17114/How to properly smash a party

How to properly smash a party
Date of Scene:	06 February 2024
Location:	Los Angeles, Stankos Mansion
Synopsis:	Cain gets hired by Elektra for a job in LA that has need of his particular set of skills. The vault doesn't survive. Nor does Stankos's daughter supposed engagement.
Cast of Characters:	Elektra Natchios, Cain Marko

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Elektra Natchios has posed:
It is not like Elektra to outsource help for a job. She always does better when alone. In and out without being seen, invisible and undetected. The fabled assassin has a reputation after all, years of blood behind her even if there were rumors she had retired. Some kind of falling out with the Hand.

So it's perhaps with some surprise that an invitation makes it's way to Cain. A job. With the assassin herself. And the pay? Quite good. The set-up would be at the manor of one Mr. Stankos. A philanthropist known to have a large collection of old artifacts. And the kind of security that matches the value he is keeping at the manor. Their excuse would be a party that was being made for the philanthropist's daughter. Her engagement party which of course attracted the finest of the finest in Los Angeles.

That and villains.

The limousine carrying the duo is slowly coming to a stop near the manor by the sea, the sharp Elektra watching Cain, "Your ID.." elegant fingertips reaching to deliver a card to Cain. With his photo. The name under it? Jim Spade. "We will bring alternate IDs. Security is tight but these will hold." her tone even, all business.

Cain Marko has posed:
The night is young and Cain Marko - or Jim Spade - looks damn good. The specially tailored suits rests stretched across the man's mindboggling frame and despite its custom nature it still looks as though it's stretched over ever last hulking muscle of the man. The light posts at the side of the coastal highway pass with regular, if seldom frequency which serve to briefly illuminate the interior of the passenger compartment from the steady glow of the limo's soft blue interior lights. Each time one of those light posts are passed, the VIP compartment of the limo illuminates with the orange-yellow gloomy glow of the street light that it passes nearby.

Upon pulling into their destination and the last matters of business offered and formalized while they wait their own turn to exit their vehicle, Cain's massive paw of a hand extends to pluck the offered identification cards with incredibly thick fingers from the offering hand of Elektra. In the gloom he considers his own ID, "Jim Spade," he repeats, a faint smirk marring the brutish man's expression. He has cleaned up quite nicely for the job; finely tailored tux that miraculously fits him, bow tie expertly on-point, and even his red hair styled just-so to create an appealing and believable appearance.

"Who're you being tonight?" the question is spoken gruffly, directed at his companion within the limo while the blue eyes of the man sometimes known as the Juggernaut turns to regard the allegedly retired assassin.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Money can buy everything. Even suits that fit Cain Marko. Elektra might had been amused if she wasn't all business under kohl-rimmed eyes, the exotic woman continuing to go through the various steps of the plan, "When we find an opening we will slip further into the mansion." she tells Juggernaut. "I know the way." of course she does. Most likely burned it to memory like a true professional.

"Security is nothing we can't handle, but your particular skills will be needed when we reach our destination." Not a particularly detailed layout of what they are after, and what they will do. Always mysterious this Elektra.

Gaze finally turns from Cain and to a side mirror, the woman adjusting her necklace and her hair, finishing to arrange herself for this party. And what a cutting figure she makes, a long gown of a deep red color that clings to form, a cut on one side of the dress to give her an ease of motions and incidentally leaving a tanned leg showing. High heels. Jewelry. There are no weapons in sight but there's just that sense of latent aggression on the woman that's telling she must be hiding a few.

"Mrs. Spade, of course." This said as if it'd be obvious, now the faintest creaks of a smile visible, "Sylvia Spade, new blood. With too much money to spend and little sense on where.."

The limo comes to a stop and she brings a jacket around her otherwise bare shoulders. "Shall we?"

Cain Marko has posed:
"I'll follow your lead then," Cain answers with a brutal, bullish smile. The prospect of some task within the mansion intended to suit his particular set of talents only serves to grow that smile from the bullish and brutal into the malicious. There's many a task that Juggernaut is capable and perfectly suited for; incidentally he loves them all. Especially when it comes to making money.

The red gown is given a brief sweep of blue eyes, followed by a slight incline of the mercenary criminal's block chin atop his thick neck. The name spoken does earn a wicked grin before he comments, "Mrs. Spade," he echoes the name with a tone of thunderous amusement. "Plenty of money, little enough sense how to put it to work for you. A sucker in the making. Good cover, 'specially among all these rich fucks".

The limo rolls to a stop and with Elektra - Sylvia's - jacket brought to her bare shoulders, Cain places a massive hand upon the handle that'll open his own door. It seems that Jim Spade is of the old school variety; he'll open his own damn door. A glance back to Elektra results in a grim-faced Cain commenting, "I'll get your door, Mrs. Spade," he explains.

