Re: A Grand Masquerade Ball

[Abel Malach]

Was he supposed to be gambling in uniform? No, probably not. But what was the fun in following orders like a dog, right? Abel Malach stood gathered around a few individuals at the black jack table, one of which a man he was delighted to recognize even through the mask he wore. Without a mask on his own handsome face, he was in plain sight and yet the tiger next to him had no idea. The Abel worked for was very interested in a man such as Siresh Brozus. He had skills unlike any other at times. What's more, if he was around that meant an even greater prize was wandering close by. She had to be here. What a miraculous thing it was, these stupid balls. You never knew what the slime of the streets tracked into lavish events such as these.

After Brozus' last play for the night, Abel decided to close out shortly behind him and walk with him back to the ballroom he should have been keeping an attentive eye on to begin with. Once there he took a good look around to scan the crowd for Brozus' partner. Jasmine Ward couldn't hide from him forever. It was enough of an insult that she ever slipped away from him to begin with. She wasn't going to get away with it again, even if he had to break her legs as well as clip her wings this time around. His boss wanted her more than any other treasure in the rough. Even Brozus was deemed as "disposable" should he pose too much of a nuisance in order to get to her. But Abel wasn't a face of Dimitri's goons that he was aware of and he was going to use that to his fullest advantage for as long as he could. His scans were fruitful as he locked eyes with Jasmine from a ways, too far for her to be sure she had actually even seen him. He dodged her gaze by stepping behind a slightly taller and wider individual for now. Can't spook that precious doe off too early in the hunt. But Dimitri was right. They were here in this city together. What a delight that was to the mighty hunter.

Abel took another moment to scan the crowd, fixing for someone else to bother in the meanwhile. In this time he noticed a few big faces on the playing field. Travis and Elaina Valentine had finally come to the Mayor's wondrous affair. Big surprise. They were all crooks, the entire Valentine family. He didn't know who was worse though, every Valentine in the family combined or that sniveling coward this city called a mayor. Always bending to knee and taking orders like some dog to that family. It was sickening and the reason why this city was truly so lawless. Abel wasn't a cop for the sake of it being a civil duty or his job. He was suggested into this profession by his boss and chief of police was thrilled to hire a demon not associated with the Valentines. Equal opportunity and all that. The point was, he was a defender of the people only as a convenience to his actual trade. But even then, he couldn't help but get into the politics and grow more and more disgusted with them. This sanctuary to supernaturals deserved better leaders, and a real police force that protected them from men like him.

Alas, perhaps another day. The third target of Abel's keen eyes was a little more of a selfish find. Rune Tyche, the woman he favored quite a bit from the Heart's brothel down in the underground. He looked in a number of directions and then made his approach as her dance with another male came to a close. Politely as he could, he stepped in, once the server boy was done speaking with her. "Rune. What a sight for sore and tired eyes." He bowed his head to her stunning presence and took her hand to give it a proper kiss. "You and I need to set another appointment soon. I keep forgetting to stop working so hard and to start taking care of myself. But why do it myself, right? I hope you don't think less of me for enlisting your aid in those endeavors." But he was in uniform. Probably shouldn't be soliciting prostitutes either. "A woman such as you deserves a dance with a real man. Wouldn't you say, love?" A crude suggestion toward the company she kept, but one so well spoken it could escape most.

[Guest]

Rachael Rossi

Luna did a stupid. Rachael hates the world, told Joshua to get a drink and is sitting alone. She wanted to squish the ants. I am so sorry for this mistake.

[Julianna C. Montegrow]

Officer Bhatia said Julianna had a strong will and he was sure she could do anything she put her mind to. These encouraging words were not familiar to her. It felt uncomfortable but sweet. "That's very kind of you." She felt even more driven to work for the police department after this interaction. Despite how unrealistic the goal and how unlikely it was to achieve; she was even more determined. It was nice for someone to know of her race and not immediately judge her harshly for it.

