#and happy has a raised trunk that brings her mouth more in line w her head

[dinoserious]

squad. and some gully expressions

[ptergwen]

positions

w/c: 2k

warnings: smut but there’s fluff toooo

a/n: literally based this whole os off positions by ariana bc if y’all didn’t know i love her and the song came out yesterday it’s so so good go stream and YEAH everyone enjoy

-

“it’s been so lovely to meet you, y/n.” nikki gives you a warm smile and reaches over tom to put a hand on your arm. tom squeezes your side from his spot next to you. he’s sitting between the two most important women in his life. leaning into him more, you return the smile.

“you, too. i’m really happy we could do this,” you agree. “tom’s a lucky guy, eh?” she raises an eyebrow. “i am. almost as lucky as dad.” he beams and kisses the side of your head. your nose scrunches up. “oh, you two. do you really have to go so soon?” you look at tom to confirm. “don’t you have a call in the morning?” considering it for a second, he shrugs. “we can stay another hour.”

nikki pats your arm and shifts her gaze to tom. “why don’t you spend the night? you do have a room and wifi here.” now he’s looking at you to see what you think. you smile a little in response. “sure, mum. that would be perfect.” she nods, proud of her idea. “should we make that dessert i was talking about, then?”

tom sits at the kitchen table while you and nikki do the baking. you’re using a cake recipe she got from one of her friends. all three of you figured he’d end up burning it. she tells you stories from when tom was a kid, and he interjects whenever something embarrassing comes up. you can’t help but giggle about the time he fell off the stage during a school play.

“and he was in a tree costume. his head got stuck in the trunk hole,” nikki nudges you, both of you laughing. tom hides his face in his hands. “it was hard! you try dancing in one of those things.” “aw, tom. maybe no one noticed.” you crack an egg into the bowl with a snort. he sighs. “they had to stop the show.”

the cake is in the oven four embarrassing stories later. you were going to help nikki clean up, but she insisted you go relax. she almost had to push you out of the kitchen. the woman is a saint honestly, and now you see where tom gets it from. the two of you are back on the couch while she does the dishes.

“thanks for coming tonight. it means a lot to me.” tom leans his head against yours, which is resting on his shoulder. “and mum.” “of course. i wanted to, you know.” you nuzzle your cheek against him. he lets out a breath and grins. “she really likes you. loves you, even.” a smile pulls at your lips. “really?”

“mhm. she wouldn’t have asked you to stay if she didn’t.” his fingers trace random shapes on your thigh. you hum in content. “we would’ve been kicked out by now.” “it’s technically your house still,” you deadpan, but it’s lighthearted. “mm, but we have ours.” that makes you feel so soft and warm. you’re just so in love with him. he’s even more in love with you.

you tilt your head up to peck tom’s lips. he gives you another kiss back. “i love you.” “i love you, too,” he murmurs. he’s about to go in for a proper kiss when nikki peeks her head out from behind the wall. she looks between you both knowingly. “cake’s done.”

the three of you head back to the kitchen together. tom takes the seat the farthest away from everyone this time. he’s a little embarrassed his mom almost saw that. he looks you up and down when you bend over to take the cake out of the oven. feeling his eyes on you, you glance over your shoulder when you stand up. he licks his lips. you bite back a smile and put the pan down on the counter.

“sorry if i interrupted anything,” nikki jokes and starts to get the cake out of the pan. “no, you didn’t. it’s okay.” you’re still looking at tom. you reach up and get the icing out of one of the cabinets, then a spatula from a holder on the counter. the fact that you already know where everything is makes tom get blushy. a good blushy.

the cake is on the cooling rack, so you open up the icing. nikki moves over to give you more room. “we should add some sprinkles, yeah?” she puts a hand on your shoulder. “tom, what do you think?” you noticed he’s been unusually quiet. he clears his throat. “yeah, sounds good.” “alright, then. let’s see if we have them.” nikki goes back into the cabinet you were in.

you get a generous amount of icing on the spatula, then start spreading it around the cake. it’s chocolate. everyone knows what that does. tom can’t stop thinking about how perfect you are while he watches. with nikki, with him, with all of this. he uses that word a lot. perfect. but, he actually means it now. you’re the human embodiment of it.

you’re almost finished with the icing when nikki puts down two different kinds of sprinkles. she found rainbow and the white ones that look like crystals. you put down the tub of icing with a smile. “i’ve got this, love,” she tells you and nods her head to tom. making eye contact with him, you lick what’s left of the icing off the spatula. his eyes are hooded now. you put the spatula in the sink and sit next to him at the table.