He does not wait for confirmation but instead pops his door and with a modicum of effort extracts himself from within. The nearly seven foot tall brute of a man turns his attention this way and that, taking in the nighttime security outside the seaside manor and the entrances and exits clearly visible. He covers this brief reconnaissance by taking an opportunity to fasten one button of his tux jacket. Already the driver has withdrawn from his place within the vehicle and in an almost uncharacteristic manner Cain speaks up, Mr. Spade carried across from client to driver, "I've got her Jack," he says with a good natured smile that seems just slightly wrong for the face of Mr. Cain Marko, "she was just saying how I don't do enough to show I care". A chuckle escapes the brutish man and it carries, even drawing a glance or three from among the other arriving guests and security. Rarely does the Juggernaut do anything small; even chuckle.

Around the back of the limo he goes and his long, thick legs carry him to the rear passenger door in only a few scant strides. The door opens, practically popping as the atmospheric seal of the passenger compartment is broken and invaded by the outdoor air that smells of the Pacific and some Hummingbird sage growing somewhere down the western slope of the cliffside manor that wafts up and to the east. The door opened and Elektra's path revealed, Jim Spade's hand extends in offer to the new monied Sylvia Spade.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Little seems to have been left to chance where it comes to this op. Even the driver. The man does pause when Cain starts going around to open the door but there's just that kind of wrongness on him too that's telling this isn't just a simple driver. The kind of wrongness that villains pick from each other. He nods and makes sure to stay out of the way though, retreating back to the driver's seat. By his look it doesn't seem like he will be here waiting for them to come out the front door either.

The door is finally open and those long legs slowly extend out of the car, one at a time, before a slender hand reaches up to take the clearly larger one of Mr. Spade, "Quite the gentleman." is she surprised? Or simply pleased that plan is going to fruition so far? Night is still young though, plenty of opportunities for it to go haywire.

She finally gets up from the limo, a smile to her lips even if it doesn't quite reach her eyes, "Thank you, darling." this more audible now, accent fully gone. Hand slips under the man's arm and they start walking inside. And even with the hulking size to Cain there's a sense of power out of the woman. This is someone used to lead, and not be led.

Security at the door is easily bypassed, their IDs giving them way to the inside, "It's been a while since I had been in LA." she tells Cain in a low voice, "I had forgotten how pretentious these people can be."

Just as the doors open to a large chamber, a jazz band over at one side playing, people talking and mingling. Drinks being passed around. And most of all, richness. All of it so ripe to the taking if one wanted.

Cain Marko has posed:
The Spades gain entry to the mansion and part of that is Cain's shoulders slumping while his head droops down. All in the interest of preventing his head bashing against the frame. Once within the embrace of high society and all that it entails, Cain's head tilts aside in order to pick up the question remarks made by Elektra - Sylvia - with a slight nod of his head. His own voice is a whisper, though on account of his being The Juggernaut such a tiny thing is on par with a low murmur that's spoken from one corner of his mouth. Down and aside to Elektra does his voice carry, "They're a pretentious lot, sure," he begins with a faint smile, "which just makes taking advantage of them all the better."

Then it's to work that Cain goes. While he does remain close to the side of his alleged wife; he does reach aside to snag a passing pair of drinks within a lone hand. The incredibly thick fingers of the man act with surprising grace when they must and he carefully extends the glasses toward Sylvia, inviting her to accept one while the couple walk with their arms interlaced.

"We rubbing elbows or getting right to it? I may have to take a piss or something," Jim Spade asks first, then comments. Likely creating an opportunity for exploitation as far as an excuse to slip away may carry with it.

Despite their murmured words and quiet exchanges, Cain's blue eyes continue to dance throughout the manor's chamber and the ban, the people, the mingling, the smalltalk and chatter. All of it. The mercenary seems to be as alert to the people within his environment, just as much as the environment itself. It's the people that can often become the greater issue when trying to be subtle. Environments rarely offer much obstacle to Big Red Meanie. He tends to fuck those up.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Sharp gaze goes through the crowd, very much like Cain taking in the people. The security. Cameras all around. A few security officers on strategic positions. Pretentious they may be but there's looseness where it comes to finding the best money can buy. If only Cain and Elektra were normal people. Unfortunately for Mr. Stankos he will soon find out there's little he can do to stop them. But all in due time.

"Former military, batons at most. Carrying no guns." is what she accesses out of this floor's security. As expected from what they had spoken before. So far the intelligence she had retrieved was holding.

"I feel that if you start rubbing elbows someone may get shot out a window by way of those." A nod to the large man's elbows before a faint grin comes to her lips as if she had made a joke. Which she did. Sort of. Right on time for her to take her flute and have a sip. Very brief. It wouldn't do to have alcohol slowing her down.

