Broken Machines: Lights the Dark
Chapter 28: Masquerade of Madness!
After the butterflies began fluttering throughout the halls and the reveal of the Grand Mystère’s date, Whitley opened his invitation as the staff tried to chase the insects out. Unluckily for him, his gift was far messier than Penny’s; once the top was pulled up, a switch was triggered, and it popped off with a haul of white and silver glitter. The brilliant glitter fell similar to snow and added shine to the arctic white wolf fur that lay inside the box. It would be a beautiful sight if not for the mess and headache induced by the event it was tied to. Speaking of the event, from that day, the two teens spent the week preparing for the ball. For Whitley, that meant picking out their attire, helping schedule transportation, and rescheduling work while Penny reviewed all the material she’d need for the party.
It was quietly intense as both spent more than a week embroiled in work. For Penny, it was almost a welcomed distraction from everything that had been going on recently. The uproar, the thefts, the truth about the Schnees, and so much more had been weighing down on her greatly, so having something as big and important as this to take her mind off those things was a small relief. But still, Penny couldn’t shake her lingering worries about Whitley. Every time she saw him, she’d find another indication of his dysfunctional family situation. How little he’d eat even when there was plenty of food to share, his daily consumption of coffee, and the egregious amount of work he seemed to be tasked with despite only being a child.
The saying ignorance is bliss was always an odd one to the young soldier, as a lack of awareness of their own situation only meant the person didn’t know to feel negatively about it, oblivious but not blissful. But now she understood why it was a saying. Before, she could only innocently guess what could be happening and hope that it was something minor. Now she could face the truth with no way of confronting it, and every time she looked at her love, she’d wonder if there were more wounds on his spirit, she couldn’t see. And so Penny poured herself into preparing for the ball.
Now the Grande Mystère Ball, as Whitley told her, was the most fabulously dramatic night of the year for elites. And after seeing their invitations, he knew that would be absolutely overwhelming, and Penny would need to be at her best to survive the night. However, due to the event's prestige, the only real choice he has is to prep her carefully as they readied themselves so as not to impede Penny’s recovery. It was a hard decision to make, especially with Jacques breathing down his neck about making sure the “military dog” didn't embarrass them. Still he didn’t want to risk Penny’s health for one night so he did his best to light the load on her where he could. Despite that, Penny still pushed herself to improve her etiquette before the party. Using proper table manners every time she ate, practiced her expressions in the mirror as she got ready in the morning, and shadow-danced whenever she found the chance; regardless of her current mental state, the ball was too momentous of an event for her to falter.
When the night of the Grande Mystère finally came, the manor was in an even greater frenzy the night of the concert. Julia handled her directly this time, guiding her through the mayhem and to the guestroom. This time, however, once inside Julia led Penny to the bathroom that now had a powder room stool sat next to the tub. She draped a towel over the front of her before going over to the tub and turning on the water. Once the water was warm enough, Julia sat Penny down in the stool and washed and conditioned her hair. When she’s done, Julia grabs a blow dryer and dries Penny’s hair diligently before getting to the style. This hairstyle is both simple and intricate as after a good brushing, Julia took a section of hair from both sides of Penny’s head, braided them, then tied them together at the back, styled them into a flower-shaped bun, then interweaved the rest of the braided into one trialing braid and tying off the curled ends into an upside down heart shape. And to add a little polish to the look, she also re-curls the ends gently with a curling iron and gives each a spray of hairspray to add some bounce.
With the hair done, the two leave the bathroom and head for the vanity for makeup. Tonight’s makeup is a far cry from the usual, as Julia uses a glittery black eyeshadow as a base, then hot pink on the outer edges of both lids and blush pink on the rest. To highlight the pinks, Julia also applies a small amount of mascara to Penny’s top lashes and draws a thin cat’s eye wing with a black eyeliner pin. For lips, she gives her a layer of magenta lipstick than a coat of transparent pink gloss over it for shine. Her light coat of blush was a softer pink and was brushed on closer to her cheekbones, highlighting her face’s overall structure. And as a final little touch, Julia gives Penny’s wrist and shoulders a light spray of lavender and cheery blossom perfume.
On to the nail art, her fingers and toes nails were painted a glitter-filled black and decorated with silver and white lace detailing. With all the cosmetic work done, Julia leaves to let Penny get dressed in peace. Penny goes over to the bed to retrieve her ensemble for the evening; it's the pink and black gown she received at Stellar, the one that captured her the most. She takes her time putting on the dress, only calling for Julia when she can’t close the corset back. As Julia fastens the corset, Penny makes sure the dress covers her lower and middle back while she’s behind her. Despite the fact Julia won't see anything if she looked nor knew what to look for, Penny couldn’t help but worry about the what-ifs. As she feels the ribbon corset are tightened near her spine, Penny holds her breath as she tries to hold back the chill of discomfort the feeling gave her. Once the gown is on, its time for the accessories; her shoes were a pair of black open-toed heels with embedded sliver sequence and a bow on that vamps. For jewelry she wore a two strand black pearl necklace with a silver pampel shaped brooch with a small diamond at its center enter connecting the strands and the pair of diamond earrings Beaufort. Finally, Penny clips the hair accessory, made of hot pink lace and decorated in black pearls, into place right under her bun. Than she slides on the thin, baby pink gloves and their black pearl bracelets, placing her necessities into the matching pink clutch, then picks up her mask before taking in her full image in the vanity mirror.
Looking at herself was like gazing into a magic mirror; she had never looked this different before. She looked mature but delicate in an elegant way, a far cry from her normal self. It was almost theatrical how much she’d changed hearts to suit the situation. But then again, the mission itself was predicated on her pretending to be something she was not and letting others believe in her façade.
Penny: A wordless lie, so easy to believe it feels impossible to clarify.
She muses to herself as she raises the butterfly mask to her face. But before she can, Julia intervenes.
Julia: Hold it! Don’t you dare put that on until I get a picture!
