Archived Blue Moon Masquerade

[Ivy]

Ivy was a little surprised when Khalid led her towards the slow dancers. Not many guys summoned the bravery, or nerve, to start that way. Though, his politeness smoothed it over.

Ivy Wrote:
"So, an old friend of Chase Devineaux, huh? You're not one of those spec-ops boys are you? "

Khalid Wrote:
"Not that I eh.. offended, Ms Ivy," he shrugged noncommittally, "but where I come from, speculation like that is um, like bad luck for me, yeah?"
The detective wrinkled her nose slightly at the comment. She wasn't quite sure what to do with this strangely Blunt -Secretive-Othello-Impulsive Casanova.

"Right. You do know that this only makes me wonder what goes on with that side of ACME." Ivy gestured towards Chase, Missy, Euge, and Ennai. "But all that aside, we're here to enjoy the New Year. Are you heading stateside with everyone else after the party?"

 

[Sarah Nade]

"We're ready."

Sarah nodded and walked away from the two of them, not to the back door but back to the men's bathroom. With the way the alarms were currently set an exit from the back doors would have triggered things. That, however, did not stop the bathroom windows from being an easily accessible exit from the building. Popping the window open Sarah climbed out quickly, the small size of the opening forcing her to hold onto the window sill and do a small flip as she exited, allowing her to land on her feet rather quietly.

Taking a quick look around (and being thankful for the black tuxedo and mask being great cover for the shadowed back of the building) she pulled the lock picks from the back of her pants and, once she looked at the locked security door on the back of the building, removed the appropriate picks for the job. She chewed on her bottom lip just a little as she worked, kneeling in front of the door. As she continued to play with the lock, which she would have preferred to have some sort of light while working on, she softly spoke as if calming a child or an animal.

"Come on, sweetie..." she said softly, moving around the picks as she felt the tumblers falling one by one. "We can do this." The door gave a satisfying click and, placing one of the picks between her teeth she turned the doorknob which opened without problem. "That's a girl." Not her best time for picking a lock but it would do in a pinch.

Sarah slipped inside and closed the door behind her, turning on the lights before returning her lock picks to their place in her jacket. Their job was done, now it was time for another. Turning to alarm she was about to start the alarm reset when a diagram on the wall caught her eye. Alarm schematics for the entire building. The thief smiled.

"Hmmmm, I bet you someone would love to have a copy of you." Sarah said as she pulled her cell phone from her jacket and clicked a couple of pictures. Carmen would love to have these, that she was sure of. Satisfied that she'd taken advantage of all the room had to offer Sarah initiated the sensor reset and shut off the lights, exiting the room and going to the back door to wait for the two thieves working inside.

 

[Chase]

((Co-post with E. Mayhew))

Under the light of the New Year's blue moon, Venice was a glowing, glittering, beautiful yet frigid marvel. Taking a cue from his partner's response, Chase walked nonchalantly with the building music and led Melissa Wayward to the center of the stone pavilion.

"This is where I bow and you curtsy," he smiled lightheartedly, "but let's skip that." Gently placing her in the closed position, he slowly swayed to the band's variation of the song 'Blue Moon'. As soon as he felt her movements complying with his rhythm, he whispered, "There we go," and pulling her in, then out, took the first step leading to the waltz.

Stepping into his movements Missy smiled as he stared to lead, talking her through the motions with a gentle and caring tone. The last time Chase Devineaux had worked with her, ballroom dancing was not exactly a skill she'd possessed. To be truthful she wasn't any master at it now but she had at least received training, not that she had the heart to remind her former field director of that. Then again, after her awkward reveal to the steel-eyed head of Special Operations, she wasn't really sure if she had the heart to say much.

"So... nice night..." she said softly.

"Perfect night," he added, then began to move along with other waltzing couples counter-clockwise around the outer edge of the floor. Every time she reciprocated his lead, he raised his brows, unconsciously surprised she was able to keep up. He realized she might have caught on to his slightly patronizing gesture and apologized with a warm grin and a shake of his head.