"Take my jacket, dear, will you?" She asks, turning her back to him briefly and taking the opportunity to study another part of the manor, "That is the way to the bathrooms. Let's go." seems she is willing to go with Cain's choice of a plan. Just like Cain she isn't particularly keen about mingling with the people here. The less they interact the less they will be remembered. And Elektra hates being remembered.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Cameras everywhere," Cain murmurs back with harsh blue eyes dancing about in search of other tell-tale signs of security. Physical or otherwise, "Their money? I wouldn't doubt they're running background checks in real time, too. Time's on a budget," he murmurs between faux husband and wife. The question of jackets though results in a bold, broad grin out of the man. Jim Spade is, after all, a fairly friend sort. Even if a bit gruff. Probably money from oil or some other world that often carries with it imagined images of gruff demeanors and callused hands.

The jacket is claimed and draped across an arm. He sips from the flute aaaaand... that's gone. Cain Marko's sips tend toward being your average man's gulp. The flute is ditched on the nearest flat, stable surface while he and Elektra begin their leisurely stroll across the grand chamber and toward the porcelain throne room.

"Did you ever reply to that invoice from Mr. Lancaster's security firm? The consultation fee felt a bit high for nothing more than a meeting," Cain comments toward Elektra. Obviously the mercenary's filling the silence with casual conversation that microphones or passing eavesdroppers may pick up on. Nothing more than a husband and wife, likely business partners, discussing their private security or corporate security concerns. Boring, largely easy to overlook or outright ignore. The exact sort of casual conversation between a pair of wealthy pseudo-socialites one might expect when social endeavors are often intermingled with business.

It also serves the purpose of being just important enough not to interrupt. Which results in most sending a glance toward the giant red-headed man and the sleeker olive-skinned, dark haired woman before those wandering eyes promptly wander off to more interesting guests.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"You leave that part to me." Cameras that is. There's a glint to the woman's gaze that's telling. A part of the plan Elektra hadn't shared with Cain. But then again, there must have been quite a few details she had omitted. Keep it on a need to know basis seems to be the key to success here and she's all about getting that success tonight. No matter what. "But you are right that time is of the essence."

Jacket spills down tanned shoulders to be retrieved by Cain and she finally turns to begin walking along with the large man through the party, hand interlaced with arm. Of course that they do get glances thrown their way. Some looking at Elektra. Others at Cain. The man isn't the type they are used to seeing in this kind of party. Maybe on the security detail but NEVER as one of the guests. Lots of side eyes too, but also curiosity.

"I thought the same, so I sent word to our lawyers to have a look. The value wasn't stated in the first contract." the kind of conversation that could put anyone to sleep indeed. "Or so they tell me. I did well, didn't I?" just with enough of a 'looking for validation' look that it's clear she's just some trophy wife. Enough for them to be left well alone.

Or WOULD be if only there wasn't someone making their way right towards them. Flute in hand and by the looks of her it isn't the first one she has had tonight. She is dressed in a long gown of faux-diamonds. Or are they real? Pretentious as all hell of course and just fine enough that this may exactly be the old man's daughter. The one that just got engaged. "Hello!" her demeanor bright, "I don't remember you. Are you friends of my father?" her eyes are mostly on Cain now as she speaks, eyeing him. It's the kind of look that is most likely telling that whatever marriage she is about to enter won't be lasting long. Or maybe she just needs to ease up on the alcohol. she isn't wobbling, but it's only a matter of time most likely.

Behind her the corridor leading to the bathrooms is just a few steps away. Darn timing.

Cain Marko has posed:
"You did okay," arrives the answer from Jim Spade nee Cain Marko. It's an affirmative, but also one that delivers only the barest minimum of approval and praise. 'Always leave them wanting more' seems to be the mantra of Jim Spade. Though the approach of the woman in the glittering, shimmering dress results in a brief ghost of a scowl beginning to form itself upon the brutish face of Jim Spade. It's an expression that's quickly wiped away as the woman with the upbeat, bright manner approaches and Cain comes to a slow halt. While Elektra stands with an arm draped across his own arm and her coat draped across the other. The look that the probable younger Stankos offers up to Cain is returned with a small, knowing smile that threatens to pull at one corner of his mouth. Jim Spade is a hound dog after all and a few nuptials have surely never stopped him from exploring the many finer things of life.

He's not there to flirt though and what little flirting he may exhibit is controlled. Purposeful. There's no stopping him once he gets going; but when the mission requires a little subtlety it seems that Cain Marko's capable of playing the hand he's dealt to see the objective through. He answers with a broad grin that borders on the charismatic, yet with a tinge of danger woven within it and when he speaks it's with the thunderous voice that the behemoth of a man so often employs, "I'm an *associate* of your fathers," Cain answers with a small smile that seems to open the door for the younger Stankos being included in some grand secret, "we both know your father and *friends* is a stretch," he imparts with a deep, resonating chuckle.