Penny opens her mouth to protest but immediately relents and grabs her scroll from her bag. She set it to the camera and hands it over to Julia before stepping back to give her space. As Julia lines up the shoot, Penny's unease gets the better of her, and she can’t help but question her.
Penny: Is this really necessary?
Penny: But you’ve already taken pictures of me two times?
Julia: Yes, but that was then, and this is now. Besides, I like having lasting evidence of my work for clients to look back on. So they always remember how beautiful they can be. Now put your hands together, rest them on the top of your skirt, and look forward.
She asks cheerfully, to which Penny obliges. After a few clicks Julia takes one last look at the pictures before handing the scroll back to Penny, gathers her tools, and tells Penny that Hannah will take her to the car soon before heading back out into the halls. Penny bids her farewell and thanks as she leaves the room. Now alone, Penny dawns her mask and begins her usual prep for elite events, strategizing her movements for the evening.
Penny: This is completely new territory, the elite event of the year, the Grande Mystère Ball. From what Whitley’s told me, most of my suspect list will be in attendance. With that many people to watch, I’ll have to be careful with how I spend my time. Since three out of the eight have already been proven to have some ties to thefts, I should focus on the five unconfirmed to see if I can confirm or disregard anyone. But since this event is supposed to be highly festive; I might have to switch between my targets to avoid suspension. But to what existent?
Penny ponders her situation for a while but eventually recognizes that she’ll just have to wait and see. Not long after that, Hannah arrives as promised and takes Penny back to the main entrance. As Hannah opens the front door, they see the Schnee family’s white limousine departing from the driveway. Penny holds back a pout as they watch the limo drive away. She had missed her chance to see Whitley all dressed up before they left. And even though they were going to the same place, he’d no doubt be swarmed by girls again, and she’d be busy investigating.
Penny: Aw, I really wanted him to see me in this.
Penny laments to herself as Hannah walks her to her mode of transportation for the event. Oddly the enough, this time, it wasn't the usual black luxury car but a white limousine, one without the family crest on its grill. Godfrey opens the door for her, and Penny waves goodbye to Hannah before she gets in. Once both driver and passenger are safely buckled in, Godfrey puts the limo in drive and pulls off onto the road.
The ride is a bit more scenic than usual as they travel to the residential areas of Atlas’s most wealthy. Eventually, they reach a large gated community; Godfrey shows the guards his credentials, and they are allowed passage. After driving past a dozen or so mansions, Penny sees spotlights coming from the furthest part of the community. As they get closer, a large mega mansion comes into view. The exterior was marble and extremely lavish; it almost rivaled the Schnee Manor in the sense of style. However, the mansion was much smaller and had much more modern architecture. The place is surround by limousines and even a few horse drawn carriages, some dropping off others staying, as the elite pour through the mansion’s entrance. Godfrey gets in the drop-off line with the others, and after a small wait, they arrive at the front.
Godfrey: Here we are. Be safe and have fun at the party, Ms. Penny!
Penny: Thank you, Godfrey, and I’ll try!
She says with a smile and a wave before getting out of the limo. As soon as she’s out, Penny takes stock of her surroundings, their people talking out front, large armed guards around the entrance, and a few service vehicles heading around back. Normally enough for a large party. Seeing nothing odd nor spotting any of her suspects, Penny heads inside. She followed the laid by the long red carpet and guards, who were dressed like knights, strangely enough. Once at the entrance to the ballroom, she stands in line with many others awaiting entry. At the doors, there was a man at a podium dressed in what appeared to be royal announcer regalia and two guards on holding the handles of the doors. Each time someone approaches, the man holds out his hand for their invitation, inspects it thoroughly, stamps and returns it then nods to the guards. The guards nod back and then open the doors, and the guests enter. The guards close the doors, and the announcer says something into the mic on his podium, which is followed by some commotion in the ballroom. After a long wait, Penny finally makes it to the podium.
Announcer: Invitation, please.
He asks. Penny pulls out her invitation and hands it to the man. He looks it over before stamping and returning the black card to her.
Announcer: Thank you, my lady, and Welcome to the ball.
Penny: You're welcome, Sir. And thank you for having me.
She chirps sweetly, eliciting a small smile from the announcer as he signals the guards to open the doors. Penny walks through the door and steps onto the top of a grand staircase; the click of her heels against the hard marble floor is only softened by the red carpet lining the stairs. She doesn’t get the chance to look around before the announcer’s voice comes booming out rom an unseen sound system.
Announcer: Lords and Ladies, presenting Lady Penny Polendina!
At that announcement Penny hears applause and finally takes in her surroundings. There are guests standing and seated in ballroom, many were standing near the ends of the staircase. It looked like a scene from a fairytale with the pearly white walls trimmed in the same brown marble as the floor and covered in ornate designs and the lavish curtains on the stain glass windows. The golden chandelier’s light seemed to make everything gem and jewel on the guests look dazzling. It was so beautiful it was almost overwhelming.
Penny calmly walks down the stairs to the applause, keeping her composure despite the many stares on her. As she descends, she can hear whispers from the onlookers. “Who is that?” “Never seen her before.” “How did she get in?” “So plain.” are just a few of the quiet criticisms Penny catches as she walks. She pays them no mind and enters the ballroom smiling confidently. This is it; this place will be her battleground for the evening as she investigates her suspects. Hors d'oeuvres were being served, bands of violinists were playing soft music, drinks were being passed out freely, and the chatting had begun long before she entered.
Penny: Alright, time to look around and find my suspects.
Penny states confidently to herself as she strides through the crowd of people. She looks around for a while until she spots a familiar profile near one of the buffet tables. Despite her face being covered by a sparrow mask, her green hair, now in a low braid, and her soft voice were unmistakable.
The utterance of her name causes Esther to turn and see she catches sight of Penny. She stops filling her plate, picks up the skirt of her tan and brown ball gown, and quickly walks over to her.
She soft coos in response to her call as she takes a spot next to her. Her disposition is completely different from the last time they met, though her shyness is still prominent. Penny offers her a hug, to which Esther politely rejects, and they begin to converse.