Missy couldn't help but chuckle just a little as Chase realized his error in assuming her inexperience, turning her eyes away as she did so. "You know, when I learned how to dance like this it was never to anything very contemporary... even if the beats are the same dancing to Blue Danube and Blue Moon, well, there's definitely a noticeable difference."

"Difference?" he asked rhetorically, more to carry this conversation with her than to understand what varied between the classics and the contemporary.

"Yeah, like lots of things... fundamentally the same but they feel different." she answered offhandedly. "Besides, Blue Moon would be alot different if it was about a river too..."

"Missy," Chase playfully interrupted, "do you always talk this much when you dance?" Not waiting for an answer, he spun her around quickly where the music became louder, and held her steadily for another turn around the pavilion.

The female agent chuckled softly but otherwise dared not reply as they made their way around the outer edges of the dancing crowd. It had been a while since she'd smiled around Chase and, despite disguises, the first time she'd felt like she was acting naturally. It was hard to put into words how much and in what ways she had missed just being herself.

 

[Narrator]

((Originally written by Crimson))

Cassandra was so bored. Of course, she has been to parties like this before, but this one was a drag. The only thing semi-great about this party was the fact that it was in Italy and that she picked up a few Italian words from hearing the people around her. She couldn't wait to leave. But, Cassandra continued to put on her 'happy mask.' I should become an actress after this fabulous experience...

The 'Kennedy' wasn't paying attention when something Nevon said caught her attention.

Nevon said:
"Is your whole family in politics?"

'Cassandra' was in luck. She had completed a history report on the Kennedy family lineage just a few weeks before. All she had to do was pick a random member, really. "My father has never held an elected office in his life. He has never even run for one and my mother is a lawyer" she said with her flawless accent. "My grandfather was a Senator for um... New York State... but he was assassinated in 1968 while trying to run for the office of President."

At this point, Cassandra wanted to seriously leave. She was bored out of her skull. She was tired and actually hungry. And thinking of school - related things was not what she wanted to do right now.

"So, you know some things about me but, please, tell me about yourself, Nevon" she said smiling and turning to her partner.

 

[Carmen]

In the stillness, a single, pulsating light behind the Mask of Helen ceased to function, signalling that the integral part of this heist was now in session. The thief slowly removed the Mycenaean mask from its base of wood and light adhesive polymers, and then (mimicking a proud connoisseur) placed in its stead the Italian 'La Regina dei Ghiacci' that she wore earlier tonight.

The texture of the bronze mask felt through her gloves were uniquely satisfying and she lingered shortly before slipping it into Patty's hidden linings. Securing the Velcro tightly, the leader smiled to her young accomplice.

"Back door, let's go," she whispered, taking the blonde by the wrist and, pushing a metal lever, exited the Punta Della Dogana just as indicator lights returned without a flaw. Overall, this had been very easy; barely a stunt conjured.

While Carmen knew that it was not yet over, she also knew she must have been radiating with controlled delight. It was nearly midnight and, without raising a single alarm, VILE had stolen the mask at the heart of a party teeming with law enforcement... particularly ACME's finest.

"Mr. Blake," she said with a slight air of fearlessness as she reached for Sarah's arm, "shall we return to the party?"

 

[Patty]

Patty's smile was bright when she saw Carmen glowing a little. This was the best part of any heist, better than the end, because in the end, you have to figure out if this was all worth it. For now, all you have to know is everything went right and the merchandise is in your pocket.

Seeing Carmen take Sarah's arm, Patty took William Blake's other arm and started walking back, giggling happily like all the other girls who got their fair share of excitement at this party.

Then Pats spotted Crim and Lora, time to get them out. Walking over to them and the dancing detectives, the Patty marked where Chase Devineaux and a woman in green was dancing so she could avoid them on the way back.

"Ya'll don't mind me taking these lovely ladies away?" she laid out her accent again for the two ACME agents while nodding to both Crimson and Loralye, "They have to be in Nice for another party tomorrow."

 

[Nevon]

Nevon Blair was distracted from his partner when he saw Chase take the floor with Missy. That kind of leading in a waltz looked all professional and romantic, Nevon would bet all the dollar he had with him that if he could do that, exactly that way, he'd be that much cooler.