"The name's Jim Spade, this is my wife - Sylvia - and we were just on our way to the lavatory," he says with an apologetic smile that just doesn't seem to sit quite right upon his brutish features and stature that could have inspired the abstract tale of Goliath in the biblical sense. Neither does Cain elaborate on why the pair are on their way to the lavatory. It's a party after all and even the wealthy have their proclivities under such stressful social environs.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
There is a certain gleeful attraction to the danger shown by Cain that often those who are about to get 'tied' down in marriage demonstrate. A last cry of rebellion? Still, that seems to bring the woman closer than push her away. The drink helps for sure. "I thought I knew all of my father's associates..." and by her tone? It doesn't seem like she's new to some fun with an associate or another.

Rich families and their drama-filled lives.

The woman bites on her lower lip, "It's great to meet you, Mr. Spade." she barely sparing a look at Sylvia, "... and Mrs. Spade. Maybe I can show you the way to the lavatories." She's so helpful. Elektra smiles then. A dangerous thing for those who know her, "I am sure we can find our way. Oh, there's John." Elektra looking past the woman's shoulder which makes her eyes go wide as if she had just been caught with her hand on the cookie jar. She turns to look for her fiance which means Elektra takes the chance to have them just brush past her, towards the back rooms, away from the din of the party.

Heels echo on the hallways as they walk towards, and past, the bathrooms. Close by there's an elevator, with two security officers there. "I give that marriage one month." she comments with a smirk.

Cain Marko has posed:
The offer of aid results in a wolfish grin out of Jim Spade nee Cain Marko, but before he can offer a genuine answer: Elektra's sweeping in with a timely dismissal and distraction. While the Stankos daughter spins about in search of her someday husband and the pair of infiltrators continue on, Cain quietly mutters aside, "Good work". Which is about all the praise that he can muster for the moment. Onward the pair move and toward the back rooms where no doubt some form of bathrooms can be found within the great big mansion. The short hallway that stretches to the left ends with the door leading into a rather sizeable bathroom; likely intended to be some form of His and Hers shared accommodations. To the right a pair of doors, both closed and their contents barred from easy viewing.

"Bathroom," he says with a slight nod of his head toward that particular location, downward the leftward path of the T-split hallway. As he begins to move, Cain's hand shifts down and aside in an attempt to press a massive palm to her back. All in a bid to urge the once-assassin along and to keep pace with his considerably longer strides. It's likely for the possibility of eavesdroppers that the next words leave the big man's mouth, "There's the bathroom; you still want to mess around real quick?" Nothing says a wealthy socialite's party like a couple guests going at it in one of the bathrooms, apparently. At least per the mentality of Mr. Cain Marko.

The door opens with only the slightest squeak of a hinge and the man called Jim Spade stands aside, one hand holding the door open and his head bowed as though in preparation of passing through the doorway of the bathroom. He waits back the way that the pair came, eyeballing the intersection and watching for some sort of security or snoop following them.

Seeing none, Cain's attention shifts back to Elektra and his voice drops low as a faint scowl pulls at his gruff, brutish features, "In there," he offers in terse fashion.

Only when Sylvia and Jim Spade are safely tucked away within the bathroom, after Cain's ducked low to keep from bashing his head against the frame and, quite frankly, probably taking a section of the frame down with such an action. Within the relative privacy of the bathroom, Cain lays out an idea, "Schematics you gave me showed that window," he says of the window that looks out over the sea to the west. "We'll lower you down from it," likely using Cain's own arm as the unorthodox rope to climb down, "and then you slip into Stankos' office from the patio below. What do you need me to do?"

The question is left to hang and Cain's blue eyes remain fixed upon Elektra. There's one good thing for a rich person's place though; the ceilings tend to be higher and he can stand upright within the individual rooms without too much fear of scraping his head against the ceiling or catching a ceiling fan to the face.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
It's the 'real quick' that gets an actual laugh out of Elektra, the woman's gaze trailing up at Cain with amusement, "Your choice of words always sweeps me away." she tells him, just as they disappear into that bathroom. The door is closed behind them and she locks it. A couple of seconds to make sure there's no one else inside before the large man gets her full attention, "That will work. At least to get Stankos's keycard." she gestures, "For our actual destination is deeper down."

"Hidden deep down the bowels of the mansion there's a particular vault." She finally deigning to explain the plan to Cain, "One that is virtually impossible to crack open. At least by normal means." her eyes roaming over the man's meaty arms, clearly it not being by chance that she had chosen Juggernaut to join this mission. "While I go into his office I will need you to secure the elevator. I saw two guards near it. Use this." she reaches in-between the cleavage of her dress to bring out a small device, "Click and the cameras in your vicinity won't work for a time. I will join you once I have the card. We will be on limited time once we get into that elevator." and by the way she says it seems it will be a very limited one.