On the topic of what he'd do if the police were no longer needed, he shared, Julianna assumed jokingly, that they could open a pastry shop together. Her face lit with a smile as she laughed. It certainly broke the heavy tone she had brought to the conversation; which was likely his intention. "You've got yourself a deal," she laughed. "Besides, I've always wanted to learn how to bake." At this point, Julianna had an unsettling feeling she was forgetting something. Glancing over her shoulder, she couldn't see Jasmine.

"Perhaps we'll catch up later. I just realized I've left my friend unsupervised for far too long." She laughed at her own remark. "I should probably go try to track her down in this crowd." She smiled back at him as she left. Was this what it felt like to make a friend? She wondered as she glanced around for Jasmine or Siresh. Perhaps he had arrived by now. Could this be considered a friendship? Julianna wasn't even sure. All she knew was that he seemed nice and in a void of familiar faces, talking with him was comforting.

[Patience Rose]

As Travis greeted Patience with his kind words, Patience couldn't help but turn a rosy shade of red. The two big yellow cat eyes would slow blink for them. Her big black cat ears would droop slightly toward the sides of her head, and she lowered her chin a little bit smiling sheepishly to the couple. This feeling was so strange to her, and these two were the only two who walked this planet that could do it to her. Any one else she was a wild cat; feral and aggressive. However when it was the Boss and the Lady, the feral wildcat would turn into a fluffy purring kitten. Putty in their hands. She would die for either of them, they need not even ask.

Then the Mayor would turn and greet Patience with a kiss on the hand. In an instant her ears would rise again pointing forward, her tail would slowly began to curl and sway as a silent warning. She wanted to snap at him and rip her hand away, and tell him NO ONE was as beautiful as Lady Valentine. Alas, with the Lord and Lady standing nearby, she knew she needed to be a 'good girl' in front of them. More so to this man. Allowing him to kiss her hand, and speak his kind words she would nod softly to him, putting on her best smile. "Thank you, Mayor Strider. But~ I must argue, Silver is no competition to a diamond." As the man continued on about how he was going to whisk Elaina away Patience wore a coy smile. Which silently warned him to watch what he said or did around her 'mama'. Travis and Elaina might have trusted this man, but she did not. What else would you expect from a stray cat?

Before the man could take Elaina away, the Lady would turn her attention to the cat. As patience's eyes met the woman's her expression yet again was slowly blinks, flushed cheeks, and droopy ears. "Th-Thank you." As the woman reached her hand up, and touched her ear a soft rumble would slowly vibrate through Patience's chest. Closing her eyes completely she let Elaina touch her without resistance. Slowly opening her big yellows again Elaina would quickly pull her into a hug, that caused her to go slightly breathless with a gentle 'oof.' "Of coarse I'll be there... Someone has to climb in the Christmas tree." Patience was joking, obviously. The joke being that she would do something so stereotypical of a house cat... not like she actually thought about it.

With those two now walking from her, and her Boss (She kept a sharp eye on them until they were out of sight.) she turned back to Travis letting out a soft giggle as she realized she had been been purring. Clearing her throat she would stand up straight, pulling her ears up. Her tail wouldn't move as she followed along side him. "I met an interesting gentlemen in the TCPD the other day... I like talking to him about stuff... The weather... Sports... Oh~ And the local crime scene... You know how it is, these streets are so dirty... And there are plenty of useless people that need to be put in place." Even if someone heard her speaking to Travis the way she was coding her words made it sound as if they were having a completely innocent conversation. "As of anything worth talking about right now, this party seems very relaxed... Why, is there something in particular I should be interested in here tonight?" As she spoke to him she made sure to keep her tone even, and hushed. Keeping her words neutral and non-incriminating if anyone caught them.

As they walked and talked, she would scan the crowd. Spotting a few people she recognized off hand. Her attention would focus on one in particular at first, but he would have to wait for now. She was working. As she continued to scan the crowd for a moment her keen eyes tracked slowly over the movement in the crowd, looking for anything or one of interest as her Boss spoke to her. Multi-tasking.

