Riding with Alfred

[runningred]

{from here}

Jay glances across to the monitor on the bench. "We have the garage to ourselves."

He turns back to Alfred. "So how... hot did riding get you?"

Comments

[morethanprops]

Moist nods, loosening his tie slightly and tugging his braid to make it messier,

"Yes, I think it does. You're the one pressing against your leash and I'm your pleasant leash."

The tuxedo suits Moist, highlighting the long lines of his body and the white makes him look paler.

[runningred]

"The sensible friend, the one keeping me from becoming the tear-away playboy my parents always feared I would be?" Jay smiles rakishly, "The hand on my arm when I get too out of hand."

[morethanprops]

(OOC: Time for me to sleep, I love these two.)

"Exactly, so I tut at you, staying close to your side gaining you sympathy and perhaps even some for myself,"

His accent shifts into something with a touch of Uberwald, not from around here, a little prim.

[runningred]

"Gods, you're good."

Jay grins, pulling gently at Alfred's tie and lowering his voice. His accent America but with the cultured English purr of an Oxford student.

"Darling Jude." His eyes flick to the IDs on the table that list Alfred's name as Julian Octave. "If you going to keep tutting me, I'm going to have to find ways to get you into trouble too." Jay's ID reads Patrick Everguard.

{ooc: so much fun! Sleep well!}

[morethanprops]

"Patrick, that's unhelpful, we have to go to this party or else your family will be disappointed and cut back on you,"

He bows to Jay as he slips into the role and offers his arm.

[runningred]

"We can't have that." Jay pouts, taking Alfred's arm "Mommy will be so very disappointed if I bring disgrace to the family name. Again."

A town car is waiting for them outside, the driver holding the door open for them. Jay smiles and makes a point of being seen to slide his hand under Alfred's cape as they get in.

[morethanprops]

As they get in, he sighs and shifts his cape to shift a little over on the seat,

"Stop that, not until later and only if you're good."

[runningred]

Jay pouts again and leans in to whisper in Alfred's ear, massaging his thigh so it looks to all the world (or the driver anyway) that they're having a very different conversation. "The watch has a homing device in the back. If we have to get out separately, it'll lead you back to the safe house. The earbud works the same as the mikes in the bike helmets. Touch it lightly and you'll be able to speak to me. They have about a three mile range."

{ooc: sorry, work related slowtime today.}

[morethanprops]

(OOC: No worries, work happens.)

He nods and says loud enough for the driver,

"Yes, I know that you have been behaving but this party is important."

[runningred]

"Let's not stay long then. Long enough to be seen and say hello to all of mother's friends. After that we can find a party of our own." He trips the driver a little excessively and holds his arm out to Alfred.

The party sprawls across the embassy grounds, bright and resplendent with candles hung from the trees. Jay shots Alfred a quick smile as they head for the door, sweeping imperiously in their long opera capes.

Their invites are accepted without question and they are let into the main hall. The very cream of European society is there, jewels glittering and smiles flashing.

[morethanprops]

As they enter, Moist gives his cape an extra flourish which turns the heads of a group of older women who immediately start gossiping, "We have to be polite and that means staying longer, don't pout at me as it won't help."

Anyone who hears him will think he's something Eastern European but working on his accent as his English is carefully watched. That turns a different group of heads their way.

[runningred]

"But I love that little frown you get when I pout." Jay teases, dropping perfectly into Patrick and sweeping towards the group of older ladies.

"Lady Margaret." He brings his heels together with a click, dropping into a deep bow. "What a pleasure it is to see you again."

She looks at him confused and Patrick offers her an apologetic smile. "Patrick Everguard. We met at my mother's garden party last April. She sends her regards."

The lady's face lights up with the forced smile of someone who doesn't entirely trust their own memory for these things. "Patrick dear, what a delight. How is your dear mother? And who is this charming young gentleman?" She gestures to Alfred.

[morethanprops]

His bow is more formal with something else to it to match his accent, "Julian Octave of the Bad Schüschein Octaves and a friend of Patrick's since we went to school together eons ago in the mountains."

She flutters at his manner, "Oh my yes, the Octaves, do come and meet my dear Anna, she'll love your costumes. She does love a good vampire."