Penny: I wasn’t expecting to see you again soon, especially not at another event.
Esther: Well, it is the Grande Mystère; I couldn’t not go unless my life depended on it, or else my parents would never forgive me.
Penny: Oh, you came with your family?
Esther: Yeah, but my Mum’s already run off to find her gossip pals, and Dad’s stuck in the bathroom.
Esther: Not really, but the ride here was long, and he gets car sick, and when he gets car sick, his IBS flares up.
Penny: Oh, that’s very unfortunate.
Esther: Yeah, but it does put me off socializing duty for a bit. (giggles)
Esther jokes gleefully, her spirit lightened by lower social pressure. Penny laughs, too, happy to see that her little friend has recovered from the awful incident. Esther offers Penny a mini quiche from her plate, which she obviously accepts. It’s bite-sized, so Penny pops it into her mouth whole. It’s a savory delight filled with a nice blend of cheese, some spicy sausage, and a bit of spinach. As Penny swallows, Esther continues the conversation.
Esther: So, what do you think of this whole setup?
Penny: I think it’s beautiful; it feels like I’m standing in a storybook!
Esther: I guess you could say that. But don't get fooled. This party always turns into a disaster.
Penny: Really? Have you been to a Grande Mystère Ball before?
Esther: No, but I do know that the host always picks his guests in a way that produces the most drama.
Penny: I also heard that, but I understand how that would work and haven’t seen anything that could be classified as dramatic yet.
Esther: That’s because you’re probably a reactor.
Esther: Yeah, people like you and me aren’t the one who starts the drama, but we're the ones who react to it and make it spiral. Like gasoline on a fire.
Penny: Oh, so what do you call the people who start the drama?
Esther: That’s easy, they’re called-
Esther is interrupted by the South someone shouting Penny’s name, and the two turn their gaze toward the noise. Walking towards them, wearing a baby pink ball gown with a layered ruff skirt and puffy sleeves, matching heels, a diamond tiara, a small white purse hung from her shoulder, and a white cat mask was Octavia. As so as she’s close enough, Octavia wraps her arms around Penny in a big hug, the scent of rose and peppermint wafting off of her.
Esther completes her sentence while taking in the sight, confused. Meanwhile, Penny, who’s starting to get used to her energy, returns Octavia’s hug and gently pats her head, being careful not to knock off the many white pearls in her updo. Once the girl had her fill, she pulls back and greets her friend properly.
Octavia: It’s so good to see you; I missed you so much!
Penny: It’s nice to see you too, Octavia.
Octavia: I can’t believe you got invited! Beaufort never invites kids to his parties, so I thought there’d only be a few and no newcomers, but here you are!
Octavia: Eh! This is gonna be so fun! We can spend the whole party together and-Oh, whose this?
Octavia inquires as she finally notices Esther and points at her. Esther stumbles a bit at the sudden question, avoiding eye contact as she stutters out an answer.
Esther: Oh! I’m..Uh..Esther, Esther Hel-Hellebore. C-charmed to meet you.
Octavia: Aw, what such a cute accent; l love it. (giggles) Hi, I’m Octavia, Penny’s friend. Are you her friend too?
Esther: Not really...She just saved me from…a hassle, and I still kind of owe her one. So at best, I’d say we’re acquaintances.
Octavia: Ah, well, I’m sure you would be great friends if you want to!
Esther: I guess so, if that’s okay with her?
She says, looking shyly in Penny’s direction, who smiles at her warmly as she replies.
Penny: Of course, I love making new friends.
Esther: Oh! O-okay, if that's what you want.
Octavia: Yay, now we’re both her friends! Hey, if you become my friend too; then we can be a friend group. Like three Musketeers but with girls in cute dresses!
Octavia twirls around, accentuating her point and causing Penny and Esther to giggle at her silliness. But for Penny, a sigh follows the giggles as she laments about her situation. Though a night having fun at a party with friends was the stuff of dreams to her, Penny had more pressing matters to attend to. She’s about to reject the offer when suddenly, the lights dim, and the music stops. There’s confused murmuring from some of the guests while others look amused, but soon everyone’s attention goes to the grand stair case as spotlight shine on the top, the door of the ballroom swing open as a man walks through. He’s dressed to the nines in a three-piece suit that seems to change color in a gradient rainbow under the light, gold-colored shoes, a gold cape with white fur trim and golden threading, many rings, a fine gold watch, a gold and diamond brooch, and what look to be an honest-to-goodness king’s crown with accompanying scepter in on hand and gold diamond studded microphone in the other. The man seems delighted with the scene before him, playfully straightening his shiny multi-colored bangs as the announcer pipes up again.
Announcer: Lords and Ladies of Atlas, presenting His Most Fabulous and Gloriousness, His Majesty Edouard Beaufort, The Daring!!!!
He cries, voice booming through the ballroom, followed by thunderous applause. Beaufort stands proudly, soaking up the attention for a moment, then raises his mic to his mouth and speaks.
Beaufort: Thank you, thank you all. You’re too kind. I hope you’ve been enjoying the evening thus far because the night has only just begun! Oh, Mes chéris!
He’s before clapping his hands together, turning the open entrance doors. Suddenly, music started playing, and several women came dancing down the stairs into the ballroom. They move beautifully in sync as they make their way to the circle dance floor near the back of the room. At the center of the dance floor, all but one of the dancers kneel, facing the crowd. The lead dancer remains standing, one hand outstretched towards Beaufort. Beaufort raises his microphone again, pausing for a moment to build tension, then, with a big grin, gives her the queue.
Beaufort: Welcome to the Grande Mystère Ball, Moi Menagerie Masquerade!
He shouts with glee as he descends the stairs while the dancers start their performance. Now the party had really started, the excitement in the air was palpable as guests go to greet the host, grab more drinks, or head to the dance floor to watch the show. Swept up in the excitement, Octavia takes Penny and Esther by the hand and drags them to the dance floor to watch the dancers. Penny’s thinking of excuses to get away until she spots Alejandro Altissima, bear mask resting on his forehead, sitting at a table near the dance floor, readjusting his necktie, watching the show.