Rolling Twice;

<(|)>o<(|)> Proficient: Listening Cat. (Enhanced Hearing) <(|)>o<(|)>

<(|)>o<(|)> Proficient: Curious Cat. (Observation) <(|)>o<(|)>

[Game Master]

The member 'Patience Rose' has done the following action : Dices roll

---

#1 'Proficient' :


--------------------------------

#2 'Proficient' :

[Carzeah]

Well, what an interesting target to have picked. Though utterly useless in the Rossi agenda, there was some use he could at least get out of Jesus Brozus here."Just don't embarrass me." Carzeah would mutter over to Mr Edward Phillips. These kids sure loved to play pretend. However maybe it was a good tactic that this old dog should learn as a new trick though. Plenty of people were starting to ask a lot about him and he had even realized perhaps he was too open. Carzeah just didn't care though, he had nothing to fear, even if people knew things like his name and his race. It was too late for him though, he supposed. He already made his mistakes.

The two closed in the rest of the distance between themselves, the bar, and the targets for the moment. Some white haired jackass hollered and swung his dick around at his partner's attempts to bait them. It worked. He told tales of war like it was some game, or something that made him better than the individuals that approached. What the fuck ever to this loser. Carzeah's head lifted a bit and leaned in the direction of the bar. "Bartender. Do you have Ouzo? You'd really make my day." It wasn't a traditional Greek drink from his time, but when he left Rolland for the surface the last time, it was picking up quite a bit of speed as the national drink of the people of Greece. It was a strong spirit if made correctly, that much Carzeah could say of it. Sounded like the perfect batch of sunshine to get his combustion going.

A woman came to the bar now to join in on this idiot's banter. Carzeah gave her a hard glance over, narrowed eyes and all. She had a weird air to her, one he couldn't quite place himself. Shaking it off after a moment, Carzeah returned to the task at hand. "Jesus Brozus? The Jesus Brozus? Sounds like we got a real deal guy in front of us here, Ed." Carzeah said both to butter Mr Brozus up, and to shut that damn mongrel up and put him in his place. Biran Everard was a nobody. If he kept his damn gun where it belonged, Carzeah himself wouldn't be in this whole fucking mess at this party he didn't even want to be at right now, listening to his stupid mouth. "You're quite popular in the condom industry, I hear. I hear good things, friend. Just not good enough things. Still isn't a type of rubber to support my 'body type'." Now who was embarrassing who? Arden probably didn't need to hear any of this. But while he kept Jesus occupied in conversation about his business, maybe he could poke old Ironside around about his damn gun and try to understand what kind of demographic they're trying to sell the fucking useless thing to.

[TxValz]

Lieutenant Joseph Travis Valentine


"Are you sure Chief didn't need us tonight?" The ever cautious husband asked his beautiful wife that stood beside him as they entered the affair. He seemed skeptical, but that was the nature of the beast when his woman took charge. He had made choices that were ill advised on a normal day, but Chandler was nothing but trouble more times than not. "What if there isn't enough security tonight?" They already went over this though. This was their night off and they could trust the folks above and beneath them. "You know who will be here. What if something happens?" He reminded with a bit of a frightened tone. Again, they went over this though. His lips may have said no, but his feet had other plans as they walked up and into the fabulous ballroom of the Valentine Casino, an estate owned by his grandfather. It wasn't exactly common knowledge that they had any relation, but it was the police force's best kept secret. At least his niece had his sister's maiden name to hide behind. "Hun." He whispered when he continued to be heard on deaf ears even though he walked right beside her. JT scanned the crowd while waiting for the answer that would probably never come, taking in all the faces both new and old. "Well. We're here. Where too first?" He sighed exasperatedly at her and clicked his tongue to make a sound that further proved irritation, a nervous and overwhelmed habit.

[Harper Fairfax]

Harper patrolled the ballroom, keeping an eye on the guests as best as she could. For any strange activity of course. Patience was the one whom she had to speak to before anyone else. Now that she had done it, it seemed like she could actually do her job now. And her job? Just making sure no one was starting any kind of weird thing. No killing, no kidnapping, smuggling, getting people hooked on drugs, no gang activity. The last part was a bit difficult. And not because Travis Valentine was here. Okay maybe just because they were here. But she had too make sure any mafia member, be it a Valentine or Rossi, wasn't up to no good. Keeping an eye on the Valentines were going to be ten times easier than Rossis. So far, the only ones she saw were Rachael and Joshua Rossi.

