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Post by Alexandra on May 17, 2013 0:00:31 GMT -5
As they rounded a corner they came to a halt and Alexandra looked up to see their positioning. They were settled as she counted, 20 carriages back so it would be several minutes before they got to get out and join the party goers. Already one could see that the gathering of people was huge to say the least.
“I do think everyone who is anyone and everyone else is here tonight.” She told him and her smile widened at the thought.
Where he would be thinking of the profit gained, she was thinking the opportunity of gaining more invites to house parties and hear of new gifts having been bestowed on the families and their worth. Of course there wasn't a Noble or otherwise rich woman alive that didn't try to out do another with the price tag on something their husband had purchased for them. Or for that matter how the bankers would go on about their shipments and otherwise boring talk to most ears, to her, their conversations were quite interesting. No, these parties were always her way of an easy information gathering task. Oh and the fact that she had a blast doing it had everything to do with her growing grin.
The theatre was lit up to its fullest, the fountain out front was glistening as if there were a thousand tiny lightning bugs flitting about in the water. She suspected mage light had a great part in most the lighting.
“Well actually these people are more cunning than you might think, well... for the most part in any case.” She then told him, her mind now moving back to his sarcastic comment. She wasn't wrong either. Some of them were so much so it made them dangerous but that was just all the more challenge to Alexandra and she had always welcomed it.
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Post by Drake on May 17, 2013 0:54:15 GMT -5
“More cunning than I think doesn't give them that much credit, really.” Drake looked at Alexandra through his sparkling purple mask. “And we'll have to see about the ones who are not as cunning as I think, because they could be good for some entertainment.” He wasn't sure about her context of 'most' but she knew that world better than he, so he would have to wait and see.
The master thief loved information more than most, and would get as much as he could that night but wouldn't go to lengths to get it. He felt he'd been handed a chance that night, and would consider any that came his way. Mostly, that night was a new experience. One where he could potentially have every manner of fun.
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Post by Alexandra on May 17, 2013 1:07:40 GMT -5
Alexandra didn't miss a beat on that comment and smiled warmly in his direction. “Oh indeed I think you will find some entertainment in quite a few tonight.” She winked at him from beneath her mask. “Cunning or otherwise.” She added as an afterthought.
They had moved forward quicker than she'd thought and soon enough they made their way to the front of the line and she could see the full extent of the gala now and her small smile that she'd offered him was nothing compared to the smile that absolutely shined from her lips now. Her eyes even sparkled brightly or maybe it was all those lights hitting them at once.
The carriage slowed and came to a stop and the driver hopped from his seat and reached up and opened the door to the carriage then extended the steps so they'd lead fully to the ground. He then stepped aside so that Drake could step out and on to the path leading to the open doorway to the theatre.
“Well, ready or not, here we go.” She absolutely beamed at Drake and waited for him to move out so that she might get to her entertainment, or at least get to the entertainment at hand.
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Post by Drake on May 17, 2013 1:20:08 GMT -5
Drake couldn't help but notice the excitement Alexandra showed as they approached the theatre, and he couldn't help but admire someone for truly loving what they did and who they were as much as she did. The girl was a true testament to her family, and to him, would live to be the better of them – of a great family.
He rose from his seat and stepped down the stairs before turning and stepping beside them. Drake held his hand out towards the door to the carriage for Alexandra to take on her way down. Despite his own heritage, the man knew his part. Besides that, playing the part would also give him another glance at the pleasant scene he'd been shown before. “Your hand, my lady?”
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Post by Alexandra on May 17, 2013 9:14:03 GMT -5
Alexandra leaned forward and took his offered hand, she paused for a moment either to offer the flirtatious view he so longed for or for effect and then stepped down and out of the carriage. It took her no time and soon they were off to and through the entrance and into the party at hand; leaving the carriage behind.
As predicted, the moment they stepped through the doors they were greeted with a mob of women all dressed to impress and leaning in for hugs and likewise a kiss on either cheek of both in the party. In a matter of a few more seconds and suddenly Alexandra was no longer on his arm but instead being whisked away to go and greet even more party goers leaving Drake alone at the entrance. It wasn't but another few moments when a large figure of a man, older than Drake his hair viable greying at the sides, came over and started up a conversation.
“Well aren't you the lucky man tonight.” The man pronounced as he moved over to stand at Drakes side. His voice was a deep baritone to match his size while at the same time kind and gentle. “No worries though, she'll be back at your side in time. Meanwhile, why don't you come and hang out with the rest of us men who have lost our ladies and have a drink.” The older man offered with a genuine smile as he produced a small container of scotch whiskey and handed it to him.
