Thread: Midnight Rhapsody

All right men! the woman said as she looked over her crew. Before her sat a wooden table settled in an unused cellar in the north side of town. It sat in between a nest of buildings. Arcia had chosen the place because of a few reasons. When trying to enter the cellar, there was only one entrance into the small square of space where the cellar door sat. A narrow alley that a person needed to slip into by sliding sideways down the narrow gap. There was a small clearing or plaza in between the buildings that the shoulder to shoulder structures hid completely. Inside the cellar there was one other exit that lead up into the building that the cellar door sat against. A warehouse that Arcia had purchased under a false name in order to keep the Night Watch off of her back and other crews out of her space. She and her crew had been careful about their comings and goings, taking round about routes to come and leave, and never gathering here unless it was mission critical. The Night Watch currently believed her crew was nothing more than a scattered nest of thieves that had little organization. Rumors that had taken quite a bit of coin and fancy call girls to breath life into. We have a new target tonight. Strap on your dancing shoes, because tonight we attend a ball! Grinning, she watched the various expressions of her men. They knew she rarely joked about a mission but the reactions she got only provoked humor. Uh, Night? one mouse of a kid said. He was just nearing his twenties and was one of the best pocket divers and roosters that Arcia had worked with. He was always asking questions and often brought back better intel than any of the other crew. Thats part of the reason Arcia used him for a rooster. Nuttin for nuttin, but I aint strap n tie man. he said looking slightly perplexed. Several laughed at the image of him in a suit and tie trying to dance his way through the night. Aye, yer not one for dancin. Arcia said, slipping once more into the street flash and patter. She had a habit of talking the talk when with her crew, one of which had taken the time to teach her proper English many years ago. Something that had come in handy since she was a child. She had used it many times to convince various marks that she wasnt some simple slum girl but a woman of higher class. She was intelligent and sharp as well as observant. It didnt hurt that her body was well honed from years of acrobatic entrances and fighting. She was light and nimble and rum with a blade, a pair of daggers being her weapons of choice. She was mean with a garrote as well but preferred the point of a blade to the blood spattered cord any day. Ill be the main foot in this un. she said. Her brown eyes danced across the room as she grinned in response to the images dancing in her crews head. Cat smirked at her. A woman a few years younger than Arcia, she was of a muscular build with a scar running across her right bicep and had a knack for being mean as a snake. Chu gonna play prim and sippy yer self some tea? Cat said grinning. Her tone one of mirth as she teased the woman. She knew that Arcia hated rubbing shoulders with bluebloods and would prefer to bed a man to that, an act that several of her crew had learned the hard way would never happen. She had left one former member in a gutter when hed gotten sweet on her then tried to muscle in and take over her rig. Her crew saw it coming. Arcia had made it clear that there would be nothing between them, but the man either thought she was playing hard to get or though that she would fold under his strong arm tactics. They had been smart enough to heed the womans subtle warnings. However she hadnt really chosen the man for his brains. He had them where it counted but had been densely unaware of the game he was playing. Strangely, no one seemed to miss his presence. Cat had gone so far as to curse the man for his overbearing nature and other small indiscretions. Left him bleedin in the cold, did ya? Cat had asked to which Arcia simply shrugged Seemed fitting. she had simply replied. Thisll be a fancy ball. Nice masked kind. She said looking over the crew. She forced herself out of the street patter that she had been using and looked over her crew. Its a masquerade ball. A costume ball if you will. Dont ask me why people with money think dressing up and pretending to be someone else. It must be amusing in some fashion. Arcia tapped the map of the house on the table. It was a massive many roomed building with three floors and sprawling hallways and fancy gardens. She would have loved to take a normal run at the place but there was a prize in there worth its weight in gold. Literally. Our target will be the daughter of the host. A blueblood woman named Lily Ellenford. She rolled her eyes at the various cat calls and suggestions they split the booty like always. Not this time boys. she said grinning. We need her in one well working piece. Some of you tend to get overly active when it comes to having your pleasures. We dont need her going back broken or worse, starry eyed. Ill be taking charge of this one myself and if she gets to be too much trouble, then Ill toss her to you. she said with a cold grin. She said You will easily recognize me. Ill be dressed as a rogue and thief. She said which illicited a laugh from a few and caused cat to say Yous becomin a honest to goodness Blueblood on us? Her eyes wide in feigned shock as she took a step back. Arcia couldnt help but laugh. It was well known that bluebloods and politicians were the biggest set of thieves in the world. She used to joke with Cat and her mousey lover about being small time compared to them. Standing aside, she let their gaze fall to an outfit that had gone unnoticed till now. She picked it up and let them see just what it was. One of which had the stones to say It suits ya! Several laughs had followed this to which Arcia only rolled her eyes. Heres the plan. She said and began speaking. That night she strolled right into the estate, acting like she belonged there. She grinned at the gate keepers reaction. She was dressed in old fashion clothes. Her boots knee high and black leather with a set of black pants. She had on a white flannel and a red cape held together by a gold clasp on the crest. Set into each of the ends of the clasp was a large ruby. But the most distinguishing item was a large dark and wide strapped leather eye patch over her right eye. The strap ran under her right ear and over the crown of her head. Giving the man a very friendly grin, she sauntered by and muttered Whats wrong? Have I stolen your tongue? She kept moving and mixed in with a few of the other patrons at the ball. Some dressed far more ridiculous than she. Arcia had been worried that she wouldnt fit in with the crowd and had never really crashed a masquerade before. She saw some people with neck feather plumage that made her think of the evil queen in the kids tale, Snow White. A few had chosen more modern clothing and went with simple masks or the like to go with them. Some with a tux and a red belt sash similar to the one around her waist. Tucked in the sash is a coil of thin cord and two daggers, the rapier at her hip more for show that practical use. If came down to a hairy situation, she knew that it would be useless to her. Not only did she not know how to use it, but the piece was an antique looted from the vaults of a now deceased noble several years ago. She had no idea if the thing would even hold up in a fight. She currently stood with a group of women, one who was giving her an odd glance as she sipped at a glass of wine. What are you supposed to be? she finally toned in, looking to the rogue. Who me? Im a noble Lady gone rogue. Im here to steal your heart and pick your purse clean. she said giving the woman a wink which got her a laugh. She made small talk about this and that as she waited for the main guests to arrive. After that she hears a pause in the room and turns her attentions to a double staircase that framed the room. On the top steps of the right side came her target. Let the games begin. she says winking to her previous conversational cover before moving into the crowds once more and taking a glass of wine from a server as she moves closer. Her plan already in motion, she waits for nearly an hour before approaching the woman, who was now in the forced company of several older gentlemen whom seemed to be boring the piss out of her. Walking past, she winked to her then approached. Well hello there, Milady. she said and went into a fancy bow. Trouble you for some company? she flashed a friendly grin and waited for her means of extraction. She already knew how to get the woman alone and simply had to keep the woman occupied till it bore fruit