Nev didn't see the blond harlequin southern belle girl until she was almost right in front of him. She looked different, sort of happier than she was before.

When she asked for the girls, he nodded, a little happy to be free of entertaining someone who was probably too high-maintenance for him.

Though she was kind of cute and French, which would make her one of those girls out of his league.

"Thanks Ms. Boone," he said without thinking, "Uhm, I mean, thanks for the dance, Ms. Kennedy." It was near midnight, this was Italy, and Nev was itching to go for a round of drinks with the guys after.

 

[Narrator]

((Originally written by DetectiveAwesome))

Danny was having a great time when he saw Ms. Boone come up to Nevon and Cassandra. He and Abrielle were close enough to join the conversation with a turn of their heads.

Patty said:
"Ya'll don't mind me taking these lovely ladies away?" she laid out her accent again for the two ACME agents while nodding to both Crimson and Loralye, "They have to be in Nice for another party tomorrow."

"Not all ladies." He replied. "But are you going to miss the fireworks? They should start any minute now."

Danny heard that the party planners had gone all out with the fireworks display. He was hoping to see how it compared to the 4th of July shows back in San Fransisco, or the New Years show in Sydney that Pete showed them on youtube.

 

[Narrator]

((Originally written by Crimson))

'Ms. Kennedy' was thinking about what she could be doing right now. But here she was, at a masquerade party with ACME agents. This was not her first choice on how she should spend her night... at all. On a positive note, she was really enjoying the sights and the people of Italy.

Cassandra was about to say something when 'Lacy' ran up to her and 'Abrielle'. All she heard from the first sentence was the word 'away'. There was a small part of her that was sad. She was really liking Italy. The rest of her was glad to get away and, eventually, go home.

"Oh! Je suis très désolée, Lacy! I completely forgot about the party! Au revoir, Monsieur Blair!" Cassandra said while walking away.

With her back now turned to the ACME agents, a look of confidence appeared on Crimson's face.

 

[Emma Bezzle]

Loralye was actually enjoying herself despite her present company. She had been worried at the beginning of the evening, but as the party wore on, Lora felt herself getting more comfortable.

Lora noticed the subtle change in demeanor of the party guests. A feeling of anticipation was in the air and Lora gauged that it was time to make her getaway and find Crimson. As she drew breath to utter her excuse, a voice that Lora easily recognized as 'Lacy Boone' beat her to the punch.

Patty said:
"Ya'll don't mind me taking these lovely ladies away?" she laid out her accent again for the two ACME agents while nodding to both Crimson and Loralye, "They have to be in Nice for another party tomorrow."

Well that would work. Lora turned to her partner and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry," she said, "but I really must go. Thank you for the lovely dance." She quickly pulled him in for two small air kisses.

Danny said:
"Not all ladies." He replied. "But are you going to miss the fireworks? They should start any minute now."

Lora gave him a grimace. "While it will be unfortunate, it cannot be helped."

And with that she washed her hands of the agent.

 

[Vic]

Yesterday, Vic walked the pavilion of the Punta della Dogana and the Basilica for talks with a forger named Tino Carrisi and his 'family'. So far, they have been able to pull off everything just in time, but the leader was getting restless. He was doing this without much contact from Carmen, who; for this heist, looks to be a little more than distracted. The hour was closing in, and Vic and his crew did a quick last-minute sweep.

"Paint's still wet," one of Carrisi's people reported.

"Forget it," Vic shrugged, "It's gonna have to dry on our way there. Load up, and keep that radio on."

 

[Carmen]

With the countdown approaching, Carmen placidly walked, ignoring guests and making a more conscious effort to survey her surroundings. Patty had retrieved Crimson and Loralye from the musketeers, Dragon was in position to watch for the escape vehicle, Sarah as William Blake was nearby, awaiting a slow descent into the shadows once the show of fireworks begin.

Things were running smoothly, yet an odd coldness discomforted the thief as she scanned the area. The atmosphere of the party has changed after the families with children and aging members dispersed. What remained were men, women, and young couples, a perfectly normal combination for late gatherings, why would this worry her?