Once that is done she goes to that window, lowering it. Immediately the fresh air of the sea invades that bathroom, the sound of waves crashing below them heard. It's a long drop down. But the patio is visible below as well. Elektra looks out and then reaches down to tear the other side of her dress for a ease of movements, nimbly climbing over and extending one hand, waiting for Cain to lower her down.

Cain Marko has posed:
The laughter out of Elektra and her own commentary regarding his choice of wording receives only the slightest and slyest of smiles, though it does not persist for long. Just as easily as the expression made it's abrupt appearance, it just as swiftly begins to dissipate until the brutish man's expression is once more cast into its typical territory somewhere between a scowl and a grimace. The small device offered and accepted, Cain slips it away into a pocket of his tux jacket for safe keeping, even giving it a light press of his hand to ensure that it's kept secure in that locale.

The long drop down is made a little easier with Cain's beefy arm thrust from the window and his shoulder resting against the frame. He does not lean against it or otherwise strain himself against the wall, because he'd rather it not crumble. It's instead with a feather touch that he operates. The length of his arm is no doubt impressive and with Elektra's hands gripping to his own massive fingers, he begins to ease her gingerly down. He does not speak, offer commands, or advice. She's a professional and she doesn't require it. Only when she releases her grip and drops nimbly below with nary a sound, does Cain withdraw and close the window anew.

He spares little time giving himself a little splash of water, wiping it away, and then slipping from the bathroom with as much grace and subtlety as a brick heaved at a face. He begins to move down the corridor, hangs a ride, and it's right back out to the grand chamber that he goes. It doesn't take long before the daughter of Stankos - Angelica - is upon him again. This time though Jim Spade is without Sylvia Spade and when Jim's propositioned for a dance, he accepts. The key is buying time, then filling that time, and then capitalizing on it all when the time arrives.
Hist one point or two Angelica Stankos is dancing with Jim Spade in a fashion that the most high brow of viewers might called 'intimately close' and, for his part, Cain seems to be humoring the younger heiress more than anything. It's that same general disinterest that likely drives her to ease ever closer throughout their dance. That is until John makes an appearance. While the groom-to-be shoots a nasty glare toward the man that is Jim Spade; it doesn't progress much further than that. Wrathful glares and bitter scowls are one thing; stepping toe to toe with a man the size of Cain Marko is another. Which means that it's Angelica Stankos that draws much of the would-be groom's ire. While the party does go on, there's definitely a particular degree of discomfort as all eyes shift from Cain and Angelica's dancing, to John and Angelica storming away to a side room to have words on the embarrassment that their night has become. More than a wedding; the wealthy do love to see something good just as readily fall apart. It's peak, human entertainment more often than not, no matter the social or economic strata.

Most eyes have followed after the engaged couple and that is the opportunity that Cain Marko takes to march away. He does not slip, he does not subtly glide about. He simply chooses a direction and moves in it. Whether he stops going that direction is entirely upon his own shoulders and whims. Which is precisely how he ends up walking down the corridor, lined by exotic ferns from some tropical island in the Pacific. The pair of guards give a glance to one another as they stand near the elevator doors at the end of the corridor. After their interpersonal glancing - then it's back toward the behemoth of a man marching toward the elevator and their own position before them.

"Sir, you --" one of them begins. Cain's had slips from his pocket after having activated the small device within that concealed place. Now with each of his massive hands in view the brutish man offers a small, knowing smile before he interrupts the guard, "Angelica told me to come down here. Said something about 'one last hurrah'?"

's that moment of confus

Cain Marko has posed:
Those words seem to draw a look of intermingled concern and confusion between the guards. It's that moment of confused hesitation that Cain Marko chooses to act. A malicious smile blossoms across his broad features. A hand lifts and a finger flicks, as though casually flicking a small insect that has only just landed upon an arm. The flick of the finger is enough to send the nearest guard to the floor; perhaps concussed, but alive at least. The other's eyes widen with panic and Cain moves toward him with a single long stride, closing the distance between them to nearly intimate levels. The hand that attempts to bring a radio up to his face is intercepted by Cain's own hand and beneath the grip of Marko's tightening fist the sound of plastic snapping, aluminum crumpling, and bones crackling can be heard as all is shattered within the grip of Juggernaut. At the same time his opposite hand lifts, placing itself across the muffled shouts and screams of the man while hand and radio are ground painfully into one.

The hand over the man's mouth dulls the shouts of alarm, pain, and panic into a low murmur. The sound is little more than a low, desperate murmur as Cain steps forward and readily lifts the man from his feet. "I'm feelin' merciful today, because it's been a good day," the arguably greatest bully of all time explains to the guard, "you're going to take a nap now". The man's head dips by back future of a light thrust of Cain's arm. Though for him a light thrust is a devastating blow at the hands of the world's strongest, most capable fighters. The wall cracks and craters behind the man's head with the impact and soon that guard falls. Crumpling to the floor in a heap at the feet of Cain, the guard is left there to lie.