“tease,” he says lowly to you, putting an arm around the back of your chair. “you do it to me all the time.” you shift closer to him. he only shakes his head. nikki brings over the cake and a knife balanced on three plates a few minutes later. “who’s hungry?” “me,” you’re the first to answer. tom laughs and takes the knife to cut the cake. “thanks, mum. and y/n.” you put an arm around his neck. “you’re very welcome.”

everyone stays downstairs for two pieces and some small talk. you decide to put everything away in the morning since it’s getting late and tom has to be up. the two of you say goodnight to nikki, then tom leads you upstairs to his old room.

neither of you have to say anything to know exactly what you want. you press your lips to tom’s the second he closes the door, grabbing at his shoulders. he kisses back while walking backwards to the bed. he sits and pulls down you by your waist. your legs are on either side of him. you pull away to catch your breath, resting your forehead against tom’s.

“you were so good tonight, baby,” tom pants, fingers gripping your sides. you start to undo his shirt button by button with a smirk. “i’m not done yet.” he chuckles into your next kiss, shrugging off his shirt. you toss it on the floor and push at his bare chest so he’s laying down. you’re straddling him now, your tongue running across his lower lip. he unzips the dress you decided to wear while your lips trail off to his neck.

“wanna get this off,” he rasps, sliding the straps down your shoulders. you hum against his skin in response and sit up again. the vibrations make him feel tingly. your dress is thrown across the room shortly after. tom runs a finger down your back, his swollen lips curling into a smile. “love you.” “love you more.” you’re about to show him you mean it.

his hand comes around to your front as you unzip his jeans. he rubs your hip, your thigh, almost right where you need him, then he stops. he’s getting you back for earlier. you let out a breath and roll off of him so he can get out of his jeans. he eyes you and takes his boxers off next to speed up the process.

“c’mere.” you’re quick to get back on top of him. you can feel him through your panties as you straddle him. that only makes you more needy. he pulls your panties to the side and uses his middle finger to circle your clit. it’s good, but it’s not enough. “tom,” you breathe out. “i know, i know.”

he easily tugs your panties down, and you move so you’re lined up with him. you reach down and pump his dick in your hand. he presses a long kiss to your cheek. you can feel his breath fanning across your face. you run his dick through your folds to get both of you ready. biting down on your lip, you put your free hand on his chest.

he lets out a low moan when you start to sink down on him. you let him fill you up, taking your time to get there. more quiet noises escape him when he’s completely inside of you. squeezing your eyes shut, you move on him. you go slow at first, both of you feeling every little movement.

tom’s hands hold your hips to guide you. he brings you back down again. your moan is muffled as you let him move you faster. “shit, baby,” he exhales and pulls you forward. it makes him hit a new spot inside of you. you’re bouncing on him now, grabbing onto his shoulders again for support.

“fuck,” you murmur as quietly as you can so you’re not heard downstairs. tom unclasps your bra while you ride him, trying to distract himself so he doesn’t give you two away. he can’t take it off you because of the position you’re in. he pushes it up instead so your boobs are out of it, both hands cupping them. “closer, darling.”

you lean down more so he can reach you. he massages one and takes the other into his mouth. your head is thrown back while his tongue runs over your nipple. between this and the way he feels inside you, it’s so hard not to scream his name right now.

