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]

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.

[runningred]

"Well, thanks to the toys our careless friends were carrying, I can pretty much take the target now. Willing to cause a big enough distraction?"

There's a turning of heads towards the door. Whoever just came in has everyone interested.

[morethanprops]

He looks over the set up and smiles,

"Oh yes, I think its time for a brawl. Lots of egos here that only need a few pushes."

[runningred]

"Do you have someone in particular in mind?" Jay asks, getting his gear in order.

The new arrival is an older gentleman of high rank with very, very beautiful dark haired woman on his arm. Jay hasn't seen them, too busy getting exploring the picks in the set Alfred lifted.

[morethanprops]

"A few, watch and learn,"

His mask and cape are tucked behind the statue and Moist ends up with a tray of canapes. Then he begins to whisper, rumors of sex behind curtains and in bedrooms, said in a voice that knows, oh it knows.

He's copying how the Emcee speaks with his bored knowledge of all the perversions and soon men and women are yelling and pleading and wondering.

[runningred]

Jay uses the distraction it inch closer to the showcase, watching the swirls and ripples move across the crowd. He loses the mask and folds the cape, ready to throw it over the showcase in the inevitable mess to give him at least a little cover to work. He focuses on his task, letting Alfred do his thing.

[morethanprops]

Groups are starting to form and then Moist leans into the ear of the kind of man Jay was masquerading as and says, "Who's name was asked for in the dark?"

Then it truly starts as his temper is let loose and Moist shifts among the crowd, prodding to keep all the attention far from the showcase. Passions and tempers are high and security tries their best but they're outmatched by the rich who do extreme sports to find some thrill.

[runningred]

The beautiful lady strolls over to Alfred, ignoring the bustle of agitated crowd to rest a hand on his arm. Her voice is soft and dark, almost purring. "Very impressive. But now isn't the time. Tell Jason not to bother. It's a fake anyway."

She turns and walks away, letting the crowd envelop her.

Jay however is starting his run on the case.

[morethanprops]

Moist raises an eyebrow at her and watches her then says into his ear,

"Is she trustworthy? She says its a fake?"

[runningred]

Jay looks up and his eyes widen. "Oh shit. Yeah, we're out. Dump everything and leave. I'll meet you outside." He doesn't sound happy. Not at all.

[morethanprops]

"Move fast,"

His tray is dumped and Moist makes his way through the crowd, slow as if he's going for a smoke and ends up leaning against a door a few houses down and watching.