Both of the guards dispatched, Cain begins to search the bodies. Collecting phones, radios, keycards, or anything else of importance. Whether for his and Elektra's own purposes or to potentially raise an alarm with expediency.

Now he waits. The giant that is Cain Marko stands before the elevator doors, the pair of unconscious men shoved to the sides of the corridor. The sight of them blocked by the potted ferns that line either side of the hallway. Now Cain's perhaps the most overqualified security guard on the premises.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The woman's weight is that of a feather as she dangles down from Cain's arm, preparing for the fall, waiting for the best opportunity, the meandering guard on the patio taking a touch to get in place and ....

Now.

Hand let's go of Cain's arm and she drops. Deadly silent. Elektra lands with both legs twining around the man's neck, twisting to send him spiraling against the wall with a *thud*. Unconscious. Prowling gaze turns sharply, waiting. The sound of footsteps as another guard comes to investigate the thud of earlier. "James, where--" but he never finishes his sentence. Elektra moves like a serpent, lightning fast, a blow on the man's back with her knuckles to toss the air out of his lungs. A kick to a knee to bring him down. Elbow to temple to send him to sleep. All done in the span of five seconds. The man falls and she drags him out of sight, along with the other, moving further in, a small corridor with expensive paintings.

She stops then, lowering herself down to bring a small capsule that was wrapped against her thigh. She drops the dust inside carefully on a palm and then blows it towards the corridor, revealing a series of lasers that most surely would turn the alarm on if she just went past.

Heels are put aside. The lower end of her dress? Suffers the same fate as she rips it off so there are no dangling parts of it that can compromise her. And then she begins her traverse of the lasered trap. Sinuous, body bending and sliding as she makes progress, step by step, almost as if this was a dance. It takes her a few minutes and just as she cartwheels the final laser there's a bead of sweat on her brow at the exertion. She finally goes into the office. The keycard isn't hard to find.

---

The elevator right behind Cain dings after a few moments and the doors open. On the other side? Elektra, hip thrusted to the side and a keycard between fingertips, "Coming?" those dark orbs of her eyes blazing now. They are close to their objective.

Cain Marko has posed:
The elevator dings and a glance to his shoulder results in Cain's left eyebrow rising slightly higher at what he finds. Elektra with the lower half of her dress torn away and a small smirk tugging at his mouth, "A good look you've got going there". The bit of humor isn't accompanied by laughter or even a chuckle. They're in too deep for too many needless sounds that may draw attention. The question, the indirect invitation, results in a nod out of the big man. Cain turns and stoops low, bending at the midsection to bow himself beneath the frame of the elevator. When he steps into it briefly sinks downward as though the weight of Cain is enough to stress the cables that allow it to operate.

The mass of the man dominates a good deal of the car. He shifts his frame that the control board is left open and readily accessible by Elektra. Cain's left to stand with his shoulders slouched and his head angled to the side to prevent it rest directly against the ceiling of the car. Even if the side of his scalp rests against the faux ceiling.

The silence reigns for a moment before it's broken not by the soft ding of the elevator doors closing, but by Cain Marko quietly grumbling into the tight confines of the elevator, "That's what she said."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra did a lot of planning for this mission. But accounting for Cain's weight? Maybe not that, considering how she looks around the elevator walls when it creaks at the man stepping inside. It holds though and that's enough for the assassin even if for a moment she was ready to jump out in case it start to plummet. For even if she was sure Cain could survive the drop she isn't too sure that she could.

They adjust as well as they can inside the car and she ducks under Cain's arm to swipe the card, inserting a code that makes a soft 'ding' sound before the doors close down and they start going down. Blessedly there is no elevator music, "You are in good spirits." a look over her shoulder at the man, that same small smirk on the corner of her lips that makes her cheeks dimple, "Having fun, are you?"

The sheer size of the man means there's little space inside, she now very close to Cain as the elevator continues it's descent, "We are close to our objective now." she whispers, bare shoulder brushing against his tuxedo just as the elevator comes to a stop and the doors begin to open...

Ahead of them? A large hallway, no decorations anywhere. Occupying the full wall is a gigantic vault door. Massively thick, the kind of vault that you can't just open no matter how good of a lock breaker you are.

"Now it's time to figure out if you are worth your reputation, Mr. Cain." A teasing challenge sent over her shoulder as she gets out of the elevator and out of the way as well. It was time for some destruction.

