4993/Masks Are Used To Hide Your True Self In A Literal And Metaphorical Sense

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Masks Are Used To Hide Your True Self In A Literal And Metaphorical Sense
Date of Scene: 06 January 2017
Location: Core Tellus <CT>
Synopsis: The Starlight Bandits make a public threat to steal a key of great value from a ball filled with guards and foreign military. Some come to prevent this, some come to watch, and some come for the free food.
Cast of Characters: Starlight Bandits, August Kohler, Kotone Yamakawa, William Pauwel, 942


Starlight Bandits has posed:
    The modestly-sized settlement of Hatchet's Grave is all abuzz tonight. The last of the founding bloodline, Xavier Pilswick is throwing a grand masquerade ball to celebrate the town's founding. At least, that's what he claims, in spite of never having done it before. By looking at the guest list, the politically-minded can easily see the true nature for this party; a chance to rub elbows with the many high-ranking members of the Iskandrian military that are on it.

    Iskandria has been sweeping through the Expanse of late, and Hatchet's Grave is a prime trading post. But only a fool would think that the well-to-do town is built only on legitimate trading. All manner of hot goods pass through, and Xavier has his finger in every pie. This whole invasion is just another one fresh out of the oven.

    The ball is at the Pilswick family manor, and handsome building of gray stone on the town outskirts. A neatly maintained rose garden adorns the front lawn, with the smooth dirt road packed with vehicles of the dignitaries. Grizzled members of Xavier's private security share cigarettes and war stories with some Iskandria soldiers who won a lottery to be on the guard assigned to the visiting officers.

    All entrances save the double doors into the ballroom are locked and guarded. Due to the very public threats by the Starlight Bandits, everyone has to compare themselves to a measuring rod with their estimated heights indicated on them. Anyone who matches is asked to step aside and show their face under their masks.

    The ballroom is alive with glitzy glamour, softly lit under chandeliers and packed with people in extravagent gowns and suits, each one wearing some manner of mask. Some are large and packed with detail; others are simple as domino masks. A live band plays a waltz for those on the dance floor, and tables out on the terrace groan under fancy hors d'oeuvre.

    Through another set of doors on the far end of the ballroom is a fine parlour, which has Xavier's finest things on displays. Paintings from modern artists and those rescued from ancient vaults and bunkers. The centrepiece is a clear cube which protects an odd, pentagonal key resting on a red pillow. The stand it surrounded by velvet rope and guards all stand nearby, weapons very obvious.

    Any attempted skulduggery here tonight will be centred around this key, infamous for having never been stolen in spite of many efforts to do so. A mysterious key, one that opens something unknown. With the odd shape, there's little doubt it's something grand and unique..

August Kohler has posed:
EARLIER
Someone raided the Drachenblatt Academy Drama Club and stole two masks. They have not been identified, but the masks were used as makeup-test masks for the winter play. Who could those monsters be?

NOW
A redheaded boy, standing 5'9 and wearing a terrifying mask depicting an insane, almost bestial man, heads towards the party. August is dressing rather nice today, seeing as it's a masquerade ball, and is wearing a fine hat and coat. He could almost be a Victorian noble, if he wasn't wearing that terrible mask and also the fact that nobody in Tellus knows what a Victorian is.

August may or may not trigger the entrance guards to check his mask, seeing as he's basically the same height as Irvine. Whether they do or not, he calmly removes his mask and lets them check, because he's definitely not Irvine. Instead, he just continues and asides to his travelling partner. "So, do you think they're actually here? Which ones do you think are them?"

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa had contacted the order of the key, the radio channel it came out on was public, sure. She also got her self one of those half masks that would work for the party tonight and even a costume. It was a simole fancey china dress of a sort and she was fine with it. She was keeping to the theme of the party She was ready to deal with thing the Bandits would make a show of it, she knew they would and she'd have to be ready to at least foil the slipery wasteland thieves. At least they had a sense of showmanship she had to admit but she could also play up on tht to hopefully put an end to their Skulduggery here tonight and if she's lucky she might even bust them but she's not setting her heart on that with how slipery the Bandits are known to be.

Still Kotone is about five foot five in the outfit she is and her mask? Which is a smiling mask of Janus for those that know earth culture. It should be a very alien thing here given Tellus an alien world. Though why it shares a name with an infamous telecom company on her world? She'll never know.

William Pauwel has posed:
One of these things is not like the others.

One of these things just does not belong.

    One of these things is dressed like something straight out of Victorian London, wearing a stately black overcoat that billows majestically in the wind, a grey waistcoat embroidered and buttoned with gold. There's a black cravat with a red gemstone clasp, a silver pocketwatch dangling from a chain, a stovetop hat and a porcelein, domino mask. Everything looks fine on the surface; everything looks good and nice and dandy.

What nobody knows...

Is that it's all a facade.

    Behind the mask is a young man who is almost certainly short enough to not attract any suspicion of being a bandit in disguise. "They're probably hiding in plain sight," he says to his BUDDY IN THE SCARY MASK, "We won't know who's who until whatever's going to happen will happen. But when it does, hooboy, you'll know."