“tom... tom you’re gonna make me-“ you whimper, gulping before you can finish your sentence. he pulls his mouth off of you with a pop and kisses your lips to shut both of you up. keeping the same pace, you kiss him back. it’s messy and breathless. you’re getting close already. you’d normally go on way longer, but he has that stupid meeting.

it only takes you a few more bounces until you get that familiar feeling in your stomach. tom’s firm grip on your hips steadies you while you come. “doing so good. keep going,” he praises, your orgasm making your walls clench around him. you let out a small moan, tom breathing heavier from the feeling. you’re not moving anymore, but it’s enough to have him coming soon after you.

your head dropping onto his stomach, you climb off of him. tom presses his lips to your hair softly and moves his hands up to your waist. “really like when you’re on top.” his voice is raspy. you’re still trying to catch your breath, but you manage a kiss to his chest. “me too. it’s really... nice.” “nice?” he teases.

“stop, i can’t think right now,” you mumble to him. you’ve rolled over so you’re by his side. you have your head laying on his chest. his curls brush your face when he leans over to peck your lips. “i figured. tonight was a good night, hm?” “mhm. we should do it again.” your fingers ruffle his hair.

“what, the sex? or dessert with my mum?” he cringes at how that comes out. you giggle and twirl a piece of his hair. “both. wow, today was a lot.” tom squishes his cheek into the pillow more. “i could fall asleep like this.” “nope, you have to get ready for bed. your call is soon.” you poke at his chest and move over so you’re not on him anymore. he sits himself up with a chuckle.

“you switch up fast.”

[the-spoony-bard]

A Matter of Leverage - 7

Fandom: Fire Emblem Awakening

Style: Leverage!AU; modern setting; adventure/drama

Word count: 3,387

Read on Ao3

Gaius paces back and forth in agitation while Lon’qu gives Robin—and likely the world as a whole—the most incredulous look she’s ever seen. Olivia, finally allowing herself to show how shaken she was now that they’re back in the safety of the hotel room, tries again to take a sip of water, but ends up setting the glass down in defeat.

 “What are our options?” Lon’qu presses as Robin helps herself to the room’s minibar.

 “I’m still working that out.”

 “What’s the big deal about this guy anyway?” Nowi asks, the only one unaffected by Jakob’s appearance. She looks to Robin, but Robin is unable to meet her gaze, her head already aching.

 “This is Jakob Bedivere we’re talking about,” Gaius provides when Robin remains silent. “The guy’s insane.”

 Nowi raises her eyebrows, unimpressed.

 “There’s no questioning his dedication,” Lon’qu warns. “There’s a rumor that before he went to work for Excellus, he was some kind of Special Forces.”

 “Wouldn’t surprise me,” Gaius says, nervously stuffing candy in his mouth at an astonishing speed. “I heard that one guy he was investigating tried to arrange an accident and he ended up fending off his attackers with nothing but a dessert spoon.”

 “I’d heard that he waited in the trunk of a car for three days just to catch someone,” Lon’qu adds.

 “It was f-five,” Olivia says in a quiet voice, her nerves easing back down to their usual levels of fidgeting. “Five days.”

 “Really?” Nowi looks back and forth, one part horrified, the other excited. “You guys aren’t pulling my leg are you?”

 “T-this is really s-serious!” Olivia cries out, cheeks slowly flushing. “Y-you—you all know how g-good Robin was back in the day. B-but… Jakob has Robin beat in single minded determination. A-and he’s c-clever and strong on t-top of that.”

 “I’m still good,” Robin mutters from the minibar.

 “We’ve already got the horse though,” Gaius cuts in. “Can’t we just hand it over to Sumia and Cordelia then high tail it out of here?”

 “No,” Robin sighs, slowly massaging her temples. “Jakob won’t just let that slide. He’s convinced I’ve got some sort of scheme at play and he’s not going to let anything I do go. If I give Luna to Sumia and Cordelia, he’ll target them, and as you guys have just made clear, you do not want to be one of Jakob’s targets. Either way, the horse will probably end up back in Vasto’s clutches.”

 “This isn’t right,” Lon’qu says bitterly.

 “No, it’s not,” Robin shakes her head.

 “But Vasto can’t just get away with this,” Gaius steps forward suddenly, surprising Robin with his sudden burst of passion. “He killed nine horses, and almost did the same for the tenth.”