Cain Marko has posed:
"I'm havin' a fuckin' blast," Cain answers with his usual gruff manner. The persona of Jim Spade has unraveled and been cast aside in a heap. What remains is Cain Marko, slouched within the elevator and with Elektra doing her best to navigate around his nearly seven feet of height and nearly half a ton of muscle upon bullish muscle. The elevator comes to a halt and his arms lowering from their place braced along the walls. When Elektra moves to depart the elevator, Cain's head and shoulders bow to do the same. The sight of the vault ahead earns an amused grunt that never truly escapes the throat of the man that makes the noise. It's somewhere between an amused growl and snort. "This'll be a piece of cake. You want it cracked," and when one would think that's the end of the question, Cain continues it, "or the whole vault?"

As Elektra and Cain begin down the featureless corridor there is a bright flash of crimson that briefly illuminates their surroundings, painting everything the light touches with a momentary sheen of freshly drawn blood. The sound of suddenly heavier footfalls coincides with the flash of crimson light and the Avatar of Cyttorak offers up a low growl that sounds akin to an unsettling, outright terrifying purr of amusement, "Get out of my way before I make you get out of my way". The more violent, bullying aspects of Cain Marko only amplified by the living embodiment of Cyttorak on Earth come to the forefront in his speech. He strides by Elektra now, taking the lead as his heavy footfalls become faster and faster and faster. The cadence of his thunderous footfalls sends many within the mansion on the California coast scrambling for cover as the initial tremors of an earthquake are felt. At least that's what most likely think as the Juggernaut begins up speed in his inexorable, unstoppable march toward the vault. No alarms shall give him pause, no security systems shall delay him, and no one will remain standing in his path. He storms toward the vault door within his bold red armor and his domed helmet lowered forward, as though it were the immense head of some charging bull. The massive arms of the man have grown to match the nine and a half foot stature, along with the almost a - U.S. - ton of rippling, unstoppable muscle.

He begins to chuckle and even that sound carries like thunder through the hallways. Juggernaut meets Vault in a horrendous sound of twisting, bending metal. He not only simply walks into the massive, reinforced structure but as it bends inward his red clad elbows begin to aid in shoulder his way THROUGH the fault door. He does not stop to rip it from its hinges or yank it free of its housing; instead the Juggernaut appears to walk into the formidable structure as though it is little more than butter or clay, beneath the hot blade that is his body.

Alarms immediately begin to sound as the vault is contacted with such brutal fury and the Juggernaut's laughter continues as the path is cleared and the vault door sags inward, now pressed into the vault itself. The Juggernaut sized hole that is created is left open to Elektra as the monster that is the Big Red Meanie steps aside, commenting to Elektra with a unsettling grin from within his helmet, "Worth every penny ain't I, toots?"

Quite please and satisfied with himself, Juggernaut steps aside so that Elektra may have free and easy access to the vault. Meanwhile he steps back outside of it with a dip of his domed armored head, staring back toward the elevator as the alarms blare and somewhere distant the sound of bars falling into place can be heard. There he waits. Hoping. HOPING. That someone is foolish enough to step out of the elevator in the time that follows.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The assassin makes sure to stay out of the way as that transformation occurs and the avatar of Cyttorak comes to the fore, the red light reflecting in her dark eyes as she does nothing to hide some fascination for it. Violence *does* attact her after all for one does not become the assassin that she did without some kind of intimacy with violence and all that comes attached with it.

As the Juggernaut crashes into the vault the heavy door smashes some of the precious content inside. And precious indeed it seems to be, ranging from old paintings, relics, weapons, esoteric pieces from all over the globe, ranging from a large elephant tooth to a long scroll on a wall written in japanese kanji. Maybe not gold, or actual money but there's so much more here in terms of value than there was in everyone at the party above..

"Indeed." She tells him, approval in both expression and tone as she swiftly makes her way in at the wake of Cain's destructive methods. She walks to a particular box and opens it, eyes widen before there's a pleased expression to her features. What she came here to get. "Finally.." she says to herself before murmuring a few words in Japanese, staying in place.

Meanwhile the elevator's light can be seen announcing it coming down. Close now. Elektra points to one of the walls. "That wall. Behind it is the cliff, leading to the sea." and the woman finally bringing what she was looking for from that box. A pair of short japanese blades. They look old. So old. The hilts barely holding even if the blades look as sharp as ever. "That's our way out."

The elevator dings as it reaches their floor.

Cain Marko has posed:
The indicated wall earns a shift of Cain's shoulders, permitting his domed head to turn toward the wall. He grunts once before he begins to chuckle, likely at the assassin's expense because that's just what bullies do, "You're paying real good for some easy work". The Juggernaut's voice is like thunder, quivering the air as he speaks and the chuckle only serves to rattle it further. The ding at the elevator results in the Juggernaut shifting himself around, repositioning himself that he may act as a barrier between the elevator doors and Elektra's place within the corridor. Squishies, twisties, and crunchies all have an adverse reaction to bullets and the possibility of the security personnel coming in guns blazing is considerably higher now.