Will's betting 'they're the musicians.'

But he's not going to be saying that out loud. It'd spoil the game!

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
A masquerade ball isn't quite the opportunity Kazuko was waiting for to unveil her new secret identity, but it's certainly a safer way of doing it than initially planned. Sure, there's military bigwigs about and all manner of security doing height checks on people that definitely isn't hitting a sore spot for the martial artist, but at least she's probably not going to get shot at while wearing her mask! Or checked, even, considering she's 5'3" at her highest and probably a little too hyperactive to even attempt to be someone trying to not be someone else.

     Probably. Who would shoot a robotic cat? Bad people, that's who. Also, Kazuko's mask looks like some kind of odd robotic mascot's face with cat ears attached to it. It's hard to tell just how she can see through its tiny eye slits, but see through them she can! The brunette is still rather recognizable to anyone that might already know her what with her distinctive tree-decoration-like hair ornament and general build, but at least she's clad in a more fanciful orange cape in addition to her usual yellow track jacket and shorts combo.

     Yes, cape /and/ shorts. It's fine. As long as she gets to sample some high-class snacks, it's fine!

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    The newest arrivals draw some looks, both for looking rather young and very out-of-place. But among this lot, it might make them some exotic attractions! Visitors from the Multiverse, how droll.

    August is indeed waved inside after having his face checked. The display draws a coquettish giggle from a crowd of three woman. One of them in a bug-themed mask and ornate golden ballgown wiggles her fingers in greeting before melting into the crowd. Gosh, what does he have against Tellus, the people are easily nicer than those in Alberichstadt!

    As Will joins August, they are approached by Xavier himself! He's pretty tall and gangly, wearing fine robes and a mask with plenty of live flowers woven into it. "Welcome gentlemen," he says, as slick as butter on a hot pan. He takes their hands in his own and pumps them. "Hope you enjoy my little shindig! If it's a bit too dull for your otherworldly tastes, you're welcome to join me for brandy in a bit." Wow, already rubbing elbows and they just had to show up!

    Kazuko gets some more disdainful looks from people, as her outfit is much less charming. That, and the fact she makes a beeline for the food. But hey, she has the right idea as some, they just try to be less subtle about it. Conversation around the food is light and pleasant, with waiters pouring wine on request. One of them offers Kazuko a plate of fancy... shrimp? They're weirdly silver in color, almost like they're undercooked, but everyone else is chomping at them. But before the girl can have any, a fellow claims the whole tray for himself and winks at her under his bear mask.

    Kotone, upon arrival, is given a quick escort around to meet those of Iskandrian military! Just so that if they pull guns, she knows they're not here to steal anything. A few higher-ranking officers just give her a half-hearted wave and go back to what they were doing, but one gives her the time of day. "Colonel Jacket," he says, shaking the cyborg's hand. He's wearing the dress uniform of the military, and is also wearing a half mask of a grotesque visage. "Thank you for coming, I would hate for proceedings to be disrupted. The key is in the parlour, I would like you to centre your patrols around i-"

    But then, proceedings are disrupted.

    A group of thuggish men barge into the ballroom, shoving over guards and cackling gleefully while shooting into the air. "Run and hide you pigs! It is I, Gaolnest Gerry, and I'm here to take yo-" He is cut off by a mighty blow from one of those ruder officers, the attending military and security jumping the crew and wrestling them to the ground before binding their arms. Good plan Gerry.

    Jacket sighs and walks over. "Hand them to me, I'll deal with them." If no one objects, he starts shoving the men out.

August Kohler has posed:
Drachenblatt parties are never this good, everyone's an asshole and hogs the food. August could enjoy this, especially with the idea of seeing a live heist. Apparently the Bandits are good at their job, so it should be fun to watch. He waves a hand towards the three women, grinning under the mask as he strides in, for once confident in himself. The mask probably helps.

"Mr. Pilswick, yes? It's a pleasure, this is a very nice thing you have going on here. That doesn't sound like a bad offer, though." No one here knows who August Kohler is. For once, he can actually play someone who he isn't. He then parts away from Will, moving to find cake, chocolates, and other sweets and sample them, because August knows what he likes. Regrouping with Will wouldn't be hard, he looks gaudy as hell. And on the other hand, the Mr. Hyde mask August is wearing stands out, so Will could find him as well.

But then, it begins. August continues towards the cake and sweets while it happens, only flinching slightly at the gunfire. He glances at the thugs for a moment, before they're swarmed and binded. And as soon as they're neutralized, he glances towards the parlour. Once he has his cake, he's going to start that way. This should be interesting.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa understands it's good to get to know who the security are so she doesn't miss id them as them houdl things get a bit on the crazy side. She also hopes maybe she might be able to enjoy the party just a /little/ before something hapopens. Though that's almost certainly a pipe dream for her but she's going to do what she can shw shkes the colonel's hand.

"Kotone Yamakawa good to meet you sir. I'll be glad to help withit and I would be happy to..."

She trails off as things hit the fan she loosk to Jacket nods once and seems to get ready to move in as a group of thugs bust in she sees him take one down.