 “He won’t, Gaius,” Robin assures. “I gave Sumia my word, and I don’t intend to back out now.”

 “Robin?” Olivia looks up from her lap, though she still fiddles nervously with the light pink cloth of her skirt. “You… have a plan?”

 “I think. And one that should have a happy ending for everyone at that.”

 “What do you need?” Lon’qu asks, on to business at once.

 “I’ll need Nowi and Gaius to keep an eye on Jakob and run interference. Olivia, you need to bring Vasto back. As for you, Lon’qu,” Robin hesitates just a moment, but presses on. “I’ll need you to come with me. We’re going to look for a stable, and hopefully we can get Cordelia to help us.”

 Lon’qu tenses up reflexively just thinking about being stuck with two women, but still nods stiffly.

 “I-in the meantime,” Olivia stands up, planting her feet firmly to the ground as if she intends to gather strength from the gesture. “We should all get a good night’s sleep while we can. O-once we get started, there w-won’t be many more chances. Jakob is said to work on only four hours of sleep every night.”

 Nowi laughs, but stops when she finds that no one else is.

 “Aw, this isn’t gonna be much fun is it?” she pouts.

 “With Jakob involved?” Robin chuckles. “Unlikely.”

 ○

 Robin screams, hard and bloodcurdling. Her voice has long since grown hoarse, her throat burning. She screams again, throwing herself against the glass as the beeps cease, little green line going flat. Someone is saying something to her—trying to hold her back—but she throws them off, nearly tripping over her feet in her haste to reach the hospital bed.

 If she can just make it to him—if she can just hold him—then maybe…

 She doesn’t make it. She had back then, but it didn’t matter how tightly she clutched her son. Morgan was gone, and no matter how many tears she shed, she could not bring him back.

 She jerks forward suddenly. Lon’qu is staring back at her now, his eyes wide open in surprise. He leaps back before Robin even realizes he’d been reaching out to touch her.

 “I’m sorry, Lon’qu,” Robin groans around her pounding headache. He was likely just trying to wake her from her nightmare, though part of Robin is mortified that he’s even seen her like this.

 Lon’qu, to his credit, doesn’t start asking questions. Instead, he nods to the bedside table where a glass of water and bottle of aspirin awaits her. Gods bless Lon’qu, Robin thinks. She must have looked a sorry state if he was willing to overcome his aversion to shake her out of it.

 “Thanks,” Robin says once the glass is empty. “I hope I didn’t scare you.”

 “You didn’t,” Lon’qu replies evenly. “I’m no stranger to those kinds of dreams.”

 Robin regards Lon’qu curiously, but he looks away.

 “I’ll wait for you outside,” he leaves without a backward glance.

 Robin sighs heavily, letting herself slowly lie back down, staring up at the ceiling.

 “This is what I drink all the alcohol to avoid,” she gripes to the rough texture of the ceiling above her.

 The ceiling remains silent, but she’d hardly expected anything different.

 Robin drags herself out of bed, heading for the shower. Then she owes Miss Cordelia a call.

 ○

 “Thank you for being willing to meet with us,” Robin says graciously.

 “Thank you for telling me what’s really going on,” Cordelia replies.

 “I was a little worried you wouldn’t approve,” Robin admits.

 “Sumia is my best friend, Miss Validar.” Cordelia’s eyes narrow. “When Vasto massacred the horses, he broke Sumia’s heart. Anything you have planned for him is well deserved.”

 “So,” Robin draws out the ‘o’ as she looks around the stable Cordelia brought them to. Lon’qu stands some space behind them, but Robin knows he’s listening. “How would something like this normally work? Do all of these horses belong to me?”

 “Not all of them. Trainers board horses from multiple owners, and it makes sense to just house them all in one stable. Claiming all of them would be too farfetched.”

 “Fair.” Robin cranes her neck to look down along the series of stalls. “Technically, the stable belongs to the trainer though?”

 “That’s right,” Cordelia says, starting to walk further down, leaving Robin—and Lon’qu, still at a safe distance—to follow her. She inclines her head behind her in Lon’qu’s general direction. “Your office would be down this way.”