Penny speeds up to match Octavia’s pace and leads them to a table not too far from Altissima’s. The girls sit, and Penny alternates between watching the dancers and watching Altissima. She times herself, switching between the two, every few minutes so as not to seem suspicious or get sucked into the show. And what a show it The first number is a mixture of Vacuo belly banding and rhythmic gymnastics. The dancers’ sequins-covered golden customs and jewelry shine brightly under the lights, making every movement look breathtaking. By the fourth dance, nothing of notice had happened with Altissima until Joseph, and Juliette Speedwell, clad in bronze boar masks and matching blue and gold attire, approached him. Joseph takes a seat next to him without asking, which makes Altissima grimace for a moment before he pulls out the other chair beside him for Juliette. She thanks him as she sits while looking pointedly at her husband, and the two businessmen share chatting. Penny checks over to see that her companions ’ attention is still on the show so she can get up and move closer to the conversation, but as she does, she sees a man in a white hair mask standing behind Octavia!
She tenses up for a second and is about to when she notices the man’s attire, a pink suit with a white dress shirt and white dress shoes, a match set to Octavia’s dress. His posture was also non-hostile; instead of looming over her, he looked comfy and familiar with her, a kind light shining in what she could see of his gray eyes. Penny’s still unsure and is about to move to grab him, Octavia looks up at him and squeals in surprise.
They squeak at each other as Sylas wraps his arms around his little girl.
Sylas: So this is where you ran off to? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to watch the show?
Octavia: Because I went looking for my friends, not the show, Daddy.
Octavia: Yes, this Esther-
She points to Esther, who shyly waves at the man before quickly averting her gaze.
She points to Penny, who takes a step back right as they turn their attention to her and waves to Sylas.
Sylas: Ah, so this girl you’ve been talking about? Nice to meet you, dear. I am Sylas Foxglove, this little princess’s Papa.
He declares with a smile as he holds out his hand for her to shake, which she does, keeping her grip soft as possible. The man’s grip is surprisingly soft and loose as though he’s trying not to hold to tight. When they let go Sylas continues.
Sylas: Thank you for being so kind to my baby; she doesn’t have many friends, so her Mama and I were very happy to see she warmed up to someone so quickly.
Penny: It’s fine. Octavia’s a very nice girl, and I enjoy her company, so being her friend has been quite fun!
Sylas: I’m sure it is; my sweet little gatito has always been a playful one!
Octavia grabs his arm and starts jostling it to get him to stop talking. This doesn’t faze Sylas in the slightest and he responds to her fit by pinching her cheek. As the father and daughter pick with each other, Joseph and Altissima walk over to their table. Penny’s the first to notice them and sits down quietly, wanting to see how the situation would unfold. Sylas catches sight of them right after Penny; the playfulness in his eyes burning away into contempt, and his loose hold on his child grew tight and protective. And lastly Octavia and Esther notice the two men standing next their table. Esther looks slightly confused while Octavia’s face goes pale with horror at the sight of Joseph; she looks down at her hands, hoping to hide her panic. Despite the drastic shift in the atmosphere, Joseph greets his long-time business rival cheerfully.
Joseph: Evening there, Foxglove!
Joseph: Good to see you out and about again, heard you’ve been locked up in your office round the clock for weeks now.
Joseph: Could’ve guessed that! What with all that product going missing, I bet you’ve been having a Hell of a hard time keeping things running!
Sylas, Octavia, and Penny tense up, the man’s gaze turns vinous as he tries hard not to show his anger and his daughter grips his arm protectively, her fear rising. Meanwhile, Atlissma looks surprised by Speedwell’s words but stays silent, and Penny notes his reaction and takes a second to thoroughly look Speedwell over. The air of cockiness around him was punctuated by the scent of wine, and the look of satisfaction on his face made clear to her that this was an act of drunken maliciousness. An act that only just began as the greasy man resumes the conversation.
Joseph: Well, Altissma and I were just talking shop and realized when all this mess with those rats from Mantle started, you got hit first, and we just want to make sure you and yours were doing alright.
Sylas: (sharp inhale) I’ve been doing what I can to remedy the situation.
Joseph: I sure hope so cause with the way things are right now, your whole business could go under if you get a handle on it soon! And I hated to lose my favorite little compadre to thieves and embargoes!
Sylas:…You know what? I think this is a bit too heavy a topic for tonight. We’re at a party, aren’t we? Why bog down the atmosphere with this business talk?
Sylas: Instead of stressing ourselves over company issues, why don't we go have a few drinks, maybe light up some cigars? I brought a few of my favorite brand.
He says with a tremendous amount of fake enthusiasm and an almost strained smile. This surprises Atlissma and confuses Speedwell for a moment, but the older blonde calms quickly at the offer of cigars.
Joseph: Well damn, if I knew you had ‘em, I would’ve started with that!
Sylas: Fantastic. Girls, why don’t you go get some food, huh? They should be serving dinner by now.
Octavia: B-But we were watching the dancers.
Sylas: Por favor, ve por ahora, tengo que encargarme de.
Octavia sighs, Sylas kisses the top of her head before stepping back so she can leave. She gets up from her chair and calls on her companions.
Octavia: Come on, girls, let's go.
Esther stands immediately, and Penny almost hesitates but grabs her clutch off the table and stands up with them. It would be no good for her to stay behind with this type of tension between the men. Besides, she'd already heard enough from them to move on. The third teen girls take their leave as the men go back to the other table, Speedwell throwing his arm around an irritated Sylas as they walk away. The group of girls walk in silence as they journey to find the food tables; once they’re a good distance away, Esther finally speaks up and asks a question.
Esther: What…what was that all about?
She inquiries softly, a mix of confusion and concern in her tone. Octavia doesn’t look back as she thinks about what to say. Uneasy and unsure, she tries to articulate her words in a way that doesn’t cause worry, but her heart quickly fails her as opened her mouth only to stammer.