"I'll get to patroling Jacket and ... lets see if we can keep this from being too crazy?"

Thus Kotone heads out to help where she can on this insanity and is trying to look out for new possible thieves

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
Kazuko is a very charming lady, thank you very much! Thankfully, having the mask on does keep her from being too embarassed at those looks she's getting, and it's certainly helping to deflect any suspicion on her part. It's not like she's here to steal anything, but at least being around to see the figurative fireworks shouldbe interesting. Having good snacks to go with it makes things all the better, but alas...

     A bear-faced scoundrel has made off with the tray of fancy silver shrimp just before Kazuko can take a piece for herself! She huffs visibly at the indignity, but it's... Actually not all that visible considering how physically unimpressive she is. It's time to turn up the stealth and start tailing the bear mask from a distance, nabbing snacks on the way while trying not to make it too obvious that she's trying to catch him and the tray of silver shrimp during a moment of weakness.

     That doesn't last long, though, when the group of roaring gunmen come in and are summarily brought down. It's both impressive and a little underwhelming, but at least Kazuko can keep her mask on instead of showing off. Maybe it'll even give her a chance to tail bear mask a bit more! She does take a moment to watch SCARY MASK and DOMINO MASK for a short while, but...

     ROBOCAT MASK might make it difficult to actually notice she's looking at them specifically! Are they allies, enemies, or just locals? Judging from the clothes... Some of them might be friends, at least. For now, though, she's got her priorities focused elsewhere.

William Pauwel has posed:
    Well technically Will isn't at all from the Multiverse. In fact, if anyone knew who he really was here, he'd probably be in a lot of trouble! Fortunately he hasn't actually appeared on any wanted posters yet, and for all these people know, Will's just some mysteriously dapper traveller from another world! Apparently this is enough to bring them to the attention of a certain fabulously wealthy heir!

Wait, shit, if Will opens his mouth, he might make himself sound like some kind of COUNTRY BUMKIN.

Well.

Plan A won't work. Let's go with PLAN B: TALK LIKE A GERMAN.

    "It is an honor, Mr. Bilsvick. Mr. Hyde and I vere chust talking about the magnificent treazures zaid to be found in zis land." And then August decides to do exactly what August does: fill a plate full of sweets. He comes back soon enough, though. Which is good, because two guys with similar accents mean that it's harder to tell which one's fake.

    "Perhaps you vould like to tell us of your colleczion vile ve drink?" Will suggests, only glancing over towards the door when a bunch of hoodlums with guns start making like Yosemite Sam. "Hmph," Will twitches his nose, "How rude. Your security is imbreziffe as vell, it zeems."

There's a sense of energy in the air. Something's going to happen soon.

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    Xavier is pleased to hear that the 'Germans' are so friendly! "Of course, of course! Just come find me when you're ready. Some of the people here are just coming to eat my food, but you two... I can tell you're special." As the attack happens, he seems a little frightened. But once it's resolved, he calms down. "Mm, yes. I have some real treasures in there," he says to Will. "Only the best for someone who owns the best!" He laughs heartily.

    Meanwhile, Kotone begins her patrols in the parlor while August enters. It's not quite as packed as the ballroom, but some people are floating around admiring the things on the display. Several are looking at the key, receiving subtle dirty looks from the guards. As August checks things out, an elderly stooped gentleman walks past, leaning on a cane which slips from under him! He staggers, and has to grab on to the boy to stay upright. "Ah... I'm sorry young man. Legs aren't what they used to be. Hahah..." He reclaims his footing and apologizes again. Meanwhile, as Kotone patrols, her fine cyborg senses pick up sounds in the distance, from where Colonel Jacket took the attackers. Gunshots. Evenly spread out. One. Two. Three. Four...

    Kazuko stalks through the party, in pursuit of Bear Mask! Infuriatingly, every time she gets close, he moves the platter just-so to keep it out of reach. Almost like he can tell where she is... but his back is always to her. But then, he is approached by another woman and looks to Kazuko. With a grin, he hands her the platter with several shrimpthings remaining before going onto the dance floor.

    But at that moment, Gaolnest Gerry bursts through a window, looking frantic. "No! Not dying like this!" He charges for the parlour, dodging security as Xavier shouts "STOP HIM!" He's rushing for the key!

August Kohler has posed:
When August checks back in with cake, he just stares at Will when he speaks in that ridiculous accent. His mask makes it impossible to tell what he's thinking, but what he's thinking is 'this is ridiculous'. "Right. Dr. Jekyll and I should be seeing you again soon, then. I still want to get my legs wet a bit, first." With cake in hand, he parts for the parlour.

When he arrives, the German is suddenly grabbed by an elderly man who needs help. August shifts to allow him to reclaim his footing, appraising the man. That was odd timing. "It's fine, sir. Isn't this gallery just wonderful? Truly the finest treasures in all the land. Especially that /key/ over there." The man's masked, but August is trying to pick up on body language and his voice to see if anything seems off.