 “What about the logos?” Robin points a couple out pinned onto the front of the stalls. “We’re going to need some of our own to make it more official.”

 “Already covered all the signage, Bubbles,” Gaius pipes up form over the coms. “Me and Nowi printed off a few this morning while we were waiting for Jakob to do something.”

 “Oh,” Robin says, surprised that he’d already thought of it. “Nice work.”

 “What was that?” Cordelia looks back fully.

 “Nothing important,” Robin smiles. “Could you show us that office?”

 “Of course.”

 ○

 “Any sign of him yet?” Nowi asks. She sways back and forth in the passenger seat of the black van with her laptop on her lap, Gaius beside her in the driver’s seat reaching over to search the glovebox for one of his candy stashes.

 “He’s taking his sweet time, that’s for sure,” Gaius grumbles, snatching his bonbons out of reach before Nowi can snag one.

 “Aw, c’mon!” Nowi pouts, wiggling as much as she can without tipping her laptop too precariously. “I’ve been working hard all morning!”

 “All you’ve done so far is break your old record in Fruit Ninja,” Gaius drawls. “You shoved it in my face and everything.”

 “Hey, I printed those—”

 “I see him,” Gaius crawls over his seat to peer out the back windows at Jakob’s sleek grey car.

 “Don’t change the subject,” Nowi protests, crawling after him.

 “Now isn’t the time for this, kid.”

 “It’s the perfect time!” Nowi cries.

 “We’ve got to keep him out of Robin’s hair for now. You’re not planning on throwing all her hard work out the window because of a silly little temper tantrum are you?”

 Gaius cringes as Nowi’s face twists up. He sees Jakob pulling into a parking spot a short ways away.

 “Okay, okay! Take a bonbon! Take the whole box for all I care!”

 “Okay!” Nowi chirps, seizing her prize with a triumphant grin. She stuffs three in her mouth at once then hits a few keys. “I love these fancy new cars. Do you know what runs all of the nice new features?”

 Upon glancing at Gaius’s sullen features, Nowi places the box between them with a sigh. Gaius immediately digs in before she can change her mind. Nowi, however, has a more important task on mind than bonbons. In seconds she’s hacked into the computer system of Jakob’s car, locking him inside as he’s reaching for the latch.

 “I love technology,” Nowi lets out a dreamy sigh as Jakob’s wiper blades start whipping back and forth at full speed, the car alarm effectively blocking out all loud complaints Jakob could possibly make.

 Jakob does take a few moments to ineffectually attempt to regain control of his car, but he very quickly goes still, visibly looking around.

 “What are you doing…?” Gaius whispers, leaning forward.

 “Messing with that Jakob guy!” Nowi responds like it’s obvious.

 “Not you,” Gaius waves her off hurriedly, ignoring Nowi’s huff. “Wait, is he looking at us?”

 “The windows are tinted,” Nowi snorts. “And it’s not like he knows what we look like. There’s no way he’d…”

 She trails off as her laptop picks up Jakob’s call, listening in.

 “Hello, police?” Jakob says, all polite concern. “Yes, I’m by the racetrack. I just walked past a black van and I think I heard muffled screaming. I’m not sure, but I think I might have heard someone cock a gun. I’m pretty scared that someone might be in trouble and I don’t know what to do. Yes, I’ll stay on the line with you.”

 Nowi and Gaius exchange shocked expressions. When they look back to Jakob’s car, they can see him looking back, staring right at them. He even waves. They can practically hear the taunt in it: I can see you.

 “How?” Gaius says helplessly.

 “He’s like Robin if she were evil,” Nowi says breathlessly. “And taller. And a guy. And British. What do we do?”

 “Pray that we gave Robin enough time,” Gaius says quickly, climbing back over into the driver’s seat and cranking the ignition.

 Jakob continues to watch them as they drive away.

 ○

 “Mr. Vasto,” Olivia purrs. “You have my thanks for coming on such short notice.”

 “Well, I still owe you that drink I promised after all,” Vasto replies, Olivia giggling in response.