The ding sounds out and the elevator doors begin to open. For a moment it seems that the Juggernaut is prepared to rush off toward the elevator, but midway through his first step forward he pauses. "You can swim, right?" the question is asked in a murmur that sounds like an avalanche far in the distance. He reaches out toward Elektra with one massive hand and attempts to take her within his gargantuan hand like one might carry a bottle of water. A gingerly press of his shoulder finds the wall crumbling away, the sound of the construction material breaking and falling along the cliffside heard after the wall tumbles away beneath the onslaught of the Juggernaut.

"Ready?" he asks and without waiting for an answer the Juggernaut flicks his wrist, sending the sleek form of Elektra soaring away from the mansion and the cliff to the sea below. No doubt she's arranged a boat for their pickup down there.

Gunfire erupts and peppers the back and left shoulder of the Juggernaut. A round or two bounces from his domed helmet and the Juggernaut twists, directing his wide blue eyes toward the six armed security personnel. "This is your lucky day, I've got shit to do and you get to live," the Juggernaut growls back at the sources of the ineffective gunfire. It's a competition between the loud report of gunfire and the Juggernauts voice, which will be heard over the other.

For his part Cain Marko does not wait for confirmation or receipt of his warning. The monstrosity of a man simply turns, looks ahead, and with two long strides leaps free of the corridor and away from the cliffside. He plummets fast and hard for the water below, making certain that the unstoppable behemoth that is Juggernaut isn't about to land atop the smaller, frailer Elektra.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"There are things worth more than money." Is what Elektra has to tell in return to Cain, clearly it not being riches that move the woman. What does though? There's an enigmatic little smile to her lips as she leaves that hanging just before the sound of the elevator arriving snaps her attention over to it. "Let's hurry."

And hurry the Juggernaut does. More than she was expecting to as well because being picked up from the ground wasn't in her plans. Not that she can do much about -that- but to eye Cain disapprovingly.

Just before being tossed through the now broken wall.

To her merit there is no scream the woman quickly disappearing from sight and plummeting down to the waters below. Body twists, sharp, angling herself so she hits the water with her hands and head forward, diving under. And a few moments later? The hulking figure of the Juggernaut creates a disturbance in the waters when dropping in.

A boat is indeed waiting, hidden behind a pair of cliffs, making it's way close to where they are. And of course that the man at the wheel is the same driver that was driving the limo earlier. He brings it close to Elektra first who swims over, blades tossed over the edge before she climbs aboard. Up on the broken wall the tiny figures of armed guardsmen show up, shooting down at the group but they are far enough that they most likely won't be much of a threat. Even if they should get out of there.

Hands go through her now wet hair and she looks over in search for Cain in the cold waters.

Cain Marko has posed:
Whether it's because he never learned, he's simply too dense, or for whatever reason that he's incapable? The Juggernaut hits the water and does not resurface. Like a depth charge going off the water sucks toward the Juggernaut's point of entry, before swiftly exploding upward as a result of his titanic cannonball. In the shallows of the sea keen eyes can spot him, walking from greater depths and closer to the cliff wall. The closer he marches beneath the waves toward land, the more he begins to emerge from the water. Just as his domed helmet begins to break the surface, a flash of crimson illuminates the water in a way that would make most fearing the presence of sharks piss themselves in terror.

That flash of crimson whisks the Juggernaut away and as the boat roars around, approaching Cain Marko in the shallower waters; he pulls himself onto the boat and takes care depositing his renewed bulk of nearly seven feet in height and a half ton into the boat. He remains knelt, not daring to move and potentially disrupt the boat's escape. In doing so his cold blue eyes settle onto Elektra, even as the once-Jim Spade begins to remove the jacket of his tux, "You get what you wanted? Let's get out over here, Jeevesy," the gruff voice of Cain Marko remarks to the boat's captain - the man formerly called Jack.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The assassin taps on 'Jack's' shoulder when they finally spot the huge figure of the Juggernaut walking under water. The boat shifts and turns that way, closer and also getting cover from the shots from the guardsmen, close enough for Cain to easily make his way aboard. The boat rocks a bit but it doesn't cap over, blessedly. As for Elektra? She has already discarded the dress and changed to a simple black outfit, pants and shirt, loose wet, black hair now tumbling down her shoulders.

Dress still visible over a corner.

"We will lay low for a time." She informs Cain, "It will be too hot to leave the country just yet. Once it simmers down I will get you a passage to ..., wherever you wish to go." she is sitting down against the side of the boat, the two blades now wrapped in a cloth near her.

"I got what I wanted." she pats the blades near her, "You did well." her eyes staying on the blue-eyed man with a measure of both appreciation but also unspent aggression. Violence begets violence after all.

"I am sure this won't be the last time we work together."