But August doesn't get to talk much to the man, because the thug leader returns, charging for the parlour. August takes a minute to think, and frowns at his cake. He frowns very, very heavily. And then, as soon as Gerry gets closer, he throws the cake forward into his path, hoping to trip him over it. "Take this!"

William Pauwel has posed:
    Haha! The disguise worked! None shall ever again doubt that William Pauwel is in fact some form of German. Not that /August/ would ever agree. But then, he's not just a German, he's a Snooty German who goes to a Snooty German School. "Auf course. You know, I fancy myzelf ein connoizeur of treazures myself, mostly in the acquizision--"

    Oh, but then there is SOMETHING WRONG. Not just the elderly fellow who almost trips over August, but... Well. The fact that there is a /crazy man/ jumping through the window and running headfirst at the REAL prize of the evening.

    "Fery guick zinking, Mr. Hyde," Will sniffs. "Allow me to azist you--" He plucks his hat off his head and turns it over, then fishes out what appears to be a /grappling hook./ "Hup-hup--" Will whirls it over head once or twice, then FLINGS it across the running man's path. It hooks around a couch and pulls taut!

"Like I vas zaying," he says to his host with a grin, "I specialise in the acquizizion and study of treazures."

CAKE AND ROPE. WILL IT BE ENOUGH!?

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is strutting her stuff in the parlot as she patrols, it seems the horde of thugs trying steal the key she's going to be busy one way or another she will take note of someone she thinks might be August but she isnt sure. August might spot the jacks in the back of her neck which would give her away to him in all likely hood. She pause at the eldery man for a moment and move to help as he moves to to help until she here the sound of fire? Is he under attack? Are things getting worse? Yes they are and she's going to make a For the thug leader make his rush, kotone's body suddenly surges with elecical arcs as she brings her eelware system online and tries to taser tackle Gerry in all this madness.

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
Almost... Almost! Nope. Gritting her teeth in frustration, Kazuko's tailing of BEAR MASK is getting a little sloppier as she goes, and it's little surprise that he keeps getting one over on her! Or would that be four or five by the time he just gives her the thing outright?

     Somehow, that just gets her even more rattled. She was supposed to catch him off-guard properly, not be shown charity! Alas, Bear Mask /is/ going off to the dance floor with someone better-looking than her, and Kazuko can't quite compete in either fancy dress nor elaborate dance! Defeated, she just settles back to watch and munch on shrimpthings...

     ... When another disturbance catches her attention! Isn't that the same person that barged in earlier? He's certainly a persistent one, but at least Gaolnest Gerry has something of an admirable spirit. A shame, then, that he's fated to be brought down before he can get too far in snatching that key! Following August's cue with the cake and William's cue with a... Is that a grappling hook?!

     Kazuko needs to get herself one of those some day. Later, though. For now, she empties the shrimpthing platter into a nearby platter of something that probably shouldn't be mixed with shrimpthings (possibly another cake), then winds up and flings the tray at Gerry like a fancy discus! She just has to hope it doesn't hit Kotone in the process.

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    Gerry rushes for the case, he's nearly there! People are screaming, guards are raising their weapons... and then he steps on cake and gets hooked by a grappling hook! Immediately, he staggers and falls to his back, for Kotone to fall upon him and tase to unconsciousness. And then they get splattered with cake thanks to Kazuko

    At this point, Colonel Jacket returns. He seems composed, but his mask has a crack in it. Those with observant eyes might notice some blood mixed with the mud on his boots. "Ah... well done," he says to Kotone, striding up to the inept burglar. His visible eye is twitching. "You're coming with me fool." Is this... safe?

    And then the lights go out, followed by a single gunshot.

    Screams fill the air, as returning fire is issued from the guards! There is a wooshing sound from the pedestal with the key as it is retracted to a safer, underground location. Screams of horror come from the guests as they duck and cover.

    Eventually, the gunshots are silenced, and the lights flicker back on as emergency power is restored. Luckily, it looks like no one was hurt... not even whomever the target of that first shot was. The gentleman in the bear mask had the misfortune of staggering too close to the key, and now his pant leg is caught in the trapdoor it vanished into.

    Xavier has curled up into a ball, and is sobbing quietly.

August Kohler has posed:
Gerry gets thoroughly beat up by cake, GRAPPLING HOOK, tazers, and dining tray. August salutes his fallen cake, and is about to move to get another when the lights go out and the gunshot rings out. He freezes, waiting for the lights to come back, and quickly appraising the situation. It doesn't seem anyone was hit; Xavier's curled in a ball but it looks like he's just a coward. Which means...

August turns towards key display, having heard the woosh from his proximity. Spotting the bear-masked man trapped in it, he takes a second to think, before running up to the man. "Are you alright?!", the redhead exclaims, before moving to his pantleg. "Here, let me try and tear it free. Are you wounded?", he asks calmly as he attempts to rip the part of the pantleg that is caught off of the man. He's also looking at the man's hands and towards his pockets. Could he be...?

William Pauwel has posed:
Oh boy, the running guy was CLEARLY just a diversion. The lights go off! A gunshot cracks through the air! Will's lips tug ever so slightly upwards-- but he fights it back! Nobody needs to know that THE BIGGEST FAN actually snuck into the party to get a front row seat. When the lights come on, though, there's... A guy stuck in the floor? Huh, that's weird. August has that covered, though.