 “Oh, Mr. Vasto,” Robin says loudly, cutting the reunion short. Vasto prematurely begins grinding his teeth. Robin can’t help but feel some small modicum of glee at this.

 “Business first, pleasure afterwards,” Vasto promises aside to Olivia before he turns his full attention to Robin. “I need to talk to you.”

 “This better not be about you wanting to beg on your hands and knees for your horse back. He’s already settled in so nicely.”

 “I don’t beg,” Vasto bites back. “We need to talk.”

 “Sure, fine,” Robin shrugs. “Come on then.”

 Robin leads the way down the lines of stalls, opening the door at the end without ceremony. Lon’qu looks up at their unannounced arrival, halfway up from his seat when Robin barges over to stand beside him. She doesn’t give him a chance to tense up, shooing him off.

 “We need to use your office, Abel. Can’t take too long. Don’t imagine there’s anything too important to be said.”

 Lon’qu looks around grudgingly before squeezing past Vasto back outside of the office—Olivia, graciously, having already made plenty of room for him.

 “Alright,” Robin leans back in the chair, pointing at Vasto. “You’re on.”

 “Look, here’s how this goes. My insurance guy is a stickler. He says the sale can’t go through until my claim’s been sorted out.”

 “O’ course he did,” Robin rolls her eyes, sending Olivia a look of shared longsuffering as Vasto powers on.

 “Either way, I want to buy Luna back. I’ve got thirty thousand with me right here, let’s even it up.”

 “Oh, honey,” Robin says, voice dripping with honeyed condescension. “The price has gone up, my friend. I won’t part with that horse for anything less than two million.”

 “What?” Vasto exclaims, looking back and forth between Robin and Olivia for some clue as to what is going on. “Are you fu—”

 “Yeah,” Robin cuts him off smugly. “I’ve got a big deal coming up and could use the cash. Two million bucks or nothing, darlin’.”

 “You’re out of your damn mind,” Vasto hisses.

 “That’s just how we play the game where I come from,” Robin places her hand to her heart in mock innocence. “Now,” she leans forward to Olivia, suddenly serious, “you and I have some things to discuss about all of the money you’re gonna make me, and you—” she waves Vasto off dismissively “—you can run along back to your investments and give me a call when you’re serious about this.”

 Robin stands up with an air of finality and walks to the door, motioning for Olivia to follow.

 “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” Vasto sneers after them.

 “No, that’s how it is,” Robin replies matter-of-factly. “After you, Miss Lottie.”

 Olivia gives Vasto a sympathetic glance before she and Robin leave the office. Lon’qu leans against the wall outside waiting. He looks directly at Vasto, the two men’s eyes meeting.

 “R-remember what I told you,” Olivia coaches in a whisper. “Make that connection.”

 Lon’qu makes the smallest of grunts to let her know he’s received the message.

 “What are you looking at?” Vasto snaps.

 “It’s just…” Lon’qu softens his voice. “You’re not the first person to make that face after wrangling with Igrene Thoron.”

 “How do you even work with that bitch?” Vasto nearly shouts. Olivia’s jaw locks and her grip on Robin’s arm tightens.

 “It’s fine,” Robin pats her hand reassuringly.

 “She’s normally not in such a sour mood,” Lon’qu admits. Olivia clears her throat to prompt him to continue when the silence stretches just a little too long. “There’s just this big deal coming up and…” He trails off before shaking his head. “I’m sorry she wouldn’t sell your horse back.”

 “No,” Vasto scoffs. “There’s more than one way to play this game. I have my own backup plans. The current setup is so stuck in the past with cheap horses and cheap rates for trainers. It’s the perfect setup for big talkers like Igrene Thoron to take control. But me and some buddies have a plan to set up investments on horses.”

 “Investments?”

 “Yeah. The same way you’d invest in stocks. It’d be child’s play to modernize this game. Then bitches that think they’re on top like Igrene Thoron and her kind can scramble around when the big money starts flying over. They won’t be able to keep up. So consider this a friendly warning. Get in on this now or get the hell out of my way, because I don’t take prisoners.”