Alexandra turned around as she was being whisked forward and was able to throw Drake an apologetic smile from afar before she disappeared into the fray.
The entire place was absolutely crawling with 'money'. The tables that lined the walls were laden with so much food it seemed they could collapse at any moment. There were servants moving about with trays of drinks and snacks; each one dressed in a tux or maids outfit with a black and white mask covering their faces. There was a band setting up still off in the back on the stage.
Though he may not have noticed as of yet but the man who greeted him now was the Mayor of the city and he was beginning to move towards a group of older gentlemen with his own drink in hand and he motioned Drake to keep following him.
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Post by Drake on May 17, 2013 17:43:48 GMT -5
Drake had grinned and winked at Alexandra as she leaned over and stepped out of the carriage. Their little game, which he knew of course she was playing as much as he was, didn't mean they couldn't acknowledge they were playing it.
Inside the theatre, Drake seamlessly returned the frivolous greetings without the light lace of sarcasm he had when he had given them to Alexandra. She knew who he was and they were just going through the motions, but now among the others, the show was on and he was playing his part. He didn't even cause incident in the entrance, choosing to keep to reading each woman and stepping away without a scene. Entertainment would come later, without such evident precedent.
He raised a knowing brow at Alexandra as she was pulled away and shot him her feigned apology. He could tell she wasn't surprised in the least, but it was no concern to him. He was sure he would be quite alright among all the 'money' at hand. “Yes.” he responded quickly to the older man who he'd watched approach in the corner of his eye. “Fortune does grace me with great favour this day.” He turned to look at the man directly, and greeted him with a smile while accepting the flask. “And should lady luck find fault in my company and chose to leave me, I trust my own chance without it.” He raised the flask and sipped as he followed the man, showing some grace and no concern. He may have sounded arrogant given the calibre Alexandra clearly was, but Frances Drake had never been known for humility and found he'd rarely had cause to eat his words. In this case for example, Ms. Malice was not lost to him as he followed her every move in the wide eye of his peripheral perception.
Drake followed the man fully to the group of lady-less men and made his entrance between them with his sparkling purple mask, and raised his flask to them all. “Fine night, fellows.” He greeted, “So what's the talk?” joining the conversation would give the master thief a pulse on the party, and the thoughts of men in their position. He knew the posture to play, but without knowing where their minds were at, Drake could stand to find himself at a loss soon enough.
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Post by Alexandra on May 17, 2013 18:21:57 GMT -5
Alexandra made her way around the room kissing cheeks, admiring new jewelry, avoiding straying hands with great grace and an occasional scolding countenance to which she always reward a sullen look with a playful pat on the cheek and of course hugs. She had plucked a tall glass of champagne off a passing tray at some point and had already gotten through a piece of chocolate she'd also caught as it passed by. In all she was laughing and making her connections with all the grace and flirtation she was a master of.
Finally she was headed back to Drake who she spotted standing with the real 'Powers that be' in the room and grinned wondering if he knew at all the luck he'd been granted at his current position. She walked with her arm wrapped causally about another woman's, laughing and talking about something as they headed now straight towards the men.
The woman she'd been connected to now withdrew and moved to the Mayors side as Alexandra did with Drake.
“I hope we didn't take too long.” She looked at him and smiled as always. In all she'd been gone nearly a half an hour though to her it seemed like a few moments in time. Everything happened so intensely at these things that time really didn’t have a meaning.
Just in that half hour however, she’d gained some informative information on items that the thief may be interested in at another time. It was always so amazing at how these people trusted so much in themselves; their kind. No one hid anything because everyone was too busy trying to impress someone else. The tough ones were the Thorton, Faldor and to a certain extent, the Ammodytes. The Ammodytes though wasn't that he was so much unopened but rather he was a snake.
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Post by Drake on May 17, 2013 18:56:58 GMT -5
In the time it took Alexandra to make her rounds, Drake had managed a good deal of conversation. He had loosened the men's tongues with jokes and whit. They had all shared tales on women and children, and talked of business and politics. They had most recently been discussing the stress of financial balance when the women approached. There was of course, a lot involved in each of their businesses. Wealth would never last the generations if it didn't continue to grow, so there were all manner of strings they each pulled to benefit their prosperity.
“Oh no,” Drake began with a smile in response to the group with a pleasant air about him. “I assure you all in all honesty, my means truly know no end.” He cast a smiling glance back at Alexandra and her companion as they stepped next to the men and he took her arm gladly before returning his eyes to the men in the circle. “And I assure you all, I don't envy a single other man.” He concluded proudly, insinuating the beauty on his arm, and knowing also of course, that he could have anything any of them had if he only wished it.