    But there's SOMEONE ELSE having a crisis! Will clicks his tongue and takes on a distinctly sympathetic frown. "Ach, Mr. Bilsvick!" 'Doctor Jekyll' says as he abandons his hook on the ground in favor of moving to the man prone and sobbing on the floor. "Mr. Bilsvick," he calls, kneeling next to the unfortunate heir, "Are you alright? Were you hit?"

    "Come, now," he sympathizes, giving the man's shoulder a gentle but firm squeeze, "I do not zee any blood. Efferything is fine, ja?" 'Doctor Jekyll glances up from the heir, "Vas anyone hit? Did anybody zee the gunman?"

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is making for a heck of a flying tackle and she does taser Gerry out cold, this is good news, right? This is one l3ess problem. Sure but while Kazuko's actions /did/ help stop the guyyt but Kotone and her fairly costly dress are covered in cake and part of Kotone just wants to shout why at the world. She looks to Colonel Jacket

"It looks like we stopped that crew yes, I'll see about cuffing this man..."

Which she's going to do, okay zip tiesbut serious where would she /hide/ cuffs on that dress she has? She's about to try to sesure him with the zip ties till the local security can do a better job of it when the lights go out the weapons fire and she does her best ot help the party goers, but when thelights come back on a moment later? She finds that /no one's dead/ or even been hit.

Though she does wonder about Colonel Jacket for a moment she also keeping an eye on him she did notice the blood on his boot after all. That was ... odd, and got her attention.

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
Success! Sort of. Gerry's taken down without anyone else coming to harm (although Kotone's dress does end up as an unfortunate casualty of crime-stopping), at least, and Kazuko's just about to enjoy the fruits of her fishy cakey labor when the lights go out! If not for the fact that the smell of cake and shrimp everywhere, she'd...

     Well, Kazuko's not /quite/ cool enough to fight blind yet. She still takes up a defensive posture, of course, but she's quick to take cover behind an overturned table once the gunshots start flying again. It's not until the lights come back on that she re-emerges, moving to check the damage.

     The key is gone, but where could it have gone? Spying Bear Mask caught in the trap door, Kazuko moves over to assist August in freeing his pants! Not that way. Mostly by standing guard over them and chucklingawkwardly at Kotone's presence.

     "Eheh... Sorry, miss! Er. It's safe now, I think. You okay, mister?" She sniffs lightly to try and get a better read on the man's scent, but... Well, it's not like she has anything else to go on yet. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try and remember his scent if she ever needs to track him down again some other time! Plus...

     Where's his lady friend? Kazuko squints slgihtly behind her mask as she glances around rapidly, trying to see if she can find Bear Mask's dance partner among the crowd.

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    As August helps to free the man trapped by the door, he receives an uneasy smile. His hands are free, but there is a bulge in his pant pocket, a distinctly key shaped one... but suddenly, the man grabs at August's own pocket, producing... the key?! The guards are now looking very intently at the two!

    Meanwhile, Will tends to Xavier. The man startles as Will speaks, but quickly pats himself down. "Er, no. No wounds at all. Hahah, I suppose I was a bit startled... the key! Is it safe?!" He rushes over to see August and Bear Man, spots the key... and glowers, face burning up under the mask. He dips his own hand into the pocket of his robes... but his face pales as he extracts... the key.

    Colonel Jacket sees this and frowns, before shouting at the assembled. "Check your pockets! You, bring up the pedestal!" His visibl face is going as red as the visage on the mask, like he might swing to great violence any second. A guard types in the override code into a panel, and the pedestal comes up... sans glass cube and sans key.

    Kazuko comes close, sniffing... the man smells very strongly of cologne, he's clearly used way too much... but the woman? The one in the bug mask? Nowhere to be seen.

August Kohler has posed:
August spots the key on the man. He wasn't going to say anything; he had a feeling the man was one of the thieves. Atleast not until a key is pulled out of his pocket. August frowns, pausing. This could be bad. His first action is to move for the other man's pocket and grab the key inside there, before moving to put his hands up for the guards.

And then, as he spots others pull keys out, including Xavier, he realizes the deception. Under the Hyde mask, there's a brief flash of interest. This is getting /exciting/. "What the hell? Which one's the real one?!" His voice sounds like one of shock and worry as he drops any keys he has.

And then he notices the blood under Jacket's boots. Well. That just spoiled the mood.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa does also take notice of the blood, something isn't right here and she knows it. While she makes an effort to get most of the cake off her body and clothing. The blood though on Jacket's boots troubles her she eyes the colonel for a moment thankfully her mask does a good job to hide her face, she's picked quite well when it came to her outfit for the not. She does however head towards the Colonel now for a moment. She is concerned as she moves towards Jacket as well she knows what might be going on here. The question is just when and how to act, though she's making ready for trouble she's got a really bad feeling about this.

"Colonel? If I might ask you? Can I see whats in your pocket?"

