So after only teasing his appearance in a few smaller stories for nearly three years, I finally get to properly introduce Hermes Wallace! This new gentleman thief OC is something I've had on my mind for a while now. Look forward to his future appearance, and inevitable encounter with a certain kinky burglaress... ;)
The speeches were mostly boring drivel about the historical importance of journalism, and the prominent news articles written that year. What Rutger was much more interested in was the actual party of the annual Azure Tribune Social Event that Faye had brought him along for as her plus one. Also, much more interesting was that the event was taking place in the parental mansion of their friend Jude Haddock. “After all, what else are we doing with this large ballroom aside from renting it out?” The rabbit explained to the raccoon and ferret. “Aside from the open bar?” Rutger quipped, returning with a cocktail in each hand for him and Faye respectively. “No idea!” Jude rolled her eyes as her ferret friend stifled a giggle at her boyfriend’s antics. “Right, I’ll leave you two to your comedy act, I’m gonna see where my dad ended up…” The rabbit huffed, trying to hide her own amusement. But Faye’s attention wasn’t on waving Jude goodbye like Rutgers was, her eyes were on a suspicious, sharp-dressed man that she would swear just pickpocketed a card from a fellow guest. “Rutger, come along, sweetie… we’ve got trouble.”
“Trouble? What’s going on?” The raccoon hurried along after Faye, who had already started giving chase, heading off into one of the hallways branching off from the ballroom. Away from the hustle and bustle of the party, she finally took a moment to let him catch up and explain. “I saw the creep grab someone’s wallet and slip in here, no doubt he’s still around! If we split up, we can-” The ferret paused her excited rambling when she noticed the concern on her boyfriend’s face. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t confront him. I’ll only try to get some pictures of his face and hopefully his car for the inevitable investigation, nothing that will get me hurt. Allright, sweetie?” “Okay.” Rutger nodded in a somewhat trepid agreement. “Please stay safe. I’ll make sure to update Jude on the situation first and then I’ll be right behind you.” “Thanks, honey~” And after a quick smooch on his cheek, she was off. The raccoon sighed in defeat and reached for his phone, not noticing the door behind him slowly and silently swinging open… until a cotton gloved hand clamped over his mouth and yanked him inside.
Given the terrifying speed the raccoon found himself pushed into a chair with his hands tied behind the backrest, without even releasing his muzzle, he at first thought his usual adversary Alicia had gotten her claws on him again. But then a much deeper, gentlemanly voice spoke up. “If you’re done with you snooping, young man, I’d prefer it if you could keep your voice down, otherwise I’d have to make your lady friend join your predicament.” Rutger gave a slight nod and the man let go of his maw as promised to continue roping him to the chair. Fortunately, this also gave the ringtail a chance to turn to look at his captor, and sure enough, it was the same lion man Faye had described earlier. “You may call me Hermes Wallace, if you please” He spoke, in an oddly polite tone for someone currently taking a hostage. “And it seems the young lady has the wrong idea about me.” “What? That you are not just a petty pickpocket, but actually a very refined one with strong preference for wallets made with real leather?” He’d keep his voice down as demanded, but it would take a lot more to stifle Rutger’s snarky attitude. Hermes chuckled. “Do my charms really make me seem that harmless? No, those wallets were just an added bonus on the way to getting the real price: the keys to the family vault!” The lion gestured to an open brief case filled with bundles of cash.
“Whoa, I knew mister Haddock is loaded, but to just have all of THAT in an old s- ohhckmm! Nmm-ghmph!” Forgetting to keep his voice down, the captive raccoon got a large cotton handkerchief stuffed into his mouth. “Mh cmmh mnnh… gffmhoh!” For good measure, the gentleman thief packed a second handkerchief in with the earlier stuffing, deft gloved fingers making sure his prisoner could not get a sound past his lips. “Tsk, tsk. I told you to keep quiet. If you’re going to insist on making this difficult for me, I’m perfectly willing to return the favour~” The lion taunted, binding a third handkerchief he had folded into a band tightly over Rutger’s muzzle. Ignoring the muffled protests, Hermes then unbuckled and pulled down the pants of his victim, letting the former tie a bundle of ropes around the latter’s exposed underpants to give him a firm squeeze whenever he tugged on his bindings. “There, that should keep you busy for a while, I’d s-” The thief interrupted himself, as he could hear Faye’s voice coming back down the hallways, opening various doors in the hope of discovering her boyfriend’s whereabouts. Hermes smiled mischievously at said boyfriend, putting a finger to his lips as he hid near the door, two more cloths at the ready to use as gag. Letting out a muffled sigh of defeat, Rutger watched anxiously as the door slowly creaked open…
“R-Rutger!? Dangit, did he get awa- ymmmph!?” It appeared to be a day of unfinished sentences, with Hermes jumping the ferret as soon as she stepped past him, shoving one handkerchief into her mouth, and quickly tying the second cloth between her lips. Manhandling the silenced damsel towards another chair, with the ferret losing her heels during the struggle, the door fell back closed, trapping the ring-tailed couple with the well-dressed criminal. Hermes quickly had her bound to in similar fashion as his other captive, with an additional handkerchief gag to boot, before moving on to tie his victim’s ankles to their respective chairs. “Now that I have both your attention, I would first like to mention that it’s a pleasure meeting you again, miss Mendez. I fondly remember our encounter at the police station.” He gave the ferret a flirtatious wink.
“I’m certain your rabbit friend will find you in due time. As for me, I shall take my leave and my spoils, so I bid you two adieu and a pleasant struggling~ Ta-ta!”
