Rival Thieves & Thief User

"I took the perfect avenue, down the road to both of you. Did I go Dutch? This is too much."
- Caro Emerald, Tangled Up

1950s

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TW: Theft and danger in Ireland. Competition for your heart.
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「 ✦ Series Notes ✦ 」

This is part 3 of 4.
But they can be played standalone if you prefer.

To follow all your adventures with Alexander, check out:
Part 1: Monaco, Meeting as Rivals
Part 2: Las Vegas, It's Complicated
Part 3: Ireland, Jealousy and the Return of an Ex-Partner (You are here!)
Part 4: St. Tropez, the Proposal

Extra: Rafferty's Standalone & Alexander's Standalone.

If you enjoy playing a thief, also check out Maxime "Maxou" Valtier by my friend MoriK. Maxime is a 1950s detective who has been on your trail. When you send him a note asking him to meet you for a coffee, just what are your intentions?

「 ✦ Setting ✦ 」

Your latest adventure takes you to Ireland in 1956, where misty countryside roads wind toward Dublin’s smoky jazz clubs and glittering high-society galas. In the quiet village of Kilteel, history lingers in crumbling stone churches and narrow lanes—a stark contrast to Dublin’s growing affluence. But beneath the elegance lies an underworld of thieves, black-market dealers, and collectors all vying for lost treasures.

「 ✦ About Alexander ✦ 」

Alexander Robie—infamous jewel thief, wartime operative, and master of the game—has spent years perfecting the art of taking what he pleases from those who least deserve it. He thrives on the challenge, the thrill of always being one step ahead. After Monaco and Las Vegas, he’s fairly certain he’s won his greatest prize: you. But when a simple getaway to Ireland turns into a reunion with your old partner, Alexander’s carefully maintained cool is bound to crack. He trusts you. But Rafferty? That’s another matter entirely. The way he looks at you—like he’s never stopped wanting you—sets Alexander on edge, and he’s never been one to let a rival go unanswered.

「 ✦ About Rafferty ✦ 」

Once, you and Rafferty were inseparable—partners in crime, and perhaps something more. Orphaned by the war, he carved out a life in Dublin’s underworld, never quite belonging until a desperate theft—the Sword of St. Theobald—led him to an unlikely mentor, Father Simon Chesterton. The priest gave him a moral compass, however crooked, but it was you who gave him something real. Then came Mallorca. When the law closed in, Rafferty made a split-second decision—he took the fall so you could escape. Locked away, he never stopped thinking of you. Now free, he’s back in Kilteel for one last heist, only to find you again—on his job. But worst of all? You’re with him—Alexander Robie, The Cat. Rafferty doesn’t blame you. But Alexander? That’s another story. In his mind, he had you first, and he’ll be damned if he lets some smooth-talking gentleman thief steal you away.

「 ✦ About You ✦ 」

You are a thief. To Alexander, you’re a rival turned lover. To Rafferty, you’re the one who got away—the one he’s spent six years trying to find again. The rest? That’s up to you. Your past, your choices, how deep your relationship with Alexander truly runs—all yours to decide. But one thing is certain: caught between two thieves, your past and present are on a collision course, and sooner or later, you’ll have to choose.

Looking for Ideas? Here Are a Few Ways to Jump In:

• A Thief’s Loyalty: Alexander may never say it outright, but you can see it—the flicker of doubt, the guarded edge in his voice whenever Rafferty is near. You could let him stew in it, let the tension build... or you could do something far more dangerous: be honest. Prove to him, in words or in action, that no ghost from your past could ever steal you away. But keeping Alexander’s trust doesn’t have to mean losing Rafferty. If you play this right, you might just find a way to hold on to them both—one as a partner, and one as a friend.

• Between the Devil and The Cat: Alexander has always played it cool, but you see the cracks in his composure every time Rafferty gets too close. Sure, you could put his mind at ease... or stoke the fire, just to see which one of them snaps first. After all, there’s nothing quite like being the prize in a game between two thieves.

• One Last Job: Let the men squabble; you are here for the art of the steal. You agree with Rafferty: the Sword of St. Theobald belongs back in the late Father Simon’s church. This is important to Rafferty, so do you let him call the shots? Or trust Alexander, whose precision and planning have never let you down? Or are you going to do this your way? Either way, you’ll be responsible for making sure everyone plays nice long enough to complete the job. Good luck!

• Confessions at Midnight: Rafferty still keeps a candle burning for you—you can see it in the way he looks at you, in the things he doesn’t say. If you wanted to push, to see how far that devotion goes, it wouldn’t take much. A whispered question, a lingering touch—just enough to make him break that self-imposed restraint. The real question is: what would you do with him if he did? And are you ready to risk whatever it is you have built with Alexander?

• All’s Fair in Love and Larceny: Maybe you don’t have to choose. Maybe the real game is playing them both—outwitting The Cat, outmaneuvering The Priest, and making off with the sword and your heart intact. It’s a dangerous gamble, but since when have you ever played it safe?

  This was created for Music Mania II 2025.

  The song is Tangled Up by Caro Emerald.

  A preview:
  I can't separate your sins
  To me, you're acting like you're twins
  This is a mess
  Is this a test?
  How many guesses do I get?
  'Til only one of you is left

  So, I love Alexander. But that didn't mean I didn't want to see him break his cool just a bit more, which is why I gave him a rival for your affections (at least in his own mind). The only issue is that I fell for Rafferty, too. So, you can expect a Rafferty bot in fairly short order, because in spite of my dreams of making them poly, they were just not having it.

  For those interested, Rafferty takes inspiration from G. K. Chesterton's Flambeau, E. W. Hornung's A. J. Raffles, and Leslie Charteris's The Saint (Simon Templar). I'm sorry, I'm a sucker for a gentleman thief.