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
Three keys? But that's... Way more than one! Kazuko's expression isn't clear behind her mask, but her slow tilting and confused noises make it fairly apparent that she has no idea what's just happened. Or... Not at first, at least, until she starts hearing things. Seeing things. Putting two and four together.

     Following Kotone's lead this time around, the martial artist paces around a few times, smacks a fist into her palm, then points at Bear Mask dramatically.

     "Hold it! How'd you know he had that key in there?" There's a fierce tone in her voice and a determined stare, the former being the only thing that really comes through while she tries not to let the stench of OVERCOLOGNE throw her off. She puts on her best serious-fake-lawyer voice, and then... "... Also! Where's your dance partner from before? She was all... There before, but she's not there now!"

William Pauwel has posed:
    "Hah, well zat ist gut," Will grins, helping the heir back onto his feet. "Eazy does it, do not vant to faint standing up, yes?" He takes a step back when the heir thunders on over toward the middle of the room, but something is amiss. Something is... Dreadfully, terribly, awfully amiss.

August... Has a key.

But not just him. The guy with the bear mask-- he also has a key.

The heir. The HEIR has a key.

But the pedestal... The pedestal does /not/ have the key.

    "Oh! Ohoho, faszinating, faszinating! A mystery, a mystery." Will can't help but to smile. Kazuko points dramatically. Will shrugs and collects his grappling hook and rope. "Now, now. Clearly mizter Bear Mask zaw the object in Mr. Hyde's pocket and became zuspicious, yes? No need to be so suspicious. But it is curious, no?"

"The question ve should ask," he says, inclining his head slightly. "Iz which of theze keys... are real?"

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    August removes Bear Man's key! Under his mask, he seems just as surprised as August was when he pulled out his key. Xavier comes up and examines both of theirs. "... these aren't real. They don't have the right sheen..." he decides.

    Kotone goes up to Jacket, who glowers at her. For a pregnant moment, it seems like he might strike her. But eventually, he pulls his pockets out for the cyborg to examine. He has his gun, a handkerchief, a roll of sweets... but no key, real or fake. "Are you done, Paladin?" he sneers. "Evidentially, these keys must have been passed out while I was dealing with this cretin's crew." He shakes Gerry with his foot.

    Xavier looks like he's about to cry again. "Lock all the doors! No one gets in and out without... what did you say?" He looks to Kazuko as she mentions that Bear Mask's partner is not in the room, before grabbing him by the lapels. "You're involved aren't you?! Where is my key?!"

    Bear Mask tolerates this for a moment, before speaking. He's not done so all night... and when he does, it's with a woman's voice. "Don't you know how to treat a lady?!" she exclaims before kneeing Xavier in the gut! The heir crumples immediately as Bear Mask tosses the mask aside!

    Revealing Molly with her hair pinned up.

    "That's right! The dashing rogue Bear Mask was the beautiful Molly all along~!" she exclaims, striking a pose. "And by now, I bet Irvine has the key~!" At that moment, in view of the ballroom's window, a cellar door on the exterior is slashed apart, as Irvine erupts from it! Flung back, the golden dress he was clad in completely in tatters, bug mask slashed to bits.

    And then the old man that fell on August strides up the stairs, cane drawn to reveal the concealed sword.

August Kohler has posed:
Well, August's hunch was right. Bear Mask is one of the thieves. The part he had wrong was which one. "Well, that's a shocker." He drops the fake keys to the ground, and listens to her speak. And then, he looks towards Irvine escaping...and the old man chasing him with a sword. Well, now that's a mystery. And there's a problem here, in exactly what to do next. Until Will tells him to do the same thing they always do.

Improvise.

Given his instructions, August looks for something reflective nearby, eyes stopping on an incredibly elaborate art piece made of reflective gla- wait, that's a funhouse mirror.. He inches over towards Molly, mask still covering his face as he approaches her. "Well, Xavier, this has been a great party, but it'd be a shame for the fun part to end here. Especially when the alternative means giving the criminals to a guy with blood under his boots." There's a flash of a grin underneath that mask. He glances towards Molly. "Now then, let's get the hell out of here, shall we?"

"Persona!"

At his cry, August is surrounded with blue energy as a robotic soldier man appears from behind him, covered in burn scars and with a gun for a leg. The Tin Soldier roars silently, before charging forward at Xavier, Jacket, and anyone near Molly. August, meanwhile, rushes towards the thief and offers her his hand. "Will's helping out Irvine. Let's get out of here!" He'll then attempt to make a beeline for the nearest exit, while the Tin Soldier plays Living Wall.

William Pauwel has posed:
Bear mask... WAS A LADY!?

That means that... That Golden Dress Lady was... /IRVINE!?/

Wow, that guy really knows how to fill out a dress. That's actually pretty impressive.

    But more than that, Molly is in danger, and moreover so is Irvine! Of course, this place would have certainly attracted a whole bevy of thieves and ne'er do-wells. That old man must have been one of them! Or maybe he's... an assassin? You never know, with these old families. But if he's going after Irvine, then...