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Post by Alexandra on May 17, 2013 19:27:07 GMT -5
Alexandra didn't miss the double edge from his comment though she just smiled and leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You are far to good to me.” She told him and took a drink from her tall glass.
The conversations would go on for while now, and while they lasted Alexandra would listen and watch. She'd catch a secret from the crowd behind them or in the very crowd they stood in now. Even in the midst of the older company Alxandra could finagle just about anything in time. Every time she'd gain knowledge of sorts without them even realizing they were giving it and that was the talent she loved to press down on them, well on most people for that part.
The band started playing after an hour or so and couples started heading to the floor now. This was always another great opportunity to gain small whispers between husband and wife or between lovers. Sometimes she'd hear things she had absolutely no use for and thought perhaps she'd been better off not knowing.
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Post by Drake on May 17, 2013 19:53:29 GMT -5
As the conversations continued, so progressed Drake's camaraderie with the other men and feigned flirtation with their ladies. While catching details from each conversation he had, the master thief took tokens from many of them as he patted their backs, brushed up beside them, and hugged their wives. From some he took their keys after learning where about they lived, from others, a locket or recognizable token of mostly personal value that would later earn him or a lesser thief gratitude for returning it. From some he took a small token of value, and other yet it was a hidden feel of their wives, who he charmed into returning a flirting giggle to his wink so he'd have some amusing drama to watch.
As soon as the music started and couples started for the floor, Drake looked to Alexandra and offered her a hand in invitation. She was a proper lady in her own right, and he'd suspect she'd like a proper dance. This was a part of her world and who was he to keep her from it?
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Post by Alexandra on May 18, 2013 15:37:03 GMT -5
Alexandra was listening to a story about some boring ventures the bankers of the group had been talking about when the music had begun and when Drake offered a dance she brightly smiled, set her new glass down on the table behind them and took up his hand most happily. She gave those around them a tilt of her head as if to excuse herself and moved away with him to the dance floor.
She of course had no clue what kind of dancer Frances Drake would be but she was positive he could hold his own on a dance floor at the least. She, being a trained dancer, could make any partner seem graceful no matter their abilities but with him, she was certain she wouldn't have to carry them through a dance. At least that was what she figured would be the case. She came to the conclusion long before he'd ever even stepped onto the carriage that night. He was a Master Thief and so had to be graceful in his own right. He was an artist that few matched in his abilities and so, it was only fair to assume this. Thus far, he'd proven to be graceful enough in his eloquence at handling the local Nobility and their friends, in more than just speech she was sure of it. She was also quite certain he'd already procured a few trinkets or otherwise purses at the very least and thus, she was certain he'd delight her in this dance, or dances. She just hoped they wouldn't get interrupted too many times. Especially because now, she had spotted a trinket that she wished to possess by the end of the evening and though she may have to allow herself to be without him for a dance it would be most worth it.
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Post by Drake on May 20, 2013 20:42:51 GMT -5
As soon as the two were well into the dancing floor, Drake fell right in step with the dance, having determined the pattern on it on their way over and keeping everyone else's steps in the corner of his eyes. He'd never been a formal person, so wasn't familiar with the steps per say, but it would be difficult at best to notice he was learning as he went. His profession had made precise footing and fluent motion something of a speciality, and by habit his steps made little to no noise against the marble floors.
His right hand was holding her left, as seemed the custom and his left was on her left side. Rather than rest it where other men seemed to though, he placed his a couple inches lower and farther back so he caught the nape of protrusion under his fingers, and the bone of her hip under his thumb as he gently squeezed and held her closer than other men held their women. He was playing at more than one game there, and posturing was key to all of them.
His eyes mostly stayed on hers as they danced, and more and more as he learned the steps. “Is tonight all you'd hoped it would be?” He had leaned forward and spoke softly very near her left ear, then turned his head a little and stole a soft kiss on the side of her neck, just below the ear.
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Post by Alexandra on May 22, 2013 0:31:52 GMT -5
Alexandra was pleased. Drake was everything she'd hoped he'd be out here on the floor. Though he seemed a bit off at first he gracefully recovered and began to get the hang of things quite quickly and she smiled at him the entire time.
