The next day they spent in reconnaissance, studying the ebb and flow of the patronage for both Xbalyav T'ye and Aunt Tii's Taco Stand. There were regulars that came at certain bells of the day and other, unpredictable moments when deliveries or a non-regular patron would walk in. Still, there were lulls in business in both places that would provide the window they needed to obtain the foodstuffs they'd been tasked by the Baron to fetch. For Xbalyav T'ye, the tavern saw a lull just after the noon-tide meal when people scattered back to their respective jobs, there was a lull in there until dinnertime when things got very slow. For the Taco Stand, though, it was a bit more of a challenge. That place didn't really see less traffic until just before they closed for the evening.
Xochitl decided that they'd hit both places on the same day, that way the theft at one wouldn't alert the other and make their job all that much more difficult. Atlan and Pixie would be the distraction while Xochitl and Izco conducted the heist. They'd go in at the latter half of the noon-tide hour as the lunch rush was starting to dissipate. Xochitl and Iczo would go in and sit at the table nearest the stairwell, as well as the employee entrance to the back of house for the tavern. Atlan and Pixie would come in together and sit at the same table, somewhere near the center of the room, but on the other side to draw the bartender's attention away from the side Xochitl and Iczo would be on. They'd pretend to be an eager young couple coming in to share a romantic lunch during which they'd create some kind of distraction. With any luck, they'd be in and out without even getting noticed.
Aunt Tii's Taco Stand had far more vulnerabilities than the sturdy tavern. The cloth merchant pavilion could easily be accessed from the rear due to the gap between the tent and the wall. So there was also plenty of cover and several routes of egress once they got what they needed. Again, Atlan and Pixie would serve as the distraction, keeping the staff preoccupied with the front counter while Xochitl and Iczo took advantage of the open panel at the rear of the tent that they'd be able to reach ingredients from. They'd be in and out in a flash and down the beach toward the Fo'ard Cabins before anyone was any the wiser.
The plan was well-outlined and a fusion of the varied ideas of everyone in the squadron. Xochitl was proud of them for getting this far. Now it just came down to execution.
On the day of the heist, the four of them had breakfast so that hunger wouldn't distract them from the mission ahead. Xochitl and Izco headed out first, making their way directly to Xbalyav T'ye, they mixed into the lunchtime crowd, nursing a pair of drinks that neither of them actually drank. Meanwhile, Atlan and Pixie took a more leisurely stroll through the city before finally winding their way to the tavern. By the time they arrived, most of the rush had cleared out already, leaving Xochitl and Izco hunched over their drinks at the table by the stairwell while Pixie and Atlan chose a table on the other side of the room. The pair of them were boisterous and demanding, keeping the waitstaff occupied with explaining everything on the menu. Atlan went to the bar and was asking the bartender if he could make a very complicated drink, so the xbr'aali man was kept busy searching his shelves for the right booze.
Xochitl nudged Iczo and the lithe hhestarro slunk away from their table, looking as if he were going upstairs, but he leapt over the railing to land silently on the floor before slipping behind the drapery doorway that separated the common room from the employee-only areas. Xochitl kept an eye on things as Atlan and Pixie continued to make themselves royal pains in the neck for the staff.
"Oi, what's the meaning of this!" From behind the drapery that allowed access to the bar, a large tonawawta emerged holding Iczo by the collar of his jacket. He thrust the hhetsarro toward Br'uk Evu, the xbr'aali proprietor that was trying to assist Atlan. "Caught this little sneak-thief trying to filch foodstuffs from our stores."
Atlan looked on, appalled. "By the Vidraal, you just can't trust anyone in the city these days, can you?" He said, putting a hand to his chest melodramatically. "Come, my beauteous orchid, let us away from this place and leave them to deal with their riff-raff." He extended a hand to Pixie who leapt up from the table to snatch his hand, nodding emphatically. That was as ordered. If the mission got compromised in any way, they were to abort and meet at the end of the long pier that comprised to Fo'ard Cabins.
As Atlan and Pixie made their way out, Xochitl should have done with them, but she wasn't about to leave Izco behind. Rising from her place, she made her way over to the bar. "Ah, begging your pardon, sir. I apologize for my friend, he's something of a kleptomaniac. I've been trying to rehabilitate him and he's been doing so well but it seems his urges got the better of him today. I can compensate you for anything he might have spoiled."
Br'uk Evu put his hands on his hips, looking between the hhetsarro and his fellow xbr'aal. "As much as I'd like to just let him go, there's something to be said for suffering the consequences of one's actions. So, my associate here is going to take this one down to Brightbloom Post and report the theft. Maybe if he suffers a little punishment for his transgressions he'll be less apt to make them again in the future."
Xochitl's ears tilted back, but she couldn't really blame the man's logic. She nodded then looked to the tonawawta. "If you don't mind, I'd like to accompany you at least. As I said, he's my friend and I'll not leave him to his fate in unfamiliar territory."
The man shrugged. "Fine by me." And with that, he kept a tight hold on Iczo and the three of them made the trek across the city to the compound belonging to the Landsguard.
