Tandi's eyes fluttered open. She yawned softly as she stood up, her head feeling a bit fuzzy. She really needed to stop falling asleep on the job. What was she doing in this alleyway again…? Oh, right, she was waiting for someone to pass by! Someone with a nice, vulnerable neck and some money to spare for a poor little tabaxi rogue. And today was certainly the day to find them, what with the Grand Bazaar in town. All she had to do was stand here in the shadows, and wait…

It was always so boring, hiding in the alleyway and listening for unsuspecting marks. So many times she’d hear footsteps coming right up to the bend before turning around and leaving. But it was preferable to working with the others. At least this work was quiet and simple, and she didn’t have to worry about her brutish comrades messing things up… And blaming her, oftentimes. Sometimes she wished for a less brutal line of work, but she was already branded as a thief, so there wasn’t much else she could do. But she shouldn’t focus on that now. Someone was rounding the bend, and she was about to get her prize…

Tandi swiftly stepped behind her target, and within a second her dagger was around their neck. “Don’t move a muscle. Just give me your coin purse, and you’ll be fine.” Her target chuckled softly. “Really? And if I don’t?” Tandi felt a soft tap on her cheek, and reflexively flicked her eyes to the side. Nothing there. “Then this dagger will-“ The woman chuckled. “You mean the dagger I’m holding now?” Tandi blinked, and suddenly realized with a start that she wasn’t holding the dagger anymore, and it was now around her throat! “What?! How?!” Her target chuckled softly and gently lowered the dagger, stepping in front of her. “I'm awfully good at sleight of hand. And sleight of other things, too.” Tandi's hood was suddenly pulled off, and she noticed a flicker of shadow behind the woman. Almost like… A tail. “…You’re a tabaxi…?” The woman purred softly. “Indeed. The name’s Abyssinian. And yours?” Tandi knew she should have her guard up, but… It was so rare she saw another tabaxi, even during the Grand Bazaar. “I… My name is Tandi…” Abyssinian smiled. “Wonderful to meet you, Tandi.”

Abyssinian smiled at Tandi. “So, why are you hiding out in a dark alleyway looking for easy prey?” Tandi quickly tried to think of an excuse that wouldn’t implicate the others. “I needed to make some extra money quickly… My father is-“ Abyssinian lightly shook her head, her eyes piercing into Tandi's soul. Tandi tried again. “I-I mean, my mother-“ Abyssinian shook her head again, her gaze growing stronger. Tandi could almost feel those eyes shattering her lies even as she tried to form them. As Tandi tried to think of something, Abyssinian softly placed a hand on her shoulder. 

“I think I know why. You were born on the streets without a family to care for you, and pulled into a life of crime. Your life has been nothing but stealing, sneaking, and running just to get by. And you’ve been pulled into the influence of someone far too dangerous to disobey, and everyone here knows what you’ve done so you couldn’t get out of the business even if you tried. So you stick to the shadows, alone as you can be, grabbing easy money from wealthy fops while always having to worry about pissing off someone you can’t handle. Is that right?” She spoke gently and empathetically, and Tandi slowly nodded. “…Yes… How did you know?” Abyssinian smiled kindly. “I'm a great judge of character. And besides… You remind me of myself, when I was your age. And I can tell you, this isn’t the way. You shouldn’t be just hanging around in alleys looking for easy prey, sneaking into houses looking for something to pawn, always running from the law…” Tandi rolled her eyes. She’d heard this type of stuff before, how she needed to ‘turn her life around' and become an ‘honest member of society’. As if it was that easy to just stop being a criminal… “…you could be doing so much more with your talents than this street level stuff. Trust me.” Tandi was caught off guard. That wasn’t what she’d expected to hear.

Tandi looked at Abyssinian, surprised. “What do you mean? My talents?“ Abyssinian nodded. “I can tell from the way you move, from the way you hold yourself. You’re wasted on this petty thieves' guild stuff. There’s so much more to being a rogue than just stealing from rich people. Tombs, temples, castles, dungeons… All filled with so much more money, so much more excitement, so much more FUN than being a petty thief. Just picture it…” Abyssinian began gently fluttering her claws before Tandi's eyes. “Sneaking through the halls of a castle, long ruined yet still kept standing by dark necromantic magic… Not a sound from your soft steps as you walk through the towering, decrepit halls…” Tandi's mind began to drift as Abyssinian whispered to her. “Hearing a horrifying undead giant patrolling the halls… And instead of running, just fading into the shadows… Completely invisible… Finding the door to the lich's personal bedroom, and effortlessly disarming the arcane lock with a single *click*… Walking inside the room of something so powerful, so terrifying, so intelligent… And yet knowing your talents have let you easily best them…” Tandi could almost see the lich's room... “Instantly spotting the hidden switches to open up the staircase… Deftly dodging every trap they set… And plucking the phylactery out of its hiding spot… Before gently slicing it open with an enchanted dagger… And piercing its unholy shield… Hearing its dying scream as you rid the world of a great evil…” She chuckled at Tandi's amazed expression. “And then finding your way to the treasure vault… Opening the complicated door with nothing but your claw… And finding enough treasure to buy out an entire country… The most beautiful paintings, instruments made of crystal, herbs thought extinct centuries ago, magical potions that defy reality, and, of course, such lovely jewelry… Like this magical ring I have on, the ring of Mesmeric Illusion… It lets me show you Everything… And isn’t it majestic, Tandi?” Tandi nodded, in absolute awe at the visions of the treasure chamber. It was more than she could ever have dreamed of. “Yes… So majestic…” Abyssinian chuckled. “Indeed. So… How would you like to be my sidekick?”

Tandi's mind was still full of the mesmeric illusions as she answered. “…Sidekick…? Huh…?” Abyssinian chuckled and gently took her hand. “Yes, sidekick. I can teach you everything I know. I can allow you to do such amazing things, see such amazing sights, find such amazing treasure. And I can give you a far better life than you have here… Give you the life I always wished for… The companionship I always needed…” Tandi's mind still felt so fuzzy and floaty, but… That did sound so wonderful… “…Yeah… That sounds great…” Abyssinian gently hugged her. “Perfect. Come with me back to the ship. I’ll introduce you to everyone. Then, we can start training.” Tandi nodded hazily. “That sounds cool… What stuff will you be teaching me…?” Abyssinian smiled. “Loads of things. Silent footsteps, expert lockpicking, a little bit of magic, shadowing… Hmm, actually, I think this alleyway is a good place to practice that.” She pulled Tandi's hood back up. “…Shadowing…?” Abyssinian nodded. “Fading into shadows. It’s quite simple, once you know how. Just take a deep breath… Close your eyes… And follow my voice…” Tandi closed her eyes, still feeling a bit dizzy. “Feel your body… Feel every part of it… Feel the darkness around you… And feel your shadow… Let your shadow rise up… Let it embrace you… Feel the darkness embrace you, and feel yourself embrace the darkness…” Tandi had no idea what Abyssinian meant, but she let her voice guide her. And soon she began to feel herself meld into the darkness around her… It felt weird… But nice… Like her body was falling asleep, but still staying aware… She heard Abyssinian eagerly encouraging her. “There you go, you’re doing it!” Tandi smiled sleepily. She felt happy that Abyssinian was proud of her. And she also felt… So sleepy… And she already felt like she was falling asleep, so she just let her mind go… She heard Abyssinian’s voice… Muffled… Far away… “Oh no, you’re falling asleep, that’s not good. Uhhh… Well, I suppose you can sleep in the shadows while I ask Chronna if she has anything that can help… Have a nice rest, my sidekick…”