Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Once they start heading out, he schools his eager grin into a more subdued smirk. When they reach the floor, he takes each of her hands, clasping their fingers together.

Before he starts leading her through the steps, he whispers,] It's easy, I promise. [ And they dance. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ In that moment, she swears she falls a little more in love with him, and the brief smile she flashes him is genuine.

But this isn't the time or the place, so she schools her expression and concentrates on not stepping on his feet.

After a moment, she asks, ] How are we looking?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ True to his word, the dance is relatively simple, not unlike a basic box step with quarter turns thrown in here and there, and Peter is careful when he takes her through the more complicated moves. ]

Four other hallways aside from the one we came through, each manned with guards. [ He steps to forward to and her side, so that they briefly walk in a tight circle; he ignores the temptation to press his hip against hers, and feels he deserves some sort of award -- time and a place, Peter. ]

Pretty sure I can see guards disguised as guests down here, too. They're the ones who look like they have sticks up their asses. I think the northwest hall is the one we want. We'll need to get security distracted. [ He spins her, so that her back is pressed against his front, and they walk backward a few paces ]

Also, I really want to boost that little figure over there. [ And he nods to a display case filled with figurines made of crystal and precious gems. ] The little red one that looks like a lion. It'd look good on the dashboard.

[phaselocknroll]

[ this isn't too bad. After going through the routine once and not horribly fucking it up, she feels confident enough to stop concentrating on the dance and really contemplate what he's saying ] What kind of distraction are you thinking?

... and if we have the time, I say go for it.

[nostalgiabomb]

Honestly, I really just want to start a riot by announcing that everyone's credits are worthless now, but that's not the best idea.

[phaselocknroll]

[ inwardlyy she rolls her eyes, but her gaze is on a chandalier hanging over some of the food tables and a particularly gaudy ice sculpture ]

I could probably take out the supports on that chandalier. That would cause some chaos.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He follows her gaze and his smile slowly widens. ]

Yeah, that'll definitely work.

tablet tags mean typos sob

[phaselocknroll]

Give me a second.

[ she has to wait until the dance brings them around to an angle that won't make what she's doing obvious. Once it's in her line of sight, she gives a brief wave of her hand somewhere down by Peter's waist. The chain holding the chandalier goes white-hot and melts instantly, sending it crashing down. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Naturally, that side of the room devolves into a slight panic, and Peter pulls them back off the dance floor and toward the northwest hallway, just as the guards move toward the fallen chandelier.

Peter only just bites back a laugh as he listens to the outraged spluttering of the other party-goers nearby, before he has the good sense to look concerned and join in. ]

Good grief, what shoddy craftsmanship. To put his guests in danger like this--

[ He's scanning the room, making sure their exit would go unnoticed, then nods his head in the direction of the hallway. ] We're good. Let's go.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Maya is only doing a slightly better job at hiding her amusement, and that's only because keeping her hand in front of her mouth to stifle a laugh makes it look like she's gasping in horror.

At Peter's prompting, she nods, and gives the room one last look to make sure everyone is thoroughly distracted before turning to slip down the hallway. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He takes her hand -- just because, honestly, he likes the feel of it and not because he thinks she needs any leading -- and they hurry out of sight. Lucky for them, the hallway is dimly lit, but the decorating is still an assault on one's sensibilities, just as the ballroom had been.

More hallways shoot off from this one, and Peter tries to remember the mansion's plans off the top of his head. He pauses at an alcove. ]

... I don't remember this being on the blueprints. Do you?

[phaselocknroll]

I thought it was jut a straight shot, but... do we know how old those blueprints even were? I get the feeling this guy remodels more often than most people change their underwear.

[nostalgiabomb]

Crap, that information better not be too out of date.

[ It's far, far too late to try to figure out a new plan now, though, so Peter keeps taking them down the hallway.

But that doesn't mean Peter can't bitch about it. ]

We need to start charging double for this shit.

[phaselocknroll]

Oh come on, if nothing else, we got to go to a fancy party.

... Didn't get to have any of the food before I dropped a metric ton of crystal and glass on it, but you win some, you lose some.

[ They hit the end of the hallway, as it forks off to the left. There's a gold statue there, and it really reminds Maya of a certain asshole's vanity so much that she has to stop and stare at it for a moment.

Something occurs to her, then. ]

Didn't the blueprints have this hallway going on for a lot longer?

[nostalgiabomb]

I'll take a dingy club and a bar brawl over fancy dress any time.

[ He's quirking a brow at the statue when she speaks -- and he blinks, then mutters a curse. ]

I think you're right. How much you wanna bet this guy's gotta secret passageway?

[phaselocknroll]

I think that might be required to be in the "rich assholes" club, really.

[ She begins inspecting the statue and the wall behind it for a panel or a switch or something. ]

But if I had to keep a safe anywhere, it would be in a secret passageway.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's looking over the statue as well, arms akimbo. ]

If I were a narcissistic, gigantic asshole with tons of money for cool secret levers and junk like that, I'd hide it on the statue.

But that's 'cause I saw a movie with something like that when I was younger. No clue what this jackass's excuse is.

[phaselocknroll]

Maybe he thinks it's quirky.

[ looking... looking... it looks a little worn around the shoulder, and after squinting at it a bit, there seems to be some kind of crack or joint or something there. ]

Hey Peter, you should give this guy a handshake.

[nostalgiabomb]

... Seriously?

[ And Peter looks so unimpressed, but he does as asked, pulling the arm down tentatively, as if expecting it to set off every alarm in the place.

Luckily for them, though, the wall behind the statue slides open silently, with little fanfare, revealing a staircase heading down.

Peter gives the statue a friendly pat on the shoulder. ]

Thanks, bud.

[ And he takes the lead again, moving cautiously. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ She follows behind, hiking up her skirt to get down the stairs without taking a tumble. ]

You think this hallway is booby trapped?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He takes a moment to give her a weary glance, as if to say, "Seriously, Maya?"--

But then he can feel the next step he moves to give way slightly, and it's only due to his quick reflexes that he narrowly avoids the electrified dart that flies from the right wall and embeds itself into the left. ]

... I kinda do now, yeah. Uh, so avoid that step right there.

[phaselocknroll]

Called it.

[ her smirk is downright triumphant ]

Give me a hand- I'm gonna faceplant in these heels if I try and step over it myself.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He tests the next couple of steps before he holds a hand out to her. ]

At your service, my lady.

[phaselocknroll]

Thank you, kind sir.

[ She takes his hand, using him as balance to get over the step ]

I sure hope we don't get chased out of here by a giant boulder. [ movie reference! ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ OH, he's so proud of her, as his answering grin shows. ]

Funny you should mention that. I've been thinking about wearing a hat like Indy's. Thoughts?