed. He lived pretty simply nowadays, made it easier to move when he felt the need. "New sofa probably, i really should just furnish my properties at once so I don't have to worry about all this each time I move. Can just pack my clothes and go" There was a certain level of ease in that, even if he was well aware that none of the places really felt like home. Not that they had in a long time. "Not much, just keeping myself busy. You've probably gotten more action than me lately with your night shift and all. How about you?"

"What sort of things?" Demir asked. He wasn't the least bit fazed by Zane's eye roll. If anything this was all routine -- his bemusement and Zane's tolerance bordering on annoyance. What was friendship without pushing some buttons?

"So, aside from the move, what's new in the world of Zane? Allah knows you live a much more interesting life than me," Demir smiled. Technically, Demir's life wasn't that boring anymore thanks to his nighttime activities, but that wasn't public conversation.

[mrzanebastias]

Zane immediately retracted his hands as she pulled back, instinctively reaching to adjuster his mask. He just wanted to get through all this till he could play his part. "No problem." Hands slipping into his pockets his shoulder lifted briefly then dropped back down in a light shrug. "Wouldn't say its that's dangerous, though the protest outside is a bit foreboding. Can't imagine that helps the tension"

He motions over to the bar, "I'd offer to buy you a drink in putting you in the dangerzone but i'm pretty sure its an open bar"

Dara ran a hand through her long hair, sweeping it back as she surveyed the crowd. There wasn't much that excited her about this crowd, though she did enjoy people-watching and familiarizing herself with anyone she needed to know. As she headed to the bar, Dara felt herself bumping right into another person. Feet tripping over one another, she nearly fell headfirst into the ground.

Certainly was, she thought but instead offered a tight smile as she held onto him. "Thanks for catching me," Dara said before pushing herself off of him. Not someone she immediately recognized. "Didn't realize this event was going to be so dangerous."

[mrzanebastias]

Zane had always been a jeans and tshirt kind of guy, typically black. Everyone knew that, granted when it came to being on the job he always made sure he fit the part. He'd gotten more than a few reminders to make sure he wore a suit, as if Ansel wasn't the first person he contacted. He knew better. He had an eye for safes and clocking every security camera and exit in a room, but style was a bit out of his skill.

He raises an eyebrow as Ansel straightens his jacket, making sure everything was in place. From anyone else that whispered threat may have earned a well hidden eyeroll but from Ansel? Yeah he wasn't risking it. Whispering back he gives the other a look, thought mostly hidden by the mask. "Do I look like I have a death wish? I'm pretty sure you've given me the same threat before, word for word"

Open Starter for: All Jolly Rogers!

When: March 2024

Where: Liddell Hippodrome

If you had asked him a week or two ago, Ansel would have excitedly said there were few things he loved more than a masquerade theme and launched into a rant about how he was developing looks any of the other Jolly Rogers who didn't have the time or the stylistic eye to put something together that would be up to par but still blend in- a complex mix of thrifting, hand tailoring and shopping for strategic pieces that had taken up nearly all of his studio space and practically had Ansel wagging his tail like a proud puppy.

The day of, however, hurriedly checking people over in the vestibule of a mostly-ignored back entrance with a shorted out security camera was a very different story. "I had to hand cut this whole suit to fit you properly and learned couture-passible leather working in a fucking month to make the mask you wanted." He leans in, smoothing the jacket over their shoulders and whispering in their ear. "If they get ripped, scratched or stained in any unplanned way I'll kill you myself. If you're lucky, I'll take the time to make it look like Liddells did it, and you won't you won't have a heart cut into your forehead. Are we clear?"

[mrzanebastias]

Zane rolled his eyes at the man's question. Demir was one of the few people who knew of his habit of moving once, possibly even twice a year. He had atleast 3 properties at any given time, when he felt the need to move he'd sell up or in some cases rent. His friend was also one of the few people who had an address he actually lived at. Hell his associates at JR were more likely to find themselves at a townhouse in town with an elderly couple that would only tell them he was 'out'. He hadn't lived there in years, but paid for them to live there as long as they told him who came a knocking. "Har Har, I got the plates this time. I left a few things behind for the new owner though, they need replacing."