For her, she simply followed his every move without hesitation or even the slightest misstep almost as though she wasn't even moving over a floor but air itself. The fact that he had taken her so closely removed all thought of them being interrupted by most any man. The positioning of his hand was quite the bold move on his part and to that she slid her right hand upwards along his arm until her fingers were resting on his shoulder instead of his forearm as was the customary position.
“Almost.” She replied right after he placed the kiss on her neck. That little kiss made her smile even more as they moved across the floor. After a few moments she leaned forward and placed her lips very close to his ear and whispered. “I like her necklace.” She stated and as she withdrew she turned her head slightly more towards him and breathed out onto his neck and then moved her head up and kissed his jaw, allowing her lips to linger slightly longer as she turned her head away from him again to peer over at the couple to their right for no more than a second before returning her gaze to him.
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Post by Drake on May 22, 2013 2:02:23 GMT -5
Obviously, Alexandra was playing all the same games he was, and the fact that she also continued to return his serves in the one of desire made for great fun. The shoulder wasn't so sexual as his hand, but it clearly was a suggestive hold for a woman to take in the surrounding company, and her kiss would boarder on scandalous. This was great fun for him, and would also help his posture with other men, and women alike at the party.
He waited until they had turned so he faced the other couple to catch a better look at the necklace he'd followed Alexandra's gaze to in the corner of his eye. The piece was unique, probably more than six generations old he figured, and not made in the kingdom of Karador. The lady was good looking as well, and probably in her middle thirties. Her partner was an older man probably in his later fifties, and surely well fed. Drake held Alexandra closer even than before so the two could hardly face each other. He continued to watch the woman dancing next to them and soon caught her eye as they all continued to dance.
Drake bit his lip softly once as he watched her and she glanced over at him. He kept his squeeze on Alexandra and avoided the other man's attention while keeping the woman's. While avoiding the man's attention himself, Drake was sure to place Alexandra well within his sights just as they made any dips, teasing the man with her beauty. Before the end of the dance Drake had managed to make the woman blush at their silent flirtations. Between songs, he took the couple steps over to them, bowed slightly to the other man, and asked the honour of the next dance. Of course, he accepted and presumed to ask Alexandra for her next dance in return.
In the next dance, Drake continued slight innuendos towards his borrowed partner and earned hushed giggles and continued blushing from her that Drake made sure to cover with appropriate angles from her husband. He took advantage of every moment the other man had his back turned or was otherwise distracted to carry on flirting with the man's wife. A couple minutes in, Drake had gently ran his fingers up the woman's side, had glaringly gazed at her chest, and had caught her breath with his against her neck. She had become excited by him and was not very focused. Before the end, he placed his forehead against hers as he kept her gaze in his eyes, and slid his right hand up to her cheek, catching the necklace in his sleeve. With his other hand high on the woman's side, he moved it softly over her shoulder as he teased a kiss by floating his lips very close to hers, and she closed her eyes. Drake delicately undid the chain at the back of her neck in an instant, and the necklace dropped silently into the right sleeve of his coat before the dance was over and he pulled away from the woman, smiling softly at her as she slowly opened her eyes, looking like she felt cheated before she shook herself out of the daze when she saw her husband and blushed.
Drake turned around and shuffled his right arm with his other hand to make sure the necklace was lodged under the hidden inner cuff of his sleeve before returning to Alexandra for the next dance. He could still feel the other woman's eyes on him, and could tell her husband felt jealous of the attention he had earned. Their private problems Drake had caused would shake their attention from the missing jewelry for long enough to lose track of it all together.
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Post by Alexandra on May 22, 2013 15:02:27 GMT -5
Any dip Drake made in favor of the other man, Alexandra made certain to arch her back just that little bit further so that her breasts would raise a slight bit more and tease just that tiny bit more. She also made sure that each time she was presented upside down in a dip that her lips would part slightly and made very flirtatious eye contact. The effect was worth every moment of it.
Drake never needed to worry about the man's attentions being put on the two of them at all. Alexandra was doing her part well, allowing the man to place his hands on her hips; though certainly still not as low as she had allowed Drake to stray. The way Alexandra could move was enough to keep the man distracted. She need do so little sometimes and it was enough to keep a mans attention.
She was actually quite happy when the dance was over as the man wasn't near the dancing companion as Drake was. She made certain to grace the man with a sweet kiss in front of his wife; just for good measure.
Then and before the next dance started up she was able to pluck a couple tall glasses of champagne off a passing tray. She handed Drake one as he came to collect her and take her out to the dance floor.
“Cheers..” She stated with a smile just before she took a small sip from her glass. “Having a good time?” She then asked as she moved closer to him and then placed a kiss on the side of his lips.
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