Octavia: T-that was…it was..ah-
Penny: An adult conversation on an issue that shouldn’t be discussed at a party, especially in front of children.
Penny: And it would probably be best not to speak about it and cause more unnecessary discourse.
Esther: Understand, never mind.
Hint taken Esther stops talking about the issue, the tension drops with the conversation, and Octavia gives Penny a look of relief and thanks, to which Penny smiles back at her. After a little more walking, the girls find buffet tables, each having its own selection, and are decorated to match. The seafood platters are have mermaid silhouettes craved into serving platters, trays of beef dishes are decorated with minotaur imagery, many of the desserts are topped with sugar glass or chocolate fairy wings, and so on. Bottles of expensive wine, rum, whisky, and other varieties of alcohol were readily available, being served alongside nonalcoholic beverages by servers dressed in old servant garb.
The girls grab some plates and scatter as they go and partake in the banquet before them. Esther prioritizes the lobster, while Octavia goes straight for the desserts, most likely trying to soothe her worries with sweets. On the other hand, Penny keeps things balanced by getting a small cut of wagyu steak, three shrimp, and a small side of grilled asparagus. As she grabs a drink to pair with her meal, Penny spots a familiar white wolf mask and icy blue eyes by the seafood tables. Carefully loading caviar onto a large plate alongside many other delights, Whitley seemed bored, if not annoyed, by the situation he found himself in. Playing errand boy for his father while he chatted up the host at an already irritating party was a headache in and of itself but knowing how grave his punishment would be if he faltered kept him from audibly sighing. As he turns to walk back, Penny takes her glass of sparkling grape cider and follows him.
She knew she shouldn’t, but she wanted to check up on him and make sure he was doing okay. After Mary’s story and seeing how much the preparation for this night stressed him; Penny needed to ensure he wasn’t pushing himself passed his limits. She keeps a reasonable distance as she trails him but stops when she notices another one of her targets. Sitting at a table, honey bee mask under her elbow, looking at her scroll, and practically inhaling a bottle of sauvignon blanc by herself, Regina Holly looked absolutely miserable as she texted someone at a rapid pace. Penny looks between the two for a second, before heading toward Holly, slightly pained to let Whitley go as she treks on. As she approaches, Penny watches the people around; most are wrapped up in their own conversations, but others periodically look over their shoulders at Holly and snicker before re-engaging with their peers. Internally sighing at their coarseness to a clearly struggling person, Penny minds her manners and walks up to Holly to ask for a seat at a the table.
Penny: Pardon me, but may I take a seat at this table?
Holly doesn’t respond nor acknowledge that Penny is standing right next to her; she’s too absorbed in her scroll to see anything else. Take another look around to ensure she’s in the clear Penny quickly looks over Holly’s shoulder, activates her advanced sight, and zones in on the phone screen. Sure enough, the caller ID was simply R, and the number matched to the other suspects. And much like her other conformed suspect, it seemed Holly’s deal had turned rotten, the screen showed at least an hour of her begging and threatening texts to the thefts but no reply to her. She disengages her detective mood and pulls back when Holly takes another swing of her wine before sloppily texting her co-conspirator.
With her suspicions confirmed and little to gain from talking to a desperate drunk, Penny gives a faux look of discomfort at Holly’s silence and walks away. Those who caught her walking off quickly commented on how inelegant Holly must be to have children running from her. Penny ignores the gossip as she returns to Octavia and Ester. The girls find a table and enjoy their meals, Penny taking the moment as a break from the investigation and actually enjoy the party. The steak is so tender practically melts in her mouth, and the rich flavor of meat and its juices are cut above anything she’s had before. The meat pairs well with the savoriness of the grilled asparagus and the slightly sweet but salty and tender flesh of the shrimp. Every bite is absolute bliss, and as she washes it down with a drink, the bubbles in her sparkling grape juice send a new cold ting down her throat. By the time they all finish their food, the dancers had left, and a group of magicians had taken their place.
As soon as Octavia takes notice of the new act, the group is off again. It’s rather convenient, as Octavia’s curiosity and Esther’s aversion to drama gave Penny the perfect excuse to roam around the party and leave an area quickly with suspicion. As the three watched the parade of performances, overheard hot gossip, and dodged some quiet but nasty fights, Penny remained vigilant for any information on her suspects. But after a while, all she had learned was that many were having problems dues to the thefts or were almost blackout drunk on fine wine somewhere. Despite this stale in progress Penny’s resolve was never shaken. She’d already seen and heard enough information to bring some people in for questioning, which was plenty good.
Penny: I just need a little more evidence to cover all my bases. Just enough so we can finally question someone and get to the thieves.
Penny thought to herself as the fire breathers finished their set and left the ballroom. After the fire breather act left, Beaufort returned to the mic and made a new announcement.
Beaufort: Lords and Ladies, I hope you’ve been enjoying this ball of mine.
The room responded with a row of soft applause, which Beaufort laps up. He listens to the clapping for a good long while until the room is quiet again before continuing on.
Beaufort: Thank you, you’re all just too much. Malgré tout, we’re almost halfway through the evening, and the dance floor hasn’t been free to guests all night! And what is a ball without dancing? So for now until the ball's end, I hereby declare the dance floor open! Musique!
He cries, and all the classical instrument bands in the room beginning to play a set list of formal dance music in harmony. It’s a surprising transaction as couples walk toward the dance floor and people start looking for a partner. It doesn’t take long for the dance floor to be filled with dancing people. Octavia was asked to dance by several young men in a manner of minutes, and Esther ran off to the bathroom to avoid the whole thing; this leaves Penny alone on the sidelines. Sitting in a chair on the edge of the dance floor, she watches out for Octavia as she dances and periodically looks out for her suspects.