 Vasto practically shoves his card into Lon’qu’s hands before he stalks out. Lon’qu stands there a couple minutes to make sure he’s gone.

 “Did you get all that?”

 “Yeah,” Robin walks back, Olivia at her side. “Nice job, Lon’qu.”

 “We weren’t able to stall Jakob for long,” Gaius reports.

 “That’s fine,” Robin takes it all in stride. “We’ve got we need from Vasto.”

 “How does him being a big meanie help us?” Nowi asks. Robin can practically hear her face scrunched up.

 “Still working on that part.”

 “You don’t have a plan yet?” Nowi presses, her high pitch bordering on a squeak over the coms.

 “I have plenty. The problem is finding one that Jakob won’t see through in an instant.”

 “There’s no way to avoid him?” Lon’qu asks.

 “Too late for that now.” Robin shakes her head grimly. “As soon as he discovered my involvement his entire purpose here shifted. This is his perfect way of proving himself the right man to take over the job I left.”

 “I d-don’t think it’s quite that,” Olivia hesitates. She looks away at once at Robin’s questioning look. “I—I’ve always gotten the… the f-feeling that there’s more going on with him.”

 “It probably comes with the mysterious past shtick that he runs with.” Robin shrugs. “That’s a topic for another time. Now, I’ve got to think.”

 “Well,” Olivia takes a long pause, deep in thought. “What do we know about him?”

 “Besides the fact that he’s a diabolical genius?” Gaius cuts in.

 “Robin,” Olivia continues with more strength, following her thought to its conclusion. “You’ve known him since he started working at Excellus. Is there anything you know—anything from his past that could serve as… a clue, or… s-something!”

 Robin furrows her brow, still coming up blank. Jakob had never been one to open up and talk about his past. Back in the day, Robin was one of the closest to Jakob, and she still knew precious little about him.

 “Don’t sweat it, Bubbles,” Gaius appears in the stable with Nowi. They all walk over to meet in the middle. “Maybe you need to look at it from another angle. Jakob doesn’t seem the mushy sort to be hiding a secret like an attachment to a long lost cousin or something.”

 Robin immediately fixes her stare on Gaius. Unnerved, he glances around at everyone else.

 “What’s wrong? Is something on my face?”

 “Chocolate, but that’s beside the point,” Robin waves him off. “A long lost cousin…?”

 “I know that face,” Olivia whispers as Robin’s entire countenance brightens.

 “A long lost heir,” Robin announces with triumph.

 “Is that supposed to mean something?” Lon’qu asks, immediately cutting to the chase.

 “The long lost heir?” Olivia repeats. “O-oh! That’s… that’s a classic.”

 “But how does that work?” Nowi looks back and forth between Robin and Olivia. “That’s where you pose as a long lost member of a royal family right?”

 “That’s right,” Robin confirms.

 “But what does that have to do with this?” Nowi whines.

 “In the original form of the con, nothing at all. But this whole thing is about the horses.”

 “So…?” Nowi trails off pointedly, still awaiting a clear answer.

 “Oh…” Gaius’s face lights up as he catches on. “Bubbles, you sly fox.”

 “What? What?” Nowi wheels on Gaius, tugging at his sleeve.

 “The long lost heir is all about a claim that you’re part of a particular royal bloodline,” Gaius explains. “Horses bred for racing are all about bloodlines too.”

 “I’m impressed you know about that,” Robin admits.

 “Yeah, well… you pick up things here and there,” Gaius grins. There’s a flicker for an instant, but it’s too fleeting for Robin to hazard any guesses as to what it means.

 “Of course,” Robin relents.

 “So we pose a horse as the lost heir?” Nowi sounds skeptical.

 “Exactly,” Robin starts walking back out of the stables, the others falling into step around her. “We’ll pose Luna as our equine royalty, then use him to sell Vasto the greatest horse that never lived.”

 “What do you need from us?” Lon’qu asks from behind her.

 “Well, first thing’s first. Nowi, I’m going to need you to do some hacking for me.”