Will steps past the heir, gently patting him on the shoulder. "Well, sir. It was a pleasure to meet you, but..." He plops his hat back onto his head, but not without first drawing A GUN. But not the /usual/ gun. This just looks like a plain old Earthly handgun.

He pops a cap into the window. Then four more. "We must be off. Mr. Hyde, if you'd please--" Will grins and then sprints for shattered glass. He tucks his arms and legs in and BREAKS RIGHT THROUGH.

Then the grappling hook comes out. It sweeps up and out, snagging onto a CONVENIENT TREE BRANCH. Will unfurls and fires again, one shot, two, three--

At the space between the swordsman and the man in the dress.

"Mister Irvine!" Will calls, landing just behind the Bandit, "Let's go!" He hitches up his pantslegs, revealing /his motor skates./ "I brought a ride!"

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa says "I am and I am ... sorry." She seems to have been miss lead and only made things /worse/ for things with Jacket who had bene the only one who gave het the time of day she will have to do something else about it? She has to wonder how far this is going though. She seems to have a sense of remosefrom he tone of voicebut it seems the STarlight Bandits have finally shown up and she's noe getting ready to move. She also suspects from the shots eariler they may havebeen ... some other things going on here but for now she has to deal with August doing something from her view that is very stupid. Right now she's got a job to do.

"August it's nothing personal."

Kotone kinda feels like August and Will set her the hell up and there are going to be /words/ with them about this later. Oh god are there going to be words about this later. FOr nwo though she's moving in on August with moving in to attempt to bring him down rather than tase him? Which August would likely expect she's going to try for high speed tackle.

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
"Hahah! Just as planned, Mister...?" Kazuko can't even gloat when Bear Mask speaksup, recoiling in shock as Bear Mask reveals HERself! "Gyah! Wha... How'd you even hide that?!" She's quite legitimately shocked at this turn of events, and Kazuko recoils even further when Irvine reveals that he was the hot lady all along!

     That's certainly not going to be a blow to the martial artist's pride or anything. Except it totally is, and her posture is that of a defeated woman despite not a single blow being struck against her. "How's... Even he was prettier..." The pouting is audible, and the fact that Irvine's revelation was in the midst of him being attacked by an old man with a sword...

     Actually, that seems to reinvigorate her a bit. It looks like a fight might be starting, but the risk of unnecessary bloodshed (and the words of her comrades) means it's time to prevent such an outcome with what Kazuko does best!

     She starts barking. Loudly. Really, really loudly. Sort of like one of those hyperactive pomeranians that runs too fast for its legs to keep up, but instead of tripping and falling onto her face, she's running across tables! She's leaping over the heir, running at the old man, kicking utensils and empty trays around, and grabbing food all the while.

     Some of it's even being stuffed into her pockets. Snacks are snacks, so she might as well take some for later! She still makes a mental note to apologize to Kotone later, but Kazuko has to prioritize getting people out safely first.

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    Things are popping off now.

    The appearance of the Tin Soldier makes Molly gasp! Has she seriously forgotten about him since the bunker? But either way, she beams and takes August's hand! But as Kotone rushes at August, Jacket is drawing his own gun. "I think he's done worse things than us tonight!" she yells, before grabbing Jacket by the Jacket and hurling him at Kotone. This girl has a lot of arm strength!

    Meanwhile, Will beelines straight for the fight between Irvine and the elderly man. It seems that Irvine is clutching the key in his off-hand, and the old man is constantly moving to try and get it out of there, keeping Irvine on the defensive. Not to mention, his assured motions speak of much more experience than the Bandit. "You've done splendidly sir, but I must insist on taking that key," he says calmly, in a grandfatherly tone. "Hah! Sorry old man, but finders-keepers!" And then Will's shot lands between them, both looking to the cowboy.

    "I cannot allow that," the old man says, swinging his sword. Pressure from the blade thunders about, disrupting Will's travel path and making Irvine harder to reach. "I may be old, but the Gentleman Thief Dandy will not be outdone by the next generation yet!" Irvine gasps! The name 'Dandy' comes up as often as Typhoon Bill and Hurricane Jane. Indeed, he often competed with them on scores.

    Meanwhile, Kazuko plays interference to keep the guests from harm! Needless to say, the soldiers and security are shooting at Molly and August, but the martial artist draws their attention. Soon, she is the centre of gunfire, giving guests plenty of time to evacuate!

August Kohler has posed:
Once August has Molly's hand, he's moving for the exit, but Kotone is going to serve as a problem. He's readying the Tin Soldier to move and be a barrier for him, but Molly handles that pretty easily, allowing him to use the Tin Soldier for better, more creative things. Like a mixture of 'distraction' and punishment. The Tin Soldier fires off a buff from that gun first, however, as enhanced agility overcomes August, Molly, and Kazuko, allowing them to move faster and possibly get past those bullets. And then, the Tin Soldier turns on Jacket, and points its gun at his namesake.

Fire pours out in even bursts, moving to catch that jacket aflame. August isn't trying to immolate him, but instead just cause him to suffer, and also distract Kotone who is more likely to help him out than pursue. "Sorry about this, Yamakawa!" August waves to Kotone as the Tin Soldier disappears. With Molly in hand, he charges straight for one of the windows, moving to barrel them out as smoothly as possible.