Meanwhile, Whitley’s standing at his father’s side as he chats with yet another wealthy business owner about nothing in particular. Jacques chuckles at his own joke behind his dusty orange fox mask as his colleagues laugh along with him. He flings the long flowing sleeve of his fox fur coat t coat as he gestures, hitting Whitley in the side of the head. Whitley doesn’t look bothered by this. Instead, he quietly sighs and looks around the area; he had been so bored that he hadn’t noticed they’d managed to walk all the way to the dance floor. As he looks on, some girls pass by, notice his gaze in their direction, and giggle happily before waving to him. He waves back, and they squee before running off. Whitley tries hard not to scowl and looks back to his father to make sure he didn’t see that.
Whitley: The last thing I need is him trying to arrange something. Especially now.
He muses to himself, thought going to certain red head before something else catches his attention; it was Beaufort looking amused and heading straight towards them. The boy prayed the man would turn in any other direction so he could avoid the incoming painful conversation but to no avail. Soon Beaufort was striding right up to Jacques, flashing that billion lien smile and waving him over. As soon as someone points him out, Jacques immediately turns to greet the party host.
Beaufort: Bonjour, mon ami, how have you been?
Jacques: I’ve been grand, as always, but tonight has put me into a particularly good d mood. (chuckles) Great party Edouard; you’ve really outdone yourself!
Beaufort: Oh, but of course, how could I not make this night absolutely fabulous after all that’s been happening?
Jacques: I agree; with this blasted embargo and lockdown, a ball like this was precisely what Atlas needed.
Beaufort: I know; that’s why I widened up the guest list to include the youths this year! I’m sure the young ones needed to have some fun, too, after being cooped up for so long. And I thought, “better to have them here than running in the streets. (Chuckles) Speaking of.
Beaufort twirls his specter before pointing at Whitley’s face, the large diamond tip a near inch from his face. Whitley tries not to flinch and forces a smile as he’s dragged into the conversation.
Beaufort: What’s this little wolf pup doing here, mucking about with the adults? Shouldn't he be chasing around the pretty little does on the dance floor?
Whitley: I prefer to watch rather than participate.
Beaufort puffs up his cheeks and pouts, unsatisfied with Whitley’s explanation.
Beaufort: I know that out of all three little Schnees, you were always the most astute. But still, you’re far too young to be sitting on the sidelines while there’s fun to had!
Whitley: I appreciate your concern but I-
Beaufort: In fact, why don't you go dance while I have a little business chat with your daddy, hmm?
Beaufort: Won’t it be just delightful? Putting those legendary dancing skills of yours to work will surely send the little ladies into a frenzy! Wouldn’t you agree, Jacques?
Whitley looks at his father, but his cold gaze only confirms what he except. Between his son’s comfort and the chance at profit Jacques would always choose profit. Without a word, he shoos Whitley toward the dance floor, and the boy obeys without complaint. The young man garners stares as people recognize him and where he’s going, he can already see some girls touch up their makeup as he approaches. This was so bothersome. To be forced to interact with these people at their most chaotic. And to dance with one of them was a chore with risk of vomit and unwanted affection. Then again that’s how it had always been for Whitley; dancing was about stature and aggrandizement, never an act of enjoyment. Except for the night he was announced as heir, the night he met her.
Whitley: I wonder where she is now; I haven’t seen her all night.
He thinks to himself as he gazes around for a suitable dance partner; when he sees a familiar head orange hair near the edge of the dance floor. He walks toward her without thinking, and as her visage becomes clearer, he’s certain it’s her. He stops a few feet behind her and takes a moment to gaze at her. She looks enchanting, like a fairy sneaking about the human world, trying its best not to be noticed. Innocent and gentle with an air of mystery that could lead to all sorts of mischief. But that was her charm; she seemed too good to be true in so many ways. And Whitley was glad to have gotten the chance to know her strengths, flaws, and oddities in the way he did. These warm thoughts and the sounds of music playing gave Whitley to an idea, a very bold idea. With one final, glance back to see if his father is serviceably distracted; he closes the distance and walks up behind her.
Penny feels someone tap on her shoulder and whirls around to face them, only to see Whitley standing behind her. He looks fantastic in his white and royal blue suit, the wolf fur clipped to his navy blue pants, smooth black gloves, and the shine of his silver brooch gives him the allure of some gentleman trickster wolf from a fable. The type that played tricks on children to teach them manners and swindle greedy nobles of their money for laughs. It’s oddly fitting for him, as it puts both his charm and prestige on display. But Penny didn’t care about that. She was just happy to see him. She’s tries to speak, but Whitley holds up a finger to her lips and silences her. He walks around the chair and stand in front of her, flashing a coy smile and bowing to her level.
Whitley: Excuse me, Miss, but may I have this dance?
He says with a devilishly alluring smile as he offers his hand to her. Penny’s mind goes blank for a moment, and she can feel her face heating up. This was too unfair; Whitley knew exactly what he was doing, and it was utterly underhanded, to say the least. Penny knew she wouldn’t say no, not to this, not to him, even if that meant taking some time from her mission. It wasn’t what she was supposed to do, but she couldn't help it, nor did she want to. Whitley and his charm were one of her weaknesses, one she loved to indulge in. She takes his hand and stands up, holding it gently as he guides her onto the dance floor. A new song is playing, a lovely waltz on the more complex side, waltz of the flowers. The two get into position and, with hesitation, start to dance in harmony with the music. It’s a far cry from the last time they danced together; Penny doesn't look down for a second, confident in her moves. As the music swells, it gets the section with multiple twirls and a small dip at the end. Whitley feels slightly concerned for her, worried the pressure to perform in front of so many people after practicing privately would get to Penny. But this worry is quickly replaced with pride as Penny executes the moves without fail, not a single misstep on the twirls, and she flashes him a cheerful smile as he dips her gracefully. When he pulls her back up, Whitley can’t help but smile with her. His little student had surpassed his expectations with flying colors! He chuckles and starts singing her praises as they continue to dance.
Whitley: You really have come a long way, haven't you? From dodging my feet to perfect twirls without a hint of hesitation. You’ve become quite a good dancer, Penny.
Penny: Of course I have; I practiced well, and I have a very good teacher.