Likely, their daughter Rhyan was going to show up. Her bet was going to be when Trever Valentine was going to show up. She managed to always show up just before or right after. Harper just hoped that whatever happened, nothing too crazy was going to happen with her. Willow was going to be there. Would that help? Would it really? Likely not. Very much likely adding salt to the wound. Ugh, this family drama was just really annoying. It wasn't her problem. Not tonight. She was in uniform. And that meant she just needed to make sure people weren't breaking the law. And flirting with people was not against the law. At least last time Harper checked.

Her wandering had lead her to the buffet table. Letting out a sigh, she decided that making sure no one just ate the table sounded like a good thing. Not that she expected anyone to...but you never knew with so many different supernaturals running around in a small space. Though, a smile formed on her face when she caught a glimpse of someone: Vadreaam.

She had told her to come out and see whom she could speak to. Maybe get some information that she needed. Maybe even find more friends. At the very least, there was free food. The drow girl was a rather strange one, but not as strange as some other people she had met before. And so, moving down the way, Harper picked up a few snacks before standing next to her new friend. "Glad to see you could actually make it. I wasn't sure you were going to do it. Did you just get in now? Harper popped in a few sweets that she had in her hand and offered some to Vadreaam to take or pass on.

[Valdrá Eingana]

Valdrá had just made it to the table and was frowning at a fruit tray when Harper appeared, like magic. Sure sheʼd mentally committed to striking out all on her own, but even the briefest of glances around the packed room made it clear that being alone was not typical and who was she kidding anyways? She had questions and Harper had always had some form of answer thus far. Flashing the wolf a genuine smile from behind her mask, she nodded, pushing the black strap back onto her shoulder as she did so. “Finding it was not so hard, seeing as the entire city seems to be congregated in this area at the moment.”

The perfect opportunity to cause some serious chaos, her mind decided to chime in. With so many people in one place, what a better opportunity to reek havoc? But would the target be the crowd itself, or would it be outside the event altogether, while everyone else was otherwise occupied? And more importantly, why in the stars was she considering points of attack in either case? Harper was here to keep those sorts of things from happening. But she wasnʼt outside keeping those things from happening elsewhere in the city.

“Getting inside though, was fascinating. All these people were putting coins in a flashing box and getting really excited about it, and getting intoxicated. Does that always happen or is it just tonight? Do all parties involve masks?” Valdrá paused to take a small cake and pop it into her mouth as Harper had done, though she did not stop talking. Intoxication she was familiar with at least, though masks and bright lit boxes were quite new. “I did some reading on party etiquette in a book I found on the side of the road, and it talked about being ʼfashionably lateʼ though if everyone were late would that not make everyone on time?” It was a paradox sheʼd spent far too much time considered on her walk here. Speaking through food, it took her a few seconds before she stopped chewing altogether and a looked of puzzled concerned had her frowning behind her mask.

“What exactly are we eating?” Valdrá asked, much more subdued and a bit like she wanted to spit it out right there, though was much to polite to do so. She didnʼt need a book to tell her that spitting food onto the floor was bad manners to the extreme. Forcing herself to swallow she visibly grimaced. It was not good, whatever it was.

[Orion Hale]

Orion stepped into the ballroom, arriving later than he would generally have liked, in a sharp black tuxedo, his usually gently tousled blond locks carefully arranged out of his face, tail brushed to a shine. He wore a simple black and gold mask across his eyes and had a small gun tucked carefully away. Just in case.

If the boss catches wind of his tardiness (of course he will), Orion would never hear the end of it. But he had an excuse; he just arrived back in town off a mission this afternoon. Sure, he may have stopped at a girl's place for a few hours before heading back to his own apartment, but the boss would understand. At least, thats what he kept repeating to himself as he adjusted his crimson tie, sighing lightly.

Letting himself take a moment to glance around for any familiar faces, praying Travis wasnt among them yet, he'll nod to himself and stride over to the bar. "One dirty martini, please." He'll slide over a few dollars for a tip and lean back against the bar while he waits for his drink, taking in the overall scene.

[Sponsored content]