Once he's actually outside the grounds, August glances down at himself, noticing that he's taken two bullets to the arm. He frowns, but keeps moving. "You two have a vehicle? I think we need to leave as soon as Will gets Irvine out of there."

William Pauwel has posed:
    Will sticks his landing, but that's about all he manages to do! The costumed Chaser yelps as he darts back from a slash that almost gets too close! A gash is cut into his overcoat! The Drama Club will need to spend some time patching this one up! But... But... "T-that swordsmanship is unreal--!" But then... But then he learns why!

"G-gentleman Th--" Will gasps, whirling to a stop, "Gentleman Thief Dandy!?"

Something's wrong here.

W-why are Will's eyes sparkling like that.

    "Oh wow, gramma and grandpa used to tell me stories about you!" Will practically squees. Oh no. Oh no, he's in FULL FANBOY MODE. "Like that one time you guys climbed all up and down the airship docks 'cause nobody could keep their hands on that White Gold Ruby Eagle!"

'You guys!?'

    "Or-- or the time near Meridian, with the cave and the giant boulder and the Crystal Disk!" Will creeps closer despite the danger, his eyes STILL sparkling like enormous glittering saucers. "Or, or-- Oh man, I've always wanted to meet you! Those stories were always the best!"

    "S-sorry," he coughs, clearing his throat a bit, "I'm William Pauwel! It's so great to finally meet you! Now, I know y'all won't get out of our way just 'cause I ask nicely, and I wish we weren't on the run so I could hear the stories from your side of things, but I just wanted to get that said!"

Kazuko Kawakami (942) has posed:
The good news: It looks like Kazuko's companions and impromptu allies alike are having some good luck in not getting shot at as much as they could be. The bad news: It's because she's the one getting fire on! It's a good thing that the martial artist is the sort to rely on speed rather than technique AND she's getting August's speed buff on top of that, or she'd probably be doing a fairly decent imitation of Swiss cheese right about now.

     "Gyah! H-hey, don't you think you're taking this a little too far?!" Even as she yells in protest, she's flinging herself all over the place while kicking and hurling anything she can get her hands on at the guards, trying to buy herself some time just to not get shot by an unlucky bullet. Or would that be a lucky bullet that would be unlucky for her? Either way, she's actually putting her ki into this as well, doing all sorts of crazy flips and narrow dodges that only leave streaks of blood as bullets graze her, but don't quite hit her head on.

     Somehow, Kazuko's even managing to do all that without falling on her face once. An unlucky guard might even get a whole chicken to the face, but at least she's not throwing anything sharp around. She's still being careful not to go anywhere near her allies, too, almost as if she's playing the decoy here...

     She totally is. She'll also wait until the last moment before trying to make her escape via SICK WALL RUNS and SLIDING UNDER TABLES. Maybe even JUMPING THROUGH A WINDOW after throwing a chair through it so she doesn't kill herself crashing into glass or something.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
First Wanko barking up a storm, she's not got super hearing but it is improved a bit over human norms so she does take that hard, very hard. She does on some level get what might be going on. The Bandits can be a royal pain in the ass but so far as Kotone is aware they are not stone cold killers. She's also figured out the majority of the last gang may have been shot dead without any due process. She doesn't know which given the local laws.

So dazed from the barking she will find Jacket flying the hell into her. This knocks her off her feet, as she was mid motion she'll end up going crashing into the ground and will be unable to get up in time, she's also looking a bit furious but that's more because Jacket is unintentionally jabbing her body in uncomfortable places with his own, form how they landed. The Bandits and company best be fast.

Also then it hits her Jacket is /on fire/ well part of his clothing is and she acts without thinking trying to put it out there's time for Will, the Bandits and August to get out.

Though the blood that has he making sure to claim the one thief for Paladin related investigation given what went down possibly out side but right now she needs to put out the flames which she's seeking to smother as best she can.

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    Molly nods to August. "Irvine has Terminal Getaway! If we can join him, we can all escape~!" Behind them, Jacket's jacket smoulders slowly. Meanwhile, Dandy seems surprised by someone so knowledgeable of his escapades. "W-Well, that is good of you to say young ma-"

    And then Irvine rushes in with a disarming manoeuvre to knock the sword out of Dandy's hand. "Thank you young man! And Mister Dandy... though I be a jaded adult, young Will's words come from the heart, and his beats the same as mine! I am also a big fan!"

    And with that, he grabs Will and rushes towards August and Molly! Terminal Getaway is pulled out, touched to all of them, and...

    bip

    The four find themselves in the pool of some suburban household, late at night.

    Meanwhile, Kazuko, having gotten everyone out and pulled ALL THE AGGRO vanishes into the night, laden down with fancy snack. An urban legend about her will no doubt spread through the region, of a gluttonous jackal taking human form to take all your food into the night.

    And poor Kotone lies there under the murderous(?) colonel, and a whole mess to explain. No doubt, this night will go down in infamy.