She retorts back, her smile turning into a smirk. This gives Whitley pause for a moment, a tinge of blush burning onto his cheeks. She’d actually had the nerve to fluster him in public like this and at a party, no less! In an instant, she had triggered something in him, something that lacked fear or shame. His smile became flirtatious, and his eye shone with mischievous glee as he replied to her sly praise.
Whitley: Oh really? Well, I’m sure he’d be very proud to see you like this. Moving gracefully and without fear, confident and capable in your beautiful gown and looking absolutely stunning under the ballroom lights.
Penny says softly, blush deepening as she finds herself unable to withstand his flirting. This gathers another chuckle from Whitley, who looks at her fondly. She could never beat him when it came to flirting, and her adorable reactions just egged him on. Feeling particularly amorous, Whitley keeps at it as they dance.
Whitley: You look beautiful, by the way. With the mask and all the embellishments, I almost didn’t recognize you when I walked over.
Penny: Then what made you recognize me?
Whitley: The dress and that lovely bright orange, along with air of innocence you always have. Hard to mistake you for anyone else with that kind of charm.
Penny: Thank you, you look amazing too.
Whitley: Really, in what way?
Penny: In the same way, you always look amazing, princely.
Whitley: Oh, you mean handsome and dashing?
Penny: I think you’re more beautiful than handsome. Like a painting or a marble bust, lovely but fragile and very precious. It makes me want to hold you and protect you from all the bad in the world.
Whitley doesn’t retort, truly at a loss for words and thoughts. Yet again, she had touched a nerve that he didn't even know existed in him anymore. Part of him wanted to breakdown and himself into her arm, lay his battered and torn heart bare at her feet to cradle. The other wanted to kiss her silly for saying something so sweet and see if the vessel of those honey-soaked words tasted just as sweet as they sounded. Unfortunately, these thoughts cannot be realized as the song nears its end. From there, Whitley stays silent as he focuses on finishing the dance. Penny follows suit but does so reluctantly; she doesn't want the dance to end so soon, even if it has already been a long one. She wanted this dance, this moment, to last forever and in truth, so did her partner, but for better and for worse, it was not to be.
The song swells for the final time and soon comes to an end; the two are still in each other grasp when a loud pop from behind them catches everyone’s attention. Through the large stained glass windows that covered the rear wall of the ballroom, bright, beautiful fireworks can be seen. First, a large white barcode crown burst into the air, next bright gold dahlia, then a succession of falling leaves. Soon it breaks into a full on display, White and gold fireworks peeper the sky before them and some guest stop their tracks to watch while others walk out to balcony just beyond the far wall to get a better look. Penny is dazzled by the light show and lets go of Whitley, rushing toward the balcony. Whitley follows her out, and soon they’re both standing by the railing watching fireworks rain down. The young man was impressed by the display, noting the tremendous effort it must have taken to set up the launch and obtain the pyrotechnics.
Whitley: A dramatic show-stopper in the middle of the party? That’s so on-brand for him.
Whitley jokes to himself while shaking his head; he turns to Penny to ask her opinion on the display.
Whitley: Quite a grand display for the middle of a ball, wouldn’t say Pen-
But the words turn to dust in his mouth, and the world seems to stop when he looks at her. She was breathtaking, eyes glimmering with excitement and joy and a soft smile on her lips as a light wind blew her hair. Whitley stared transfixed for what felt like an eternity, then, without thinking, he reached over and cupped her chin in his hand. The contact takes Penny’s attention away from the show and to Whitley’s sparkling eyes. His face was so close she could feel his breath on her face, and the warmth in his gaze was too strong to pull away from. So she didn’t. Penny doesn’t move an inch and waits for him to close the distance to kiss. But just as her eyes fluttered shut and their lips were near centimeters away from each other, a loud shout broke through the romantic atmosphere.
Datura: YOU GREEDY FUCKING BITCH! YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS?!
Matthew Datura shouted drunkenly into his scroll, clearly agitated. People start to stare at the shouting man with discomfort and disgust, but Penny quickly recognizes him as one of her suspects. Datura, noticing the eyes on him, retreats back into the ballroom, and Penny follows, not before giving Whitley an apologetic look. He nods, knowing she has work to do, and watches her give chase. As Penny trails Datura, she watches him continue to yell and speed walk toward the main entrance without watching where he’s going. The man’s so preoccupied that he slams right into Holly, and both fall to the floor. The older man grumbles in pain before realizing he’s lost his scroll and stumbles around to find it. But just as he spots, so does Holly, and once she looks at the screen and recognizes the number, she immediately grabs it and takes off running. Penny stops and helps the man off the floor, but he pays her no mind as he yells after Holly. Now Holly’s the one shouting accusations at the caller as Datura chases after her, with Penny not far behind. The three make it all the way to the front of the ballroom, where in another unfortunate turn of events, Primrose spots her colleagues running towards the exit. Confused by the women’s behavior, Primrose runs up to Holly as she’s trying to get the heavy entrance doors to open with one hand.
Primrose: Regina! What the hell are you doing?! Stop that, you’ll break your wrist!
She tries to chastise her but to not respond, so she grabs her hand and tears off the door handle. Holly struggles against her, causing the scroll to fall, and when Primrose looks down and sees her eyes go wide. Her bewilderment quickly turns into anger and blind rage. She grabs Holly by the hair, pulling her away from the door, then shouts in her face!
Primrose: YOU BITCH, I KNEW YOU PLOTTING AGAINST ME! I’ll FUCKING KILL YOU!
The whole room gasps at the declaration and watches on in horror as the two women begin to fight. After weaving her way through the crowd, Penny makes her way to the front, followed by and out a breath of Datura. The man catches sight of his scroll and stumbles forward to get it, and Penny steps forward to stop the fight. But before she can, someone calls out to her.
Esther: What the hell’s going on?!
