Party time and more [Action]

[idkmybffalfred]

[In a ballroom at Central City.]

The auction was done and a hefty pile of wealth had been gathered to help pay for the reconstruction of Amestris in the wake of the devastating undead invasion. All that was left at this point was the after party, and EVERYONE has been invited. The majority of the party has moved to a huge ballroom, complete with an in house orchestra, several tables of light snacks and drinks, a large dancing area, tables around the edges of the room, and servants with trays of drinks making sure no one goes long without a glass. Brag about your newest acquisition, seeth with jealousy at the guy who bid more on the piece you wanted, enjoy fine food and drinks from across the empire, get drunk, dance, have fun. Mr. Wayne is footing the bill tonight.

[Elsewhere, later that evening...]


A dark figure edges close to the tall wall surrounding the manor belonging to the mysterious man known only as The Major. It produces a grappling hook from under its cloak, and is perched atop the wall in short order to get a better look at what it has to contend with here.

Comments

Elsewhere

[genuine_human]

The dark figure would notice that while the Major has agreed to send out some of his men to help guard the auction, there are still fair amounts of Teutonic-styled knights to deal with. He would notice that there is a guard standing by just about every row of windows and two guards standing in front of the entrances. He has the option of entering through the windows on the higher floors, but he may or may not notice shadows moving behind the glass.

The men are all quite well armed.

Re: Elsewhere

[gothamsknight]

He notices it all. He's a barely visible patch of darkness as he swings over the heads of the guards on the lower level towards the second floor windows. He doesn't actually enter yet, instead peering cautiously in with one eye while hanging precariously off the side of the building.

[genuine_human]

The figure would find that he is looking into a hallway on the second floor. Few guards are patrolling the area, walking forward, turning around, returning, and repeating. While there is only one guard, there certainly may be more just down the corner. Millennium's soldiers, while they prefer a job with more action than being on patrol, are eager for opportunity that results in conflict. Rather than enjoying their work, that is what keeps them on their toes while on patrol.

[gothamsknight]

A sleeping gas tablet slipped through the window dealt with the nearest guard, and Batman was in the building. He propped the sleeping man up in a bathroom stall, and then started creeping his way downstairs. It was slow going, but the amount of security suggested that this was more than just a private residence.

[genuine_human]

Compared to the second floor, there were more guards on post on the first. As Batman made his way downstairs, another guard walks by the staircase. He makes a glance at the top of the stairs out of impulse, but not because he heard anyone in particular coming down. As far as any of the Millennium guards know, this is just about the same night as any other. There are columns wide enough to hide behind as Batman sneaks further down the manor. Through this hallway is another door that leads to the foyer where the number of guards have considerably risen. About four have been stationed to patrol that single room.

[gothamsknight]

The guard looked up and might have seen a slightly darker blob at the top of the stairs, but nothing more. It wasn't even there anymore by the time he could go to check it out.

Batman, meanwhile, had somehow snuck downstairs, and was slinking from column to column, searching for a way to access the rest of the building

[unleashthefuhrer]

Flanked by a few soldiers, Bradley was admiring a rather nice tea set he had acquired. The advantages of having a high soldier presence in the auction for security purposes and most certainly not to keep an eye on the playboy millionaire who had decided to unexpectedly rain benevolence on Amestris was that he could have his men scope out the best goods and advise the Fuhrer on the good stuff.

[idkmybffalfred]

BILLIONAIRE, Bradley. Millionaire are so passe, now.

"To think that the Fuhrer himself made it to my party. Admiring your new toys?"

[unleashthefuhrer]

Quite. This set is truly exquisite.

[idkmybffalfred]

It looks it. I have to admit I've always been more of a coffee drinker than a tea drinker, or I might have bid on that set myself.

[unleashthefuhrer]

You might consider switching over. I don't trust "coffee," it just doesn't feel healthy.

[idkmybffalfred]

It's just as well. I don't think I could outbid a king, but I bet you would have ended up paying a lot more for it bidding against me.

[unleashthefuhrer]

Oh you never know. My salary's a bit encumbered with all the military efforts, I don't have too much extra to throw around these days.

[idkmybffalfred]

Is that so? Well, I'm glad I'm in the private sector, then.

[unleashthefuhrer]

If I could do it again I might consider it. Being a King can be quite stressful.

[idkmybffalfred]

I bet. The only people I'm responsible for are my shareholders.

[unleashthefuhrer]

I've heard they can get pretty frightening though. Good thing you keep such a clean house, right Mr. Wayne?

[Bradley bursts out laughing at that]

[idkmybffalfred]

[Bruce also laughs, if slightly less enthusiastically.]

I do my best to keep things clean, yeah.

[fox_of_sawayama]

Despite making a career of organizing gala events for the Emperor's court, Mitsunari had always felt ill at ease as a guest at parties. Without an army of waiters and chefs and other servants to command, he was left making awkward small talk with the other attendees. He recognized most of the faces in the crowd - they were the Amestris courtiers and commanders who had opposed his promotion to governor of Sawa three years ago. So Mitsunari stood in the corner of the room, nursing a glass of champagne that had long since gone warm, as he warily eyed the other partygoers.

[genuine_human]

Batman would notice a small space behind the grand staircase at the center-front of the room. If he slips through the space, he would notice the wall and wallpaper over it. To the untrained eye, there is little that is suspicious with the sight, but to Batman, he might notice even in the dark that the colors on one part of the wall are off from the others. It's a secret door and behind it is a set of stone stairs that lead downward into the basement.

[justasplanned]

Light, on the other hand, seemed to be doing quite well for himself, what with two young ladies in somewhat daring dresses on either arm.

"Ah, hello my lord. Have you been enjoying yourself?"

[genuine_human]

"If it isn't the Regent Governor of Sawa. Why, you look ill at ease, standing over there, all alone like that."

Carrying his own glass of champagne, the Major approaches Mitsunari with quite a wide smile. Little expected the Major of all people to show up, but little do others know, he does enjoy festivities in his own way. It's quite boring compared to his war, of course, but the food and drinks were consolations, albeit poor ones.

[king_of_flames]

[Roy is there, dressed not in his uniform but in the finest suit he owns. He's just trying to enjoy the occasion. For a little bit, he's got a glass of red wine in his hand. The rest of the time, he's looking at the goods and being social.]

So, my place or yours?

[excellenbrowning]

Excellen had been chosen to attend in Arturia's stead, and she was not one to disappoint. Dressed to the nines in a gorgeous red dress, she kept her hair down, long honey blond curls framing her face. She held a wine glass, still surprisingly mostly full (she was on her best behavior tonight, after all), taking to watching the party happen instead of being the life of the party. Well, yet at least.

[gothamsknight]

After some poking around, Batman found the trick to opening the secret panel and slipped through it. Time to see what "The Major's" secrets really were...