[runningred]

"Jude is the angel to my demon. He keeps me out of trouble. Or tries to, anyway." He offers her his arm, all charm and perfectly straight American smile.

He lets his grin became something more predator as they are lead over to meet Anna, trying to find that thing that Eric does so easily. "Lovely Lady. I hear you yearn to dance with the creatures of the night." Slightly cheesy Dracula accent... Maybe...

[morethanprops]

It seems to work well enough as Anna meets his gaze and holds it, moving the skirt of her diaphanous Artemis costume to show her legs to an advantage, "Oh yes, I do love being hunted in the shadows."

Lady Margaret tsks as Moist sighs and steers her away, "Let's get some champagne while the children play together. Patrick invariably finds his way to the Bar."

[runningred]

Patrick takes full advantage of this, seducing her into a quiet corner and whispering wicked promises in her ear. Having back himself into a corner with her rather gorgeous body for cover, he scopes the room.

The knife is in a side alcove of the room, comfortably close to a set of French doors and a Juliet balcony. Even four floors up, it's almost too easy that way.

At least one other team in play is obvious - blonde twins in matching skimpy costumes hang off an ambassador's arms, giggling. Their eyes are just too sharp to be the bimbos they're playing up to be. And there there's the waiter they're very carefully not making eye contact with.

[morethanprops]

While he's getting drinks, Moist watches Jay's eyes and trips near the waiter and knocking into him. Its a horrid mess and Moist borrows a few useful tools as he apologizes and Lady Margaret berates the waiter for him. It only took seconds but by the time waiter is getting ready for his next move, he finds he's missing some important items.

Lady Margaret has a drink and goes to sit down as Moist comes to retrieve his wayward friend in a shadowed corner, "Patrick, give her your number, this isn't the time."

[runningred]

"Alas, my goddess, the children of the night call me back to their dark embrace." He slips a card with a number into her hand and lets Jude pull him away.

"Nice lift. What was he carrying?" Jay avails himself of a drink, watching the twins as he leans into Alfred. "I think our other competitors included the dark haired Dutchess to your left. She just lifted a badge from one of the security goon."

[morethanprops]

"A card, some very nice lockpicks and a spray thing. Do you want her? A solid drunken lurch will get the badge as her eyes are on the other guards," Then Moist laughs and seems to push Patrick away, "We're not dancing. Where do you get your ideas?"

[runningred]

Jay nods slightly and grin. "Julian, darling. I'm sure no-one would mind. And you drag me away from that beautiful young lady." He makes another move to pull Alfred close, his champagne flute ready to tip as she moves past them.

[morethanprops]

"You'd be bored in five minutes,"

Expertly he dodges and bumps his leg against the woman and uses his cape for a distracting flourish.

[runningred]

Jay immediately trips over Alfred spilling his drink on the hem of her skirt. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm so clumsy!" He sweeps out a handkerchief and tries to dry her off, palming the card back to Alfred. "Jude, get someone to fetch some paper towel at once."

He flutters at her, covering Alfred's exit. Two spills in a few minutes means they'll have to play it quiet for a bit till they stop being interesting.

[morethanprops]

(OOC: Time for bed.)

"Cloth towels, Patrick, I've taught you this," Then he sighs and latches onto the waiter who soon returns with lots of towels as Moist disappears in the crowd.

Carefully he taps the ear thing and says, "I'm by the third double doors and a well endowed statue."

As he waits, he looks over his haul in the shadows and watches the party move on, the ones they've bumped into aren't showing too much worry but he can see the added tension in how they move.

[runningred]

Jay moves across the floor, taking the time to be extra charming to everyone and anyone on his way. He slinks over to join Alfred in the shadows. "I forgot how exhausting these thing can be." He palms the spray bottle, cracking the lid a little to smell it. "Expanding adhesive. For the pleasure plate maybe. Not how I would go about it but smart."

He clones both cards with his phone and returns them to Alfred. "What are your thoughts?"

[morethanprops]

"Oh, I'm enjoying myself, just use the crowd. You're the one who saw the blueprints. We keep it quiet as we can and maybe set off a diversion or two along the way,"

Moist watches him work with his phone, its fascinating.