The two teens cry out as they rush to Penny’s side, Octavia holding Penny’s forgotten clutch in her shaking hands as she clings to the girl's side, terrified. This distracts the young soldier moment, and she doesn't see Sylas hurrying past them to break the women up, Speedwell and Altissima following close behind. Sylas takes hold of Primrose, and Altssima grabs Holly; they pull them apart just as Primrose starts clawing at Holly’s throat. She’s still flailing as Sylas pulls her away and holds her back by her arms.
Sylas: Páralo Parada! What the hell has gotten into you?!
Primrose: THAT BITCH SOLD ME OUT!
Primrose: SHE SOLD ME OUT THOSE THIEVES! SHE THREW MY WHOLE OPERATION TO HELL!
Sylas: W-what? N-no. Come on, Julia, there’s no way any of us would ever do that to each other, even if you’re rivals!
Sylas tries his best to keep his composure and diffuse the situation. In his desperation, he looks to Speedwell for support in his claim.
Sylas: Joseph, back me up here! You know neither one of us would-
But when he looked at, the nervousness and fear on the older blonde man’s face crushed what little faith he had in him and confirmed the suspensions he’d been boiling over all night.
Sylas: You don’t…You-You- Bastardo sucio!
He shouts, letting go of Primrose and launching himself at Speedwell! The two men start to have it out while Primrose continues her attack on Holly; Datura’s stuck on the ground between the fighting clutching his scroll. Altissma is shocked still for a moment, but when the implications finally hit him, his face contorts in rage, and he jumps into the fight. He joins Sylas in throating Speedwell, tackling the man to the ground and kicking him while Sylas repeatedly punches him in the face!
Penny: This is getting out of hand.
Penny states before grabbing her clutch from Octavia and fishing through it to find her scroll. Once she’s got it; she dials her direct emergency number and calls for backup.
Operator: Altas Security, What is your emergency?
Penny: This is Penny Polendina; I need officers and ambulances at my location immediately. There’s been an interaction involving several people, two of whom are likely injured and over 50!
Operator: Pinning your location now; authorities will be there shortly.
With that, she puts the scroll back in her bag, takes off her heels, and hands them to Esther. Before Esther can question what she’s doing, Penny activates her aura and runs into the fray! Taking on the easier target first, Penny runs up behind Primrose. She grabs her by the left arm, and uses her other hand to grab the sash on her dress. She swipes her feet while pulling the sash off, making Primrose to fall to her knees. while she’s down, Penny uses the sash as a rope and ties Primrose’s arms behind her back. With her subdued, Holly collapses onto the floor, a crying drunken mess, and Penny moves on to the men.
As Altissma kicks Speedwell in the ribs, suddenly, he’s pulled back, his arms are pulled behind him, and a knee digs into his back, forcing him to the ground. He tries to struggle against his attacker and protests.
Penny: Not until you stop struggling, and if you don’t, there will be a charge is resisting arrest added to the list of charges against you.
The man’s surprised by the young tone and firmness of the voice of his assailant and even more so when he realizes how strong she is. Unable to fight her off, Altissma eventually gives up and submits; Penny takes this chance to reach up and undo his necktie, using it as a makeshift restraint and binding his arms with it. Finally, she gets off him and runs to stop Sylas; as he’s about to bring down another punch, Penny grabs him by both arms. She forces him off Speedwell and onto his feet. He tries to pull back against her, but Penny holds him firmly in place, and he starts to scream!
Sylas: LET ME GO; THAT BASTARD STOLE FROM MY COMPANY! HE TRIED TO RUIN ME!
Penny: Mr. Foxglove, please stop. You're only making this worse.
Sylas: NO, THAT SON OF A BITCH DESERVES TO DIE!
Penny: Please stop, don’t do this in front of all these people and in front of your daughter.
Sylas: MY-M-My, my daughter?
He stops moving, the mention of his child pulling him out of his rage spiral. Penny turns him around and makes him face the crowd. The first thing he notices is Octavia, his precious daughter, hands covering her mouth as she cries. Her eyes are full of shock and fear as she stares at her father, and soon the man’s vision blurs with tears of his own as he realizes what he’s done.
Sylas: Oh my God. Oh god, what did I-Perdóname, Tavia.
He begs, going limp in Penny’s hold as he cries out. Seeing no more fight in him; Penny lets go of Sylas and kneels down next to Speedwell. The blonde man was bleeding and had at least a few fractures, but still breathing. She put him in the recovery position before getting up and walking over to one of the server stations to grab some towels and napkins to make bandages.
Penny: If you have any bandages, rubbing alcohol, or sterilizing wipes, bring them to me. I need to dress the wounds until the paramedics arrive.
She tells one of the terrified staff, who runs off to comply with her order. From there, Penny tends to the wounded, and the guards help take everyone involved with the scuffle into the foyer. Penny retrieves her things from Esther before joining them and gives Octavia a reassuring hug before she goes. Under stain, the party continues with the fight and the indomitable young redhead who stopped it single-handedly becoming hot gossip among the guests. When the authorities and ambulances do arrive, Datura, Holly, and Speedwell are taken to the nearest hospital, and Primrose, Sylas, and Altissma are hauled to the police cruisers. Penny’s giving her statement to an officer and is asking to be taken directly to Ironwood when she sees Primrose fighting against her cuffs as being put in the back of an officer’s car.
Primrose: THAT DAMN ROBYN! IF IT WEREN’T FOR THAT BACKS STABBING BITCH NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED!
She screeches as another officer comes over and pushes her into the cruiser’s backseat. Well, there was the answer she’d been searching so long for. The ringleader behind all this madness finally had a name.
Penny: So that’s their name, Robyn Hill.
Penny ruminated on that name, burning it deep into her psyche. Her chest burned with ugly heat; she wanted-needed to remember that name. That way, when she finally puts a face to it, she’ll know precisely where to point the aching rage that’s been brewing in her since she saw that truck overturned on the icy roads, and her fellow soldiers blooded and half dead. A feeling that permeates through as she gets into the passenger seat of one of the police cars and rides toward the nearest station.
There were still questions that needed to be answered, and tonight she had plenty of cause to get them.