Closed Starter for: @mrzanebastias

When: March 2024

Where: Camden Market

"What happened this time?" Demir asked, walking up to Zane. He clasped Zane's shoulder in greeting, chuckling at the thought of Zane's last message. He had a new address -- yet, again. It was a sort of inside joke between the two of them. Zane was always on the move and there was always some story to go with it. Sometimes, Demir suspected the stories were spun for his entertainment rather than the truth, but they were friends not probation officers. Some unspoken secrets and half-truths were allowed, especially given that they met during Demir's "night shifts." It was the phrase Demir started to use as it sounded better than "my underground and illegal medical clinic." "Did you at least get to leave with your plates this time, or is that why we're here?"

[mrzanebastias]

who: dara @dara-bythemoon

where: masquerade

Zane tugged at his suit jacket faintly, trying to distract himself from adjusting his mask. He wasn't surprised that he received more than one text reminding him to wear a suit. While there were some in his line of work that got a thrill from working a room like this, grifting their way through the room. Zane preferred the shadows, preferred variables he could predict. Still he'd play his part.

Tucking a newly acquired watch into his jacket pocket he made his way through the room toward the bar. Before he could make it though, he collided with one of the other masked party goers. Catching himself before reaching out to steady her, he offered a nod in apology. "Sorry about that, wasn't watching where i was going"

[mrzanebastias]

“Forgive me if I don’t talk much at times. It’s loud enough in my head.”

— Unknown

[mrzanebastias]

CARLOS MIRANDA as JOHNNY VIDA S01

[mrzanebastias]

⟨Carlos Miranda. cisman . he/him. 38. ⟩ We just saw Zane Bastias entering the Portobello Rd Market . I heard through the grapevine that their loyalties lie with [ the Jolly Rogers ] and that they also go by nightfox*. Be careful, they work for them as a thief and can sometimes be secretive, pessimistic, or even impulsive but I’ve also heard some people say that they were adventurous, creative and quite independent. — davinna. She/her. 30+. CST. None

about: tw: fire, death

For as long as he can remember, Zane has always needed to keep his hands busy. Give him something to tinker with, a problem to solve, something to take a part and his mind would focus. His childhood was far from normal, though it wasn't likely to be with a thief for a mom. They were constantly moving. He was the perfect cover. Not many people expected a thief to be traveling with a child. When he was old enough, she saw his potential and brought him into the trade.

Between school lessons he spent his time learning all the tricks. New safes to crack, new locks to pick, vents to climb through (atleast till that growth spurt). He loved it. Loved focusing on a plan, thinking up contingencies. By the time he turned 18, he was well immersed in the world, falling in with his own crew. That was how he met his wife. She'd been his whole world, the only one he would give it all up for.

They even settled for a time, built a home, planned for a family. He even got a normal job, granted being a locksmith was always a bit of an inside joke. It kept that itch at bay, that urge, atleast for a time. Unfortunately the past always has a way of catching up and loyalties don't always stay firm. It burned through their settled life, literally and that fire had destroyed his world.

He barely remembers what happened that night. He'd come home to see the flames, his fear for his wife carrying him through the burning structure. He woke in the hospital with burns on his arm and his wife gone. Grief and anger broke him, he'd left scorched earth and burned bridges as he tried to find out who betrayed them, who started the fire but every lead turning up empty.

Lost, he went back to what was familiar. Locks, safes and laser fields were far easier to crack than his own emotions, his memories. He ended up in London in the ranks of the Jolly Rogers where he's stayed for the last 5 years. The gang offered him a sort of protection, a safeguard against a past that might come to burn him the rest of the way down.

Wanted Connections:

His not so dead wife

Colleagues

Friends - he's a broody mess at times and can disappear in his work so good luck

Enemies

Flings/FWB/Attempts at a relationship